Ch 19

"I can't believe how many things are on Goten's grocery list," said Trunks as his mother was pushing the cart in Satan Grocery Store.

"Just be thankful he's cooking Christmas dinner and not me sweetie," she smiled. "Remember last Christmas diner?" she said as Trunks grimaced.

"Yeah, Bulla and I tried to cook while you and dad were having sex upstairs. I remember because when I came upstairs to tell you dinner was ready, I walked in—I can't even finish the story without blushing. Why is it always me?"

"It's quite a tradition sweetie."

"Not a good one anyway," said Trunks as he looked back at the grocery list. "I don't know what half these ingredients are."

"Too bad Goten couldn't come. I can't believe you flew to Hercule's home in that snow storm to see Goten, and he ends up getting sick."

Trunks laughed. "Yeah, that is funny but I'm glad he came back home."

"Your father is to and not just because you're happy but because of Goten's cooking."

"Well his cooking is amazing, even better than his mother's."

"Don't let Chichi here that, she'd throw a fit."

After a challenging time of finding all of Goten's ingredients to a perfect Christmas dinner, they moved to the long checkout line upfront to see Chichi and Gohan right in front of them online. "Hey Gohan, Chichi," said Trunks.

"Oh hey you guys, looks like you had the same idea as us," said Gohan.

"Yeah, so what are your plans for Christmas?" asked Bulma.

"Well mom's cooking dinner, we're probably going to walk around town and look at the lights, and Mount Paouz has its annual Christmas tree lighting. It's Pan's favorite, so she's really excited. What about you?"

"Well Goten's cooking dinner. My dad's excited about that because well my mom's cooking is awful, and I was thinking Goten could spend some time with you because I know how much he loves spending time with his family."

"How's my son doing?" asked Chichi.

"He's sick and at our house resting. That's why we're here. We know he'd rather do this himself, but I wasn't going to let him go out when he's not feeling well."

"What happened?" asked Chichi.

"He went out in the snow storm. You know Goten. He loves the snow."

"That boy is completely out of control," said Chichi. "He should know better."

"I wasn't going to deny him what he loves Chichi. With all do respect he is a man, not a child. He can do what he wants."

"And what are you doing? Trying to seduce my son?"

"No, I would never force him to love me. That's wrong and unfair to him. If he wants to be with someone beside me, I won't stand in his way but if he wants to be with me, he'll make that decision on his own."

"If he chooses you, then he is no longer aloud to step foot in my house. You tell him that." Trunks, Gohan, and Bulma where surprised by her coldness.

"He loves you Chichi. Through it all he still does and for what reason I'll never understand," said Trunks. "You and the Ox King should be ashamed of yourselves."

The car ride home was tense to say the least for Bulma. She could tell her son was angry at Chichi, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. "What's going on Trunks?"

"I'm not sure it's exactly my place to tell mom. If you really want to know why I hate Chichi and her father, then you should ask Goten."

"Hate? It must be serious then. Should I be worried?"

"Mom, he's a grown man. I'm sure he can handle what he's been through."

"Goten's always been young at heart. Even when he was in his teens, he always looked like a little boy to me, at least in appearance but sometimes when he opens his mouth, he says something that I never thought could come out of a teen's mouth."

"I know what you mean mom. Everyone always use to think he was Goku's carbon copy or the happy go lucky kid. I think he got lost in the shuffle."

"So, why is Goten really sick?" asked Bulma with a sly grin on her lips.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Trunks as Bulma parked the car and they go out.

"I know you're laying sweetie," said Bulma as she grabbed some bugs from the trunk of the car. "A mother always knows."

"Well," Trunks smirked, "then you know I'm not going to tell you," said Trunks as he took the rest of the bags and followed his mother inside the house and into the kitchen.

"Oh come on sweetie," said Bulma as she started putting food away. "I mean the only way I can think of that Goten got sick is that—a light bulb went off in her head as Trunks braced himself for her excited squeal. "He kissed you, and you kissed him back!"

