Thank you for coming to read the sequel! If you haven't read the first (Daisuki My Son, My Brat) then I strongly suggest you go and do that. This story will make more sense if you do.
I want to heal
I want to feel
What I thought was never real
I want to let go of the pain I've felt so long
-Linkin Park
"Dad, look!" Trunks burst out of the labor room after two hours. He was carrying a small bundle.
"You're grandparents, again!" He shouted happily. Bulma and Vegeta stood, looking at the wrinkled, sleeping face of an infant. Little Goku, who had been sleeping in his grandmother's arms, began to wake. Bulma tickled the newborn's cheek. They sat down. Goku looked at the baby.
"See Goku?" Trunks said to his first born, "Mommy and I told you that you were going to have a brother." Vegeta brushed a forefinger against his second grandson's cheek. The newborn grabbed his finger with his small hand.
"He's strong." said Vegeta, almost failing to suppress a smile. Trunks looked up from his new son into his father's face.
"Pan and I have decided to name him after you, dad. This is Vegeta."
"Are you certain you want to name him after me Trunks?" Vegeta asked soberly. There was a still silence. Trunks knew they were both thinking back sixteen or twenty-one years.
"Absolutely." Trunks answered.
"In that case," Vegeta took his new grandson in his arms, "perhaps you should put a 'Jr.' after his name. After all, the original's still alive." Trunks smiled and nodded.
The pain in his chest grew larger and harder to ignore. Yet he kept pounding his legs to move faster. His wife and sons were in front of him. He had to reach them before...no, he must not think like that. But then a crimson river swept around him. A red orb loomed before him, and he knew they were gone. His family was dead. All else evaporated, leaving him and the orb. It was only a red sphere, why did it frighten him so? But it did. He alone knew its power. It could take life, and it would, without mercy.
Trunks woke in a cold sweat. He entered the bathroom and soaked his face in cold water. He was scared by the nightmare. It seemed so real. He hoped it didn't mean anything, but then, he had had it for the past ten days...
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Goku, happy birthday to you!" Goku blew out the nine candles on his cake and everybody clapped. Vegeta stood in a corner, grinning oddly, like he was trying to hold on to bad attitude and join in at the same time. Trunks stood over Vegeta Jr., making sure he was participating appropriately in his brother's birthday. Bulma and Chichi cut the cake. (Well, the part Goku had not already eaten). Gohan and Videl waited patiently and Bulla was stopping Goten from eating the rest of the cake with his grandnephew/godson (Trunks and Pan named him godfather to Goku and Vegeta Jr.).
After eating most of the cake, the only way to settle Goku Jr. from his massive sugar high ("He's never going to sleep tonight." groaned Pan) was the temptation of presents. From Bulma, the original Goku's old child clothing. (Jr. dawned these perfectly). Chichi gave him school books (what else?). Vegeta Jr. presented his brother with a camping refrigerator already stocked (he had replaced the sushi with wax look-alikes and the gummy worms with real ones). Goten's was a collection of CD's from Goku Jr.'s favorite band (rock on!). Bulla gave him money (she forgot). Gohan and Videl's gift was a mini racetrack (it was last minute). From his parents, Goku Jr. was on the receiving end of soft fur and a slobbery lick as a puppy tackled him. Finally, Vegeta's was unwrapped and training weights were revealed (again).
"Dad, why do you keep giving him training weights?" Trunks inquired.
"Because he keeps losing them." said Vegeta gruffly. Trunks chuckled.
"He doesn't lose them, Vegeta steals them. He seems to have inherited you looks and your attitude." It was true. Goku Jr. was identical to Goku, including most personality traits while Vegeta Jr. was identical to Vegeta, except that he had navy blue hair instead of black. Vegeta smirked.
"Good boy. Oi, Kakarott-midget, c'mere." Trunks stopped his father.
"It's his birthday Dad, leave him alone." Trunks said quietly but firmly. His father's idea of an excellent gift was three days in the gravity chamber under 500g's. He remembered that all too well.
"Fine, he's your son." To hear those words come from the Prince's mouth was a little de-stabilizing. Trunks then noticed Vegeta Jr. tugging on his pant leg.
