Disclaimer: See Chapter I.

The Portal to Beyond: Chapter IX

The trip back to Ox King's place was very boring. Nobody spoke in fear of waking the prince. Oh sure, Goku could have teleported. But he never took so many people at once and that time wasn't right to try.

After they returned (and after they had Vegeta in a bed and tied down), they continued the conversation.

"So, are you saying that this boy, Trunks, is mine? Really?"

"Yep. There are two versions though." Goku told Bulma.

"What?"

"Well, there is Mirai Trunks from the future timeline that does not come to pass in our timeline because he came back and told us about the androids in time and there is this Trunks. I don't know if it will happen here or not."

"You see, there is a slight problem." Gohan began. "I was born about a year from this date, but it might not happen here. If it doesn't happen, a lot of things are going to change."

"Yeah," Goten started, "for one, niichan won't kill Cell so you all might die. He might not be strong enough if he's even born. There's a little problem with me being born too. Will I?"

"I don't know Goten-chan, I don't know." the younger ChiChi replied.

"This is a lot of pressure, don't you think?" Kakarott said. "All this is due to happen, but it doesn't have to go exactly like it went in your world. I mean, #1. Raditz is here early."

"But," Gohan argued, "he only came because Vejiita-sei still exists in this dimension. Now that I think about it, in ours, at this time, the planet would still be around also. I wonder why our Radtiz waited that long."

"Anyway, Kakarott, you are way stronger than I was at this time. I had just married ChiChi."

"Your also not as clueless as Goku was. I think it was the blow to the head too. ChiChi, you're also a lot stronger than I am at any time. I can fight, but I don't have enough ki to fly."

"Fine, fine. We'll take things as they come. Okay I admit I like ChiChi."

Everybody present (except ChiChi of course) raised their eyebrows.

Kakarott blushed. "Fine, I love ChiChi, but I'm not ready to, uh, to what do you humans call it again?"

"Marriage Kakarott." Gohan put in.

"I'm not ready for marriage."

"You don't have to be." Trunks said. "My Kaasan and Tousan weren't married when I was born. Actually, I think I was more of an accident."

"Don't think that way Trunks, you weren't." Gohan told him.

"You say it, my Kaasan says it, my grandparents say it, but Tousan doesn't believe it."

Suddenly there was a loud yell coming from upstairs.

"The beast is awake." Gohan muttered.

Bulma jumped up. "I think I should be the one to handle him, guys. You all just keep on doing what you already were." She ran upstairs to, hopefully, calm Vegeta down.

***

Upon arrving at the room he was in, Vegeta took one look at her and started shouting obscenities.

"WOMAN! WHAT IN HELL POSSESSED YOU TO STICK THAT NEEDLE IN ME?!"

"For one, it wasn't me who actually stuck you, it was Trunks." At the exact same moment she said that the vein on his forehead bulged a little more. I hope Trunks will be okay! "Anyway, you were acting like a rabid dog. I swear you were foaming at the mouth."

"That weakling is scum of the lowest kind. He shouldn't be anywhere near you."

"Vegeta, finding out that Yamcha is pitiful is something I need to discover on my own. Anyway, I knew that." She sat down on the edge of the bed. "Calm down, you probably tramitized poor Yamcha for life!" She gasped. "That reminds me! I have to get Goku to get him to a hospital!" She ran out of the room, down the hall, and to the living room. She came back about 10 minutes later. "There now, it's all taken care of."

"This is not over." He got up, or at least tried to. "Untie me, NOW!"

"Yes Prince Vegeta! Your rather grumpy after your unsuspected nap, aren't you?" But she pulls out a knife and starts to cut away at his bonds. "Damn. Gohan sure can tie some good knots." She finally completes her job and Vegeta stands.

"TRUNKS!"

"Uh, oh!" Bulma runs out the door ahead of him, and it's a war to see who would be first to the staircase. Bulma makes it first, but Vegeta pushes her out of the way. She recovers and slides down the banister. Vegeta is close on her heels.

"Trunks, run away now!" Bulma yells panting.

"Oh Kami!" Trunks jumps up quick and starts to run. Goku stands and grabs his arm, locks on to a random familiar ki, and they disappear. Vegeta, who at the time was diving for his son, hits thin air and falls flat on his face. Everyone there is trying to hold in their laughter, but Bulma laughs quite loudly.

"HAHAHAHA! Vegeta, you should be a comedian!" She stops as soon as she sees the look on his face. He's angrier than ever and soon as he sensed Goku's ki, he jumped up. Not bothering to open the door he makes a new one and takes to the air at break-neck speed.

"Oh no! I endangered Trunks' life!" Bulma sat down wearily on the couch.

"Bulma-chan, what did you do?" the younger ChiChi asked.

Bulma explained everything, from what she told Vegeta to the race. They looked at her in shock.

"B-chan! If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to get with the prince!" ChiChi said.

Bulma blushed. "Uh, I'm not. He's just soooo cute!" She gasped as she saw everyone look at her knowingly. "Did I say that outloud?"

The older ChiChi spoke up. "Bulma is not going to like this at all! She can be pretty psycho when she wants to."

"More psycho than you?" Goten asked under his breath, but ChiChi heard him anyway and turned into Demon Woman. Everyone present braced themselves.

"Oh, you're in for it now." Gohan whispered.

"GOTEN! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT YOUR MOTHER THIS WAY! I KNOW I'VE RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THAT! I--" Luckily Gohan interrupted her.

"Kaasan, he's sorry. Aren't you Goten?"

"Yes Niichan." Goten wanted more than anything to end this. "I'm sorry I called you psycho and I'll never do it again."

ChiChi's mood changed so fast they didn't know what hit them. She smiled. "That's my little Goten. There's the boy I raised." she sighed. "Trunks is influencing you too much. I think you should stay away from him."

Goten sighed. Not this again! "Kaasan, he's my best friend! I can't just stay away from him!"

"He has a point, Kaasan." Gohan told her calmly.

"I guess you're right." Gohan gasped. This was something new. "I think I should learn to be a little more tolerant."

Ox King, Bulma and Kakarott watched this exchange with some amusement.While ChiChi secretly hoped that she wouldn't become that way later on in life. Suddenly Goku came back, his clothes all ripped and torn, but that trademark smile was still on his face.

"Well," he began, "that problem's all taken care of. I think I hid Trunks pretty good." he rubbed his hands together eagerly. "What's for dinner?"

Everyone sweatdropped. Goku will always be the same.