On the drive to the therapy office the next evening Trunks caught his boyfriend in a serene state, enjoying the cold wind on his face. He loved moments when Goten was just happy. 'It's the way it should always be, and I'm going to make sure it stays that way.'
Goten leaned into him and kissed him on the cheek. "Who knew you were so sweet Trunks."
"So you were listening to my thoughts?"
"Well when some thing nice is being said about me I can't help it." He smiled. "Anyway did you here about my mom throwing a welcome home party for my dad tomorrow night?"
"Yeah. Videl called me at work. Apparently your mom is pulling out all the stops. A meal fit for saiyans and humans alike. She said we're invited at least that's what Chichi said."
"I guess that means mom and dad are on good terms."
"Don't worry I'm sure your dad supports us. I'm sure he'll fight for us if the occasion calls for it."
"You really think he would Trunks?"
"Yes. You're his son, and he loves you no matter what."
"You always now the right thing to say don't you Mr. Perfect?"
Trunks laughed. "Believe me I'm far from perfect. Compared to me you're an angel."
"An angel, huh? I've never been called an angel before." He blushed.
Trunks drove into the parking lot and parked. Taking off their seatbelts they sat for a moment. Trunks leaned in and kissed him passionately on the mouth. "You're beautiful when you blush," he said as he got out of the car with a very dazed boyfriend. "Goten! Earth to Goten!"
"I—I'm here."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I was just thrown off by your kiss."
"It's not the first time, and it won't be the last."
"That's very, very good to know."
Waiting in the waiting room Goten grew increasingly uncomfortable by the silence. He was always this way even when he went to the doctors. He remembered a time when he was three, and his mom took him for a check up. He smiled. 'I was so anxious, bouncing off the walls until mom told me to sit still. I told her I couldn't help it until she pulled out of her purse a rainbow swirl lollipop. She said I could have it if I was a good boy and waited patiently for the doctor. Then could have it after the check up was over.'
"Rainbow lollipop." Trunks smirked. "Maybe if you're good we'll go and get you one after therapy."
"And maybe if you're good, I'll let you share it with me."
"What makes you think I won't get my own?"
"Well I know you haven't had it before and if you get one and don't like it, then it will be a complete waste."
"Fine," he smiled playfully, "have it your way," he said putting his arm around him.
A knock came from outside Dr. York's office as he was looking over some work on his desk. "Come in," he said as he left his work for another time and stood up to greet his next client. Looking up he was pleasantly surprised by his two guests. "Trunks," his gaze shifted to the other man, "and you must be Goten. I've heard a lot about you."
"You must be Dr. York," said Goten as he shook his hand.
"Please have a seat." They all sat down. "So, what do you want to talk about today Goten?"
"Well," he blushed, "I want to be able to be sexually intimate with Trunks but something from my past is stopping me from being that way with him."
"First of all it's great that you can acknowledge the problem but I want to start with who you are."
"I'm a 22 year old vet. My father is Goku, my mom is Chichi, my older brother is Gohan, and his wife is Videl, and my niece Pan. I used to live with them on Mount Pao, but I couldn't handle my mother's controlling ways so after I graduated college, I got my own place in the city. Trunks is my boyfriend."
"Lets focus on your mother," said the Dr.
"I knew you were going that way." He sighed. "Well I've always had a rocky relationship with her ever since I can remember."
"Why do you think?"
"She wanted to fit me into this mold of what she thinks a man is supposed to be. I was supposed to get married to a woman and give my mother grand kids and because I rebelled against that lifestyle, we butted heads a lot. Recently I told her I'm in love with Trunks and all I could remember was her yelling, none of what she was saying got through. I guess you can say I blacked out. That's what I usually do when something bad happens to be. Usually I remember what happens later through my dreams."
"Why do you think you black out?"
"I don't want to deal with the reality of the situation. It's a coping mechanism I guess you therapists would say."
"I could train you to be present in terrible situations, but the problem is you're going to have to realize it's not your fault. The yelling your mother does towards you is her own issues. Just remember to breathe and relax your body the next time you're confronted and also remember you have people behind you who love you the way you are unconditionally."
A weight felt like it was lifted from his body. "That's good advice," said Goten.
"How much contact do you have with your mother?"
"Last time I saw her she was yelling at me about my choice to follow my heart with Trunks but we're invited to a party she's throwing for my dad. He just got back from a trip."
"Are you ready to confront her about who you are?"
"Honestly it makes me nervous but despite everything she's said about me, she's my mother and I want her to understand why I fell in love with Trunks."
"Next time we'll talk about what your mother said to you on that day you blacked out and how it made you feel now that you know the full extent of what she said. I'll see you next week."
Goten made his next appointment with the receptionist and then him and Trunks left to the candy store.