"Dad, can I go home with Bulma and Vegeta?" (Both Bulma and Vegeta refused to be called 'grammie' and 'grampy')... (Especially Vegeta).
"It's ok with me, but maybe you should ask them first."
"Bulma said it was fine."
"While that isthe deciding factor, you should be polite and ask Vegeta too." Jr. shifted his eyes to the Prince.
"Why?"
"You have a gravity chamber, we don't." Jr. explained simply. Vegeta's lips twisted into a smile, sort of.
"I assume this is overnight?"
"Yeah."
"Fine." Vegeta Jr. turned and left.
"Would you like to join us Trunks?" Vegeta offered.
"N-nani?"
"For old times sake." Trunks considered. Maybe it would be good, he had not trained in awhile, and he could spend some time with his son...but it was Goku's birthday. It did not feel right to go off training with his dad and Vegeta. Then again, perhaps a little distraction would be good for him, even put a stop to those horrible nightmares.
"Pan, I'm going to spend the night with Vegeta and Dad." Trunks told her quietly. Pan frowned.
"It's Goku's birthday."
"I know, I know, but he'll hardly notice me being gone with all his new stuff and by the time he does notice he'll be asleep." Pan stared at him with hardened eyes. She had become quite the motherly figure.
"I swear you're more like your father each day Trunks. Fine go gallivanting off under 500g's, just be back before noon tomorrow.
"We will." Trunks promised, kissing her gently. He then snuck out the back door where his son, mother and father were waiting.
"So, the woman let you go then." said Vegeta. Bulma put her hands on her hips.
"You just can't learn to use their names. That's Pan, you've know her since she was this tall," Bulma placed a hand down by her knees, "she's the woman our son married, remember?" Having gotten used to this argument and human humor over the years, Vegeta answered with a sarcastic
"No." and grabbed Bulma and rose into the air with Trunks and Vegeta Jr. close behind.
"This'll be an all nighter." Vegeta panted.
"You sure?" You might collapse; you're not as young as you used to be." Trunks's joke earned him a swift hit to the abdomen. Vegeta Jr. was punching the air opposite them. Trunks laughed lightly.
"I forgot, you dislike jokes.
"'Dislike' is an understatement." growled Vegeta. Trunks laughed again at his father's tone.
"Let's go." Vegeta challenged.
"Alright." Trunks accepted. They rose into the air. They shot fists and blast at each other for a good fifteen minutes; until two medium sized energy concentrations hit them both at the same time. They looked down to see Jr. with two outstretched arms aimed at them.
"You are having too much fun. Training is about pushing yourself to the limits, not squabbling and wasting precious energy." Jr. told them, as Vegeta and Trunks landed. Trunks had a wide grin and Vegeta was showing hints of one.
"We were training." Vegeta defended.
"I'm hungry." Jr. announced, ignoring Vegeta.
"I'm starved." said Trunks in agreement. Vegeta grunted his response.
"That means 'me too." Trunks translated for his son.
"I know." Vegeta Jr. said as he turned off the gravity and slammed the door on his way out. Trunks was silent for a moment, then plopped down on the floor and burst out laughing.
"He's just like you Dad!"
"Got a problem with that?" said Vegeta, shutting the door behind him.
"No fair." grumbled Trunks and then exited himself.
"Well, at least you know when to come out." Bulma said, handing them each a plate." Bulma said, handing them each a plate.
"There isn't a pair of killer androids coming either." retorted Vegeta. Another old argument, Trunks presumed.
"Would you two stop bickering?" Trunks sighed. He loved his parents, but really, could they just stop fighting for two seconds?
"I'm done." Vegeta Jr. said three minutes later. He stood up. Trunks pushed away his nearly empty plate. Vegeta had been done for a minute now. Without verbal communication, the three walked back down the hall and into the gravity chamber.
"Dad, block!" Trunks did, but even so, Vegeta's punch almost broke his barrier. It amazed him how strong his son was, and at only seven years! Then, without warning, Vegeta Jr. fell fast and hit the floor below.
"Dad!" Trunks protested.
"He should have been keeping a watch for other fighters."
