Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dude Looks Like A Lady ❯ eighty Three ( Chapter 83 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

 Innocence is Futile

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Dude Looks Like A Lady
By Raven Pan and Alison Sky

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Chapter Eighty-Three
MAY 2, 800 - FRIDAY

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Goten sat at his desk, a pad an pen in front of him, and a cup of coffee in his hands as he tried to think of something to say tomorrow at Trunks' memorial.

No. Trunks and Trina's memorial. Bulma, as a way to close both wills, had fabricated a story that Trina had been missing for months now and was presumed dead.

He was now officially a widower... and alone.

Truten, carrying a stuffed dino that was, technically, her brother's - toddled into Goten's room, rubbing at her eyes

Goten turned his head. "Hey cutie," he said softly, putting the coffee down. "Can't sleep, huh?"

She shook her head, "Nu uh, not," she yawned, "sleepy."

Goten leaned back a bit, waving for her to come into his arms. "Want to help Papa write?"

"Okay," Truten smiled, coming over to climb into his lap, still dragging the toy dino.

Goten wrapped his arms around her, hugging her a bit, sighing. He had still yet to tell his oldest that her 'Uncle' was dead... he couldn't find the heart to tell her... but he would need to soon... after all, she would know tomorrow for sure.

Truten picked up the pen and started scribbling on a clear point in the pad. "Okay, I'm helping!"

Goten chuckled, letting her write. He hadn't liked what he had gotten down so far anyways. "Truten... what do you love about your Uncle the most?"

"He laughs, an he's gots purple hair," She grinned. "AND he tells good stories, and gives good hugs, and sleeps in my bed with me, not tha floor."

"Your Uncle is shorter than me and can fit in it," Goten chuckled, kissing the top of her head.

"Not much, I hope he stops cuttin his hair," she told him. "I don't like short."

"Neither do I... he looks like an old person..." Goten chuckled.

"Nothin to play motorcycle with. AN he throws you up REALLY high!"

Goten just sat back and smiled, running a hand through her hair. He just couldn't break her heart and tell her....

She grinned, "An... an he sings songs that are silly, an he plays on the floor with us and doesn't yell if we get his clothes all messy," she nodded.

"Yeah...."

"Papa?" she looked back at him with a bright smile. "Is he gonna stop bein' sick soon?"

Goten sighed. "No sweetie.... I...." he turned his daughter around to face him. "Cutie... you're not going to like what I have to tell you."

"What?" she asked, putting a hand on her now healed cheek and looking at him just a little worriedly.

"Sweetie... you know how everyone's been pretty sad the past couple of days... and how Grandma Bulma has been crying a lot?"

Truten nodded, "Uh huh...."

"Well.... it's... it's because of your uncle...."

"Is he really super sick?" she asked. "I tolja, we gotta bring him soup!"

"Well... we can't anymore... honey..." Goten took a deep breath, holding back his tears.

"He doesn't like soup?"

"He can't eat it anymore..." Goten ran a hand along her cheek. "Sweetie... your uncle went to heaven a few days ago...."

"Heaven? When's he comin back?" she asked, blinking wide blue eyes at him.

"He's not coming back, sweetie... he's an angel now."

"With wings and everything?"

"Yup... but because he's an angel now, we can't see him for a looooooong time..." Goten said softly.

"But you said I was gonna see him soon," She pouted. "I know... and you were... but no one knew this was going to happen... and we couldn't stop it...."

"When can I see Uncle?"

"I don't know, cutie... not until it's time for us to go to heaven..."

"But you can fly, so we can go visit!" she grinned, as though she'd solved the problem that easily.

"We can't fly to heaven, honey... "

"Why not?"

"Because you can only go there... after you die..." he said softly

"Like the bunny we seen yesterday?" she asked.

"Yeah... like the bunny..." his voice caught, remembering another bunny... another catalyst to the strange relationship that was now destroyed.

Truten pouted. Her lower lip quivered. Then she grinned. "That's okay, we can find the fairy godmother that comes outta the special balls and wish him back!"

"It takes a long time to find the special balls, honey... we're going to try, but it will take a very long time...."

"But then he'll be back," She nodded emphatically.

"Yeah... but that's only if we find the balls, honey... and I'm not sure if we can anymore..."

"Whycome?"

"Because the special ball finding machine disappeared."

"Grandma Bulma can make a new one."

