A Chance of a Lifetime – Chapter 12

They landed on an island. Trunks looked around. It seemed to be the one she was kidnapped from. He slowly looked back at her, watching as she looked around, taking a few steps towards where she was grabbed. Neither said anything. He watched his mother study the sky, listening with half an ear as Goku and Vegeta landed behind him. They stood in silence for a while.

"Trunks," his mother's voice cut through the stillness, making everyone jerk to attention. He waited, but she didn't turn around.

"Hit me," she said softly, not turning.

Trunks took a step back. His mother finally looked over her shoulder when he didn't move towards her, lifting a brow.

"What's wrong," she looked at him curiously.

"Uh," Trunks took another step back. "I can't hit you mom! I mean Trista! Sorry."

A small smile appeared. "You can call me mom if it makes you feel better."

No one said anything for a couple minutes. Trista continued to study him.

"Hit me," she said again, narrowing her eyes.

"Why do you want him to hit you?" Goku asked, furrowing his brows. They watched as she studied the ground for a moment, before meeting the boys' eyes.

"Something...happened to me while I was in that room. I want to find out what."

They stared at her, studying her as intensely as she was studying Trunks.

"Now!" she took a step forward. "Hit me."

Trunks swallowed, grimacing as he raised his hand. She didn't move as his fist stopped inches from her face. They watched her narrow her eyes as she smacked his fist away.

"Dammit! I said hit me, not act like your going to do it!"

This time he tensed up his muscles before swinging. A smack sounded as she caught his hand seconds before hitting her jaw. She grunted, letting his arm fall.

"Better. But you're still holding back!"

Goku and Vegeta studied her with interest. How could she tell Trunks was holding back!? They watched the boy jerk in surprise as well, before quickly covering it up and bringing his arms to his sides, his hands clenched into fists. The two men walked away a couple steps, watching with intent interest. Without warning the boy blasted off the ground, heading straight for his mother. She stood perfectly still until he was inches away from her, then ducked. He went flying over her, stumbling a little before steadying himself. He turned, watching as she raised a brow, looking amused. He smiled, seeing that familiar action, before shooting towards her again. Again she sidestepped, watching over her shoulder with an irritated look on her face as he stopped again, whirling around. She sighed, narrowing her eyes even more.

"Why are you playing around?"

Trunks bit his lip, his eyes sliding away from her. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you if I attack you head on," he said softly, watching her cross her arms.

She grunted, studying him. She suddenly shot forward, punching him across the face. Trunks didn't have time to block her. He was too surprised. He slid on his butt, finally stopping and narrowing his eyes. He watched his mother smirk, slowly straightening from her crouch.

"Now I threw the first punch. Get your ass up and spar."

Trunks slowly got to his feet, his gaze on his mother. The two men watched with interest, knowing the boy was holding a lot back, but they too, wanted to see what she could do. They waited.

"Alright mom. If you say so," Trunks said softly, before letting out a yell and powering up. Trista watched with interest, feeling something burn in her gut. She felt an answering need to follow him. She let it consume her, a light appearing around her. It took her a second to realize it was energy. This is what I channeled to fly. Interesting! I guess it can be used to fight as well. She watched the boy with narrowed eyes, noticing his eyes widen a little as she burst with power. She could tell it was nowhere close to his, but it was still something she could work with. She tilted her head a little, studying her hand encase with the white flame, before blasting off towards Trunks. She let him block her punches and kicks, studying his technique and form, before seeing an opening and taking it. She slammed her knee into his stomach. She stepped back, watching him bend over a little, a gasp escaping him. She lifted a brow, waiting.

"How...?" Trunks muttered, groaning a little. She's stronger than she was in my time! What the hell!?

He watched Trista study him, her eyes roaming over him, and he suddenly knew what she was doing. He smiled.

"I know what your doing now!"

All she did is grunt, her arms at her sides.

"What?" Goku asked, watching with interest. He was a little surprised she got a hit in.

Trunks turned his head, another smile appearing. "She was analyzing my technique and form, looking for openings. She was doing that while she was fighting, instead of waiting for someone else to fight me so she could do it." He sent a smile to his mother. "You know my fighting style perfectly now, don't you?" he said excitedly, straightening.

She nodded after a moment. Trunks grinned. "I bet you know their's too, don't you?" He pointed to the two men standing off to the side. Vegeta raised a brow when Trista slowly nodded.

"Ha! I knew it! You did that when you were in my time, although it took you a while to do it." Trunks paused for a moment. "And you didn't know how to fly before my father taught you. How do you know how to do that so early?"

Trista slowly straightened, crossing her arms. She studied him for a moment before speaking.

