Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Forgiven ❯ Birthday ( Chapter 3 )

It was a magnificent party. Goten smiled and smiled, thanking everyone and glancing occasionally at the pile of presents that was slowly forming. Bulma had invited every child in his school, or so it seemed, because he couldn't put names to most of the faces, and many of them were obviously younger than his class.

At last she came up and told him that everyone who'd said they would be attending had arrived. That meant cake, followed by the party games and entertainments she'd lined up. His favorite band performed a private concert; the singer inviting him up to take the mike. He chose to sing his favorite of theirs, a song not heard on the radio, and with no video he knew of. It was slow, sweet, almost sad, extremely intense. It was a song that suited his mood perfectly.

When the concert had ended, it was time to open the gifts. The pile had become a mountain. Goten waded into it almost reluctantly, his pleasant smile pinned to his face. He managed to come up with a pleasant remark to each new gift, except one. He pulled the paper from the last package, took one look at it, and flushed a brilliant red. The gift was hastily tucked behind his back.

"This one… I guess it's a gag gift from someone," he announced when he could speak again. "I'll just, um… Bulma, can you do something with this?"

She came up behind him, and he heard her startled gasp when she realized what he was hiding. There was a rattle when she snatched up some loose wrapping paper, and then she bore the gift rapidly from the room, the look on her face making Goten fairly certain he wouldn't be seeing that particular gift ever again.

After another round of refreshments, the guests began departing. Goten sank thankfully onto the closest chair, burying his head in his hands. "I never wanted a big party," he announced to the familiar looking boots that planted themselves in front of him.

"The woman does tend to go overboard on occasion."

Goten looked up to find Vegeta eying him critically. "Well, yeah. I think she outdid herself. I didn't even know most of those people." Vegeta didn't move, still staring down at him. "Is… is there something wrong, Vegeta?"

The older man's mouth thinned briefly; Goten quailed. That, from his mother, meant horrible things. He dropped his eyes back to the prince's boots. "Have your father or brother spoken to you?"

"Huh?" He looked up again, puzzled. "About what?"

Vegeta tossed a small cube in his lap, scowling furiously. "Your present, boy."

Goten stared after him as he walked away, then picked up the data cube. He sighed a bit, and slid it into his pocket. Somehow, he doubted Vegeta's gift was the videogame he'd been wanting. He leaned back, pillowing his head on the chair cushion, his customary smile fading away.

His mother hadn't come. Or his father or… any of the people coming through the door. Bulma led them, a half-smile on her face. "I thought you'd prefer not to mix the children with these guys," she told him, flicking his nose lightly.

He greeted them all warmly, tearing into their presents as they gave them to him. These presents, from people who knew him, drew honest exclamations of delight, and one or two whoops of sheer joy.

This part of his birthday party was considerably more spontaneous. He kept one eye on Trunks, the other on his parents. Under their friends' eyes, he didn't think Trunks would try to kiss him again, and wasn't really sure if he was hoping the other boy would or not. And under their friends' eyes, his mother would be nicer to his father, and act more loving towards them both than she ever did at home.

And indeed, she was coming, to give him a hug and a kiss and to cry about her baby growing up. He choked back his tears and managed to keep his smile in place, his voice breaking only a little when he said, "Aw, Mother, I grew up a long time ago!"

The sally met with laughter, but Goten was arrested by the look in his father's eyes. Pain, more pain than he believed it possible for one person to hide behind the smile that hadn't left his face. His father stepped forward then, wrapping him in a one-armed hug. His voice, too low for the others to hear, was choked. "Happy birthday?"

He turned, wrapping his father in a big hug. "It's okay, Daddy. I'm used to it." He knew his father would understand what he meant, and he wasn't wrong. Goku returned the hug whole-heartedly, and Goten knew the brightness of his eyes would be put down to the excitement of his youngest becoming a teenager.

His birthday seemed unreal, really. He couldn't quite decide if it was really happening or not. His father didn't cry. His father didn't seem sad, or in pain. And his best friend certainly never kissed him. Except, his father was near tears, and he could still feel Trunks' lips on his own.

The sun went down at last. Goten slipped thankfully off to Trunks' room, knowing that he was to spend the night, again. He slid into his pajamas, then scooted himself over against the wall and buried his face in one of the pillows. Only one person hadn't showed up for his birthday celebration. Videl had presented him with a gift, and told him Gohan wasn't able to make it.

Isn't that a shock? He works and works and then goes to his college classes, and then works some more. I'm surprised he saw Videl long enough to say that he couldn't make it! Then again, maybe he didn't, and she was just being polite. I'll probably get a belated birthday card with a check in it in a couple weeks, with a barely legible scrawled note saying he was too bushed too remember, just like last year.

He flopped over on his back, staring up at his reflection. And why the hell does Trunks have a mirror on his ceiling, anyway? Oh, well, he is a narcissist. I suppose it shouldn't still be a surprise that I can lay on his bed and see myself. He's his favorite damned thing to look at. Hell, he probably thinks of himself when he masturbates!

That thought finally broke the funk he was in, and he watched his grin spread across his face, as his hands came up to stifle his giggles. Trunks came barreling through the door moments later, shedding his clothes as he headed for the bed. "That was way too long! Who the hell were all those kids?"

The giggles escaped as Trunks slid into the bed beside him. "I 'unno. Your dad said your mom went overboard."

"Whoa, Dad talked to you?"

"Well, a couple words, anyhow."

"Happy birthday?" Trunks guessed.

Goten frowned. "Well, no, actually. I think he was the only one who didn't tell me that! Gave me a present, though."

Trunks propped himself up on an elbow. "My dad? The ever silent and ever disgusted with the Sons? Gave you a present other than the one Mom bought?"

"Yeah."

"What was it?"

"I don't know."

"Whaddya mean, you don't know?" Trunks howled, sitting up and grabbing Goten. "How can you not know? Didn't you open it?"

"He got me a cube, okay? I don't wanna look at it until I get home. I just… Trunks?"

Trunks still held him, but his face had gone pale. "Cube?" he squeaked at last. "Data cube?"

"Yes… is that bad?"

"Um, have Goku or Gohan talked to you?"

"He asked me that too. Talked to me about what?"

"Uh… you'll just have to see the cube. He gave me one when I was thirteen, too. Ummm… lock your door, face your comp away from the door, lock the door, and wear a headset. Matter of fact, don't look at it unless you do all that and your mom's asleep."

"What? Why? What is it?" Goten sat up now, alarmed. "What's so horrible about it?"

"Your mother's reaction to anything Saiyan, love. Do not let her see that cube. But make sure you watch it. It's real important, okay? Promise me."

"I promise." Goten's eyes darted to where he'd left the cube, his curiosity aroused. That cube would be the first of his presents he dealt with when he got home. He yelped when Trunks shoved him back down on the bed.

"Hey, now, don't worry about it. Tomorrow's soon enough to see it. Sleep now." Trunks curled up next to him, using Goten for his pillow. "I had to hide from the girl gaggle. There were just too many of them!"

Goten laughed, and mussed Trunks' hair. "Sleep sounds good," he agreed.