Marron stretched luxuriously, then let her whole body relax once more. She had slept well and even the thought of Sharpner and Erasa a few rooms down the hall couldn't spoil her contentment. Trunks's arm was slung across her midsection, his face relaxed and breathing deep in slumber. Marron shifted slightly, turning on her side so she was facing Trunks. As she moved Trunks's arm tightened around her and pulled her closer. Marron blushed as her body came into contact with Trunks's but his breathing didn't change.
When he woke about half an hour later his lips were resting against Marron's forehead and her hands were against his bare chest. Slowly he ran his hand up and down her back and she nestled closer to him. Trunks felt his body react to her proximity and he froze. That he had not been planning for. Lifting the covers on his side of the bed he slid out, careful to cover Marron once again. She sat up looking confused, and yawned.
"I'm getting a shower"
She nodded slowly and stretched up before laying back down in the warm spot created by their two bodies. Trunks closed the bathroom door before grabbing a towel and shedding his boxers for the shower. Many couples would have left the bathroom door open, but Trunks and Marron weren't exactly the average couple, though they wanted the Satan's to think they were.
Trunks pondered the dilemma as the water began beating down on his body. Sometimes, the logistics of their situation baffled Trunks. They were doing this to get a deal with Sharpner Satan's company, but if they did get the deal the companies would have to be in continued contact and they would be forced to maintain the pretence of Trunks's married life.
He imagined phoning Marron every year when the Satan's were due for their visit and asking her to act for another week. It would be a hard lie to perpetuate…but he couldn't exactly tell Sharpner Satan the truth now. The businessman would probably be so offended that he would refuse to discuss any possibility of a contract and it could damage Trunks's reputation for being a man of integrity, which in turn would be harmful to the company. Turning the shower off once again he stepped out into the bathroom and tied a towel around his waist.
Marron was standing in the wardrobe choosing an outfit. The plan for the day was a picnic lunch in the local park, followed by an introduction to the city and shopping and finally dinner at a restaurant Trunks had reserved weeks before. They were to be joined there by Goten and Paris; it had been Goten's idea to come as he already knew Sharpner and Erasa and he had also suggested Marron inviting one of her friends to "bulk out the party." Trunks was a little suspicious of his motives, especially as Goten had already shown an interest in Paris, but his friend had brushed off any mentions of that being a possible reason for requesting her presence.
As Marron disappeared into the shower Trunks went downstairs to start preparing a cooked breakfast. He had bought the required ingredients the night before and he was looking forward to bacon, eggs and potato and soda farls to start the day.
Chase wandered downstairs behind him, dragging his blanket and rubbing his eyes. After a few moments of concentrated work Trunks managed to open the child gate and let Chase and himself through and then Chase sat at the kitchen table, watching as Trunks began cooking.
"Daddy…"Chase yawned.
Trunks looked up, still finding it strange for Chase to call him "daddy".
"Can I help?" The youngster yawned again, remembering this time to cover his open mouth.
Trunks looked around at the various cooking implements. Oil in pan for fried eggs ...too dangerous. Bacon and soda farls on grill... too hot. Perhaps he could give Chase some bread to toast? That would be safe enough and keep him occupied.
"Okay. Here you go"
Trunks directed Chase on how to insert the bread in the toaster and push it down and the boy set about his task happily. Trusting that Chase couldn't come to any harm Trunks concentrated on preparing the rest of the breakfast…until the smell of smoke reached his nostrils.
Turning he registered the toaster emitting menacing black smoke before all hell broke loose as the fire alarm went off. Chase was wailing in the corner of the kitchen covering his ears and Trunks wafted a tea towel frantically to direct the smoke away from the alarm. When Marron came in he handed her the tea towel without a word and climbed on the table, armed with a knife to deactivate the alarm. When the noise immediately stopped they all breathed a sigh of relief. Chase was still sniffling as Trunks then turned off the power to the toaster and used the knife to fish out two lumps of charcoal from the depths of the machine.
