Almost Friends: Chapter 1- Dinner Party

Goten dreaded this day for a while, but of course, the day came quickly. His mother was throwing a dinner party, she wanted all her children and close friends in one room again. She hadn't seen them in a while, and since her husband decided to train his prodigy again, she needed to keep her mind busy while he was gone for the umpteen time.

He cleared his throat as he rang the doorbell to his mother's place. He was doing this for his mother. That's what the hybrid kept telling himself as he could hear footsteps as the person approached the door.

"Goten! I'm so glad to see you!" His mother cheered as she hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"It's been too long!" He admitted, "I apologize I couldn't come sooner, rehab was a lot."

She smiled at him, "You don't need to apologize, my son, I'm just glad you are okay. Come in!" Goten nodded his head and walked into his childhood home. Despite dreading this day, he knows his mother is glad he came home.

Chi-Chi took Goten's injury the hardest. She thought she lost her youngest child that day. He was in a medically induced coma for six weeks, and when she received the call that Goten would pull through, she couldn't stop crying. She knew he still had a long recovery, but she was glad to seem alert instead of his lifeless body.

"Grandpa Ox!" Goten smiled, he couldn't remember the last time he saw his grandfather, "I'm glad you could make it."

"I couldn't miss one of your mother's dinner parties! I heard she invited Bulma and her family." He added.

Goten nodded his head. This was one of the main reasons he was dreading this day. He didn't necessarily want to see the Briefs' family. He knew they were going to ask him why he wasn't training anymore and he didn't want to tell the story again.

His therapist told him he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and that he may never recover from it. Goten would love to recover and he will know it will take time. He just doesn't know when it will be.

"How's your spine?" His grandfather asked him as Goten came back to his senses.

"It's doing a lot better, the rehab was hard. I never thought I was going to have to learn to walk again." He explained as he cleared his throat, "Occasionally, it acts up, but I'm doing a lot better, thank you for asking."

Grandpa Ox nodded his head, "You had your mom worried, the last time she was that stressed was when your brother was fighting Cell."

"I know I worried her, but I promised her I was going to be fine, and look, I'm almost brand new." His grandfather smiled at him as the doorbell rang.

"Goten, can you get the door?" His mother asked. He got up from the sitting room and opened the front door.

"Oh my goodness, Goten! It's been forever!" Bulma smiled as she hugged her second son. "You look great!"

He smiled at her, "Thanks Bulma, I feel great!" He added.

"I'm glad to hear! I heard about your accident, I'm just glad you can walk again. Don't be a stranger, come by Capsule Corp!" She added.

He nodded his head as he invited her in, Trunks and Bra followed after her. "Where's Vegeta?" Goten asked.

Bulma rolled her eyes, "I tried to convince him to come," She began as Goten closed the door, "He is finishing up whatever training and he will make his appearance."

"Is Pan here yet?" Bra asked as she folded her arms. The older hybrid knew she didn't want to come. She only came because her mother made her come and she also wanted to see Pan. "I have to tell her about the new gossip at school. It sucks she got suspended."

"She's not here yet, but I know they are on their way." He admitted, "In the meantime, you can spend time in the den." He suggested as he pointed to down the hall.

She nodded her head, and before the hybrids knew it, the bluenette was out of sight. "Hey, so did you find the ring?" Goten asked his best friend.

He smiled, "Yeah I did."

Goten covered his face. Tears could come out of his eyes, "I can't believe you are going to ask Marron to marry you."

He hugged his best friend. This was a big milestone for Trunks.

Goten never thought Trunks would get married. The twenty-eight-year-old was never a settle-down type. He used to date casually and he admitted to his best friend multiple times that"I don't see myself getting married."

It wasn't until Marron reappeared in their lives. After college, Marron moved back to Kami Island for almost a year to save money. About four years ago, she moved back to West City. One day, Trunks ran into her and the pair has been together since.

Goten always knew his best friend had feelings for the blonde. He realized it when they were in college when Marron dated a frat brother. He never saw the son of Vegeta jealous. Goten also knew Marron had been in love with Trunks since high school. Marron was never going to say anything to her purple-haired friend, but until one drunken night, she kissed him and admitted she liked him.

Trunks didn't know how to react because at that moment his pride couldn't admit he loved her. It wasn't Trunks' fondest moment, and he distanced himself from her until he admitted he had feelings for her. The younger hybrid was glad the two finally got together years ago.

Trunks blushed at Goten's comment, "I'll need your help with the proposal."

"Of course, I will help you!" Goten cheered as the doorbell rang again. He knew it had to be his brother.

Goten excused himself as he walked over to the door and opened it, "It's great to see you brother!" Gohan began, "Once again thank you for watching Pan!" He continued.

He smiled at his big brother, "Anytime you need me to babysit Pan, let me know." He stated as he offered his brother to come into their childhood home.