"I saw that the older me could do it in that footage, so I thought that maybe I could do it now. It only took me a few seconds to realize she was using energy to fly, so I channeled what I could find inside me, and just...did it."

Trunks was beaming. He turned and looked at Vegeta and Goku. "Told you my mother was smart!"

Goku chuckled at that, before stepping forward. "Well, if you know our technique, then you won't mind if we test you," he said, watching Trista uncross her arms. Her eyes followed him as he stepped up beside Trunks. He laid a hand on the boys' shoulder. Trunks stepped away, going and standing beside Vegeta.

The two stood still, eying each other before Goku blasted towards her. They watched as she stood there, seeming to assess the saiyan before bringing her arm up, blocking a kick, soon floating backwards as he came at her with a full frontal assault. They noticed she couldn't get a hit in, but could still block every one of Goku's moves. They broke apart after a few minutes. Goku was grinning. Trista smirked, her arms at her waist.

"You can't get a punch in, can you?" Goku said, a smirk of his own appearing. He went stumbling back as she punched him, his jaw slightly stinging. He shot her a surprised look.

"Don't get so cocky," she stated, softly landing back on the ground.

They both listened to Vegeta bark with laughter. Trunks had a huge grin on his face. Goku looked over, still rubbing his cheek.

"You wanna go, Vegeta?" Goku pouted, walking towards them.

The prince chuckled again, walking forward and taking Kakkarot's spot. He kept his arms crossed, studying the young woman in front of him.

"Kakkarot might have let his guard down, but I won't make that mistake. Besides, you can't really think you could beat me!" The man smirked, his eyes boring into her.

She stood still as he slowly let his arms fall, lifting into the air after a moment. She watched for a second before following. So he's more comfortable in the sky! I'll have to remember that! Trista noticed he didn't even bother powering up before rushing her. God! He's a cocky one! She blocked a roundhouse kick, a fist almost grazing her chin as she leaned back at the last second. They paused, studying one another, before the prince gave another full frontal assault. Trista raised a brow as she actually saw an opening, taking it before it vanished. She watched him with amusement as he flew back a little, holding his chest. She snorted as he glared at her. This man's ego is astounding! Mad just because I got a punch in! She watched, her lips quirking as he glowered at her, powering up. This should be interesting! Vegeta rushed towards her, his eyes narrowed. She blocked the punch he sent, lifting her knee and blocking his as he tried to knee her stomach. He seemed to increase his speed, frustration pouring off him. Fine with me. I just want to see his fighting methods, especially when he gets like this. Mad! Surprise went through her when he gave her another opening, kneeing him in his ribs and backing away. He makes mistakes when he's mad! Okay! She watched, a small smile on her face, as he actually snarled at her, swinging again. She let him hit her, letting the little sparring match end. She found out what she needed to know anyways. Trista watched him smirk as she smacked the ground, getting up as he landed beside her, studying her for a moment before turning. She could hear him talking to Trunks as he walked away.

"She didn't even put up that much of a fight!"

Trunks snorted. "You don't even know what she was doing, do you!?" They all watched Vegeta stop, looking over his shoulder at her. Trista crossed her arms, smirking.

"What were you doing, woman!?"

Trunks voice had him turning towards him.

"She was looking for your weaknesses. My mom wasn't interested in having a full sparring match with you, just long enough to figure out what makes you tick."

The two men shot surprised looks towards her, watching an eyebrow raise, an amused expression crossing her features as she walked up to them.

"And did you?" Vegeta ground out, his eyes boring into her.

She studied him for a moment before answering. "Yes," she said simply, walking away.

They all watched her blast off, heading back towards Capsule Corps. Both men narrowed their eyes, finally resting their gaze on her son. He lifted a brow.

"What?" Trunks asked, looking from one to the other. Vegeta crossed his arms.

"She's definitely changed since before Sabium. Was she like this in your time?"

Trunks slowly nodded. "But..." he paused, turning his head and studying the spot his mother was moments before.

"But what?" Goku asked, crossing his own arms as he waited for the boy to speak.

"She wasn't like this until later," Trunks said softly, turning and looking at them for a moment before studying the ground. "Not until my father died."

"Who is he dammit!"

The boy gave a exasperated breath. "You know I can't tell you, so stop asking!" With that he shot into the sky, following his mother.

Goku and Vegeta looked at each other. "Do you have any idea as to his demeanor which one of us is his father?" Goku asked quietly, studying the prince. He watched Vegeta shake his head, a sigh coming from both of them.

"I guess time will tell, huh!" Goku said loudly, letting out another sigh and following mother and son to CC.

Vegeta stayed where he was, his brows furrowed as he thought of the boy. And his mother.

