Breaking Free

Breaking Free Chapter 8

I don't own dragonball z. so sorry.



Trunks stood in the bridge of his ship watching the planet disappear. The fireworks from the
explosions slowly fading as the fires burned away what was left of the cities. They had left
nothing untouched, destroyed everything and anything that crossed their path. He had sorely
underestimated them and lost many men because of it.

He turned to the man standing next to him, face stoic, betraying nothing of what Trunks knew
he must be feeling. He watched Goten, who stood unblinking, staring out of the port window.
He had lost his entire crew on the surface of that unholy planet and hadn't even been there to
help them. It was Trunks' fault and he wondered if he would hold a grudge against him for it. It
had fully been his intention to send him with his crew after learning his relation to Pan. He had
wanted to keep her safe, but at the last minute ordered Goten to stay behind with him.

Trunks didn't think Umata would be much trouble. It wasn't ranked very high, but as it turned
out it was the heart of the rebellion and they were more than ready for a fight. When the first
reports came in that crews were dropping like flies, he wasted no time in sending back up.
But, for Goten's crew, who died in the first attack, it was already too late. As soon as they
made planet fall Goten took off like a bat out of hell, not waiting for orders from him or
anyone else, raining down vengeance like an angle of death. Trunks didn't blame him. It wasn't
his original crew, not the crew he'd been with since infancy that had been slaughtered. Only a
ragtag group of youngsters put together because their original squads were gone. Goten had
taken them, taught them, formed them into a family and their death hurt him greatly.

Trunks had only him and his selfishness to blame. He knew if Goten had been leading the
attack, it would have gone differently. Or, Trunks mused, he would have lost Goten too. He
sighed, there was nothing he could do about it now. In the land of æwhat-ifs' and
æcould-have-been' anything is possible. He gave him a reassuring pat on his back, to which
he didn't even flinch, and turned to leave. There was nothing he could say to make it any
easier for him, so he said nothing. He vowed that he would find a way to repay Goten's loyal
service to him.

He walked the long, cold corridors to his chambers. The ship was silent except for the hum of
the engines. It had been more than a year since he and his men have been home and all were
weary to the bone and looking forward to the time off. The war was harder than he had
estimated but as always they came out on top. Trunks had learned a valuable lesson from all
this: he would never again underestimate his opponents, they were full of little surprises. It was
a lesson his father has been trying to teach him for years, but it had taken all of this to finally
sink it in.

The door to his room slide open with a hiss and he stepped inside. It was dark, but he didn't
bother with the light, not wanting to wake his sleeping mate. He stripped out of his beaten,
broken armor and climbed into bed with her. The passing stars gave a trickle of light onto the
bed and across her angelic face. Trunks sighed as he looked at her and moved a wayward
strand of hair back behind her ear. She'd let her hair grow out since they've been gone and he
found that he liked it longer.

He thought of the bloody battle that was fought earlier that very day. Of how he almost lost
her. How he almost lost the both of them. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the picture
of her falling to the ground helplessly. Trying not to remember as they swooped in to kill her.
Trying with all his might to block out her scared voice calling out to him, from echoing
repeatedly in his head. He had Goten to thank, once again. If he hadn't been there, then they
would be gone.

Trunks told her to stay aboard the ship. That it was too dangerous for her in her current state.
But Pan was hardheaded and rarely ever listened to him. Even the fact that she was pregnant
with his child couldn't keep her from getting into trouble. They only found out a few weeks
before planet fall that she was carrying his babe and she thought the fact that she wasn't
showing gave her some sort of immunity.

His hold on her tightened as anger bubbled up inside of him. He wanted to kill her for being so
stupid. The girl had not a lick of sense in her. She was almost as bad as Bra. Pan squirmed as
his arms grew uncomfortable around her and she woke up to a pair of intense blue eyes
staring at her. She watched in fascination at the emotions that flitted across them. He was still
angry at her, she could tell. She reached up and gently brushed a strand of silky lavender hair
from his eyes, then let her fingers trace a trail down his profile.

Trunks grabbed her hand and crushed it painfully inside his. His blue eyes turning hard and
cold as he looked at her, making her wince. His eyes narrowed into slits as he watched, he felt
her body begin to tremble beside his.

"Trunks . . . " Pan breathed out, squirming a little. Sometimes it was hard not to be intimidated
by her husband.

"I almost lost you today." He ground out, more harshly than he meant to and pressed his body
closer to hers.

"I'm still here, Trunks. It's okay." Pan said, trying to calm him down before he hurt her. It
didn't work thouShe She could see almost instantly the opposite affect it had.

"That's not the point." He said venomously. "I gave you an order. To stay on this ship. You
disobeyed me and almost got yourself killed."

