The Next Day…

Trunks was getting ready for his next training session with his mentor, Gohan. After taking a shower and getting dressed, he headed downstairs and walked outside with his mother who was waiting for him.

"Okay, Mom, I'm going to see Gohan now," Trunks told her, "See ya later!"

"You've been hanging out with Gohan a lot recently, Trunks," Bulma comments with a suspicious tone, "You better not be putting yourself into danger! Are you putting yourself into danger?!"

"N-No Way! I would never, mom! Ha ha ha…."

"Hmmm….. Is that so?"

"Y-Yeah, ha ha ha…."

Bulma could obviously tell that her son was lying, knowing that her secret love interest was probably training him. However, considering how the world is and that the androids had to be stopped, she could understand why. She also must've guessed that Gohan was against it at first, knowing what she would do to him, until her son convinced him to do so. However, not wanting her son to get scared, she decided to change the topic, at least for now.

"Okay, then. Since you're going to see Gohan anyway, how about you ask him to join us for dinner?"

"Huh? Why? He came for dinner last time, right?"

"Well, we got more than enough food from yesterday. And considering that he doesn't stay at Chi-Chi's house in the mountains anymore ever since Goku's death, I felt like he needs a roof under his head. He can't be a Piccolo and wander around the wastelands all day long."

"Well, I guess you're right. Gohan would love that. I'll ask him. Bye!" Trunks then turned around, started running and jumped into the air, flying towards the sky.

"Be careful out there!" Bulma told him.


25 Minutes Later - The Wastelands

Trunks made his way towards the wastelands, where Gohan was waiting for him.

"Sorry I took too long to get here, Gohan"

"Don't worry about it, Trunks," Gohan assured him, "Considering the world we live in, I don't blame you"

"Thanks for understanding, Gohan"

"No problem. Anyway, did you get enough rest yesterday? If not, you're gonna have some trouble during our training"

"I'm good!" Trunks assures him.

"That's good," Gohan replies before continuing, "Alright, I'm sure you already know how strong the androids are firsthand, so we're going to make you a Super Saiyan as soon as possible."

"O-Okay!"

"Let's get to it, then. It's going to be tough, but once you're warmed up, I'll help you out. So, are you ready?"

"Yep! I'm ready! Let's do this!"

The two warriors then flew into the air and engaged into another training battle against each other.

2 Hours Later

Trunks was on one knee while Gohan was standing in front of him with a smile on his face.

"Wow… It's really hard to become a Super Saiyan… I'm trying to get as angry as I can…" Trunks replies while taking a breather.

"Heh, I never said that it was going to be easy!" Gohan chuckles, "It's just a matter of increasing your energy and exploding anger. Might sound simple, but in order to pull it off, you're going to need more training."

"Don't worry, Gohan… I won't give up!" That was when Trunks remembered something, "Oh, right, I almost forgot! Mom wanted me to ask if you wanted to have dinner with us at home. You'll come, right?"

"Um, I guess, but are you sure that's okay? I just had it yesterday"

"It's fine! Besides, Mom is already making enough for all of us to eat"

"Hmm, alright, I guess I can show up over there and have some dinner again"

"Cool! Okay, let's get going!"

The boys then took a head start and flew into the air. Trunks was smiling, happy that Gohan was coming with him again, "Mom is going to be so happy! B-By the way, you've known my mom for a long time, right?"

Gohan blushed a bit before answering, "Heh, you could say that. I met Master Roshi and your mother, thanks to my dad."

"Oh yeah? What happened?"

"Well, i-it's complicated… but… My dad's long-lost brother showed up and kidnapped me, forcing my dad to team-up with his arch-rival/my-soon-to-be-mentor Piccolo. After that, Piccolo kidnapped me and left me in the wilderness, so I basically had to survive on my own there for half a year…"

"Wait, what?! Seriously? All of that happened when you were four years old?!"

"Heh, yeah… Sounds crazy and unbelievable but it's true"

"It's so amazing I don't really know what to say… W-What was Piccolo like?"

