Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Author's Notes: Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for my review, Omega. You helped me get over my writer's block. I hearby dedicate this chapter to you. And it's a good one.



Chapter 6: A Confrontation

The sun was unexpectedly hot that Saturday. Bulma, Chichi, and Videl were setting out mountains of food, jabbering away. Pan and Bra were arguing over who would be which Powerpuff Girl. Goku, Gohan, and Trunks had jumped into the water first thing, and were now acting like the over-grown children all men really are. Goten, after introducing everyone to Sarah, walked to the far side of the lake. Vegeta had insisted upon training a little that morning, and was a little late.

"Look at them," Videl said dreamily, gesturing toward Goten and Sarah. "I really think he's found the one."

Chichi nodded, smiling. She had liked the intelligence she had sensed from the girl, and the fact that she didn't look like a fighter. Just the girl to give Goten a well-rounded life. And Videl had not been so bad for Gohan. And, hey - grandchildren.

Videl suddenly snapped out of her uncharacteristically dreamy mood, prompted by the ever-increasing struggle between the two pint-sized part- Saiyans to be Buttercup. "All right, that's it! You either choose or you can both sit quietly, but the argument ends here!"

"But . . ." Bra began, but was quickly silenced by a hard look from her mother, who didn't even need to speak.

"Hey, why don't you both be Buttercup," a dripping Trunks intervened. "See, one Buttercup is from an alternate timeline who has come to warn . . ."



"So, what do you think of my family?"

Sarah sat by the lake with Goten, nervously slathering on sun block. "It feels like you live in a sitcom."

Goten laughed at the frank description of his loving, if kooky, family. Gohan had lost no time in teasing Goten in the way older brothers must hold a patent on. Goku had treated Sarah as he did everyone, friendly and with barely any conversational inhibitions. Pan had ignored her entirely. She was just another big person to Pan. But Videl and Chichi were the reasons they had escaped to the far side of the lake. There would be enough interrogation during the meal.

"Are you sure that's all of your family?" asked Sarah.

Goten scratched the back of his head. "Well, my dad was kind of adopted. He doesn't really have a family besides us. And my grandfather on my mom's side decided not to come. Other than that --," he ended with a shrug.

The two had been talking for a long time now. The more Goten talked to Sarah, the more he liked her. There was a passion that drove her, a flame behind her eyes. It was as if energy was ready to pour out of her. 'She would have made a great fighter,' Goten thought wistfully.

But Sarah had already shown confusion and disinterest toward his inclination for fighting. She had spoken with great interest, if a seemingly limited experience, about music, movies, books, and even branching into more academic areas. She seemed to want to drink knowledge in.

Goten suddenly realized that conversation had stopped, and the two had been staring at each other in a kind of tense silence. She was perfect, and before long, he just couldn't contain himself any longer.

He kissed her.

And it seemed Goten was suddenly complete. The kiss seemed to take all eternity, yet was over before he wanted it. The two seemed to have formed a link, beyond words, beyond reason. He didn't even think to apologize, or explain. Just to be in that perfect moment for all time.

"Goten! If you want any food, you'd better get over here with your girlfriend!"

Goten growled at the sound of his dad's yelling, shattering his perfect moment. Sarah smirked and rose from the grass in on smooth move. Goten stumbled to his feet, annoyed at his lack of grace around the girl. They began their trek around the lake.



Gohan chuckled at the sight of the two young people making their way slowly around the lake. "Man, when Goten won't rush over for food, you know he's smitten."

Bulma frowned, having spotted someone flying toward the picnic area. Within seconds Vegeta had landed. "Nice of you to join us at the last possible second." Despite her harsh words, Bulma was relieved Vegeta had come at all. Maybe he would loosen up now that he's had a workout.

"I'm here, woman," Vegeta retorted. "What else do you want?" Nope, he seemed tenser than usual "Vegeta-'I'm-the-Prince-of-all-Saiyans'-mode." His eyes kept shifting around, as if he expected a surprise attack from on of the bushes or picnic baskets. And his hands were clenched into fists.

Trunks tried to lighten his father's mood. "Don't look now," he said jocularly, "but Goten's brought a girlfriend."

"Why would I care about a stu ." Vegeta trailed off as he gaped at the girl at Goten's side.

Goten, slightly unnerved by Vegeta's uncharacteristic expression, tried to break the ice. "Oh, Sarah. This is Trunks's dad . . ."

But Goten stopped cold as he saw Sarah tense, and felt her energy level rise. For a moment, she and Vegeta gaped at each other. But before anyone could react, Sarah's mouth twisted into a smirk as she uttered the seemingly innocent yet dreaded words:

"Hello, Vegeta."