The Next Day, Briefs Residence.
Today was just another day, another empty, lackluster day. Bulma sighed, then shut off the TV and tossed the remote control across the couch. She was bored. She should be relaxing, but all she could think about was what Trunks was doing today, what next? Were the new hover jet models being shown to the CEO of National Air? Did the lab technicians need her help? She sighed again, heavily. Bulma got up and looked out the window, at the fall leaves slowly falling, the bright blue sky.
"Well? Now what?" The gruff voice behind her questioned, seemingly reading her thoughts exactly. His voice sounded softer in her ears, warmer as Vegeta laced his arms around her waist and nuzzled his head in her neck.
"It's not the same..." She responded, and closed her eyes as he gave her a brief kiss on her throat in passing, as he pulled away, still resting one hand on her lower back.
"He will need you again, don't fret." Vegeta said, stroking her back. Bulma considered his words and nodded to herself. Her husband was a man of little words, but he knew how to pick the right ones to reassure her.
Bulma's heart started racing as she saw Goku suddenly appear, with Chi-Chi on their doorstep. She hurried to the door, pasting a happy smile on her face.
"Hi! What are you guys doing here?!" Bulma exclaimed as she opened the door. They walked in, with Chi-Chi toting a covered pie dish and a warm smile.
"Hello, we just wanted to visit, I brought homemade pumpkin pie!" She said, while Bulma ushered her to the kitchen.
"Mmm, I can't wait! I'm so glad to see you, today has been incredibly boring!"
Goku and Vegeta turned to look at each other, Goku gave him a friendly wave, while the shorter Saiyan turned to him with a serious frown. Goku's eyes darted from the kitchen, back to Vegeta, then his happy smile diminished.
"Spar. Now, Kakarrot. Pie after." He spat, and pushed past him out the door.
"Oh, okay!" He said, feeling relieved that they could at least have pie afterwards.
...
The two women sat at the table with warm mugs of coffee, daintily picking at their pieces of pie. Bulma looked to Chi-Chi and smiled, feeling the other woman's hand resting on hers with encouragement.
"So, tell me, Bulma, how have things been?" She said, then sipped her coffee
Bulma looked at the table and exhaled.
"Well, pretty good. I'm still going to AA, I just got my 3 month chip the other day," She said with a smile.
"Congratulations!" Chi-Chi said, and patted her hand kindly.
"Yep. Haven't dropped a thing, the doctor says my hand-eye coordination has really improved." She said, lifting her coffee cup between two fingers and winking before taking a sip. Chi-Chi nodded, sensing something amiss in her friend's azure eyes.
"That's great, and Trunks...?" She said, with a sad expression.
Bulma smiled, thinking of how Trunks had seemed extra gentle with his words this morning, he even sat down for breakfast and complimented her cooking; knowing that today would be especially hard on her watching him drive away to work without her.
"He's much better... You know, he really appreciated everything I did for them at C.C. I really saved him from a tight spot with those blueprints at the last minute..."
"Yes, that's wonderful. But, has he...?"
"No," Bulma shook her head, she knew Chi-Chi was referring to the "M" word.
She sighed, "He's still not there yet. I feel like there's a huge gap between us now that was never there..." She said, gulping as her voice shook. Chi-Chi stroked her arm comfortingly and Bulma shook her head free of her desire to shed tears.
"It's alright. I just have to be patient, that's all. He'll come around."
"Yes, of course he will, Bulma." Chi-Chi assured her, and the two smiled.
...
Goku skidded across the grass, watching his opponent come barreling at him at top speed.
"So--" He said as he felt the individual crashes in his palms as he quickly caught each blow, then clutched Vegeta's fists and threw him over his head, until Vegeta caught himself before landing on his back.
"How is Trunks?" He breathed. They knew eachother's fighting style like the back of their own hands. Vegeta flipped over and kicked backwards with both legs before somersaulting over to land back on his feet as Goku flew backwards.
"Still a brat." Vegeta snapped, before whirling around and blasting him with a surprise ki barrage. Goku dodged them swiftly, laughing.
"Do you need help?" He said, as he formed his hands into a claw and blasted him back. Vegeta grunted and absorbed the blast with guarded arms, then nodded.
"He needs the kind of coddling only you're attuned to, " Then Vegeta's raven hair flashed blonde, and the two clashed into nearly invisible collisions in the sky.
Later. Capsule Corporation Lab.
The spiky-haired, orange garbed saiyan knocked on the door labelled LAB, hearing the subtle cranking sounds inside.