Gohan smiled a bit, remembering his fallen mentor and friend, "Well…."


*Flashback*

Piccolo was glaring down at the unconscious toddler; Gohan. The demon had to admit, he was somewhat impressed by the child's power. After all, the kid put a big dent on that long-haired saiyan that he and his rival Goku were fighting. Speaking of Goku, he was happy that he was finally able to kill the man who killed his father. However, he wasn't that happy about it because he knew that Goku's allies would revive him with the Dragon Balls so it didn't matter. All he could do now is train his son - who may be the key to stopping the Saiyans who were arriving to Earth in one year.

"Wake up, brat! That's enough sleep!"

The child woke up from his slumber and looked around where he was, "W-Where am I?" He then saw the green man who was in front of him, "Huh?! W-Who are you?!"

"Listen up, brat!" Piccolo starts, ignoring the child's questions, "I'm just gonna head straight to the point! Your dad's dead! You're all alone now!"

"M-My dad's dead?!" Gohan asked in shock before he started crying, "DADDY! WAH! WAHAHAH!"

"Shut up, brat!" The demon yelled, making the child quiet, "Don't worry about it… Your daddy is going to be back soon"

"R-Really?"

"Yeah… If I know Goku's weakling friends, and I do, they would hunt down and find the seven dragon balls to revive him."

"Y-Yay!" Gohan cheered on, happy that his father was going to come back after all.

"Quiet, kid" The demon told him, "Anyways, back to the topic… While Goku and I were able to defeat Raditz, the saiyan's buddies are gonna show up in a year's time. So, until Goku comes back, I'm going to make you my pupil!"

"B-But, I-I can't fight!"

"Which is why I'm going to unlock your power by throwing you into that mountain!"

"Wait, wh-?!" Gohan was about to say before Piccolo grabbed him and threw him towards the boulder, "AHHHHHHHH!"

*End of Flashback*


"He was… pretty strict…" Gohan replies.

"Wow… You must've had a hard time with him," Trunks said, feeling a bit sympathy for his mentor.

"Well, he was a bit scary and really strict at first, but, during my time with Piccolo, I started to see that he wasn't that bad. Sure, his training methods were… questionable and almost as deadly… but, it was thanks to him that I was able to survive against the saiyans."

"Really?"

"Yeah… He even sacrificed himself to save my life…"

"Wow…." Trunks never knew that Piccolo was like that, "He must've been a great hero, huh?"

"He sure was…" Gohan smiled.


30 Minutes Later - Capsule Corp

The two warriors have finally made it to Capsule Corp

"Okay, we're here," Gohan said before adding, "I'm guessing your mom might ask what we were doing, huh."

"Y-Yeah, she probably would," Trunks admits, "She asked before I left a few hours ago… I can't let her know that I'm training with you"

"Bulma's a pretty smart woman," Gohan chuckles, "I got an idea. We'll take a few days off… That way, we'll be able to get Bulma off our trial"

"That's a great idea!" Trucks agrees with a smile.

*Capsule Corp*

Gohan and Trunks headed to the kitchen where Bulma was at.

"I'm back, Mom! And I brought Gohan with me!" Trunks told her.

"Glad that you're safe and sound, Trunks," Bulma said with a smile before looking at the lone warrior, "And it's good to see you again, Gohan"

"Y-Yeah," Gohan admits while blushing a bit, "Good to see you again, too"

"You two made it just in time! I just finished preparing dinner." Bulma states.

"I'm surprised that you still have enough left," Gohan said in awe.

"Well… Thanks to the androids, it's been pretty tough to get anything I want. Other ingredients are hard to find as well," Bulma admits sadly before cheering herself up, "But, I try to make up for it with my skills to adapt in the kitchen"

"Thanks, Bulma, I really appreciate this"

...

Thanks to Bulma's skills, the three were able to have another tasty and delicious meal together and relax.

...