A couple weeks later the whole gang showed up for the annual barbecue they held every year. Trista noticed Yamcha keeping a wide birth around her and Trunks. She grunted, watching him with a smirk. Really! You can't condemn the man for something he hasn't even done yet, or might not even end up doing! She walked towards him. She rolled her eyes as a panicked look crossed his features. Jeez! You would think I was diseased or something! She stopped two feet from him, narrowing her eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked softly, biting back a chuckle as a sound squeaked out of him. She raised a brow.

"I just..." Yamcha cleared his throat. "I don't want Trunks beating the shit out of me again. I know he's just a kid, but...he can pack a punch."

She studied him for another moment, before crossing her arms and turning her back. "Wimp," she said over her shoulder as she walked away. She heard him shout something back at her, a smirk appearing. Trista heard the others chuckle as she walked across the yard.

Trunks was leaning against the building as she rounded the corner. He was watching Vegeta and Goku spar, but turned when she appeared. She watched his face light up, happiness entering his eyes. Poor kid! To watch something like that happen to his mother. I guess it's not so bad having him get happy when I'm around. It's kind of nice, actually. She leaned back beside him, watching the two men in the sky. And they are men. They're at least six or seven years older than me. It's sort of...weird to think that one of them is this kids father. That me and one of them will end up together. But which one!? He could have let us just think he was a kid from the future coming back to help. Why did he have to tell them I was his mother!? It's weird, being nineteen and having a son around the same age! But there's a reason for this. I know there is! That's what I kept feeling when I was held prisoner. There's a reason I'm here, right now, in this time! At this precise moment. She glanced beside her at the young man, studying his face as he grinned, watching the men. There's a reason I found out about him being alive, being born here, having me as a mother. I knew that shift in me meant something, that I wasn't just a kid anymore. My thought process has changed dramatically since I came to, Goku holding me and not having a clue as to what was going on. Will I ever go back home? Am I supposed to go back? What about my mother and sister? Surely they're panicked by now, probably put up posters by now. She grimaced, sighing. Maybe I should try to go home, just to let them know I'm okay. But the thing is...how? Trista felt her brows furrow. Okay, so I know I was in my room. That's the last memory I have of being in the real world, before I woke up to Goku's face. But...Gohan swears up and down that I was here for two months before that! How is that possible and I don't remember? Those images that kept flooding my mind when I was in that room, those might be what he was talking about! I didn't remember them, it was more like someone else was showing them to me. I felt no connection to the 'memories', no flicker of recognition. It's weird! Dammit! She narrowed her eyes as a yell from the men brought her out of her thoughts. I'm going to the roof, I can't think with all this noise! Trista straightened and walked away, entering the house. She didn't notice the three men studying her.

She sighed with relief as she stepped out onto the roof, feeling like this was her very own sanctuary...somewhat...from everything. Even if the men could find her. For now she was alone. She stood, facing the city. She took a huge breath, letting it out slowly as she put her hands on her hips. Trista studied the cars and buses, looking like toys from where she was. Bustling about their everyday lives, clueless to anything extraordinary happening to anyone else. To me! Why should they care though, it's not happening to them! She softly grunted, leaning against the chimney. She folded her arms, closing her eyes and feeling the breeze caress her face. How did my mind mature so much in such a short time? Did that Dr. Gero do something for it to happen, or is it all me!? A slight shiver went through her, as she remembered when that push entered her mind, out of nowhere. Was that the old me coming out, trying to remind me? Or was it something darker, sinister? She slowly shook her head, focusing on the darkness in front of her eyes as she kept them closed. Her brows furrowed. Everything, everyone around here, is so complicated, so...accommodating. It's like nothing fazes them. The boy coming from the future, the fact he has a nineteen year old mother hanging around, the fact that...I'll be having a relationship with one of them! How...wild is that! I didn't even think along those lines before, I know I didn't. I can still remember how my mind worked. The old me KNEW these two men were too old for me, for my age. I knew that they wouldn't possibly have any sort of attraction towards me, or that they would act on it. But...now! My mind is constantly looking at them in a new light, analyzing them from a new angle, as if I am readying myself for the inevitable bonding that is going to take place with one of them in the near future. I...I don't exactly know how to feel about that. I'm not even twenty-one! But...supposedly I'm two years older than that when I have Trunks! I looked so much older in the film, when I was holding that baby. Nothing like I do now. Could it be from living here for two years, or something else. Was I supposed to come here at this time, or later? Or is this all just some kind of karmic bull crap happening. Trista opened her eyes, lifting her head to study the stars just now peaking through the blue. Apparently she'd been up here a couple hours. She sighed as another thought went through her, sitting and resting her hands in her lap.

What would happen if I decide to go home!? What if I decided to not have a relationship with anyone?

Trista bit her lip, flinching as another thought crossed her mind.

What if I decide not to have Trunks?

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