"Who is it?" Trunks's muffled voice responds.
"It's me, Goku."
"Come on in."
Goku opens the door, looking around at the amazing downstairs lab that held all the most amazing classic inventions that Bulma and Dr. Briefs had been made famous by. Goku strolled over to where Trunks was, standing by the table, tinkering with an invention with his blue eyes seemingly brighter.
"Hi Goku! What brings you here?" He says, with a grin.
"Hi!" Goku grins in that charmingly goofy way that was characteristic to his personality. Trunks laughed, shaking his head. "You have no worries, do you Goku?"
Goku's grin softens, and he says, "Well, that's not completely true. Everyone has their problems."
Trunks nods, growing serious.
"Tell me about it." He says, then looks back down at the invention and cranks with the wrench slightly too hard, almost breaking the bolt. Goku rests his hand on the table and Trunks looks up. Goku remembered Gohan's advice to not give Trunks too serious of a "Talk" but instead, carefully bring up the issues with Bulma.
"So Trunks, I hear Bulma is improving somewhat. Although she's not 100% back to normal.. But, it is a start." He says carefully, with a gentle smile.
"I know, I've seen the improvements she's been making, Goku. I'm just... not ready to give in just yet. I just can't bring myself to forgive her." Trunks said softly with a frown. Goku frowned as well.
He has that same stubborn Saiyan pride, just like Vegeta... Goku thought, dismayed.
''Well, it was nice talking to you, Trunks. feel free to call or drop by. You know that we're always here for you." Goku said, with a soft sigh, knowing that he had pushed enough for the day.
"Thanks, Goku." Trunks says, before Goku pats him on the shoulder and turns towards the exit. He pauses, then looks back.
"And Trunks, she's only human."
Goku then shut the door behind him, and Trunks lowered his head, setting down the wrench.
Briefs Residence
Goku returned not long after visiting Trunks, with a heavy heart as he saw the silhouettes of Chi-Chi and Bulma in the window as he opened the door. Bulma turned to him expectantly, and his expression weighed down farther as he saw the faint, pink swelling under her eyes from crying. Her longtime friend came over and sat beside her and his wife, pulling forward his slice of pie at last, but for once the Saiyan wasn't quite as eager to eat, instead he took long, small bites as he listened to the conversation.
"Yes, so... as I was saying, I couldn't believe that Trunks would say that to him... I turned down the invite to have drinks, but then Trunks threatened the poor man's position! I took off out the door, and I was about to take the bus home, when I heard him say 'Mom'..." She choked on her words a little, as the other two's eyes widened with hope.
"No, it wasn't like that... He only said it to get me into the car. He didn't mean it."
The two of them shook their heads, and Chi-Chi stood up, rinsing off their plates.
"That's not right, Bulma! Trunks was protecting you, don't you see...? Look on the bright side, he said mom!"
"Right," Goku said with a smile.
"Look at all the great things you've done! We're so happy for you, Bulma. I can tell that you've really improved, you know. You turned that man down, and that just shows how well you've been doing since going to AA." He said reassuringly, and Bulma smiled, blotting her eyes with a tissue.
"Hey, how about some Pink Lemonade like old times?" Chi-Chi said, as she opened the cupboard and started making a pitcher for them all.
"Sounds great, Cheech!" Goku said, putting his arm around Bulma's shoulders.
"We'll be right outside, ok?"
Chi-Chi nodded, and the two of them went outside to talk in private.
...
Goku and Bulma sat down outside, with the crisp fall air, littered with colorful leaves rushing past as Bulma rested her chin in her hands, dejectedly.
"Hey, you know Bulma, I really meant what I said before. I'm really very proud of you, no matter what anyone says, don't let that get you down. You're my best friend, and I will always love you no matter what happens!" He says, and Bulma lifted her head, wiping her cheek dry.
"Thank you, Goku. You're so supportive of me, I don't think I've ever had a friend as loyal as you." She said, with a small laugh.
"No problem! I know that you would do the same for me if something like that ever happened to me." He said, with surety.
"Hey! I know, Bulma! Why don't you try and do some of the things that you used to enjoy before, like making inventions? That might help!"
Bulma nodded, smiling.
"Yeah, you're right, Goku. I'll have to check with my counselor, I'm not sure if I'm healthy enough yet to operate heavy machinery. At the lab, I could only supervise. But just being there, in that atmosphere was really nice while it lasted." She said, softly, then smiled as Chi-Chi came out the door with a pitcher of Pink Lemonade and glasses for them.
...