"Hi, Uncle Goten!" His niece said as she hugged him. He's glad to see her in a better mood.

"Panny, I'm glad to see you smiling." He smiled. He looked over and didn't see Videl or the baby. "Gohan, where's Videl?" He asked.

"Wyatt was being fussy, so she stayed home with him." Gohan explained, "She feels awful, but there was no way we could bring him here." Goten nodded his head. "I hope Mom will understand."

"She will." Goten began, "Pan, Bra is waiting for you in the den. She said she has some new gossip to tell you."

Before the brothers could blink, Pan disappeared to the den.

.

Chi-Chi loved to cook, she hosted as many dinner parties as she could. She hasn't hosted one in almost a year due to Goku leaving and Goten recovering. This dinner party was special to her because all her family and the Briefs' family were back in one place. Hosting the dinner party also could ease her mind that her husband up and left again.

Vegeta appeared before dinner was served which pleased Chi-Chi and his wife. "I hope everyone enjoys it!" Chi-Chi cheered as she placed the last dish down on the table.

"Everything looks great, Chi!" Bulma complimented her as she began to serve herself some of the delicious food. "So many choices, it is overwhelming."

Chi-Chi smiled at her, "Thank you Bulma." She said as she walked over to the kitchen to grab the pitcher of water.

"So, Gohan, how's the baby?" Bulma asked, "Do you have any updated photos?" Gohan nodded his head yes as he took out his phone to show Bulma an updated photo. "I still can't believe he is one month old." Gohan found some photos and handed his phone to her.

"Aww, he looks just like you." Bulma cooed, "I'll visit one day. I know Videl will appreciate it."

Everyone ate the delicious food that Chi-Chi made and gave updates about their lives. Goten was slightly pleased no one asked him how he was doing since his dad decided to train Uub again and he lost his fight and almost died himself.

He swore that someone was going to ask him about it, but the night was still young and if anyone asked him about his dojo, he knew the question about him being the ultimate fighter was coming into play.

He always meant to talk to Trunks about this, but somehow, his life was getting bigger and better, so it became harder to rip the bandage. He was a bit depressed about his near-death experience and how he missed his dad.

Trunks recently got promoted to CEO, he bought himself a new penthouse, and now he is planning his proposal. Goten couldn't compete with his friends and he thought it would be better if he didn't say anything. He didn't want Trunks to get the wrong idea.

"Goten, when are you planning your next big fight?" Vegeta asked.

And there it was the question that Goten had been dreading all night. He swallowed his food hard before he looked at his father's best friend. "I'm not going to fight anymore." He admitted.

Trunks looked at him concerned, "Wait, you aren't going to fight anymore?" He questioned him.

"Are you letting your near-death experience trigger your emotions? You are a Saiyan boy!" Vegeta scolded.

Goten knew this was how this conversation would go. Vegeta would bring up "Where's your Saiyan pride!" and Trunks was going to be surprised. "I don't want to talk about this." Goten grunted, "I haven't said anything because I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. Yes, I almost died and honestly, that traumatized me." Tears were forming in the twenty-seven-year-old eyes, "I know I have endured worse, I was almost paralyzed. The doctor told me if I was hit even a millimeter more to the right, things could have been much worse, but it didn't. And I'm thankful for that." The air was starting to get stale and Goten was beginning to get flashbacks and images of things he didn't want to remember. He needed something to calm him down. It's not like his mother keeps any alcohol in the house. He had to run, but where would he go? All he knew, he couldn't stay here any longer.

Goten got up, "I'm sorry Mom, but I need to get out of here."

Before anyone could add anything to the conversation, Goten flooded his childhood home with tears in his eyes leaving everyone speechless.

Trunks realized how much of a shit friend he has been and realized how much he was struggling. Pan realized that this was the anxiety her Uncle was talking about. She did not realize how much he was struggling. In reality, no one knew how much he was struggling.

"Let me talk to him, I think he will open up. I'm sorry Grandma." She apologized as she got up, but Trunks stopped her.

"No, Pan, let me." He said as he got up to follow his best friend. "I'm sorry Mrs. Son for leaving abruptly, lovely party, but my best friend needs me." He needed to listen and apologize to him.

An awkward silence filled the residency as Chi-Chi couldn't hold back her tears. She thought Goten was doing better, she knew she was going to have to reach out to him and get to the bottom of this.

"Poor Goten." Bulma sighed as she slapped Vegeta's arm, "I told you not to ask him that." She scolded him as he grunted at her.

"I think Trunks talking to him will make a difference," Pan added to the conversation as the older bluenette nodded her head. "Also, Grandma I love the food, great job!" She complimented to change the subject.

"Thank you, darling," Chi-Chi said as she sipped her water. All she could think about was her son.

Author's Note: My goal is to update every three weeks! Please leave your thoughts!