Tora was used to a quick cry and moving on, but tears were rare. As much as Tapion's teachings and presence were always with her as she rarely let herself be without his sword, with the exception of that year she spent with Vegeta in the Room of Spirit and Time, she didn't really reminisce about those events until Gohan asked about why she slept with the weapon. Now she was an adult, those two worlds had perhaps a chance at solving this problem, should Hoi show up with Tapion's box. They also had the advantage of having Dragon Balls.

She dried her tears, refocused on lunch, and gave a look back to the door that had just closed. She didn't linger too long on it, the prospect of having been seen in a moment of weakness embarrassing her enough for her mind to just deny it ever happened.

Gohan returned to the living room, conflicted about what he saw. He wanted to comfort Tora, but he had no idea how to do it without breaching Tora's wish to be left alone. His friend had closed the door, so coming in would have been against his will. The last thing he wanted was to get on Tora's bad side by imposing himself, and he had already seen something he shouldn't have had.

The child sat back down at the coffee table as the adults continued discussing the story they were just told.

"I'd have done the same," Trunks said to his mother with a slight, apologetic smile.

"I don't doubt it," she sighed with a little sorrow. Her son was capable of doing what needed to be done, she knew it, but that didn't mean she was happy about it.

"It is an awful situation," Dende smiled faintly. "Let's find solace that it is what Tapion wanted, he is now reunited with his sibling, and the threat has been dealt with for good."

Krillin agreed, even if the situation didn't sit well with him. Trunks, no matter which version, was Vegeta and Bulma's kid, after all, so he should not be surprised the young man was capable of such things.

Gohan stayed quiet as adults talked, but often looked at Trunks' few reactions and interjections. He was reserved and restrained in a similar way to his younger counterpart, but also generally more relaxed and grounded. They carried themselves differently, and Gohan prayed silently the Tora he knew would eventually be as much at ease as this older version who had finally destroyed the Cyborgs.

Dende asked to see the sword, curious about seeing its magical properties, Gohan remembered how Tora had let him and his version of Dende look at it, so he took the responsibility to agree and bring it to him. Something caught Trunks' attention and without a word he stood and went to the kitchen, ignoring Gohan's attempted 'don't' whispers, while Dende pulled the blade out and saw something odd, which he promptly fixed without them noticing. The blade had been fixed by magic, but it wasn't with the exact same material, so the Namekian took it upon himself to strengthen the alien metal and reinforce the repair.

Trunks came into the kitchen and closed behind him, stood by Tora's side, and helped her with lunch silently. The younger one spared her calmer counterpart a brief glance, then elbowed him with a slight forced smile, before he put an arm over her shoulders and brought her in an embrace so she could cry safely on his shoulder. He wordlessly consoled his younger, more hardened self while she gripped on his shirt. No tears came through, but the doubts and regrets had resurfaced enough for Tora to be unable to face others. Once lunch was ready, Tora took a few bites in the kitchen and left to go back to her room. Trunks understood they were to eat without her. She only joined them for coffee, and Gohan was the one who sat near her and chatted idly about anything else to show her it was all fine. Tora never really cared what people thought of her, but these weren't just people and Trunks' 'see?' smile reassured her.

After lunch, Gohan, Dende and the two Trunkses left Krillin and Bulma at Capsule Corp. The two promised to come see him later but didn't want to intrude when he was going to take over the vacant 'job'. Krillin promised he'd come and say goodbye before leaving, and Bulma promised to visit occasionally. Dende needed to get to the Lookout and meet Mr Popo, then do what was needed to become the new Guardian of Earth, and the other three needed to spend a few hours in the Room of Spirit and Time.

Trunks made a quick stop by Korin and Yajirobe, to let them know what happened, while the other three carried on upwards. The discussion was longer than Trunks had hoped; he had to explain time travel, Tora's and Gohan's presence, and why the planet had suddenly become healthy about six weeks prior. Korin gave Trunks a couple of Senzu beans, as the plant had been revitalized by that wish, surely peace had been achieved thanks to Bulma's invention and Tora's unwillingness to let Cell get away with anything. The Briefs moved mountains out of spite, after all.

