Thank You...
Darkest Destiny: Yeay! The very first review for this fic. And so super awesome one, too! I'm glad that you did review, and I hope that you read this chapter and enjoy, and perhaps review, too. Thanks so, so much!
fujutsu: I'm glad that you liked the idea for a sequel! I hope that you like this chapter! Thanks for the review, it really means a lot to me!
Totally-fearless: Aw. What are you confused about? Man... I really hope to clear up anything that you didn't understand. But thanks for the compliments and I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Thanks!
CeltiCrimson: Yeay! Haha. You're review really made me smile! And I can't guarantee that this chapter will be perfect. Well... or even close to it, but I do hope that you like it.. and that you review again!
donkeykong27: I'm glad that you liked the first chapter. I really, really hope that you enjoy the second. Haha -- and I'm also glad that you liked Krillin in this story. He and Juu will be getting together soon, and they'll also play a part in getting Vegeta and Bulma together. Well, thanks so much for the review!
Hikari Heijin: So great to hear from you again! Here's the chapter, I know the wait was longer than usual, but... haha, you know how it is. Thanks for the review!
dbzfanjess: Eh. You weren't really 'harsh' just... honest. And that's all I expect reviewers to be. Your review was really sweet and thanks so much for all the compliments!
Ice: Yeay! I'm glad that you liked! And to answer your question .. No. Vegeta doesn't know that he is a father. I think that this will be cleared up in this chapter, I really hope that you enjoy this chapter and that I can hear from you again soon!
lenk: Haha. Thanks so much for the review! I'm glad that this story caught your attention and I really hope that you like this chapter and I hear from you again soon!
Trina Monkey: HEY! Haha. You're one of my favorite writers and I'm glad that you like this story and I hope that you enjoy this next chapter. Thanks for the review!
t2i2n2a: Yeah... the Bulma's Starbucks obsession was a classic. haha, and I'm glad that you liked! I hope to hear from you again soon! Your reviews are always super nice and I look forwards to reading them... Thanks!
Sensation0023: Juu and Krillin are going to meet through. ... haha, well I wouldn't want to give that away. But their meeting is going to help the b/v too. Thanks so much for the review!
Fiby: Glad that you liked the intro! And now, why would I be annoyed by you? Your reviews are great! Haha, thanks so much and I hope the wait wasn't too long for yah!
Luna-Divine: Hm. Wow ... I hope that this story will be as good as HSRoyalty too. I hope that you like this chapter and thanks so much for the review!
Dark Storm: Thank you so, so much! You're hoping that I have what in mind? Haha, sorry. But yeah, I hope that you enjoy this chapter and hear from you again soon!
Gothic Bulma: Wow. You are a wonderful reviewer. I'll check your writing soon! Sorry I haven't had much time... It took almost all of my spare time to write this chapter, but reading some of your works is on the top of my to-do list! I hope that you enjoy this chapter and I hope to hear from you again soon! Did you have a certain story you wanted me to check out?
Tsume-Hiei luver: Oh, don't worry, this IS going to be a Bulma/Vegeta fic. Haha. Hope that this update didn't take too long... Thanks for the review!
coachzgrl19: Thanks you so much for the review! Hope that you like this chapter and I hear from you again! Thanks again!
vbchickVLVR: Wow! I'm so happy that High School Royalty is still getting readers. And I'm also glad that you reviewed this story! And this will end up being a BV! Thank you so, so much and I really hope that you enjoy!
Goku's little sister: Don't worry about not reviewing sooner! Haha ... if anyone should be apologizing for being late it should be for not having this chapter out sooner. Haha. Well yeah, Happy Birthday! A little late... but, haha, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!
number 423601: Hm. I don't really think Gohan will be in this ... Since I put Trunks in here I wanted to include Goten ((because those two were soooo cute in the series as kids together)) and so I kind of skipped over poor little Gohan.. .Hm. I'm not sure how to include him in here. I could put him in here though if you really want, if you have ideas. Haha. I hope that you like this chapter and review again! Thanks for the review!
Kataan: Umm... Hm. Well Krillin wasn't in High School Royalty. But yeah, thanks for the review!
TrUnKsGiRl: Wow! Thanks so much for the awesome review! You're an amazing, talented, and popular writer and it means so much to me that you would read this. Haha. Thanks again and I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
spawn32818: Hehe. Thanks for adding me to your favs! That means a lot... You're the best and I really hope to hear from you again in this chapter. Hope that you enjoy it! Thanks again!
smiley66: THANKS!
