A/N: I'm BACK... with a story about a completely different fandom. Eh, I just couldn't say still, really. My other stories are now in an indefinite hiatus and I just couldn't find the pull to continue it. Maybe because I haven't watched an anime nor read a manga for more than six months now, and college is just so full of pressures. Oh, look, I'm ranting... Anyway, yeah... I observed that DBZ writers are depleting nowadays and I wanted to try my hand on the action, super strength, everyone-in-awe kind of writing, 'ya know... so here it is!

Warning: There is an OC here. Her name is Son Gine, Goten's twin sister. I've inserted her long ago, making me wonder what the Son household would be like if the two boys had a tomboyish sister. I tried multiple tines to remove her, really, but I couldn't. I guess she just grew on the plot somehow. This story ain't about her though.

Disclaimer: Doing this part make me feel so poor. *grumbles* I don't own anything.

PROLOGUE

The passers-by couldn't help but stare. Some knew enough to be discrete while some others gawked outright at the strange group huddled at that particular waiting area. Who wouldn't anyway? If Bulma Brief wasn't eye-catching enough, the famous star baseball player, a short man with bulging muscles and gravity defying hair, a semi-bald monk who barely reached the hip of an average adult, and a green pointy-eared man with a turban was surely a sight to see on the busy halls of the West City Hospital in the middle of the night. Their faces' expression carried varied degrees of indifference, calm, worry, and nervousness and yet, the eleven-year-old boy in the middle of them surely looked like someone in the brink of a mental breakdown and anxiety attack.

The Z Fighters were just about done with their annual get together party and in the order of heading to bed when Chi-Chi's water broke, sending the whole gang into a frantic frenzy. Vegeta might deny it, but he was actually bothered when the banshee suddenly fell on the wet tiled floor in a pain-induced heap. The unexpectedly calm green bean Piccolo appeared in the middle of the chaos out of nowhere and quickly suggested that they take the woman to a hospital. Good thing someone actually managed to keep their head despite the sudden panic.

The stark white walls and sterile smell that permeated in the atmosphere of the waiting area was unfamiliar, and it did nothing to ease Gohan's nerves. He could hear his mother's agonized wails and long strings of curses even with the door shut, separating him from her. It was only Bulma's gentle grip on his trembling arm that kept him from tearing that pathetic excuse of a barrier apart.

"Is she going to be alright?" he asked nervously at the blue-haired genius, his eyes pleading for assurance.

Bulma's eyes softened as she put her arms around the young demi-saiyan. "I'm sure," she answered. Gohan might be the strongest fighter in the planet, but he was a barely twelve-year-old boy still. "No need to worry. Your mother is a strong woman."

"She'll be fine, Gohan!" Krillin optimistically exclaimed, getting an angry 'ssshhhh' from a passing doctor in the process. Krillin chuckled half embarrassed, half apologetic as a response. "It's nothing worse than when she gave birth to you. Boy, I heard from your father was it messy," he continued in a quieter tone yet with the same jubilance.

"They're right, kid. She'll be okay," Piccolo added. The green Namekian casually leaning on one side of the wall, arms crossed over his chest was a picture of composure. Despite this, however, he was constantly checking on the Son woman's state on the other side of the room, just in case.

Vegeta didn't say anything. It was not his duty as a prince to give meaningless words of sentiment to the son of a third-class clown. He didn't even know why he came to Kakarot's mate's labor. Besides the fact that the harpy definitely knew her way around the kitchen, Vegeta didn't really have any reason to tolerate her. Maybe he was curious. Yup, curiosity was the reason he stood there by the side of his wife as she comforted Kakarot's spawn #1, waiting.

The same way, Yamcha silently watched the exchange while leaning at the wall next to Piccolo. He was happy that Gohan would get siblings. The boy was melancholic since his father's declaration of staying in the Otherworld so as to protect the earth from evil villains that came for his demise, and as an extension, the planet itself. He knew Goku was never the smartest of their lot, but the man surely cared for his family. He sacrificed his need to be with the ones he loved just to give them a chance to live in peace. Absentmindedly, he wondered what the new additions to the Son family would grow up to be like. When his gaze landed on the young half-breed, he was alerted when the boy suddenly tensed.

Chi-Chi's ki flared along with a very loud curse from inside the room. Gohan was a second away from bolting inside the delivery room when an infant's violent cry emanated from the door and approximately five minutes later, another heave from Chi-Chi and another cry, softer this time, slightly calmed the strange group.

Krillin instantly cheered, his face breaking into an ear-to-ear grin. "Congratulations, Gohan!" He patted the boy's back when their brains finally processed what just happened. "You're a big bro now!"

Piccolo gave a small smile at the boy's astonished face. He carefully traced the Son matriarch's ki if she's okay then moved on to the seemingly both healthy new born half Saiyan children.

It was almost an hour later when at least one of them was finally allowed to come in. The gang decided to push the reluctant boy inside. Bulma and Krillin gave him an encouraging smile before shutting the door on his face.

Gohan didn't know what to expect when he came inside. He glanced at the room. It had the same dull white walls and sterile smell of medicines present on the hall, only a little harder to ignore here. His mother was laid awake on one of the hospital beds while a bundle of blue blanket on her arms. A smiling nurse was inside the room, too. She was carrying a pink bundle of blanket in contrast to his mother.

"Mom," his voice was hoarse. He was, after all, still nerve-shaken by all the cries she did just an hour ago.

His mother gave him a tired smile, watching him as he came closer to the nurse. He stopped a yard away, studying the serene face of the baby on the stranger's arms.

"Do you want to hold her?" the nurse asked, her kind smile growing wider.

