Disclaimer: I am far too lazy to come up with a quite complex series such as Dragon ball Z. I don't own it, nor do I wish I owned it, because that sounds like a lot of work...

Summary: 31 drabbles about Goten and Trunks' first summer as a couple.

Word count: 2029

Rated M for language, sexual scenes, etc.

Our First Summer

Drabble #24- Beaches (Revised)

An elbow roughly nudging his ribs woke Goten from his nap. It was Trunks' elbow, who did not even bother to look remorseful.

Goten grumbled and looked out the window. The ground was growing closer. "Are we here?"

Trunks replied positively, and Goten instantly perked up. He unbuckled his seatbelt, and hopped eagerly to his feet. They had only been in the air-car for a few hours, but before he knew it, he had fallen right to sleep. He guessed it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because he would need all the energy he had for the day ahead of him.

Bulma had finally gotten Vegeta to agree to go on a short vacation with them. As a treat for the Brief children, they were allowed to pick a friend to go with them, obviously resulting in Pan and Goten being brought along. Goten had his suspicious, and guessed that the vacation was serving as Bra's early birthday present (which was sometime in late September), and Trunks' congratulatory gift for picking Stanford. Goten didn't voice this observation, because he was almost certain that the lavender-haired boy wouldn't appreciate it.

Considering the fact that he still hadn't decided where he wanted to go.

He figured that Trunks was obligated to more time; after all, it had only been a few days since their escapade in the rain. He just wished that Trunks wouldn't avoid the issue. Trunks had completely dismissed the idea of going to Stanford, and by the time Goten had gotten him to agree to at least think about it, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. Any attempts to bring up the subject in the following days had resulted in very irritated responses, so Goten figured it was best to just leave it alone for the time being.

He would not let Trunks avoid him this time. He would be patient, wait for the right moment, and strike with a ferocity the likes of which the Earth had never seen before, Goten decided. He would find out why Trunks was so conflicted, and assist him through his probleming thoughts, just as any good boyfriend would.

He glanced back over his shoulder. Trunks was leaning over the driver and passenger seat, conversing with his parents. Goten tuned out of their conversation, and went over to the seats where the two young, sleeping girls sat.

With not an ounce of finesse, Goten shook them both awake. The girls grumbled, batting him away with as much strength as you would expect from little saiyans.

"Come on! Aren't you guys excited to go to the beach?" Goten asked, with his signature Son enthusiasm.

The two girls perked up instantly.

XXX

It was about two hours after they landed. After getting situated in their hotel, eating breakfast, and changing into their swimwear, they were finally at the beach. It was hot, and the sun blazed down from a cloudless sky. It was perfect swimming weather in Goten's opinion.

Goten kicked off his sandals, and was about to sprint over to where the females were already splashing each other, when he forced himself to stop. Looking behind him, he saw Trunks leaning against a palm tree and watching the girls. His body completely encompassed by the shade of the tree.

Goten fought to keep the sympathy from showing in his eyes. While he knew Trunks would never admit it, Goten could tell he was still a bit wary of the sunlight. Not that Goten could blame him.

(Of course, he would probably feel cooler in the water instead of out of it, but even Trunks could experience faulty logic.)

Goten strode over through the sand until he was right next to Trunks. He braced his hand against the tree. "You okay?"

Trunks nodded, and gave him a look as if he were confused. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Goten resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and instead opted to loop his fingers in Trunks' trunks. Pun intended. "No reason, just checkin'."

Using the fingers that were wrapped in thin navy fabric, he pulled Trunks until their bare chests were pressed close. He leaned in and gently brought their lips together. Goten had barely had time to deepen the kiss, when he sensed a ball of energy flying straight towards his head.

Goten shrieked. Both of them ducked down.

Somewhat confident that the danger had passed, Goten peered up at the palm tree, now sporting a rather large hole of singed, burning bark. More than a little horrified, Goten turned to look towards Vegeta, who was calmly resting some yards away underneath his own palm tree, giving Goten a very pointed stare.

A beat passed. Goten carefully removed his fingers from Trunks' belt loops. Vegeta looked away.

Goten expected Trunks to sympathize with the terror still coursing through his veins. If not that, then at least look suitably embarrassed by his father's behavior like any normal person would.

Instead, he just started laughing. Loudly.

Dick.

Eventually, Trunks pulled himself together enough to pat Goten's shoulder and say, "I'm going to go sit with my father. I'm not in a 'swimming mood' today."

Goten nodded. He watched Trunks as he walked away, though pointedly did not watch his very tantalizing backside (not when pure evil was close enough to notice).

Once Trunks was situated, Goten ran out towards the water and promptly threw Bulma over his shoulder. Bulma kicked her feet wildly and shouted at him. The girls chased him. Trunks laughed. Vegeta looked thoroughly done with the whole affair.

XXX

"Come on, Trunks. I'm not that heavy!" Goten said as the older boy stumbled for the third time.

"Shut up, Goten. I stepped on a seashell," Trunks grumbled as he lifted Goten into a more comfortable position on his back. It was just past twilight, the sky a canvas of blue, purple, and fading orange. They were alone now, walking (or in Goten's case, carried) down the sunless beach. The rest of their party was back at the hotel, probably getting ready for dinner.

