I sat on the bed watching Gohan pack his training clothes into a long duffel bag.

"I know your upset with me Videl, but this is something that I really want to do." Gohan had agreed earlier today that he would go with Goku and Goten to find the Black Star Dragon Balls. With no consideration about leaving me alone in this huge house. Knowing what I was thinking before I finished my thought he continued:

"And it is not like you are going to be completely alone, Pan will be here. You know that's not the same thing, stop saying it.

"I haven't had the opportunity to spend that much time with my Dad, even when I was a kid." Of course, pull the ruined childhood card. Sigh, why I am I getting so angry about this?

"I know Gohan, I am sorry I am making this difficult for you, I just never get any time with you. Between work and sparring, we spend only a couple of hours together. And now not even that" Videl leaned into her hands looking at the floor. