I apologize for not updating this story sooner, but I have had a lot going on in my life. We closed on our first house (yay!), then moved, on top of a bunch of other stuff going on between all of that like ending up with a four week old baby kitten, we also had a baby, and now I am going back to school. Lol. Anyhow, I finally got the chance to sit down to start typing up this chapter. I hope you enjoy it and as always please review! By the way for many of you who have read Returning to Middle Earth, I am entertaining the idea of actually starting that back up. The ideas for that story have never left my brain so I figure why not, but I am still trying to tweak some ideas for it.
Chapter 6
Serena sat in the living room couch looking out the sliding doors to the outside seeing the sunshine on a beautiful day. It had been two months since she had gone shopping with the girls and since then she had been hanging out with them when they were free. However, she had been spending a lot of time with Trunks too, when she was not with her friends or family. The young blonde was starting to feel cooped up from being home over the past week. Trunks came in the living room from the kitchen to see the young blonde sitting there just starring outside, her sapphire eyes holding a longing look in them, and her lips in a small pout, which he noticed made her look cute. He knew she wished to go out, but she hated being a burden to him and so rarely left the house unless her friends or family was doing something with her or he asked her.
"Hey Serena, I was thinking about going to the movies. Did you want to join me?" He asked her as he made his way further into the living room. Serena turned to look at him ,which Trunks noticed right away her sapphire eyes lit up at the idea of getting out of the house.
"Sure, as long as you don't plan on seeing any horror movies." Trunks chuckled at the blonde's simple request.
"Deal." The two headed out to the movie theater, which was only about twenty minutes away. The two got there and walk up to it into see a young teenager at the register waiting to take their payment as well as the titles and times of the movies.
"Well, what about that one?" Trunks asked pointing to the title to the left causing Serena to giggle.
"Although I am interested in it, I doubt you would enjoy it."
"Why is it?" he asked her casually looking at her curiously.
"Because that is considered a chick flick as Gohan would say, which means it is a love story." Serena explained to him.
"Oh." Was his only reply.
"How about this, we go see that one, on the second row, at the very top." She pointed out to him.
"Why is that a chick flick too?" He joked to her causing Serena to giggle again, which he enjoying hearing all the time.
"No, it is an action movie, which has lot of fighting and explosions in it."
"Ok, that sounds good to me." Trunks replied happily.
*Two Hours Later*
Serena and Trunks came out of the movie theater with big smiles on their faces as they talked about some of the moments in the movie they had just seen, not even caring that the sun had settled down for the night and it was dark out.
"Wow, I complete believe that the guy said that." Trunks said shaking his head at the horrible line that was made in the movie.
"I think that was the point, to show how much of an idiot his character is in it." Serena said with a smile small on her lips.
"Maybe so, but they could have came up with a better way without having to say that." Trunks said to her looking charming with the smile on lips.
"True," Serena started to say before her stomach growled loudly in protest to the lack of food she had in it at the moment causing Trunks to smirk down at the blonde next to him. Then suddenly Trunks' stomach made the same exact noise before anyone could get a word in.
"I guess we are both hungry." Serena stated. Trunks nodded his head in agreement.
"Well, why don't we head over to the new Italian restaurant that just opened? It's only about two blocks away, and mom has been raving about how good it is." Trunks suggested to her.
"Sounds good to me." The two made there way down to the restaurant. It was very well decorated with numerous tables through the room to sit people. Once the two were seated, they each order a drink before looking at the menu to figure out what they wanted to eat. Both were quiet until the server came back with their drinks asking them if they were ready to order. The young couple only order two appetizers and one large meal for each to spare themselves an embarrassment of eating more than the normal human being. The server left to place their orders leaving the young couple alone once more to chat casually to one another.
"So any plans with the girls?" Trunks asked her as he took a sip of her drink.
"No, not really." She causally replied to him, but Trunks caught a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Why is that?"
"They are busy now with things going on in their lives. Amy is finishing her summer classes, Lita is getting mentored by one the most respected chefs in town while helping them open a new restaurant, Mina is modeling, and Raye is busy working at the Shrine while her grandfather is away at a retreat, Michelle and Amara are getting ready for Hotaru to go back to school, as well as they are since they are teachers themselves too." She easily informed nonchalantly while spinning the straw in her drink.
"I am surprised at how they did not put things on hold to spend more time with you." He stated simply quickly learning how protective the group of friends were of Serena. Serena smiled into her drink before taking a sip to put it down again.
"They were going to." She replied quietly lowering her eyes.
"But?" he asked her curiously with an eyebrow raised in question causing the blonde to look up at him.
"I told them not too and that they need to keep living life normally ,regardless of my condition. I didn't want them to put their goals and careers on hold just for me; it is silly for them to do that, when they have their whole lives ahead of them."
"Understandable, but I am surprised they did not fight harder on the matter."
"They knew I was right, although with a promise I had to keep, they were willing to do as I wish."
"And what promise would that be?"
"Nothing outrageous, they just want me to email them all daily about how things are going regardless if it is good or bad."
"It sounds reasonable to me."
"Your right, I just…." She looked down for a moment as her sapphire eyes swirled with guilt in them.
"What is it Sere?" He asked frowning at seeing her mood change so drastically during the conversation.
"I just hate telling them about the bad times. I feel horrible, because I don't want them to worry or anything."
"But it isn't like you are purposely trying to make them worry or anything, Serena, you are just living your life just as normal as you can, and that is part of it." He reasoned with her logically giving her hand a gentle squeeze in support, but he quickly had to pull away because their appetizers came.
The two ate their meals chatting happily about different things while enjoying each's company. The meal was over about two hours later with both young sayians stomachs now satisfied for the time being. As they walked Serena was explaining to Trunks the part of town they were in and how it has changed over the years. Trunks was interested in everything the young blond explained to him and his attention never wavered once. The young couple walked across the street and we're now at one of the many entrances into Juuban Park.
"So this is the park you were telling me about the other day?" Trunks asked her curiously while looking at the beautiful, colorful greenery for the first time. The park had beautiful trees though out it, with a dirt path weaving around the trees, with light posts every few feet along the path has well, to light ones way in the dark. There were nice benches along side the walking path with different types of flowers in the ground with mulch covering the ground that held them down.
"Yes, this is..." Serena started to explain. Trunks noticed the sudden stop of her talking and turned his gaze from the park to the young woman he was with standing to his left. She had her hands closed to her chest, with her eyes squeezed shut,how tensed her posture was, and her breezing going faster as well. He could feel her Ki erratically moving up and down. Realizing Serena was having an attack, he quickly scooped her up in his arms, carrying her princess style to one of the benches, sitting her down as gently as possible so as not cause her anymore pain. He reaching into his jacket packet to get Serena's medicine for her. He had a pill out of the bottle in seconds and in his palm.
"Sere, I have a pill here. Please take it." He coaxed her as quietly as he could. She opened her eyes, to see the pill in his palm waiting for her. Once her eyes were open, he raised his hand to her mouth to eat the pill out of his hand, which she did with no protest. Once the pill was in her mouth she tilted her head back to help her get it down better with no drink at moment. As she swallowed the pill, Trunks used his left arm to pull her closer to him, so she could use him as support until it was over. She laid her head against his arm, grateful for his help at this moment. The two sat in silent, for the next few minutes, Trunks' arm rubbing her back in an sign of comfort while his head rest against her. He sat there monitoring the young blond in his arms, noticing her breezing was normal, her muscles no longer tense, and her Ki back to normal as well.
"You feeling better?" He asked her quietly.
"Yes, it stopped." She said simply while enjoying the warmth and comfort being in Trunks' arms. The young blond did not want to move any time soon. Trunks while holding the blonde realized how right it felt holding her, when he noticed her shiver lightly. He realized the the temperature had dropped a bit since the sun went down just a few moments ago. Not wanting Serena to catch a cold, he pulled away from her enough to take his jacket off for her.
"Trunks, what are you doing?" She asked turning towards him as she felt his jacket get wrapped around her shoulders.
"Your cold, so I am putting my jacket on you to keep you warm." He stated in an obvious matter of fact tone to her.
"Trunks, that is sweet of you, but what about you?" She asked him concerned etched on her face as she let him put the coat on her.
"I'm fine. Besides I don't need mom coming after me because you got sick from being cold." He stated to her with a smile, althoug`h pleased to hear her still worry about him. The young blonde noticed how close their faces were to one another.
"Ok." She whispered, she knew his words to be true, and not wanting to cause Trunks any trouble she did not protest any further. Serena couldn't help, but stare into the icy blue eyes before her, just wanting to stay lost in them forever. She felt his breath lightly pass her lips as he breathed. Trunks noticed how close they were, to one another, enjoying the feel of having his left arm still wrap around her, laying on her left side, after helping to get his coat on her. He noticed how his coat swallowed her petite form, which he loved seeing her in it. Just as the small gap seemed to slowly close between the two, a sudden yell for their names brought the young couple back to reality.
Serena and Trunks both jumped turning their gazes towards the noise. The two saw Amy and Gohan coming towards them from a post light a few feet away lighting the area around enough to see them.
"Amy, Gohan!" The young blonde greeted happily, getting up to meet them. Trunks followed her feeling annoyed at being disturbed, but pushed the feeling aside not understanding why he was feeling that way.
"What are you guys doing here?" Gohan asked her in his big brother protective tone of voice.
"I could ask you the same thing, big brother." Serena mocked back, before sticking her tongue out playfully at him, causing Gohan to roll his eyes at his little sister, while Trunks just smirked, and Amy laughed.
"She has a point." Amy replied with a smile on her lips.
"Your suppose to be on my side." Gohan stated back glaring at Amy. Serena slung her arms around her blue hair genius with a smirk.
"You should know better. We girls always have each others back." Serena stated in a matter of fact tone causing Amy to nod her head in agreement with her princess.
"But I have to say I am shocked to see you two out now. I thought you both had some big test to study for?" Serena asked them curiously.
"We took our test earlier today. So now with all that hard work done, I got Amy to cut her studying early tonight to relax for a bit and to go get dinner." Gohan told them happily.
"Guessing you really had to pull Amy away from her books?" Serena asked in a teasing manner causing her friend to blush.
"I am only three chapters ahead of class." She said sheepishly.
"Three chapters! How far do you want to be ahead?" Trunks asked shocked to hear, earning a giggle from Serena, as she watched Trunks' response.
"Well, ideally, with having to be done a chapter a week with my class, seven to ten chapters is best." She said logically.
"Ames, I am all for you studying, but you have to take breaks, and relax, if not, you will wear yourself out." Serena reprimanded her friend concern obvious in her tone.
"See, I am not the only that worries about you over doing it." Gohan pointed out causally to his girlfriend.
"Yes, I know. I do hear you both of you." She replied to them in exasperation. Not wanting upset her friend, Serena decided to change topics.
"So do you two have any other plans for the night since you are done studying?"
"No, we were actually on our way home, although we were talking about going to the beach tomorrow. You two should come with us." Amy invited them happily.
"Sounds like fun. Trunks?" Serena asked before answering the question with a yes.
"Never been to the beach I have to admit." he replied back casually.
"Really?" Gohan said in surprise.
"Then that settles it! We are taking you to the beach tomorrow." Serena exclaimed gleefully, excited at the prospect of taking Trunks to the beach.
"Sounds like a plan is coming together to me." Gohan stated simply.
"I coud call the girls to see if any of them are free to join us. I know Lita is free tomorrow." Amy said to them.
"Yeah, that is a good idea. I know Raye was saying to me she needed a day away from the Shrine in her email to me." Serena suggested to her friend.
"Ok, I will see if the girls can join us. Once I know I will tell you know of a time to meet for tomorrow. And if I want to get a hold of everyone I better get home."Amy said looking at her watch realizing it was getting late.
"Yeah, we should get going too." Trunks said. Serena nodded her head in agreement. Once Gohan and Amy were gone, the young blonde felt a pair of arms pick her up by surprise, holding her so gently as if she would break if he moved to quickly.
"Trunks what are you doing?" She asked him.
"Heading home." He stated simply with a smirk on his face as he lifted up into the air. The young blonde just rolled her eyes, but said nothing, knowing it was not worth arguing over. As they took off in the cool night air, Serena laid her head on Trunks' shoulder feeling safe and relaxed in his arms. Trunks tighten his grip around her at the feeling of Serena laying his head down, feeling blissful at the moment. The young couple flew in silence, nothing needed to be said. Just then Trunks saw his house was in view, he could see there was a man walking up to the front door, and did not recognize the Ki. Serena felt Trunks tense up all of sudden, making her worry.
"Trunks, what is wrong? Why are so tense?" She asked him, which he could hear the concerned easily in her voice.
"Sorry, old habits. Someone is at the front door, but I don't recognize the person." He explained to her. Serena turned her head to see, as Trunks was about to land in the yard. She recognized the tall, black hair, lean built person in a instant. As soon as Trunks landed, she jumped out of his arms, excitingly, with a bright smile and her eyes lite up.
"Darien!" She exclaimed happily. At hearing his name, Darien turned just in time to catch the young blonde in a hug. Trunks watched Serena hug this other man, causing a bubble of jealously to rise up in him, all of sudden. Not quit sure why he was feeling this way, he shoved it back down before something happened and schooled his face to look indifferent regardless of his true feelings as he made his way towards them.
"I thought you were in America?" The blonde asked him as she pulled away.
"I was. I am on a small break at the moment and thought I come home." He answered her, but before she could respond the sound of someone clearing their voice from behind them c aught her attention. Serena realized she completely forgotten about Trunks.
"Oh, Trunks," she started by coming back to stand between both men. "This is Darien, Darien this Trunks." Serena introduced the two men before her.
"Please to meet you." Darien said extending his hand. Trunks returned the shake.
"Same. I will give you two some time alone." Trunks replied to them. Serena nodded her head in understanding.
"I didn't know he was back, how long has he been in this time line?" Darien asked once Trunks was inside. Serena turned her attention to the young man before her, hearing his question. Darien was able to get a good look at the blonde as she watched Trunks retreating form. He noticed the oversize purple jacket she was wearing, which he assumed belong to Trunks.
"He has been back a few months now." She responded to him. "But I have to ask, what brought you back to Japan?" At hearing her question Darien demeanor change all of a sudden. He had a frown with a serious look on his face.
"About that..." He started "The girls contacted me a little while back about you." Darien felt unsure of where to go next, but she realized where the conversation was going.
"Let's go sit in the back yard before we start." Serena replied kindly to him. Darien nodded his head in agreement, following the young blonde to the Brief's backyard, to a picnic table that was close to the doors she had been looking out earlier that day. The two friends sat across from one another.
"The girls told you about what happened to me." She stated to him bluntly with a frown on her lips getting straight to the point. She sighed to herself for not realizing sooner that was why he was back.
"Yes, and I just can't believe it. After everything we have been through together Sere,it comes to this?" He questioned her in disbelief. Serena snorted knowing she had thought the same thing he had.
"Yes, after countless battles, dying to save earth, here I am with a disease that is killing me regardless of my sayian and lurniarn blood running in my veins, and there doesn't seem to be a damn thing I can do about it, and this is my reward for all of it." Serena replied disgusted about the whole thing. Darien was about to ask a question, which she held her hand up to stop him, from asking yet a small smile was on her lips. Although the two were no longer a couple she could still read him like a book. "I tried the crystal and it did not help." Darien nodded his head solemnly,reaching out to take Serena's hands into his.
"Why didn't you call me and tell me? We may not be together anymore, Sere, but I do still care about you." He told her honestly, the millions of emotions running through him, at hearing the harsh news from Serena's own lips.
"Darien I know that, and I didn't tell you for the same reasons I didn't tell my family or the girls. It was not worth ruining everyone's happiness that we all had gained finally only for it to be shattered by this." She responded to him with the same smile still gracing her lips. Darien shook his head with a smirk on his face at hearing her words.
"Typical meatball head trying to protect everyone still." He said his tone lighter with amusement in it. Darien was happy to hear her reason had nothing to do with their break up and as always, about her big heart, which was one of the many reasons he cared for her.
"But since we are on this topic, there is something you can do for me." Serena said her tone once again serious.
"Of course. What is it?" He asked, wondering what her request could be. It was not very often Serena did such things, but when she did they were not to be taken lightly.
"You need to tell Trista how you feel about her." Darien's jaw dropped in shock not expecting Serena's request to be that, or for the fact she knew that he had feelings for the guardian of time. Serena giggle lightly at seeing the prince before her react at her request.
"I don't know what you mean, Sere." Darien counter defensively trying to hide the truth from her. Serena rolled her eyes as Darien tried to deny his true feeling for their friend.
"Darien it has been obvious for some time of your feelings towards Trista. I want you both to be happy, but I know damn well no matter what I tell her, she will never act on her feeling for you. She won't do it because of her duties of the gates and me. Therefore you are going to have too, and you two deserve to be happy, just like the rest of our group does."
"You are not mad?" He asked her.
"No, but I don't want you to wait in telling her how you feel. Take it from me, because you never know when it could be too late Darien." She pleaded with him squeezing his hand in effort of showing her support to him. Darien nodded his head in agreement with the blond before him.
"You are right. I will, and thank you Sere." Serena smile happily for the prince in front of her.
"And since you are in town, the girls, Trunks, Gohan and myself are going to the beach tomorrow. Trista will be there, so you should come with us and no is not an answer that I will accept." Darien chuckled at the invitation she was giving him to come to the beach with them all.
"You know, if I didn't know any better I would say you were trying to play matchmaker Serena Son." He joked with her the mood between the two good friends now lighten. Serena gave this don't know what you are talking about look to Darien. Darien just shook his head at Serena's usual antics.
"Well, I should head to my hotel for the night, it is getting late." He said starting to get up. Serena started to yawn as she got up herself.
"I am glad I got to see you again Darien. I will see you tomorrow?"
"Yes, you will." The two hugged one last time before they pulled apart."By the way I like the new hair, but you'll always be a meatball head to me." He said with a smile. Serena smiled back at him, rolling her eyes at the old nickname.
"Yeah, yeah. Good night Darien." She stated as she headed to the sliding doors.
The next morning Bulma came out of the kitchen with a huge bowl of eggs, and bacon to put on the kitchen table with hash browns already on the table with juice in a glass container ready to be poured. Just as she put the food on the table Vegeta and Chibi Trunks came in. As Vegeta and Chibi Trunks started to pile the food on their plate, Bulma sat down in a chair where her cup of coffee was at, just staring into it, trying to stay awake. Vegeta noticed his wife was just staring into her coffee, which he was not surprised to see, since she never came to their bedroom to get some sleep. After he finished putting his plate together, he grabbed another one, filling it up with some food before putting it down in front of her to eat. The plate of food, put in her line of vision brought the aqua hair woman back to reality to see her husband walking back to his seat to eat.
"Thank you Vegeta." Bulma said quietly grateful for the kind act he rarely show in front of others. Vegeta just grunted his reply back, as he started digging into his food. Chibi Trunks who had witnessed the small act of kindness from his fatherknew better than to say anything about it. Although his father acted tough in front of them all, the young boy knew his father loved his mother very much no matter how often they fought. The three sat in silence for a few minutes eating their food, when Vegeta broke it with a statement.
"You were in the lab again." He stated before taking a drink of his coffee. Bulma looked at her husband, knowing full well he was not happy that she had been away in the lab for two days without any sleep. She could feel his concern through their bond.
"Yes, I was. I am sorry, I lost track of time." She apologized to him, hoping to avoid a fight at the moment, as she did her best to keep a yawn back. Vegeta wanted to be angry with her, but he knew her reason for being in her lab so much lately had to do with Serena's illness, not playing with inventions, and he could not fault her for trying save the young blonde, because he knew if he was in Bulma's shoes, he do exactly what she was doing.
"Well, you need to take a break from that damn lab woman. I don't have time to watch over you to make sure you don't hurt yourself. After breakfast you are to take a nap." He ordered her with the usual amount of arrogance in his voice. Before Bulma had a chance to reply back, Serena came into the dinning room wearing a light blue short sun dress, with flip flops, sunglasses on her head, and her golden blonde locks tied in a braid.
"Good morning." She greeted the family happily with a smile on her lips,her sapphire eyes shining brightly.
"Good morning, Serena." Bulma said happy to see the young girl before her in good spirits as she made a plate of food to eat quickly.
"Where do you think you are going?" Vegeta asked the young blonde, eyeing how short her dress was. Serena smirked at the older sayian before her, knowing full well, he did not approve her attire just by the way he was looking at her. As she grabbed the container that held the juice, she pecked the older sayian a quick kiss on the cheek, before he could protest about it.
"Trunks and I are headed to the beach today. We are meeting Gohan, Amy, and our friends there to spend the day with them." She explained to them all as she took bites of more food into her mouth.
"Serena can I come with you?" Chibi Trunks asked excitedly at the idea of going to the beach.
"I don't see why not," She started thoughtfully, "as long as Vegeta and Bulma are ok with it." She finished saying before walking back to the kitchen with her empty plate to put in the sink to get wash.
"Mom, can I?" The young lavender hair boy asked using the most innocent face possible to get his mother to say yes.
"I don't see an issue, unless your father has any objections to it." Bulma replied to her son with a smile before looking at her husband with a particular look on her face. Vegeta knew where Bulma was getting at since their son had been a handful lately. The last thing they needed was for Serena to get stressed out because of Chibi Trunks' behavior. The young boy patiently waited for an answer from his father. He knew better than to be pushy about it, because if he was, his father would only say no, and instead have him train with him.
"You can go, but, I better not hear from your mother or that idiot Kakorott that you stressed Serena out." He said coldly to his son glaring at him the entire time. "I don't have time for that idiot, and your mother is annoying enough without getting her more upset about Serena." He finished saying as he took a drink of his coffee. Chibi Trunks nodded his head, signaling he understood his father. Chibi Trunks knew that he best be good or he would face his father's wrath. Bulma rolled her eyes at the comments her husband was saying to their son.
"Your such an asshole Vegeta." Bulma growled out while glaring at him. Vegeta just gave his wife that cocky smirk knowing he had pushed the right buttons.
"And your point is?"
"Easy, stop being an asshole." Serena answered sweetly only having heard the last two exchanges between Bulma and Vegeta as she came back into the room. Vegeta just glared at the young blonde who only smirked back unfazed by Vegeta. Vegeta just mumbled something about disrespectful brats, before finishing his coffee. He then got up storming off towards the training room for the day.
"So Chibi are you coming with us?" Serena asked while ignoring the full blooded sayian.
"Yeah, I can." He replied excitedly with a huge smile and eyes lite up at the idea of going to the beach. Serena giggled at Chibi's happiness, but looked down at her watch to see how much time he had to get ready.
"Well, you better hurry. You only have fifteen minutes to get ready before we head out." She explained to the young boy. He was out of his seat before another word was said to get ready to leave.
Thirty minutes later Serena, Trunks, Goten and Chibi Trunks were walking down the sandy path that lead to the beach. When they came to the end of it they were met with a wide area of golden sand before them with the blue ocean washing ashore with it's cold water. There was other groups of people, that had come to the beach to enjoy the beautiful, warm weather and ocean for the day. The young blonde scanned the different groups on the beach until she found the one she was looking for. She could see her older brother helping Amy set their spot up while it appeared the Lita and Mina had just arrived and were hugging one another. Serena turned to the group she was with, gracing them with a bright smile on her face. The excitement showing in her sapphire eyes, making the blonde even more beautiful Trunks thought to himself. He couldn't help but smile back at her, happy to see her just having fun and being carefree.
"Gohan and some of the others have arrived and are over there." Serena told them as she pointed in the direction they had to head towards.
"Alright! Last one there is a rotten egg!" Yelled Chibi gleefully before taking off to go find the group before anyone could stop him.
"No fair Trunks!" Goten yelled running after his best friend who was ahead of him. The two just made Serena giggled at them. Trunks walked up to be next to Serena while carrying the cooler in his hands. Serena turned around to see Trunks just starring at the ocean and the beach before them in total awe.
"Trunks, what's the matter?" Serena asked him concern obvious in her tone and eyes. The question made him remember he was not alone, tearing his gaze from the view before him to look at Serena who was standing before him.
"Nothing, I've never seen the beach. So this is what one looks like, huh?" He asked her as he took it all in. At hearing his words Serena realized how much he missed out on being able to do in his own time. It broke her heart to think of some of the normal things families got to do, yet Trunks never was able to those same things.
"Was it because of the androids?" She asked him simply, a frown on her face, knowing the answer to the question.
"Yes, because it was never safe enough to go. Mom had hoped one day to be able to take me after they were destroyed.
"That is so sad." She replied back quietly at hearing about his past for the first time since he returned. Before Serena could say anymore on the matter, a familiar voice yelled her name. The two turned there attention to see Mina and Lita running up to them with bright smiles on their faces.
"Serena, you made it!" Mina exclaimed happily as she and Lita tackled their leader causing the young princess lto laugh, while dropping her bag she was carrying. Trunks smiled glad to see Serena having fun with her friends.
"Awe, I have missed you too." Serena replied back in the hug. After hugging the three friends untangled from their embrace, Serena began adjusting her sunglasses back onto the top of her head that had fallen down. As she righted herself, Lita was stepping back a bit when she noticed Serena's bag on the sand next to her. The young brunette picked it up.
"Hey, Serena is this your bag?" She asked her friend. Serena looked over to see the senshi of Jupiter holding her bag in her left hand.
"Yes, it is. Thank you for grabbing it, I can take it." She offered as she held out her hand to take her bag.
"No, I can carry it for you." Lita stated simply as she slung the bag over her shoulder. Serena frowned at the way Lita was acting towards her. Trunks noticed the frown and the annoyed looked Serena had in her sapphire eyes, quickly started to react to keep Serena from getting more upset.
"Sere, let Lita carry the bag, so you can pick a spot for this stuff to go to faster." Trunks replied causally to her with his most dazzling smile to her. Mina stood by, watching the whole exchange quickly realized what Trunks was trying to do.
"Come on, Lita and I have to set up too, and can help us pick a spot." Mina said happily as she dragged Serena over to the rest of the group.
In fifteen minutes Serena and Trunks had their spot picked out and everything set up for the day of fun ahead of them. Just as the young blonde finished laying down the last towel, she noticed the rest of the group arrived. Serena grew a big, bright, smile on her face as she made her way to the others to greet them. Trunks watched from his spot on the beach as Serena chatted with the new arrivals.
"Aren't we lucky to be surrounded by nine beautiful women all day long." Came a familiar deep voice to Trunks' right side. The young lavender hair man turned his head to see Gohan by him with the Son trademark smile on his face. Trunks just smirked at his friend.
"Yeah, we are." He agreed with his friend,but he couldn't help to think that there was one that was the most beautiful girl out of the group. As he turned his gaze back to watch a certain blonde half sayian talk to her friends excitedly he noticed how she started pointing ahead of her. Trunks, Gohan and the girls all turned their attention to see what she was pointing to. Walking on the beach in swim shorts, t-shirt with a towel in his left, and black sunglasses on his face was Darien. Trunks watch as recognition cross all the girl's faces to be quickly replaced with bright smiles at realizing who was joining them.
"Darien is back? When did he returned?" Gohan asked in surprise.
"Not sure. He was at our house last night to see Serena." Trunks explained simply, schooling his features and tone to seem uncaring at the arrival of the other man who seemed to bring out his jealousy side for some unknown reason the night before.
" I am going to go say hello." Gohan stated before taking off in the direction the others were at. Ignoring the group of friends that were catching up, Trunks turned around to take off his tank top, he was wearing, laying it on the towel so as not to get sand on it. When he turned back around to see Serena standing before him just starring at him, as her sapphire eyes looked over his body. The young blonde noticed how his chest was well defined, with muscles, as well as his abs too.
'Kami does he look good with no top on.' She thought as blush crept on her cheeks as she checked him out. Trunks' pride grew and smug smirk came on his face as he saw the blush appear on her cheeks as she looked him over.
"Enjoying the view." Trunks asked with the smug smirk still on his face. Serena rolled her eyes at hearing the comment with the tone in his voice that made him look and sound a lot like his father at the moment.
"No, just shocked that you were willing to take your top off." She lied back to him smoothly so as not let him know of her real thoughts. She the proceeded to take off her sundress to reveal a light blue two piece bikini on, showing off her tone abs, arms and legs. Trunks couldn't help it, but think she looked good herself.
"Hey, Sere!" Lita yelled gaining the blondes' attention before she realized she was being watched. "We were going to play a game of Volleyball. Amara and Michelle just finished setting up the net. Do you two want to play?" The brunette asked them.
"Yeah, sounds like fun." She responded back.
"Awesome! I'll let the others know. We will start in about five minutes." Lita stated before turning around to let the others know. Serena nodded her head in understanding as her friend left. Serena realized then she hadn't seen the boys for a while and used their Ki to locate them. It only took her a second to find the two playing with Amy near the shore line. Serena smiled glad to see the three having fun since she knew the boys loved hanging out with Amy.
"So what is volleyball?" Trunks asked her bringing the young princess before him out of her thoughts. She turned to him to answer him.
"Come over to the net and I will explain it to you." She replied back to him. Trunks nodded, following her over to the net where the others were at. Once by the net, Serena with the help of the others explained to Trunks the basic of the game and rules. It only took a few minutes, but Trunks felt confident enough to play the game once the concept was explained to him. After the rules were explained the groups of friends broke up into teams. One team consisted of Serena, Trunks, Michelle, Hotaru, and Lita. The second team was Darien, Gohan, Trista, Mina, Raye, and Amara. Once the teams were decided the game began.
An hour in a half later of playing in the hot sun, everyone decided it was time to take a break. At hearing this Serena made a break for the ocean to cool herself off and relax. She ran right into the water laughing all the down, until right before diving into the biggest wave that was coming towards her. When she came back up she found the inner senshi and Hotaru with her all smiling too. The close friend having followed their leader into the water not to far behind her.
"I have to say Amy this was a great idea." Raye stated blissfully causing the bluenett to blush at the compliment.
"Yeah, I have to agree with Raye, especially with Darien coming home." Mina stated while the others nodded her in agreement.
"Speaking of Darien, where did he go? I don't see him?" Hotaru pointed out as she shielded her eyes from the sun as she searched for the earth prince.
"You're right. I don't see him either. I also don't see Trista either." Lita said.
"Good, it's about damn time already." Serena mumbled out loud as she swam leisurely on her back in the ocean. The comment made the others' head snap to look at their leader wondering what she knew.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Rayed demanded hotly with a glare in her violet eyes.
"Yeah, Sere, what aren't you telling us? Mina asked her just as curious as the others. The questions from her friends made the blonde stand up in the water as she realized she said her thoughts out loud.
"What." She replied back trying to look as innocent as possible to them.
"Not uh. That is not working on us. Spill it girl." Lita said sternly, crossing her arms with a frown on her lips. The young blonde rolled her eyes at her friends for wanting to know so bad.
"Isn't it obvious. The two of them disappeared." She said calmly to her friends.
"Wait...you mean Darien and Trista like each other?" Amy questioned realizing quickly where Serena's line of thinking was going. Their leader just smirked before her.
"Oh no, they are both in love with each other and have been, but refused to do anything about it because of me." She explained to the group in a matter of fact tone a smirk on her face.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming." Raye admitted in a shocking tone of voice.
"That explains why he has been glancing at her so nervously today." Hotaru replied to them, with a smile on her lips, happy to hear Trista has found someone to make her happy.
"Wait, you said because of you. What do you mean by that?" Mina asked her friend.
"Their duty to Serena being our princess. We all have felt the need to put our wants in life on hold because of our senshi duty to protect Serena." Amy responded logically to her friends, knowing exactly how they felt. Amy had been in the same situation with Serena's brother. Serena told her not stop setting her feelings aside for Gohan because of her, and to tell him how she felt. If she didn't then she had threatened the genius with telling her brother herself. Serena nodded her head in agreement.
"Yes, that, and Darien was worried I would be upset about his feelings towards her. I told him not to wait because it could end up being to late in the end and we were all meeting here today." Serena finished explaining with a smug smirk on her lips still.
"Well, if you are going to be dishing out all of this advice then I think it is time you follow it too." Amy confronted her with a smirk of her own on her face and a mischievous glint in her eyes. Serena looked at Amy stunned at her for one it was rare for the quiet, shy Amy to be confrontational and two, she had no clue where Amy was going with her comment.
"I don't know what you mean." Serena stated honestly to them.
"Now, this is getting interesting. Tell us Serena." Raye asked wanting to know more.
"I have no clue what she is talking about."
"Amy, care to fill us in?" Hotaru asked her with a smirk on her lips.
"Let's just say she looked a little cozy with Trunks in the park last night when we ran into them."Amy stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Amy! He was helping me after an attack that is all!" She defended in attempt to stop them from thinking their was something going on between her and Trunks.
"The park? Now, that is romantic." Mina stated with a giggle and a waggle of her eyebrows. Serena rolled her eyes at the senshi of love's behavior.
"We only stopped because of my attack. Besides, I was just showing him what the city may look like in his time before the androids attacked." Serena tried to reason with them.
"So you picked the park to take him?" Rayed questioned with her own smirk. Serena sputtered trying to come up with a good argument for that.
"It was the direction we were coming back from since we went to dinner. " She replied back to them hotly.
"Dinner!" The girls all exclaimed at once at the blonde. Serena started blushing feeling mortified as she kept digging a deeper hole instead of getting out of one.
"So you went on a date?" Mina teased her. Serena sighed heavily knowing she was never going to stop their line of questioning.
"No, it was not a date. It was just two friends having fun." Serena replied exasperated.
"Serena is in denial." Mina giggled to her friends. The senshi of love was sure of what they were saying, but had a feeling their leader just had yet to discover her own feelings towards a certain half sayian.
"Regardless, Serena, I saw the way you were looking at him last night. It was obvious, how you feel about him." Amy said in a comforting voice to her friend.
"Just as it is today." Mina added, while winking at Serena.
"Serena if you have feelings for him, you need to act on them too." Raye stated putting her a arm around Serena's shoulders in a effort to comfort her friend.
"She is right, plus, Sere he has a hot body, and if I were you, I would be all over him." Lita stated with a dreamy look in her eyes. Serena loved how supportive her friends were being about her love life, but they were forgetting one detail that is stopping her from ever being able to pursue such things. She looked at them with a frown, her sapphire eyed no longer bright with happiness, but filled with sadness instead.
"Even if I had feelings for anyone I can't." She mumbled solemnly.
"Why is that?" Rayed asked her, not liking the way her leader's attitude had shift so drastically. Serena being this sad never seemed right to her, and was so rare to see her acting this way.
"Because I am going to be dead within the year." The girls' smiles all faded at hearing her answer. They had all been having such a good time that they had forgotten about Serena's condition. Before anyone could say anything more on the subject could be said splashing caught the small groups' attention. They all turned to see Trunks, Gohan, Michelle, Amara, Chibi, and Goten coming out to join them. The frowns on the girls' did not go unnoticed by Gohan and the others as they made their way to them.
"What are you six talking about that is so serious?" Gohan asked the group as they approached them.
"Oh, nothing important. I was telling them how horrible this guys was being to me after my audition." Mina lied to him casually for her princess' sake.
"Yeah, we told her we all go beat the shit out of him for her." Lita stated with a savage grin on her face, making her seem like sayian at that moment, in prospect of fighting.
"Well, enough with the frowns. It is time to have fun." Gohan stated loudly before he grabbed Goten and threw him towards the girls. Goten was laughing as he was falling towards Lita who had her arms out ready to catch him, which she did in the nick of time.
"Gohan you are such an jackass!" Raye yelled at, her temper starting to show as she splashed water at him.
"Raye! Only I can call him that!" Amy joked as she attempted to hit Raye with water, but missed, hitting Mina instead.
"Amy!" Mina laughed as she went after her blue haired friend for getting her. Serena stood by laughing as she watched the water fight unfold with her friends until a voice caught her attention.
"What are you laughing at?" Came a familiar smug voice from behind her. The young blonde turned around to see Trunks standing behind her with a devilish smirk.
"What?" She asked looking as innocent as possible as she bat her eyelashes at him. Trunks had to admit she looked hot looking at him like that. The sayian in him suddenly had this feeling to scoop her up and kiss the day lights out of her, but he refrained from doing that, and instead grabbed her with his quick reflexes.
"Trunks!" She screamed in surprise as she tried to get out of his hold, but he was much stronger than her. He then tossed her lightly into the ocean. The young blonde landed into the water coming up a few seconds later, brushing the wet strands of hair out of her eyes and spitting out water. Once she could see again, she looked around until her blazing sapphire eyes found it's target. Trunks stood in waist high water, with a smug look on his face, laughing at the blonde before him. She stood their glaring at him until an idea came to her. She took a deep breath before diving under water disappearing from his view. She pushed her Ki low as well, so he would not be able to find her that way too. Trunks searched the water trying to figure out where the little blonde vixen would come up. All of a sudden he felt his swim shorts start to fall, so out of instinct he put his in the water to stop them from falling. When his hands went under he found two smaller hands suddenly grasp his, pulling him harder than he had expected, causing him to go under the water. Serena came back up with a huge grin, her sapphire eyes lite up from her victory, while Trunks came up, sputtering water, while Serena laughed at him. Before Trunks could go after her, he was suddenly ambushed by his younger self, while Serena was playing with her little brother, Goten. As the group of friends played in the ocean all you could hear was laughing and splashing.
After some time later the water battle ended. Goten and Chibi were back on the beach playing, Gohan and Amy went for a walk, and the rest were in the ocean enjoying the cool water while chatting.
"So Lita when does the new restaurant you have been working on open?" Serena asked as she as she stood just behind her friends.
"It will be open in about two weeks. You all should come." She invited them all proudly as a big wave went through the group.
"That would be great. Just let us know and we will be there!" Mina said happily laying on her back floating in the water.
"I thought I heard you weren't opening for another month in a half." Michelle inquired confused by the new information she just learned about.
"That was a month ago in the news paper, I had read the same thing." Stated Raye.
"That was the original deadline, but we were able to get ahead, so we open in two weeks." Lita explained to them.
"Well, count us in. I bet mom will come too." Trunks replied too.
"Bulma Briefs at our restaurant for the first week and give us a review! That would be awesome!" Lita exclaimed gleefully jumping out of water.
"Boy, she acts like Trunks just proposed to her." Mina teased her friend.
"Bulma is so well known in our area for being a busy woman that if she takes some time out if her day to come and eat then she gives it a good review, than more people want to come see the place." Lita exclaimed happily, before whipping around to face Trunks and Serena. When the brunette was facing Trunks, she noticed Serena wasn't behind him anymore, which she was sure about being there only a few moments ago. Raye noticed the quick change from happiness to confused looked on her friend's face.
"What's wrong, Lita." She asked standing near Trunks.
"Where is Serena?" She asked her. The group hearing the question started looking around them to see if they could see their blonde friend was next to them.
"Ok Serena, this isn't funny." Raye called out, trying to mask her fear, in hopes her friend was just playing a prank on them.
"Does anyone see her?" Amara asked them as she looked in the beach.
"No, and I don't see her on the beach either." Was Hotaru simple reply before turning back to face the people around her. Everyone stood there looking at one another wondering where she could have gone.
"She has gone under the water." Michelle gasped in shock at the idea, her eyes growing wide in horror. At hearing the comment, everyone took a deep breath, before diving under water to look for her. Trunks swam as best he could against the waves, but having a hard time seeing more than a few feet in front of him. He tried to sense her energy, but could not feel it in the water anywhere. The fact that he couldn't feel her, made him realize she was in serious trouble. He went back up to the surface to get more air, when a wave crashed down onto him. As he wiped the water out of his eyes he heard his name being yelled. He looked to his right to see Hotaru helping Michelle through the waves as she tried to carry a limp Serena on her arms to shore. The young sayian used his speed and strength to make his way over to Michelle in the water. He was there in moments in front of her as she struggled not to fall over from the waves and weight of her friend.
"She isn't breathing." Was all she said, fear showing in her aqua eyes. At hearing her say that, the same fear he saw in her gripped him, as he realized Serena was at that moment dead, and if he did not do something about it in the next few minutes she was gone from his life for good.
"Give her to me." He ordered her without a second thought. Michelle knew Trunks could get Serena to shore faster than her, and was also well aware that sayians could get very protective of the people they cared for deeply. Not wanting to start anything with the half sayian did just as she was told. Once the limp princess was in his arms, Trunks headed to shore as fast as possible, not worried at the moment if anyone saw his powers. As soon as he was far up on the shore so the waves did not interfere reviving her, he laid her down on the sand, to start CPR right away on her. While he was started the compression on her chest, the other girls were just starting join him on the shore.
"Come on Serena." He growled after blowing air into her mouth before he continued the compression again.
"Oh kami." Raye whimpered with tears in her eyes at seeing Serena's lifeless body before her.
"Don't you dare leave." Trunks said as he continued doing CPR on her. 'I love you' he thought the last part.
As he continued trying to revive Serena, Gohan, Amy, Trista and Darien returned from their walk to see a group in the middle of the beach. As they approached crowd and made their way through to see what was going on there was a big enough gap between people to see it was Serena, needing CPR, and Trunks telling her not to leave. Amy gasped in shock, Gohan stared wide eye at his little sister on the ground. Darien and Trista just stood there frozen in surprise to see their princess on the ground.
"Is she going to be ok?" Goten whimpered with unshed tears in his eyes as he looked up to see Hotaru next to him. The teenager bent down to his level wrapping her arms around the boy to comfort him.
"She is a fighter." She whispered in a reassuring tone, as she tried to stay positive for the little boy in her arms. Just then coughing could be heard, and everyone turned to see Serena coughing up water. Relief spread through the entire group at seeing the young woman alive again. Trunks helped Serena sit up a bit to get the water out of her lungs. The young sayian had never felt so much relief for someone in his entire life than at this very moment.
"That's it, get it out." He told her gently while supporting her. Mina seeing the way the big crowd was not dispersing since Serena came back, decided to take matters into her own hand.
"Amy go get your things. Trista go get Serena's medicine and water. Hotaru and Mina please take the boys to get some food and water. Amara go get Serena a towel, and the rest of those not a part of this group please give them space now." She ordered in a commanding tone leaving no room for argument. For those that did not listen to Mina, Raye and Lita their used voices and hands to move people away.
As Mina was giving the orders out, Serena finished coughing up what water she had in her, and started to fall back against some thing. The young blonde opened her sapphire eye, but things were blurry for a few minutes as they adjusted to see who was above her. As her eyes came into focus they came into contact with icy blue eyes full of fear in them.
"Trunks?" She whispered, her throat hurting as she spoke, trying to figure out what happened confusion evident in her sapphire eyes. Just then Trista and Amy came into view.
"Serena do you remember what happened?" Amy asked her. Serena thought about for a moment before answering her.
"Yeah, I remember Lita talking about the new restaurant when an attack came on, and a big wave hit as I was having it. It knocked me off balance, forcing me to under the water. I tried to get back up, but between the waves, and how weak I felt, I couldn't get back up to the surfaces. Then I lost my breath and everything went black." She explained to them. Trunks felt guilty now understanding what happened to her, and not paying attention more on her. He let his guard down resulting in almost losing her. Amy nodded her head in understanding.
"Here, Serena, take a drink of water. It will help with your throat." Trista advised her. Serena took a sip of water from the bottle that Trista had in her hands, while Amy started to listen to her hear beat and check her other vitals.
"Thanks, Trista." Serena said great full for the drink of water, as it eased the pain in her throat.
"Are you still in pain, Serena?" Amy asked her concerned etched all over her face of her friend, but she refused to let her emotions get the best of her to handle the tasked at hand.
"A little." She answered simply.
"Here, is your pill." Trista said having fished one out of her bottle to drop into her mouth. She then gave Serena another sip of water to take the pill. Trunks just sat there holding Serena great full of the help he was getting from her friends. After a few more minutes of checking her over, Amy nodded her head in approval.
"She is ok. I think it is best if we call it a day and get you home,Sere." Amy said simply with a warm smile on her.
"No." Serena said in a strong, stern tone that surprised her along with Trunks, Amy and Trista.
"I had an attack, but I am not letting it ruin this day." She said, her sapphire eyes holding determination in them." Trunks admired her for not wanting to just go home, but he agreed with Amy, that Serena needed to rest.
"Serena, you drowned and the Trunks had to perform CPR on you. You need to rest." Amy replied back trying to reason with her leader.
"Sere, for me please?" Trunks pleaded to her hoping she would listen to him. Hearing his plea Serena looked up at him, her eyes softening as they met his as she felt his thumb tracing her cheek.
"Ok." Was all she said as she starred at him. Amy sighed in relief that Trunks was able to convince Serena to go home.
"We will being the boys and other things back to your place for you. Just get her home to rest." Amy advised him.
"Will do. Thanks." He replied back before scooping Serena up princess style before walking towards the exit of the beach to head home. Once he was at the exit and saw no one standing around it he blasted off into the sky to fly home. While they made there way home Serena laid her head on his shoulder feeling relaxed in his arms. As they flew in silent Serena thought back to her struggle in the water and the only person she had thought of during that time was Trunks and how much she loved him.
'Loved.' She thought to herself as she realized her feelings for him were much deeper than she had wanted to confess to her friends earlier that day. 'But I can't tell him.' She thought bitterly as she buried her head into the crock of his neck, not wanting the time she had with him to end any time soon as he held her.