"I-I'm sorry. I thought you could use my help. I..." Pan started, but Trunks cut her off.

"I don't need your help, Pan. You're a distraction to me. I should have listened to my father
when he said to leave you at home." He said angrily.

Pan opened her mouth to reply but was stopped when he pressed his lips to her own. The
kiss was hard and domineering, taking her breath away with its intensity. He pressed harder,
releasing her hand to let his travel down her body. She couldn't help the shiver of pleasure that
snaked across her at his touch. It was rough and demanding, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

He broke the kiss, leaving her gasping for breath, then moaning as his mouth moved lower to
capture a pert breast. He sucked greedily on it while his other hand occupied itself with the
other breast. She cried out, her back arching sharply, as he bit down painfully on the nip,
drawing blood. He renewed his suckling vigorously, reveling in the coppery taste. Pan buried
her hands in his hair as he switched breast. She clenched her eyes shut as he toyed with that
nipple, rolling it around with his tongue and biting playfully.

Her eyes shot open, when without warning, he plunged himself inside of her. She cried out and
dug her nails into his shoulders.

"Trunks . . . " She moaned as her body shook with a small orgasm.

Trunks released her breast and looked up at her with a devilish smirk, then pushed himself
deeper inside of her. Pan shuddered and opened her mouth in a silent scream. For Trunks
anger and passion was a thin line and he often mixed the two. Pan knew this and braced
herself for the onslaught of his kind of harsh lovemak She She was used to it, even preferred it
at times.

Trunks growled and squeezed his eyes shut tight at overoverwhelming sensations. Like every
time before he felt himself trapped inside of her warm cocoon, felt like he was drowning in the
sea of ecstacy that was her. The thought that he could have lost her, only a few hours before,
made his heart seize in pain and he held her tighter.

Never had he loved before, he didn't think it was possible for him. He had thoughs lis life
perfect in the arms of girls he could care less about. That is until Pan. A mistake that somehow
blossomed into this intense feeling that the word love couldn't even describe. She couldn't
even fathom what she has done to him.

The only sounds in the room were his heavy breathing her soft moans. He suddenly had the
overwhelming desire to fill the ship with her voice screaming his name. He pushed into her
harder than he had before and grinned when she did just that, her body convulsing under his.



Pan could only scream as he pounded away inside of her. She felt her mind slowly ebb away
with each demanding thrust. She held onto him as if to let go would be to drown in the passion
he so easily brought upon her. Her body was tensing painfully on her and she knew the end of
this mad lovemaking was coming near. Just when she thought she could take no more, her
release took hold of her in a wash of pleasure that only he could bring her. Trunks followed
after her and then his trembling body collapsed on top of hers.

Struggling to catch his breath, he rolled off of her and brought her to lie on him. With a content
sigh, Pan laid her head on his massive chest and listened as his heartbeat returned to normal.
Trunks absently stroked her hair as his thoughts once again turned to the gruesome battle
fought earlier.

Pan shifted above him and turned to look into the blue eyes that she had loved since she could
remember. He was frowning down at her, obviously brooding over earlier. She smiled
sweetly, hoping to bring him out of his foul mood. She reached up and brushed a few
misplaced strands of hair from his face. She had a sense of deja vu as he grabbed her hand in
his larger one. He wrapped her arm around his neck, then slid his hand down her back,
causing goosed bumps to rise on her skin.

His look was as intense as always as his face bent to hers and kissed her softly. She smiled
again when he pulled away and buried her head in the crook of his neck where she felt herself
drifting off to sleep. His arms came up around her and held her close to him.

"Never disobey my orders again." She faintly heard him say before sleep overtook her completely.

*********************************

Sinking. She was sinking in the black water again. She didn't bother struggling against it this
time. She wanted it to consume her, take her under so that she wouldn't have to wake up and
face another day without him.

He was there again. As always just out of her reach with his back turned away from her. She
cried out to him to help her, to forgive her. She knew it was fruitless, but she couldn't help but
to try. The ice cold water burned her skin like fire and she yelled his name with every ounce of
energy she had left.

Bra watched with wide eyes as his posture changed, shifted as he slowly turned to face her.
He looked confused as to where he was or what he was doing here. Then he saw her and
shock played over his face. She reached out to him desperately hoping he could save her.
Surprisingly, he reached out to her also, but she quickly saw that he couldn't move either. He
struggled harder to reach her as panic rose evident in his features.

She began to struggle, trying with all her might to reach him, but it only made her sink faster.
The tips of their fingers were barely inches apart, just a hair out of reach. Goten dropped to
his knees in hope of being better able to reach her, but it was no use.

