A/N: Please note that the following is purely fictional; any similarity to any living person or event is coincidental.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball nor do I generate any profit from this. This is for entertainment only.

Son Goten plus Trunks

Chichi looked out from her kitchen window, watching Goten as he played 'Tag' with 'Trunks'. An 'imaginary friend' her son made up… that was what Gohan and Bulma said; most children grew out of it in their later years. Nevertheless, it didn't stop her from worrying; call it mother instincts if you will, Chichi couldn't help but feel uneasy.

She had seen a small number of children playing tea party, etc with their 'imaginary friends' before and what Goten exhibited 2 weeks ago was not 'it'.

Her son had introduced himself to her as 'Trunks'. At first Chichi had thought it a joke; that Goten wanted to play and so she played along, inviting 'Trunks' in; telling 'him' Goten should be with him soon, finding it amusing as he 'politely' waited for Goten to 'wake up'.

She quickly noticed the differences the moment she served him lunch. Goten had started using his left hand whereas he had always used his right. His table manners had changed as well, and the way he spoke… how he had addressed her, politely but not the way a child would towards his own mother.

Chichi saw no traces of any recognition in his eyes, he wasn't playing…

She didn't know what to do or what to say, thank goodness 'Trunks' did. He had thanked her for the meal and told her he couldn't stay any longer or his 'father' would get mad at him. He waved goodbye before going inside Goten's room… 5 minutes later, Goten had 'woken up'.

And that scar on her son's wrist… the cut deep enough to leave a lasting scar. Both Gohan and she had spent an hour, grilling Goten over it; but no matter how many times they asked… Goten always insisted 'Trunks' did it.

It frightened her.

So much so that she opted to change her employment from a full time employee to a temporary staff. Her decision to do so also meant less income for the family, but she had no choice; her family came first. If all went well… and she was proven wrong, that Goten was fine; it would still be worth it. Until then… they would have to try and make do, with her eldest son in college and her being the sole breadwinner with no one else to take care of her youngest son… what other choice did she have.

A knock on the door shocked her. Cleaning her hands on her apron, she opened the door to family friends; she smiled.

"Hi Chi"

"Bulma, Yamcha. Please come in" she opened the door wide, inviting them in.

"Wow, cool" Goten was in awe of his friend and his stories. "I wish I was that strong too… you think your dad would train me?"

"You'd regret asking, Goten. He's really strict. What's your dad like?"

"I don't know… I've never met him, but my brother said he was cool and a hero too. I wish I could meet him… I'm sure he would have liked you and just maybe… he'd teach me how to fight too."

"No offence, Goten. But if he were such a good fighter, why did he die?"

"I heard he gave his life up to save a lot of people…"

"Oh. That sucks… I guess that does make him a hero"

Goten frowned. As much as he liked the fact that his father was a hero… he still wished he had a father. "Say Trunks… you promised you'd teach me how to fly, remember? So when do we start?"

"Hey hold your horses; it's not as simple as you think. You need time to practice and a lot of discipline. I guess I can teach you when no one's watching. Your mom's watching, you know… Hey Goten? Your mom. She doesn't like me, does she?"

"Eh? No! Of course not! She just doesn't know you. I bet she would if she did"

"Yeah well. I hope she doesn't mind me teaching you then. I mean serious, I know she's angry over our BFF tag. I don't want us getting into trouble, at least not trouble we can't get out of"

"She was… so was onichan, but I thought it was cool. See?" Goten rolled up his sleeve, displaying the healed scar. "It's still here, this way it won't come off. Not like permanent ink that 'won't wash away your money' but I'm telling you, it does... eventually"

"Anyway, I better get going before my dad makes his appearance. I'll see you later"

"Hey Trunks. How come your dad never shows himself? I'd like to meet him"

"He's a private person, Goten. That means he doesn't like to meet people. One day I'll introduce you ok? Just not now. Trust me on this one"

"Aww… Ok, later then. Don't forget"

"I won't"

Goten got to his feet, making his way back to the house.

"How's everything?" Bulma asked Chichi as she accepted the cup of tea offered.

"Right now, it's just me taking one step at a time…" Chichi offered another cup to Yamcha.

"Gohan and Goten?" it was Yamcha's turn to ask as he took the cup.

"The same… Gohan's in school right now and Goten's playing outside… with his 'imaginary friend'" she sighed as she sat in her chair, feeling as though she had aged overnight.

"He'll grow out of it, Chi. I had a robot and an imaginary friend when I was a little girl" Bulma reassured her friend. "Children always have active imaginations; it's not a bad thing"

"I know. Still… I wish he wouldn't scare me like that… I'm almost ready to believe he's been making friends with a ghost… but Gohan believes Goten's just lonely and trying to get attention this way… but to cut himself… he scared many years off my life…"

"It has been rough on all of you… you working hard to raise two boys on your own, Gohan still in school and Goten being this young…" Yamcha sighed.

"Actually we're here for another reason, Chi… but please don't take this in the wrong way. We're all Goku's friends as well as yours… and while we know this is your family and it's not our place to interfere"

Chichi looked up as Bulma spoke.