Mr Popo had been dormant in the palace, holding onto Kami's staff. He was 'reactivated' when Gohan and Tora introduced Dende as the new Kami, and they went over the details and the proper passassion of power. Dende said that because Shenron had been dead for so long, he needed to repair the sculpture and it would take up to a Namekian year for his Dragon Balls to be active. They waited for Trunks, so he could discuss with Dende what powers to grant Shenron, and Tora and Gohan only mentioned what 767-Dende did. They agreed that being able to revive many people at the same time was useful, and so was being able to revive people who had already died once. Removing the immortality potential as well, the Dragon would only be able to grant two wishes and not three with those requests, which was something Trunks accepted just fine. Anything was better than nothing.

After all was done, Tora asked if they could use the Room of Spirit and Time for a few minutes. Mr Popo agreed, and after hearing the instructions about not wandering too far off and how they could only stay up to a total of two years, they stepped in.

Trunks was overwhelmed by the emptiness, the gravity, the temperatures and the extreme conditions the Room of Spirit and Time offered. Tora had told him about her stay with Vegeta, but nothing compared to actually experiencing it. Thankfully Trunks adapted quickly enough, and since they weren't going to stay more than a day, his mental strength wouldn't be tested. Gohan had changed into a gi for the occasion and was warming up on his own, focused to try and show his friend the progress they'd been discussing over the past three months through the intercom. Tora put a few belongings on the living area's table for the time being and once Trunks was somewhat acclimated and some dough was prepared for later, she told him to observe her and Gohan.

"Gohan-san, are you ready?" Tora asked after she had warmed up as well, while she tied her hair up in a higher ponytail. She then turned her watch around, so the quadrant was on the inside of her wrist.

Gohan nodded, and put himself into a defensive guard. It took him a mere instant to summon super Saiyan, without any tension whatsoever, and Trunks observed how natural, how easy it had been for the young boy. The power felt calm… Peaceful even.

"Do not go easy on me, Tora-san," the boy requested with a desire to impress.

With a smirk not unlike Vegeta's, Tora guarded on the offensive, summoning the same type of power, locked eyes with her opponent, and they stayed still for an instant, studying each other's intentions and planning their respective moves.

The first few blows were fast and brutal. Trunks observed the display of discipline and martial arts; Tora's strikes were precise and aimed to kill, even if she didn't charge them with ki, while Gohan was on the defensive, he focused on deviating, using his smaller stature and striking back. Little by little they got more comfortable with each other, daring more open strikes, stronger attacks and more vicious hits. Soon enough, they got out of each other's guards without having been able to do much to the other. Tora removed her hair tie and knotted it to her watch.

The display was more than just interesting, Trunks was attentive and invested in seeing what they both were capable of. He felt pretty confident he was more or less at a similar level of raw power, until Tora tensed and called upon that further beyond power she had briefly shown when they trained. Summoning it beyond short bursts had been unthinkable as Tora didn't want to endanger the planet in any way, or lose control, but with Gohan, in the Room of Spirit and Time, it felt pretty safe.

Trunks noticed the leap in power first, then the physical changes on his counterpart; the hair spikes flew slightly higher, the usual tendrils didn't stay near her face. Sparkles of electricity surrounded her aura, crackling dangerously. Her muscles also got more defined, more tense, and swelled just a little. The few times she used it with him, the ground hadn't appreciated the pressure, but the Room of Spirit and Time could seemingly take this and more.

When he tried facing the beast that Tora was in that form, Trunks deliberately slowed down and redirected his power to raw strength; as a man he could build more muscle. But not only did Tora get stronger with this 'Ascended super Saiyan', she was also much faster. At least with more muscle he could soak more, and sometimes managed to trap one of her limbs when she hit him, but he never managed to land a hit on her. It had been a disaster, and Trunks realized he needed to work on his weaknesses more than putting all his eggs in the same basket, so to speak. Tora realized her raw power needed to improve as well, as she couldn't wage a war of attrition against someone who could tank her hits; she needed to finish fights fast and couldn't last forever harnessing the power.

Now it was time to watch Gohan try his luck. As much as Tora told him the boy was much stronger than she was, he needed to see and feel it himself to truly understand it.

"Are you sure, Tora-san?" Gohan hesitated when Tora guarded, focused.

"Yes," she asserted. "Gohan-san, you are your world's protector. Show me your strength."

Gohan was uncertain but he didn't want to give in to the form that had taken over him and caused not only his father's, but also Tora's death. Their discussions had reassured him he could harness it, he was capable of it, even if it drew memories of his worst. Still, Tora was waiting for him, and he trusted his friend, the friend who had saved his life. The friend whose life another version of him had died to protect. Twice, considering the older Trunks' presence. He had to honor all those sacrifices, acknowledge they hadn't been in vain.

