My most humble apologies for the loooong dry spell in between Chapter 4 and 5! (bowing furiously many times in contrition) I’ve been very busy at work. I only wish I could fly away like Trunks does when he doesn’t want to work :P

Three years have passed since Trunks and Marron revealed their feelings for each other. As we approach when DBGT starts, can their budding relationship survive what the future has in store for them? Enjoy!

Note: From this point on, there will be references to certain events that happened in DBGT. If you don’t want to spoil it for yourself, you may want to skip until the end. But that wouldn’t be any fun, would it? ^_^

Disclaimer: Everything remotely to Dragonball, Z, or DBGT belongs to Akira Toriyama. The fanfiction is mine.

THE WAY WE WERE

Chapter 5: Private Time

By,

Babboo

            "Excuse me, Mr. President, but you have a visitor here to see you," Trunks’ personal assistant summoned over the intercom connecting their offices. Unfortunately for her, Trunks wasn’t in any mood to be civil, let alone see anyone at the moment. He had missed lunch again.

            "Tell them to go away," he replied brusquely.

            "I’m sorry sir. She’s very insistent and refuses to leave until she sees you. Shall I send her in?"

            "Oh, very well. It’s not like I’m going to get anything done today, anyway," he muttered irritably.

            He heard the sound of the door opening, but didn’t even bother to look up when his visitor entered his office.

            "This better be important. I’m a very busy man."

            "Too busy to even have lunch?" a familiar voice came from across the desk.

            His head shot up immediately and was surprised to find that a very well dressed woman in a navy blue business suit stood in front of his desk, holding up a bento lunch box from behind her back in a cute handkerchief covered with goldfish. Her jet black hair was tied back in a severe bun, and wore dark horn-rimmed glasses that covered most of her face. But there was something about those eyes. Trunks stood up and walked over to her to get a closer look.

            "Have we met before? It feels like I know you."

            "Let me refresh your memory," the woman replied grabbing him by the back of his neck and pulled his head down to her lips. Trunks was too stunned to react by this sudden and rather bold display by a total stranger.

            "Hello Mr. President," Marron said, smiling mischievously while removing her disguise.

            He just stared at her with a dazed look on his face.

            "Marron?" he asked in complete surprise.

            "Did you miss me?" she asked, ruffling her blond hair out of its confining restriction.

            Trunks responded by linking his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek fondly.

            "I thought you were going to be more discreet."

            "What did you expect? Sunglasses, a hat, and a trench coat? Besides, it's your fault I had to come in this get-up. You kept telling your assistant that you were busy and not to be disturbed. How else was I going to get into your office to see you? Break down the door?"

            "If I had known that it was you, I would have given her the afternoon off. What are you doing here?"

            "I thought you might need a little break. Are you hungry?"

            Trunks gave her a look that made her blush from head to toe.

            "I meant for lunch," she amended quickly.

            "Oh," he replied in disappointment. "Sure. What did you bring me?"

            It was a good thing she made enough food, knowing that Saiya-jins were notorious for having voracious appetites. Even for someone who was only half Saiya-jin, Trunks ate about as much as his father did, and then some. And from the look he had just given her, it must have been true for other things besides food, she thought in amusement.

            "Mmmm, that was delicious. Thanks for bringing lunch, Marron."

            "My pleasure," she replied looking into the empty lunch box, amazed that he had finished every last morsel even before she had gotten through half of her food. She should have gotten used to it by now.

            Marron perched herself on top of his desk and swung her legs back and forth, while nibbling on the last nikuman.

            "So, how's your day so far?"

            "Oh, you know. Just the usual."

            "That bad, huh?" she replied, recognizing that familiar tone in his voice.

            "Is it that obvious?"

            "Not to the casual observer, no."

            "It's just another day in paradise," he said sarcastically. "How was your day?"

            "Can't complain. I finished my last final this morning."

