Back on Earth…

Goten sat outside in the rain a few miles from his home. He was sick of crying, but Trunks's words hurt so much. He thought about going back when Trunks had his breakdown, but he felt he would be better taken care of by his parents and Bulla. He couldn't find the strength to get up. He didn't know why he hurt so much. He had just lost his father to other world and now the thought that he had just lost the only other person who understood him was more than he could bear. He let out a whimper and then his lips trembled. "No! I won't cry anymore." Suddenly, he felt dizzy. "T-trunks." He fainted on the wet grass.

Trunks's eyes opened in the rejuvenation. "Goten." He shook his head, trying to get rid of him. "No. I can't think of you anymore. I'm so sorry Goten. You're going to be ok. You're strong." He closed his eyes and an image of Goten passed out in the rain came to his head. "NO! Goten don't do this. Please wake up. GOTEN!" A light surrounded the tank, and he blew it up, grabbed the clothes left for him in the lab, and flew off to where Goten's weak ki was. The only thought that passed through his mind was Goten's safety. He landed right where Goten was and took him in his arms, stood up with him, holding him close. He started walking towards the Son home when a very faint voice was speaking.

"T-Trunks."

Trunks looked down to see his broken best friend in his arms. His eyes slightly open.

"Y-you're going to be ok chibi. I'm taking you home." Trunks felt his emotions as he let a few tears down his face. "I'm so sorry Goten. I never meant for this to happen."

"I-I know Trunks." Goten closed his eyes.

Trunks opened the door of Gohan's house and came into the living room to see no one was home. "Great, I'm breaking and entering." He rushed upstairs with Goten in his arms into the bathroom and ran the shower. He stripped Goten, blushed, took a breath, and did what needed to be done. He dressed Goten after the shower, laid him in Gohan's guest room. He left to take his own shower and while inside he switched it to cold. Once he finished his shower and getting dressed, he came into the room where he put Goten. He sat on the bed and watched him breathe in and out. He sighed in relief. He would be ok. As he watched his best friend sleep, he couldn't help but speak his mind out loud.

"How is it possible to love someone so much? I feel more when I'm with you, and I went away to deny the feelings I have for you. I'm not exactly sure what they are, but there the strongest I ever felt in my whole life. It scares me you know. I bet you thought I wasn't scarred of anything kind of like my father. I have to stay away from these feelings Goten. Maybe in time they'll go away." He heard the front door open, and he left the room to see Gohan had spotted him.

"Trunks, what are you doing in my house?"

"I found Goten passed out in the rain, and I brought him here because I thought Chi-chi would have a heart attack."

The front door opened again and Videl and Pan came in and looked over at Trunks. "I'll explain latter Videl," said Gohan as he led Trunks to the living room. "Why did you find him like that?"

"It's my fault Gohan. I told him I never wanted to see him again. He got upset, and I went after him."

"Why in the world did you tell him that Trunks? Just what were you thinking?"

"I thought I was doing the right thing, but it turns out that I don't know what the right thing is these days."

"You still haven't explained why you want my brother to stay away from you."

"I think." He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "I think I'm in love with your brother."

"WHAT!" Gohan yelled.

"Shhh Gohan. Goten's asleep upstairs, and I think I need to get going." As Trunks headed for the door, Videl's voice stopped him.

"It's too dangerous for you to go home Trunks. It's raining really badly out there. Now I called your mother to let her know you're staying here until the storm passes. She says it's fine with her."

"Just great."

"Trunks, you don't want to stay here?" asked Pan.

"No that's not it at all, I just had some work I wanted to do at home."

"Oh well now you get a break."

"Yeah, I could probably use one."

"So how was your vacation? Where did you go?"

"I went to my beach house in Tokyo. The ocean view was beautiful." As he said beautiful, an image of Goten's naked body appeared in his mind. He shook off the thoughts.

"Trunks, are you ok? You're blushing."

"Oh yeah I'm fine Pan just thinking-

"About a girl."

"No."

Before Pan could ask Trunks what he was really thinking about, her father had called her to dinner, leaving Trunks alone with his thoughts. He heard footsteps come in and looked up to see Videl smiling at him. "So Gohan told you?"

"Yes Trunks and there's nothing wrong with how you feel towards Goten. It's natural. You two have had such a strong connection ever since I can remember."

