A/N and dedication : For all those who followed my story even after it was finished, for all those who reviewed and favourited this is for you. You inspired me to do just a little more and another new fiction to come. See note at end.

Epilogue Two

Perfect Cell had announced the cell games and Bulma, Trunks' young mother, had insisted on cutting his hair before he and his Father returned to Kami's lookout to train once more in the hyperbolic time chamber.

She had lead the way to her bedroom and then ensuite and Trunks now sat on a plastic chair while Bulma snipped.

Vegeta had followed them from the lounge without a word of protest at the delay and had positioned himself slouched outside the ensuite against the wall in a seemingly thoughtless fashion that was belied by his evidently impatient gaze.

Trunks had been surprised that his Father had waited for him at all. He had given up trying to predict Vegeta's actions but he could not seem to help himself puzzling over the Saiyan's motives.

Also, Trunks found himself particularly fascinated in how his young parents interacted. He had not seen much and at first, on his return to this timeline, he had witnessed what seemed mostly indifference with a hint of hostility. His real mother, that is his not so young mother's words had come back to him, describing Vegeta as 'hard to know' and Trunks decided that her reluctance to say more was evidently due to fact that Vegeta cared nothing for either her or his infant self.

Trunks did not know whether his not so young mother had not wanted to burden him with this knowledge or whether she was too pained to admit it but Trunks had not doubted his assumption that Vegeta did not care. In the past few hours' circumstance had changed that; Trunks was beginning to wonder if he had misjudged Vegeta.

It was the small things that had begun to raise doubts for him. The way Vegeta had answered Bulma on the Lookout about Saiyan hair for one. He hadn't known Vegeta to be so forthcoming about anything though comments about Saiyan heritage certainly might be the exception. Trunks had wondered then if Vegeta might, just a tiny bit, care for Bulma but Vegeta had promptly dispelled that notion in the next moment by snapping at Bulma then leaving without further acknowledgement of her or his infant self.

Trunks had decided to do away with such wishful and childish thinking but then, in the moments just passed, Vegeta had informed Bulma of his plans to return to the Lookout and without venom. So far Trunks had seen no evidence that Vegeta told anyone of his intentions to do anything.

It was odd.

Sitting as he was now between them, he sensed a weird tension in the room between his two young parents. Why or what he could not say.

Vegeta did seem to be staring or more correctly glaring at Bulma and she was doing her best to pretend it wasn't unnerving her. However much Trunks didn't know Vegeta he knew his mother.

"All done!" she said brightly, too brightly.

Trunks was not willing to believe it was just concern for the cell games and the future that weighed on her.

"Why don't you uh say goodbye to your grandparents Trunks," Bulma added, "I'm sure Vegeta will wait for you."

Future Trunks smiled thinly back at Bulma. "Sure thing." He glanced over at Vegeta who made no move to leave Bulma's company. He was completely unreadable to most but Trunks had learned to read some of his moods and he had the distinct impression that Vegeta was furious. It made him apprehensive about leaving the room. This timeline was already so different from his own perhaps the relationship between his parents was worse than he had thought. Perhaps the odd behaviour from Vegeta was not caring or even indifference but hate. Was Bulma in any kind of danger? Trunks knew her well enough to know that she would despise interference but still he could not just completely leave. She was his mother, even if it was a different timeline.

Bulma raised her eyebrows quizzically at him. "Gosh, I never thought—do you not . . . like your grandparents? Or maybe you just don't know them?"

"That's not it." Trunks said hurriedly. "I'll – I just. I'll go say goodbye. Goodbye mother."

"Oh," Bulma's face was full of remorse. "Oh goodbye Trunks." Bulma threw her arms around him in a motherly hug. "I forgot that what to me is a day or two to you it is a whole year for you."

Trunks nodded realising that his refusal to leave had been interpreted as wanting to say goodbye to Bulma.

Trunks pulled away and made for the door. There was nothing for it but to go, maybe wait down the hall until he understood the situation. If there was trouble he could and would step in and deal with the consequences after.

He felt reassured by this plan until he exited the door and turned at the last moment to discover that Vegeta had followed, not to leave but to close the door.

Trunks panicked for a nanosecond before realising that Vegeta had actually improved the situation. The door had not closed all the way; a tiny crack remained. Not only could Trunks remain closer to any potential trouble, instead of hiding down the hall, he could also witness the events.

He peered through the door jam.

He could see Vegeta quite well but Bulma remained out of sight.

"I am going to train to beat cell," Vegeta said flatly.

"Is that all you have to say?" Bulma demanded and it was clear from her tone that she expected more.

