A secret I've kept locked away
No one can ever see
Wounds so deep they never show
They never go away

-Linkin Park

"Shush Trunks, it'll be alright."

"No! No it won't be alright! Father's gone!" The child was devastated by the night before. He knew his father was not the greatest, he knew they were not a normal family; he even knew they could be a statistic in a child abuse case. But up until last night, he never thought of it like that. His father forced him to be strong, he even separated himself from the family, but he had loved them in his own way. At least, that is what Trunks had believed, prior to waking up on the hardwood floor this morning. He snuggled closer to his mother.

"Daddy's just gone away for a little while." He started to cry, but was still trying to hold the tears back. "He loves you Trunks." The statement stung and tears came on full throttle.

"No mom, he doesn't. And he never did!" He wrenched himself free from her arms and ran upstairs and wrapped his father's blanket around himself.

Sweat beaded his body. There was darkness in front and black behind. He had no idea what he was doing...and then, he fell. Wind and heat burned his face. He was falling into a red river.

"Wake up! Trunks wake up!" Trunks opened his eyes to his father's face.

"Dad!" He was relieved. "You're here! Mother said you'd come back! I'm so..." he faltered, "I mean...uh...I-I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Vegeta said softly. "Now untangle yourself and go back to sleep." Getting himself out of the bag was a difficult task. He had tied himself into it well. When he finally got out he noticed Bulma in the corner. She walked forward and removed a device from his neck.

"Vegeta came and got me. It took this to wake you." She held up the device.

"Thanks mom." said Trunks. He looked over beside him. At least Vegeta Jr. had not woken.

"Good night." Bulma said.

"I love you." Trunks told her. Bulma closed the door as silently as she could.

"Sleep well this time." Vegeta ordered.

"I'll try." promised Trunks. Though nothing was said about Trunks's outburst, the air was thick with the thoughts. Trunks felt guilty for it. He knew he had aroused some very old and unpleasant memories, for both him and his parents.

"I really am sorry about my words earlier Father."

"No. That is mine to deal with and mine alone." said Vegeta sternly.

"It was just a stupid dream about the past."

"Which I began." While he did have to agree with Vegeta on that, Trunks simply rolled over and muttered,

"Just another stupid dream about the past." Mostly to himself.

"Another?" repeated Vegeta. Trunks answered with 'mm-hm' and closed his eyes, a fresh wave of sleep overpowering him.

"WAKE UP!" Trunks woke again, but this time to the face of his son.

"You're alive!" Trunks bellowed.

"Yes, I am. Bulma said-" Trunks wrapped Vegeta into a one armed hug.

"Uh, Dad? You're acting really weird and this is really embarrassing." Trunks did not relent. He was so filled with relief that he cried tears of joy.

"Not to spoil your 'father/son' moment, but breakfast is ready." interrupted Vegeta. Jr. seized the opportunity to dash out of the room. Trunks stood.

"Bad dream." He said shortly, and left.

Breakfast was finished quickly. Vegeta Jr. wanted to train more, but it was already 11:45 and Trunks had promised Pan he and Vegeta would be home by noon.

"Good-bye Vegeta, Trunks." Bulma said. "Come visit us more often, we get bored home by ourselves." Trunks smiled uncertainly, knowing they were both very busy people and were hardly ever bored, but said,

"Ok Mom, we'll try." Vegeta Jr. stared down the hall to the gravity chamber longingly.

"You can use it anytime." Vegeta said. Bulma bent down and hugged Jr., then straightened and embraced Trunks and whispered in his ear,

"No more bad dreams." Trunks noted it.

"Well Vegeta, we'd better be off." Trunks told his son.

"I mean it, come back soon. We need to finish our match." said Vegeta. Trunks nodded and he and Jr. flew into the sky.

"AND BRING KAKAROTT-MIDGET NEXT TIME!" Vegeta shouted after them.

Pan and Goku were outside in the front yard. Goku was helping his mother plant some sakura trees. Trunks and Vegeta landed in the backyard and walked around to the front (after all, they were not supposed to have been gone).

"Hello!" Trunks greeted. Pan and Goku turned around.

"DAD!" Goku took a running leap and latched himself onto his father. Trunks was caught off guard and fell to the mercy of the grass.

"How's the first day of being nine?" chuckled Trunks.

"Fun!" Goku busied himself with placing grass and dirt in Trunks's hair.

"You look silly!" Goku laughed.

"I bet I do!" Trunks lifted Goku off him and went over to Pan.

"How's my wife?"

"She's happy." Pan answered. Trunks embraced her and kissed her lightly.

"You guys are funny!" Goku laughed. Vegeta rolled his eyes and attacked his brother with an energy disk.

"Vegeta! What did I tell you about throwing energy disks at Goku?" Pan scolded.

"'Don't do it'." quoted Vegeta. "Sorry."

"Don't tell me, tell him!" With full knowledge of his mother's wrath, Vegeta walked over to Goku and extended his hand to help him up.

"I'm sorry."

"That's ok." Goku said, taking Vegeta's hand. As soon as he was up Goku smiled at Vegeta oddly.

