Fanfic by: ChibiSerenaP

Lyrics by: Melissa Etheridge

It was late. Very late. He couldn't sleep. Some undeniable force was drawing him away from his bed, and into the cold night. He glided through the cloudless, starry night. The chill didn't bother him. The sight of her, sitting on a park bench alone did. He stopped abruptly. What was she doing out, this late of night, barely cladded, and by herself? Wasn't she aware that there were people in the world that would take advantage of her?

Of course she did. She was Vegeta's daughter, a victim of evil wrath, just as he, before. He landed noisily, as not to startle her with his sudden appearance. She looked up and she smiled, her face illuminated by the moonlight, as tears glistened on her cheeks. When she spoke, her voice was a soft strain of alto.

"Goten, how did I know you would be the one to find me?"

He smiled tentatively and walked toward the bench that held the most beautiful girl. This wasn't the first time he had found her like this. The girl was pure of body, heart, and soul, but she wasn't perfect. She made mistakes, but usually, it was her family that drove her out of her own home.

"What's the matter, B-chan? Is Trunks being an ass?" he asked gently.

Trunks never knew it, but his little sister was very sensitive and loved him very much. She practically worshiped him. Sometimes, when they were bickering, he would say something hurtful, and not realized it would affect her as much.

"No, it isn't Trunks. Or my parents."

That was another thing. Bra was a very emotional person, and just couldn't understand why her parents always fought and never showed any affection toward each other, even when everyone knew they were madly in love with each other.

Bra wiped the tears from her eyes. It was time to grow up, and face the light. If only that didn't mean leaving everything behind. She could do it. She was strong, even if she was prone to little spots of depression.

"Well, what is it?"

His voice brought her back. She took a deep breath.

"I'm leaving. I'm going to go to New York, for a modeling contract."

Goten felt the wind blow out of him. He hoped he didn't reveal anything in his expression.

"But, Bra, that's good. I thought you wanted to do that."

"I do, but I don't want to leave......"

She caught herself. She was about to say that she didn't want to leave him. It was the Kami honest truth. They both knew it, yet never face it. Too much hung in the balance. Her career, her friendship with Pan, her relationship with her father and brother, and his friendship with Trunks. Pan would feel left out, and hurt, her father would go crazy if he knew she was in love with "Kakkarot’s brat", and Trunks......Trunks would kill Goten. She saw the love he restrained for Pan. He was waiting for her to grow up. He would just kill Goten if he ignored Trunks' sacrifice.

Goten had been silent, letting her mull in her thoughts. She turned her attention back to him.

"Goten, I don't understa-"

He cut her off by pressing his fingertips to her lips. He knew what she was about to say.

"Shhhh. Don't say that. You know why."

Tears streamed down her face as she fought for control. She was Vegeta's daughter, a half Saiyajin, she was suppose to be strong. She took deep breaths, trying to calm down.

He wanted to reach out and hold her, but it would only make things worse. As it already was, they were both fighting for all they were worth.

"Why not?" she asked, forsaking all pride, the tears coming down faster.

He sighed, his heart breaking and beating with joy at the same time. He soared then crashed in the same instant. He shook his head. They had to get away from this subject fast, before they did something that would cause nothing but grief. He stood and held out his hand.

"Walk with me." he said softly.

She has known that he wouldn't answer her, and she had been prepared for that, so she just sighed and took his hand, all the while planning battle strategies.

They walked silently for a few minutes, all the while savoring the time they had together. Then he broke the silent.

"So, what were you doing before you came here? You look dressed to kill."

She sighed.

"Just some party. It wasn't very exciting. People were jumping off the roof into the water, and doing all sorts of things."

Bra was sort of a wild child. That’s what he loved about her. She was untamed, wild. Except moments like this. Jumping off roofs and the like were tame compare to the stuff she would do, like driving four wheelers through the party house, while doing donuts all the while, and dancing in the flames of a bonfire, looking like a fire-goddess. That was another thing about her. She was immune to fire, and drunk people found a goddess dancing in flames, as her clothes burned off her body quite appealing. He shook his head again. It was a wonder she was still a virgin, after all the compromising situations she had put herself through.

"Goten, I want to be with you."

He stopped walking, and stared down at her.

"Don't interrupt me, let me have my say. I want to be with you, and you want to be with me. I can deal with my family, and Trunks is waiting for Pan. It isn't fair for us to deny us each other. Trunks can deal with it. Please, you have to give us a chance."

He exhaled slowly. He saw this coming, and there was no way around it.

"What about your father?"

"My father will want me to be happy. He'll get use to it."

She was very convincing, or maybe it was that he wanted desperately to believe, but....

"Is this before, or after he kills me, or de-mans me?" he asked coolly, with a trace of dry humor.

"He can't hurt you. Goku's your father, and Gohan is your brother. They-"

"No, Bra. I'm a grown man now, and when the last villain left Earth, I vowed that I wouldn't let them protect me anymore. I'm just as much Goku's son as Gohan is. I can take care of myself. I'll fight for what I want, and what I don't want. And I don't want to fight with your father and my best friend."

