To any new reader, this is the third story in a trilogy. The order of the stories is as follows:
1) Anyone But Him
2) The 3 Year Gap
3) The 7 Year Gap

You're welcome to read this on its own, but for character development you may want to check out the others first! This story may also contain certain references to the previous installments.

It had been 6 months that Vegeta and Trunks had spent in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and for 6 months they had trained in silence. The saiyan prince wasn't exactly enthused when he learned that his grown son from the future was going to be joining him in seclusion for a year, but he figured that as long as the boy kept his distance they would both do just fine.

Vegeta couldn't help but find Trunks irritating. The boy simply lacked any of the saiyan pride that even Kakarot had in him, and at the same time he had constantly tried to tell Vegeta what to do. Vegeta wasn't one to take orders from anybody, and Trunks was always trying to steer him away from any type of confrontation with the Androids - and in that timid way of his, too! It was nothing short of an insult that Trunks didn't think his own father had the capability of winning a fight. The boy needed to know his place. He needed to know that his father, Prince Vegeta of the Planet Vegeta and rightful ruler of the almighty warrior saiyan race, was the strongest being there was. This was something that Trunks just wouldn't grasp, and it was infuriating.

What kind of saiyan avoided conflict, anyway? That was a serious question in of itself - but what was even more irritating was that Trunks had also managed to find the ability to become Super Saiyan! Super - when it'd taken Vegeta to the verge of madness before he'd found the way. How on Earth did a skittish saiyan who was afraid of combat find the key to the change - and at such a young age, too?!

Vegeta, who had been taking a rest, finally found himself in a good enough mood to ask. He began to make his way towards Trunks, who had been in the middle of a power up. When Trunks saw his father approaching he stopped everything he was doing and quietly waited to see what this was about.

"Tell me, boy." Vegeta said in a stern, yet calm tone. "How did you find the capacity to become a super saiyan in your youth?"

The teenager's eyes widened, looking somewhat shocked by the attention. Of course, Vegeta found this obnoxious. He was always acting so timid. This boy was supposedly his son... His son! He'd always wanted the boy to know his place, but he also wanted Trunks to assert confidence. It just wouldn't do to act so fragile all the time. This boy had blood of saiyan royalty in him, didn't he? Where on Earth did he inherit his apprehensiveness from?! Bulma didn't even act like this, although she had been a bit nutty the last few times Vegeta had seen her...

"I..." Trunks began, obviously not wanting to think about it. "I was always told by my mentor, Gohan, that becoming a super saiyan came from a deep feeling of grief..."

Hearing the name alone set Vegeta off. Perhaps it was that child who had done this to his son, then?! "Who cares about that offspring of Kakarot! I asked you a question, boy! How did you find the ability to become a super saiyan!?"

Trunks was feeling offended by the way Vegeta spoke about his dearly departed best friend. "It happened a long time ago," He croaked, dropping his face and rolling his hands into fists. It didn't take much to see that he was trying to avoid the subject, but Vegeta wasn't yet satisfied. In fact, he was still exasperated.

"Rubbish! Don't pretend that you can't remember! A saiyan never forgets something like this! Now, tell me how you became a super saiyan!" Vegeta snapped. He wanted to get a rise out of Trunks - to see the boy actually hold his ground. Vegeta had been nothing less than pissed since before the battle with the androids started, and Trunks' bashfulness was only infuriating him more. He'd been trying to assert his dominance over this adolescent ever since he realized that the boy was his son. He'd even ignored him for six months in the time chamber to prove his point. Now that he was addressing Trunks - demanding him to speak, this kid was going to be uncooperative? "What could you know of grief, boy?" Vegeta spat, hoping that his condescending tone would prod the boy enough to react.

It worked, because it was then that Trunks finally snapped. "Shut up!" The teenager yelled, his ki instantly flaring up. "What do I know?!" He looked up from the ground with a sudden fire in his eyes - one that took Vegeta by surprise - it was a look that reminded him of her. "I come from a terrible era filled with death and destruction! I grew up without a father! I watched my mom struggle constantly to try and make a good life for me! I've had to worry about her and protect her from becoming another one of their victims! I watched my best friends die at the hands of those monsters! Don't you dare ask me what I know!"

'Finally,' Vegeta thought, a smirk forming at his lips. 'The boy shows that he has some spine after all.'

The fire left his pupils as soon as Trunks finished shouting. He dropped his face, his long lavender hair hanging over his eyes. He shook his head, his biceps trembling as he continued to hold his hands in fists. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like that."

As far as Vegeta was concerned, there was nothing to be offended by. He let out a chuckle and crossed his arms. "I see." The saiyan grunted. Without speaking another word he strolled off, making sure to brush past Trunks as he went. The two did not exchange any more words for the rest of their time in the chamber. Vegeta made no gesture whatsoever, and Trunks was obedient enough to follow suit.