He opened his mouth as panic turned to fear. "Beep." He said.

Bra was confused. What was that supposed to mean? She looked to him again and he
seemed frustrated that she didn't understand him. "Beep, beep, beep." He repeated over and
over again.

Gradually the dream world began to fade around her and she found herself waking in her bed
with her com. link going off. Groaning, she rolled over and grabbed it off of the night table and
switched it on.

"What?!" She demanded groggily, angry that she had been woken up.

"Your Highness," some guard squeaked out. "Prince Trunks' ship is set to land in two hours."

"Oh," Bra said a little less mean than the last time. "Good job." With that she shut the link
down and flopped back onto her bed.

She laid staring at the ceiling as the morning sun rose in the sky, casting pink shadows over the
walls. Her brother was finally home. She couldn't recall how long it'd been since she last saw
him. Time had ceased to exist after learning of Goten's death. Time didn't matter anymore,
because no amount of time would be bringing him back.

Trunks' return brought implications with it. Such as the wedding with Kiao. The months since
she found out, she'd managed to avoid him and his lecherous hands. He told her he didn't care
one bit, because it was only a matter of time before she was his. She shivered at the thought of
having to be with him. No. It would never happen. Not in this life or the next. She belonged to
Goten and soon she would be with him.

In all honesty she looked forward to the wedding that would take place in only a few short
months, on her birthday. Soon it would all be over. She had been planning it ever since she
found out about his untimely demise. It would be a dramatic end to her miserable existence
and it fell on the perfect day. What better day to end one's life than on the day one was
brought into the world?

Not only would she be killing herself, but she planned on taking out that miserable excuse for
a sayian, Kiao. On the night of the honeymoon. When they came for them the next day or the
day after they would find nothing but two rotting corpses. It was perfect and she couldn't wait.

She turned her morbid thoughts to contemplate the bizarre dream. The dream started out the
same as always, only this time the ending changed. Never before had Goten turned to look at
her and he certainly never tried to help her. She remembered the look on his face. He had
been afraid for her, had not wanted her to go. Also, there wasn't the usual hate and anger
emanating from him.

Bra frowned in thought. What could it possibly mean? Was he glad about her plan to kill
herself? If he was, then why was he trying to help her? Why did she get the feeling that it
wasn't what he wanted? She shook her head in indecision. What was the point in analyzing the
dream? It didn't mean anything. Goten was dead. It was as simple as that and nothing could
change her course of action.

Angry at herself for thinking such insane thoughts, she pushed herself off the bed and headed
for her bath to prepare to meet her brother and Pan within the hour. Still, she couldn't push it
out of her head. A disturbing feeling in the pit of her stomach told her that today would be
different. Something major was going to happen that would change everything for her. Only
she could not fathom what it could possibly be.

************************************

Got Goten stood on the bridge of the ship next to Prince Trunks and his niece Princess Pan. It was
still hard for him to believe she was what she had become. But things change over the years
and he didn't really know her any more than she knew him. It was still good to be next to her,
to know that some part of his remaining family was doing well and was happy after all they
had to endure in the name of the crown. And now she was a part of that. A fitting end, he
thought bitterly.

Trunks stood in between them, looking tall and proud, the picture perfect prince, commanding
the landing of his fleet. He could see out of the window all of the royal guards there to
welcome them home and a job well done. He could see the King waiting at the end of a red,
velvet carpet, flanked by the commander of the guard, his new boss. The other side of the
King was empty and he supposed that was where the Princess was suppose to be.

It would be his first glimpse of her and he wondered if all the rumors of her were true. Men
that had actually seen her said she was an impossible beauty, that one look at her and you
would fall helplessly in love. That you would do anything for her, even if it meant your own life
and that was usually the case.

They said that she glowed, radiated innocence. When she talked it sounded like angles
themselves sung for her voice. That her eyes were the color of some far off sea that Vegetasei
would never know and you could drown in them if you weren't careful.

They said she was mysterious, seductive, charismatic. That every man who had ever died for
her died willingly, for just one touch of her soft, creamy skin. None could say no to her. Her
wrath was in equal parts to her beauty. She was the tempting combination of innocents and
sexiness. Deadly, they had said. Dangerous and it was best if he never took the chance to
look upon her. For if he did, it would surely be his end.

It intrigued and frightened Goten. He wanted to know if it was true, if someone could hold so
much power over another with just one look. At the same time he was afraid to do so. She
sounded like a siren, calling to men and having them die in the process of reaching her.

His thoughts turned the the mystical Princess to his Beta. She had the power to command
him with just a look of her beautiful brown eyes. How he missed her. He still hadn't given up
hope in finding her. He spent the first few months after her disappearance searching the planet
for her with no luck. No one had heard of her. There was no record of her anywhere. It
seemed like she was just a figment of his imagination. Gone before he really had the chance to
hold onto it.

