Minako was a little embarrassed with how much time she was spending on how to tell Trunks.

At first she thought about leaving it next to the toothbrushes but decided that was a little gross. She thought about leaving it under his pillow but why would he look under his pillow for any reason?

She could hide it in his lunch bag but he often ate without really paying attention, what if he ate it?

How weird was her life that that was a concern?

In the end she just held the stick up and savoured the look on his face.

There was a little lake deep in the forest beyond the Capsule Corporation grounds that had long been Trunks and Minako’s favourite place. It didn’t seem to matter what time of day they went the lake, the grass and the trees all seemed to sparkle with magic.

It was evening on a late summer day, with fireflies just beginning to glimmer around them, when Trunks rolled over on his coat to face Minako.

“So you know that metal-working class I took?”

“Yes, how was it?”

“I made you something,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth wrapped around something small. Minako accepted it with a smile and a kiss, Trunks was always coming up with the most interesting presents.

She stared at the gift. Stared at Trunks.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Trunks slipped the ring, glittered brilliantly in the moonlight, on her finger.

When Minako got so much as a cold it seemed to bewilder Trunks. He couldn’t seem to figure out whether to give her space or fold her in hugs.

When Trunks felt the sniffles settling in he wrapped himself up in bed and all but wailed for attention. He complained of aches in every nook and cranny, of chills and fever cried that he would now welcome the black void of death.

Minako would remind Trunks she liked her tea with lemon.

Trunks would whine about nothing until he got whatever he needed to soothe his current want.

‘Mighty saiyan warrior indeed’, Minako thought with amusement as she sipped her tea.

Makoto had gotten her the pattern and brought around scraps for her to use. She’d even offered to do the lion’s share of the sewing but Minako insisted she’d do it herself. She wanted her baby’s first toy something her mother had made with her own hands.

Everyone figured Minako would struggle, get fed up and leave it. And she did.

When Namiko was born and Trunks had held Minako as they watched her being tended to in the incubation chamber she had asked her husband to bring her the bag marked ‘Bear’.

Every moment she was awake, in the waiting room or at Namiko’s side in intensive care she worked. Until sweat stung her eyes and her fingers bled from pricks until finally on the day they said she could touch her daughter she had a finished bear.

Gently she brushed the plush toy’s paw against her daughter’s tiny fingers.

They closed around it.

“What about the date?” Trunks’ shot his wife a puzzled look. Minako felt her mood sink even further.

“Today? October 22nd? Something important happened?”

Trunks rubbed at his chin, “Give me a hint?”

Minako’s mood had now left her body through her feet and pooled in a black gloom under her chair.

“A certain birthday?”

“Well, the Duke of Aquitaine died on this date but you said birthday, so… Daniel Boone? No, Louis Riel? Nah, Bobby Seale?”

Minako wondered if she lay her head down on the table if she’d get her birthday wish and be swallowed whole by the planet.

“Oh, you’re probably thinking of the most important woman in the galaxy’s birthday: Minako Aino!”

She looked up into her husband’s cheeky grin, in his left hand he held a small, neatly wrapped package.

Trunks was digging in the yard when Minako passed by that day.

She looked a vision, glistening in the sun as she strolled down the back alley behind his house, pausing a moment to inspect Mrs. Cook’s blooming flowerbed.

Trunks bared his teeth as a low rumbled began in his throat. Minako slipped close to the back-gate and curiously peeked through into the yard.

Trunks’ jaw snapped shut as the German Pinscher lunged toward the cat. Minako leapt straight up into the air, her bright blond hair bristling. She landed gracefully on the top of the fence and gave an indignant ‘mrow!’

Trunks growled.

Minako lazily waved her tail as if to mock him. Trunks lay down and rested his nose on his paws.

He’d get her eventually.

Trunks figured he must have died at some point and this was hell.

Minako loved to shop, loved to shop to the point she had turned it into a competitive sport. She knew where all the best deals were, what stores carried her sizes and the quickest route through the mall. No wonder Bra managed to stay fairly fit without bothering to train, spending a day at the mall with a power shopper was exhausting.

Minako pulled him over to a rack and asked him what colour he liked best.

“Oh it doesn’t matter to me,” Trunks shrugged, “I always thought you looked your best in one of my shirts.”

A faint colour sprang to her cheeks and she smiled.

Trunks had his gold medal.

Trunks went to every one of Minako’s volleyball games without fail. He cheered her on louder than anyone else in the stands and embarrassed her beyond belief the night he and Goten painted themselves in team colours.

Several of the coaches and athletes around school tried to convince him to join a team. Goten was a regular star on the football field and everyone had seen him and Trunks roughhousing and tossing the ball across the entire field to each other. Plus, having such a pretty face wouldn’t hurt ticket sales.

He always responded that he already had a team: girl’s volleyball and he was never going to miss a meet or game.

Note: I have a very strong suspicion on who this is! XD Why you on anon?

Jade had some very strong ideas about her taking the Rock Throne. Indomitable, immobile and unbending were the traits of all the rulers of Planet Rock and for thousands of years they had served well.

These were new times though and perhaps it was time to follow new words. A new kind of leader for a new age.

She glanced over at Graveheart who kept his gaze fixed on the city below, a small smile in his lips. He only ever seemed to let out that small, honest smile in privacy. Graveheart, Cryos, Pyrus, all of them. She could think of no better examples to follow into the unknown. Graveheart turned to her and his smile widened.

There was no better man to help her now.

Trunks’ room was startlingly typical for an heir to a multi-national, billion dollar company. She’d pictured it quite a lot in her head and had honestly expected something a little more… Ostentatious. Maybe that was just because she’d have a room like that if she was rich and famous.

A single bed with ordinary dark blue sheets. A desk under his window that held his computer and a small pile of books. Posters of various movies and sports teams on the wall. Shelves with trophies and knick nacks.

Trunks stepped past her and nudged a sweatshirt that was on the floor under the bed.

“Uh,” he grinned at her, “So, this is it. Make yourself at home- Oh! Just, uh, don’t open the closet.”

Minako chuckled, Trunks may be packaged like a celebrity but he was all down-home and typical.