"What about your husband?" Trunks smirked.

"I think he needs time to process it and after that I guess we'll see."

A loud voice reverberated throughout the home. Trunks and Videl smiled, knowing only one voice could travel throughout a place this small. They walked into the kitchen to see Chi-chi at the table with Pan and Gohan. She looked up, surprised to see Trunks. "What are you doing here?"

Trunks looked up at Gohan who just looked back at him with confusion. Trunks inwardly sighed. "This would never happen with Goten. He would know what I was thinking. It's amazing how the two are so different from each other." He came back from his thoughts. "I came here after work to hang out with Goten. We flew through the rain to get here. He said he was feeling under the weather, so he's asleep right now."

"Oh well we should let him sleep. I'm sure he'll come down when he's ready to eat."

"I'm sure you're right Chi-chi," said Videl.

After dinner Chi-chi helped Videl wash the dishes while Pan played her hand held video game in the living room. Gohan pulled Trunks aside to talk to him. "You just lied to my mother Trunks, and when she finds out that I know to, she's going to be really be upset with not just me but my wife and you."

"Well I didn't know what to do. I thought if I told the truth that, she would kick me out into the rain and besides I'm not ready to tell anyone yet. I have to figure this out completely."

"And how is staying away from my brother going to help you figure out your feelings?"

"Shut up Gohan, I don't need this from you right now." Trunks walked away from Gohan and walked around until he stopped right in front of his best friend's door. He opened the door slowly and quietly to see Goten was still asleep. He walked in, closing the door behind him. He was worried that Goten hadn't woken up. "Goten."

"Yeah Trunks." He turned to see his friend's eyes full of concern for him. He rolled onto his back.

"I need you to know I'm sorry for treating you so badly. I'm just going through something really difficult right now. It's not an excuse."

"I know you're sorry Trunks. I just want to help you with what you're going through. That's what best friends do, but I have a feeling you don't want my help. Whatever it is, it looks like you're going to burry it deep down until the end of time."

Trunks laughed at his comment, and Goten smiled. "That is just ridiculous chibi." Trunks watched as Goten stood up from the bed and wobbled over to him. "It looks like your balance is off Goten." Trunks got up to make sure Goten didn't fall flat on his face. "Woah Goten, take it easy."

"Stop babying me I'm fine." Goten stood right in front of Trunks with a smile on his face. He put his shaky hand on Trunks's shoulder. Suddenly, Trunks was taken into Goten's arms with such force that they both fell over on the floor. Goten looked up to see Trunks on top of him with surprised eyes.

Trunks wanted so badly to lean down on the younger saiyan's body and kiss him senseless. He wanted to feel Goten's body tremble at his touch. He let these feelings pass as he got off of his friend. He didn't see the look of disappointment in Goten's eyes. He helped Goten off the floor and heard his stomach growl. "You should probably go downstairs and eat."

Goten went downstairs as Trunks sat on the bed and sighed as he ran his fingers through the lavender locks of his hair. He heard footsteps stop in front of the door. "Hey Pan, bored already?"

"Yeah but uncle Goten's up."

"What are you saying? I'm no fun."

"Well ever since you started running Capsule corp. you've kind of been distant and too busy to even come over here. You used to be fun, but uncle Goten has always been fun. Even when he found out that Valese had cheated on him, he still came home after school to play with me."

"Wow. When did this happen?"

"Before you left for Tokyo."

"Damn."

"I watch him sometimes Trunks." She looked him right in the eyes. "I think he really misses Grandpa, and he didn't deserve what happened to him. He's a good man." Her lips trembled. "He deserves someone wonderful Trunks."

"He does Pan. He really does." Pan leapt into his arms and cried. "He'll be ok Pan. He will."

"He needs you, you know. He would never say it aloud, but he does. You're his best friend, the one who he's been with from the beginning."

"Pan I-

She separated from him. "You won't admit it either, but you need him just as much and maybe I should stop watching romantic movies with my mom." Trunks smiled. "Now lets go find Goten."

Trunks and Pan heard shouting coming from the living room to see Goten and his mother arguing with Videl and Gohan trying to stop them from saying anything they might regret. Trunks turned to Pan. "Does this happen a lot?"