Anime8: I hope that the wait wasn't too long. But thank you so, so much for the review! I'm glad that you liked both stories and enjoy this chapter. I really hope to hear from you again! Thanks!
Night Strider: First of all ... Wow. Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. I would have to agree, Juu is one of the prettiest girls in DBZ. Though Bulma is my favorite female character, I think Juu and Launch are the prettiest. Yeah... and I left Gohan out because I really liked the cuteness of the young Trunks/Goten friendship. They were so adorable and I wanted to make them friends in this story... So that just had me leaving Gohan out. And I am not annoyed at all by your reviews! Wow... I am flattered! I really love long reviews! It shows that people actually read and think about my writing. I don't know, chatty reviewers are my favorite .. and with the couple of reviews that you have left me you are already one of my favorite reviewers? Do you write? Haha...I guess I could check that now, but you just have this style ((even through reviews)) Well, thanks again! I really hope that I don't let you down or anything with this chapter ... Thank you!
MAGNA DEVIL: Yes, it is a little depressing to have Bulma and Vegeta so far apart. But they will be a little closer ((mileage wise, of coarse)) in this chapter. Though it will take a little while longer to bring them back together. Thank you so much for the review! Hope to hear from you again! Bye!
bebex2xsweet: Yes. I know it was a crappy place to end High School Royalty ... but, like the chapter of this story says, there will be a reunion, and, trust me, everything will work out for the best! Haha. Thanks for the review!
Clouds Lover: Hope the wait wasn't too long... You're great and I hope that I hear from you again! Thanks for the review!
Dark Hope Assasin: And the amazingly talented writer comes and leaves me a freaking long review! Haha. YEAY! You made my day... I was wondering after reading your review, if I could ask you for some advice? How should I go about bettering my character development? You are totally right when you say that I am here trying to satisfy my readers hunger for romance. That does seem like my purpose ... But I was kind of wondering, how should I go about that? I'm really glad that you enjoy reading this , but I have been feeling like the plot is too thin. I want to expand my writing and make it ... well, I can't even describe it. But character development is what I seem to be poor at... and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a little advice ... Please? Well THANK YOU so much for the wonderful review and I really hope that I hear from you again!
inuluv922: Haha... You can thank yourself for me finally getting this chapter out. You, as my thirty-fifth reviewer made me realize that I seriously need to post a new chapter. Thanks! I hope that the wait wasn't too long, and I really hope that you enjoy this chapter and review again!
High School Reunions
The Second Chapter
Shades of Crimson
She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and frowned as she looked over Leah's shoulder as they began to stock the shelves.
"Is this how you wanted it, Launch?" The brunet asked after stacking a display of sandals.
Launch smiled and nodded distantly, picking up a stack of shoeboxes in her arms and carrying them to the front of the store.
She pulled her hair back with an elastic she had on her wrist and watched as her partner, Leah, stood up from stocking the shelves and dusted her hands off on her pants, "Alright Launch, I'm going to check the backroom, there's only a couple of customers here -- think you can handle it?"
Launch lifted her eyes to meet those of Leah, to see that she was joking. Launch smiled, "I built this company Lee, I'm pretty sure I can handle the cash register for a couple seconds."
Launch heard her friend laugh as she continued to place boxes of shoes behind the counter, and her head shot up as she heard a masculine voice from the opposite side of the register, "Do you have these in blue?"
She glanced up momentarily at the blue flip-flops and nodded lightly, "Yeah, we have them in orange and pink, they're right over," she pointed in the direction of the wall on the opposite side of the shoe store, motioning to a display of multi colored flip-flops, "there."
"Launch?"
Her attention turned from the shoes to the man in front of the register and she froze.
"Tien?"
He laughed and shook his head, "Wow... I haven't seen you in forever, it's been, what, seven years?"
"Yeah." She breathed, taking in his appearance. He had matured, that was apparent -- but his face was basically the same. He was still bald thought, a pair of dark sunglasses covering his eyes in a stylish way and he was wearing swim trunks, a t-shirt, and flip-flops.
He took off his sunglasses and looked her over as well. She was as beautiful as ever. Her long, navy hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she was wearing blue jean shorts and a polo shirt with the company logo on it.
She smiled at him, still a little shocked, and a little surprised at how happy she was to see him again, "What are you doing in Florida?"