            "That's great! Are you still going to try for that internship you were telling me about?"

            Marron crossed her fingers for luck. "I sent them my application already, but I won't know for a couple of weeks. I just hope Mama and Papa will let me go through with it. I love them, but sometimes they can be a little too protective, especially Papa."

            Trunks leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "That sounds just like Krillen. Don't be too hard on him, Marron."

            "Sometimes, I think he never wants me to leave the island."

            "Maybe he just doesn't want you to get hurt. After all, you're his only child. It must be hard for him and to let you go."

            "Yes, I guess you're right. How did you get to be so smart?" she asked, running her finger down his necktie lightly.

            "I'm the president," he replied as a matter of fact.

            Marron burst out laughing at his brash confidence. She was glad that he didn't lose his sense of humor, even though work sometimes stressed him out. As for Trunks, just being with Marron was enough to ease any stress  that he felt. She was always there with a patient ear and a warm, understanding smile.

            "Do you realize that in a few days, it will be three years since we've been going together?" she asked.

            "Has it been THAT long?" he replied in amazement.

            "Well, you don't have to get all that excited Trunks," she said dryly, objecting to the way he made it sound.

            He gave her an apologetic smile. "I just meant that I can't believe that time has passed by so quickly."

            "That's better." She looked at him shyly. "I've enjoyed every moment we've spent together."

            "Yeah, me too," he replied softly. "It's just too bad we have to sneak around like a couple of criminals."

            "Admit it, Trunks. You enjoy it as much as I do."

            "Guilty as charged. Brings me back to the good old days when Goten and I got into trouble when we were kids. Yup, those were the days."

            "You sound like an old timer, Trunks," she teased. "Everyone will think that you've gotten soft."

            "I am NOT old," he replied, a little defensively. "And I haven't gotten soft. I can still beat Goten, you know."

            "Yes, of course. Anything you say."

            "When do you find about your grades?" he asked, changing the subject.

            "Not for a couple of weeks."

            "Sooo, you'll be free to pursue other 'extracurricular activities'?" he asked suggestively.

            "And what exactly did you have in mind?"

            Knowing Trunks, Marron had a pretty good idea already.

            He responded by pulling her onto his lap and began nibbling on the sensitive area behind her ear, making her tremble with delight. Marron's hands wandered to his tie and loosened the constricting knot before slipping them inside his shirt. She turned her head and bent down to kiss his eagerly waiting lips.

            "I like the way that you think," she replied, leaning her forehead against his, after they had separated.

            Trunks just gave her one of his confident smirks.

            All of a sudden, they heard Bulma's voice approaching the office. Trunks and Marron both stared at the door in horror. If it wasn't one thing, it was always another that interrupted their private time. Marron would have hated to try to explain what she was doing in Trunks' office in her rather compromising position.

            "What'll we do?" Marron asked in sheer panic.

            "Quick, put on your glasses and your wig. She'll be here any second."

            Even as they spoke, the doorknob began to turn. Marron fumbled with her disguise, but was unsuccessful putting it back on.

            "I'm sure my son has time to see his own mother," Bulma said authoritatively, before coming in.

            Without hesitation, Marron dove under the desk and crouched into the farthest corner, trying to keep herself from being discovered. Trunks went around to block her from sight as well.

            Bulma entered the room just as Marron went under.

            "Mom, what are you doing here?" Trunks asked nervously. "I wasn't expecting you."

            Bulma walked over and sat down in the chair on the other side of his desk.

            "Since when does a mother need a reason to see her own son?" she asked, turning her cheek towards Trunks. He kissed it perfunctorily.

            "I didn't mean it like that."

            "I came to see how you were doing. We never get to see you anymore since you started working late at the office."

            "Oh. Well...uh, you know how important these contracts are," he replied evasively. If only his mother knew that it was just a convenient excuse to see Marron.