"I did it just like you said" Chase's voice shook, "I pushed it down and waited for it to come up and then pushed it down again…"
He trailed off as Trunks and Marron looked incredulously at each other before bursting into laughter. Chase was bemused when both of their arms came tightly around him.
"Trunks" Marron giggled, "Never become a TV chef if this is what your instructions lead to!"
Trunks laughed back, "Not something I was really considering as a career path…but for Chase on the other hand…"
Sharpner arrived just in time to save the bacon from a similar fate to the bread Chase had incinerated and Erasa examined the toast ruefully before laughing.
"Well, they do say charcoal is good for the blood!"
After an enjoyable breakfast they lounged around the house and garden preparing for that day ahead before heading to the city park for a picnic lunch. Nobody was very hungry after such a large breakfast so they simply sat in the botanic gardens with ice cream and enjoyed the weather.
Afterwards, Trunks drove everyone into town and parked the car at a central location so everyone could return there after shopping.
That morning, Marron had commented on Sharpner appearing for breakfast in smart office clothing when she had Trunks usually came down in pyjamas. He had admitted, rather sheepishly, that he hadn't packed much casual clothing so he welcomed the opportunity to go shopping for some. Marron needed to get a formal dress for the party they were throwing in about a weeks time to say farewell to Sharpner and Erasa.
Marron'sfirst stop was the cash machine, while Erasa used the one next to her. Marron could not help an exclamation of surprise when her balance came up on screen…it was the kind of amount she hadn't previously earned in a year let alone one month! She remembered Goten's promise to pay her five times her usual salary but the sheer amount of money involved hadn't registered with her until now. Besides the fact that she would never have agreed to do it if she hadn't trusted Trunks, regardless of how much she was offered.
Receiving the money made her feel ashamed: if they hadn't needed someone with a child, an escort service would probably have been their next port of call and that put her in the same category as people who sold their body for cash. Trunks seemed to truly care for both her and Chase, but receiving payment made her wonder just how much of his affection was real and what was calculated to give him the best chances of sealing the deal with Satan Enterprises.
Frowning she withdrew some money that she knew was her own and crumpled the printed statement into the bottom of her handbag. Perhaps she had needed to be reminded that this was nothing more than a financial arrangement. Marron jumped when Erasa spoke to her.
"Are you alright?"
Marron forced a smile.
"I'm fine. Just got a little bit of a shock"
"Oh," Erasa nodded knowingly, "Bad or good?"
Marron considered, "A little bit of both I guess…but it's no big deal. Let's get started – we haven't got much time for serious shopping!"
Erasa laughed in reply.
"Lead the way!"
After hours of deliberation Marron had decided on a midnight blue gown that Erasa said made her eyes glow like sapphires and Erasa had chosen a forest green that set off her hair. Satisfied they then went on the hunt for shoes and other accessories, alongside more mundane necessities. Chase had appointed himself adjudicator and had overseen the final decisions on each dress. He was extremely proud of the smart shoes, trousers and shirt that Marron had purchased for him and he insisted on carrying his own bag though he had to bend his arm to stop it dragging along the ground.
Erasa laughed watching him but Marron could detect sadness in her eyes.
"Are you and Sharpner planning a family?"
Erasa looked up, taken unawares by the question and Marron immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry. That's a very personal question"
Erasa shook her head.
"No, that's alright. I guess I've just never had to really explain our situation to anyone else before"
She paused, considering the best way to continue.
"I was pregnant about a year and a half ago. Sharpner and I had been married for a few months and it was the news we had been hoping for. The baby seemed healthy, all the scans were clear and everything seemed fine…"
She trailed off, obviously still finding it difficult to discuss. Marron waited in sympathetic silence and Erasa took a deep breath before continuing.
"But everything wasn't fine. I became ill and…miscarried the baby. For a long time after that I was unwell and for a time the doctor's feared for my life"
Erasa's voice cracked and she dabbed quickly at her eyes with a tissue, trying to maintain a composed façade.
