Ch 34

"Goten, Goten, GOTEN!"

"Huh oh sorry Hercule," he laughed nervously at the paint on the Champ's face.

"I know about what's going on. Maybe you should take some time and—

"No! The restaurant has been put off long enough. I need to—

"Take a break."

"I couldn't agree more," said Gohan. "Lets take a walk Goten."

"But I—

"GO!" said everyone in the room.

"I think if everyone in the room thinks you need a break, then take a break."

"Thanks Hercule," said Goten as he followed his brother outside.

"I can't imagine what Bulma, Trunks, and Bulla are going through," said Gohan.

"Yeah, I don't know what to do, especially with Trunks. He's shut down, and he's at work right now. He doesn't want to deal with what happened. He's also distancing himself from me, but I'm not giving up."

"I'm sure he'll come around Goten. I think he's still trying to process what happened."

"I even tried to read his mind, but he shut me out. I know I shouldn't have tried to intrude, but I'm worried. He can be unpredictable when he's quite."

"Kind of like Vegeta. Maybe you should talk to him about Trunks."

"Maybe. Anyway, how are mom and grandpa?"

"They feel bad about what Bulma and her family is going through, but they're still pretty disappointed that you decided to move in beside Bulma's home. Dad's doing his best to reason with them."

"I figured as much," he sighed, "I just keep thinking about Bunny telling Bulma that she never wanted and that she never loved her. It makes me think about when mom got pregnant with me, and—

"Don't even think it Goten. It's true mom's pregnancy came as a surprise to her at the time. She was stressed out at the time with dad dead and having to raise me but when grandpa and I reassured that we would always be there to help take care of you, she became excited to have you. She loves you Goten even if she doesn't agree with your life choices."

"Thanks Gohan, for making me feel better."

"No problem, so you want to get some lunch?"

"Sure."

Lunch had been great. The Son brothers relaxed and reminisced about happier times in their lives. Laughter and embarrassment was spread around the table. When lunch was over, the brothers went their separate ways.

Goten looked up to the sky and sighed. It was a beautiful day, and he thought of Trunks. He wanted more than anything for Trunks and his family to be happy again. He knew it would take time for the family to heal, but he wished Trunks would talk to him. 'We use to talk to each other about everything. Why can't you tell me how you feel?'

'I love you chibi.'

'Trunks.'

'I have to go. See you at home.'

Goten entered the Briefs' home. Trunks was still at Capsule Corporation. Goten wanted to check in on his family. Making his way upstairs, he knocked on Bulla's door. Uub opened the door and smiled at Goten. "Hey Uub, how is she—

"It's all right Goten you can come in," said Bulla as she sat on her bed in her pajamas as Uub sat beside her.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" asked Goten.

"Uub and I stayed up last night. We talked all night."

"Well that's good. It's good to talk."

"How's my brother doing?"

"Well he shut down and won't talk to me about what happened and he went to work today. He's still there right now."

"That's not a good thing. Kami he can be so stupid sometimes," said Bulla.

"I don't know what to do. Should I back off or push him to talk to me?"

"Normally I would suggest giving him space and letting him come to you when he's ready to talk to you but he takes after my dad."

"Ok, well I was going to go check on your mom."

"Thanks for coming by Goten," Bulla smiled as she got off the bed and hugged him. "I'm sure you'll be able to get through to Trunks."

Goten stood in front of Bulma's door. He sensed Vegeta in the gravity room, but he was still nervous as he knocked on the door. "Bulma, it's Goten. Can I come in?" He heard silence. "I came by to make sure you're ok." Still there was silence. 'Maybe she's not in her room.' He locked onto her ki. 'She's in the lab.'

Goten made his way to the lab and walked right in to see Bulma hard at work on some new invention. She turned around to see him and smiled. "Hey sweetie, is there anything you need?"

"I was just going to ask you the same thing."

"Oh that's really sweet of you. I'm not pretending everything is ok. It's not, but I'm not about to wallow in self-pity in the darkness of my room. I need to work this out, and Vegeta's been nothing but willing to help me. I was surprised. I mean I've always been there when he needed to talk. I never thought he'd return my kindness."

"I think it's because you showed him such kindness when others doubted he could be a good saiyan."

"Thank you Goten, your mom should be so proud of what you're doing. I know I am," she said as she hugged him.

"Thanks Bulma," he said as he came out if her arms. "So, do you need help with anything?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," she said as she guided him to her latest invention.

"What is it?"

"It's a newer version of the original prototype of the rejuvenation tank. Once an injured person is put into this tank, their minds are taken away from the pain of the injuries by the virtual reality chip I've installed into the machine."

"So, how does it work? Do you have automatic realties installed into the machine?"

"No, the machine takes your happiest memory."

"Wow, that's impressive Bulma. Your dad would be so proud. I just know it," he smiled as Bulma hugged tight.

Trunks came home late from work but decided to stop by his mom's house first. As he looked through the sliding glass, he saw nothing but smiles on his mother and sister's face. He wondered how that happened until Goten popped up from below the counter with a smile of his own. He didn't have to wonder anymore, and he couldn't help but smile. 'Leave it up to Goten to make my family happy.' He turned away from the sliding door to see his father.

