Trunks had been mentally preparing for an interrogation all morning. However, he never would have expected it to come from Goku of all people.

The Sons were having a large family gathering. Gohan and Videl were visiting with Pan, and they sat to the left of the new couple. Chi-Chi and Goku were seated to their right with Goku closest to them. The group kept the conversation friendly for a while, and just when Trunks thought he was safe with Pan there, Goku turned to them and asked, "so, are you two boyfriends now?"

"Trunks!" Goten laughed as he tried to help the lavender-haired man cough up his food. Goten had also expected his mom to do the talking, but was relieved to see that she had let his dad do the interrogation instead.

"S-Sorry. I'm fine now. Um, I think we are, right?" He looked over at Goten for confirmation.

The brunette smiled and grabbed his hand. "Sure are!"

Trunks felt an unidentified weight lift off his shoulders at the confirmation. He squeezed Goten's hand and used every ounce of his effort to keep from pulling his boyfriend in for a kiss. Lest Chi-Chi overreact again and chase him away with a ban on visitation.

Goku smiled at the two. "When did you two realize you liked each other like that?"

"Um." What was Trunks supposed to say now? Was he supposed to tell them that he knew even before breaking up with Mai? Admit that he had been misleading a poor girl for months because he thought he had no chance with Goten? Perhaps even admit that while he certainly liked Goten since they were kids, and that he started to suspect it was more than a friendly bond for him a few months back, Trunks was never able to name what he felt for Goten until talking with his future self? Even he winced at just how recent everything had played out. He knew he loved Goten, but were they moving too fast?

Goten interrupted his thoughts. Speaking up, the brunette answered his father's question while directing himself entirely at his mom. It's obviously her question. "I've liked Trunks for a few years now. I know something changed, but I don't think I knew what it was till a few days ago."

He, as well as Trunks, noticed the wide-eyed expression Chi-Chi made at the answer. Goten sighed as he continued. "I'm sure you guys don't actually mind the pace of our relationship." Not when you guys only had one date before marriage. He would never say those words out loud, though. He knew that the unstable history of their relationship hurt both his parents. His dad was drowning in guilt and frustration of not understanding relationships, while his mom struggled with insecurities behind how much her husband truly loved her. Still, he would fight them if they tried to keep him away from Trunks just because the pacing was a bit off.

Goku gave a defeated smile. "No, just curious. We had no idea you had stopped seeing your girlfriends, after all."

So, it's about that again. Goten remembered how disappointed his dad had been when he thought Goten had cheated on Valese. Truth be told, he still felt pretty rotten about how he handled his previous relationship. Still, he would be lying if he said he felt no relief in knowing it went so badly because he had actually been aiming for Trunks the entire time. Was it awful? Absolutely, but… Well, Trunks was irreplaceable to him. Goten would have always chosen Trunks first.

Trunks felt Goten squeeze his hand. Was it for reassurance? "Right, well, things were pretty messy even before we noticed our feelings, I think."

Goku glanced over at him confused.

"Well, um." Trunks shrugged. "Mai and I were never really together." Gotten gave him an annoyed look that read "are you shitting me?!" in neon lights and Trunks rushed to explain himself. "I mean, yes. We were always together but not actually together. We'd be in the same room, sure, but we always had our own things to do." Trunks turned a bit red in the face. "E-Even when we, uh, got together it felt like we weren't connecting." Trunks felt Goten squeeze his hand again and sighed. Given that he felt no pain from the gesture, Goten was fine with talk about Trunks and Mai being intimate. He was sure the same could never be said if the roles were reversed. "I guess that was a sign that we weren't going to work out after all."

"Not to mention he only called her his girlfriend to impress Goten." Videl giggled.

Trunks gaped at his boyfriend. Wide-eyed with a deep sense of betrayal. He watched as Goten shrugged at him with a sheepish smile. He knew that Goten had gotten pretty close to his sister-in-law. He even knew that Goten opened up to her more than to his own family. Even Gohan was kept in the dark for a lot of things. Still, it was embarrassing that more people knew about his start with Mai.

"Kinda counterproductive, don't you think?"

"W-Well."

Goten was unable to keep his composure anymore and began to laugh next to his flustered boyfriend. Chi-Chi, who was absolutely horrified by what she heard, admonished her son for laughing as it was "a very serious matter" and that Mai must have been hurt deeply. Obviously, Goten knew that Trunks never meant to hurt her. Even so, Goten felt extremely loved and absolutely entertained by the idea that Trunks was so bad at dealing with how he felt about him that Trunks started a relationship at an early age just to look cool for Gotten. What his mom said next, however, left him feeling torn.

"N-No!" Trunks tried to defend himself. "I promise I would never do anything to hurt him! Goten is, well." He was cut off by a rather irked Goten.