"Mom, calm down. It was just—

"Trunks, is this true?" asked Bulla as she came into the kitchen.

"It's not a big deal. It was a friendly kiss," he sighed, "on his end."

"Well it's a good start big brother."

"Yeah sure," he said as he left the two women to put away the remainder of the food.

He decided to check in on Goten as he turned into another hallway towards his room. Slowly he opened the door to Goten's room to see him curled up into himself like he was cold. He walked over to the bed, felt his head, and discovered it was still kind of warm but he could tell his high temperature had went down.

'Well that's good news, not that I should be concerned and besides he's half-saiyan after all. He'll recover in no time.'

Goten was still shivering until Trunks slid under the blankets and held Goten to the warmth of his body. Right away Goten stopped shivering and noticed as he opened his eyes. "T—Trunks?"

"It's ok. I just want to warm you up. You were shivering in your sleep."

"It's all your fault you know," Goten smiled weakly.

"Hey, you kissed me first," Trunks smirked as Goten blushed.

"Yeah, we—well you didn't have to kiss back."

"How could I resist? Besides I consider it common courtesy to kiss you back."

Goten snorted. "You should have gotten sick. I mean you did fly through a snow storm."

"True, that is weird. I guess I just got lucky. Now go back to sleep chibi."

Goten had woken up in the middle of the day, wondering if Trunks' embrace was just a dream but as soon as he rolled over in bed, he smelled Trunks' scent. 'He was definitely here. I'm not cold anymore, and I do feel better,' he thought as he stood up from bed but as soon as he did, he felt his feet buckle as he fell to the ground.

"Oh crap, I guess I have some ways to go before I'm fully recovered," he said as he attempted to get back up again by leaning his hand against the wall nearest to the door. Before he could get a hand on the doorknob, the door opened and he felt his body falling once against before a pair of arms caught him.

"Are you ok? I heard a thump while I was down stairs. I guess now I know why," Trunks chuckled.

"It's not funny Trunks. You got me sick. It's all your fault."

"You're right. I'm sorry, let me make it up to you."

Goten looked to his friend like he had two heads. "Who are you? When did you become so kind?"

"Only to those I care about," he said as he swept his arm around Goten's legs and brought him into a carrying position.

"Hey, what are you doing? Put me down right now Trunks!" he exclaimed as Trunks carried him down the hall.

"You need to eat to keep your strength up Goten. I'm putting you down in the kitchen. I'm positive that's all right with you."

"Uh yeah," Goten blushed. "Thanks," he said as Trunks carried him down stairs to come face to face with a surprised Master Roshi and Baba.

"Oh my," said Baba. "What's going on here?"

"It's not what it looks like. He's sick," said Trunks as he placed Goten carefully at the kitchen table.

"I bet he is," Master Roshi laughed as both boys blush.

"Why must you be such a pervert you dirty, old man?" asked Bulma as she came through the door, shaking her head, and then smiled at Goten. "Oh by the way, we got all your ingredients for Christmas dinner. Are you sure you'll be up to it sweetie?"

"Yeah, you know saiyans. We heal quickly."

"You better start by eating your fill," said Vegeta as he came in from the gravity room.

"I'll have the robots start on a meal right away," said Bulma.

"Thanks mom," said Trunks as he sat next to his friend.

Baba smiled at the boys and then she looked to her brother, which was now in the living room watching TV, ogling the women on the screen. She shook her head. 'Some things never change,' she thought as she looked back at the two demi-saiyans. She watched as Trunks rubbed the younger boy's back.

"Baba."

"Yes Vegeta."

"You think kakarott's youngest will ever return my son's feelings?"

"If he does return Trunks' feelings, you need to call him Goten. He my have come from his father, but he is not Goku. It means a lot to him to be acknowledged as who he is and not what his father was."

"I can certainly understand that. It's never easy to live in the shadow of your parents," said Vegeta as he watched Goten's head rest on Trunks' shoulder.