Accepting the request, Gohan summoned the form with a roar. Similar sparkles, similar hair to Tora's, compared to what Trunks thought of as 'regular super Saiyan', and a power surge beyond belief.

The following fight was silently agreed to be ki-blast free, and neither held back. Tora knew Gohan was more powerful, more disciplined in his martial arts, but he had perhaps less control over the form even if he could probably manage to hold it longer. His reluctance to fight by fear of giving in to his Saiyan side that had turned him cocky and playful with prey was a weakness Tora could exploit. Or at least try to, as Gohan was still an overall better fighter; his almost-year with Goku had really refined his strengths as a smaller combattant. Unlike Tora and Trunks who relied on their intellect and wits when deciding what to do in a spar, Gohan acted on reflex and followed the flow.

Despite having transformed just to be able to stand close enough to the display of power, Trunks couldn't see the fight, but he felt it as he focused on their respective kis. The pair thankfully called it quits after they had landed enough hits on the other to affect their control and their desire for blood. Considering how Tora was panting and how she dropped the form after jumping away, Trunks wasn't surprised when she conceded defeat. Her blood boiled for more, but she wasn't about to get stupid and give in. Gohan was truly something. Gohan was also getting impatient and taunting and Tora didn't want to risk it further. He was just a boy after all, not a miniature adult despite his maturity, she had to be smarter, wiser.

They debriefed with Trunks about what he saw and felt, and he was later put to the test, against one and then the other, with a Senzu in between to make the most out of their few hours for him to figure out his own path. Exhausting himself against more powerful opponents who displayed different strengths set his blood on fire; this all had him train his focus, his patience, his endurance, and his self-control. It was incredible. He had a new goal to achieve and with their discussions and subsequent practice, it gave him the necessary steps to reach said goal and become a better protector of his world. He wasn't about to let his second chance go to waste. They eventually called the end of their session.

"Trunks, go wash up first," Trunks offered while the bread was cooking, and after a quick glance over, silently understanding he was giving her a safe chance to be out of the binder and perhaps requesting to speak to Gohan alone, Tora agreed and disappeared in the bathroom.

"And take your time in the bath," he added with a grin.

Gohan watched their exchanges curiously while he put the dough in the oven. With the timer set, the two sat by the living quarter's kitchen, unwilling to let the bread burn by lack of attention.

"Those are Trunks' aren't they?" Trunks noted, and when Gohan looked, he pointed at his own dog tags. Trunks got closer when he spotted a difference. He called her tigress when it was just the two of them, so the symbol for 'tiger' did suit Tora. Strange how his and hers were different like that.

"Ah.. yes, I haven't returned them yet. They help me sleep," he admitted in a short breath, red on the face.

Trunks couldn't help but give a ruffle in Gohan's hair. Out of super Saiyan, the boy was just an adorable shy boy.

"Trunks won't be mad if you keep them longer, you needn't worry about it."

Gohan nodded, he understood, but he was already ten, he shouldn't be so childish anymore.

"Trunks-san, did the me you met in the past.. also jumped on you?"

"Mhmm, what do you mean?"

Gohan was even more red, he rubbed his face and tried to chase the embarrassment away.

"When Freeza appeared, in my 764, Tora-san showed up and killed him. I felt his ki, and it felt just like dad's, so I.. jumped in his arms.. Don't look at me like that, I was six!"

Trunks couldn't help it, Gohan was just precious and he apologized for the chuckle.

"My sincerest apologies, Gohan-san." The mental image of 6-year-old Gohan jumping in Tora's arms was too adorable for him not to melt. "But to answer your question, no. When I killed Freeza and the other guy, I was in plain view of everyone, so Gohan-san saw I wasn't his father."

"So you and him- the Gohan you met, I mean, you didn't.. bond."

"I didn't stay as long as Trunks," he confirmed. "And as much as I missed my Gohan-san, neither you nor the one I met in my trips were ever him. To be honest, my focus was mostly on finding out more about Father."

"Was the Vegeta-san you met nicer? The Vegeta-san in my world was truly awful to Tora-san," Gohan whispered with second-hand pain, he could only imagine how hard it must have been. "They fought a lot…"

"We actually talked about it, to see whether he treated us differently, but no, Father was mostly the same to us both. If anything, my expectations were higher than Trunks', who was much more cautious. Boy was I surprised." Trunks easily admitted with a little dry chuckle, the memory of Vegeta not giving a care about his young mother and his baby-self still somewhat giving him a sour taste. "Father is who he is, I guess."

