Chaozu was already cooking by the time Trunks arrived. She left her sword by the door, her jacket on the hanger and put the gift on top of a chest, figuring it would be properly given to Gohan after the cake (stored in the fridge before dinner). Krillin properly introduced her to Master Roshi and Oolong. Her version of them had died a while ago, when Kame-House was destroyed by the Cyborgs, so she only knew from Bulma that Oolong used to be an enemy when Son Goku was little (and could shapeshift like Pu'ar), and that Master Roshi trained him and was kind of a pervert. Her Gohan didn't know much about them either, so she didn't know exactly what to expect. That was until the excuse of a party had Roshi pull out all sorts of liquor for everyone to enjoy before the meal. They sat down by the coffee table, Gohan not missing a beat and sitting near the other halfling.
From the large square coffee table and through the open kitchen, she could see flying ingredients being masterfully cut mid air. Trunks knew Chaozu had psychic powers, but how the levitating little man used them to cook, handling the wok like a pro, it was a sight to behold. She didn't hide how amazed she was at the display, and it smelled delicious.
"How come we didn't sense your arrival, Trunks?" Yamcha was curious, and the sudden knock on the door had startled him.
"I drove," was Trunks' explanation. It was safer to transport the cake that way. "How is Son-san recovering?"
"Goku-sa's healing well, thanks to you! No more nightmares, no more cold-sweats, no more screaming, and sometimes he eats, even if he doesn't seem to be fully conscious. Krillin has kept him informed of everything, but if you want you can speak to him, I'm sure he listens." Chichi was happy to see the teenager back and didn't miss an opportunity to express her gratitude for saving her husband's life. "He might even wake up if Gohan-chan brings him a slice of cake!"
Goku being brought back to the living world by food made Trunks, Krillin and Yamcha chuckle. Trunks because she remembered a story that her mother had told her, and Krillin and Yamcha remembered the event itself: how Bulma woke up Goku from hypnosis during one of the Tournaments by yelling it was dinner time.
"It's worth trying I guess!" Krillin added while opening his beer.
Oolong gave Gohan some juice, and when asked what she wanted, Trunks just said 'anything will do' and apologized again for intruding without much warning, which earned her a solid slap on the back by Roshi who had downed the liquor long before everyone had even finished being served. Oolong settled on a beer for Trunks, and she accepted without thinking twice. She had shared alcohol with men back at home, especially among militias, it was part of the rite of passage and acceptance as 'one of their own' (and she didn't have the patience to deal with the bullying associated with refusing alcohol). Chichi mentioned with a frown that the teenager was still underage and shouldn't be pushed to vice so early.
"For all intents and purposes, I am an adult back at home, Chichi-san," she explained with a guarded smile and a shrug discarding the issue, trying to reassure. "You needn't worry, I won't get drunk." She opened her beer and had a sip.
"Trunks! Goku-sized portion, or human-sized portion?" Tenshinhan called as he was helping Chaozu with the plates of fried noodles, beef and vegetables.
"Small portion, I ate a senzu, I am not actually hungry!" She called back when asked, and soon after, everyone had a plate. Chichi brought one to Goku, leaving it near his bed in case he woke up, and once everyone was around the large coffee table, with a cheer and some toasts, they ate.
While watching Chaozu cook was already a treat on its own, the taste was from another world, and Trunks got overwhelmed by the explosion of flavor. Considering how simply she cooked for herself and her mother, and how her mother burned toast, and while Panchy's cooking was also refined, this wok plate was just mind-blowing. Everyone else ate with as much delight, without a doubt. The food promptly disappeared while Chaozu, with his arpon, waited for the verdict on his plate.
"Chaozu-san, please marry me," were Trunks immediate instinctive blurted out words, having been the first to finish in a heartbeat. Others laughed. "This is so good- How?" The teenager couldn't put into words how she'd never tasted anything similar.
"Would you like seconds?" Chaozu wasn't fazed by the sudden proposal, and Trunks just handed her plate with stars in her eyes. Normally she would refuse, because it was pure gluttony and not actual hunger, but the meal was just irresistible, and she felt like she hadn't savored it properly and needed a proper redo to do the plate justice.
Gohan was prompt to ask for seconds as well (and taking seconds was normal for the little boy still growing up). Sure Chichi's food was beyond delicious, but there was something about the perfect cooking of each ingredient that absolutely sublimated the final plate that even a human expert was just unable to do.
True to her word, Trunks refused the second beer, she had not even finished the first one over the course of the meal, and when Chichi went to check up on Goku (and grab her camera), Gohan seized the opportunity.