Something inside of him told him not to give up so easily. That when he wasn't looking for her
she would appear. He held onto that feeling like a lifeline. If she was out there somewhere, he
would find her. Of that he had no doubt. He already felt closer than he'd ever felt before.
Soon, soon he would be with her. He could feel it in the farthest corner of his mind. She was
there and waiting for him. More than that she needed him.

He didn't know how he would go about looking for her now that he was back. His new
position on the royal guard and as Pan's personal guard and the new Prince's caretaker, he
didn't see much free time to pursue his quest. But he knew that Trunks understood and would
give him leave if he wanted it.

Goten felt the ship descend to the landing base and touch down with a thump. Soldiers began
to line up as the doors opened. Two by two, they began to file out and take their places along
the carpet, on knee with a fist over their heart. The procession was long and in his eyes,
overdone. Only the Prince would get such a welcoming and Goten wasn't used to all the fanfare.

He walked a few paces behind the royal couple with the few other elite guards that were
privileged enough to be in this position. They reached the end of the carpet and knelt in front
of the King. With Goten on one side of the Prince, there was nothing blocking his view of him.
King Vegeta stood with his arms crossed over his chest, scowling as if the world was against him.

A commotion a distance behind the King caught Goten's attention. The crowds were parting
and knelling down as someone came running through. He lifted his eyes just enough to see
without being conspicuous and his breath caught in his throat. A vision of pure beauty that
none of the stories did justice to, was running toward them. She was dressed in a long, royal
blue gown that shimmered in the early morning light. Her long blue-green hair dance about her
face as she ran to them. As she got closer, he could see her cerulean eyes sparkling with happiness.

For a long moment, he forgot how to breathe. He realized that the stories of her beauty had
been true. He couldn't take his eyes off of her as she seemingly glided to her spot next to her
father. The warmest smile graced her perfect mouth as she looked at her brother and Pan. It
only served to add to her wondrous appearance.

Goten knew he must be staring, but he couldn't seem to look away. She held him captivated
and she hadn't said a single word yet. The King made a displeased noise and Goten lowered
his eyes, hoping that the sound wasn't directed at him. The Princess gave a musical little laugh
and he almost raised his head completely, so familiar was the sound.

Beside him Trunks smirked. "It's like you to be late to your only brother's welcome." He said
with a little laugh of his own.

She laughed again and moved to embrace her brother, the soft rustling of her skirt sending her
scent straight to Goten's nose. He had closed his eyes to keep from staring at her and to try
and concentrate on why her voice sounded so familiar. When the scent reached him fully, his
snapped up completely in shock, in time to see the Princess hug the Prince and Pan in turn.

He knelt there, completely dumbstruck, jaw going slack as he recognized her smell. For eight
months his house had been filled with that smell. Every night he'd gone to bed wrapped in the
scent that was her and hers alone. His beloved Beta. But that didn't make any sense! Nor was
it even possible! Goten shook his head to clear it, but the smell of her had his brain fogged and
he couldn't think straight. He barely noticed the others standing and only stood in time to not
draw attention to himself.

Goten stared at the Princess in confusion, trying to figure out why she smelled like his mate.
Could he be mistaken? True it'd been a couof yof years since he'd seen her, could his mind be
playing tricks on him? It was possible that it could be any number of things making him smell
his mate without her being there. It could simply be because he'd been so taken by the
Princess' appearance that his mind created the illusion to keep him from thinking of anyone
else besides Beta. It still unnerved him, for if it was just an illusion of the mind it wasn't going away.

He was trying to focus on what she was saying to his niece. Something about being surprised
to see her pregnant, but he couldn't concentrate, her voice even sounded the same. He felt the
overwhelming desire to grab her and demand an explanation. At the same time he wanted to
run and never look back. He was scared, to say the least, at what was happening to him.
None of it made sense and it rattled him to the bone.

The King was talking quietly with Kiao, his back turned to them, while the siblings chatted
happily. He was glad King Vegeta was distracted at the time, because he couldn't take his off
of her. She turned suddenly to him, as if she felt his eyes on her. Their eyes locked and she
stopped talking altogether and just stared at him as he was her. The beautiful blue orbs
widened and Goten thought he saw recognition flash in them. Her hand went to her mouth as
she gasped and then she swooned and collapsed.

Kiao was at her side in mere seconds, catching her before she hit the ground. Goten took a
few, terrified steps back as Vegeta ran to him, aura flaring and madder than all hell. He
dropped to his knees as the King reached him, only to be pulled up by the scruff of his neck.

