The hospital had released his mother, she was on her feet again and receiving treatment, but it was making her weak.

The problem Trunks was having was finding someone to look after her as well as help around the house. Of course they could hire someone, but Bulma was private and Trunks knew she wouldn't want someone she didn't know snooping around while she felt so lousy, particularly seeing as how she felt on any given day ranged from bad to god damn awful.

Trunks had moved back into his childhood home for the time being, it was strange and he missed his independence but he knew this was the right place to be. Neither he nor his mother could get his father to leave however, and Trunks had to say that although he hadn't forgiven him, he didn't really mind. Bulma had made him promise not to neglect the company, and his father's presence meant he could go to work and know she would be well cared for while he was gone.

Members of the Son family and other friends would turn up a couple of times a week to help clean or bring groceries, Trunks saw mostly everyone in passing although somehow he never ran into Goten. He had a sneaking suspicion Goten was choosing days he knew Trunks would be working to do his part. He put this out of his mind however, if Goten didn't want to see him, he didn't have to Trunks supposed. A fact he regretted not considering more often.

It was another early morning on which he was very likely to be late for work and Trunks was fixing his tie on his way downstairs, as well as trying to walk his feet into his shoes. He was in the process of forcing them all the way on and hunting around for his car keys, when a loud smash from the kitchen reached his ears. Not wanting to make a patronising fuss, he hurried subtly to the source of the noise, where his mother was stood clutching the counter, trembling. She'd had a round of treatment the previous day and Trunks had fast learned that the first couple of days following this were rough.

'Are you okay, where's dad?' he asked, concerned.

'I told your father to go and train, it's no good him hanging around.' she said in a would-be-normal voice, without turning around but continuing to grip the counter. Suddenly her knees buckled, causing Trunks to move as fast as he knew he could and catch her before she'd managed to fall more than an inch.

'Okay you know what, I'm staying home today.' He said, supporting her weight.

'No Trunks, I'm fine, it's important for you to keep your life normal and look after the company.'

'Would you stop with that? You're not fine, and it's okay to not be fine. It'll survive one day, I'll call Gohan, see if I can't get him up from R&D to help an old buddy out.'

She sighed, allowing him to help her to the sofa in the living room before sitting down and smiling, 'yeah, that might work.'

'Shall I put the TV on?'

'I might just have a nap Trunks, I am tired like you wouldn't believe.'

He covered her with a blanket and pulled his tie off again, before making his call to Gohan. There was a knock at the door. He headed towards it, while giving Gohan instruction, 'Thanks so much man,' he said hurriedly down the line, 'I owe ya, you guys have been too kind.'

As Trunks' tanned fist close around the door handle, he wondered nervously who was scheduled to help that day. He thought about asking Gohan if he knew, but he knew it would be obvious as to why he wanted to know, and decided he could do without adding another shade of vulnerability to himself. 'Hey listen someone's knocking, ring me if you need me, yeah?'

'Yeah man, no sweat.' Came Gohan's voice from the end of the line before he rang off.

Trunks hung up and collected himself before sighing, straightening up and turning his fist. He felt his stomach do something that felt suspiciously like a backflip when it opened upon a familiar face framed with dark hair. He hoped his face was behaving and not betraying what he felt in the pit of his stomach.

Goten on the other hand looked overly shocked to see Trunks standing there, considering this was his house.

'I thought you'd have left.' He said abruptly, his surprise led to this coming out more rudely than he'd intended.

'Erm, hi.' Trunks said, slightly put out. 'Yeah I didn't go into work today.'

Goten blushed, flustered by this development. 'Sorry' he said, scrunching his face up in embarrassment. 'I came over to help, if that's still okay. I could ring my brother if not.'

Trunks shook it off; the guy had come to help after all. 'Don't be silly come in. You couldn't call him today anyway I've roped him into running my company,' They both laughed for a second, Trunks wondered whether it was wise to bother, but decided to seize the opportunity, 'Listen Goten-'

'Let's not, Trunks.' Goten cut him off impatiently, 'I'm here because I love your mum and I want to help.'

Trunks bit back his apologies, 'no yeah of course. I just wanted to say thank you.'

'It was never a question, honestly there's no need. I'll clean up.'

Goten set about clearing the room, opening drawers and cabinets Trunks wasn't even sure he knew existed. Trunks headed to his office to do some paperwork, knowing he should at least try to do something from home. He pulled up his chair and flopped into it, turning his computer on and rifling through the stack of paper on his desk. The sounds of cupboards opening and shutting and the occasional spray reached his sensitive hearing from the living room not too far down the hall, and Trunks tried his best to focus on the task at hand. It was all he could do to not poke his head around the door frame and see what the hell it was Goten was finding to do all day, how many cupboards were there out there?

Barely a restless half an hour had passed when Trunks decided he could take it no longer. He needed a cup of coffee. 'No really, I do.' He told his reflection, which was looking at him with a raised eyebrow from the artwork opposite his desk.

He moved down the corridor slowly, the living room coming into view, watching Goten working. He seemed to know the place better than Trunks himself, every so often he'd leave the room and return with a cloth or a bag or polish that Trunks knew for a fact he never would have been able to find. He wondered when was the right time to announce himself. He knew he'd struggle to make it look natural at this point, he'd made the bizarre decision to supress his ki and would now have to explain that somehow. He'd arrived at the decision to just retreat to his office and start this journey again like a normal person and not a lunatic who hovers in their own hallway, when he heard Goten's startled yelp and knew he'd been busted.

'Trunks! Why are you lurking in the hall?'

