all general disclaimers apply

Author's notes: To answer a couple of things in the Reviews from last time. Yes, I know the Son family is closer to the Breifs family than Marron's is. But, Marron's family still knows them, are part of the whole "group" and therefore, still considered friends of the family. Also, as for my "Corporate Calamities" fic...next part is VERY coming soon.

Money Can't Buy Love Pt.3 : Grown-up Stuff

A few more years later...

Trunks returned home from his years away at college. It was the first time he'd ever had to spend so much time away from everyone and be on his own, but after the first two years, he began to finally adjust and sustain himself. And yes, since Trunks returned home a college graduate, his mother had found reason to throw yet another Briefs Bash.Family friends as well as business clients and friends were in attendance. This party served a secondary purpose since she also wanted to announce to everyone who the up and coming new President of Capsule Corp. was going to be (as if it wasn't obvious already). Everyone greeted him as the limo pulled up into the driveway of the Briefs residence. Everyone was crowding each other in hopes of seeing what a few more years had done to the son of Vegeta.

Trunks stepped out of the limo hesitantly. He was showered with hugs, pats on the back, flashing cameras, and other forms of greetings. He tried to step back into the limo, but he tripped over his own bags that the limo driver had placed beside the car.

"Still the same old Trunks. Still seeking his legs after his first ever walk." Bulma cooed.

Trunks rubbed his head and blushed. This was NOT the entrance he wanted to make in front of everyone. "Well, looks like nobody's changed here." he commented while returning to his feet and dusting himself off.

"Look who's talking. You still look the same aside from being slightly taller and thinner. Didn't you eat well while there?"

"Mother, I can hardly eat like 'normal' when among regular humans. I'm sure Gohan can explain that. Speaking of food, I'm starved! I missed breakfast since I overslept and had to rush to the airport. I made my flight by a mere five minutes."

Bulma nodded and led everyone back inside where the party began. Many flooded Trunks with questions about his experiences in school, but in particular, his best friend. After Trunks had answered most of the others' questions, they filtered away to enjoy the party, leaving Trunks alone with his friend.

"So any hot chicks there?"

"Oh yeah."

"Did you get to know any really well?" Goten said with a wink and nudge.

"A couple."

"EEEyyyaahh! Really! Tell me!"

"I don't kiss and tell Goten."

"No way! I'm your best friend! We tell each other everything! Please?"

With a glance over at ChiChi and Gohan, Trunks found a potential angle of encouragement.
"Why don't you go to school and find out what it's like for yourself?"

"I'm NOT that smart, Trunks. You know that."

"Keep saying that and you'll believe it."

"But my grades were nothing like yours or my brother's."

"It doesn't matter once in college. You start over."

"Really?"

Trunks nodded and was about to continue the conversation when a lovely young woman with flowing blonde hair strolled across the floor towards the punch table. Trunks gulped.

"Who's that?"

Goten followed Trunks' gaze. "Oh, that's just Marron. You remember her right? Geesh, and they say I have no memory."

"She's Marron? Wow, she's grown up a lot. Excuse me a moment Goten, okay?"

"Sure, just bring me back some punch and cookies."

"Sure, sure." Trunks said as he was already up and headed towards the punch table.

Once there, he placed his hand on the punch ladel just as Marron did. "I believe this is called de ja vu?" Trunks said in a soft, gentle tone.

Marron gasped, surprised that he had singled her out from amongst the party-goers. "Yes, I believe it is. Congratulations on graduating Trunks."

"Thank you. Say, will you be attending college soon?"

"In a year. Any pointers?"

"Don't go out with guys like me."

"???"

Trunks chuckled. "I'm serious Marron."

"You're not that bad?"

"You sure? Guys like me are teases. We've got it, we flaunt it, and any girl who falls into our web, gets eaten alive."

"But you're not like that."

"How sure are you?" Trunks said seductively and before Marron could even realize it, he had placed her into a 'dip' and kissed her firmly on the lips. He then released her and watched her reaction.