"But that doesn't merit you coming from out of nowhere!"
"Even though these are peaceful times Trunks, you must keep your senses keen or when you must fight you will fail." Trunks was about to retaliate when his son spoke.
"Vegeta's right dad. I should have been paying more attention." Though still angry, Trunks could not say more because of Jr.'s position on the case.
"Let's turn off the gravity and show Jr. a real match." said Vegeta. Trunks's anger dissipated immediately.
"Absolutely!" He loved sparring with his father. He did not know why, although it probably had something to do with keeping old emotions at bay. He had long since been over his fear of fighting with Vegeta, in fact, he sparred with him as often as possible (which had not been for a year now) to stave off any old emotions he might still have.
"Who're you rooting for?" Trunks asked Vegeta Jr. He looked troubled and said,
"I don't know."
"Root for your father boy." said Vegeta. "There's hardly a stronger bond than that of father and son." Trunks gave Vegeta a quick grin and they spaced themselves approximately ten meters apart. There was a short silence before they began. They spent four minutes on the ground before taking the battle to the air. Neither side had an obvious advantage. Even so, the experience was very freeing to Trunks. Adrenaline pumped through his body. He had not really fought for so long and he could not believe how much stress he was releasing. He saw Vegeta transform to the SS level and was confused for a moment before seeing blonde hair in front of his eyes in place of the usual lavender. He had gone Super Saiyan without even realizing it. He almost laughed, but instead flipped behind Vegeta and landed a blow between his shoulder blades. Vegeta reacted with a punch that sent Trunks hurling into the cement below. As Trunks looked up, ready to stand and counteract, a repulsive, ancient emotion surged through him: hatred. Trunks thought up the fastest excuse out.
"I'm going to go check on Mother."
Trunks entered the living room. Bulma was reading a book.
"Hi mom." said Trunks, announcing his presence. Bulma looked up.
"What's wrong?" she asked immediately.
"Something strange." Trunks answered. Bulma stared at him quizzically.
"An old emotion." Trunks said quietly.
"Oh no..." Bulma's voice shook as she spoke. "You have to go back in there Trunks." Now it was Trunks's turn to be confused.
"You cannot let the feeling scare you away." Bulma explained.
"I guess you're right mother."
"I am." Trunks leaned over, gave her a kiss and a hug and returned to the gravity room.
The gravity was still off when Trunks entered the chamber. Vegeta had blankets in his hand.
"Jr. fell asleep." Vegeta explained, pointing to a lump on the floor. "In the middle of an energy disk too." He rolled out a sleeping bag.
"You're sleeping here?" Trunks asked.
"Well, somebody has to stay here with the whelp."
"I'll go get mine too then." said Trunks.
"No need." Vegeta tossed him a roll of fabric. "I already did."
"How thoughtful." Vegeta grumbled about the compliment, and even more when Vegeta Jr. started to snore softly.
"Little whelp."
"Dad, why don't you ever call Goku or Vegeta brat? Goku is 'Kakarott-midget' and Vegeta is 'kid' or 'whelp'."
"Because that's what they are. And 'brat' is a special name I reserve for you son." Trunks could not suppress a smile.
"Thank you Father."
"Now sleep. If he's anything like me, Vegeta'll wake up and turn on the gravity." Trunks crawled into his sleeping bag.
"Good night brat." said Vegeta, clapping his hands to shut off the light.
"Daisuki Father." Trunks felt much better about sleeping after saying those words.
First off, I'm glad you enjoyed the first one enough to come read the sequel. Secondly, if you haven't already guessed, Pan and Trunks are married and have two sons. Yes, I have seen all of GT ((and let me say the ending SUCKED)) and yes, I do know that Pan is the grandmother of Goku and Vegeta Jr. However, as Pan's favorite grandfather is Goku, I thought it would be very likely that she would name one of her children after him. As for Vegeta, well, I thought it was a good way to start the story. So this one heads a little away from the facts of the Dragonball reign and has a bit more otaku (fan) input. I also want to notify you that I'm not sure if this is a finished version or not. All the chapters from here on are subject to change at any time. I will notify you of new add ins/revisions.