He laughed again, folding his sunglasses, "I live here -- a beach house like... a six minute walk from here."
She gasped, "Really? I just moved here. I have a beach house too, about a hundred yards off from The Cove."
Tien blinked, The Cove wasn't too far from where he lived. He studied her a moment longer, hardly believing that they were acting like this. Like a pair of old friends. He frowned, were they ever really even friends?
He thought about The Cove. It was a little restaurant down by the beach. He frowned, a restaurant where he had taken Julie on several occasions. He wondered if Launch was as taken back as he. She wasn't acting like it if she were. But neither was he, so he guessed that she probably was.
"So, what have you been up to?"
She blinked at his question. What? She thought, almost bitterly, besides being brokenhearted for nearly seven years without you? Then she smiled. But she had moved on. Or attempted to. And the sight of him here reminded her of an old friend -- not some ex-lover that had abandoned her for frivolous reasons.
She laughed as she motioned to the store.
He nodded, "You work here?"
"Oh." She shook her head, "I own it."
She hadn't tried to sound cocky, but her words were slightly brash. No. She hadn't just become some cash register girl. She smiled, she was a successful corporation owner with a beach house in Florida.
"What have you been up to?" She asked, the friendly smile returning to her face.
Tien blinked and motioned to the shoe and then he shook his head, "Well, I mean -- my girlfriend. She, uh, needed some new sandals."
Her smile remained. It was now apparent to her -- so she no longer held those feelings for him. She had expected his news of a new woman in his life to make her envious -- but she felt happy for him. Like an old friend. Her smile brightened at that thought. So she hadn't staid obsessive and jealous over him? She was glad. Maybe they could become friends now that they were living close and on speaking terms.
"We have some catching up to do, Tien."
He nodded and smiled back at her, relived that she wasn't angry or acting distant towards him. Then he decided that perhaps he was a little over confident -- thinking that this gorgeous woman could still hold feelings for him for nearly seven whole years?
"Yes, we do." He replied, "Do you have plans for tonight?"
She shook her head, "I just got in last night," she thought about Leah, wondering if she was planning on them doing something -- but she brushed off the thought and decided that they were living together, they would have plenty of time to hang out, "So I haven't really had time to make plans, or look around or anything."
Tien smiled and nodded towards her, "What about The Cove, say, seven?"
She smiled as she rang the sandals up, forgetting that he hadn't wanted to purchase them -- he had come up because he wanted another color. But as he looked back at Launch he had forgotten this too.
"Casual?" He asked, being used to wearing his swim trunks and flip-flops around.
She nodded and laughed as she handed him the receipt, almost catching a double meaning in his words, "Very."
Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her apron was tied neatly around her thin waist. She stood beside the stove, stirring noodles with a big, wooden spoon that were bubbling in the pot.
She smiled as she heard the front door open and her husband and son enter the house -- filling it with noise and laughter.
Goku came into the kitchen, setting his car keys and cell phone on the table, and kissed his wife from where she stood beside the stove.
"How was your day?" She asked, turning her attention back to the boiling noodles.
"Great." Goku said jovially, "Goten and I stayed after everyone left and the two of us just trained for a while. It was really nice."
ChiChi smiled at this.
"Mmmm. ChiChi, whatever your cooking smells great!"
The black haired woman laughed and shook her head, "It will be done in about ten minutes, go wash up Goku, you smell like sweat."
Her husband laughed and turned to exit the kitchen and then ChiChi stopped him, "Wait."
He turned back around to face her and she was looked at him, clutched apron and wooden spoon in hand, "Today, I was, uh, thinking Goku..."
He watched her with a calm expression as she fought for the right words. There was a smile on his face -- but that had long since become a natural feature.
"Goku, I want ... I want to have a wedding."
Goku blinked, "ChiChi -- but, you're already married."
She nodded and sighed as she approached her husband, setting the spoon down on a dishrag aside the stove, "I know. But I want a real wedding. A big one. With friends and family and vows and a reception and flowers and invitations and... well, all that."
Goku nodded and scratched the back of his head, "And a caterer?"
She blinked and nodded excitedly, "Yes! Oh -- a caterer with millions of little appetizer platters and a big, white wedding cake!"
He grin wider, "Wow! ChiChi, can you do that? I mean, get married with already being married?"
She rolled her eyes, "Yes Goku, it's called 'renewing our vows' and people do it all the time."
