Rock Your World

Part 10:1 - Confessions

I took a moment to blink in confusion when I rematerialized in my own house. Then suspicion set in; why the hell is Vegeta in my house? I don't exactly bar the door shut, but still - !

Then I noticed the room's occupants. Goten, Gohan, Trunks, and His Royal Highness himself, Vegeta, were gathered in the living room; Goten and Gohan sitting on the couch, Vegeta and Trunks standing rather awkwardly, but with a poised indifference that only royalty and semi-royalty could possess.

Gohan was speaking to the group as a whole. I noticed that he gestured a lot when he spoke, but he was keeping his voice down as if afraid to be overheard. They hadn't noticed me standing there so I decided to listen in before announcing my presence.

"…I'm beginning to wonder if Bulma's age is finally catching up with her," My eldest son muttered, eyeing Vegeta with something like distrust.

"What does the woman have to do with what you called us here for?" Vegeta growled in his usual princely manner, tail twitching with annoyance.

"I'm getting to that, it's just something she said," Gohan waved a hand dismissively as he spoke, pacifying the prince for a moment, though Vegeta continued to scowl.

"What did she say?" Goten spoke up, watching his older brother curiously.

"I was talking to her a few days ago, back when my dad was still semi-conscious in his depression thing," I noted the contempt in his voice as he spoke of me, he said 'my dad' like it was a swear word. I hung my head a little at his scorn; I knew he was mad at me or something, even if he covered it up, but I didn't know why and I couldn't fix what I didn't know.

"Anyway, she said he was all feverish and delusional; nothing new," he added with a sneer; I sincerely hoped to never see that expression on his face again, "And he kept muttering Vegeta's name in his sleep."

Shit, I thought wildly, Does Gohan hate me for the dreams? Does he think I'm insane? I almost IT'd away - somewhere, anywhere – but Vegeta's words stopped me from budging.

"That's why you're so worked up? Because of Kakarot's depression?" he sounded as annoyed as he did before, but I detected a hint of concern that was diluted by the prince's pride.

"Partly, yes; what was all that about?" Gohan replied, eyebrows furrowing over brooding black eyes, "But it was Bulma's reaction that really set me off. She said when Dad was muttering in his sleep, it was in a... a 'sensual' way,"

Double shit. I thought.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. I remembered then that he hadn't known about the dreams. What would he think of my obsession? Would he think I was nuts? Would he leave me?

"And then I was talking to her again yesterday and she said Vegeta and Dad had both disappeared at the same time. I think I put two and two together faster than she did."

"I don't understand, Gohan," Trunks put in, crossing his arms over his chest, "Why is this our problem?"

I swear he looked so much like Vegeta when he said that.

"I think my dad and your dad are dating," Gohan said without preamble; as if Vegeta wasn't there, no less.

With that short sentence, he floored his whole audience. Goten and Trunks's eyes both got huge and they gaped like zombies; Vegeta just flinched and averted his gaze, but I could see his tail lashing nervously.

"And what business is that of yours?" I broke in loudly. The whole group jumped and whipped around, four sets of wide eyes locking onto mine – three black, one blue.

"Hey Dad, I didn't see you there," Gohan said sleekly, frowning as if daring me to – what? Attack him?

"You have a problem with me and Vegeta being together?" I asked lightly, feigning nonchalance; if my tail was any tighter around my waist, I think I'd lose circulation to my legs.

"So you are together?" Trunks perked with interest, raising an eyebrow in an uncanny resemblance to his father.

"Yes," the whispered word wasn't mine and I turned to look at Vegeta who was still gazing out the window as if he hadn't spoken. But there was no doubt whose mouth that word came from.

"What?" Gohan whipped back around to stare at the prince.

"I said yes, Kakarot and I are 'together',"

"But-!" Trunks stammered, shocked, "But you-!"

"I don't get it," Goten piped up, "Why's everyone upset? Even you look angry, Dad."