"I don't know if she can."

Her lower lip trembled. "I want Uncle to come back," she said quietly, her eyes welling up with tears.

"So do I, cutie... but he's not going to... I'm sorry..." he hugged her close.

Truten burst into tears, clinging to her father. "But... But Papa... Uncle... I want Uncle Mama to come back," she sniffled.

"I want him to come back too... but I can't bring him back, cutie... I would if I could, but I can't...."

"But he... he Promised!"

"He didn't know what was going to happen, cutie... you know your Uncle woudn't break a promise as long as he could help it."

"He.. he said never leave.. leave us!"

"He's still with us, honey... he always will be... in our hearts," Goten said, snuggling her to him.

Truten cried, "But I wanna hug him!"

"I know... I do to..."

Truten sniffled as she clung to her papa, still crying, sobbing her toddler heart out.

Goten just rocked her back and forth. "I'm sorry cutie..."

Truten cried and cried... until finally she cried herself to sleep, the toy forgotten as it fell to the floor and she clung to her papa.

Goten just held her with one hand, sighing, then looked down at the paper. He took a deep breath, got a clean sheet, and while holding their daughter, Goten started to write a memorial to his wife, his lover... and his best friend.

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MAY 3, 800 SATURDAY

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Goten stood up on at the podium, looking out at the mass of people in the room. Many were just gawkers, coming to witness the memorial of Trunks Briefs. Many didn't give a damn about the young man, nor the people up front.

They just wanted to be a part of something historical. Goten sighed. And because of this... he couldn't say words that he wanted to. He had to edit down a lot of his speech as to keep many things hidden. But, perhaps... when they had a more private ceremony of just family and friends at the lookout... he could bare his heart.

"I guess... it's only right for me to be the one giving the eulogy tonight, seeing as how out of everyone, I was probably the one person on this planet Trunks was closest to," Goten said softly, sighing.

Truten was hugging the still damp bear that her grandpa Vegeta has brought back from the crash. It was hers... she gave it to her uncle, and now she had it back again. This was real... and she was scared. She looked at all the people she didn't know, and scowled, hugging tighter to the bear as she huddled in Gohan's lap. Teena was cuddled up to Bulma.... and Gotenks, as often seen now, was in Vegeta's lap.

"Trunks has been my best friend since, well, since the moment I was born more than likely. My first memories were of him, and it seems that there was never a day that went by that we weren't with each other."

Videl sniffled, leaning up against Gohan. Bulma was in tears, sobbing into a handkercheif while Vegeta had a hand on her back, his face like stone as he held Gotenks in his other arm, the tiny toddler unknowing of what was going on, and watching with wide eyes as was his twin.

"It's not often that you find everything you need in a single person... but Trunks was that to me. He was a best friend... a brother... a partner to me in almost everything I ever did. And we did everything together. Ate, slept, got in trouble, and we usually got punished together too," Goten chuckled sadly.

Chichi smiled slightly, sniffling into her handkerchief as she recalled one such time.

"In fact, our worst punishments were when we were seperated. Life just didn't seem as much fun if we were apart."

Krillen smiled sadly, an arm around Marron as she softly cried - Eighteen sitting stonily as ever... with a tear glistening in her eye.

"And it was because of Trunks that the best things in my life ever happened." Goten looked down at his children and smiled. "He always put me first, which sometimes I really got annoyed about, but that was just the way he was."

Truten cuddled further into Gohan, sniffling.

Gohan hugged the toddler closer, kissing the top of her head.

"I just wish that I could have been just as good of a friend to him," Goten said softly. "I still regret that my last words to Trunks were ones of anger... ones that made him think I didn't care about him...."

Truten sat up, looking at her Papa in surprise.

"Part of me wants to think that maybe if I had done something different... had said something different... he wouldn't have died..." Goten gripped the side of the podium, keeping himself from crying. Once he was set, he raised his head back up to look at the people.

A lot of the gawpers, even, had tears in their eyes now, at the emotion this young man was showing.

"I've never had to spend time away from Trunks... and when I finally did, I never realized just how much I had come to depend on his friendship. And now... there's nothing that can be done to bring him back... but we will all move on eventually... even me. He would want it that way."

Truten screwed up her face as fresh tears came. "NO!" she shouted, shaking her head, "NO NO! I WANT UNCLE BACK!" She struggled out of Gohan's lap and started to run from the room, bear in hand.

