Tora leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen, watching Eighteen as she rinsed the dishes and set them in the dishwasher. "Marron's all tucked in bed," he said as he walked over to her and slid his arms around her waist. He kissed softly at the side of her neck, a purr rumbling in his chest. "And that chocolate pie was delicious. So, have I behaved myself enough to get that little something extra?" he asked, wagging his eyebrows at her as he pressed himself against her.

Eighteen sighed and leaned back against him. "I suppose you have," she answered back, leaning into him before she caught herself and closed the appliance and started it before she turned around to face him, slipping her arms around his waist. "You've earned a little treat before you go home," she said giving him a smile, leaning in to kiss his lips.

Tora kissed her back, picking her up and setting her on the counter as his tongue slipped into her mouth, running his hands over her. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck, his length hardening at the feel of her in his arms. "Haven't I earned more than that today?" he asked as he gently sucked at her neck. "I was thinking maybe I could sleep over. That would be a real treat."

Eighteen tensed up, thinking it over for a moment. She knew he would have asked that. She wanted him to, but then she didn't. She was afraid of it, what it would mean. What would happen if she got used to it? What if something happened to him just as it was getting familiar to her? What if he decided she wasn't worth his time anymore? She didn't want to be hurt again. Her heart wouldn't be able to take it. "Tora," she started, not knowing how to finish that. "You were wonderful today, you really were, but I don't know. Maybe, next time or something," she said, rubbing at his arms.

He pulled back from her with a sigh. "That's what you said last time," he said, trying very hard to keep the frustration out of his voice. He studied her for a moment, looking into her eyes, trying to figure out what he was doing wrong. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes searching her face. "I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I try and try with you and you just… You just have this wall up like you don't want to let anyone in. Why do you constantly keep me at arm's length?"

Eighteen looked up at him, pressing her lips together, fighting the wave of guilt that washed over her. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of what we are doing, you know?"

Tora shook his head. "No, I don't know. What on earth are you talking about?" He swallowed harshly, trying to find the right words. "Eighteen, no one's going to get hurt. I just don't understand why we can't, you know, be more. I want to be with you. I want to be here for Marron. I don't see why this wouldn't work. We could be happy, if you would just let us."

Eighteen felt tears gathering in her eyes, her face turning red as she tried to stop herself from crying. She wanted more than anything to be happy. To feel whole again and have a proper family. "I just don't want to be hurt, Tora. I don't…" She trailed off, trying to think of the right words to say, "I suppose I don't know what I want." It was a lie.

Tora felt like he'd swallowed a block of ice. "You don't know what you want?" he repeated in a whisper. He pressed his lips tightly together, trying to stop the emotion from showing in his face. He couldn't do it. "I know exactly what I want. I want you. I want a family of my own. You, me, and Marron, we could be that. I'm not trying to take Krillin's place, but dammit, we could be a family without forgetting him." There was an ache in his chest as he spoke. He didn't know if he'd ever been more open or honest before. He'd never had a family really. "I don't know what this is, if it's love or what, but I know I care about you in a way I've never cared about anyone. And I care about Marron, too. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Eighteen was shocked to hear him say what he wanted without any hesitation in his voice. It made her ache in a way that she couldn't stand. She didn't want to have him get so close to her that if something happened to him she would be broken again like she had been with Krillin. Marron couldn't handle it, she was sure. "What happens when there's an accident? Something happens to you? To me? To Marron? I don't want to lose another person who is close to me. I can't do it again. I can't. Why don't you understand that?" She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Maybe you should just go."

He couldn't breathe. His heart ached to hear her say that. "Nothing is going to happen to any of us. Are you serious right now? You want to send me away?" He tried to swallow the knot in his throat, but he couldn't. He stared hard at her for a moment before he pushed away from the counter, his mind spinning. "You don't want anyone to get hurt? It's too late for that, Eighteen. If you send me away now, it's going to hurt. I've let you in too much already," he said, clapping his hand over his heart. "I've let Marron in too much. And you just want to end it? What am I supposed to do now? Just not come around anymore? I can't just be your friend now. I can't come over here and see Marron and see you, knowing the whole time that I can't have you both. I can't do that!"

Eighteen stopped fighting the tears that spilled down her cheeks and she looked at the floor. "It'll hurt a lot worse the more you stay around. Best to stop it now while we still can. You'll move on, find someone else. I just... I can't go through that pain again. I can't. I'm not sure if Marron can either." She felt sick, deep down she wanted to throw herself onto the ground and beg his forgiveness and just go curl up in bed with him, but she couldn't make herself move. She was frozen on the spot. "I'm sorry."

Tora felt his muscles tense, his whole being going numb. "Like hell you are," he growled. "If you were sorry, you wouldn't do this to us! I would never hurt you or Marron. You can't live your life in fear like this. Okay, so maybe there's that slight possibility that one of us could end up hurt, that some catastrophe could hit and we would lose each other. But there's a bigger chance that that WON'T happen and we could be happy together. Isn't it worth the risk to find out? After all I've done to prove myself to you, to show you how much I care, aren't I worth the risk?!"