"What did you do!?" He demanded as he shook him.

Goten was at a loss for words. He really had no idea what had happened and he was scared
as hell for his fate. His mouth opened and closed uselessly, words refusing to come out.

"Answer me!" Vegeta had both hands around his neck now, choking the life out of him. If
Goten had wanted to answer he wouldn't have been able to.

Everyone was standing around watching in stunned silence. No one dared to move. Some had
even stopped breathing, all wanting to see what would happen next.

"Dad," Trunks said, stepping up and placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Let him go. He
didn't do anything."

Vegeta said nothing, just stared at his son in contempt, hands still wrapped in a death grip
around Goten's neck. Goten was having a hard time breathing. Spots were beginning to
appear in front of his eyes. Through the spots he could see the Princess waking up. When she
realized who was holding her, she shoved him violently away. Turning her attention to him, her
eyes widen in shock again and she jumped up and ran to them.

"Daddy!" She cried. "Let him go!"

Vegeta looked at his now standing daughter. She gave him a stern look andlesslessened his
grip. "He didn't do anything. I swear. I'm just tired and worn from all the excitement. If
anything, it was the shock of seeing Pan pregnant that did it." She said in a rush.



Vegeta reluctantly let go of him and he dropped to the ground, where he sucked in huge,
grateful breaths. He turned to face his daughter fully. "You were fine before." He said suspiciously.

"I'm fine now." Bra said sternly. "Everything just caught up with me. I only need to lie down
and I'll feel better."

"Fine." Vegeta said. "Then lets go."

Bra shot Goten one last concern-mixed-with-confusion glance that he didn't quite understand
and turned to leave. Before following her, King Vegeta kicked him hard in his side, then left.
The crowds began to disperse and Goten watched the royals leave. He saw Kiao put his arm
around her slim waist and couldn't explain the sudden jealous and murderous rage that
bubbled up inside of him at the sight.

Trunks watched them leave too, and wonfuonfused as to why his father said nothing about the
commander touching the Princess. He gave a quick shake of his head and looked to Goten
who was just now picking himself off the ground.

"What the fuck just happened!?" Trunks questioned of no one in particular.

"
"I don't know." Goten said while rubbing his sore neck.

Trunks sighed heavily and reached for Pan, trying to wrap an arm around her waist, but not
quite making it. "Go home and collect your things. Be back here by this time tomorrow and I
will have everything set up for you." With that the royal couple walked away.

Goten stood there for a little while longer, still wondering what exactly had happened. After
that he wasn't so sure he wanted to stay in the palace. If the Princess made a show of doing
that every time he was around, he wouldn't be around for much longer. Sighing at his luck he
tto tto the sky and flew toward his home, to tell his grandfather the ægood' news.

******************************

Bra laid in her room, wringing her hands nervously. That had been Goten she'd seen, no doubt
about it. Her suspicions were confirmed when Pan told her all about him. Goten. Sweet Kami,
he is alive! Not only is he alive but he is living in the palace! After all this time they were under
the same roof again, only he didnnow now it was her.

What did she do to have the fates torture her so?! That day at the landing base she'd been
taken completely by surprise. When she first saw him standing there, she thought he was a
figment of her imagination, but then he didn't go away. And the way he was looking at her! It'd
all been too much.

To wake and find Kiao hovering over her almost made her sick. That was a vision she could
have lived the rest of her life not seeing. She'd been no where near Goten, hadn't even said
one word to him and still she almost got him killed. What was she to do now? Every fiber in
her body said to go to him and wrap her arms around him and make sweet love, but her
rational mind said that it was out of the question. Her father would surely find out and kill the
both of them.

For the last two weeks she'd managed to stay away from him completely, but she didn't know
how much longer she could keep it up. Her heart was torn in two. She wanted him so badly,
but knew if she was caught the consequences would be monestrous. Was there a way to be
with him without getting caught? She knew her father had only suspected that at one time
Trunks and Pan were seeing each other. He needed her to confirm it for him. Perhaps she
could be so lucky as to get it by him too.

Bra was terrified. She didn't know how long her control would keep her away from him. The
thoughts of all the nights they shared together kept flooding her mind. It made it hard to
concentrate on anything but him. Already she could feel her feet carrying her to the door. She
hesitated for a moment before stepping out into the dark, silent hall. Goten's rooms were a
few halls over, past the hall that her father slept in. It was late and everyone was asleep or at
least she hoped. She levitated a couple of inches off the ground to be extra quiet and took off
in the direction of his room. All along the way she kept her ears and eyes open wide for the
slightest sound that someone was up in the royal wing of the palace.