Trunks drove up to Mount Pao with Goten in the passenger seat beside him. When he turned off the ignition, Trunks turned to his boyfriend, who was looking out the window.
"I'm sure your mom will be too busy concentrating on Goku to even concentrate on you."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better Trunks?"
"Sorry, just trying to break the tension in the air."
"I appreciate it Trunks and a part of me hopes you're right."
"And the other part?"
"The other part just wishes she could understand that she's not in control of me anymore."
"So, why do you think she really invited us here?"
"I guess to appear like nothing's wrong with the way her youngest son lives his life and for things to look normal."
"You ready to get out of the car now? I'm only asking because your hand is on my thigh," Trunks smirked. "Or do you want to make out until you're ready to get out of the car? I have no objection to that."
Their foreheads leaned on one another, their eyes met as there lips came together in a hot, searing kiss. Goten's hand remained on Trunks' thigh while Trunks' hand cupped his face. Their tongues went into each other's mouths at the same time.
A knock came to the window, startling the two demi-saiyans out of their intimate moment together. They turned to see a smiling Bulla and Gohan waiting for them. Getting out of the car, they both wore blushes on their faces.
"Hey Bulla, Gohan," said Trunks.
"Steaming up the windows you two?" Bulla smiled.
Goten blushed. "Cut it out Bulla," said Trunks.
"How's mom Gohan?" asked Goten.
"Well she's been a lot more mellow. She was so happy to see dad."
"I bet," he smiled, "you think she'll be happy to see me to?"
"I—I'm not really sure how to answer that Goten. All I know is it's good to see you."
"You too Gohan."
"Aw you're both so sweet," said Bulla. "Hey Trunks, how come we're not like that?"
"We're sister and brother. It's a different dynamic."
"Do you have to act like mom?"
"I love you to Bulla," he said with his arm around her as they followed the Son brothers to the party.
"It's so nice to see you two bonding," said Bulma as she walked up to her kids and hugged them. When she pulled away, she looked at her son. "I haven't seen you in a while. I think we need to change that."
"What do you propose?" Trunks smiled.
"You and Goten come by every Friday night for dinner."
"Fine by me mother. You know how much we love your cooking."
"How's Goten doing anyway?"
"He'll be fine if he can get through this party in one piece."
Goten spotted his mom over by the barbeque talking to number 18 until a hand came to his shoulder, redirecting his attention.
"Hey Marron."
"Wondering what they're talking about?" she asked.
"Well my mom had a devious look in her eyes so I'm thinking anything could happen."
"Your mom is unpredictable."
"Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. Anyway what's up with you?"
"Ok well I have this crush on a guy but I haven't told my parents or anyone. I haven't even approached him to ask him out because I don't know if he's interested."
"What's his name?"
"You promise you won't tell anyone."
"I promise."
"It's Trunks, and I figured since you to are best friends, you can ask if he likes me."
"I can't do that Marron."
"Why not?"
"He's my boyfriend."
Marron was quiet for a while which made Goten really nervous. He thought maybe he should walk away, but his mother didn't raise him to be rude. 'Some how it always comes back to her but I guess I really should talk to her.'
"You're both guys," was the first thing she said.
"I'm well aware of that."
"Trunks doesn't date guys."
"I think you're too hung up about Trunks and I being guys. It's really about who we are as people that attracted us to each other. It wouldn't matter what gender we were, we'd still end up together. At least that's how I like to think about it. I'm sorry Marron."
Goten decided now was the time to walk away but not before Marron had something to say about it. "It won't last you know," she said as he turned back towards her.
"That's not for you to decide. It was nice to see you Marron."
Goten was able to relax once he was out of site from Marron. He sighed in relief as he made his way to where all the food was. Once he had a full plate, he scarfed it down quickly and moved on.
"Goten!"
He smiled. "Hey Videl, how's it going?"
"Have you seen Bunny's new beau?"
"No, why?"
"He quiet popular with everyone. You know like he fits in."
"So that's what that crowd's about. I guess my dad's been upstaged."
"I'm sure Goku will recover," they turned to the food table to see him stuffing his face. They both laughed. "Anyway you should meet him. Come on." She took his hand and led him through the crowd.
His eyes went to the rest of the Briefs family who kept their distance from Bunny and her new husband. 'If they don't like him—The first thing he saw was how happy Bunny was as she clung to his arms. When he looked at the man, his heart stopped.
When Henry looked Goten's way, his eyes widened in recognition of the young man. He tried to calm himself and act like everything was normal, but his wife could tell something was wrong.
"Henry, are you all right?" She put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine Bunny just feeling a little dizzy."
"Well let's get something to eat."
