Half-Brothers

Chapter 3: Just Another Average Dinner

Notes: Um... we almost hear one of those 'the night you were conceived' stories. Be prepared for a shocker...





"So, how was your swim, Kyou?" Eighteen asked as her son helped prepare dinner.

He shrugged. "Just like it is every day. I need it to relax and get away from home for a while."

Eighteen gave him a small smile. "If your father had it his way, every spare moment of your time would be spent training. He wouldn't give you time to go swimming, no time to spend with your friends..." she shook her head. "I think he's subconsciously trying to isolate you, so your childhood will be like his was, completely alone after..."

Kyou nodded as his mother trailed off. "I know what you mean." The two continued to slice up vegetables and meat, checking the temperatures of some things, occasionally tasting a spoonful of stew and adding a little pinch of salt to it. Kyou didn't mention meeting up with Kioma and Tera earlier in the day. He clicked his barbell nervously against his teeth, an action which didn't escape his mother's notice.

"Kyou, is something wrong?" Eighteen asked.

He jumped as his mother brought him from his thoughts. "What? Oh. No, nothing's wrong, Mom. Why do you ask?" he turned around and made a point of checking the condition of the contents of one of the cooking pots.

"You're clicking your tongue ring, Kyou. You only do that when something bothering you or you're nervous about something." She could read him like a book. She put her hand on his shoulder, concern clear in her eyes as she asked softly, "You sure you're okay?"

Kyou put on a smile. "Yeah, Mom. I'm fine. I just ran into some girls from school during my swim."

Eighteen smirked and moved around the kitchen, testing things as she went. "They saw you swimming naked, then?"

Kyou's face turned about five different shades of red. "MOM!"

Eighteen laughed. "I've always told you that you should swim with something on, but no, don't listen to me." She snickered. "I'm just a stupid old woman who doesn't know anything."

Kyou sobered, the color in his face slowly returning to normal. "You're not old and stupid, mom. If only you could hear what some of the guys say about you..."

Eighteen smiled. "Oh? What do they say about me, hmm?" She acted innocent, but she knew exactly what they said.

Kyou's face colored only slightly, this time. "Nevermind, Mom. You know what they say..."

"Don't act so embarrassed." She clapped her hand down on his shoulder. "Be glad your mom's cool. You could have one of those parents who's a stuck up moron who thinks that their child's perfect. I don't have to think my child's perfect because I know you're not. You're as damned near close as a person can get, physically." She gave him a little wink and a nudge in the side with her elbow. "That's what happens when you mix good genes."

Kyou rolled his eyes. "Mom... I do NOT want to think about you and dad like that. EVER..." he shuddered. "At least you've spared me from the whole 'the time you were conceived' story. I think I'd have to crawl under a rock and gouge my mind's eye out..."

Eighteen laughed again. "You've definitely got the right idea. I'm sure I would have been the same way... A story like that'd give you nightmares for weeks." She grinned evilly. "In that case... Kyou, the night you were conceived..."

"AH! STOP!" Kyou plugged his ears and said loudly, "La la la! I can't HEAR you!"

Eighteen smirked and pinched her son's cheek. "You're so cute sometimes. You know I wouldn't do that to your poor, innocent little mind."

Vegeta came in through the back door. He walked into the kitchen and pulled Eighteen into his arms and dipping her nearly to the floor. "Vegeta!" she said, laughing. "I'm trying to make dinner, here."

Kyou ran from the room, screaming in mock terror. "No public displays of affection when there's a child in the room, you two!"

"Well, he's not in the room anymore..." Vegeta said with a little wink.

Eighteen smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing her husband deeply. After a moment, he lifted her back to her feet and gave her a soft parting brush of his lips against hers. "Now... you'll finish making dinner while I go clean up?" he asked softly, something he never did when the boy was around.

She nodded. "Sure, babe." As he turned to go, she slapped his ass hard enough to make him jump. She smirked and went back to final preparations.

Kyou peeked around the corner, asking cautiously, "Are you two finished with that mushy stuff yet?"

Eighteen nodded again, sweeping her medium length blonde hair over her shoulder. Approximately ten minutes later, dinner was finished. Eighteen and Kyou went about setting everything on the large dining room table as Vegeta emerged from his shower, clean and seeming rather pleased with himself.

"What are you looking so happy about, Dad?" Kyou asked, noticing the way Vegeta sauntered to the table before he sat down.

"Today was just a good day. I wish they'd happen more often." He replied, waiting for everyone to sit down before beginning to eat.

"'f you say so." Kyou said with a shrug.

"Oh, I forgot the spoons." Eighteen said, starting to get up from her seat.

Vegeta put his hand on top of hers. "Sit, woman. I'll get them." He gave her a small smile and disappeared into the kitchen.

Kyou and Eighteen looked at each other in shock. "What in the hell do you suppose that was all about?"

"I don't know, but I wish your father'd act like that more often." Eighteen said, still in slight shock. He never got up from the table unless he was done eating. Much less got up from the table to be helpful...

The phone in the kitchen rang and Eighteen started to get up again. "I've got it, Eighteen!" he said loudly from the kitchen. She shrugged and took a cautious bite of her steak. It was still very warm, but not quite hot anymore.

"Hello?" Vegeta said into the receiver.

"Hi, um... is Vegeta there?" a male voice asked from the other end of the line.

"This is he..." he said cautiously.

"Wonderful. Glad I found the right number."

"Who is this?" he asked, curious as to who could be looking for him.

There was a small laugh from the other end of the line. "Well, Dad. This is your first son, Trunks."