It was a few weeks later that Vegeta was taking a rest from meditating - which he'd taken a liking to doing between training sessions. He'd raided the refrigerator and was walking back to where he would continue his mental exercise, munching at a leg of meat. In the distance he could see the boy - charging up and throwing punches into thin air at a pace that most people wouldn't be able to fathom. Vegeta found himself watching this kid, analyzing his moves. Vegeta admired when a man was able to keep to himself and thrive in solitude. He was glad that Trunks took Vegeta's cues and stayed away. 'It seems the boy didn't learn how to be so annoyingly persistant, like the way his mother is.' Vegeta thought with a smirk.

It hadn't taken long for Vegeta to realize that depending on being an Ascended Saiyan during battle was futile. After starting his training in the chamber, it'd only taken a couple of months before he had come to this conclusion. Trial and error had taught Vegeta when he learned how dramatically his stamina suffered upon making the transition as the ascended. Despite the following months he spent attempting to adjust his body to this new level of power, it was of no use - it simply required too much energy to maintain such a strong level of ki. This is what had led Vegeta to an old habit of his - meditation.

When Vegeta meditated he analyzed his surroundings, his mind, his soul. He would build a scan of his own body and use it to mentally calculate his own weak points and strengths, coming up with a plan on which attacks he would use - and when. He analyzed the Z-Fighters that would be fighting along with him, acknowledging their biggest inhibitors and their laughable advantages.

In fact, as Vegeta meditated, he found himself also identifying the boy who'd come from the future. He'd witnessed Trunks fight - and it was bittersweet to admit that he was good. He'd watched Trunks single handedly destroy both Mecha Frieza and King Cold, and with this thought Vegeta couldn't help to feel a strange pang inside. It took him a few moments before he realized what it was - this was a feeling of pride. 'No.' He found himself thinking, 'I didn't have to chance to defeat that bastard myself... but the boy... my own son, did...' It was with this that Vegeta opened his eyes, awakening from his thoughts. He looked into Trunks' direction to see the teenager kicking off his boots as he prepared for a rest. The boy was so quiet. Isolation didn't seem to disturb him at all. In fact, he looked perfectly natural keeping to himself. It was as if he were accustomed to reclusion. The ability to thrive in confinement was a trait it took to be a true warrior. Somehow watching the boy behave in this state left Vegeta with yet another smirk.

He would never forgot the look in Trunks' eyes when he'd finally been set off. And the words the boy had spoken.

"I can't believe it's all over," Bulma said. She'd just seen the teenage form of her son, Trunks, disappear into the sky with his bright yellow time machine. Her parents had already left the scene - off to finish up with their daily tasks, leaving Bulma standing alone with the baby form of her son in her arms. She'd been through a lot recently. Aside from all of her fighting with Vegeta, she'd had a few brushes with death, played a part in working out the programming of the androids, one of her best friends had died, and she'd even met her own son as a teenager. She'd met him, heard horrifying stories about his life, and had bid him farewell for good. It was a lot to take in...

Leaning against a tree, Vegeta had his eyes closed and his arms crossed. It seemed that ever since he'd arrived on Earth his mind was constantly preoccupied with one thing or another. For the longest time he'd struggled to become a super saiyan and struggled to cope with the liking he'd taken to the blue-haired woman that tended to his every need. He'd struggled to train and further his strength in the time chamber after having unfortunate outcomes to the battles with the Androids. Once again, having watched the fight against Cell, his mind was trailing like mad. He'd quickly realized during the battle with Cell that he was incapable of defeating him. It was a lot to come to terms with - Vegeta wasn't used to admitting to himself when he was inferior. What also plagued him was the vision of Kakarot sacrificing himself to save Gohan.

It was one that Vegeta couldn't just get out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried - and he hated it.

Bulma stepped past the saiyan as she headed to the house, not caring to bother him from his thoughts. In fact, she hardly even gave him a glance as she went. Sure, they'd been through a lot. But the last time she'd tried to have a serious conversation with Vegeta he had completely blown her off. With everything she was going through, she didn't care to risk another fight. After all, he'd told her before the battle that he was going to leave Earth forever once it was done. At this point she didn't see any reason to not believe him, and she wasn't interested in becoming emotionally invested with him again before he left.

Why would she want to, anyway? He'd left her for dead when her plane had exploded! What kind of jerk would do something like that?

Stepping into the house and having a look around, Bulma let out a heavy sigh. Trunks was squirming to escape her arms, and she set him down on the tiled floor under her feet. The baby immediately crawled away, wanting to find something he could use to practice standing. She'd watched his progress as he'd grown, and she knew it was only a matter of time before Trunks took his first steps. The baby eagerly wriggled away, and she followed his trail into the living room. In there he'd already pulled himself up against the couch and was practicing his balance. Once again, Bulma followed his lead. Throwing herself on the cushions felt like such a relief, as she let out another heavy sigh.

So much had happened, and she felt as if a heavy weight were being pressed against her.