"Thanks for the meal, Bulma" Gohan smiled, "It was amazing,"

"No problem, anytime!" Bulma said with a smile, "I'm glad you liked it"

"Hey, Gohan?" Trunks asked while looking at the other warrior, "Do you want to stay at Capsule Corp for the night?"

"I don't want to impose-"

"It's no imposition at all!" Bulma reassured Gohan, "We have plenty of rooms, and it's always nice to have some company"

Gohan contemplated it for a moment, before nodding with a smile, "Thank you, Bulma. I'd love to stay for the night"

"Great! I'll show you to your room" Bulma said with a smile before heading off.

"Thanks, Trunks. I really appreciate it" Gohan said with a grateful smile.

"No problem, Gohan. I'm glad you're here" Trunks replied with a smile.

...

As Gohan settled into his room for the night, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the kindness and hospitality of his friends. Despite the bleak future they were living in, they were still able to find moments of joy and togetherness. And for that, Gohan was truly grateful.

Back with Bulma, she couldn't stop thinking about the lone warrior. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in" Bulma said, trying to sound calm.

The door opened, revealing Gohan.

"Hey Bulma, can I talk to you for a moment?" Gohan asked with a serious expression on his face.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Bulma asked, trying to hide her nervousness.

Gohan took a deep breath before speaking, "I just wanted to say thank you for everything. You and Trunks have been so kind to me, and I really appreciate it"

"It's no problem at all, Gohan. You're like family to us" Bulma replied with a warm smile.

"I also wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I know I've been distant and cold, but I'm just dealing with a lot right now" Gohan said with a sigh.

Bulma could see the pain and sadness in Gohan's eyes, and she couldn't help but reach out and hug him.

"It's okay, Gohan. We all have our moments. Just know that we're here for you, okay?" Bulma said, trying to comfort him.

Gohan nodded, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort from her embrace. He couldn't deny that he was also starting to develop feelings for her, but he didn't want to complicate things.

"Thank you, Bulma. You're a great friend" Gohan said with a smile.

Bulma smiled back, but deep down, she couldn't help but hope for something more.

As they pulled away from the hug, Gohan's eyes met Bulma's and they both felt a spark between them. They both knew that there was something special between them, but they also knew that they needed to focus on the task at hand.

"Well, I should probably get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow" Gohan said with a small smile.

"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight, Gohan" Bulma replied, feeling a little disappointed that their moment was over.

"Goodnight, Bulma," Gohan said before leaving the room.

As Bulma laid in bed, she couldn't help but think about Gohan and the possibility of a future together. But for now, they had to focus on saving their world and defeating the androids.

Little did they know, their bond and friendship would only grow stronger as they faced the challenges ahead. And who knows, maybe one day they would be able to explore their feelings and have a future together. But for now, they had each other's back, and that was all that mattered.


Over The Next Few Weeks…

Gohan and Trunks continued with their training. Of course, they would take days off every now and then so Bulma doesn't find out what they're doing.

In between their training, they would also spend time together, talking about their lives in the future and how they could prevent the destruction of their world. They both shared a deep understanding and bond, having gone through similar experiences.

Future Gohan was impressed with how strong Trunks had become, despite his young age. He could see the determination and drive in Trunks, and it reminded him of his own younger self. He was proud to have Trunks as his student and he knew that he would become an incredible warrior in the future.

As for Trunks, he admired Future Gohan's strength and bravery. He had always looked up to him as a hero, and now he had the chance to train under him and learn from him. Trunks was determined to become as strong as Future Gohan, so he could protect his loved ones and his world.

As they trained, they also discussed their plan to defeat the Androids. Future Gohan had a few ideas, but Trunks had a fresh perspective and suggested some new strategies. They worked together to come up with a solid plan, taking into consideration their individual strengths and weaknesses.