"Not all the time but when it does my parents have to referee. It's awful. Grandma Chi-chi is really harsh and sometimes uncle Goten just takes it."

"You think it's just possible that she misses Goku and is taking out her feelings about him onto Goten."

"I think so Trunks. It makes sense. Uncle Goten reminds her of Grandpa maybe it hurts to have a reminder of what he left behind."

They listened in on the argument that was still going on.

"Whatever happened to that girl Valese you were seeing?" asked Chi-chi. "She was a nice girl, a potential wife. Why did you let her go?"

"Oh well I don't know mom. It might be the fact that I caught her in bed with Yamcha when I went over to her house. I'm in no hurry to date again. She hurt me really badly mother, but I guess marrying me off to any girl willing to put up with me is more important then my own happiness."

"Why would she do such a thing?"

"It's none of your business mom."

"No, I want to know why she would do this to someone as great as you."

Goten was shocked by her comment. "Mom I-." He sighed. "She wanted to you know, but I didn't. I wanted to wait."

Chi-chi smiled as her hand landed on his shoulder. "I proud of you Goten. You don't want to give yourself to just anybody. You want to wait until someone special comes along."

"Yeah you know like you and Gohan did." Goten looked towards his older brother who held his wife close and smiled at him. Goten turned back to his mother whose eyes were sad. "You miss him, don't you mom?" He brought his mom into a hug as she let a few tears go down her face. He let the tears fall down his face as well.

"I-I'm just so glad you made it into this world Goten. You were a tough pregnancy. I delivered you myself you know." They let go of each other.

"Really Grandma," said Pan as she stood before her and Goten.

"Yes, he was born at home."

"What was my dad doing?"

"I sent him to Bulma's. I knew Goten was due any day, and I wanted to do this on my own. I just know your Grandpa would've wanted to be there with me to see his second son being born."

"Wow! You're awesome Grandma."

"Why thank you Pan. I have some other interesting stories."

"Ooooo tell me one grandma."

Chi-chi sat on the couch with Pan right beside her while Gohan and Videl took the love seat. Goten decided to stand behind the couch. Chi-chi noticed someone was missing. "Trunks you might want to here this story," she said. Trunks came into the living room and stood next to Goten.

"This is the story of Trunks's birth. I was there for it actually. Gohan was with Goku sparring somewhere. Anyway, it was too late for Bulma to go to the hospital. Bulma felt her water break, and she rushed to get Vegeta who was in the gravity chamber. I helped Vegeta lie Bulma on the floor of the chamber."

"So, you delivered Trunks?" asked Pan.

"No. Bulma wanted Vegeta to deliver Trunks, and he did."

"Why did Bulma want him to do it?"

"Well she remembered one of the conversations she had with Vegeta about saiyans and the birthing process. Apparently the process is less painless if the mate delivers the baby. She turned her attention to Trunks. "I'm sure you know about this Trunks."

Everyone looked at Trunks whose face was really red. "Yes and thanks for embarrassing me Chi-chi. I really appreciate it."

"No problem sweetie."

Goten was laughing so hard that he almost couldn't catch his breath, or his balance. He managed to calm down as he caught the glare Trunks was giving him. "What? It was funny."

It was getting late. Pan went to her room, and her parents went with her to tuck her in before they went to their room. Chi-chi went into one of the guestrooms. Goten rolled out his sleeping bag on the floor, and Trunks watched in confusion. "Goten, you do know the bed is big enough for the both of us?"

"I know, but I thought you might want it to yourself."

"No. I think we should both be comfortable, so share with me ok."

"Alright sure." Goten pulled the covers down and laid on the left side while Trunks lied on the right side. Goten covered them.

They both lied on their backs in silence in the dark with their eyes open. He turned to Trunks. "What's bothering you?" asked Trunks.

"I didn't say anything was bothering me."

"Oh come on Goten, it's written on your face."

"Well I know this is something I should never be thinking about, but my mom has no one to lie beside her. I can't imagine what's she going through. I mean it's one of those things no one should ever go through. You should be able to lie beside the person you love everyday for the rest of your life."

Trunks smiled. "Yeah, you're right chibi."

"You know like your parents do."

"You know that's an image I could live without."

"Oh I'm sorry Trunks. I guess you've had enough embarrassment for one day." Goten smiled.

"Just shut up and go to sleep."