Ch 13

Goten was awoken in the morning by his ringing cell phone and as he went to grab it, he fell onto the floor. "Ow," he said before he answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Goten."

"Mom, hi. It's great to hear from you, and—

"Goten, are you gay? Have you been cheating on Valese this whole time? It was with Trunks, wasn't it? I always knew that boy was trouble."

"Whoa, mom slow down. It's not true. The Rex family was just spreading lies to get back at me for not wanting to marry Valses. That's all."

"All right, I believe you and now I want you to come home. It's proper to live at home before you get married. I know the media has done some damage, but we can get past that."

"I'm not getting married, and I'm not moving back home to live the life you want me to. I love you, but it's time for you to let go and let me live my life."

"Please Goten, don't do this, don't through your life away."

"I'm a grown man mother. I'm capable of living on my own. This. Is. My. Life. It's not yours. Please understand that." He heard silence on the other end of the phone for a while. "Hello?"

"Grandson, you get home this instant! You will respect and obey your mother," said the Ox King. "You will marry a woman and bare your mother grandchildren. Do you understand?"

"That won't work on me anymore Grandpa. I'm an adult. You can't control me anymore and if you can't deal with that, then I guess there's nothing more to talk about. I know now that whatever I do will never be good enough for you or my mother. Goodbye," Goten said as he hung up on his grandpa.

In the kitchen Goten found himself alone. He could sense none of the Briefs family in the house. Looking around the kitchen, he knew how to keep himself busy or else he would break down. It felt good to be in a kitchen and working his hands to create delicious food. It made him happy.

By the time he was done, it was the evening. He packed all the food in the fridge for the Briefs family and ate a big sandwich and some chips. When he was done, he felt sad again as he made his way to the living room, settled on the couch, and watched TV until he fell asleep. When he woke up, it was late in the evening as he made his way to the kitchen, took out the contained food, heated it up, and placed all the dishes on the table. 'Hope they like the food.'

"Oh my kami!" said Bulma as she came in the door and into the kitchen. "Goten, did you do all this?"

"Uh yeah, I thought everyone would be hungry when they got home so—

"Impressive. Women, why can't you cook like this?" asked Vegeta as he came back from training all day in the mountains.

"Well excuse me—

"Wow Goten, you've got some great skills," said Bulla, who came home from school. "I'm starving."

"Me to," said Trunks. "I can tell you put a lot of work into the meal."

"Thanks Trunks, I just wanted to show my appreciate for letting me stay."

"Nonsense, your family," said Bulma. "We love having you, especially when you make food like this. Everything tastes amazing."

"Yeah, you should have your own restaurant. I know a few locations in the city that are pretty good," said Trunks.

"I've always wanted my own restaurant, and I've been putting money aside for the occasion but I got fired from my job."

"It was the press, wasn't it?" asked Bulma.

"They wouldn't stop hounding me with questions, and they were disrupting the customers. So, I was let go."

"That's so unfair! It wasn't your fault," said Bulla.

"Anyway I've decided to use what I've been saving to get an apartment."

"Sweetie, why don't you save your money, stay here, and once you get your restaurant off the ground, then you can move out," said Bulma.

"All right Bulma," Goten smiled.

"Great, now we won't have to suffer from Bulma's cooking," said Vegeta as Trunks and Bulla chuckled.

"It is pretty bad mom, sorry," said Bulla.

"I know sweetie, but you all didn't have to be so rude about it."

"Oh mom, you know we love you," said Bulla, "despite the fact that you can't cook."

"Oh sweetie, no one in this family is good at cooking. Why do you think I created the robots?"

"To kick dad's ass," smirked Trunks.

"Boy, you better wipe that smirk off your face right now before I wipe it off for you," said Vegeta.

Goten smiled at the Briefs family. It was nice to be in a home where people cared about each other unconditionally. He always thought of Bulma as a second mother. She nurtured her children and believed they could be anything they wanted to be. He couldn't help but think about his own mother, and he tried to think of time where she loved him but all the bad memories resurfaced in his mind.

"Hey," said Trunks. "Where are you?"

"Oh uh sorry Trunks. Were you saying something?"

"I want to take you to some locations tomorrow for your restaurant."

"Sounds great," said Goten as he smiled. "Thanks Trunks," he said as he looked down at his plate, "for always caring about me. I know I'm not exactly making things easy for you."

"When have things ever been easy for me? It's just something I've come to accept in my life."

"I—I was always trying to make things easier for you, ever since we were kids. I can't help but think I failed you."

"No," Trunks said as he squeezed Goten's shoulder. "Don't even think that way Goten. "You've been a constant light in my life for years. It's going to be all right Goten. I have no regrets. I've said everything I wanted to say to you. I mean if I had one regret, it would be—he whispered into Goten's ear as his face turned into a tomato.

"Trunks!" he yelled.

"What? I was trying to bring your spirits up," he laughed.