"I don't have time for this." Vegeta turned toward the door and Trunks thought he might need to make a quick escape but Bulma's furious tone halted both Saiyans.

"You fly off into space, you don't come back until the very last moment of the androids attack and that's all you are going to say?" Bulma came into view her eyes flashing furiously.

"No. I have one more thing to say before I go." Vegeta said forcefully. "You are not to go any where near Cell. You are to stay here and if things go bad I trust you will immediately take yourself and the child out of harms way."

"That's more than one thing." Bulma retorted.

"I mean it Bulma. If I find that you have taken yourself or our son out in that flying contraption again whilst Cell is on the loose –"

Future Trunks opened his eyes in wonder and confusion. Did Vegeta care about their safety after all?

"Why do you care?" Bulma said interrupting Vegeta angrily.

"What?" Vegeta said evidently stunned.

"You left us to crash," Bulma sounded teary. "If it wasn't for Trunks, future Trunks we'd have died. You didn't save us."

"You were not meant to be there!" Vegeta's tone had become irritated. "And it would not have happened if you had obeyed my instructions and stayed away from the fight and those androids."

"You never told me to stay away from the androids!" Bulma stated angrily. "You never said anything, just took off into space, whoosh!"

Vegeta's voice was cool though he clenched his fists. "I may not have said it but I was very clear in the note I left you and even after Trunks saved you the first time you still continued to fly around in that – "

"What note?" interrupted Bulma suddenly.

"I was still speaking woman, the note I left you when I left to train of course!"

"You never left me a note, you didn't even say goodbye!" Bulma pouted.

"I did leave you a note and apart from saying goodbye I told you to stay away from the androids!" Vegeta shouted.

"Well I never got it." Bulma had lowered her voice seemingly tearful.

Trunks knew that ploy and didn't buy it apparently neither did Vegeta his tone did not waver from outraged. "That's ridiculous. I put it right here on the dresser!"

"You didn't." Bulma said stubbornly all trace of emotion gone. "I never got any note." She punctuated each word and folded her arms across herself in finality.

Vegeta was silent for a moment and then moved decidedly from Trunks view but Trunks heard the sound of furniture moving.

Vegeta appeared again and pointed a piece of paper at Bulma.

She took it, read it and looked up at Vegeta with misty eyes for just a moment and her mouth moved with an inaudible oh before her eyes narrowed and she shoved the note back at Vegeta. "So because I didn't obey your instructions you thought what? That you'd teach me a lesson by letting me and our son die?" Bulma accused.

"Don't be absurd!" Vegeta was surprisingly aghast.

"Then why didn't you save us?"

Vegeta paused uncomfortably, "Trunks saved you didn't he?"

Bulma shot Vegeta and incredulous look. "And if he hadn't?"

"For goodness sake woman, why do you think I lost sight of Dr. Gero?" Vegeta huffed.

Trunks quickly stifled a gasp as he began to understand.

"It was because I was too busy watching Trunks to make sure you were saved that I lost Dr. Gero!" Vegeta pointed his finger at Bulma. "And a distraction like that could have cost us all. That's why I told you not to go anywhere near the androids. So perhaps you have learnt your lesson and now you'll do as I say." Vegeta now folded his arms and turned his head from her.

Bulma was silent a long moment before she came forward placing her hand gently on Vegeta's arm. "I won't go flying around. I'll stay here with baby Trunks."

"Good," Vegeta said.

"But there is one condition." Bulma added slyly.

Vegeta turned his head back to her in annoyance ready to retort but Bulma had leant closer and whispered something in his ear.

Vegeta reacted with shock then smirked. He leant closer and began to . . . look away, look away! Future Trunks mind suddenly screamed and his eyes averted from the far too personal moment.

There was no doubt now that his parents, at least in this timeline had some sort of relationship but was that how they communicated all the time?

Trunks didn't think he should ponder over it further. His curiosity about them was sufficiently quelled . . . maybe even disturbed.

Future Trunks frowned harder, realising he might have to relive some of it to tell his mother about it when he returned to his own timeline. In the meantime it would be a much better idea to fly to Kami's lookout without waiting for Vegeta. He could not face that awkward flight together now, silence, awkward, awkward silence. Trunks hurried off to say Goodbye to his Grandparents.

The End

Author's note - Look out for my next Bulma and Vegeta. It won't be anime style like this one, it'll be a little bit darker, a bit more angst, romance, some comedy, still canon but with a twist and an unexpected platonic partnership between Vegeta and a canon character. If you're interested consider following me and please, please consider reviewing or favouriting this story. I am happy to hear praise or constructive criticism – pace, characterisation, dialogue etc. Thankyou for your support!