Goten lied on his bed thinking about Trunks. "No this isn't right, my mom would kill me if I have these kinds of feelings for a guy and plus he's getting married." He sighed and rolled over onto his stomach. "Why can't I stop thinking about him? I must be going crazy. What would Trunks think? No I'm never going to tell anyone ok so everything's ok." Goten smiled but it faded as soon as it came. "Wait! He doesn't even love Marron well at least I think so. I've never seen them together, so I have no right to judge them, right? What the hell am I thinking? There must be a reason. I mean we've been best friends since we were little, and I can sense a connection between us. That must be it. I'm just being silly." Goten rolled over again to look at the clock to see it was four.
He turned on the shower, undressed, and stepped in under the nozzle, letting the warm water relax his stiff body. What was he supposed to do ignore Trunks for the rest of his life? No he couldn't. He would be seeing him around his school. "Why can't life be simple? I never had to worry about this kind of thing when I was little. Man being an adult sucks." He got out, realizing he left his towel on his bed. He walked out of the bathroom dripping wet and necked. He didn't notice a figure inside his room until the voice spoke.
"Hey Goten."
Goten's eyes widened with his back turned. "T-Trunks." He wrapped his towel around his waist as a blush appeared on his face, and he turned around to face his best friend. "What the hell are you doing in here? You don't just walk into someone's room. Have you heard of a thing called privacy?"
"Whoa gees Goten relax I'm sorry I know for next time. Why are you so uptight about it anyway?"
"We're older now Trunks. I like my privacy when I dress and undress."
"It's weird Goten I mean when we were little you had no problem with it but now-I didn't know you were shy." Trunks smirked.
"Stop it Trunks. You're just making me feel bad that I even told you in the first place."
"I'm sorry Goten you know I didn't mean to I just like to mess with you. I didn't know you would take it so seriously."
"Well maybe you don't know me as well as you thought." He saw Trunks's eyes sadden and sighed. "Look I'm sorry with everything's that's happened I'm feeling a bit stressed out." He sat on his bed.
"I think I can help you with that Goten."
"Really, how?" Goten felt a pair of hands rub his shoulders. He dropped his head and took a breath. He could feel his heart threaten to beat out of chest, and he found himself wanting to take his best friend on his bed. His eyes widened at this thought as he got up quickly, rushed into his closet, got dressed, and stepped out to see Trunks kneeling on his bed, his eyes full of confusion. "Um I was cold."
Trunks looked at him. He decided to let his weird behavior go for now. "So do you want to know why I'm here in the first place?"
"Oh yeah right I forgot to ask."
"You're mother found out from mine that I was getting married, so you're mother invited me over to have dinner with you and your family. I came up here because dinner is ready."
"Ok but why isn't Marron coming?"
"She's busy planning the wedding with her mother."
"So how thrilled are her parents about you marrying their daughter?"
"Oh well Krillin's excited and 18 is too I think. She hasn't said anything to the contrary."
"Well that's good then both of her parents approving the marriage."
"Yeah so are you ready to eat now?"
"You know it man."
During the meal Chi-chi spoke about something that happened while she was out. Pan had finished early and decided to play outside with her father. Gohan had promised to play with her after he finished eating. "It was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. I was on my way back from grocery shopping, and I saw two men kissing and groping each other on the street. To do that kind of thing in public is just wrong. I'm just so glad I have two sons that are normal." She got up from her seat, took everyone's dishes including the dishes she had put food on. She went to the sink and started washing. "I'm sure we'll find a girl for you Goten." She smiled at him and then left the room after she finished. She went outside.
Trunks and Videl looked at Goten who hadn't said a word. He was just staring at the table. Trunks put a hand on Goten's arm and his eyes widened. "Goten, you're trembling."
Videl put her hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
He looked at her. "H-how can she be that awful?"
"Goten, do you like men? Is that why you're reacting this way?"
He got out of his chair and walked around, looking out the window to see his brother playing with his niece, and his mother smiling at them. He turned back to them. "No, I just don't like when my mother puts down people because they're different from what she believes."
"Oh well I understand that you don't want to anger your mother, but is it possible your in denial because you fear if you tell her, then she won't accept you."
"Oh my kami Videl, I am not gay, and I don't even know why you would think so."
"I'm sorry Goten. I have no right to assume that, but I want you know that if you were, I wouldn't care. I still think you're a special guy. Pan thinks so to."
"No she just misses my dad."
"She does miss Goku, but she just thinks the world of you for some reason. You know I remember a time when Pan was a baby, and she wouldn't stop crying. Gohan and I tired everything we could think of to calm her I mean even Goku and Chi-chi tried and failed where you succeeded. I remember being so grateful. She just wanted to be held by her uncle Goten. It was such a sweet scene I even took a picture."
Goten smiled. "It's good to know you would be on my side Videl."
"We're family Goten."
"Yeah."
They both turned to Trunks who was thinking. "You know I wouldn't care either chibi. You're my best friend. I'd love you no matter what you were."
When Goten heard the word love come out of his mouth, he found his own body reacting to Trunks's affection. He just meant as a friend, he thought, calm down. "Thanks Trunks."
"How about a hug?"
"Why?"
"You look like you need one?"
"Ok."
Videl left the room but before she went outside to join the rest of her family, she saw them hug and somehow felt that it looked normal for them to be like that always. She smiled. Goten loved Trunks. Who would have thought? She decided she wouldn't tell anyone and let Goten make his own choices. She closed the door behind her.
Goten felt safe in Trunks's arms. The warmth from his body gave him comfort that he would always be there. He smiled, enjoying the moment until Trunks moved away. A strange coldness entered his body. Before he knew what he was saying, he had just invited Trunks to stay the night.
"Sure Goten that sounds like fun. It will be like old times."