Goku nodded, "Wow, it will be like... a reunion then."
"What?" ChiChi questioned, turning back to her cooking.
"Yeah," Goku said, leaning against the counter, "I mean, we'll invite everyone from high school and we'll all be back together -- it will be like our own little high school reunion."
ChiChi blinked, "Hm, I was so caught up in thinking about me, well... us, that I didn't even think about brining everyone back together. I mean, I haven't seen Launch in ages. Oh Goku, this is going to be so wonderful!"
Goku nodded at his wife and embraced her from behind, kissing the top of her head, "I love you ChiChi, but don't get all girly and bossy when we plan this."
She glared ahead as she stopped stirring the noodles, "Actually Goku, I'm planning on hiring a professional Wedding Planner."
Goku nodded, kissed the top of her head again, "I love you ChiChi."
"I love you too, Goku."
"Ew!" A small voice shouted from the entrance of the kitchen.
ChiChi and Goku broke apart and laughed as the miniature carbon copy Goku entered the room, "I hate it when you two kiss and stuff. That's gross."
ChiChi laughed and playfully hit her husband's chest, "Seriously Goku -- you smell, go wash up and by the time your back dinner will be done, I promise."
Launch was painting her toenails with Leah came in. A smile spread across the brunettes face as she watched her friend polish her nails.
"What's the occasion?" She questioned, tossing her keys onto the coffee table and fanning her face with her hand, Florida was too hot for Leah's taste.
"Um," Launch gently blew on her now red toenails and shrugged, "I guess I just didn't figure I would be barefoot so often here -- I might as well make my ugly toes prettier."
Leah laughed, she had, on more than one occasion, teased Launch about her toes. Launch was a beautiful, petite woman with a tiny waste, tiny arms and legs -- but as if to contradict her teeny feet, she had chubby toes.
"Oh." Leah said with a shrug, "I figured you were going out tonight or something."
"I am." Launch said, closing the bottle of nail polish, "I ran into an old friend and he invited me to dinner."
Leah smiled as she made her way into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water, "Old friend, eh?
Launch rolled her eyes and leaned back onto the fluffy couch, "Leah, a friend."
Leah shrugged as she joined her roommate in the living room, now with a glass of ice water, "Good enough of a male friend to paint your toenails for?"
Launch laughed and sighed, knowing that this wasn't looking good for her.
Leah took a seat beside Launch and smiled, "So tell me, this old 'friend' of yours -- is he good looking?"
"He's not bad, if that's what you mean. Do you want me to set you up with him?"
Leah laughed, "Not really. How do you know him?"
Launch looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully, "We went to high school together."
Leah smiled, the only people Launch had talked about from high school were Bulma, ChiChi, and Marron. "Did you two date?"
Launch rolled her eyes, "Yes. Towards the end of high school anyway. We broke up because college was too complicated and we had this tiny fight and everything was blown out of proportion and... yeah."
Leah nodded but Launch frowned, "It's not like that though, Lee, we're friends."
Leah smiled, "He has a girlfriend, doesn't he?"
Launch nodded again and laughed, "I wish you were half as nosy as you are about me to some random guy -- then maybe you two could actually have a conversation that led to... I don't know, say, a date."
Leah rolled her eyes. So what? She was a shy person.
"Alright, well I'm out."
Leah nodded, "I'm probably going to take a walk on the beach tonight, it seems like a plain enough thing to do." She smiled, "I'll see you when you get back from your date, have fun."
Launch rolled her eyes but picked up her purse and exited their beach house without another word.
Bulma and Juu came over to ChiChi and Goku's house and ChiChi greeted them at the front door with a wide grin and Bulma shot her a quizzical look.
Juu smiled and laughed as she watched the black haired girl tap her foot anxiously on the porch deck.
"What took you guys so long?" ChiChi questioned motioning that it was nearly dark and Bulma usually came to pick Trunks up from his tutoring extra early on Fridays.
Bulma shrugged and Juu rolled her eyes, "Guess who needed a coffee fix and the closest Starbucks was in the Target, and then she spent two hours in the chip isle wondering what she would be in the mood for next week."
Bulma frowned at the blonde haired girl and ChiChi laughed, almost forgetting what had her so antsy all evening.
Almost.
"Oh my gosh! You two -- sit, sit!" ChiChi urged, shoving the two women into the living room and shutting the door behind them.
Bulma and Juu sat beside each other on the overstuffed couch and blinked as they watched ChiChi's flushed face overflow with excitement.