Cell was dead, but so was Goku. She'd learned that the mysterious boy who'd come to warn everyone about the Androids was actually her baby Trunks, all grown up. It was amazing how instantly connected Bulma felt to the adult Trunks. There was a large gap of his life that she hadn't experienced, and yet when she looked up into his eyes she felt an absolute connection that took her breath away. She wanted to do nothing more than to cradle him, as if he were still an infant. Her boy was so sweet and smart - and incredibly strong, too. It was heart breaking to hear bits and pieces about the future he lived in. She wanted to protect him from the horrors he'd encountered, to take him in her arms and brush away the pain. It was unbearable to know that he was having to return to a future that she could never imagine living in. There was a large void in Bulma's heart as she mourned the loss of her future son and lamented his circumstances. It was even stranger to feel this way as she sat with him in the same room.

What more, there was the whole subject of Vegeta. After cycles and patterns, her relationship with that arrogant bastard was finally over. Even though she knew it was for the best, it was a lot to take in. There had been times before when she'd told him that they wouldn't work out, but there had always been a small twinge of hope that remained in the back of her heart. This time there was no hope at all - just an empty feeling of reality. Sure, there was a comforting sense of closure in finally coming to terms with their fate, but Bulma was still mourning the loss of the man she'd always hoped Vegeta could be. She had believed in him, she truly had. And she'd kept him close to her soul for so long that, now that he was gone, there was a void that hadn't yet healed.

… She wasn't sure if it would ever heal.

It really was a lot to process, but as Bulma watched her son play a few meters away, she found she had no desire to pity her situation. She and her baby had been given a second chance at life. A second chance! Her son was alive, young, and had a long future ahead of him. A future that certainly wouldn't turn out the same as the one Future Trunks had endured. She wasn't going to tarnish that by succumbing to the sadness inside. On the contrary, she was going to do everything in her power to make her baby's life great!

With that thought Bulma stood up. If Trunks wanted to play, they were going to play!

It was hours later that the sun was setting over the trees, and Bulma was happily bouncing Trunks in her arms as they walked home from an afternoon at the park. Trunks was cooing wildly, flailing his arms around in the air. His mother laughed along with him, ecstatic with her son's joy.

Bulma was walking alongside a brick wall that enclosed the park from outsiders. As she made her way further down the sidewalk, she suddenly came to a halt.

Vegeta was sitting, his legs hanging off the edge of the wall, as if he'd been specifically waiting for her. When he saw her the saiyan quickly jumped, falling about 3 meters through the air before landing on his feet right in front of her. "Woman," he said, dusting off his right sleeve.

Bulma backed away and held Trunks closely, shooting Vegeta a scowl. "What is it?" She asked. She had no desire to be rude with him, but she was also going to stand her ground if she needed to. Trunks had suddenly dropped his euphoric demeanor, staring at Vegeta in awe as he clutched his mother's shirt.

"Are you going to walk alone?" The saiyan prince asked.

"Yes, of course I am..." Her eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. "...Why?"

Vegeta furrowed his own eyebrows, as if he were struggling to think of the words he wanted to use. Finally he settled on "I'll go with you."

"No thanks, my house isn't that far from here." This was making the Bluehead uncomfortable. She wasn't used to him acting like this... What was going on?

"It is getting dark. I'll escort you two back to the house," Vegeta tried again. There was no malice in his tone, his voice sounded completely calm - if not a bit awkward. He'd noticed them when Bulma and Trunks had left the house. He'd followed them to the park. He'd waited for hours as they played, watching to make sure they were safe as he sat on the brick wall and tried to think of what he would do when they finally left. She'd always been so needy that he'd figured she would be delighted by his suggestion. He hadn't been expecting her to be so difficult, though he wasn't quite surprised, considering where their relationship stood at the moment.

This just wasn't turning out right at all...

"I walk home at night all the time, it's fine." Bulma said curtly. She didn't know what Vegeta was up to, but she had no interest in finding out. He'd been nothing less of a jerk to her ever since Trunks had been born, and she had completely lost all patience for his chaos. "Excuse me," Bulma said, stepping to the side to continue her stroll.

Vegeta stared at her, considering her words. He was extending himself to her. He was extending himself to her, and she was rejecting him. Didn't she know him well enough by now to understand that this wasn't an easy task for him to do? Was she trying to be difficult? Was this some kind of game she was playing?

'Well.' Vegeta thought smugly. 'Two can play at that game!' He'd encountered reverse psychology before, though he didn't yet know there was a name for it. He'd never attempted to use it, but now he was going to give it a shot.

"Fine then." He said, stepping to the side. "Walk by yourself, woman." He made a hand gesture, as if to wave her along.

"Okay, then!" Bulma replied, her voice suddenly cheering. She stepped away and waved back without looking. "See ya!"

Vegeta turned in shock, his eyes following her figure as she disappeared into the distance. 'What?' He thought, a vein beginning to throb in his forehead.

This was certainly not the way he'd expected the night to turn out!