Goten jumped away from the podium, running to his daughter faster than anyone could follow, grabbing her and scooping her up into his arms. "Shhh, cutie..." he hushed her.

"NO!!!" she cried. "Make him come back, Papa!!!" she sobbed. "Make him come back!!!"

"I can't, honey... I can't," Goten said softly, holding her close, knowing everyone was watching them.

"YES YOU CAN!" she cried even more loudly.

Vegeta's eyes widened, as the tears in them fell. He stood, still holding Gotenks, and swiftly strode to the podium. "I was his father. He was loved by his family and his close friends. If when I say the word "Porunga" you don't know what I'm talking about - I suggest you leave now," he growled.

The crowds that came to watch started talking, a bit frightened of the glowering short man.

"NOW!" he shouted.

A few started making a swift exit, as Truten continued to scream and cry.

The Z-senshi all remained seated, however. All those who were close, and had fought together... who knew that Porunga was once a magical dragon on Namek.

Goten looked up at Vegeta, holding his daughter close. "What are you planning, Vegeta?" he asked, walking up the aisle.

"Nothing yet, but if they don't get out of here fast, they're going to witness your child ascending...." he watched Truten as she continued to scream her head off... feeling her ki build as she sobbed.

The room was now swiftly emptying, thanks to some measures that Yamucha, Eighteen, and Goku were now taking.

Goten sat down on the ground, holding Truten close. "Sweetie, please, calm down... please...."

"Want Uncle... Want Uncle Momma! Want him back NOW!!!" She cried.

"I know cutie... I do too... I want him back too, but crying isn't going to bring him back..." Goten said, rocking her.

"Make him come back, MAKE HIM COME BACK!" she screamed, pounding on his chest as she cried - Goku and the others finally getting the last of the gawpers out of the hall, closing the doors and turning in surprise as they watched her ki begin to flicker.

Goten just lowered his head, tears in his eyes. "Truten, please... please stop it..." he said, pained.

Teena started crying as well, huddled up to Bulma, her sister's crying scaring her, and making her upset.

"BRING UNCLE MOMMA BACK!!" Truten screamed, her hair straightening and turning gold as she sobbed, beating on her father's chest.

Gotenks just held onto Vegeta, nuzzling his face into his grandfather's neck. "Mama..." he whimpered.

Vegeta rubbed his grandson's back as he held him, his own tears on his cheeks as he saw his grandaughter become the youngest super saiyajin ever.... and it was because his son was gone.

Truten just sobbed, beating her little fists on Goten's chest alternately between grabbing his shirt and hugging him close. "Want him back!"

"I know.... I know..." Goten let his daughter beat on him, knowing that he would have bruises to show in the morning.

"Make him come back," She finally clung to him as she sobbed. "Make Uncle Momma come back...."

Goten just held her, rocking slowly, his own tears running freely down his cheeks into her hair.

Truten's sobbing turned to sniffling as her transformation ebbed, her hair going back to it's normal black and lavender as she fell asleep, still crying a bit as she dreamed.

Teena was still crying softly, not sure what was going on.

Goku came over and put a hand on Goten's shoulder.

Goten looked up at his father, his own face looking like a child who didn't know what to do anymore.

Goku knelt behind him, hugging him and Truten from behind. "It'll be okay," He said, his own voice thick with unshed tears.

Vegeta came and knelt before him. "I have an idea."

"Tell me," Goten said, his eyes serious.

"When I mentioned Porunga, it was just to ensure that only our group remained... however - Dende made new dragonballs, and supposedly all Nameks are capable of doing so."

Goku watched Vegeta confused, before realisation dawned, "So if we go to Namek..."

"We can get them to make new Dragonballs, and wish Trunks back," Vegeta finished with a firm nod.

"And it should work, because he wouldn't have been wished back on THOSE dragonballs before!" Goku put in with a bright smile. "Vegeta, you're Brilliant!"

Goten nodded. "Let's do it," he stated, rubbing his daughter's back.

"Do it," Gotenks stated from Vegeta's arms.

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MAY 5, 800 - MONDAY

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"Okay, Anything you'll need is on the ship, food, supplies," Bulma screwed up her mouth as she mentally ticked off her list. "It'll take you a week to get there, a week back... I don't know how long it'll take them to make a new dragon if they haven't already, though...."