Moments later she reached Goten's door without incident. Landing silently, she took a deep
breath and opened the door, quickly stealing herself inside the room. It was pitch black in here
and the only sound was Goten's soft snore coming from somewhere inside the rooms. Bra
took a few minutes to let her eyes adjust to the darkness, then crept along until she got to his
sleeping chambers.

She found him in his bed, laying on his back, the sheets tangled around his sweaty body. The
room was filled with his aroma and Bra breathed it in, reveling in it. For so long she'd thought
to never smell that musky, manly scent that was Goten again. She felt her resolve strengthen at
her actions and she slowly undid the dress she'd been wearing, letting it drop to the ground.

Nervously, she crawled onto the bed, trying to come up with some way of reveling herself to
him. She was afraid that he would push her away, or would he welcome her with open arms?
She wasn't sure and that frightened her. Goten shifted slightly and his breathing changed, he
was waking up. He moaned softly in his sleep as he felt her skin against his.

In his sleep he could smell her and then suddenly he could feel her warm body against his, her
tiny hands in his hair and he moaned. Such a wonderful dream, he thought as he began to
wake. Suddenly he realized that he wasn't dreaming, that she really was here. He could smell
her, feel her and she felt wonderful. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his hands in
her silky hair. His mouth sought hers in a fiery kiss they hadn't shared in years. Yes, this was
no dream, she was really here in his arms. She moaned against his mouth and he held her tighter.

"Beta . . . " He whispered against her lips.

"Yes," She said, "I'm here, Goten."

"Where have you been?" He questioned with some hurt in his voice.

"I've always been here, waiting for you." She said and kissed him again.

Goten kissed her back with as much passion. Could this be real, his mind questioned. He
suddenly felt the need to see her, to make sure she was real. He broke the kiss and leaned
over to the side of the bed to turn on the light there.

"Goten, what are you doing?" She asked with fear in her voice.

"I want to see you." He answered as he flicked the light on.

"No!" She cried, but it was too late, he had already turned over and saw her. Bra buried her
face in her hands, trying to hide from the look of horror she knew was on his handsome face.

Goten sat there completely stupefied as he took in the silky blue hair that was spread across
his pillow and cascaded down her creamy white back. A fear unlike any he'd ever known
before spread its way through his body, paralyzing his limbs. This wasn't his mate! This wasn't
Beta. No. This was the Princess. The forbidden daughter of the King naked in his bed.

"What the hell is going on here?" Goten questioned harshly.

Bra lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. It was there, the look she hadn't wanted to
see. Complete and utter horror. She sniffed, but couldn't say anything. She moved to him, to
touch him, to comfort him and herself but he moved away from her.

"Princess . . . " He gasped out when he saw his fears confirmed in her teary blue eyes. "What
are you doing in here?"

"Goten," She said softly as she sat up. "It's me. Don't you see? It's me." She said desperately,
trying to make him see.

Goten narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't know what game you're playing, but you aren't my mate."

More tears came to her eyes. Why did he have to turn the light on? "Goten, please
understand. I'm Beta. We met in a bar, you took me to your home, you made me your mate .
. . "

Goten cut her off. "Stop! I don't know how you know all that, but it's not possible." He said,
even though all his senses told him otherwise.

"Look!" Bra cried and moved her hair from her neck to revel the scar of his mark.

Goten leaned in to look at it closely. His fingers brushed against it lightly, causing her to shiver.
It was his mark, he could see. Countless night he'd spent staring at the scar that marred her
perfect flesh, that made her his. He recoiled in horror as everything came into focus. Her
appearance and disappearance corresponding with the Princess'. Her reaction to him at the
landing base. Her coming to him now and countless other small things that made it clear to him
who she really was.

"H-how? Why?" He managed to get out as he stared at her wide eyed.

Bra crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He did not respond right
away, but slowly his arms came around her too. She sighed happily.

"Please Goten, please. I love you so much. I..." Bra started after a moment of silence.

Goten stiffened under her arms and his entire body tensed. He was remembering the last time
she had said that to him. The night she left him and broke his heart and crushed his world.
Now here she was doing it again. He grabbed her shoulders and held her away from him, his
eyes narrowed and filled with anger.

"This isn't going to happen." He stated harshly as he pushed her away. "Not again."

"What do you mean? Goten, where are you going?"

"Beta . . . Bra . . . Princess or whoever the hell you are. I think you should leave." He said as
he stood with his back to her.

Bra stared at him in shock. "What!?"

"I said you should leave. I'm not falling into your little traps." He said venomously.

"What are you talking about? After all this time we're finally together again and you're pushing
me away!" She cried.

"You pushed me away first when you left like you did." He said coldly.