They left Goten's sight, but he was still left shaking and nervous. 'Th—this isn't happening. He's not really here. I—I must be dreaming,' but when he closed his eyes and opened them, Henry was still there.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he jumped. He realized it was his mother and calmed down. "Goten, what's wrong you look scared?" Before he knew what he was doing, he hugged his mother to him. "Ok now you're scaring me. What's going on?"
Goten pushed down his fear of Henry and concentrated on his mother. "I don't want you to hate me, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm in love, and I'm happy. Isn't that what you always wanted for me?"
"Yes, but with a woman Goten. There's just no way you can be in love and happy with Trunks forever."
"Why not?"
"First of all he's a Briefs, he's been with many women, and he's trouble. Honestly I don't think he's capable of being faithful to you and I don't think he can give you what a woman can."
"I love the Briefs. They're like my second family. Trunks is not trouble. He's changed a lot for the better. Trunks is capable of being faithful and how I know is because we started the ritual of saiyans bonding," he pulled down his shirt to show his mother the wound Trunks left him. And as for my needs I know Trunks can give more than anyone can give me in my whole life."
"You—you've shamed your family," said Chichi.
"Chichi that's enough," said Goku as Gohan, Videl, and Pan joined him. "He hasn't shamed anyone. We love him just the way he is Chichi, and we're proud he found someone who really cares about him, who can take care of him."
"Mom, you're the only one who has a problem with Trunks and I being together. I'm just asking you to try and understand for once instead of trying to control my life, and he's so good to me mom. He's always there for me through good and hard times."
"This is NOT who I raised you to be."
"I'm always polite around company, I respect women, I graduated college, I helped you around the house and outside the house, and I love you." He sighed in frustration. "Kami I love you even though you hurt me so badly. What more do you want from me besides marrying a women and giving you grand kids?"
Chichi didn't say anything. She just walked back inside her house, closing the door behind her.
"It's so frustrating and exhausting isn't it uncle Goten?" asked Pan.
"Yeah," he smiled, "it is. I think I'm done explaining myself to her."
"Good now lets go for a fly." She held her uncle's hand. "You need it." Goku, Gohan, and Videl nodded.
"Lets go Pan."
They took to the air and let themselves be free from the worries in their lives.
It was late when Goten and Pan landed back down on the ground, both flushed from the cool, night air. Pan heard her mother calling her as she turned to her uncle and smiled. "I hope you're feeling better uncle Goten."
"I am and thanks for taking me flying with you. You're the best Pan."
"I know," she laughed as she hugged her uncle and made her way over to her mom.
Goten watched as Videl took Pan in her arms, kissed her, and followed her daughter inside their home. A frown formed on his face, remembering his own mother but that soon passed as he spotted his boyfriend on the dance floor, dancing with his own mother, an unhappy look on his face until his father decided to cut in.
Trunks' eyes went from his parents to a pair of raven eyes, and he smiled as he walked over to Goten. "Hey, haven't seen you all day."
"Well it's been one heck of a day to."
"Yeah I can tell you look all stressed." Trunks took his hand in his, "come on lets relax and have fun on the dance floor."
"I don't know Trunks. I can't dance."
"Don't worry I'll lead and you follow." He smiled.
Goten couldn't help but let out a smile. "Just like old times huh Trunks?"
They wrapped their arms around each other on the dance floor, and Trunks instructed him on his footing, which Goten picked up fast. They were slow dancing in no time, leaning into kiss every once in a while.
"Bulma, what's going on with my grandson and Goten?" asked Bunny.
"Mom, can't you tell they're in love with each other?"
"That's the boy Trunks is in love with? Bulma what have you been teaching my grandson."
"Excuse me I've been teaching him to follow his heart and look where it's gotten him. Trunks is happier then he's ever been in his life."
"It's just unnatural is what it is."
"I don't know about that. Love seems pretty natural to me and if you have a problem with my son's choices, well I'm sorry to say you have no say in them."
Goten was enjoying being in his boyfriend's arms on the dance floor, and Trunks loved him there. Trunks could feel Goten raise his head from his shoulder and smile at him. "What are you thinking about chibi?"
"It's a nice night. The stars are out, the breeze feels good, and you're here with me."
Trunks brought his lips to his ear. "Are you trying to seduce me?" He kissed the side of his boyfriend's cheek.
"We're on the dance floor surrounded by friends. Do you think I would really try that here?"
"I don't know. I was kind of hopeful." He nuzzled Goten's neck with his nose and mouth as he heard his chibi sigh in pleasure.
"You are something else Trunks." He kissed him on the nose before they made their way off the dance floor, holding hands to a tree where they sat down and just held each other, looking into the night.
"So, where do you want to live together?" asked Trunks as he felt his boyfriend nuzzle his clothed chest and smiled. He knew that his chibi was happy.
