Ch 74

Bulma had decided to get up early the next day. She needed to stretch her legs and think about what Vegeta had told her about his and Trunks' conversation. She knew she would talk to him today, but her feelings were all over the place.

Making her way to the lobby, she looked to see a young man wearing a gray sweatshirt and black sweatpants. This was unusual to her because it was summer in Rome, and the weather was hot. Walking over to him, she saw him look up from his phone.

"Goten?" Bulma said as she sat next to him. "Sweetie what are you wearing? You do know it's warm outside. You'll give yourself heat stroke."

"You—you're going to talk to Trunks today, right?"

"I was planning to but what does that have to do with—Goten lowered the hood he had been wearing over his head. "Oh my god Goten," she said, seeing the big bruise on his cheek and along his neck. "What happened?" she asked as he put his hood back up.

"I was surprised to when it happened yesterday night. I fought him off the best I could, but I could feel how strong his feelings were. Anger, sadness, guilt were pouring from his body. I even tried talking to him, but he wouldn't hear it. He just took what he wanted from me."

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I'm going to get this all sorted out with Trunks, so this will never happen again," she said as she got up. "Do—do you think Trunks knows he did this to you this time?"

"I'm not sure. I just wonder how long I can keep this quite. If Gohan knows I don't know what he's going to do Bulma."

"Go get some fresh air and something to eat."

"That sounds like a good idea. I'll see you later," Goten said as he walked out of the hotel.

Sitting in a cafe, he ordered some breakfast and sat down to eat. He sighed as he sensed someone before him and looked up. "Vegeta?"

"You look terrible."

Goten couldn't help but smile. "Gee thanks. I'm ok. Apparently there was something else that needed to be resolved. Bulma's talking to Trunks right now. I just—I don't like feeling this way. I shouldn't be afraid of Trunks."

"It's regrettable, but it's never easy being a saiyan. It may come with a lot of perks, but our race does have its' flaws no matter how much I boost about our race."

"I'm afraid he's going to kill me Vegeta. I mean how many unresolved issues does he have just lying beneath the surface that he's not fully aware of? It seems I can fight as much as I want, but he's feelings are so strong."

"You need to talk to Trunks and make things clear, make your feelings clear."

Bulma made her way to Trunks' room and knocked on the door. Standing back, she heard silence. She knocked once again and waited for him to answer. Suddenly she had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

"TRUNKS! You open this door now. It's your mother. I need to talk to you now." When she heard footsteps coming towards the door, she sighed in relief. Her relief was taken away as she looked at the state of the room and her son as she came in, closing the door behind her. "I know what happened. I saw Goten."

"It's my fault," Trunks said as he sat on his bed that contained ripped, bloody sheets. "It's all my fault."

"Sweetie we need to talk about what happened yesterday. Your dad talked to me after he talked to you. I wish that when Vegeta and I had conceived you that we were in love, but we weren't. We were lonely, we were attracted to each other, and we had urges. We gave into them, and you were created. Your father and I fell in love the more we got to know each other. You brought us closer together to Trunks. He never thought in a million years that he would fall in love and have a child, a family. You were the best mistake we could ever ask for sweetie."

"I—I'm sorry mother. I'm grateful for everything you've given me. You've worked so hard to keep this family together and strong. The truth is I'm proud of you and dad for putting up with me. I know I made things difficult for you both and sometimes Bulla. It was only because I was working through my own issues, and I figured I could do it on my own. I couldn't, and I guess that's why we're here having this conversation."

"Do you feel resolved Trunks? It's important because it could very well effect your relationship with Goten. I sent him to get some fresh air, Vegeta's with him. I didn't want him to be alone."

"I do feel resolved with my past, but I'm afraid I've done some real damage with Goten last night. I can't take back what I did, and I believe he'll never forgive me. I feel his fear coursing through me mom, and it breaks my heart that it is this way. Never would I have imagined he would ever feel that way about me, but it's understandable."

"You two need to talk this through. Everything needs to be put out on the table. If you feel like there is anything left unresolved, you need to fix it. You need to let down your walls and your pride for the one you love Trunks. His life may depend on it."

"I understand mom," Trunks smiled. "Thank you."

"I love you sweetie, and I want you and Goten to be happy."

"I want that to mom, more than anything," said Trunks as he looked around the room. "It looks like I made a real mess of things. I need to clean up and then find Goten."