"I'm sure they will have food for us on Namek," Goten stated, holding his kids.

"Right, and there's food enough for all of you for the trip to and back," Bulma nodded. "Also more than enough fuel for two round trips, so you shouldn't get lost, I put a new guidance system in, and Vegeta'll be able to pilot just fine I'm sure."

The saiyajin simply nodded.

Goku spoke up, "Do you want us to contact you when we get there?"

"Please," Bulma nodded.

Truten was hanging tight to her father, "I come too, Papa."

"I'm sorry cutie... you need to babysit Uncle Gohan for me, ok?" Goten hugged his daughter tightly.

"No leave!" she hung on.

Gohan walked over and hugged Truten from behind. "Anyways, you gotta be here when they wish your Uncle back, because you're going to be the first person he's going to look for," Gohan explained to the child.

"They're not gonna wish him back with Papa?" Truten seemed put out.

"Papa has to make the wish, Kiddo..." Gohan stated.

"I wanna go."

"Maybe next time," Goten stated, kissing her forehead. "Be good, ok?"

She hung on tighter. "No leave me, Papa!!!" she looked frightened. "No leave me!"

Goten sighed, then looked at his father and Vegeta with a what do I do? look on his face.

Goku knelt down, "Truten... we're gonna be locked in a tiny room and won't be able to go outside, for a LOT of days. We'll come right back."

"Uncle never comed back.." she kept holding on tight.

"He will, once we wish him back, and then you get to spend a whole week with just Uncle while we come home, ok?"

"Promise?"

"As long as it's possible, I will do it for you," Goten kissed her forehead.

She kissed him back and hugged tight a moment longer, then let go. "Come back, Papa," she told him seriously... then handed him her bear... the same she'd given to Trunks when he was away. "Bearly will take care of Papa," she told the bear before carefully handing it over.

Goten held it close. "Be good for your Uncle, and keep your brother and sister out of trouble." He kissed the top of her head, then followed Vegeta and Goku.

"Love you!" Truten called, waving to her papa and grandfathers.

Goku waved back, "we'll be home soon's we can!" he called with a smile.

Vegeta just nodded sharply and waited for Goten to board, then went in himself, closing the ramp.

Truten looked up at Gohan, "Papa come back," she said firmly. "Uncle too."

Gohan nuzzled his neice. "Of course they will, because they love you."

Truten hugged him back. "Yeah." She nodded firmly.

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Vegeta set the controls and the ship was soon taking to the air. "One week until we get there," he announced unecessarily, settling back in the piloting seat as he watched the space-scape appear.

"There's no hyperdrive on this thing?" Goten asked, leaning over the controls.

"That's WITH the slipstream drive," Vegeta explained. "New Namek's further than the original planet was."

"Oh. Well, I've never been to either...."

Goku put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll get him back."

"I hope so... I hope he wants to come back, after what I did," Goten sat in his chair, chewing on his thumbnail.

Vegeta pulled out a small piece of paper, looking like it'd been torn from a day planner. He nodded sharply, then put it back in his pocket. "He will."

Goten nodded. "So, we have a week. What are we going to do?"

"There's a gravity room," Vegeta said, as though that explained everything.

Goten stood up. "Good. Hope you two find something to do." Goten walked towards the gravity room and went inside.

Vegeta waited until the door closed, then looked at Goku. "Well, Kakkarot?"

"Well what?" Goku was sitting in his chair, trying to figure out what the buttons were for.

"What do you think is going to happen when my son comes back?" he asked.

"I guess that's up to Trunks, Vegeta. I mean, Goten seems like he wants to make amends," Goku stated.

Vegeta pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Goku. "Read this, Kakkarot." It was a page out of a day planner.

Goku raised an eyebrow, then took the papaer and read it. After a moment, he looked up. "He... he was willing to be a girl again?"

Vegeta nodded, taking the note back and putting it in his pocket. "If the dragon only can answer one wish, we should wish him back as a female. It seems to be what he would have wanted."

"And we can always change that back later with the Earth balls if needed," Goku nodded.

"Right," Vegeta nodded.

"Should we tell Goten beforehand?" Goku looked at the gravityroom, where the sound of explosions could be heard.

"He's your son - what do you think?"

"I don't know... it will cheer him up, but it will also stress him more, and drive us nuts to get there faster."

"Then we don't tell him until we get there," Vegeta nodded.