            Bulma looked at him suspiciously. "You're not mad at me, are you? After all, it's been three years since I made you and Marron call off the wedding. And it was for your own good."

            "No, mother, I am not mad at you," Trunks replied patiently. "And Marron and I are still friends."

            Marron smiled to herself. They had become more than just friends. It was just too bad that they had to keep their relationship a secret from everyone.

            "Well, I'm glad to hear that. On another note, have you thought about what we discussed the other night?"

            "Oh, no Mom. Not again. I thought we agreed to drop the subject."

            "You agreed. I didn't."

            "For the last time, I am not going to go out on a blind date with another one of your friend's daughters."

            "Why not?" she demanded. "It's not like you and Marron are seeing each other anymore...are you?"

            "Um, no."

            "Then what's the problem?"

            "I...I just can't okay?" he replied uncomfortably, knowing that Marron was underneath the desk listening to every word.

            "Trunks, I'm not asking you to marry anyone."

            "But that's what you really want," he surmised.

            "How do YOU know?"

            "You've got that look in your eyes again."

            "And what look is that, pray tell?"

            "The 'When am I going to have grandchildren?' look."

            "Don't be smart, young man."

            "Why the sudden interest in marrying me off? What ever happened to not rushing into anything and considering my options before making any future commitments?"

            "That was when I thought you were going to leave Capsule Corps and become a conceptual artist. But now that you've come to your senses, it doesn't hurt to plan ahead and start thinking about your future."

            "I don't believe this," he muttered under his breath.

            "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not getting any younger. I'd like to see you with a family of your own BEFORE the century is over," Bulma replied sarcastically.

            Trunks put a hand to his forehead and covered his eyes. "I'm getting a headache," he moaned.

            Marron put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

            "Mom, I'm twenty eight years old. When are you going to stop treating me like a child?"

            "When you're sixty eight," she replied automatically.

            "I really don't need you to run my life for me. I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

            "Fine. I was only trying to help. If you want to break your poor mother's heart like this, go right ahead," Bulma said, giving her son a major guilt trip.

            "Mom," he entreated unsuccessfully.

            "No, go on. I'll just sit at home with your father and hope that some day, I'll have a grandchild of my own. With any luck, I'll still be alive by then."

            "Stop talking like that. Aren't you being a little melodramatic?"

            Bulma responded by wailing loudly. Trunks immediately went over to console his mother.

            "Mom, please don't cry. You know that I can't stand seeing you like this."

            Marron shook her head back and forth in disbelief. He was falling for the oldest trick in the book.

            Finally, Trunks gave up in the end. He just couldn't take it anymore.

            "Okay, okay! I'll do it!"

            Bulma stopped crying immediately, her eyes void of any tears.

            "You will?" she replied hopefully.

            Trunks stared at her in disbelief. How did she do that?

            "What do you want me to do?" he asked reluctantly.

            "Will you at least go out with Mrs. Sato's daughter?"

            "If I go out with her one time, JUST ONCE, will you promise to stop setting me up with every woman in sight and let me live my own life?" It was bad enough that every time he went out in public, hundreds of women glommed onto him, clamoring for his attention.

            "It's a deal," Bulma agreed.

            Marron slammed her fist down on Trunks' foot from underneath the desk, angrily. Needless to say, she wasn't happy with his response.

            "Ouch!!!!!" Trunks yelped in pain, grabbing his foot.

            "What's the matter?" Bulma asked.

            "Oh, nothing. My foot just went to sleep," he replied quickly. For a woman who didn't fight, Marron sure packed a wallop of a punch. She must have gotten it from Juuhachigou.

            "Look at the time. I'd better get going. You know how your father gets when he has to wait for his food. I also want to work on that space pod."

            "Are you still tinkering with that?"

            "It's almost finished. All it needs are a few last minute adjustments, but I'm sure I can get it going in no time."

            She gave her son a peck on the cheek, which he accepted in embarrassment.

            "I'll see you at home. Don't work too hard."