"I took that risk once with Krillin and you see where that got me. Have you seen who our friends are? I know catastrophe is going to happen, it's in our nature. It's who we are. Someone is always going to come looking for a fight with Goku, Vegeta or any one of us because we are different. I was fucking built to destroy Goku, someone else out there is plotting the Earth's destruction as we speak. Fasha is still out there with a Saiyan child, teaching him who knows what about us. She's probably going to come after Vegeta, probably going to come after you. That possibility is much higher than slight. You can't deny that." She closed her eyes, "Maybe you are right. Maybe you are worth the risk. I need time to think about this."

"MAYBE I'm worth the risk?" he spat. "Maybe?!" He ran his hands over his face, trying so very hard to keep his temper in check. "You were worth the risk to me. They told me you were hard to get close to. They warned me. And I didn't listen. I took the risk because you matter to me. And fuck Fasha and her bastard child. She shows up around here and I'll deal with her. She's the last thing in this world that I'm worried about." He withdrew his keys from his pocket, preparing to leave. He didn't think he could stay for the rest of this conversation. He was hurting too much in a way he'd never felt before. "You know what? Don't bother. After all this time, you should know if I'm worth the risk or not. I'm not going to hang around anymore waiting on a maybe."

He shook his head with an irritated snort and turned on his heel, heading for the door. Part of him secretly hoped that she would stop him, that she would call him back and say she didn't mean it, that he was worth it. But she didn't say anything. He slammed the door behind him and strode over to his bike that was parked on the curb. He had to get out of there. He had to go somewhere and clear his head, try to get rid of the knee-shaking anguish that tore at his heart. He was a fool for letting himself care so much.

Goku mumbled to himself, wrapped up in Tien's and his own bear cloaks as he chopped the wood. Tien and himself had been taking turns and for the past two days he had been able to bribe his husband into doing it for him. Mostly promising he wouldn't ambush the other man in the bed as long as he got to stay in it. Maybe performing a favor if requested. He sighed and looked at the pile of wood he had already. They had plenty, but they were going through it faster than they had anticipated. He counted in his head, a few more logs should do the trick and he'd be able to go inside for a hot supper. A sudden energy behind him had him pausing mid-swing and he looked over his shoulder at Tora. "Hey! Just a minute while I finish up these logs, You can go on inside! It's freezing out here."

Tora barely felt the cold, even though all he wore was a long-sleeved shirt. He frowned at the wood and the axe in Goku's hands. It wouldn't be much of a challenge, but with the way he felt, maybe hacking something up would make him feel better. "Give me that, Kakarot," he said darkly and took the axe from the younger Saiyan's hands. He swung it high and split the log cleanly in two as a satisfying thwack resounded through the air. He picked up another log and did it again. And again. "How much of this do you need?" he asked without pausing in his work.

Goku blinked, standing there grasping at air as he found himself suddenly lacking the axe in his hands. He looked at Tora, could see the frustration in his posture. "Uh, however much you feel like cutting. I wasn't going to do much more, but if you want to go at it, feel free." He scratched at his head, "What's wrong? You seem a little... destructive."

Tora frowned deeply as he continued to chop the wood. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk about it. He wasn't really sure why he'd come here at all, except for the fact that he always felt calmer at the cabin. But being there was doing nothing to ease the pain he felt in that moment. "Women," he growled and brought the axe down heavily again. "They're nothing but a pain in the ass, you know that? You go out of your way to be good to them, to show them how much you care, spoil them in the best way you can, and what do they do? Throw it back in your face cause you're not worth it!" He hacked at another log, feeling a sweat breaking out on the back of his neck as he worked. The cold air almost felt good at this point.

Goku blinked at Tora and looked back at the cabin where Sabriena was before he looked back to Tora. He remembered Chichi though and how she was towards him. "I know what you mean. Chichi was like that to me. But Sabriena, she's wonderful. What happened? Did Eighteen do something?" He couldn't help but think of how lucky he was, having Sabriena and Tien. Wonderful mates that completed him. "I thought for sure you and Eighteen were going to end up together. I think it's what Krillin would have wanted."

"I know it's what Krillin wanted," Tora said. "He asked me to." He finally set the axe down and turned to Goku. "I had a dream. Don't ask," he muttered, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "I talked to Eighteen and gave her another chance after that whole, you know, her calling his name while we were having sex. Things have been great for a long time. But she keeps pushing me away, won't let me get too close to her emotionally. We broke it off tonight. I can't keep doing this with her. Hiding. Pretending that we're just friends. I don't understand her."

Goku frowned, tugging the fur cloak tighter around him. "Krillin really asked you to take care of Eighteen?" He bit his lip, not questioning the dream Tora had. He himself knew that dreams could mean much more and be very real. "She keeps pushing you away? I mean, I guess I can understand that. Maybe you should talk to Sabriena. She understands what women think, probably because she is one!" He laughed and rubbed the back of his head, "They have different ways of thinking about things."

