Vegeta flew down towards the two Demi-saiyans. Trunks laid still; Gohan threw the boy over his shoulder and stood up.

"You were reckless. We felt your energies back at the base."

Gohan frowned again.

"We better get a move on then."

"Don't bother. They sent someone out as a distraction."

"And you're here and not there, because?"

Vegeta's frown deepened. Yes, it could do that. But Gohan wondered if for once in the prince's life, it was from concern for someone else.

"In case they were on to you as well."

Why, was it true? Was Gohan right? Was it… concern in the full blood's voice?!... Nah.

"We're flattered."

"Don't be."

The two Saiyan born glared at each other, then Vegeta's glare wondered to Trunks's limp form.

"That could've been an impressive energy ball for someone his age and energy level."

Gohan knew better than to take that as even slightly a compliment.

"He just started training, Vegeta! It was his first try! Give him a break!"

"The Androids won't. So neither will I."

Vegeta turned to leave when Trunks mumbled one single word that stopped the warrior dead in his tracks.

"Father…"

Gohan looked at Vegeta to see his reaction. The prince had his back to them.

"Next time, use the woman's Ki-suppressing devices, or train in a gravity room."

He then flew off just as Trunks came to.

"Hi."

Looking up, the boy blinked.

"Who was that?"

He asked, seeing the disappearing figure.

"Your father."

Trunks stared at his mentor.

"Re, really?!"

"Yep."

The boy opened his mouth to ask something, maybe even call out after Vegeta, but Gohan wasn't going to let him.

"Why don't we call it a day, Trunks?"

No response let alone a distant look and a shadow of a frown. Gohan shook his head.

'What are you thinking about, little brother?'

Tien and Yamcha returned to the main hideout, a bit battered, but not broken. They immediately received two Senzo Beans upon arrival.

"How'd it go?"

Yamcha asked Krillin.

"well, we felt it, Vegeta went there, we stopped feeling it, he came back frowning like hell froze over and he was going there on a summer vacation. I guess it went… well."

"We're endangering Gohan too much."

The three eyed warrior said thoughtfully.

"The brat did it on his own will."

Vegeta's grumpy voice came in, forcing attention to himself.

"Vegeta, don't you ever think of anything other than yourself?!"

Everyone knew Yamcha was protective of Trunks. After all, he was the son of the woman the warrior still loved.

"That's your son, you should be out there talking to him, but no, you're too busy here, doing Kami knows what!"

That earned Yamcha a death glare from the prince, but surprisingly ut was Krillin who spoke next.

"Then I'm to blame too, I suppose, Yamcha. After all, we all know about my daughter."

His voice was filled with suppressed anger, guilt and sadness.

"That's not the same thing, Krillin!"

Yamcha tried to argue, but Krillin shook his head grimly.

"It's the same. She's out there, being pushed against us, while I'm here, doing 'Kami knows what'."

No one said anything against it.

"So now what do we do?"

Tien asked, breaking the silence before it turned awkward after Vegeta left.

"Live on, I guess. Live on."

"Mom! I'm home!"

Trunks happily announced.

"Mom?"

He looked for her, but didn't find her anywhere.

"Mom!"

Entering the lab, still no trace of her.

"Odd…"

"HI HONEY!"

"GAH!"

Trunks almost jumped out of his skin when Bulma jumped out of a pile of spare parts, holding a small chip.

"Don't do that again!"

She smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, hun. So, where were you?"

"Somewhere."

"You don't know?"

Bulma asked as she sat down and resumed her work.

"Doesn't really matter, I guess. What've you been up to?"

He asked, glancing towards the growing pile of chips as he took a sip of a soda he picked up while looking through the kitchen.

"Oh, just an order from Androids Inc."

The son felt his mother's anger.

"You know, mom, you don't have to do it…"

"Oh, and oppose the Androids? What's wrong with you, Trunks?!"

She tried putting in awe and amazement at the mere thought. She managed rather well, but Trunks knew better.

"Whatever you say, mom."

"Oh, Marron-called."

"Thanks."

He left the lab, and Bulma sighed. Something seemed off.

'If only his father would talk to him!'

The phone rang, and rang, and Trunks was about to hang up when a soft voice answered.

"Hello?"

'This must be her mother'

Trunks thought matter-of-factly.

"Hello, ma'am."

"Hello."

"My name's Trunks, and I'm a friend of Marron's…"

The woman's voice immediately cheered up.

"Oh, how nice! A friend of my Marron's, eh?"

"Yes ma'am."

"How nice! It's so rare I get to talk to her friends!"

Trunks had to smile. Why did Marron freak the other night? Her mother sounded like such a nice woman!

"But I bet you don't want to hear a woman go on and on, huh?"

"That's quite all right with me, ma'am."

"My, such manners! Hold on, sweetie. Trunks, was it?"

"Yes ma'am."

A moment's silence, and Marron's voice was heard.

"what did he say?"

"Nothing, just that he was your friend."

"Ok, mom, thanks. Hello?"

"What was that all about?"

Marron sighed on the other end of the line.

"Nothing, I just… what's up?"

"You called."

"Yeah, I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out a bit, but that was an hour and a half ago."

He smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"'s ok. Look, I still have homework to do. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

Trunks hung the phone, and looked at his books. What homework did he have? Nothing important. So what to do? Lie on the bed. Turn the music on, and think.

'Well, at least I got to get a glimpse of my dad.'

"Sweetie, here, this is for you."

Bulma came in, handed Trunks a headband, and left. He blinked and looked at it.

"Put it on when you train."

She said, popping her head back in, winked, and left. Seeing no point in not doing so, Trunks put the headband on, and resumed lying down. Then he placed his palms next to each other.

'Let's see now…'

A small golden orb appeared between his palms, and Trunks smiled. It felt… natural. His gaze never leaving the orb, he let it float through the room. Bulma smiled from the door.

'Oh, Trunks… if only you'd know how proud I am of you.'

18 greeted the frowning 17 with a laugh.

"So. They tricked you!"

He glared back.

"I don't see you helping."

"You insisted on going alone."

He took his Hungarian cube and began playing with it again.

"Still didn't solve it?"

"It's like those rebels… whenever I think I have them, they manage to turn up somewhere else as well. Same with the colors of this stupid cube."

"Maybe it's time for a new toy, then."

"Probably."

Standing up, 18 looked herself over at the full length mirror that hung on the wall.

"so… what did you think of my newest design?"

"Boring. Just like all the rest of them."

The female Android frowned, but the sadness etched on her face wasn't hurt pride from a mock insult.

"Marron's birthday is coming up."

"Nice."

Then the sadness was gone.

"I don't want those rebels ruining that day. And you still haven't chosen a present for her."

17 shrugged, changing the cube at a fast pace.

"Well, I have a swell idea."

"Really?"

The blonde looked at 17, a hint of suppressed happiness in her voice.

"Why, yes."

He proudly placed the cute, now solved, on the desk for his sister to see.

"Time to pay Vegeta's boy a visit."

A/N: damn, I'm on a typing spree ^-^

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