"When I recovered the news that I had lost the baby nearly destroyed me. A child was everything that Sharpner and I had wanted …and still want, but the doctor's still don't know what went wrong. We've been trying so hard for another child, but I'm so scared that the same thing will happen again. I couldn't stand losing another baby…our son"
She began to cry openly and Marron led her to a bench where they could sit out down out of the main area of the shopping centre.
"I'm sorry"
Erasa apologised through her tears.
"It still upsets me so much…"
Marron stroked Erasa's arm gently and Chase hugged her tightly. Seeing other people distressed always upset him, even if he didn't know the cause of their suffering.
Marron spoke quietly.
"I can't even begin to imagine how you must have felt…but as a mother I can understand it to a certain degree. If it helps, I know you and Sharpner would make wonderful parents"
Erasa's tears redoubled but she returned Chase's hug.
"Thank you. Just being able to tell someone else…. has meant more than I can say"
They sat for a few more minutes, gradually bringing the conversation around to more cheerful topics and Erasa touched up her makeup before they moved on.
"I don't want Sharpner to worry…he's very protective of me after my illness"
She smiled brightly and Marron returned the grin. Chase followed closely behind them both and asked Erasa questions about her home that made her laugh. Marron watched Erasa with a new respect for her strength.
When they eventually met up with Trunks and Sharpner, Erasa, Marron and Chase were laden with bags in contrast to the two men who only held a few bags between them.
Marron found herself watching Trunks with a new consideration; examining his mannerisms for any sign of false sincerity and looking for hidden meanings when he spoke. He seemed to feel her attention on him and turned to meet her stare with a quizzical look.
Marron then switched her attention to Sharpner, who was expressing concern over his wife's well being. She laughed as he took her hand and Marron could see the strength of the bond they had between them.
On the journey home Marron volunteered to give Sharpner the passenger seat once again and she sat behind the driver's seat.
The label on Trunks's T-shirt was sticking up so she tucked it down, letting her hand rest on the back of his neck for a second. His skin felt so warm and real beneath her fingers, but his behaviour was a harder thing to interpret. Trunks met her eyes in the rear-view mirror as he thanked her softly and there was a question in it as if he could tell something was bothering her, but she ignored it and looked away.
Preparation for going out to dinner was a mad rush and Trunks phoned ahead to the restaurant on his mobile when they got stuck in traffic but it was engaged. Goten rang a few minutes later to say that he and Paris were already there and had confirmed the booking.
The meal was delicious though it took a while to come. Marron had expected Chase to be exhausted but he tucked into his ice cream and raspberry jelly dessert with gusto. The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone appeared to be having a good time.
Goten and Paris really seemed to have hit it off and their chatter kept the conversation moving at a good pace. Trunks observed his friend ad he flirted with Paris again. It was obvious that the two were interested in one another and Trunks couldn't help a slight feeling of jealousy. Goten had the opportunity to start a relationship with no strings attached, while for Trunks it was slightly more complicated than that. He stole a sideways glance at Marron as she laughed at one of Sharpner's jokes. If they had met without the deal perhaps they would have had the chance to start a normal relationship…but if it weren't for the deal he probably wouldn't have taken the time to even get to know her. It was a no-win situation.
Maybe after the Satan's left they could discuss the possibility of…but would it work when their relationship had to remain professional?
He looked down, concentrating on the exquisite apple pie he had been presented with as a dessert. Like so many things, there was nothing he could do about Marron until later…he stifled a laugh as he caught sight of Chase's once-clean face, his mouth now surrounded by a large white ring of ice cream. Trunks leant across the table and wiped Chase's face gently.
"It tastes better when it goes in your mouth"
Chase then opened his mouth, proudly displaying a nauseating mixture of ice cream and jelly that Trunks pretended to examine closely.
"Looks delicious. Carry on"
Chase giggled and Marron and Paris exchanged a glance as Trunks returned to his dessert. Marron caught Trunks's eye and he smiled again, watching their son demolish his artfully arranged pudding. Marron held his gaze for a little longer; unsure though she was of Trunks's true feelings for her, she was sure that he loved Chase and that knowledge made her feel secure.