As their bond grew stronger, so did their skills. They pushed each other to their limits, constantly improving and perfecting their techniques. Future Gohan would often praise Trunks for his progress, and Trunks would look up to Future Gohan with admiration and respect. They had become more than just teacher and student, they had become brothers in arms.

Right now, they were sitting down, looking at the sky.

"Here, clean yourself up," Gohan said, giving him a towel.

"Thanks, Trunks said, using the towel"

"You know, if you think I'm rough, you should have trained with Mr. Piccolo."

"I can't imagine anyone being tougher than you," Trunks said with a smile.

They both laughed, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Trunks then asked a question, "You really look up to Piccolo, huh?"

Gohan nodded, "Yeah, he was the one who trained me after my dad died. He taught me everything I know."

"You must have been really young when he took you in," Trunks said, curious.

"Yeah, I was only five years old. But he saw potential in me and decided to train me."

Trunks was amazed. He couldn't imagine the pain Gohan must have gone through.

"You know, you remind me a lot of my dad," Gohan said, interrupting Trunks' thoughts.

"Really?" Trunks asked, surprised.

"Yeah, he was always determined and never gave up, just like you. And he was always pushing himself to be stronger, just like you," Gohan explained.

Trunks felt a sense of pride hearing this, coming from someone he looked up to so much. He couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks, Gohan. That means a lot to me," Trunks said, grateful for the comparison.

"No problem, little brother," Gohan said, ruffling Trunks' hair playfully.

Trunks laughed and playfully pushed Gohan away, their bond stronger than ever. He then remembered something, "You know, speaking of dads, Mom never talks about mine. You knew him, right? What was he like?"

"Well…" Gohan said, trying to think of something to say about Trunks' deceased father.


*Flashback*

Vegeta (Prince of All Sayians) was beating the crap out of Gohan in their training session.

Gohan was 10 years old at that time and Vegeta was having a blast fighting with the son of the strongest warrior Kakarot (Goku).

"Come on Gohan, is that all you've got?! I thought you were supposed to be the son of the legendary Kakarot!" Vegeta taunted, dodging Gohan's punches effortlessly.

Gohan was panting heavily, trying to catch his breath. He was no match for Vegeta's power, but he couldn't give up. He had to protect his family and friends.

"So what? You think having a dad as a Super Saiyan makes you better than me?!" Vegeta yelled back, continuing to dodge Gohan's punches.

"No! Of course not!" Gohan insisted. He would never think anything like that. However, that only made Vegeta more pissed off.

"WRONG ANSWER!" Vegeta then charged towards Gohan and delivered a powerful punch, sending Gohan flying across the field. Gohan hit the ground hard, but he quickly got up, bruised and battered.

"You're pathetic, Gohan. You'll never be as strong as your father," Vegeta said, smirking at Gohan's defeat.

Gohan gritted his teeth and charged towards Vegeta once again, determined to prove him wrong. The two warriors clashed, their intense battle shaking the ground beneath them. Gohan refused to give up, trying to unleash all of his hidden power to keep up with Vegeta. However, it wasn't enough.

Just then, Goku (Kakarot) arrived, sensing the intense energy in the area. He saw Vegeta and Gohan fighting and immediately intervened.

"Vegeta, that's enough. Gohan's just a kid," Goku said, getting in between them.

"Hmph, he's weak. He'll never be as strong as you, Kakarot," Vegeta said, flying away in a huff.

Gohan sat on the ground, catching his breath and wiping the sweat off his brow. Goku sat down next to him, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you okay, Gohan? I'm sorry I wasn't here to stop him sooner," Goku said, patting Gohan on the back.

Gohan smiled weakly, "It's okay, Dad. I'll get stronger, I promise."

Goku smiled proudly at his son, "I have no doubt about that, Gohan."

*End of Flashback*


"Your dad was a powerful warrior, Trunks. He was arrogant and stubborn, but he had a good heart deep down. He was always pushing himself to be stronger, just like you do," Gohan said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Trunks nodded, taking in Gohan's words. He wished he could have met his father, but he was grateful to hear stories about him.