"What?" asked Vegeta. Goku waited out a few more seconds before tackling Vegeta.

"You know what Trunks?"

"What Pan?"

"I think I might like them."

"Oh really? You wanna have another?" Trunks asked jokingly.

"Actually, yes, I do." Pan responded.

"Wait, you're serious?"

"Dead serious. I think we can handle three. What do you say Trunks?" Trunks looked over at Vegeta and Goku playing on the grass.

"I say let's go for it!"

"Really?"

"Yep! What did you think I was going to do?"

"Sit down and give me the logics of the matter."

"Well, I'm not."

"Good." Pan reached up and brought Trunks down to the ground.

"No fair!" Trunks complained, "You know I can't fight you!"

"Uh! Why not?" said Pan in an offended voice.

"Because, I won't win. That's why it's not fair. You're too stubborn!"

"So I'm just a stubborn little girl?"

"That's why I love you." confessed Trunks.

"At least I know you didn't marry me for my looks."

"Never! The fact that you're beautiful is just a bonus!"

"Thank you." Pan kissed him. The kiss was just getting more interesting when two objects hit them on both sides. The attack was a joint operation between Goku and Vegeta.

"Get a room!" Goku said loudly, hooking his arms around Pan's neck.

"You couldn't be more discreet." said Vegeta. Trunks broke out laughing.

He knew what it was now. He knew what the red orb was. It was a planet, and not just any planet. It was Vegeta-sei. Trunks wiped his face clean. He had to go there, something on Vegeta-sei threatened his family and he must dispose of it. Hold on a moment, this was stupid! It was a stupid nightmare with no basis in fact. Besides, Vegeta-sei did not exist anymore! Frieza destroyed it ages ago. Even so, there was still a warning note in Trunks's mind.

"Dad!"

"The answer is still no."

"But I need to train!"

"I said 'no' Vegeta."

"Goku can come too, and Bulma wants us to visit more often!"

"No."

"You could finish your fight with Vegeta." The temptation of a spar with his father was almost overwhelming.

"You really want to train, don't you?"

"Yes." Trunks sighed.

"Have you finished your chores?

"Yes."

"Has Goku?"

"Yes."

"What about your homework?"

"Dad, I'm in second grade, how much homework do think I have?"

"And Goku?"

"Yesterday."

"You're very persistent, you know that?"

"Yes."

"Ok, round up your brother and we'll go." Trunks relented.

"YES!" Vegeta shouted triumphantly.

"But if your mother finds out, you forced me under pain of quitting school, got it?"

"Sure."

"Get Goku and meet me outside."

"Goku's right here Dad."

"That was quick."

"Let's go." The three flew up in the sky in the direction of Capsule Corp.

"Mom? Dad?" Trunks called as he pushed open the side door. No one answered. Vegeta frequently went off on his own without telling anybody, but for Bulma to not be around was strange. Trunks motioned for his children to follow him inside. Vegeta Jr. was on high alert for enemy fighters and Goku Jr. was looking around curiously. Trunks led the way to the living room, where he was relieved to find Bulma lying on the couch.

"There you are Mother; I was worried when you didn't answer."

"I'm sorry Trunks, I'm not feeling well." said Bulma breathlessly.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just a little lightheaded, that's all. Nothing to worry about." She stood up. "Now, what can I get you all to drink?"

"Bulma, if you're not feeling well you should rest." said Goku, taking her hand and trying to make her sit back down. "We'll get you something."

"Nonsense. You're the guests. What would you like?"

"Mother," Trunks protested, "sit back down we'll--" Trunks did not finish his sentence because at that moment Bulma stepped forward and collapsed on the floor.

"Mother!"

"Agh! I knew this would happen! That stubborn, ignorant, stupid, idiotic woman!" Vegeta was standing with them.

"Dad, what's wrong?" asked Trunks hurriedly.

"Her heart. She's been lightheaded and breathless for days now. I kept telling her to go to the doctor but she wouldn't listen."

"We have to get her to the hospital! Goku, c'mere." Goku touched Bulma's shoulder.

"Right. Everybody hold on to me."

The group vanished and rematerialized in the emergency room.

"This woman has gone into cardiac arrest, she needs immediate attention!" Vegeta spoke loudly and clearly. Several doctors rushed in and Bulma was soon being taken care of. Trunks, Vegeta, Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. waited outside the room. Not one of them spoke except Goku, whose words were of optimism. Fifteen minutes had barely passed when one doctor came out of the room to speak to them. Automatically, the four of them rose.

"We've got a heartbeat and I think she'll be fine but I must insist that you not speak or visit with her until tomorrow."

"But doctor-" Trunks started but was cut off by the doctor.

"I will not be persuaded otherwise." With those words he disappeared back inside the room.

"Hospital food is naaaaaasty." Goku complained.

"Trunks, if you want to take them home-" Vegeta started.

"Please Vegeta; let us stay until we can see Bulma!" Goku interrupted.

"I'm inclined to agree." Vegeta Jr. said.