Regardless of the consequences, at least Chase would have had a father for a short time.
Erasa half-fell into the back seat of the car, laughing, and pulling Sharpner along with her. Marron passed Chase to Erasa and ensured he was tightly belted in before climbing into the passenger seat and sliding the seat forward to give Sharpner some room. Trunks was still outside, thanking the restaurant staff and talking to Goten. Paris stood alone, off to one side.
Marron undid her belt and got out of the car again,
"Can you get home okay?"
Paris looked up and smiled, "Yes, of course, I'll be fine"
"Are you getting a taxi?"
Paris considered Marron for a second and sighed.
"Nope, the bus should be fine for me… you know I can't afford to waste money on a taxi!"
Marron blushed in embarrassment,
"I'm sorry. That's not what I meant…I just thought it would be too late to get a bus…"
Paris took pity on her and softened her tone, "It's okay…don't worry about it"
"I'm sorry Paris. I feel like I've left you to deal with a lot of things on your own, but even if it seems like it, I haven't forgotten my old life. This will all be over in a few weeks anyway…and at least we won't have to worry about money for a while"
Marron's voice trailed off and she looked down so the shadows hid her expression. Paris touched her shoulder,
"We'll see…. anyway, don't worry. I'm doing fine on my own."
They embraced to say goodbye.
"Thanks for coming tonight…see you soon!"
"Bye!"
The journey home was conducted in the contented silence of a group of people who have eaten well and are ready to sleep. Sharpner sat a little stiffly, afraid to move for fear of disturbing Chase who had fallen asleep against his arm. Erasa watched the scene with undeniable longing in her eyes, barely even noticing the car drawing to a standstill.
"Do you want to carry him upstairs?"
Marron was leaning across, her blue eyes bright and sympathetic in the darkness.
"You can take him inside if you want"
Erasa paused for a second; then dragged her eyes away from Chase, shaking her head furiously.
"No…no, thank you"
"Okay", Marron didn't push it any further, simply lifting Chase and going ahead of the Satan couple into the house. Sharpner climbed out of the car and held his hand out to Erasa; instead of taking it she flung both her arms around him, unable to calm the trembling in her limbs. In turn he wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Ssh, ssh…it's okay"
They stood in the circle of a streetlamp as silence washed around them. Trunks took the car on into the garage without a word…somehow he understood that words would be meaningless in face of their pain.
Chase stirred and screwed his face up against the light.
"Where's Daddy?" his voice was petulant, the whine of an extremely tired child.
"Ssh. He's just downstairs…he'll be here soon" Marron whispered as she untied Chase's shoes and removed his socks.
"I want him now!" His voice rose and Marron shushed him with her finger across his lips.
"Just a minute…don't worry"
Trunks entered the room as if he'd been cued and sat on the opposite side of the bed to Marron to kiss Chase goodnight.
"Night, night"
"Night Daddy"
"Night, night baby. Sleep well"
"Night, night Mommy"
Marron pulled the blankets over him as he lay down with a huge yawn. Almost immediately his head hit the pillow his breathing slowed. He was instantly asleep…she leant over to kiss him on the forehead once again.
Hero paused in the doorway as he was leaving,
"Are you coming to bed?"
Marron didn't even look up.
"Soon. I think I'll just sit with Chase for a little bit"
Trunks nodded and Marron heard him retreating across the hallway and the soft sound of their bedroom door opening and closing once again.
Marron frowned down at her son,
"Oh, Chase. What have we gotten ourselves into?"
Earlier, she had thought that having a father for a short time would be better than having no father at all for Chase…. but now she wasn't so sure. Chase had already become extremely fond of Trunks – what would it do to him to take Trunks out of his life? What reason could she give him for why he didn't have a father all the time like most of the other kids…what reason could she give him for leaving Trunks after they had become a family? How could she make sure he wasn't hurt by the entire stupid situation?
She leant over once again, "I love you"
Pulling the door across to stop light shining in, Marron eventually went to bed.