"I had to leave. They were searching for me. If they found you with me, they would have killed
you! I did it for you!"

He turned on her angrily. "I didn't even know who you really were. You couldn't even give me
that much. Did you not think I would understand? I've spent years looking for you! Years
wondering why you left me, what I had done wrong. Only to come here and find out that even
though you're right here, I can't have you! Do you think that your father will sanction this? A
marriage between his royal daughter and a lowly third class! And further more, I see you've
already moved on and found yourself another man to take my place! What was the point in
coming to me tonight, Bra? One more romp before you settled down? To mash my heart
more than it already is? Why Princess, why? Why me? Is it because of who my family is?
Should I suffer the same fate as my brother?!" He was yelling and panting by the end of it.

He watched her as she curled into the bed sobbing, a look of disgust and pain on his face.
"No." He said as he grabbed his training pants off the floor. "No. I will not do this. Not again.
I won't let it happen again. I won't die a second time for you."

"Goten! Please don't leave! You have to understand! I didn't want to hurt you. Kiao means
nothing! My father set it up! Please, you have been the only one for me! I have been waiting
for the right time to come and find you. I never thought you'd come to me. Please, don't you
see? This is fate, Goten. We were meant to be!" She said between sobs.

Goten didn't turn to look at her as he stormed out of the room. "Goten! I command you to
stop!" She yelled at his back.

Out of habit, he stopped, but didn't turn to her. "What?" He ground out between clenched
teeth, his voice cold and hard.

"Come back here." Bra said in a commanding voice.

Goten laughed bitterly. "Did you think that after everything, finding this out, I would just come
to you? I don't have to listen to that command, Princess. I've already been told that more than
once. Goodnight." With that he left the room.

Bra stared after him hurt and disbelieving. She yelled angrily and frustrated and slammed her
fist down on the soft bed while her tears renewed themselves. She knew this would happen,
but she had hoped it would go better. How could she have just assumed that he would take
her back? She couldn't believe that he had just walked out on her like that. No matter it was
over now. Even though he was angry and said hurtful things to her, she would give him time.
She knew he would come around. At least she hoped so.

*************************************

Goten flew off the palace grounds angry. He had to get as far away from there as possible. He
couldn't believe what had just happened. He couldn't believe what he had said to the Princess.
He wondered what would wait for him when he got back, if he returned. Would she make up
some lie and have him thrown in the dungeons? Right now he could care less.

He flew as fast as his energy would let him toward his home. He had a bone to pick with his
old man. A few hours later, which only seemed like minutes, he landed in front of his
grandfather's dark, little house. Not bothering knocking, he strode in, the door slamming
behind him.

Bardock, hearing someone come into his home, got up from his bed and went to investigate.
As he turned the corner to his livingroom, a fist connected with his jaw, sending him reeling
backwards. Before he had time to right himself, two strong hands shoved him against the wall.

"You knew didn't you." A harsh voice rasped at him.

"n? Wn? What the hell is your problem? Let me go!" Bardock yelled angrily.

Goten let go of him and went and plopped down in a nearby chair. Bardock turned on a light
and took in the sight of his grandson. It was obvious he was stressed and upset about
something and he could only guess at what it was.

"Tell me the truth, old man." Goten said softly. "You knew who she was. You knew Beta was
the Princess. That was why you didn't want me to take the position in the palace."

Bardock sighedrilyrily and nodded his head in affirmation. "Why didn't you tell me?" Goten asked.

"She made me swear not to. We both thought it was in your best interest that you didn't
know. I never dreamed something like this would happen. Tell me what happened." Bardock
said gently.

Goten sighed and sat forward in the chair with his head down as he told him about the landing
base and everything that happened tonight. "She said it was fate that brought us back
together." He finished bitterly.

Bardock shook his head. "Perhaps it is. You were the one always going on about how it was
destiny that the two of you met and that someday the fates would lead the two of you together
again. It must be so."

Goten growled and frowned. "This isn't what I had in mind when I spouting off all that bullshit.
If this is fate then they must be mocking me, because we can't be together any more than we
could if I never found her."

"Tell me this," Bardock said. "Does finding out that she is really the Princess change everything
that the two of you shared when she was simply Beta? Does it change the way you feel about her?"

"It changes everything." Goten replied darkly and stood to leave.

"Well, it must not change anything for her." Bardock said. "Where are you going now?"

"I need something to drink." Goten said simply and walked out the door, leaving Bardock
staring worriedly after him.

Goten rose into the air thinking over what Bardock had said to him. Of course it changed
everything. He didn't fall in love with the snotty, bratty Princess. He fell in love with sweet and
simple Beta. But he knew if he thought about it they were one in the same. æBeta' could be
bratty and snotty too, if he remembered correctly.