"Thanks for telling me about him, Gohan. I really appreciate it," Trunks said, a new sense of understanding and connection to his father.

Gohan smiled, "No problem, Trunks. Your dad would be proud of the warrior you've become."

The two Saiyans sat in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company and the bond they shared. Trunks felt a sense of peace, knowing that even though he never got to meet his father, he had a brother figure like Gohan to guide him and help him grow.

Future Gohan then starts thinking about his mother (Future Chi-Chi) and his grandpa (Future Ox-King). He hasn't seen them for awhile now... Mostly because he cut ties with Chi-Chi because of her over-protectiveness and her "bitchy" attitude. This, combined with the fact that her husband (Goku) died from the heart virus, she was very depressed.


*At Chi-Chi's house on Mount Paozu*

The Ox-King returned home, carrying some groceries.

"I'm home! And I've got groceries! How are you doing, sweetheart?" The Ox-King called out to his daughter.

"I'm fine, Dad," Chi-Chi replied from the kitchen, where she was preparing dinner.

"How was your day?" the Ox-King asked, as he entered the kitchen.

Chi-Chi shrugged. "Same old, same old. Taking care of you and myself, cleaning the house, cooking..."

The Ox-King frowned at his daughter. He knew she was still grieving over Goku's death, but he was worried about her. She had been isolating herself from everyone, including her own son.

"Chi-Chi, you need to start moving on," he said gently.

"I am moving on," Chi-Chi snapped, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'm just... taking my time."

The Ox-King sighed. "I know it's hard, but you can't shut everyone out. Especially not your own sons."

Chi-Chi didn't respond, but the Ox-King could see the sadness in her eyes. He knew he couldn't force her to change, but he could give her some advice.

"Why don't you visit Gohan? He misses you," the Ox-King suggested.

Chi-Chi shook her head. "No, I can't. I don't want to see him."

"Chi-Chi, he needs his mother," the Ox-King insisted.

"He has Trunks and Bulma," Chi-Chi replied, her voice cold.

"But they're not his family," the Ox-King argued. "You are. And he needs you."

"I said no, Dad," Chi-Chi said firmly. "Just drop it."

The Ox-King could see that his daughter wasn't going to budge. He sighed and decided to drop the subject for now. He knew he couldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to do. But he also knew that she needed to start moving on and reconnecting with her family.

Future Chi-Chi then picks up her old family photo and looks at the picture. She truly missed Goku and Gohan. She missed their goofy antics and warm hugs. She missed cooking for them and taking care of them. She missed their family dinners and training sessions. She missed everything about her old life.

Seriously, she was supposed to be a grandmother and her son was supposed to be a scholar (which was his dream). Her son was supposed to be a Nobel Prize-winning scholar, or even a teacher! But what is she? A widow. With a husband who died from a heart virus and a son who never talks to her, and is possibly dead.

Her life was not supposed to be like this.

She then starts to cry, her tears staining the old photo. She was so lost and alone. She didn't know what to do or where to go. She was stuck in this new timeline, where everything was different and she didn't belong. She missed her old life so much that it physically hurt.


*Flashback*

After Future Goku broke the "training session" between Future Vegeta and Future Gohan (10 years old at the time) since his son was bleeding, he took his son back to his house. However, when they returned home, Future Chi-Chi wasn't happy nor amused by this.

"GOKU!" Chi-Chi shouted with a mix of anger and worry as she ran towards her husband and son.

"What happened?" She asked as she saw the blood on Gohan's clothes.

"It was just a little accident, nothing serious," Goku replied casually, not really understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Nothing serious? He's bleeding!" Chi-Chi exclaimed, her worry turning into anger.

"M-Mom, I'm fine," Gohan tried to calm her down while cleaning his face with a towel, "Besides, Dad didn't do this to me, Vegeta did"

"VEGETA?!" Chi-Chi questioned in anger, "You mean the same person who invaded Earth, killed our friends, almost killed your father and sent both of you to the doctor?!" She then looked at her husband, "WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HIM?!"