"We want to make sure she's all better!" Goku said, turning on a puppy dog face.

"I guess you have your answer Dad." Trunks said. Goku tugged on Trunks's sleeve.

"Dad, do you have any paper so I can make Bulma a card to tell her to get better and not get sick anymore?"

"I don't, but I'm sure if you ask the nurse at the counter nicely she'll give you one." Goku got up and went to see the nurse. Vegeta Jr. followed him.

"You're lucky Trunks." Vegeta said, "You got them, and they love you very much." He was twirling his spoon around in his mashed potatoes.

"Are you alright Dad?" Trunks asked.

"Am I alright? Of course I'm not alright. Damn woman telling me what's best for me and she won't listen to reason. Cares too much about other people and doesn't give a damn about herself. Might as well rip out that heart for all the good it does her. My koishii-" Vegeta stopped himself and looked extremely embarrassed. Trunks was slightly surprised at what Vegeta had just let slip out. He had, of course, been true to his word and let Bulma know that he loved them more often, but only in the house when there was no one around and rarely when Trunks was there. He had never let anything slip in public before, no matter how much stress was put on him.

"Dad, the doctor said she was alright. There's no need to worry." Trunks said in an effort to comfort him.

"Who said I was worried?" Vegeta responded gruffly. Vegeta Jr. and Goku Jr. returned carrying a sheet of paper and more crayons than they would ever need. Goku folded the paper in half and set to work.

By ten o'clock Goku was barely able to focus his eyes on the paper. Vegeta Jr. was already asleep in Trunks's arms.

"There, done." said Goku tiredly. His eyes were half closed but he still managed a grin.

"Can you make sure Bulma gets this Dad?"

"Sure son." Trunks said, taking the card. "Now you go to sleep." Trunks did not have to tell him twice. Goku flopped out of the waking world into Vegeta's lap.

"Hey kid!" Vegeta said, offended. "Do I look like a bed to you?"

"Father, just deal with it." sighed Trunks. After a minute or two Vegeta began to relax. Trunks took in the sight. His father had changed so much; it was almost hard to believe he was the same person. Trunks was harshly reminded of his question. Well, now was as good a time as any.

"Dad?"

"What?"

"Do you remember the first time you took me into the gravity room after—well, twenty-three years ago?" Vegeta snapped out of his haze. There was a pause before he answered,

"Yes."

"After I released that blast, and was looking down at you, I felt something...strange. At first I felt compassion, but then..."

"Finish."

"I-I wanted to kill you Father." The words were like a gunshot that shattered a wall. Words of suppressed thoughts cascaded from Trunks's mouth.

"...and then I was so scared I didn't know what to do. I've assumed that was the Saiyan part of me but I was scared I could never control it and I started wondering if it was what you felt when you looked at me, at anybody who you had been beaten. I didn't know what to do, what to feel—"

"Trunks, stop." said Vegeta quietly. Trunks did.

"In answer to what I think you're asking; the part of you that wanted to kill me was not Saiyan. It was human. Saiyans have incredibly strong family bonds and even though we're a warrior race we seldom turn on our immediate family members. Through most of our history the clans that were fighting each other were made of family. Even if a warrior were to disagree with his family, he would still fight with them. Humans, on the other hand, more readily turn on their family if they have a different point of view. So it has been true during this planet's history. They would kill a family member if they were angry enough; Saiyans would not, no matter the situation. Of course this is only true for one who is sane and has grown up with or near their family." Trunks looked down. It was his human side with that violent impulse. All this time he had thought the opposite.

"Don't think badly of your human DNA," Vegeta continued, "you had, and still have every right to be angry. In addition, that human trait was most likely amplified by the Saiyan desire for blood. Humans are better at controlling anger. At least, most of them. I have doubts about your mother. And especially Kakarott's widow."

"Chichi." Trunks reminded.

"Yeah, her." Trunks twitched his lips upwards a bit.

"Thank you for answering that father." said Trunks

"If it was bothering you, you should have asked years ago."

"I know; I just didn't want to destroy what we have regained."

"You could never do that Trunks."

"Thanks dad."

"Now get some sleep." ordered Vegeta. Trunks silently obeyed. He lay down on a couch in the waiting room and, placing Vegeta Jr. beside him, fell asleep.

Whee! Ok! Well, I'm doing my first major revision at the moment. It needed more angst
=). And Linkin Park lyrics are basically all I have. I have Evanescance too, but Linkin Park songs fit better. If you notice I am giving credit in those lyric things. I was going to tell you readers something really funny, but now I can't remember! Don't you hate that? I'll tell you something else though. A kid jumped off a boat and drowned because he wanted to meet Spongebob Squarepants.

And my instructor attached a lunge line to my horse and had me take my feet out of the stirrups.
She made the horse trot for about ten minutes while I bounced up in the saddle there. She also made me swing my legs in sync ((NSync! Haha! I'm funny! But really, they suck =/. And Nick Carter's ugly.)) with the horse. It was fun. But it hurt my butt bones. And my hip bones. =/ There's an interestingly random fact for you about my life.

I also hired new muses today!=D