Vegeta landed outside Trunks's capsule house ten minutes later. He was in the middle of the woods, far from home. He contemplated knocking for a moment before deciding against it and barging in. He sneered at the awful smell and mess of it all. Clothes were thrown everywhere, plates and cups were piled up on the sitting table and fermenting, there were stains on the furniture and floor which were yet to be cleaned up. Trunks walked through from the bedroom and looked at Vegeta angrily.

"Hi."

Vegeta eyed his son up and down with a scowl on his face. His hair was a mess and desperately needed a wash. His clothes were worn and tatty and had stains on them.

(A/N: Can I just make a small adjustment to earlier in the story? Ok, Trunks has not been missing for only one day ok? Can I change it to a week? Otherwise this is all gonna sound very weird for all of this to have happened in one day lol. He's been gone for a week ok? Anyway on with the story)

The jacket he was wearing hugged his body, usually flattering, but this time it just showed off how thin he had become and his ribs showed through slightly.

"Boy."

"Yeah. I am a boy. To mum's disappointment."

"The woman wants you to come home."

"What about you? Do you want me to come home?"

Vegeta stared at his son silently. This was going to be awkward for him.

Trunks shook his head.

"Didn't think so."

"I never said I didn't."

"Well you never said you did either."

"Don't push it boy."

"Whatever dad."

He sighed gratefully when the beep of the microwave went off.

"Want something to eat?"

Vegeta shrugged. He had been getting hungry.

He followed Trunks into the kitchen. Dishes were piled up in the sink, the tap was dripping and the bin was overflowing. He sat down by the table and Trunks pushed a plate of spaghetti in front of him. Vegeta looked down at it. It was obviously a one man meal, not fit for his Saiyen appetite. He looked back over at the boy who had no food in front of him. Vegeta sighed and shoved the plate back to Trunks.

"What's wrong dad? What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing. You eat it."

"I'm not very hungry."

"Boy, when was the last time you ate something?"

"Why is it any of your business?"

"You don't want to tell me because you can't remember. Right?"

"Yes I can. It was yesterday."

"When yesterday?"

"Sometime."

"How many times did you eat?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm your father. I want to know."

Trunks snorted and whispered under his breath.

"Some father you are."

"What was that!"

"Nothing."

"Boy……"

"Stop calling me that! I have a name you know!"

"Trunks…Eat it. I'm not leaving till you eat something."

"Just leave me alone!"

"I will leave if you promise me you'll eat something."

"Fine! I promise ok?"

"Good. I'll see you at home later."

Trunks snorted again as Vegeta stood up. He started picking at the spaghetti as his father left and took to the skies. He lifted the fork to his mouth and took in the first bite of food he had had in days.

Back at CC

Bulma smiled as she cradled Bra in her arms. She held the bottle to her daughters lips and giggled as Bra started to drink. She looked up as Bra's door swung open and Vegeta walked in.

"Thank god. You're back. So? Where is he?"

"In the woods."

"What? You mean you didn't get him to come back?"

"Woman. Before you go screaming at me and damage my ears even more, I couldn't make him come home. He's old enough to make his own decisions. I got him to eat something though."

"You mean he hasn't been eating!"

"Calm down. He is now."

"Hold on. We'll talk about this properly in a minute."

She took the bottle away from Bra's lips and burped her before placing her back in her cot.

"Nap time princess."

She kissed her daughters brow lightly before walking over to the door and dragging Vegeta out with her. Once out of the room Bulma turned to Vegeta and ran a hand through her hair.

"Vegeta tell me the truth. Is he ok?"

"For a human, I don't know. For a Saiyen, no."

"Why?"

"He's not been eating properly. He's living in a pig sty. He hasn't had a wash in days."

"And you just let him stay like that?"

"There was nothing I could say woman. He wasn't about to come without a fight. And the last thing he needs now is a fight."

"Vegeta, he's my only son. I want him here. Where I can take care of him. Take me to him. Please."

"No. I can't. He has to decide what to do on his own."

"But Vegeta, what if something bad happens to him?"

"Something bad already has happened to him."

She threw her arms round his neck and started crying into his shirt. He wrapped his arms round her waist and held her close to him.

"He'll come home soon. He's a Saiyen. He has to face this challenge sometime."