"All right I'll leave you to it sweetie," Bulma said as she closed the door behind her. Letting out a breath, she made her way to her daughter and Uub's room. On the door she saw a note. It said they were spending time with her parents.

"Oh hey Bulma," said Gohan. "Have you seen Goten anywhere?"

Trunks tracked Goten's ki to a more private part of the beach. Touching upon the sand, Trunks walked his way over to him. Searching his mate's feelings, he could feel pain, sadness, anger, and love. 'Maybe there's hope that he won't hate me forever,' he thought as he spotted his mate sitting in the sand, holding his knees to his chest.

Sitting beside his mate in the sand, he didn't know what to say. Sorry didn't even express how much he hated himself right now. He decided to wait and see if Goten had anything to say. Staring out at the evening sky, he sighed as he copied his mate's pose.

"I—I don't know Trunks. I'm not sure how much I can take of this. I don't want to lie down next to you and wonder if today is the day I won't wake up. I love you so much, and this hurts for me to even say to you right now. Maybe we need some time apart so you can deal with all your issues," Goten said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"I'm sorry will never be good enough I know. It seems that's all I can ever say to you, but I do love you. I understand you need space. I need to fix myself. I don't want to hurt you anymore then I all ready have, and it's hard to let you go because every instinct in me tells me not to. It's what we both need," said Trunks as he stood up from the sand. "So, what will you do?"

"We'll enjoy what time we have left in Rome. When we get back, I'll take my things and find my own place to live," said Goten as he wiped more tears from his eyes. "I—I don't want to do this, but I know I have to. I just—what are we going to tell our friends and family?"

"The truth. It's my fault chibi, and I have to own up to it. There's just something I want to make clear. It's not over between the two of us, it never will be, but I promise I'll come back to you when I feel I am truly won't see me otherwise."

"I—ok," Goten smiled sadly.

"I did resolve things with my parents, and I thought you should know."

"That's good. I'm glad about that. You're going to need their support."

"Your brother is going to kill me, and I wouldn't blame him."

"I won't let him kill you Trunks," Goten smiled. "Maybe just beat you up a little. Seriously I'll deal with Gohan."

"I—I don't know if he's going to understand this time Goten," said Trunks.

"I'll do my best Trunks, but he's not gong to hurt you if I have anything to say about it."

"I don't deserve that you know."

"You're not a monster Trunks. You just need to concentrate on yourself right now."

"All right I will, for you and for me," Trunks smiled.

"I'll see you later Trunks," said Goten as he took off into the sky.

Goten made his way back to the hotel to see his brother, Videl, Pan, and the Sharpner family in the lobby. Before he could think of getting passed them, he was spotted.

"Hey Goten," said Gohan. "Bulma said you went out for a while."

"Yeah I—

"Why are you wearing such heavy clothing?" asked Gohan. "Are you sick or something?"

"Not exactly. I—something happened and—" he said as he brought down the hood on his sweatshirt to show his brother the bruises. "I need you not to freak out."

"It's Trunks, wasn't it Goten?"

"Yes. We're taking some time apart so he can fix himself."

"You don't need time apart. It needs to be permanent Goten."

"It couldn't be even if I wanted to because of our bond. I want him to get better, and I want to be with him. It's going to take a while, but I can wait."

"I hate that there's nothing I can do but support you because I know nothing I say about Trunks will stop you from wanting to be with him in the end. It's just something I will never fully understand."

"I know it's not easy for you Gohan but trust me in that I know Trunks with all my heart and soul. I love him."

Gohan sighed. "I know you do, but I can't believe I have to say this. I'm scared for you Goten, but I have to trust that you know what you're doing."

"I do," Goten said confidently as he brought his hood back over his head. "So, how was your day out?"

"Well it looks like I'll be spending a lot of time with Sharpner and his family."

Goten smiled. "So you know how Pan feels about Sharpner's son?"

"Yeah. I was shocked to say the least, but Videl found it adorable."

"Don't worry Gohan Pan's a smart girl. She has dreams, and she won't do anything until she's ready. You raised a great daughter."

"You know I owe you for being a great influence in her life. She's lucky to have you, and I want to keep it that way."

"I'll always be there for her when she needs me Gohan. I promise," Goten smiled.

"We're going to have some lunch. You're coming right?" asked Gohan. Goten nodded.