"I'm having a party, two weeks from now!" ChiChi blurted, barely able to keep control her happiness.
Bulma blinked and mentally checked if it were possible for it to be Goten's, then ChiChi, and then Goku's birthday. A questioning look crossed her face after she quickly calculated that it was none of their birthdays.
"What kind of party?"
Bulma frowned, leave it to Juu to be the straightforward one.
ChiChi became giddy again, slightly bouncing in one place, "A wedding party!"
Juu frowned, "What the hell's a wedding party?"
ChiChi froze slightly and shrugged, "Well... not exactly a wedding party, but a wedding. A real wedding with a reception."
Bulma's confusion was apparent, "Chi, didn't you already have a wedding?"
ChiChi frowned at her blue haired friend and sighed, "No. I got married. But I didn't have a wedding. I want a wedding. A really wonderful one with all the fixings and guests."
Bulma smiled and began to act similar to ChiChi's behavior, "Oh! That's so great! You know, I saw this dress in Today's Bride that was so wonderful! Oh my God, it would be perfect for you..."
ChiChi nodded, wanting to hear more about the dress.
Bulma smiled, "It was like a princess dress -- flowing and white and... Wait. Can you wear white in this sort of wedding? I mean, it's no secret since you have a kid... but, I mean, you were married, so does it really matter if you wear white to a second wedding when the only sec you had was with your husband, the husband that you are marring.."
Juu was having trouble registering what Bulma was babbling about.
"Bulma, what were you doing reading Today's Bride?"
Bulma frowned and picked at her thumb, "I never got to have a wedding Juu, some women can't help but want to be a bride."
ChiChi nodded, putting her hand on Bulma's shoulder and then the blue haired girl shook her head, "No, but this is about you Chi -- the one woman who found complete happiness and who deserves, and is going to have, the most wonderful and perfect wedding ever."
ChiChi smiled happily and took a seat on a chair that was cadicorner to the couch, "Two weeks, the twenty-third okay?"
Juu nodded as she pulled out a small pocket calender, "Bulma , you have that meeting in Denver on Tuesday of that week, but you'll be back -- it's just for the night."
Bulma smiled happily and then she froze, "Oh, Chi -- do you think you can watch Trunks while were gone? I mean, if it's not asking too much... now that you have this wedding to plan and..."
ChiChi laughed and shook her head, "Oh Bee, it's not a problem. He'll be more of a help keeping Goten away from everything. And as for planning," ChiChi laughed again, but a small blush rose to her cheeks, "I've been making plans since my first year of marriage."
Bulma laughed at this and even Juu couldn't help but crack a smile.
Goten and Trunks took this moment to rush into the living room. Goten had two toy cars in his hands and Trunks held a box for a Hot Wheels drag track. The box was open and worn, with a rip in the middle where a piece of orange plastic stuck through, displaying a cheap portion of the drag strip.
"Momma!" Trunks hollered, dropping the box as he ran towards Bulma and hugged her legs.
Bulma watched as her son dropped the box and the Hot Wheels track scattered across the carpeted living room floor.
"Hey baby, how was your week?" Bulma asked, kneeling down to her son's level and hugging his small frame.
"Great!" Trunks began to talk quickly -- talking about how Goku had ran into a squat bar at the gym and Goten and he had saved the day, about how ChiChi cooked noodles and how they had dared Goku to suck it through his nose, and then about how Goten had tried to jump off of the roof and into the pool.
Bulma blinked as she watched ChiChi's worried, and yet heavily amused, face.
Bulma ran her fingers through his purple hair and stood back up, "Never a dull moment here."
Juu laughed and then Goten showed everyone his elbow, "I had to get fourteen stitches."
Trunks nodded, "It was bleeding really bad, and ChiChi was screaming all the way in the car."
ChiChi rolled her eyes, "It was quit a cut."
"Hey, momma," Trunks began, in that voice where he was about to ask something.
"Yes baby?"
"Can Goten spend the night?"
Goten jumped up, "Yeah! Yeah! Can I?"
Juu tried to control her laughter as ChiChi's eyes narrowed and began to scold her son about being polite.
Bulma laughed and nodded, "If that's alright with Chi."
Goten blinked and whispered, "Can I go, mommy?"
ChiChi sighed and rolled her eyes, "Go pack a bag."
"Yeay!" The boys shouted in unison, rushing past the scatter of Hot Wheels cars and into Goten's room.