"Tora-san, is it ok for me to taste?" The boy had tasted his grandfather's drinks before, but he was still a little curious. Trunks passed the bottle with a nostalgic smile. She had asked the exact same question to her version of Gohan at a similar age.
Gohan got a little red, he thought he'd get some in his now empty glass, but instead he'd drink from the bottle? The same bottle Tora drank from? Why am I nervous? Just do it before mom comes back! and Gohan took the bottle, sniffed it, then drank a little, and then pulled a disgusted face and gave it back.
"It's sparkly! And kind of bitter." Gohan yucked, which Trunks chuckled quietly at. She had had the exact same reaction Gohan just had, and naturally she had to give this child the same mischievous response she had gotten from her version of him.
"I hear it is an acquired taste," she leaned a little closer to whisper the top confidential secret. "I think adults pretend to like alcohol because that is what adults are supposed to like. But nobody is brave enough to admit it tastes awful."
"Oh.. I see. You're a good actor, Tora-san."
Trunks moved back, took her bottle and had a drink with a little smile. She still somewhat believed the 'conspiracy' (even if she knew why people drank in her world), and Gohan bought into the mischief, overjoyed to be trusted with the secret that Tora didn't actually like alcohol, and was just pretending.
The lights were turned off by Yamcha while Krillin brought the cake with its candles on. Lots of gushing over the chocolate marvel and encouragements were given. Chichi and Trunks disappeared an instant to retrieve the gifts (including Bulma's, which was delivered by drone that same afternoon). The cake was placed on the center of the table, and Gohan was encouraged to blow the candles, all nine of them. Which he did after thinking hard about his wish. With some tipsy bullying to know what the wish was, the lights turned back on, the gifts were placed on the table, the candles removed, and the chocolate giant cut into several servings for everyone to enjoy. Gohan took his serving of the cake, which had something green in between the spongy layers. The birthday boy tasted, then turned to Trunks with teary eyes. The mix of pistachio and chocolate was a strange choice (and others commented on it, but seemed to think it was tasty), but Trunks knew Gohan would like it, which is why she made a special order for it. She said nothing, enjoying her own serving. All throughout the 'party', Chichi took a few pictures, and then handed the camera to Pu'ar so she could have a few photos with her son as well.
Gifts were promptly opened, and Gohan made a point of saying people shouldn't have, that there were other things to worry about, and to Yamcha who apologized for forgetting, that there was nothing to apologize for. The boy opened his mother's first, a new set of books about astronomy, and hugs and kisses of gratitude were given. Bulma's were next; a brand new telescope with an integrated computer to assist viewing. It seems the two women communicated. Gohan promptly stated he would write a thank-you letter to the Capsule corp genius. Trunks' gift was last, and Gohan was delighted to find not one, but three new sturdy fishing rods.
"So you can go fishing with your father and Piccolo-san," Trunks explained with a little shy voice. She kept the 'when this is all over' implied. It was her way of keeping hope alive, by planning for joy after the storm. She knew from her version of Gohan that his favorite activity with his father was fishing. Considering how fond the boy was of Piccolo, Trunks gathered Gohan would enjoy fishing with him too (whether Piccolo would play along or not was another subject).
Gohan was moved by the gift and its meaning, he understood the message of hope, that his father would be better, that he'd have his family and home back, and without really asking, he got on Trunks' lap to hug the teenager tight as a way of thanking. And promptly breathing in all of Tora's scent.. and noticed the teenager still wore the 'armor' underneath the blue turtle neck and black button up shirt. The teenager placed her hand in his hair and held him close even if she tried to keep restrained in the little display of affection she allowed herself to give back. She just whispered she was 'happy Gohan-san liked it'. Until Chichi gasped about how inappropriate it was to touch non-family members like that, and Gohan yelped and moved back, all red in the face, and they just shook hands awkwardly.
Trunks was tempted to go smoke with Roshi and Oolong but eventually decided against it, and when reminded she could talk to Goku, she went upstairs with Chichi and Gohan, helping them carry the gifts upstairs, and Goku's share of the cake. The plate that had been served to him had disappeared, and Trunks was happy to see he looked much better than how he looked in the plane. Chichi took the empty plate and stated she'd leave the boys alone to talk about what happened, and to fetch her if she was needed as she'd be doing the dishes.
Downstairs, Roshi and Oolong were far gone, Krillin and Yamcha may have had one beer too many, but Tenshinhan and Chaozu remained sober, and somber. Chichi refused their help with the dishes as they'd participated in the cooking, so the two former Crane students turned on the radio to listen to the investigation about Gingertown. Chaozu hadn't heard Yamcha's question when Trunks first arrived, so he and Tenshinhan had a silent telepathic conversation.
"Tien-san, did you sense Trunks arriving?"