"Agreed."

Vegeta nodded, and leaned back, watching the starscape once more.

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MAY 7, 800 - WEDNESDAY

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Two days into the voyage, Vegeta banged on the Gravity room door. "GET OUT!" he shouted to the young man still inside.

"I'm not done yet," Goten stated, working on a morning routine of pushups and crunches.

"You've monopolised the chamber for two days now, get out!"

"Let me finish this set," Goten stated.

Vegeta frowned, and crossed his arms, glaring at the door while he waited.

After about ten more minutes, the door opened and Goten came out, wiping his forehead with a towel. "Whatcha want?"

"For you to take a damn shower and get out of the chamber so someone ELSE can have a turn," he grumped, pushing past Goten and slamming the door shut.

Goten chuckled, walking into the main hold. "Man, he's grouchy today..."

"Well, he believes the Gravity room is his personal property," Goku chuckled, waving for Goten to take a seat. "And you've monopolised it."

"I guess he never had to share as a child," Goten chuckled, sitting down.

"Or maybe he had to share too much," Goku shrugged.

Goten shrugged. "So, what's for breakfast?"
"Food," Goku pointed to the fridge. "It's in meal capsules, so we don't eat each other's food. Chichi was kind of adamant on that."

"Yeah, well, with you around, I don't blame her." Goten stood up, squeezing his father's shoulder a moment as he walked into the kitchen

Goku chuckled, then rested his chin in his hand. He wondered about that note Vegeta had of Trunks's.... and how his son would react in five days time.

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May 12, 800 - MONDAY

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The ship landed upon New Namek one week after it'd left the planet Earth. Vegeta stayed at the controls, shutting down the systems as the ramp opened downard.

Goten ran down the ramp, looking around. "So this is what Namek looks like," he said in wonder.

Goku followed, realising Vegeta's decision to stay on ship for now, was probably for the best. "Yep. Feels like there's a few coming to greet us, we should probably stay put."

"Do they all look like Dende, Dad? I mean, I've only ever seen Piccolo and Dende... do they all look alike?" Goten asked, a bit of excitment in his voice. His goal was almost in sight.

"Mostly," Goku chuckled, "To us they might, to each other they're all different. It's a species thing. They dress mostly differently from each other, so it's not too hard to figure out who you're talking to once you've met."

"And you really think they will make Dragonballs for us?"

"I hope so," Goku nodded, seeing three figures in the distance begin to close in.

Goten bounced a bit in his step. He had grown a bit leaner and muscular since getting on the ship, having taken the grav room when Vegeta wasn't in it.

Soon, three Namekian warriors landed before them. They eyed them a moment, before the eldest smiled. "Goku!" he came forward, hugging the taller Son. "I take it this is your son?" he asked, holding his hand out for Goten to shake.

"Yes, This is Goten. He has a request for your people."

Goten shook the hand and bowed his head respectfully. "You mean I should just blurt it out?" he looked at his dad curiously.

"Well, that seems to be the usual," The namek smiled. "I'm Carrom, these are my brothers Tolema and Erizu," he motioned to each in turn. Carrom was tall and thin, looking a bit like Piccolo, wearing a deep burgandy coloured gi. Tolema wore blue with a white ruff, and Erizu wore grey with a simple hooded cape, the hood pushed down off his head for the time being.

"Well then. I had a friend... a really close friend who died unnaturally... but he's already been wished back by our dragonballs once before," Goten explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was hoping you would have a set of dragonballs that could wish a person back to life, even if they've been wished back before...?"

"My condolences to your loss," it was Erizu who spoke. "We have not created another set of Dragonballs since Guru's death."

"Oh..." Goten's face fell.

"However, as you are Goku's son - and we have been pondering it, we may find someone who is capable of creating a set such as is needed - though it will take some time," Tolema offered.

Goten's face lit up. "Really?"

"It will take roughly two months," Carrom told him.

Goku looked at Goten, glanced at the ship, then looked to the Namekians again. "Please."

"Two months?" Goten asked softly.

"Most likely," Carrom nodded. "Unless we find where Guru hid the model of Porunga, it will take two months to create a new dragon."

"Well... I guess we will just have to wait... Truten is going to be mad..." Goten sighed.

"Truten?" asked Tolema

"My daughter. A three year old basketcase," Goten chuckled.

"Ah," He nodded. "If you wish to return home and then come back when the time has passed, we understand," he smiled.