Gohan immediately snapped his gaze at his mother, expression worried. What if he accidentally hurt his new sibling? He was surprised when his mother nodded.

"Be really gentle, sweetie," advised the tired Son woman.

The nurse showed him how to position his arms to support the baby, and gently passed the bundle to him. Gohan didn't dare move a muscle, or even breathe for the matter. She was so tiny and with the ki level she possessed, he could snap her like a twig without so much of an effort. The little girl's eyes slowly opened, awakened from the movement of the shift of her holder, looked at his identical onyx ones and yawned. Gohan can't help the smile that climbed to his face.

"I'll be just outside if you need anything, alright?" said the nurse. She wanted to give the new family an alone time for a little while. The boy nodded slowly and she quietly crossed the room.

"She looks just like you, mom," the boy mumbled, albeit loud enough for his mother to hear and bring another smile to the kind nurse as she closed the door.

Chi-Chi—who had been watching her son—nodded, smile never leaving her lips. It was assuring that at least one member of her family took a semblance to her. Goku's Saiyan blood was strong, just look at Gohan! He barely took any of her attributes.

"What, what are you gonna name them?" the boy excitedly asked, still not daring to move from his previous position. The girl in his arms giggled when she heard his voice.

"This boy is Goten," his mother answered, shifting her look to the new born half breed on her arms. "Dad suggested the name and I agreed. After all, the namesake is your father. The girl, I haven't thought of yet. I want her name to be special, just like Goten's."

"Gine."

The two aware persons inside the room froze, their brain going numb when that same voice that they could recognize everywhere echoed inside their minds. Chi-Chi was speechless and by the widened eyes of her son, she was sure that the voice was not just her imagination.

"D-dad, is that you?" Gohan's eyes glistened with unshed tears. He must have looked crazy asking thin air aloud but you could never really know. It was Goku we're talking about, after all. The man who made the impossible possible, who could close the gap between fantasy and reality.

"Son," the voice answered. Gohan's chest contracted and he could see the tears that freely fell from his mother's face. "Chi-Chi, I really miss you both," he continued, the same cheer in his voice when he was alive with them.

"Goku! Why are you contacting us just now! You better give an explanation why you never talked to us when you have King Kai there with you!" his mother was really crying now. More hurt than angry.

"Huk huk," came King Kai's annoying snort-laugh. Sure enough, the deity was there with Goku. "Now, now, you can't think like that. If I always let Goku talk to people still living, it wouldn't be fair to the other dead. I'd only let him 'cause he showed up that old dirt bag West Kai this last Otherworld Mar—"

"Gine," Goku's voice interrupted. King Kai huffed irritably in the background. "Name the girl Gine. You've always bothered me to think of a name for our child so I thought of one! Gine is the name of my mother I met here. She's kind, warm, gentle, and really scary when she wants to be. She reminds me of you Chi-Chi. And I like the name Goten just the same, too!"

The boy on Chi-Chi's arms gurgled excitedly at his yet presumed name.

"Gine. It's a wonderful name," Chi-Chi answered. She wiped her tears with the pack of her hand. "I miss you too, Goku."

"I wish I could be there to see them personally. Just like when Gohan was born." Gohan smiled at his father's words. Even miles away, he was still the same light that could bright up everything with his mere presence. "Son, thank you for always staying by your mother's side. You surely are the son that any father could ask for. I'm proud of you, Gohan."

Gohan eyes filled with tears and slowly, it flowed down his cheeks. Although he would never admit it, he really needed those words from his father. More so because he still blamed himself for his sacrifice. He would forever remember the lessons he learned during his fight with Cell because of the price that came with it. The Z gang assured him that it wasn't his fault, that it was a mistake any warrior was bound to make during a battle. But the guilt of taking away a husband from his mother, a friend from his friends, and a father from his siblings weighed down greatly upon him every waking hour and yet, it somehow grew lighter when those words came from his father. He really was a beacon to be reckoned with.

"I-I miss you, Dad." Gohan's voice cracked.

"I know," Goku answered, his voice soft on the other end. He was about to say more but suddenly paused for a few seconds, "Aww, time's up already? You're really stingy King Kai," Gohan chuckled at his father's whine, but was saddened at the thought that he wouldn't be able to talk to him anymore.

"Oh, Goku! Please don't go," his mother all but begged. She was desperate.

"I'm not going anywhere, Chi," he was cheerful again. Gohan could imagine his father's ever childish, genuine smile on his face. "I would always be here watching you guys. We'll see each other again but hopefully not any time soon. Please tell Goten and Gine that I'm sorry I couldn't be with them. I want them to grow up in peace, something I've deprived from you son. I don't want that for you anymore than for either of them. Always know that I'm proud of you. Just a second more, King Kai—take care of your Mom and siblings while I'm gone, Gohan! I love you, Chi! Bye!"

"Wait—"Gohan hoarsely shouted at his father's steadily disappearing voice until it was completely gone. Silence hung inside the room, neither saying a word, perhaps both waiting for Goku's voice to pervade their heads again. His mother couldn't take it anymore as a sob escaped from her lips and she gently hugged the new-born boy closer to her chest.

Gohan frowned dejectedly at nothing in particular. Dad was always like that. He always innocently taunted everyone around him with his light, only to disappear along with it and leave all of them empty and longing. He shook his head. Hi didn't want to think like that about his pure-hearted father.

His eyes landed on the little girl on his arms. She stared back at him, and then cooed cutely as she reached for his face with her small hands.

"Gine," he called. The girl cooed again. A smile crept back at his face despite the residual tears streaking down his cheeks. "I promise I will take care of you, Mom, and Goten from now on. Always."

A/N: Please leave a review and tell me what you think! Thanks for reading!