The boys were always excited to stay with Bulma. Trunks didn't have the concept of living in a mansion and being rich -- but the boys did know that when they spent the night together at Trunk's house Bulma always ordered them pizza and order Pay Per View movies and stay up as late as they could playing video games.
ChiChi smiled as Goku entered the living room, "Did you tell them about the wedding thing, or is that a surprise."
ChiChi rolled her eyes, "Yes, I told them. But if it had been a surprise it would long since been ruined."
Goku nodded, "So it Bulma okay with Vegeta being there?"
ChiChi frowned and Bulma blinked, "Of coarse. I can't wait to catch up with everybody. I haven't seen Vegeta," the word sounded almost strange coming from her lips, she wanted to say it again -- missing the way it felt, but she shrugged the feeling off, "or Launch or Marron or Yamcha in forever!"
Goku smiled, "I'm inviting Tien, too!"
Bulma smiled. She remembered how great of a guy he had been when she was visiting Vegeta at Duke.
ChiChi turned to Juu, "Oh, and you can take anyone you like Juu -- a date, a friend."
Juu smiled, "Well my brother's been waiting to come visit here, he lives in Florida -- I'll call him and see if he can come."
Goku smiled brightly as Goten and Trunks came into the living room, stepping over the scattered race track, a bag hosted over Goten's tiny shoulders and a pillow in Trunk's arms.
"Plus!" Goku said excitedly, "We're hiring a caterer!"
She felt the sand seep through her toes and she looked down to watch her bare feet press into the sandy shore.
The sun was setting off in the distance, causing the ocean water to sparkle. It nearly silent, hushed voices of people on the beach around her and the waves crashing into the shore filled her ears as she shut her eyes.
She frowned. What a perfect moment this would be if she wasn't single.
She continued walking for a moment, her eyes closed and her attention on the sound of the ocean and feel of the water splashing against her ankles as the tide began to rise.
He moment of bliss was interrupted as she felt herself collide with something, or rather someone.
Leah blinked as she looked up at the man she had just ran into.
A small blush tinted her cheeks as the man stared back at her, amusement apparent in his dark eyes.
He was thin, but muscular, shirtless -- which she noted she didn't mind, and that he was definitely allowed to be so -- and holding a surfboard in his left hand. He had shoulder length black hair and tan skin.
"Uh." Leah began slowly, knowing that she was probably blushing crazily, "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there."
He laughed and shook his head, "It's alright -- I'm Jay by the way."
A polite person would take this hint and introduce them self. Leah wasn't impolite, she was just shy -- and she instead took this moment to notice how his words, 'jay' and 'way' rhymed.
He smiled at the pretty brunet that had ran into him, "You're a tourist, aren't you."
She blinked and then shook her head, "No, actually I live," she decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to give strange men your address, "right around the corner."
Lame. She mentally slapped herself. If Launch were here she would set her up a date with this cute surfer and she would have to build her nervousness up until then and she would take that opportunity to ruin things there.
He nodded, "Then you just moved in."
She blinked again. Had he seen that the house 'around the corner' had just been bought? Had he seen her moving in? Had he ...
He laughed, "Your skin," he pointed to her arm, "You're pale. Awfully pale to have a house so close to the beach."
She blushed and then nodded, "Yeah. We'll I just moved in -- today actually."
He smiled, "What's your name?"
"Leah." She said simply, extending her hand to him. She wondered if it were too dorky to introduce yourself with a handshake in Florida.
He took her extended hand and shook it, dorky or not, and smiled, "Nice to meet you, Leah."
She blushed at the way he used her name.
"And I'm guessing that you, Leah," He paused for a moment, "Can I call you Lee?"
She nodded with a smile, "Sure."
He continued with a small nod, "I'm guessing that you, Lee, as a newbie to this beach haven't had a chance to look around."
She smiled, "That would be correct."
"And I'm also guessing that you haven't had a chance to surf."
"Well Jay, you're a good guesser."
He smiled at her and motioned to his board, "These are some of the sweetest waves on this side of the beach -- so I'm going to teach you how. Right here."
She blinked, feeling a little awkward that the romantic mood had been set and she was wearing a bikini top and a pair of surf shorts. She frowned, what was she thinking buying surf shorts? That moving to Florida it would be stylish. She frowned again. She decided that she wasn't a good thinker.