Erasa was standing at the top of the stairs watching everything as Trunks and Marron said goodnight to Chase. She couldn't see Marron's face when she sat on the bed but she could tell from her expression as she left the bedroom that there was something troubling her. Erasa took a deep breath, still feeling a little shaky.
Watching Trunks and Marron together with Chase gave her an indescribable ache in her chest…. a longing for and a fear that she would never have the happiness of a family like theirs.
She observed Chase for a while as he slept; one arm already escaping the confines of his duvet, thrown out with careless abandon. His soft breathing made the room a peaceful sanctuary…quietly; Erasa retreated and slipped silently into the room she and Sharpner shared.
He looked up guardedly, meeting her eyes in the mirror, and then his face relaxed into a fond smile. That quickly changed once again to a concerned frown as he caught sight of the unshed tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
He stood up and came towards her, his tie still dangling undone around his neck. Erasa shook her head.
"Nothing…just watching them with Chase"
Sharpner nodded in sympathy and touched his wife on the arm.
"Yes, they seem so happy together"
Erasa began to nod and then paused.
"But, Sharpner, don't you think there's something a little odd about their relationship?"
Sharpner frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, they've been married for longer than us…and it's obvious how much they both love Chase…but they're almost awkward around each other"
Sharpner nodded slowly, "I understand what you mean…. that's true…maybe they're just shy about showing affection in public?"
Erasa shrugged in reply, "Maybe"
Two doors down awkwardness was present like a third person in Trunks and Marron's room. They moved around the room, getting ready for bed in silence, save for quiet apologies when they got in each other's way. The presence of Sharpner and Erasa in the house was like a weight, making every little word or gesture take on a heavy significance.
"Trunks"
He turned towards Marron slowly, almost regretful of the broken silence.
"Do you think they believe us?"
He turned away again before she could see the doubt in his eyes.
"I think so…..they don't have any reason no to believe us"
Marron nodded slowly, "Maybe you're right….but still…I feel like they know we're not being entirely sincere…like they can sense that we're hiding something"
"Everyone has secrets – how could they guess what our secret is? Even if we were a real family we wouldn't have to bare everything to them."
He turned off the main room light and there was a moment of darkness while he crossed the room and flicked the switch for the bedside lamp. In that moment, he missed the expression crossing Marron's face. When she remained silent as he slid into bed, Trunks shot her a puzzled glance, searching for what she might be feeling in every line of her body.
"I guess the thing that we all have to remember in this situation is that no matter how much we pretend to be a real family, we're not and all of this is simply a deception constructed for the purposes of a business deal…"
Her voice betrayed more emotion than her carefully-controlled expression, and Trunks knew he had to say something.
"Marron…"
She turned away from him and lay down to sleep. Trunks struggled to find the words to express something that he himself remained confused about. Marron spoke before he had managed to string a sensible sentence together.
"I just wish I could tell Chase not to believe in this deception…but I can't…because this lie is the closest thing he's had to a real family"
"Marron…"
"Goodnight Trunks"
She cut him off, still obviously upset and he turned off the bedside lamp, letting darkness refill the room with silence. They didn't speak to each other again, though both lay sleepless, staring at the blank ceiling long into the night.
Trunks didn't ask, but he could tell Marron was thinking the same thing as him: Was a business deal worth toying with everyone's emotions? Building a friendship with Sharpner and Erasa, based on a falsehood…ignoring the confusion between the two of them, the false couple…creating a home for Chase only to tear it away…was it all worth it? And if it wasn't, what other options did they have?
Trunks glanced at watch as sleep continued to elude him.
Still only Day 2 of the Satan's week-long stay…and doubt was gnawing at him as never before.
Everyone slept in the next morning, and Marron was still heavy-eyed as she wandered downstairs to make breakfast. It had been hours until she could get to sleep the night before, with Trunks's wakefulness adding to her own.
She felt irrationally angry at him for involving her in his deception and for being prepared to go to such lengths for his business. True, she had chosen to help him and in doing so had metaphorically signed her own death warrant. If she had only said no then she would still be living with Paris, struggling to pay her bills but content.