"In the end, it was thanks to him that Cell was destroyed."

"Mh?"

Tora hadn't told Trunks the entire reaction Vegeta had had when she died; the information was uncertain, and Tora swept it all under the rug, especially when she came back from the dead wearing his armor.

So Gohan told Trunks what he saw, what he understood, what he was told, what he felt; Vegeta absolutely losing it when Trunks died protecting him. How he attacked Cell, uncaring if he died in the process, and how Vegeta refused anyone approaching Tora's body. That was the last he remembered before waking up on the Lookout and feeling a sense of dread when Tora hadn't been brought back to life immediately. Vegeta also got aggressive on Shenron because something went wrong when Tora wasn't brought back to life immediately.

Trunks remembered Tora telling her side of the story, but she didn't mention Vegeta's reactions, perhaps because she didn't know. How.. curious. Perhaps Vegeta did care, in his own way? Trunks was suddenly somewhat reassured that his mother, and by extension, his young-mother didn't make a mistake. With that and the information he now knew about Saiyan mating... The man was a mystery, but Trunks was at peace. Even if he didn't like him as a person, he knew the 767-world he helped would give him a chance be a father to his son.

Their discussion was interrupted when Gohan glanced at the oven and promptly rushed to take the bread out. Thankfully it wasn't burnt, but it was on the overcooked side.

Tora also came out of the bathroom, dry and changed. She indicated she left Trunks a change of clothes from her own (since she took her capsule case with her) and put out a tee and some shorts (with a belt) for Gohan, apologizing that they might be a little big. The bath was free for either of them to take.

Trunks offered to share, considering the size of the tub, which surprised Gohan. He promptly accepted, if only to not pass on the opportunity to chat more with this more relaxed and open version of the time traveler he wanted to know more of.

"You better behave," Tora told them, pointing at her eyes and then at Trunks in a 'I'm watching you' gesture.

"Yes, mom," he rolled his eyes with a smirk and Gohan giggled quietly, recognizing how Tora sometimes looked like Bulma, even if Trunks had the softer features.

Tora grumbled, then shook her head. "Don't trust him, Gohan-san, believe me, I know, he's planning mischief," she added with a playful smile, then dismissed them while she went on to prepare the rest of their snack. The toppings weren't going to make themselves after all.

While washing, Gohan couldn't help but observe. Trunks was reserved but not shy, and he saw more marks on the older's body when he sat on the stool to soap up.

"Trunks-san, can I ask you something?"

"Yes sure. Do you need help with your hair?"

"No- I can do it," Gohan huffed a little, he could do his own hair, and he looked away while he did so. "Tora-san is much more private than you are, in 767 he never accepted anyone but me to be close... Were you the same?"

Trunks glanced over, then rinsed his hair as he thought exactly how to answer that, protect his alternate self, and still give the boy something.

"In the past I kept distant from everyone, including that world's Gohan-san," he started off confirming. "But unlike Trunks, I didn't have a massive identity crisis with another Time Machine showing up. I also had a few years of peace and am more comfortable with who I am now. You see us as different people, don't you? And not just because we have different scars or hair."

"Yes, you're Trunks-san, and Tora-san is Tora-san."

"That's why you hugged Trunks, but you shook my hand," Trunks had to smile, and seeing Gohan turn red, he could only empathize with the uncanny and they both finished rinsing off to go soak and relax in the tub.

"Sorry… I thought I would react the same way with you than with Tora-san," Gohan eventually admitted, immersing himself in the large pool-like tub, but much slower than he used to. "The water is so hot!"

"Trunks likes it boiling," Trunks admitted, he, too, found it a little too hot and offered to cool it off, but Gohan silently refused, at least for himself; both accepted they would get used to it; if Tora could take the bath this hot, so could they. "Don't apologize. Why would you act similarly with me? We're strangers, for all intents and purposes, we didn't experience the same events, with Cell and so on, but you and Trunks did."

"Tora-san was also very close to Trunks- the baby."

"We both like children, and well, who could resist baby-me? Even if Mother complained about my face, I was adorable," Trunks faked a proud and self-absorbed demeanor and Gohan laughed childishly.

"Vegeta-san's eye shape and glare are a little intimidating, even on a baby," Gohan understated and Trunks had to agree before continuing the actual discussion.