"Right," Leah tucked a piece of her straight hair behind her ear, "now?"
Jay laughed with a nod, "Yup, right now."
She took his out stretched arm, wondering if she really were that pale, and he led her into the waist deep water.
Launch laughed as she took another sip of her Captain Morgan and listened to the conclusion of Tien's story.
Tien smiled across the small booth as Launch set her drink down on the table. The atmosphere in The Cove was casual, the lights were low and there was a slight blue glow in the air. There were tables and booths sread around the bar with candles in the center of each.
If Launch hadn't had her hair pulled back in a pony tail with a tank top, denim shorts, and flip-flops on -- she would have mistaken it as a date.
Tien had felt a little guilty that he had told his girlfriend that he had was just meeting an old friend. But he decided that he shouldn't feel so bad about it -- this was all that it was, right?
"I still can't beleive that you've opened up so many shoe stores."
Launch shrugged and smiled, "And you never seemed like the big business man to me, you know?"
Tien laughed, "Yeah -- well Vegeta kind of shoved me into that field."
Launch blinked, "Vegeta?"
"Yeah," Tien began, taking a sip of his longneck bottled Budweiser, "In college I helped him study for some of his tests and he told me that I should major in buisness."
Launch's face held hits of confusion, "You and Vegeta went to college together?"
Tien nodded, "Yeah -- we were roommates."
Launch smiled, "Wow, I didn't know that."
Tien frowned, "I guess it isn't that great of a coincidence, we both ended up single because of that school."
Launch sighed sadly, "Yeah, Bulma was pretty broken hearted about that."
Tien smiled, "Do you still keep in touch with her?"
"Yeah," Launch began, "She and Chi live close so they do more so than I, but we get together every now and then -- I haven't seen much of Marron lately though, I hear that she's been living with a rich vineyard owner in California."
Tien nodded, taking another drink from his beer and smiled, "ChiChi and Goku living happily ever after?"
Launch rolled her eyes with a small laugh, "You know it. They live in this perfect little community and their son, who's a freaking Goku mini, I swear."
Tien laughed, picturing Goten perfectly.
"Bulma and ChiChi also get to see each other often because their sons are close."
Tien froze slightly, a shocked expression on his face, "Bulma has a son?"
Launch nodded lightly, everyone knew that Bulma had never told Vegeta about Trunks. She had thought it to be slightly selfish. Vegeta had every right to know that he had a son. But Bulma didn't think he wanted to know. And Launch knew, at the time of Trunk's birth -- that this was true. So no one said anything, knowing Bulma was still secretly crazy about Vegeta. They only broke up because of her raging pregnancy hormones and Vegeta's prideful refusal to apologize and explain what happened. But Launch thought that Vegeta should be told, he was more mature now, and besides, it was only a matter of time before he found out -- and that time wasn't going to make her beloved blue haired friend look too good.
"Yes." Launch said slowly.
"Wow. So she did move on." Tien almost whispered, shaking his head.
Launch frowned, knowing that it probably wasn't her place to let this all out, "Yeah, well she never actually moved on. I mean -- she's not married or anything."
She was slightly proud of her answer. Though it did make Bulma out to be slightly a whore -- but she hadn't lied, nor mentioned who the father was.
"I sort of miss how things used to be." Tien admitted, his honesty drawing Launch closer to him.
He shook his head as he finished his beer, "I guess I should be getting back, to, Julie, you know."
He said the last part quickly, as if it were his obligation to at least mention her -- it would be a phase of cheating if he had not.
Launch nodded and smiled, "It was nice to talk to you again, Tien."
He stood up from the booth and paid for each of their drinks, smiling back at her, "It was, we'll have to do it again."
"Dad!" Goten shouted, shielding his chest with his tiny, but surprisingly muscular for a boy his age, crossed arms as his purple haired friend sent a series of punches at his chest.
Goku looked up from the punching bag he had been concentrating on for the last few minutes and had ignored the two boys who were sparing. It had been two days since the boys had spent the night at Capsule Corporation.
"Whoa, whoa," Goku said with a small laugh, "Slow it down Trunks."
The purple haired boy paused his punches in midair and then quickly dropped his arms to his side and then bowed towards Goku respectably, "Oh -- I'm sorry sensei."
Goku smiled and shook his head, "No, no, you're an excellent fighter -- but you're just aggressive, you fight just like your --" Goku stopped himself from saying it.
Trunks smiled and Goku uncrossed his arms from their previous protective position across his chest.
