Ch 32

The sun was up and so was Gohan as he made his way over to his parents' home. He knew they were awake as he knocked on the door. His know adult sized father let him in as he saw his mom cooking in the kitchen.

"So, how much has mom told you about?" he asked as they sat on the couch.

"Just about your trip to New Planet Vegeta."

"King Vegeta and his first class army are dead. Vegeta killed his own father."

"Must have been a great battle. I'm just glad you're all back safe and sound. I just—why didn't Goten come home?"

"It has to do with his relationship with mom and Trunks."

"I know your mom can be a bit controlling. That's why he's not living here."

"That's part of it. Well the reason he's living with the Briefs is because Goten and Trunks are mated. They're in love, and Goten feels more comfortable in Bulma's house."

"Oh wow! Goten and Trunks. Well I guess I should have seen that coming. They've always been together."

"Yeah," Gohan smiled but frowned quickly after, "but mom doesn't approve and neither does grandpa Ox King."

"Oh well I'm sure with time they'll come around."

"I hope so, but there's another reason Goten's not here and it has to do with you dad. He doesn't want to see you right now. He's been struggling with you coming and going all the time. It's something you'll have to talk about with him but for right now I think you should keep your distance from him."

"I'm not going anywhere this time Gohan, and I will make things right with you, your mother, Goten and Pan. I promise."

"You don't have to make it up to me dad. I've made my peace with it, but I'm sure mom, Goten, and Pan would appreciate it."

"Grandpa!" exclaimed Pan as she came into the living room and hugged Goku.

"Hey Pan, you want to race outside before breakfast?"

"Yeah, lets do it Grandpa!" she said as they raced outside and into the sky.

Chichi smiled as Gohan joined Videl in the kitchen to see his mother hard at work, cooking. "It's so good to have him back home."

"Yeah, it just wasn't the same," said Videl.

"Mom, have you figured out how you're going to tell dad about abusing Goten?" asked Gohan.

"It was a mistake. He doesn't need to know," said Chichi.

"Like hell he doesn't mom. You need to tell him why you did it. Goten's right. We can't just pretend anymore. It hurts you when he leaves, and you took out your hurt on my brother, who thought he was helping you get passed him leaving."

"H—he'll hate me Gohan. I—I didn't mean to hit Goten. It was wrong of me, and I'll hate myself everyday for it."

"I think this family needs help mom. It's time to put all of our feelings on the table and deal with them once and for all."

"What do you suggest Gohan?"

"Well I know how you feel about outside help but Videl is qualified to help. She can be objective. Plus her degree is in family therapy.

It was late evening when Goten opened his eyes to see he was in Trunks' room lying in his bed and wearing different clothes than he had been wearing the day before. He slowly sat up in bed, remembering his father's return. 'What's his reason? Maybe he just missed his family after all this time,' he sighed.

"Don't hurt yourself too much with all that thinking chibi," he smiled.

"I'm guessing you're the one who changed my clothes."

"I bathed you to. I didn't want you stinking up my bed," he said as he sat beside his mate. "Plus, you could have gotten sick if I left you sleeping in your own filth."

"Uh thanks I guess," Goten blushed.

"So, your dad's back?"

"Yeah, how long did you think it would be until he leaves this time?"

"I know it still hurts you chibi."

"Gohan says I should just get over it, that I'm just acting like a child, but I'm not like my brother Trunks. I can't just let things roll over my back."

"You need to talk to your dad, and I know that's not what you want to hear. I mean how else is he going to know how you feel inside?"

"I know, but I think a part of me would just break down because I miss him when he leaves. I'm so angry at him, I'm so angry he left me to deal with mom's pain, and I'm so angry that I let my own mother abuse me! I—I'm so ashamed. I tr—tried to help but—he felt Trunks' arms around him instantly, holding him tight.

"You did what you thought was right at the time Goten. You just wanted your family to be happy and no one can say anything different."

Goten held onto Trunks. "B—but it's not all right. Nothing is all right because no one wants to talk about it."

"Well then it's time to talk chibi," said Trunks as he let go of Goten to see his tear stained face mate with a smile.

"You're right Trunks," he said as Trunks wiped his tears. Holding his hands on Goten's cheeks, he leaned in and kissed his mate's lips.

"Of course he is," said a female voice.

The two jumped apart, startled from the intruder. "Videl," Goten blushed, "what are you doing here?"

"Yeah, don't you know how to knock," said Trunks.

"Sorry to interrupt your romantic moment but this is important. Goten, I've been appointed our family's therapist. I can be objective, and I believe we can all be happy again. Well you give me the chance to help put our family back together?"

Goten rushed out of bed and hugged Videl. "Yes! Thank you Videl."

"We're starting tonight so come by at 8pm," said Videl as she smiled at the two demi-saiyans. "Oh, and don't let Trunks distract you with his charm. If you're late, there will be hell to pay," she said as she disappeared down the hall.

Goten blushed as Trunks closed his door. "Don't worry chibi, I'll make sure you're on time."

"Better set my watch just in case you get any ideas."