            He ushered his mother out the door, limping gingerly and then turned to go back to his desk.

            "You can come out now. The coast is clear."

            Marron crawled out from underneath the desk and got up to a more dignified position and gave him an icy stare.

            "How could you? How could you make a promise like that?" she demanded.

            Trunks hobbled back to her. "You look so cute when you're angry," he teased.

            "Never mind that. Answer the question."

            "It's just this one time. If I keep my end of the bargain, my mom will leave me alone. I'm only doing this for us."

            "How noble of you," she replied sarcastically.

            "If I didn't know better, I'd swear that you were jealous Marron," he observed, smirking at her.

            Her cheeks burned hotly in embarrassment.

            "Me? Jealous? Don't be ridiculous."

            "Somebody's jealous," Trunks continued in a mocking sing-song voice.

            "Humph!" she huffed angrily, turning her head away.

            Trunks reached over and tilted her chin so that she was looking into his eyes.

            "Listen to me, my cute, but jealous girlfriend. No one could ever take me away from you," he said before brushing his lips against hers.

            Marron felt her anger evaporating as quickly as it came. Maybe she was being a little too sensitive.

            "Do you really mean that?"

            "I really mean that. Do you think that I want to go through with this?"

            "You gave up so easily. I thought that you were interested."

            "If my dad can't win an argument with my mom, what makes you think that I can?"

            Marron smiled, in spite of herself. "What was I thinking?"

            Several seconds passed by before she reluctantly agreed.

            "If this will get your mom off of your back, I guess it's okay with me. But if I find one smudge of lipstick on you, you won't be walking for a month," she threatened, putting her clenched fist under his nose.

            Trunks laughed and kissed her hand placatingly. "You have my word."

            Marron paced back and forth in her room like a caged lion as she tried to keep her mind off of Trunks' impending blind date. For four days, she had been on pins and needles and was nothing but a jumble of nerves. It wasn't that she didn't trust him. Deep down, she was just afraid that he would get tired of her and find someone else. After all, he certainly didn't lack for female company. She sighed with a heavy heart. Normally, she was a sane and level-headed woman. When did she turn into such a nervous, insecure wreck?

            "I guess that's happens when you're in love," she said aloud to herself.

            Marron suddenly stopped pacing and vigorously shook her head back and forth, as to snap her out of her daze.

            "Did I say that?" she asked incredulously. "Where did that come from?"

            Marron sat down on her bed, before she collapsed from the shock of her self-revelation.

            How could she suddenly be in love with Trunks?

            "Was it really all that sudden?" a little voice inside asked her.

            Maybe that would explain why she had always kept a special place in her heart for childhood friend, even though before, he had never shown any indication that he was interested in her as more than just a friend. Except that now, that friendship had grown into something deeper. Something that scared the living daylights out of her. This wasn't any fleeting school girl crush. She was deeply in love with Trunks, and there was nothing she could do about it. But there was the more urgent question. Was Trunks in love with her?

            "Marron-chan!" Krillen called from downstairs. "There's someone here to see you."

            "Coming papa!" she replied automatically, grateful for the opportunity to escape her racing thoughts.

            That was strange. They rarely had visitors to the island, unless of course, there was a major disaster lurking just around the corner.

            "Hey there, stranger."

            "Goten?" she asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

            "Well, that's a nice friendly greeting. I just thought I'd drop by and see how you were doing. We really haven't had a chance to talk to each other much since that dinner at Trunks' place a couple of years ago."

            "You mean the night when all hell broke loose?"

            "Hey, at least you and Trunks got out of that mess."

            Except that now, she had gotten herself into a bigger mess. One that wouldn't be so easy to get out of.

            "I'm sorry, can I get you anything?"

            "No, thanks. Actually, I came by to see if you wanted to go out and do something."

            "Oh?"

            "Well, I felt guilty after you said that we didn't visit you often, so I thought I would make it up to you."