"I did!" Goku insisted, "I just arrived too late..."

"Too late? Too late?! TOO LATE?!" She asked in anger, her face turning red.

"C-Chi-Chi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll do better next time, I promise!" Goku quickly said in fear.

"Next time?" Chi-Chi repeated with a raised eyebrow, "There shouldn't be a next time!"

Her words hit Goku like a brick. He looks down in shame before walking outside of the house. Gohan then looks at his mother angrily for what she said.

"Nice Job, Mom" Gohan said in a sarcastic tone.

Chi-Chi then gave a confused look, "What?"

Gohan then gave a disappointed look and walked away to his room. Chi-Chi then gives a sad look and walks away too.

A few hours later…

Chi-Chi was in her shared bedroom, looking down in shame. She knew that Goku wasn't trying to hurt their son in the training sessions and she knew that Goku wasn't trying to let Vegeta hurt Gohan. She.. She just wanted her family to be normal! Gohan's dream was to be a scholar, or even a teacher! She wanted that for her son. However, her husband (Goku) had to be a fighter. Of course, she didn't mind it at all, at first. After all, that was the reason why she fell in love with him. However, if this keeps on happening, Gohan might get seriously hurt, or worse... killed!

Anyway, that was when she heard a knock on the door, "Huh?" She questioned before heading to the door. Once she opened the front, she was surprised to say the least.

Goku was holding a bouquet of flowers while having a gentle smile on his face, "H-Hey, Chi-Chi" He said softly.

Chi-Chi was taken aback by this, she didn't expect Goku to ever give her flowers! She then gave a warm smile, "Hey, Goku"

Goku then hands her the flowers, "These are for you" He said, "I'm sorry for earlier. I was just trying to train Gohan and I didn't notice something was wrong until Vegeta showed up, "he explained.

Chi-Chi then gave a small smile, "It's alright, Goku. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled at you" She replied.

"It's okay... I'll admit, I was a jerk..." Goku said in a sad tone.

"That's not true, Goku," Chi-Chi said before giving him a hug and a kiss on the lips. After a few seconds, their lips stopped kissing each other, "I'll be a better wife for you and a better mother for our son"

Goku gently smiled, feeling better, "And I'll be a much better person for all of us... And a better husband for you and a better father for our son. I love you, Chi-Chi"

"I love you too, Goku," Chi-Chi replied, smiling back at him.

Chi-Chi then gave a smile before walking back to her room and placing the flowers in a vase. She then sighs and looks out the window, "I guess I should apologize to Gohan too" She thought before walking to Gohan's room.

Once she opened the door, she saw Gohan reading a book. She then sat next to him and gave a small smile, "Hey, Gohan. I'm sorry for what I said earlier" She apologized.

Gohan then looks at his mother and gives a smile, "It's alright, Mom. I know you were just worried," He replied.

Chi-Chi then gave a smile before hugging her son, "I love you, Gohan" She said.

Gohan then gave a smile and hugged her back, "I love you too, Mom" He replied.

And with that, everything was back to normal. Chi-Chi apologized to Goku and Gohan and everything was fine. Goku also apologized for not putting family first like he should have. Gohan continued his studies and Goku continued his training, however, they both knew that family came first. And for that, they were grateful.

From that day on, Chi-Chi and Goku made sure to communicate better and understand each other's needs. They continued to train and fight together, but also made sure to spend quality time with each other and their family. And their love only grew stronger with each passing day... Until Goku's fateful death.

*End of Flashback*


Future Chi-Chi looked at the family poster, remembering that day.

She smiled and wiped away a tear, grateful for the love and understanding she shared with her husband and son. She knew that no matter what challenges they faced in the future, they would always overcome them together, as a family. She hugged the poster tightly, feeling a sense of peace and happiness wash over her.

One day, just one day… She'll see her son again, if and when he's ready to make amends with her.