"Thanks, mom, for worrying about me but, for the last time, Trunks isn't like that! Yes, we both made mistakes in our previous relationships." Gotten almost glared at his mom. Meeting her eyes with an unwavering gaze. "I feel bad that they had to suffer because of our uncertainty, but." He shrugged. "I won't lie and say I regret what happened."

"Goten!" His mom shot up from her seat. "I didn't raise you to be—"

"And I'm not!" Goten cut her off. "You think we wanted to hurt them? I was happy with Valese, you know that! Things were fine, but they weren't great. I still chose Trunks over her and I always will! It doesn't matter who else comes, Trunks will always be my priority!" He huffed at the end of his tirade. His eyes glossed over again and Trunks gave his hand a squeeze before moving to caress the back of his hand with his thumb. Gotten smiled at his boyfriend before looking back at his mom. "I love him, mom. I think I always have, I just never thought it possible until now."

Trunks turned crimson. They had never really clearly stated how they felt about each other. Sure, they sort of confessed and then sort of agreed to try dating, but they had never outright said they loved each other. Hell, Trunks was sure they had never even said they liked each other. It just further cemented the reality that they had plunged into the relationship without really thinking about it. It made him smile, though. That was their style, after all. Strike first and ask questions later.

Goku smiled up at his son. "Well, that's enough for me."

"Goku?!" Chi-Chi gaped at her husband.

He laughed and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "You heard him. He loves Trunks. I don't think I've ever heard Goten say he loved anything other than food."

Chi-Chi contemplated those words. Her husband had a point. He had been really affectionate as a child. Back when Goku was absent, Goten would always tell her and Gohan he loved them. He had stopped being so affectionate shortly before Goku's return. So, her husband had no idea that Goten had said he loved others back then, but the fact remains that Goten had never since said he loved anything other than food. She sighed and settled down again. "I guess you have a point."

Videl smirked at Goten, who was now red in the face after his father voiced his observation. "Nothing but food, huh? I guess you must really love Trunks."

Oh no. Goten grumbled into his hands. Gohan chuckled a bit with his wife. "You know, I never noticed that."

"And I'm never forgetting it." She gave the boys a mischievous grin that had Goten shrinking into his seat.

"Please," Goten pleaded as he tried to will the ground to open up underneath him. He was one embarrassing comment away from begging them to end him instead of the conversation.

Goku laughed with the group. He had missed quite a bit of his youngest son's life. By the time Goku was resurrected, Goten and Trunks had already become inseparable. He had no memory of either one without the other. It reminded him of back when he had first met Bulma and Krillin. While they were never as inseparable as the two boys, Goku knew that his close bonds were still very rare and special. It made him feel somewhat accomplished knowing that the generations that followed them were still together. With a few changes, of course.

"So, is it serious?" Chi-Chi directed herself at Trunks.

"O-Of course." Trunks nodded. "I know this started all weird, but," he smiled over at Goten, who was still trying to get the floor to swallow him. "I can't imagine my life without him."

Goten, too floored by those words to notice the reactions of those around them, could only blush and smile sweetly at his boyfriend.

Trunks shrugged at him. Still answering Chi-Chi's question, but definitely meaning for Goten to hear. "He's my everything. I was just too dumb to notice it sooner."

The warmth of Trunks' hand touched Goten's cheek and he was all too happy to relax into it. A small chuckle escaping him as he looked at his boyfriend. "You're so sappy."

Trunks gave him a soft smile with a mischievous edge to it. "You saying you don't like it?"

"Of course, I do." Goten grinned. "I'm quite the romantic."

For a moment, the two forgot the world around them and gave each other a small peck. It took Chi-Chi clearing her throat for the two to remember they had company. Which left both with scarlet faces as they turned away from each other. Pointedly looking at their empty plates.

Goku was the first to laugh. Followed by Gohan and Videl, who thought it was time for some payback for all those times the boys teased them relentlessly.

It was that sight that had Chi-Chi feeling more reassurance. It was never that there was something wrong with them for liking the same gender. If anything, the fact that the family dinner had gone so well meant that it was right for the two to be together. Of course, she could still feel her personal bias keeping her from truly enjoying the moment, but seeing their open relationship had not ruined her appetite or sullied her mood.

She smiled at her son. Watching him silently as he helped pick on Trunks. Not a foreign display, but that ear-to-ear grin had grown wider. Those eyes that seemed to be unable to look away from Trunks were also new, and that hand that kept reaching out was something Chi-Chi never noticed in her son before.