"I didn't, he said he came driving so his ki was masked."
"Oh, for the cake, it would have been ruined if he came flying."
"Speaking of sensing ki- Have you been sensing Piccolo?"
"Yes, the other ki signature, Cell's, appeared a few hours ago, and I felt Piccolo rush over, but Cell was quick to mask his ki. Cell senses ki and has been avoiding Piccolo."
Tenshinhan was annoyed. Cell slipped away twice from Piccolo that day alone, and if the radio report was to be believed, another little town, near Gingertown, was emptied out of its inhabitants a couple of hours prior. However, Trunks not having been sensed because he was driving a vehicle and not flying gave him an idea. Vehicles were not as fast as flight, but if Cell attacked a larger city, the whole gang could arrive without being sensed… and perhaps surprise the creature. Chaozu approved of the idea. It was a matter of waiting for Piccolo to come back, now.
Gohan sat near his father's futon, taking his hand within his own, and explained how Tora-san was here, and brought cake, how excited he was to go fishing and study the stars thanks to everyone's gifts, and how surely everything would be fine. Trunks sat on the opposite side and waited until Gohan was done. Goku was half asleep, on his back, but the mention of cake actually made him open his eyes a little. And the smell of it and the plate presented to him had him try to get some. Gohan moved back to give him room, while Trunks moved forward and helped the older Saiyan into a sitting position, replicating gestures she'd do with her version of Gohan prior to him losing his arm. Despite the weakened state she saw, the teenager was confident Goku was recovering well. From her 'one week to one month' , one week seemed far more likely, which gave her hope that it would all, indeed, be fine as Gohan put it. The boy approached again once Goku was sitting, and the cake serving promptly disappeared in the void that was Goku's stomach.
"Son-san. You look better. I take it that Gohan-san informed you of today's events?"
"Cell, right?" He asked, breathing slowly, and Trunks confirmed.
"We must not allow it to reach its goal. Vegeta-san disagrees, he would prefer one sole opponent to test himself against," she sighed, fully aware there was no stopping Saiyan stubbornness even if she disagreed, perhaps they'd be able to get to Cell or the Cyborgs before they crossed paths, "but with you, together?"
"Nah, I'm prolly not as strong as Piccolo, Vegeta or you, even once I'm healed. I felt that fight. Especially Piccolo, he got so strong, he fused with Kami-sama right? If you and him couldn't take Cell down.."
"I believe we had a decent chance, but he slipped away. And the more time it has to absorb people, the stronger it gets." Trunks was disappointed when Goku assessed he wasn't as strong, even without the illness, but she appreciated his reserve and his ability to read the situation.
"You weren't at full tho?" Goku asked with a pointed look, and Trunks looked away.
"No," she said without giving any explanation, but her fists clenched on her pants. The timing of her injuries with Vegeta had had dire consequences, but there was no use crying over it, what's done is done. She shook her head. "Vegeta-san mentioned something last night that perhaps... Son-san, do you believe there is a way to go beyond super Saiyan?"
While Gohan looked surprised, Goku didn't.
"Vegeta's got the right idea. Dunno how, but there's gotta be a way, given enough time. Which is why you and your daddy, you're going to go to Kami-sama's Lookout." Trunks winced at the wording. 'Daddy' didn't exactly fit her image of Vegeta, and it showed. Goku continued, "There's a special room up there, the Room of Spirit and Time. When you inside, time's very different, you spend a full year, but only one day will have passed outside. Conditions are brutal, couldn't last a month when I was a kid, but you'll figure it out, and with your pops, you'll both make great progress."
A full year with Vegeta sounded like a nightmare, and Gohan looked worried at the prospect. Trunks herself wasn't exactly convinced it was the best, being around Vegeta was stressful, let alone being around him and only him all while keeping her identity to herself was.. Trunks didn't want to think about it. But something needed to be done to salvage this world. If that meant 'talking' with Vegeta for a full year, then so be it, but she wasn't exactly looking forward to it. And convincing him was a whole other ordeal, she'd have to think of how to present the plan to him.
"Understood."
"And then you and I will go in," Goku said to his son with a bright smile. "We'll get you super Saiyan and go beyond too, alright? Else Vegeta's going to leave us in the dust!" The competition excited the older Saiyan, even if Vegeta was still claiming he'd kill Goku the first chance he got to fight him again.
"No."
Gohan and Goku both looked back at Trunks, startled by the teenager's sudden and unyielding refusal.
"Wha?" Goku eventually asked, while Trunks matched the gaze, holding and controlling the anger choked behind her blue eyes at the plan mentioned by the older Saiyan.
"Gohan-san should never experience super Saiyan. I refuse."