Marron looked about in a slight daze. She wasn't quite sure what had just happened. "Wha...wha....uhhh..." she stammered.

Trunks gave her a classic Vegeta smirk. "A hint...NEVER let your guard down. And NOW do you believe me?"

"That was, uh, that was..."

Before Marron could finish, Goten's impatience for his punch interrupted the little scene.

"Okay, okay, enough. Trunks, you didn't bring me my punch and cookies." Goten whined as he began to help himself.

"I was busy."

"So."

Trunks growled at the stupidity of his friend. By then Marron had slipped a safer distance away.

"And yet another hint richboy...a SMART girl, KNOWS exactly what she's doing. By the way, I'm going to a school of fine arts to become an actress." she said with a wink before heading over to her parents' table.

"Ooooh, burn." Goten sputtered while trying to chomp on a mouthful of cookies.

"Damn, my mother warned me about those types too. She's acquired her mother's unpredictability." Trunks muttered as he couldn't believe she'd caused his own plan to backfire firmly in his face.

Goten swallowed his cookies and gulped a cup of punch. "Could've told ya that buddy. I tried to make moves on her a couple of years ago. She turned me into burnt toast."

"Of course you're gonna be burnt toast. A couple of years ago she was what, 15?"

"So, I was 19."

Trunks just sighed. Goten wouldn't understand if he even tried to explain age ethics to him.

Goten suddenly realized something. "Hey, she's not even legal yet now either. Why are you hitting on her? You like to rob the cradle?"

Trunks glared at his best friend before relaxing his expression. Goten apparently had his 'moments.' "I wasn't hitting on her. I was just testing her. She's going to college next year and is going to face horn balls worse than you or I. I doubt her mom or dad will be able to give her the necessary warnings about them."

"And what makes you the expert?"

Trunks just grinned smugly. He was about to speak when he spied another familiar face. He quickly slapped Goten on the arm and pointed. Goten followed the finger's direction.

"So, it's Oolong. Big deal."

"Goten, remember the old days!? Let's find out if we still have our 'touch'?"

Goten straightened up. "We are supposed to be mature young men. Mature young men don't do such mean things."

Trunks couldn't help but laugh at his friend who was trying to pose like some classy guy on a GQ cover. "Okay, suit yourself buddy. I'll leave you to your uh, mannerisms." Trunks chuckled as he left. He didn't get very far however. His mother grabbed him and dragged him over to a bunch of people dressed in business suits.

"Here's your future president! I will formally make the announcement at tomorrow's Board Meeting." she said proudly.

Trunks smiled and tried to look interested while allowing them to 'evaluate' him. He then noticed 'her' out of the corner of his eye. There was just something about Marron that was entrancing. His mother suddenly pulled him out of his dreamy stare and took him aside.

"Earth to Trunks? Trunks? Trunks!"

Trunks snapped to. "What?"

"Get your head out of your pants okay. Marron is off-limits. She has become a gold-digger just as her mother trained her to be."

"Marron? No way."

"Look son, Videl, ChiChi, and I sometimes hang out with her mother. 18 is as money hungry as before. Perhaps even moreso now. I also know she's been prepping Marron to come onto you. She even once brought the subject up of betrothing you and Marron to me."

"Marron's her own woman. She wouldn't do..."

"She's been reared to be 'like mommy' since her birth. Just keep away from her, please?"

"But I don't think..."

"Fine.Don't think. Just wait it out. She'll show her true colors soon enough. Mother is ALWAYS right. You'll see."

Trunks glanced back towards Marron. How could she be so devillish and sweet at the same time? No, his mother was just making it all up! Marron was an honest, sweet, shy girl, not some money-grubber. And why the heck did he care so much anyway though? What was it about Marron that set a spark off in his heart? Burn or not, he was going to find out what her intentions were and that of his own.

end part 3. Will Marron be revealed as gold-digger or will Trunks find out that his intentions with her are that of true love? Stay tuned for part 4...coming soon to a ff.net near you.