"Trust you not to understand," Trunks grumbled, "You're just a little kid."

"I already knew that my dad liked your dad," Goten continued, "Anyone could see that if they paid attention,"

It was Goten's turn to floor everyone.

"What do you - ?" Gohan sputtered.

"How long have you known?" I breathed; I hadn't thought anyone had known until now.

"Since mom's funeral," Goten said soberly, "I saw this look in your eye and…" he trailed off when he realized everyone was staring at him.

"Then why did you - ?" I began.

"Avoid you?" I was startled at the mature expression on my youngest son's face; the kid was what? Eight years old? Nine?

"You looked like you wanted to be alone, so I didn't bother you, I just hung out with Trunks until you felt better,"

"Goten," Trunks was shaking his head as if Goten were a particularly slow learner, "I still don't think you get it. Your dad is dating my dad. That means they're gay."

Vegeta flinched again and I fought the urge to curl my lip at the veiled insult.

"No it doesn't," Goten said quietly.

"Do you even know what that means?" Gohan muttered, looking like he wanted to leave the room in a hurry. I didn't blame him; the atmosphere had become very awkward.

"Yeah, 'gay' means a man who likes other men, right?" Goten blushed as if he was afraid of being wrong in his definition; it occurred to me that he'd probably picked it up at school and was only defining it by the context in which it had been used, "But my dad isn't like that. He and my mom loved each other very much. It was just Vegeta as a person that he liked,"

I noticed his use of past tense and wondered at it; again marveling at the child's maturity. I remembered his attempt to comfort me at ChiChi's funeral and felt a stab of pride.

"But still," Gohan pressed, rolling his eyes.

"I don't see what the problem is," oh, now Goten was frustrated, I could feel his energy increasing. He truly didn't see what the big deal was, and he probably just wanted everyone to drop it, "So my dad likes Trunks's dad; so what? Isn't he allowed to like whoever he wants? I…" he paused and glanced at me, as if asking if he'd said too much, "I'm happy for him. I'm happy if he's happy. It's better than that horrible sad time he was in a while ago, right?"

I tried to tell him with my eyes how proud I was of him, and I think he got the message because he ducked his head embarrassedly, but not before I caught the glowing happiness that radiated from him. I reminded myself that I hadn't even known Goten a year ago; and he already put this much faith in me.

It was inspiring, and it bolstered my confidence.

"Yeah, Trunks, Gohan; seriously, what's your problem?"

Trunks shot me a glare that was all daggers.

"Goten might accept his dad being queer," Gohan said venomously, "But that's just because he's naïve and he doesn't know any better. I've had all the weirdness I can take from you, Dad. I'm drawing the line at this."

His words hurt like a physical blow, and his refusal to meet my eyes hurt almost worse than that.

"Yeah," Trunks muttered, "I don't know why you think it's okay, Goten. 'Cause it's not. Personally I'm seriously considering disinheriting myself."

I noticed that Vegeta had remained silent throughout the whole exchange. I looked at him and was shocked to see his head bowed in defeat, his shoulders shaking slightly. It took me a moment to realize he was crying silently; stung worse than I was by his son's rejection. He only had one son, after all.

"Trunks, you don't really think that; you're just confused," I pleaded, not wanting to see the proud prince so upset.

Trunks didn't answer, nor did he look at me again.

"Fine," I sighed dejectedly, "Gohan, I'm not asking for your approval, and you can't change my mind; I know what I want and I know what I feel. I guess I kind of deserve for you to be mad at me; I haven't been the best father, after all."

I let that sink in before continuing.

"Trunks, you're young and you need a father to look up to," I spoke quietly, gently, using Bulma's words that rang true right then, "I hope you'll open your mind a bit and accept your father's choice; and…" I swallowed my nerves as I pressed on; this would be my first time admitting it out loud, "…and learn to love him as much as I do."