"Dad."

"You know better than this behavior son."

"I learned from the best."

"Cut it out right now Trunks. You're hurting your mate and your family by not dealing with this. I know what happened. I saw it through your mother's eyes."

"I didn't—it's not like I wanted to sleep with all those women. I was just trying to figure things out in my head. I went about it the wrong way I admit, but I thought it was wrong to have feelings for Goten. I convinced myself that I could eventually find love with a woman. How sick is that?"

"We all make mistakes son. It's how you deal with them afterwards that really matters."

"What if it was a mistake to mate with Goten? What if I cause him nothing but pain? I'm not the best person. My track record with relationships isn't exactly existent."

"I had the same doubts about your mother Trunks but then I talked with your grandfather. He gave me the same advice that I'm going to give you now. Do you love Goten?"

"More than anything in the world."

"Then everything will work out in the end."

"That's good advice," he sighed. "I miss him. I remember the last time I went to see grandpa. I told him about my feelings for Goten. He was thrilled and hoped someday we would come together as a couple to see him. He was so proud. I think he was worried that I would never find someone."

"I know he's very proud of everything you've accomplished in your life. I know I am, but I need you to know something Trunks."

"What's that dad?" asked Trunks as he stared intently at his father. He knew what he had to say was important. I've always loved your mother, from the first time I dreamed about her as a boy. These feeling were knew to me because I had never felt love from my father and yet this woman I didn't even know touched me in places I didn't think existed. The night we conceived you," he said as Trunks cringed. Vegeta couldn't help but smirk at his reaction. "I couldn't have imagined being a father. When you were born, I didn't think it was possible to love someone as much as I love your mother. I distanced myself from you because I was afraid who I was would become who you were. I didn't want that, so I let your mother raise you. I figured she had enough love in her heart for the both of us. One night I heard you crying and I got up and went to your room. It was the first time I held you. I picked you up in my arms and looked down at you. You were so small and when your eyes looked up into my mine. I felt love for the second time in my life. I knew from then out it was my duty as your father to protect you."

"Father I—He felt his father's arms around him, and he couldn't hold back anymore as he cried. He didn't see the smiling faces of his mother, sister, and mate as the came outside.

Vegeta carried his unconscious son to his home and lied him down on his bed. Coming out of his bedroom, he saw the worried look of Goten. He felt Vegeta's hand on his shoulder.

"Take care of him Goten, he'll need you."

"I will. Thanks Vegeta," he said as Vegeta nodded as closed the door behind him.

Removing his shoes near the door, he quietly made his way to the bedroom. Before he could open the door, he sensed someone outside, snooping around. Opening the door, he looked outside. He shut the door as he combed the area to see the silhouette of a man under a tree.

"Mr. Rex, what are you—

"I'm here because of my son."

"What about him?"

"He really loves you, you know."

"No, your son really loves what he can't have and once he gets what he wants, he doesn't love it anymore."

"The news about Dr. Briefs will get out to the media. The Briefs family is an emotional wreck. Do you really want to be associated with that kind of family?"

"You and your wife are swingers, your daughter and son are promiscuous. You're not exactly the perfect family and no family is, but I love the family I've gained. I wouldn't change it for the world. They've been in my life ever since I was born. I love my mate, and that won't ever change. I don't know how many times I can be clear that I don't have any feelings whatsoever for your son."

"You really believe Trunks can take care of you and provide financially for you in his delicate state?"

"What right do you have to say what you think is best for me? I'm not part of your family anymore. Your daughter was the one who cheated on me, and I know I'm to blame to. I never loved her, so I couldn't give myself to her."

"You can make this right Goten. You can make my son happy again."

"No, I love Trunks. He loves me and no matter what I'll always be here for him and his family. Also, tell your son if he ever comes near me or the people I care about, I will kick is ass. That's a promise this time around."

"Is it money you want? I can't figure out what you see in this family."

"You wouldn't understand, and I don't care about money. I never did. It's whom these people are inside that I care about. They love and care about me unconditionally."

"And you're own family? What about them?"

"None of this is any of your business. Go home and get out of my face!" he yelled as he turned away from the man, hearing his retreating footsteps.

Goten leaned against the tree, closed his eyes, and took a breath out. 'What a crazy couple of days it's has been. Kami I need to sleep, I'm exhausted. Making his way inside, he saw a light on in the bedroom. 'He's up, well that's a good thing,' he thought as he opened the door to see Trunks had just come out of the bathroom, wrapped in just a towel. "Hey Trunks," he blushed, "are you feeling a bit better?" he asked as he suddenly felt Trunks' warm hand caress his cool cheek, looking intensely into Goten's eyes.

"I love you chibi, and I'm sorry for shutting you out. I promise we'll talk about everything, you know like we use to as kids." He watched Goten smile and felt his lips on his. Wrapping his arms around his chibi, he was never letting him go.