Even when he was with Valese, the times he paced around waiting for Trunks to contact him severely outnumbered the times he stayed up waiting on his girlfriend. In fact, Chi-Chi only just now realized the lack of emotion Goten displayed when talking about her. Though, he still held a tone of fondness when describing their dates, he lacked the spark that usually appeared whenever he talked about Trunks. That glint of genuine excitement that had Goten almost yelling about their newest adventure. Even if all they did was play video games, Goten was happy to share how he defeated Trunks. He laughed, moved and gestured along with his stories, and his eyes sparkled.

While the group was distracted trying to embarrass the boys with childhood stories, Goku decided to check in with his wife. By no means did he agree with her stance on same-sex couples, but he loved her and would still check on her comfort level. He was pleasantly surprised to find her smiling at the boys. He leaned in so that only she could hear him. "Everything alright?"

Her smile faltered as she looked at her husband and sighed. "Goodness, Goku. How could I have been so blind?"

"What do you mean, Chi?"

She gestured back to their son. "Look at him. I think he's right. No one makes him as happy as Trunks."

"Does this mean you approve?"

Chi-Chi chuckled, "I won't lie. It's still strange to know that my son is with a man, but I prefer this. I mean it, Goku. I want my son to be happy, and if Trunks is the key to that happiness, then I want to support him."

"Even if it means you'll be uncomfortable?"

"Even so."

Goku beamed and closed in to place a kiss on her cheek. Chi-Chi almost caused herself whiplash with how quick she turned to meet his eyes. He had never taken the initiative before.

He simply smiled down at his wife and whispered, "I'm proud of you, Chi."

Videl had taken to helping Chi-Chi clean up after their lunch while Goten and Trunks took Pan outside for some fun. Goku and Gohan followed them outside but stayed close to the house and watched over them.

"You know," Gohan spoke up as he saw his daughter race the two men she considered her uncles. He smiled and added, "I think he picked a good one this time."

"You think?" Goku chuckled and clapped a hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm sure he did."

Gohan gave his dad a curious look. "You're being really supportive. It's not bad, but it's almost like you were expecting this."

Goku just shrugged. "There's just something different about Trunks."

"And what is that."

Goku winked and tapped on his nose. "Pay close attention to how he smells."

"Smells?" Gohan thought his dad was crazy more often than not, but this certainly took the cake. What did Trunks' smell have to do with anything?

Noticing his son's confusion, Goku chuckled and patted his back, but refused to explain anything.

They pushed past the confusing tip and started to talk about how their lives were going. Training was easily left out of the conversation, much to Gohan's pleasure. Goku was asking more about his work and family. Catching up on Pan's growth and sharing some stories he remembered of when Gohan was her age.

To say he was pleased was an understatement. Gohan was genuinely surprised by the flow of the conversation. He was so sure that there was nothing but training on his dad's mind, but there they were. Talking about anything else. Small talk led to story sharing until Goku finally broke the image Gohan had of him.

"You know I'm proud of you too, right?"

"What?" Where had that come from? A small voice in Gohan's mind told him it was because his father was actually quite disappointed. He only said he was proud to make Gohan feel better, but Gohan knew better than that. His father never lied.

Goku smiled without looking at his eldest. "All I've ever known was how to fight. When Bulma found me, all I did was survive. I'd go fishing, eat my meal, train a bit, then go to bed and repeat the cycle." His smile dropped a bit. A far away look clouded his eyes. "I had no idea what a girl even was. But you did. At that age, you were learning things so complicated that I still can't understand it all, and you kept going." Goku finally turned to face Gohan. His same reassuring smile that he usually flashed at Gohan prominent on his face. "It took some explaining from Piccolo. I won't lie, but I want you to know that I'm proud. I may not understand what you do, but I know it helps others, and that's all I wanted to teach you."

Gohan bit his lips. "T-Then, you're not mad that I stopped training?"

"No." Goku looked away again. Not used to opening up so much, he had a hard time keeping eye contact. "I used to think that fighting was the only way to protect people. That's all I knew, but you changed that. You helped me see there's different ways to help. Just like Krillin with his police work, or Bulma with her tech. As long as you're happy, what more could I ask for?"

Gohan could no longer hold it in. He began to sob next to his father. Piccolo had been the first to accept his passive nature. Had even argued with Goku to leave Gohan be. That was why he was so convinced that his dad would never understand and, therefore, would forever be disappointed in him.

Goku chuckled and comforted his son by patting his back. Apologizing for having taken so long to understand and voice his approval.

Goten glanced over when he heard his brother crying. Pan and Trunks were still hiding. So, he figured they had been too far to hear Gohan. Otherwise, Pan would have scolded her grandpa for making her daddy cry. Seeing how Gohan clung to his father's shirt, and the embarrassed grin on his father's face, Goten knew that it was a special moment and moved to keep the others away. When Trunks picked up on his attempts and asked what was wrong, Goten shook his head and leaned over to kiss his boyfriend's cheek. "Today's been perfect."