            "That's so sweet of you, Goten."

            "Yeah, I thought so too."

            "Uh-huh. Well, I appreciate the thought, but it really isn't necessary. I'm afraid that I wouldn't be much company anyway."

            "What's the matter?" he asked, sensing that something was troubling her.

            "I'm just not in the mood."

            "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Trunks going out on a date with Kazumi Sato does it?" he asked shrewdly.

            She should have known that Goten would have known about that. Marron looked at him warily.

            "Why should it matter to me who Trunks goes out with? I'm not his keeper."

            "If you say so," he replied in an even voice. "Come on, Marrron. We haven't done anything together ever since your birthday party. It'll be fun, I promise."

            "I don't know," she said reluctantly.

            "Tell you what, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

            "Anywhere?" she asked with a gleam in her eye. "Hmmm."

            Trunks held his chin in his hand as he made a vain attempt to appear interested in what his blind date was saying. It was no use. He was thoroughly bored. Kazumi Sato may have been pleasing to the eye, but she was sure hard on the ears. He had never met anyone so self-absorbed before, and that included Mr. Satan. He would have had more fun having a root canal that sit through another one of these dates that his mother insisted on setting up. It was good thing that he would never have to do this again.

            His eyes wandered over the table behind them and suddenly snapped out of his bored state. To his surprise and annoyance, he found Goten and Marron sitting together. What were they doing here at the Chez Parisiénne? They were laughing and enjoying themselves thoroughly as if they were on a date! Jealousy immediately tore away at Trunks. How dare they do this to him? And right under his nose!

            "Calm down, Trunks," the voice of reason told him. Okay, maybe he was overreacting, but he thought that he and Marron had something special. Well, he would just have to put a stop to this. Before he knew it, he was excusing himself from his date's inane chatter and walked over to the other table where Goten and Marron were sitting at, determined to get to the bottom of this.

            Out of the corner of her eye, Marron saw Trunks approaching them, slowly but surely. Good. At least she managed to get him away from that...that woman.

            "Hey Trunks!" Goten greeted his friend warmly, oblivious to what was going on. "What a coincidence seeing you here. Bet you didn't expect to see us, huh?"

            "No, I didn't. What are the chances of that happening, I wonder? What are you doing here?" Trunks asked silkily. Marron knew that tone and heard the underlying accusation in his voice loud and clear. She just gave him an innocent look.

            Goten put his arm around Marron's shoulders and said with a straight face, "We're eloping."

            Marron saw anger flare immediately in Trunks' eyes. He was not amused.

            "Just kidding, pal," Goten amended quickly, when he saw that Trunks wasn't laughing, and took his arm away quickly.

            "We were just having dinner," Marron added, trying to smooth things out. She sometimes forgot that Trunks was more like his father than he was willing to admit, especially when it came to his temper.

            "Would you like to join us?" Goten asked politely.

            "I'm sorry, but I still have some business to take care of."

            "Oh yes, I saw you with your 'friend'. Is that her natural hair color, or did it come out of a bottle?" Marron replied in a catty tone. She couldn't help herself.

            Goten suppressed a chuckle. "Meow," he thought to himself. He didn't know that Marron had it in her.

            Trunks almost jumped at her baiting, but then decided to turn the tables on her. He smiled broadly.

            "I believe it's real. I'm sorry I can't join you, but I see no reason why you both can't join us."

            Marron glared at him angrily. That was the LAST thing she wanted to do, and he knew it too.

            "I don't think that..."

            "That's a great idea, Trunks!" Goten jumped in, interrupting Marron's protest. "I've been dying to meet Kazumi Sato."

            "You go on ahead and introduce yourself, Goten. I want to talk to Marron for a second."

            Goten smiled knowingly, but gave nothing away. "Sure thing. I'll be more than happy to entertain Miss Sato for you."

            When he left the table, he was shaking his head back and forth, laughing in amusement.

