I was compelled to write something else. Tell me if this makes the story worse, or better. Thanks, please R&R!
Vegeta paused outside the door, his hands just resting on the doorknob. He heard what his son said to his sister.
Something in his heart broke-perhaps it was the fact that Trunks had to lie about his childhood. Then again, the kid failed to mention any names, but both of them knew very well what Trunks had been referring to.
Slowly he knocked on the room door-once, twice, thrice. "Come in!" A cheery high-pitched voice announced.
Vegeta opened the door. "Hi Daddy!" Bra squeaked. "Hey, Dad." Trunks sent his father a small smile, with the slighted bit of apprehension. Vegeta tilted his head to regard his daughter, then sent a sideways glance towards Trunks.
"Bra, I'm taking you out for ice cream." The little girl's face brightened up, and she skipped her way out the door. Vegeta watched her disappear down the stairs. "You... wanna come?"
Trunks looked at Vegeta in slight bewilderment. He glanced back for a brief moment, and saw a nicely framed picture on Bra's bedside table.
It was taken outside her kindergarten, while he was at work. Bulma was beaming proudly, and Bra was in Vegeta's arms. Who was smiling. That's right-he had a rather wide (in Vegeta standards) grin on his face. It was perfect. No other word would come close to describing it-a wonderful, happy family of three.
There was no picture in Trunks's childhood that he could find with his father smiling. Or anything close, for that matter. He was either back facing the camera, scowling or on occasions with an expressionless face. Trunks could not recall any scene in which the three of them-him, Vegeta and Bulma, were standing together happily.
He looked back at the picture again. "No... You go ahead with Bra. I... have a report to finish." He gave his father a sad smile.
Their eyes met, and Trunks could see, hidden within the onyx depths, a mixture of sadness, guilt, pride and regret. Father and son reached an understanding, at that very moment, and Trunks gave him a sad smile. Vegeta nodded. They broke eye contact, and for a minute, both of them said nothing.
"Kid, I'm sorry-" Vegeta started. "Dad, It's okay. I-It's... just ice cream."
It was a lie Trunks had been living in, up till the point he was nine-it was always "Trunks, honey, you know your Daddy loves you. He just doesn't know who to show it."
They both knew that wasn't the case. But neither of them wanted to face it.
In fact, Trunks realized soon after the birth of his sister, that Vegeta did know how to express his affection. It just wasn't shown to him. His father didn't even call him by his name.
Vegeta nodded and left.
He was alone now-the carpeted floor was damp with tears. Trunks crossed his legs and wrapped his arms around himself. Then, the truth hit him hard.
This family already had a Happily Ever After, and it didn't include him.
End.