Vegeta's head snapped up and he stared; tear tracks still visible on his cheeks. His expression changed from disbelief to awe slowly as he read my energy and saw how much I meant it in my eyes. I didn't think anyone had ever told him they loved him before; the thought made me want to take him in my arms and protect him from the world, which was ridiculous; he didn't need protection.

After the prince gotten a good, long look; I kneeled in front of Goten and hugged the boy.

"Thank you," I whispered in his ear.

"Anytime, Dad," I almost didn't catch his whispered reply before he gently pulled out of my grasp and I stood away.

"Now, I don't mean to by rude, but since both of you have beaten me to it; Gohan, Trunks, get the hell out of my house," I caught the two of them in my glare before continuing, "…until you can learn to accept this."

They left without a word, shooting furtive, icy glances at me and Vegeta.

"Goten, shouldn't you be headed for school?" I asked gently, "It's almost nine o'clock, you'll be late."

I really didn't want him to leave on such a controversial note, but I also wanted him gone so I could talk to the prince.

"This is gonna wreck my friendship with Trunks, isn't it?" he sighed, the question was obviously rhetorical, but I answered anyway.

"Don't worry, he'll come around." I prayed that I spoke the truth; I didn't want Goten's heart to get broken by his friend hating him for my choices.

Vegeta stayed, lingering, for a few hours. He said very little and just milled around aimlessly; sometimes just staring into space.

"Look," I began, stopping him as he paced, "I know you're upset about Trunks,"

"I'm not –" he protested.

"Yes, you are. You've been tenser than Mr. Satan when he has to face a real fight."

Despite the situation, we both smirked at the mention of the bumbling idiot, Hercule.

"I just don't want him to hate me," I barely heard the words he breathed, and even when I did hear them, I barely believed them. Vegeta never admitted weakness, never admitted that he cared about anyone, or what anyone thought.

"He doesn't hate you," I tried to keep the uncertainty out of my voice, but it betrayed me by shaking a little midsentence.

"Yes he does," usually the prince would have snarled the words, but now he just sounded beaten, tired, "I know he does."

I sighed; I didn't know how to help him. I didn't know what to say to comfort him; I didn't even know if he wanted to be comforted. We stood in silence for a long time. It could have been mere seconds, it could have been an hour, it didn't matter. Regardless, time passed.

"I tried to tell you… before…" he murmured. I looked up. Where is this coming from? What's he talking about?

"At the funeral," he continued, "I didn't really want to go, but I knew you'd be there, I knew you'd be upset and I… I don't know, I wanted to… I…" he broke off and I pitied him. The proud, arrogant prince always had a hard time explaining his emotions, or admitting that he had any to explain.

"You didn't say anything," I pointed out, trying to understand what he was telling me.

"I know," he sighed, tail drooping, "I tried; I really did. But I just couldn't get the words out; and no time seemed like… the right time…"

"Were you and Bulma still together at the time?"

"No," he muttered, "We broke up almost directly after Buu was defeated."

"Oh," He was single all that time?

"I tried again, a few days later," he went on, and I realized he was actually fidgeting, "I found your energy was unusually high; I didn't bother to… to read what emotion it was… and I flew to where you were to tell you… how I felt… but then I found you in…in the city, a-and you were…"

"…And you heard 'Save Me' and you thought I hated you," I finished for him, understanding suddenly. He'd been trying to tell me how he felt for over a month; maybe longer, and I'd been too selfish to notice.

Gods, I messed up. Big time.

"Yes," he exhaled, attempting to meet my eyes.

"I'm sorry,"

"For what?"

"For making you wait so long," I extended a hand to place on his shoulder, but I wasn't sure how the prince would react if I did, and the hand just stayed there in midair for a few seconds.

"I forgive you," I never thought I'd hear the word 'forgive' come from Vegeta's lips; especially not directed at me. He took the hand I'd extended and guided it to his shoulder before setting it down gently; completing the gesture.

I blinked. Vegeta was smiling at me. Not smirking, not sneering, smiling.

TBC