Goten looked to his father for advice.

"It's up to you, Son," Goku told him.

"If I come back emptyhanded, my daughter will never let me live it down. We should just stay," Goten nodded.

Goku looked to the others, "Then we're staying, should we remain here?" he asked.

"No, you will be welcome to stay with us, if you wish you can leave your ship here," Carrom told them.

"What about..." Goten nodded his head at the ship.

"We have one other with us, the father of the young man Goten wants to wish back."

"Oh, well of course he is welcome to come as well. Why didn't he..." The nameks immediately moved to a defensive stance as Vegeta appeared in the doorway, scowling in his usual manner.

Goten held his hands up. "Wait, please... he isn't the man you remember... please, just give him a chance," Goten said quickly.

"We have no debt to him, and we will not do anything FOR him either," Tolem said through grit teeth.

"That's why I'm asking," Goten said softly. "His son is my best friend... and I love him. I need him back more than I need my own life, and it's only fair that I'm the one who asks."

The three Namekians looked at Goten for a moment, then to each other. Carrom spoke, "We will need to speak with the elders. We'll return tomorrow." Without another word, they rose into the air.

Goten sighed and looked back at vegeta. "Just what did you do to them, Vegeta, to make them hate you so much?"

"I killed half their population," Vegeta said quietly, turning and going back into the ship.

"Well... that would be a good reason, I think..." Goten rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Do you think they'll help us, Dad?"

Goku put his hand on his son's shoulder. "I do. They're not generally ones to hold a son to the sins of the father."

"I hope not..." Goten looked over at where they were disappearing. "Otherwise I think I need to pull the 'son of the savior' card on them...."

"Let's hope it doesn't come down to that," Goku agreed.

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MAY 13, 800 - TUESDAY

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Carrom returned the following day, Tolem at his side, to where the spaceship rested.

Goku looked up from his lunch, "Goten... they're back, why don't you talk to them?"

Goten nodded, then walked down the ramp alone and towards the Namekians. He stopped and bowed his head to them. "Good morning."

They both bowed their heads in return. "Good morning. The decision has been made by the consul."

Goten looked up, taking a deep breath. "And?" he asked, a bit of hope in his voice.

"We will re-create the Dragon. However, it would be best if... Vegeta," the name was spoken with dislike, "Did not come to the village."

A smile broke out on Goten's face. "We understand. Oh, thank you so much," he said, taking a sigh of relief.

Tolem nodded, as did Carrom. "Someone will come for you when the dragonballs have been reformed, and the dragon can be called."

"Thank you. If there is anything I can do to repay your kindness, please ask," Goten stated.

"We have a debt to your father," Carrom told him. "Farewell," he nodded again and rose into the air, Tolem following.

Goten waited until they were gone, then let out a whoop of joy and did a backflip before literally flying back into the ship. "They're going to do it! They're going to make a new set so we can wish Trunks back!"

"Good," Vegeta nodded, drinking the water he had gotten on his break from the GR.

Goku grinned, "That's great!"

"There is one thing though..." Goten rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hm?" Goku tilted his head.

"Well.... Vegetaisnotallowedtogonearthevillage," he spoke quickly, lowering his gaze a bit.
,br> "Hmpfh, nice thanks for defeating meta-cooler," Vegeta grumped.

"You did not, you helped, Vegeta!" Goku laughed.

"Hn."

Goten smirked, then looked at the open gravity room door. If he didn't find a way in while Vegeta was distracted, he would have to wait for another day, he was sure of it.

"You did, I was there too, remember? It was a co-defeat."

"Whatever, Kakkarot." Vegeta turned, then growled, "Don't even think about it brat."

"Think about what?" Goten asked innocently, walking backwards towards the gravity room.

"BRAT!" Vegeta growled, slamming down the water and stalking forward.

Goten laughed and took off, running for the gravity room and slamming the door shut behind him.

Vegeta went to the door and pounded on it, "Get out of my gravity room!"

"Go spar with my dad!" Goten said from the other side, smirking. "You're better at that than I am."

Vegeta pulled out a piece of notepaper from his pocket and held it up to the window. "I'll trade you this for unlimited access to the GR."

Goten walked to the window to read what it said.

Vegeta pulled it back before he could do so, "No, you have to come out if you want to see what it says."

"I'm not stupid Vegeta," Goten crossed his arms.