"They won't have to know then."

Goten stared down into her deep aquamarine eyes. She was totally serious.

"And your career, what about that?"

She shook her head.

"I can always go do that, any time I want. But I am leaving. I just want you to come with me."

The look she was giving him, the plea in her eyes was slowly melting him.

"No, you can't give up your life for me, Bra-"

"I would give up anything, do anything, for you! Don't you realize how much I love you?"

There. There it was, out in the open, finally, after all this time. She had said it. He couldn't believe she had said it.

"Bra, I-"

He reached out and took her in his arms, holding her tightly. Kami, it felt good.

"We can't, you can't. We both have lives, separate lives. Can't you see? We're too different for it to last."

" I laugh, I love, I need, I fear, I cry! I know you do the same things! We're really not that different!" she sobbed into his chest.

"You know what I mean."

She nodded her head, that yes, she understood. It was time to go. Things were advancing that had no right to. Goten gave her a quick squeeze, and stepped back. Her face was tear stained, and yet she was still beautiful.

"I'm going to fly you to Capsule Corp, okay?"

"No, you can't. Mom thinks I'm at a friend’s house. I can't go home, she wakes up in a couple of hours. She'd be livid if I was at home, and not where I said I'd be."

Goten was holding her in his arms again, but levitating.

"Well, I'll just take you to your friend's house then."

"That's kind of hard."

"Why?"

He knew he wouldn't like the answer, and he was right.

"Well, I made her up."

"Bra, how do you get away with stuff like this? You're mom is one of the most intelligent women on Earth, and not to mention, the most richest. Doesn't she even check out your stories?"

Bra giggled then. She couldn't help it. She herself had wondered that many times.

"I don't think so. She's bright, but she's also too busy to concern herself with trifle things like this."

"Where am I going to take you? You can't sleep in the park all night."

"Just take me to a hotel, I have money."

He felt guilty for some strange reason. She shouldn't have to spend her money on a hotel for a few hours to sleep and go home. He'd take her to his place, and she could sleep in the spare bedroom. He refused to think about what might happen once she was there. He took off in the direction of his apartment.

She snuggled her face into the warmth of his shoulder, and closed her eyes. She always loved flying with him.

She looked up when he landed softly on the concrete ground. This wasn’t a hotel, this was his apartment building.

“Goten, what are we doing here?” she asked, hope building up in her.

She felt him sighed, He was still holding her to him.

“There’s no use in letting you spend your money. You can just stay here, until morning. I’ll give you a lift to Capsule Corp then.”

“I can see my own way home. You don’t have to take care of me, I’m eighteen.” She reminded him.

“Have it your way.”

She didn’t want him to say that. She wanted him to argue with her. But he didn’t. Things were starting to look really depressing for her. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, all he knew was she was going to leave for a foreign place soon, and that didn’t leave them much time.

“Bra?”

“Yes?”

He hesitated. He knew it was wrong, but he knew, ever since she grew up, it was all leading to this. He knew there was no denying it anymore.

“Stay the night with me. In my bed, with me.”

Her heart lurched. She couldn’t believe he had asked her that. She was more than willing. She hugged him more closely to her. This was their last chance. She wasn’t going to let it pass her by.

“Goten, you didn’t even have to ask.”

The rest of the night past in a haze of passion. He held her, knowing in the morning it would be over. She didn’t want to let go. She knew the same as he did. But she wasn’t going to leave herself open for the talk that was sure to take place in the morning.

“I’ll never tell.” She whispered to him as he leaned over her to kiss her. “This is my precious, precious memory, no one else’s.” 

Then he thrust hard inside her, and there were no more words.

When he woke in the morning, he was alone, and the window of his bedroom was open. She had flown home on her own. He felt a sense of loss. He would never get another chance to hold her. He had her, and then he let her go. He would never forget. He would never be the same.

He was left alone with her secrets. She was leaving home not for a contract, but to lead her own life. A life he could have had with her. He had no regrets; other than he wished he had accepted her offer. But it was too late. He felt her ki. She was a long way from home. He felt shocked. She had left…. She had told him she would, but he hadn’t expected this, not so soon.

‘Please no…”

He remembered their talks. She had always wanted fame, with out the Briefs/Vegeta name. She had stars in her eyes, and he knew she would succeed. He felt a wave of pain. She was gone. He should be happy for her. But now she was so far away. He didn’t know how he would live without her smile.

Bra shifted the boxes in her arms. She had all her stuff packed and ready to be shipped to her apartment in New York. She knew she was leaving earlier than planned, but she knew her family would understand. They loved her, after all. She placed the boxes in a pile with the others, and then took a last glance at the room she had had since she was a child. She dashed a tear from her cheek, and then walked to the window. She looked back again, and jumped out, and flew in the direction of America as the sun rose upon Japan.