Trunks moved into the room, feeling his cheeks illuminate with embarrassment and released the pressure on his ki. Goten's face showed recognition.

'Ah, there you are.' Goten said, able to feel his presence and not quite meeting Trunks' eyes, 'I assume I wasn't supposed to notice you.'

Trunks threaded his fingers through his hair and looked sheepish. 'Sorry man, I got curious you sounded so busy, I didn't know half of those products you're using lived here.'

'Ha, well that's the elbow grease you've missed out on through being so affluent.' He replied.

Trunks smiled, recognising this as a rebuttal, Goten looked embarrassed.

'Sorry, I didn't mean that. Well I did, but I didn't mean it to be harsh, I know you work hard.'

Trunks nodded and waved this away with an airy hand, 'Nah it's okay. I just meant you know this place better than I do, how often do you come over?'

Goten seemed relieved and carried on bustling about the room without looking around, 'erm, most days,' he said over his shoulder, 'it's only fair I'm the only one without responsibilities so when I can I'm happy to do it, I've finished my exams now I graduate next month, so I'm free quite a lot.'

Trunks thought about this, he couldn't believe that a big life event of Goten's hadn't occurred to him to be honest, but then he supposed he'd had a lot on.

'Well you're free quite a lot, except on the days I'm not working, obviously.' Trunks teased.

Goten laughed and looked embarrassed once again, 'I didn't think it was a good idea.'

Trunks held his hands up in surrender, 'it's fine man honestly, I understand.'

Goten looked directly at Trunks for the first time, at first a little quizzically, like he couldn't believe his ears, then he smiled, a real Son smile, all teeth, dark features and symmetry. Trunks was struck for a second, it occurred to him vaguely that he'd taken too long to respond and Goten was looking at him funny, he cleared his throat and got a hold of himself.

'Have you erm, ran into my dad at all?'

'Yeah, he's surprisingly nice to me,' Goten said quickly, seizing the change of subject. He thought about this answer for a second, 'well y'know, as far as your dad can be.' They both laughed. 'I thought with- well you know, I wasn't looking forward to running into him, but he didn't mention anything. It's cool that he's looking after your mum.'

'Yeah it is. How are your folks? I talk to Gohan quite a lot he's been really great.'

Trunks motioned for Goten to sit down and they continued to talk for an amount of time that Trunks lost track of. It flowed so naturally that he had to keep reminding himself to check on his mother, but she just slept on a couch in one of the other rooms for the best part of the day. A magnetic feeling in his gut kept him following Goten as he carried out what Trunks assumed he treated as his chores, Trunks offered to help where he could. It was as they emptied the dishwasher and laughed about their fathers' training regimes that Bulma appeared in the doorway.

'Mum you're up! Do you feel better?'

'Much.' She said, smiling tiredly and looking at them both, 'I see you boys are working hard, you'll be staying for dinner I hope Goten?'

'Dinner? What time is it?' Goten checked his watch in disbelief to find it was 5o'clock; they'd been talking for literally the whole day. His stomach growled. 'Oh, it's okay Bulma I'll head off soon I didn't realise the time.'

'Nonsense you'll stay, Trunks is going for pizza aren't you dear?'

'Um, yeah mum of course.' Trunks grabbed his car keys and headed out, 'I'll just get a load of different ones and we'll see where we get to?'

Bulma nodded kindly, Trunks snatched a jacket off a chair in the kitchen as he left. Goten continued to stare at the place where he'd been, all muscles and forearms and suit pants.

Goten hadn't forgotten how beautiful his best friend and ex was, but it hurt to be reminded. He'd expected it to, which is why he always made sure to plan with Gohan what days they were each going to do, he didn't feel comfortable asking his mother or father to swap, but Gohan was understanding, he'd been good about it.

Goten continued to zone out, thinking about this and also unwelcome images of nights when he'd ripped suit pants just like those clean off Trunks almost as soon as he'd walked in from work. These thoughts were interrupted as he remembered where he was and jerked back to reality, blushing as he felt Bulma's eyes on him. He turned to look at her, she was wearing an amused expression.

'How are you feeling, Bulma? Can I get you anything?'

'I'm getting there honey,' she said, deciding not to comment, 'you sir, can get us both a cup of tea and come and sit down.'

He joined her at the kitchen table beside the patio which looked out on the vast grounds, it was midsummer and the world looked green and lush, Goten liked to sit here.

'He misses you.' Bulma said, out of the blue.

Goten nearly choked. All the days they'd been alone, talking about anything and everything to take her mind off things, she'd never broached the subject before.

'Oh don't be so daft of course he told me. He was cut up. I know he hasn't forgiven himself.'

Goten didn't know what to say so he simply drank more tea.

'The funny thing is,' She said pensively, 'I don't think Vegeta has either.' She looked out onto the grounds where the gravity room stood.

Bangs down the corridor notified them both that the man in question had finished his training session and was on his way to the kitchen, seconds later he appeared scowling in the doorway.
'Dear will you get my painkillers?' Bulma asked him sweetly. Goten was about to offer and Vegeta obviously had similar thoughts, but seemed to reconsider as he looked at them sat over the tea and went back down the corridor he'd came from.

Bulma folded her hand over Goten's quickly, 'I would be lucky to have you as a son-in-law. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my boys, they do stupid things but they love hard and for keeps.'

Goten barely had time to respond before Bulma had removed her hand and Vegeta had re-entered the room, he brought the pills and a glass of water and in a moment that nearly knocked Goten off his chair, kissed his wife on the head, before turning to Goten.

'Are you eating with us boy?'

'Yes.' Goten said quietly.

Vegeta simply nodded. 'Then set the table.'