"I'll just come right out and say it. We want to help, Chi; in any way we can"

Chichi gently placed her cup on the table, shaking her head as she did. "I know you all meant well but I can't accept. It has nothing to do with pride or anything like that... I appreciate it, I do. But I cannot expect you to help me any time there's a problem and this isn't something that can be resolved immediately"

"But Chichi, let's just be realistic. You can't work and take care of the boys 24/7, especially Goten. He's still too young and he needs you" Yamcha tried to reason with her as he brought out a roll of bills, gently he took her hand, placed the bills; closing her hand as he did.

"No. I can't. I..."

"If you won't take it as a charity then take it as a loan, Chi. There's no time limit, take the time you need. Don't be a stranger, alright? You have people who care and we're here for you. Please take it, chi... You know Goku would understand..."

Exhausted and emotionally drained, Chichi thanked them for their compassion; unable to keep her frustrations bottled in any longer, she let her hair down as her tears fell.

Goten opened the front door, nodding when he realised they had guests… his mother's friends… he remembered them. The rich lady and her boyfriend with an X on his face and his mother… she was crying… "Kasan?"

"It's ok Goten… why don't you go wash up?" she hastily dried her eyes.

"But…"

"It's really nothing, Goten. Go wash up, your brother would be home soon… then we can have some lunch" she tried to smile, putting on a brave front as always in her attempts to bear the strain that came along with the baggage herself and not place any on her children.

Her efforts would go to waste.

Being young and naïve, Goten did not understand the everyday challenges of an adult life, especially one that took on many responsibilities and roles. Add in his current state of mind, that of a child and one that he created in his own reality, he could only see one reason for his mother being upset. And when he looked for someone to blame, he didn't look far. He turned towards his mother's guests.

"Hey what did you two say to my kasan!?"

"Goten! Don't be rude to our guests! I'm so sorry Bulma…"

"It's alright. We'll talk another time, Chi. I don't care what time it is alright? If you need anything, just call" Bulma accepted Chichi's nod as both she and Yamcha left the house, giving her the privacy she wanted.

"Kasan… what did they want?"

"Just a chat, Goten. Go on, I'll call you when lunch is ready" she urged her son to his room, wanting a bit of time to calm herself les she break down in front of him.

Goten pouted in his room as he was once again brushed off. He sighed… alone again.

"Goten!"

Goten jumped. "Trunks! Don't scare me like that… sheesh… I thought you said you'd come again later?"

"Tactically speaking, it's later now. What? Bad timing?"

"No. Nothing for me to do now anyway…"

"Great. Where's your mom?"

"In the kitchen… cooking. I think…"

"Then do you want to get started?"

"Start what?"

"Sheesh. I thought you wanted to learn how to fly? Well I guess not then. Hehe"

"HEY! I want to!"

"Alright then. To the roof! Last one's a rotten egg!"

"I'm home"

"Oh good, you're back" Chichi turned to Gohan as she scooped bowls of rice. "Lunch's almost ready. Would you be a dear and go get Goten?"

"Ok Kasan" Gohan walked towards Goten's room, opening the door gently. "Hey Goten, lunch. Eh… Goten?" Gohan started looking all over the house, scratching the back of his head as he did. "Where is he…?" Of course… that would mean he's outside playing then. Gohan went outside.

"GOTEN! LUNCH!"

"Up here, onichan!" Gohan froze, he looked up immediately. "GOTEN!? What are you doing up there!?"

Hearing the commotion, Chichi rushed outside; she looked up, mirroring Gohan's look of horror as she saw her little son balancing at the top of their roof. "Goten! What are you doing! Be careful!"

"Alright here goes then!" Goten sprinted, taking a giant leap as he stepped over the roof's edge.

Chichi screamed, unable to bring herself to watch as she covered her face with her hands. Gohan was faster, quickly, he grabbed Goten; cushioning his fall with his own body as the younger boy came crashing into him.

"Aww… I could have made it…" Goten frowned, oblivious to the concerned looks his mother and brother were giving him.

"Goten!" Chichi immediately scooped him from Gohan, hugging him tightly before checking him for any injury. "What did you do that for?! Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack!?"

"Goten. What were you thinking!? You could have gotten hurt!" Gohan's shock quickly turned into worry.

"I'm sorry…" Goten 'shrank' as both his mother and brother gave him a sharp breathing down. "Trunks was teaching me how to fly… but it didn't go so well"

Chichi's heart sank; she could not find the voice to scream. "Gohan… would you bring Goten inside…"

"… come on Goten" Gohan led Goten inside, the heavy atmosphere far from over.

Unable to go to sleep, Goten got up in the dead of night; walking towards the kitchen for some cookies when he saw the lights in his mother's room.

What was she doing up in the middle of the night too? Goten moved closer, then he heard it; she was weeping… again.

Goten stopped in his tracks, unable to decide if he should go inside… he knew his mother always tried to be the stronger person… never one to shed tears in front of his brother or himself… Yet during some nights… such as tonight, when she was stressed, when she needed a chance to express herself; when she had her privacy… He wished he could give her a hug… but after what happened earlier in the day, he decided against it. His mother needed her space; he could give her that…

Goten abandoned his quest for the cookies, heading back to his room.

"Bulma… It's… Chichi… I know it's late…" she tried to talk, a task made difficult as she tried to form the words under her sniffle and tears. "It's Goten… he's getting worse…" Chichi sobbed into the phone as she made the call.

To be continued ~

Hmm… backfired a little… it seems my sabotager is enjoying this too much. Oh well. Enjoy it.