Goku smiled, "Alright -- you two, take a break."
The dojo was completely empty, after lessons just the three of them stayed after Goku's last class and trained.
That's what surprised Goku when there was a knock on the door. And when he opened it up, he was even more surprised at what he found.
"Vegeta! Krillin!" Goku greeted happily.
Vegeta and Krillin entered the dojo, dressed casually.
Krillin shook Goku's hand with a smile, "We had a meeting in Tulsa last night and we're staying in a hotel not too far from here -- so we decided that we'd stop by."
Vegeta watched Goku with even eyes, "You're still driving the same car since the last time I saw you."
Goku smiled back at him, "Yeah, so Vegeta, how have you been?"
Vegeta shrugged as his dark eyes trailed across the training mats that were laid across the floor, "Not too bad, Kakerot."
Goku smiled as he watched Vegeta's distant expression, "You want to spar, Vegeta?"
A smirk appeared across Vegeta's lips and he nodded.
Krillin took a seat on a the fold up chair and watched as the two full grown men began to exchange blows.
Trunks and Goten entered the room and watched in awe as the two nearly equal in strength men fought.
"Wow." Goten whispered, taking the available seat beside Krillin, his eyes remaining on his father and Vegeta. Trunks to a seat, cross-legged on the matted floor.
After a few minutes of sparing the two men stepped away from each other, sweat collecting on their shirts and brows, both panting heavily.
Goku laughed as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
Vegeta smirked back at his old friend with a slight nod of approval, "You've been practicing."
"Well duh, he owns his own dojo." A small voice spoke up from the opposite side of the room.
Vegeta's dark eyes snapped in the direction of the voice and his eyes landed on a young purple haired boy who was sitting cross-legged with his elbow on his knee and his chin resting in his palm. The boys eyes were focused on him.
Vegeta smirked, "Cute kid, Kakerot."
Goku smiled, "That's Trunks. Trunks -- this is Vegeta."
Trunks frowned slightly at the older man, "You fight good."
Goten spoke up, "He kind of fights like you, Trunks."
Goku blinked at his son's observation and Vegeta continued to smirk at the boy.
Vegeta didn't much care for kids, but a little martial arts student who appeared almost fearless and smarted off to him, was something new.
"Okay then, brat." Vegeta said, motioning towards Trunks, "Let's see how you fare."
Trunks stood up and walked towards Vegeta, his small frame positioning in a fighting stants.
Goku took a few steps back and watched as the two boys began to spar, Vegeta going lightly of coarse, mostly playing defense. But watching in awe as the small boy displayed a powerful blend of strength, aggression, and arrogance that mirrored his own in some distant way.
Bulma walked the short distance from ChiChi's driveway to the front door. It was pretty late, nearly midnight, and she guessed that Trunks and Goten were probably in bed, seeing as to how Goku was going to be working those two out today.
Bulma placed her key into the lock and opened the door.
She heard laughter coming from the kitchen and her thinly plucked eyebrows rose in question.
She tiptoed her way into the kitchen at peered in to see ChiChi sitting at the head of the kitchen table, pouring herself a glass of hot tea as she laughed hysterically at something Bulma guessed was said before she had let herself into the house.
Goku and a short bald man that Bulma didn't recognize were facing her direction, laughing along with ChiChi.
But it was the man that was turned away from her that made her heart stop and her breath catch itself in her throat. There, with his back turned to her, she could put a face to that jet black flame-like hair.
She froze momentarily, but caught ahold of herself and turned on her heel and rushed out of the house.
Krillin blinked after the pretty blue haired girl had made her quick exit, "Um, who was that?"
ChiChi, the only other person in the room who had noticed Bulma's presence, got out of her chair and quickly followed her out of the front door.
ChiChi frowned as she watched as Bulma's silver sports car backed out of her driveway and sped down the road.
ChiChi sighed as she rubbed her bare arms and shivered as a chilly Tulsa wind blew by her.
She imagined Bulma's shock, seeing Vegeta sitting there, and sighed as she made her way back into the house, and into her bedroom to make a quick phone call to her best friend.
Well... took me long enough, eh?
Super sorry for the wait, but hopefully the length of this chapter will make up for that...
I am so, super excited about the feedback from the first chapter! You guys are seriously the best and I really hope to hear from all of you again...
Krillin and Juu will meet in the next chapter!
It should be out soon!
Crimson