            "Those two are so obvious," he muttered to himself. He had a sneaking suspicion that they were seeing each other secretly. "Who are they kidding?"

            "What do you think you're doing?" Marron demanded.

            "I might ask you the same thing. Since when did you and Goten become so close?"

            "What are you talking about? We were just having dinner together."

            "Is that what you call it? You two looked pretty cozy to me."

            "Then get better glasses. He wanted to take me out for dinner and I accepted. End of story."

            "Are you sure there's nothing more?"

            "What are you getting at?"

            Trunks' jealously was getting the better of him, as he was no longer thinking clearly.

            "Is there anything going on between you and Goten?" he asked, point-blank.

            "Me and Goten?" Marron asked incredulously. "Don't be ridiculous," she dismissed.

            "Am I? He's always been protective of you."

            Marron's anger quickly turned into amusement, as she suddenly realized the reason for Trunks' behavior. She had been so preoccupied with her own jealousy, that she didn't see that Trunks was jealous as well. That meant that he really did care about her!

            Marron began to laugh uncontrollably. All the time she was worried about him, he was actually worried about her.

            "What is so funny?" Trunks demanded.

            "You are, you silly man." She discretely motioned him to follow her out onto the terrace where they could have some privacy.

            "All right, what did you drag me out here for?"

            "For this," she replied, cupping his face in her hands and kissed him soundly on the lips.

            "Maybe I should go out and come back in again," he said in confusion after they separated for air.

            "Would you mind telling a confused Saiya-jin what in the world is going on? Did I miss something?"

            "You look so cute when you're jealous," she teased, just as he had done to her earlier on.

            "Who said I was jealous?" he asked defensively.

            "You have nothing to worry about Trunks. There is nothing going on between me and Goten. There never has been and there never will be. He was just joking around."

            "You never know. People's feelings can change."

            "Trunks, how could I be interested in Goten, when I'm in love with you?"

            "Well, you might...wait a minute," he stopped abruptly. "What did you just say?"

            "I said that you looked cute when you're jealous."

            "I meant after that," he replied impatiently.

            Marron lowered her gaze and said in a shy voice, "I'm in love with you."

            She waited anxiously for his response.

            Trunks stared at her for a few moments before folding his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head.

            "You don't know how much I wanted to hear you say that, Marron."

            She pulled back to look up into his eyes. "Why?"

            "Because...I feel the same way about you too," he admitted.

            It was Marron's turn to stare at him. Her blue eyes reflected shock and disbelief.

            "You...you love me?"

            "Is that so hard to believe?" he asked, smiling down at her.

            "Trunks, are you sure? I mean, I don't want you to say that you love me, just because you feel obligated to."

            That would have been more painful than if he had rejected her.

            "Have you ever known me to do anything that I didn't want to do?" he asked arrogantly. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Marron, I love you and I want us to be together...for good."

            "What are you saying?"

            "I was going to pick a better spot than this, but oh well. When in Rome. Close your eyes and hold out your hands."

            "Trunks, you don't have to..."

            "Close your eyes and hold out your hands," he repeated, interrupting her.

            She obeyed him and waited for whatever he had planned to give her. Trunks released one of his capsules from his pocket. She felt something warm and fuzzy in her hands.

            "This better not be a mouse," she warned.

            "You can open your eyes now."

            She opened her eyes and smiled, as she recognized the stuffed animal he placed in the palm of her hands. It was her favorite teddy bear from her childhood, the same one that Trunks had taken and threatened to pull its eyes out.

            "You remembered," she replied fondly. "You kept Bobo all this time?"

            "He was in the bottom of my old closet, buried beneath all my toys. I found him a couple of months ago and cleaned him up a bit. I thought you might like to have him."

            "Thank you. Do you always carry teddy bears around with you?"

            "Only when I'm going to propose."

            Marron stared at him aghast. "What did you just say?"