However, if she had said no, she would never had come to know Trunks the way she did now…even if everything he said or did was designed to create an image for the Satan's benefit, it was still a different side of him to the rather severe man who chaired the company. If only she knew how much of what he said was sincere, perhaps she could reassure herself that she wasn't falling for someone who didn't care at all for her…perhaps she wouldn't feel like such an idiot for wanting what they had together to be real. Not only for herself, but for Chase…and even for Trunks; none of them had ever known a real family. Her foster parents had been kind but she had always felt that the knowledge of her being adopted created an unbridgeable gap between them, Trunks had been brought up in an orphanage and Chase was starting to question the fact that all of the other kids he met seemed to have fathers.
Marron looked up, startled as Sharpner entered the kitchen. She hadn't really spoken to him very much as he had mainly been with Trunks, while she spent time with Erasa. He looked quite wide awake, although sleep still lurked in the corner of his eyes and his hair was uncombed. He smiled when he saw her.
"Good morning"
"Morning. Did you sleep okay?"
"Fine, thank you, we were very comfortable. I'm sorry we slept so long this morning; I think we're both still a little tired from the journey here"
Marron shook her head, "Don't worry about it. Trunks thought you might need some time to recover so he hasn't timetabled anything for today. He's gone to the office already, but he should be back shortly. Oh, and he said that he's organised for a hired car to be sent if you and Erasa decide you'd like to go anywhere this afternoon or at any point during the week. Of course, we'd be happy to accompany you if you so desire, but we wanted you to have some measure of freedom!"
Sharpner laughed softly, "Thank you for your consideration- it's very much appreciated! I'll ask Erasa what she would like to do, and let her decide."
"How is she this morning?"
"A little tired; she still tires quite easily, since her illness. Would it be alright if I took some things up to her?"
"Yes, yes, of course. What would you like?"
Marron showed Sharpner around the kitchen, telling him to take anything he was in need of.
"Please treat this like your own home, and don't hesitate to ask if you can't find something!"
Sharpner nodded, "Thank you" before returning upstairs bearing a tray laden with breakfast items.
Marron sank down at the kitchen table again, suddenly exhausted. How could she keep up this façade for any longer? Only Day 3 and she was praying for the days to go faster…less than a week and it would all be over.
It gave her a strange feeling thinking of it like that: it was like a dramatic production with months of rehearsals, set creation and prop acquisition before a bare few nights of performance.
She strode to the back door and flung it open, feeling stifled by the house and her formality in playing the role as Trunks's wife. The cold air hit her lungs and she immediately felt better, more clear-headed and calm. She pushed the confusing thoughts to the back of her head: less than a week and it would all be over…less than a week until Trunks was just her boss again…less than a week until it would all be over. Looked at that way she both wanted it to be over and for her fantasy family to continue, but it was impossible to have both. Taking another deep breath of the cleansing air she stepped back into her cage and closed the door.
Trunks's office felt deserted and desolate when he stepped into it. Only a day since he had last been there but it felt like a lifetime. The time before and after the Satan's arrived was clearly demarcated in his mind.
Ignoring the papers scattered across his usually-tidy desk, he stepped straight across to the window and peered out at the car park, the motorway and beyond to the mountains and the clouds hanging heavy with unspent rain in the sky. He hated grey days like this, and longed for the clouds to burst and the rain to fall. The world always seemed so fresh and clean after the rain, everything smelling refreshed and gleaming in the sunshine that often followed.
He sighed and sat down at his desk, back to the window, and picked up the top document in his inbox. He scanned it without registering anything on the page; he couldn't work like this. He spun to face the window once again, the sheet dangling forgotten from his limp fingers.
Restlessness filled him; made worse by the hermetic stillness of his office…he needed distraction from his thoughts. Goten, Gohan and Yamcha were all meant to come to see him, but he couldn't bear to wait for a moment longer as his mind filled the silence with unwelcome questions. He flung the sheet to the desk once more, careless of where it landed, and strode out of the office, barking an order at Doris to tell the others to come and find him. He didn't care if she thought him rude, and even the thought that he should have to consider her feelings irritated him.