"Trunks opened up to you in a way he couldn't with anyone else, being the only other half-breed out there... Gohan-san was always a grounding presence for us, and even as a younger, different version of him, you retain those traits. So on Trunks' behalf, I am thankful." Trunks knew how much of a strain it had all been for Tora, and he could feel how important 767-Gohan had been to keep her grounded, even if she could never tell him she was actually a girl.

"I did nothing special…"

"You did more than you know, else Trunks wouldn't have found any respite."

Gohan knew he reassured Tora by just being around, but being told so by another version of his friend really filled his heart. It was just respite, though, and not peace, and the two of them knew it.

"Is he distant with you too?"

"I thought we would be, because I was only that close to Mother and my version of Gohan-san, but we actually got comfortable very quickly. We are somehow the same, after all, so when we allowed ourselves to be, it was easy being that tactile. It has been.. nice, meeting someone who understands me on a fundamental level." Even if Trunks somewhat doubted he understood Tora as much as she understood him, he had to push those worries away as he couldn't do anything about it.

"I can guess…" Gohan couldn't compare, but he thought of his future self, and how he wanted to tell him he did the right thing and hug all his pains away as well.

"That's why I went into the kitchen."

Gohan stayed quiet. He had hesitated, he didn't want to intrude, and suddenly he felt small. Trunks' eyes squinted, trying to read the emotion, but eventually continued.

"Trunks would have accepted you, Gohan-san," Trunks added with a softer and caring voice.

"You love him," Gohan blurted out, perhaps against his will.

"It would be self-loathing if we didn't love each other, I guess." Trunks had to chuckle at the weird it all was, but he was also quick to answer. "You love Trunks too, but you don't love me. It's only natural to love the ones we admire and wish to take all their pain away. Am I wrong?"

Gohan thought about it, and nodded quietly as he pondered their respective situations. He appreciated Trunks being so open about it all, and not treating him like a child.

"I really, really wish to see Tora-san content…"

"Me too. You as well, I know Trunks wants you to find your peace and happiness." Trunks had to add. He knew Tora worried about Gohan's future, and Trunks also wanted this child to be happy. His circumstances were harder than the ones he left for his version of 767-Gohan, but he had faith.

"I'll do my best and make him proud of the future he gave me- he gave my whole world," Gohan smiled wide. "Thank you, Trunks-san."

"I am the grateful one. Without Trunks, Krillin-san and yourself, I wouldn't be alive, my world would be dying, and Mother would be distraught. And thanks to you both, with today's crash course, I will make sure that as long as I am around, Earth will be safe."

"We did what we felt was right…"

"I can't be thankful enough. But damn the bath is far too hot." Trunks started to get out, he couldn't take the temperature anymore. Gohan got out as well, it was becoming too much for him too.

"Trunks-san, say… Did you love older-me?" Gohan eventually asked when they started to get dry with a brief ki flare and putting back on some clothes.

Trunks had to think about how to answer that for a moment, but eventually he gave a slight smile to Gohan as he finished dressing up, ignoring how Gohan tried to take the question back.

"I will forever love the Gohan-san I grew up admiring."

Once out, dry and changed, Gohan appreciating the unique scent Tora's shirt had even if it had been washed, the three sat down to properly debrief their hours of training while eating.

Trunks now knew what it felt like and how to achieve this new power, it was a matter of practicing and meditating; with the videos and analysis, he would be able to continue training on his own.

The knowing glances weren't lost on Gohan now that he knew the two young adults had become close, but he also noticed Tora gave him similar warm smiles and often took his hand in hers. He wasn't left out, they still had something, and Gohan's heart was happy. He noticed how eagerly the two didn't hesitate touching during and after finishing the snack, equally taunts or half tickles and actual physical affection. When Tora pulled Gohan in, it was with a full Nelson and a 'get him!' for a tickle attack. Gohan tried fighting back, wriggling out, but there was no way with two mischievous coordinated adults ganging up on him, and he laughed so much he cried. All gloom and doubts disappeared from the three half-breeds' minds as they shared a light-hearted 'evening' before leaving the strange dimension behind.

Outside, only a couple of minutes passed. Mr Popo welcomed them back and the three thanked him properly. They hung out with Dende and Mr Popo in the gardens, during Dende's first break, for an hour or so more before heading back to Capsule Corp and letting the new Guardian carry on his duties. Tora and Gohan promised to come say goodbye before leaving.

They were back by the middle of the afternoon, where an old tiny woman floating over a crystal ball was waiting for them.