Goten slipped his legs from Trunks hands, and settled back onto the sand. He trailed his arms from the other boy's neck, down to a tan waist, and pressed his pelvis against Trunks' backside.

Leaning into Trunks' ear, he whispered, "There. Is it easier to walk now?"

While Trunks didn't turn around, his blush was rather obvious. "Screw you."

"Can I?"

"Shut up!" Trunks exclaimed as he tried to free himself from the embrace with half-assed effort. Once he finally gave up, he leaned his head back on Goten's shoulder. A comfortable silence fell over the duo.

Goten wondered if now would be a good time to say 'I love you'. Probably not, considering he was about to launch into a conversation Trunks did not want to have. He would let nothing sully the sincerity of his words.

What a waste, Goten thought, admiring the way the sky shimmered over the ocean. Oh well. There would be other pretty places fit for pretty words.

He trailed his eyes down to look at Trunks. His eyes were closed, and his face was peacefully slack. Goten felt rather bad for having to ruin such a tranquil sight.

He had to though. Trunks couldn't keep running from this.

Before he could even open his mouth and bring up the dreaded conversation though, he felt Trunks exhale roughly.

"You're going to bring up Stanford again, aren't you?"

Goten flushed a bit at being caught. "Yeah."

"How much longer until you just drop it?"

"It could be a while," Goten shrugged honestly.

Trunks huffed, and stayed silent.

"Come on, Trunks," Goten urged. "I know you want to go. Why are you fighting me on this?"

"Why are you fighting me on this?" Trunks broke their embrace to face him. "You were angry when I said I was leaving, and now that I'm not you want me to go. You aren't making any sense. Don't you want me to stay?"

Goten wanted to lie, but he couldn't. "Of course I do," he answered quietly.

Trunks looked at him like he was a particularly difficult equation. "Then why are you trying to make me leave?"

"Because I know how badly you want to."

Trunks blinked, lost for words. "Goten..."

"Don't try and deny it. I can see it in your eyes, and I refuse to hold you back from something that's so important to you."

Trunks frowned. "Hold me back?"

Oops.

"You don't hold me back."

"I know," he said, but far too quickly.

"Goten," Trunks persisted. "Is that what you think? Why would you think that?" His eyes widened. "Is this about what I said in the hospital?"

"I—"

"Fuck," Trunks groaned. He grabbed Goten's face, keeping their eyes together. "Goten, I swear I didn't mean it like that. I don't care about the stupid advanced classes I missed out on, or that I skipped some lame training sessions with my mom. I did those things because I consider spending more time with you to be far better. If it was really something I wanted, I promise I wouldn't hesitate to do it."

"Then why are you hesitating now?"

Trunks gaped once more. Goten could see in his eyes the way his mind was racing, trying to come up with the most logical answer. Goten was about to reprimand him, and demand a truthful answer, when Trunks suddenly dropped his head to his shoulder in defeat.

"Because if I go then I'll miss you."

And just like that, Goten was the one left speechless. "Oh..."

"I'm going to miss everyone, everything," Trunks went on. "My family is here. My friends are here. The fucking food I like to eat is here. Every aspect of my life is right here, Goten. And you... I can't just fly across the world all the time. But the thought of not getting to see you whenever I want..."

He could feel Trunks' blush against his shoulder. "I don't want to leave when I'm already right here with you..."

Trunks always wanted to be with Goten. He wanted to see him everyday, whenever he wanted, just like always. He didn't want to leave, because he thought Goten was better.

A huge smile plastered on Goten's face. It was a nice feeling, being someone's favorite.

He grabbed Trunks' shoulders and pushed him back. He shook him enthusiastically; his resolve was unstoppable now. "Come on, Trunks! Sure, you'll probably be too busy to visit everyday, but you'll definitely be able to come home way more often than normal international students—you won't even have a chance to properly miss us! Don't be so pessimistic, and think of all the positives! You'll have four-years of freedom—a chance to study another culture, be able to learn a bunch of cool shit that I can never hope to understand, and the ability to meet a ton of new people before you have to come back and be the big, bad president of Capsule Corps.! You don't find that exciting at all?"

Goten hugged him tightly. "I'll come and visit you too, you know! I'll be over so often you'll be sick of me!"

Trunks snorted. "You'd better not 'Mr. High School Senior'." Trunks buried his face in his shoulder again. "And I'd never get sick of you..."

Goten felt the slightest makings of a lump in his throat. "That's good to hear."

A moment passed. Then: "Fine. I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask." Goten pressed a kiss to the corner of Trunks' mouth. "I know you'll make the right choice, and I'll be right here for you no matter what you choose."

A pained look passed so briefly over Trunks' features, that Goten had missed it. He had noticed though, when Trunks grabbed his hand, and smiled at him.

"Come on. We really should head back," Trunks said as he tugged Goten towards the way they previously came. Goten allowed himself to be dragged off, glad that he was able to talk some sense into his boyfriend.

End