"Even for this page from my son's day planner?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow.

"Vegeta! I thought you said you wouldn't give that to him until the dragonballs were ready!"

"I want my training room, Kakkarot."

"But you were going to give it to me when the dragonballs are ready, so why should I lose my GR time?" Goten asked. "I can wait."

Vegeta held up the paper and read from it. "Notes to self. One, Get Dragonballs...."

"Ok..."

"Two... bring them to Goten...." Vegeta folded the note up and put it back in his pocket, walking away from the room.

Goten stood at the doorway, bitting his lip. "Good try, Vegeta, but I don't think so!" Goten shouted, then went to the computer and worked to choose a gravity setting.

"Three," he said from memory, having read it over many times since he'd torn it from the booklet. "Hope to Kami he'll forgive me, and use the dragonballs any way he wants so we can be happy again."

Goten turned, and his hand slipped on the dial, the gravity setting going way too high and Goten found himself smashed to the floor as the gravity took hold. The humming from inside was intense.

"Baka," Vegeta rolled his eyes, keying an emergency code to shut down the GR and open the door. "Out."

But Goten was unconcious, having hit his head hard against the floor.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and picked Goten up, putting him over his shoulder and carrying him back to a bedroom. As apology for nearly killing him, by accident of course, he tossed the piece of paper onto Goten's chest and went back to his precious gravity room, shutting the door, turning it on, and having it blissfully to himself.

.

---

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Goten woke up a few hours later, holding his head in pain. His ears still hurt from the compression, and he moaned.

"Here," Goku'd been sitting beside him, and offered him some pills and water.

Goten took the pills and water, downing them both. He then lay back down, throwing his arm over his eyes. "Well, that wasn't my smartest move ever."

"I'd say that was probably one of your less shining moments, son."

"Thanks for your support, Dad," Goten sighed, but smirked.

"I think you better lay out of the GR for a little while, though - at least until your body's recovered from the squashing it took."

"Why does he have to be so greedy... I just wanted to train for a bit," Goten whined.

"You know Vegeta, he's... well, Gravity Room is his territory," Goku shrugged.

"He needs to learn to share," Goten stated.

"You try telling him that," Goku laughed.

Goten chuckled, then looked down at his chest at the note. "Was what Vegeta said true, Dad? About what Trunks wrote?"

"Look for yourself," Goku motioned to the note.

Goten sat up, hesitently picking up the page, then turned on the overhead light to read.

Indeed it was, with a fourth TODO listed. Four - if he throws me out on my ear again, wish myself into a girl, and try to win him back. Beneath that was a tick off and some other random notes that were more work related.

Goten read the note a few times, then looked at his father in confusion. "I don't understand..."

"What don't you understand, son?"

"Why didn't he tell me?" Goten asked. "Tell me that he was willing to be a girl again?"

"I think this might have been his way. After you forbade him to be a part of you and the kids lives... maybe he figured it was time to work past his fears?"

"But it makes me wonder if he was doing it for me, or just to be with the kids..." Goten wrapped his arms around his knees thoughtfully.

"The note seemed to be centered around you... maybe that's something you need to figure out for yourself."

Goten just nodded.

Goku stood, "But... from some of the things Gohan and Vegeta've told me.... " He trailed off and shook his head. "I'm going outside, raise your ki if you need me."

Goten looked at his father, eyebrow raised. "Some of what they told you?"

"Things about Trunks," Goku answered from the doorway, leaning in it too look back at his son.

"What kind of things?"

"Just things... maybe you should ask Vegeta sometime."

"He's locked in the gravity room," Goten said, laying back. "I won't get to talk to him until the balls are made."

Goku nodded, "Well... then perhaps you should wait and ask Trunks himself."

"Dad.... do you think I should wish him back normally... or as a girl?"

"I can't make that decision, Goten. It's up to you. The wish has always been up to you."

"I guess..." he stared up at the ceiling.

Goku turned and headed outside.

And Goten just stared at the ceiling, months of pain running through his mind, trying to see what he hadn't been able to before.

Finally, about an hour later, Goten closed his eyes, feeling tears coming to them once again. Trunks had tried... he had tried to tell him. All along, the whole time, Trunks had been trying to show him....

Quietly, Goten started to sob to himself, realizing that this was all his fault.

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TO BE CONTINUED - PLEASE REVIEW