He flew to the bar where he'd met her and went inside. There he found his old squad
members having a drink. He went to their table and was greeted warmly enough. He ordered
tons of ale, telling the waitress to keep them coming.

Tavis was at the table and looked at him funny. "I thought you quit drinking. What's this all about.?"

Goten told him about the war and about how he lost his entire crew and life at the palace for
the last two weeks, leaving the part about Beta/Bra out. Tavis simply shook his head and
handed him another glass.

"How are things with you? More specifically, how are Callie and Avis?" Goten asked, having
not seen his friends since he left for the mission.

Tavis grinned huge. "Avis will be entering the academy soon and Callie is pregnant again."

Goten laughed. "I bet she isn't too happy about that is she?"

Tavis laughed with him. "No. Not really. She itching to get back to fighting and she can't do
that if I keep her with child. She is talking about sending this one away for a planet purge though."

Goten raised his eyes in shock. "Really? I thought she was against that."

"She was." Tavis answered wi nod nod of his head. "But she doesn't want to be tied down
taking care of another kid for the next three or four years. I don't care either way, because it
doesn't affect me none. I told her to do what she wants." He finished with a shrug of his shoulders.

"So how is the search for Beta coming?" He asked casually.

Goten's whole demeanor darkened considerably. "It's over." He said simply, with little emotion.

Tavis looked at him surprised. "So you found her then?"

Goten nodded his head. "She's dead." He said coldly.

Tavis looked at Goten weirdly. For just having found out his mate was dead, he didn't seem to
be upset. He thought news like that would have him bawling like a newborn, the way he was
so hung up on the girl. It could also be the reason he was at the bar now, drinking away his
sorrows. They talked nothing more about Beta or mates, just relived the times they were rivals
and on the same squad.

***************************************

Trunks was extremely angry. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of Goten in three days. He was
stressed beyond all limits and wanted to beat the hell out of something that couldn't beat him
back. That was why he wanted Goten. That was his job and he wasn't here to do it.

Pan had just given birth to the new heir a day ago. A strong boy that resembled his father with
his eyes. This had made Trunks a very happy man and had wanted to share it with his new
friend only to find him missing. He thought nothing of it at first, but when he hadn't return the
next day, Trunks started to get mad. Goten had not been given permission to leave the
grounds and yet he was no where to be found. Trunks swore that if he was off on that wild
goose chase to find his mate he'd kill him.

On top of that, Bra had been moping around the place for about as long as Goten had been
gone. She was acting like someone died or something. Trunks chalked that up to her not being
happy about being forced to marry Kiao. He wasn't too thrilled about the idea either, but
decided to let his father handle all that. He didn't really like Kiao and thought his father could
have done a better job in finding someone for her. He had the distinct feeling that the
arrangement wasn't going to last long. There was little you could make Bra do without her
finding a way out of it.

Trunks decided to go to the village where Goten was from to see if he returned home for
some reason. Maybe something happened to his grandfather and he went back to handle his
affairs. Even if that was the case, it still didn't excuse his lack of telling him where he was
going. He got the directions from his computer and took off.

He landed a couple of hours later in the middle of the town and started looking around. He
had no idea where Goten lived in this dirty little place, so he just walked around until he could
find someone who looked useful. After about twenty minutes and only coming across people
who looked like complete idiots, Trunks found Goten himself. He was laying on the side of the
road, piss drunk.

Trunks' temper flared as he walked over and kicked Goten in his side. Goten moaned and
rolled over. Upon seeing who was harassing him, he moaned even louder. Trunks bent down
and pulled hnto nto a sitting position.

"What the hell is your problem?" He demanded angrily. "You take off for three days to go on
a drinking binge?"

Goten looked at Trunks sadly. "I found Beta." He said, his voice horse.

Trunks raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Goten nodded his head. "She's dead." He said then hung his head. "I don't think she was ever
really alive."

Trunks frowned and shook his head. "Very well then. You're coming back with me. There is
no reason for you to be hanging around here. Next time you decide to go off, I'd like to be
notified." He said, but there was no anger in his voice.

"Pan had the baby." He said as he helped Goten up and lifted into the air with his arm around
him for support. Some of the others on the street watched in shock as their Prince helped the
third class.

Goten looked at him all bleary eyed. "I missed it." He said sadly.

Trunks nodded his head. "Yes, but the kid is still there, so you'll have a chance to see him."

"That's good." Was all Goten said before his head rolled back and he passed out. Trunks
frowned again, finding himself in a very undignified position. Well, he thought, I'll just have*to
make him pay for it later. And then he flew home.

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