"Oh chibi," Trunks said as he brought his mate's body to his, "I've had ideas long before Videl barged into my room." He started kissing down Goten's neck as he felt his chibi melt into his body. He groaned. "Kami I love you chibi, want you," he said as he grinded his body against Goten's. Hearing his chibi moan was like music to his ears.

Goten made it to his mother's home on time but barely. As he made his way through the kitchen and entered the living room, he saw a circle of chairs that seated his parents, the Ox King, Gohan, Videl, and Pan. Videl smiled. "Looks like you made it on time," she said as Pan chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Goten asked.

"It looks like a tornado hit you uncle Goten."

"What are you—Before he could finish his thought, Videl handed him her compact mirror. Looking into the mirror, he saw bruises on his neck and his bottom lip. He looked flushed. "Oh, I guess I should have checked my appearance before I go here," he blushed.

"Those wounds look fresh. Is Trunks here?" asked Pan.

"He insisted in carrying me in his arms and flew me here," Goten blushed as he covered his face with his hands.

"Oh that's so romantic," said Videl.

"He seems awful controlling to me," said Chichi. "He's no good for you Goten. Can't you see that? He's his father's son."

"Chichi, Goten's happy. That's all that should matter," said Goku.

"All right maybe we should start." said Videl. "Now—

"Did you have sex before you came here?" asked the Ox King abruptly to his youngest grandson.

"No and you interrupted Videl," said Goten. "Sorry about that Videl."

"It's all right Goten so lets start with you. Why do you think this family isn't as strong as it could be?"

"We all try to avoid the issues that go on in the house. I could have told my brother what mom was doing to me. I didn't have to suffer the way I did, but he was starting his own life with you. I didn't want to disrupt that. I just wanted everyone to be happy. Every time I tried to talk about how I was feeling about dad leaving, no one wanted to hear it. I think everyone here does have a problem with it. They just don't want to admit it."

"I made my peace with dad coming and going," said Gohan. "Maybe it was because I grew up with him and you first met him when you were seven years old. I'm sorry I haven't been sympathetic with your feelings. I didn't mean to hurt you. I love you."

"Thanks Gohan," smiled Goten.

"Like Papa I always knew of grandpa being there. That first time at the tournament when grandpa left to help Uub become stronger was hard. Even though I didn't know at the time that that this was a common thing for grandpa, I think I felt that day what uncle Goten felt up to that point."

"I'm sorry Pan. I know I can't take back what I've done to my family, especially my wife, but I plan to spend the rest of my life making it up to all of you."

"It's not that simple Goku," Chichi said. "I did something I was not proud of "Chichi, what is it?" asked Goku.

"I hate when you leave and when you died, I had to take care of this family alone. Goten was my outlet. I yelled, screamed at the splitting image of you, my son because you left me alone, an—and he took it. He tried to help me, but he couldn't. No one could."

The silence felt like hours to Goten but before he could say anything, he watched his father get up and walk out of the circle and outside. Goten followed his father outside and carefully put a hand on his shoulder. "Dad?"

"How could you let your mother do such a thing?"

"I just wanted to help her. I thought I could, but this is something that you and mom need to talk about."

"It's all my fault Goten."

"Don't hate mom dad. She loves you. I know how bad she felt every time she hit me. She still feels bad about it, he sighed. "Bulma is always saying that we don't know how much time we have left on this earth, and it's stupid to waste time not saying how we truly feel."

Goku smiled. "Bulma's a smart woman, always has been," he said as he hugged his son. "I WILL make this right son to everyone. I promise. I'm not leaving, but I have a lot to talk to your mother about."

"I know."

"So?" Goku smiled as he looked to see Trunks off in the distance, leaning against a tree. "Gohan told me about you and Trunks. I'm really happy for your son."

"Thanks Dad," Goten blushed.

"You know from what I heard from Vegeta, being mated is mot going to be easy."

"He told Trunks and I that when he had the talk with us. He explained everything, so we could make the choice ourselves. I know it won't be easy, but I love him dad. It sounds corny, but he's my soul mate."

"Yeah, it's corny but would you have mated with him, if he wasn't going to die?"

"I don't think I would have done it this soon, but I know I would have done it eventually."

"Goku! Goten!" said Videl.

"We're coming Videl," said Goten as he followed her and his dad back inside the house. He watched as his father held his mother in his arms.

"Chichi, I—I understand," said Goku.

"It still wasn't right. I love him Goku, and I regret hurting him everyday."

"I know. I love you Chichi, and I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I love you to Goku."

"Um, maybe we should give you two some time alone," said Gohan.

"Gohan's right. You two need to be talk," said Videl. I'll cut the therapy session short for today."

"Thank you Videl," said Chichi as Gohan, Videl, Pan, the Ox King, and Goten made their way outside.

Goten said goodbye to his family and made his way to Trunks, who stood up from the tree and walked towards Goten. "So, how did it go? It looked intense between you and your dad."

"Well he knows about what mom did to me but they'll work it out. Anyway, you know you didn't have to stay. I'm sure you had better things to do then wait for me."

"No, there's nothing more important. Anyway it was a nice day outside. I forgot how nice it was at Mount Paouz."

Goten felt himself tear up, and he smiled. "I love you Trunks," he said as he felt his mate hold him close to his body, feeling all the love Trunks had to give.