Tora snorted. "Won't matter. I'll never understand them anyway," he muttered. "Yeah, Krillin asked me to take care of Eighteen. And Marron, too. And now I can't even go back over there! She's afraid that she's going to end up hurt again. If she lets herself care about me too much or some shit and then I'm gone, she says she can't handle it. She doesn't want to get hurt. Never mind the fact that I'm the one hurt now. I guess that doesn't matter. And what about Marron? What happens when that little girl gets up tomorrow and I'm not there anymore?" He roared in frustration and grabbed up the axe again, slamming it through another log. "I SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO THIS PLANET!"

Goku frowned and sighed, "Tora, you can't mean that. We love having you here. You've done amazing things. You saved Marron and everything, helped her recover. No one wants to get hurt in a relationship. Did you try telling her that it's not how long the relationship is so long as it's a good one?" He frowned, "That doesn't sound as good as I thought it would."

A small chuckle escaped Tora, despite how angry and hurt he was. "No. I know what you mean. I just," he paused and sighed. "Kakarot, I don't know what to do now. How do I just turn off these feelings? I care about her and Marron more than I ever thought was possible. This is my fault for letting myself care. I made that promise to watch over them because I felt guilty for Krillin's death. You all can argue with me all you want, but it was my crew that killed him. It was my decision for us to come here. But I couldn't just watch over them and not care, you know? And now she expects me to just walk away."

Goku nodded, "Then don't. Don't give up on her because she has lost her way. I know it's a lot to ask when it seems that the other doesn't even want to try, but if Krillin really asked you and you care about them, don't give up. Do you love her? Them?"

Tora looked down at his boots, his hands on his lips as he chewed his lip and thought over the question. He knew the answer. He'd felt it for a long time, he just hadn't voiced it because he knew that would scare Eighteen off. "Yes," he answered quietly. The simple word brought tears to his eyes. He choked and tried to clear his throat, still not looking up at Goku. "Yes, I love them both." He wiped at his eyes with his thumb and scuffed his boot in the dirt. "Doesn't matter, though. She doesn't love me."

Goku blinked at Tora, "Are you sure? How did she end it? Was she cold and uncaring? Didn't shed a tear? When Chichi ended it with me, I was in tears and she didn't even bat an eye." He sighed and shook his head. "When I left, there was no doubt in my mind that she didn't love me anymore." He looked worriedly at Tora, "Did Eighteen do the same thing?"

"No, she cried," he answered, finally looking up at his friend. "She said she was sorry. That maybe she just needed to think it over. I told her not to bother. I can't stand to just hang around waiting on a maybe. I know how I feel about her and her daughter. If she doesn't feel the same, then I'm not going to let myself be strung along any more. I'm hurting enough as it is," he admitted. He tossed the axe away, turning and looking out over the yard. "I must be a complete idiot. I thought I actually had a shot here. A chance for a family. I guess it's just not in the stars for me."

Goku reached out, resting his hand on the other's shoulder, "It's not over yet. Especially if you have Marron on your side. You won't be able to get out of their heads, Marron will demand to see you again. Just don't give up. Not yet."

Tora wanted to believe Goku. He really did. But something in him just didn't have the energy to hope. He sighed and went to the firewood again. "Go on back inside, Kakarot. It's cold out. I'll finish this for you."

Goku shook his head. "Nah, come inside and have a meal with us. It will make you feel better, give you some clarity. Then we can think of a few things to get Eighteen to reconsider," he said, tugging on the other Saiyan and headed inside.

"I already ate," Tora said lamely bug followed Goku into the house. He sat down at the table and shook his head at the plate Sabriena offered him. "No offense, I know it's good. I just don't feel like eating," he muttered.

Sabriena's brows raised at that. "You never turn down my food," she said and immediately clapped a hand to his forehead. "You're not running a fever. The hell's wrong with you?" she demanded. She'd never known a Saiyan to turn down food, least of all hers.

"Don't be rude," Tien scolded as he dug into his own dinner. He'd overheard most of the conversation between Tora and Goku. Neither of them were exactly quiet when they spoke. "Wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but maybe you should just give her some space. Let her miss you for awhile. It might change her mind."

Tora groaned and let his head thunk on the table. "Can't one of you just whack me over the head and make me forget about her? It'd be easier that way," he muttered. He sat up suddenly as if he'd just remembered something. "Marron remembered Paige today!" he exclaimed. "I took her to the Lookout after we left here to get some more stuff for that fairy garden. And she remembered her."

Goku smiled widely, grinning. "Hey! That's great! See? You can't give up, for Marron's sake. You are good for her and Eighteen you know. What's that saying that they have? Absence makes the heart... um… miss you more? Or something?" He frowned and his brow creased as he tried to think, but the hot plate of food in front of him called his name and he dug into it with gusto.

Tora laughed and shook his head. "Maybe you're right. Let her miss me for awhile." He looked at Goku's plate and his stomach suddenly growled. "You, ah, think maybe there is some for me?" he asked a little sheepishly.

"That's what I thought," Sabriena said haughtily and got up to fix him a plate. "I knew you couldn't turn down my cooking."