            "Look closer at the teddy bear," he instructed.

            There was a heart cushion in between the bear's paw's and in the center of the heart, a beautiful diamond ring sparkled even with the dim lighting.

            "Is this what I think it is?" she asked nervously.

            He took out the ring and slid it onto her finger and looked deeply into her eyes.

            "Marron, will you marry me?"

            She threw her arms around him and kissed Trunks with every fiber of her body. She didn't need to think twice.

            "I hope that means yes," he replied after some time.

            "Yes," she answered happily, "A thousand times yes."

            "Oops, I think we forgot one little item."

            "What is it?"

            "We forgot about Goten and Miss Sato. They're still waiting for us."

            Marron smiled and pulled the lapels of his blazer toward her, pulling him closer. "Let them wait."

            "Are you sure that you want to tell everyone tomorrow night, Marron?"

            "I'm sure. After all Trunks, it's not like we haven't been engaged before," she reminded him.

            She heard him chuckling on the other side of the phone. "That's right, we were. Except now, it's for real."

            "And we can finally come out in the open."

            "It's a good thing too, because I was running out of excuses to get out of the house, without anyone suspecting anything."

            It was Marron's turn to laugh.

            "Same here. I'll see you tomorrow then," she said softly.

            "Goodnight Marron."

            Marron hugged herself tightly. She was going to marry the man she loved and become Mrs. Trunks. Briefs. Everything was perfect.

            Suddenly, she shuddered involuntarily as a cold shiver ran down her back. Normally, she wasn't superstitious, but she didn't like that feeling one bit. It made her feel uneasy, as if something terrible was going to happen. She just didn't know what it was.

            Marron looked down at her engagement ring and shook off her uneasiness. This was ridiculous. They hadn't even set the date for the ceremony and already she was getting pre-wedding jitters.

            Trunks' assistant held her hand against her forehead.

            "He did it again," she remarked exasperatedly, as the window to his office was wide open with the stack of files he was supposed to be going over literally flying out the window.

            Trunks was happily soaring through the clouds when he came to an abrupt stop.

            "Dad?" he remarked in surprize. Vegeta (in that awful mustache) floated in front of him preventing him from going anywhere.

            "Humph," he snorted, "I knew you would do this," remarked before literally dragging both Trunks and Goten toward the space pod that Bulma had finally finished. Somehow, Vegeta had "volunteered" for them to go on a mission to retrieve the special Dragonballs in order to help Goku and hopefully save the earth.

            "Kame House," Marron answered the phone.

            "Hi, it's me."

            "Trunks? I can barely hear you. Where are you?"

            "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Look, I haven't got much time. Something's come up and I have to leave for a while to help Goku."

            "What's the matter with him? Is he all right?"

            "It's a long story."

            "Well, when will you be back?"

            "I don't know. Maybe a month...or twelve," he finished uneasily.

            "You're going away for a whole year?" she asked in disbelief.

            "Well, for as long as it takes to find the Dragonballs. I don't like this either, but I've got no choice. And Goku can't do this alone in his condition. I'm sorry, Marron. I didn't mean for this to happen."

            "It's not your fault. Please be careful, Trunks."

            "Hey, you know me."

            "Like I said, be careful," she reiterated. He chuckled in spite of himself. She knew him so well.

            "Remember that I love you," he said softly.

            She tried not let her voice tremble with emotion.

            "I love you too. Come back soon."

            Marron stared at the phone after she put back in its cradle. She was afraid something like this was going to happen. What else could go wrong?

End of Chapter 5

Hope you are still enjoying this fanfic. I'm really trying to make it interweave with the DBGT storyline, so hope no one minds. After all, this is a fanfic and anything can happen. Stick around for Chapter 6: The Long Wait. I haven't decided yet whether or not that will be the final chapter. The epilogue is already written, and that alone is worth another chapter.

Written by,

Babboo

9/30/01