"Have those two always been close?" asked Henry as he looked at the couple setting under the tree.
"Oh yes," said Bulma, "Ever since they were babies."
"So I guess your son would be very unhappy if someone hurt his boyfriend?"
"My son is like Vegeta in that way. He'll protect the ones he loves with a passion. That's one of the qualities I'm glad my son inherited from his father."
Henry was deeply worried, and Bunny could see that. "Henry, what's wrong?"
"There are some things about my past that I haven't been completely honest with."
"Like what Henry?"
"Well my real name isn't Henry. I had my name changed because I got in some trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Yeah Henry what kind of trouble?" asked a third voice.
"Goten, what's going on?" asked Bulma.
"Please don't tell," said Goten as he looked at Henry.
"I have to I care about Bunny," he looked at his wife, "and I want to start my marriage with no lies."
Goten felt like he was about to be sick. 'Thi—This can't be happening. This isn't happening.' But as much as he was trying to convince himself, he couldn't stop the inevitable.
"I've spent time in jail for the rape and murder of a little girl and for molesting Goten when he was a boy."
Bulma and Bunny looked to Goten who was just couldn't believe what was happening right now, but he was brought out of his disbelief by his boyfriend's undeniable rage for Henry.
"You're a sick bastard Henry, hurting innocent kids who didn't even know what you were doing to them at the time. I know you should rot in jail for the rest of your life for causing my boyfriend pain."
"Trunks," said Goten.
"Words can't express how much I would love to kill you right now." He took Henry by the collar of his shirt.
"Trunks, Stop!" exclaimed Bunny.
"Why should I?"
"I'm sorry for everything I've done, and I will live with the horrible things I've down for the rest of my life."
"That isn't enough for me," said Trunks.
"Trunks!"
"Father?"
"We do not kill humans."
"The—then," tears came down his face, "what the hell am I supposed to do? Let him live."
"You'll go to jail if you kill him," said Goten. "I can't let you go to jail for me Trunks.
Trunks loosened his grip on Henry. "You're going back to jail for life. I'll make sure of that." He let go of the scared man and watched him walk away with his grandma.
Everyone was looking at Trunks, and he didn't care as he walked away from the party, got into his car, and drove off, leaving his friends, family, and boyfriend behind.
In the past driving had always helped Trunks clear his head. He feared he wouldn't be able to this time. He drove to certain point until all he could see was red.
Pulling over, Trunks capsules his car and flew off into the night. He had no direction in mind and as he spotted Kami's lookout, he flew up until he could see Kami's temple and Dende, the new guardian of the earth.
"Hey Trunks! Long time no see. How's it going?" He looked closer at Trunks' appearance. "On second thought I can tell you're angry. What happened?"
Trunks sat down at the edge of the lookout. "I really don't want to talk about it Dende."
"Sure take all the time you need for yourself." Trunks was thankful for his friend's understanding.
Alone with his thoughts, Trunks tried with all that he had to let go of the thought of someone hurting Goten, especially when that person was married to his grandmother. It just tore him up inside that he wasn't there to stop what Henry had done to the one he loved most in the world.
'If I can't protect you, what good am I?' A tear rolled down his cheek. 'Damn it.' Another tear rolled down his face. 'You don't deserve to hurt. You never deserve to hurt. I—I just want the pain to stop now.'
"Trunks! TRUNKS!"
Trunks came out of his thoughts to see how they were doing some serious damage to the lookout. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath in and then out. Opening his eyes, everything was calm once again. "Sorry Dende."
A felt his hand on his shoulder. "You really need to talk to someone Trunks."
"I'm not sure I understand myself that well anymore to talk to someone."
"I do."
Trunks and Dende turned their attention to the person hovering above them in the air. "Goten," said Trunks. "What are you doing here?"
"I know you want to protect me from any kind of harm, but you can't. Bad things happen sometimes and all you can do is be there for me in the moment. That's enough for me Trunks. Why can't that be enough for you?"
"You deserve better then your mother's disapproval of you and what happened to you when you were young. You're such a good person that it doesn't seem fair."
Goten smiled at him. "I love you. I love you so much Trunks and being with you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I could never ask for a better boyfriend."
Dende was surprised by the conversation going on between the two boys but stayed silent.
"I love you to Goten, so much. You have no idea."
They passionately kissed in mid air surprising Dende even more, but the Namek was happy for his friends. 'Wow! What power they share together. It's just amazing. I've never seen anything like it.'
Dende waved goodbye to his friends as he watched them leave the lookout. 'I hope things can get better for them two. If anyone deserves it, it's those two.'
Morning would come soon, and the night's events would be over and done with but nothing can just be forgotten.