He met no-one in the corridors as very few people were in work, and he was thankful to remember that it was a Sunday. The gym was completely empty so Trunks quickly changed and started his weights circuit with furious concentration.
Only Day 3 of this entire ordeal.
Goten and Gohan found each other before they found Trunks, and correctly interpreted his cryptic message to track him down in the gym.
Gohan frowned at the sky as they stepped outside and hastened his pace slightly – he had no wish to get caught in the rain.
"How do you think it's been going?"
Goten half-nodded, half-shrugged, "Well, I know I've seen them more than you but that's still not a lot. It seemed to be going fine to me and Trunks appeared to be handling it quite well"
"What about Marron…and Chase?" Gohan feigned indifference in his question, but something about his tone of voice suggested he cared more than he was letting on about the answer. Goten stared at him quizzically, as if he caught the emotion but couldn't pinpoint what exactly it meant.
"They both seemed happy last night, but I think everyone's a little concerned about how the ending of this whole thing will affect Chase."
Gohan nodded, "Yes, he's the real victim in this situation."
There were a few second of silence as Goten studied his friend, "Why don't you go over and visit? Find out for yourself how everyone is doing."
Gohan nodded again, thoughtfully, "Yes, maybe I will do just that"
The man behind the gym reception desk nodded to them as they entered, "If you're looking for Mr Briefs, he's in the main weights area"
They saw Trunks before he saw them, through the glass doors of the gym and Goten caught sight of his expression.
"Uh oh"
"What's wrong?"
Goten indicated Trunks, "Look at him…he's not happy"
"You're right"
They didn't waste anymore time discussing it, but pushed open the door and stepped inside. Trunks was the only one there and he glared at them before replacing his weights on the stand and turning towards them. His demeanour was challenging and an awkward silence followed as each waited for the other to begin speaking. Trunks spoke abruptly, "Let's find a room to talk"
Not even bothering to change, he led the way back into the main building and into a small meeting room, closing and locking the door behind them. Goten began to feel trapped, and new doubts surfaced in his mind: was it really worth a business deal to put Trunks, Marron and Chase through so much emotional stress?
Gohan was outwardly calm, but Goten knew he would be considering the best way to speak to Trunks when he was in a mood like today.
Once again, Trunks broke the growing silence,
"Why did you let me do this?"
His friends were startled.
"Do what?" asked Goten.
"Why did you let me think it was a good idea to try and deceive Sharpner Satan and his wife? Why weren't we just honest from the start?"
Goten took a breath to answer, but Gohan spoke first,
"You said it yourself Trunks – this business deal with Satan corporations could make or break our company"
"I know that!" Trunks shot back, pushing his hair back from his face in agitation, "But lying likes this makes a joke of everything we profess to be"
Goten felt his own irritation begin to stir in response to Trunks's,
"So what do you propose to do Trunks, tell them? Just say, 'Oh, I'm sorry I lied to you. Can we forget it all and start all over again?' That will work well!"
"I know we can't do that! But I'm not happy about what we're doing now…"
"Then why didn't you say something sooner? You had a month in which to object to our plan!"
"I thought it was our only option. Besides, this wouldn't have started if you hadn't made that stupid comment to Sharpner Satan about me having a family!"
"Now hold on just a second…"
Gohan interrupted the argument before it could grow anymore heated.
"With the situation we were given, this is probably the only option available to us. And, Trunks, we've all made sacrifices for this company, perhaps you most of all…you've always done what's best for the company so why can't you do it just once more? Less than a week, it will all be over, and you can forget it ever happened."
Trunks looked at the ground and Goten took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. Trunks's thoughts were racing…less than a week and it would all be over….part of him wanted it to be over….most of him, in fact….but there was, he realised with something akin to horror, a little part of him that had started to believe in the 'family' he and Marron had created: A part of him that wanted to believe that the happy illusion was reality. Less than a week and it would all be over, one way or another…but he knew that it was something he would never forget.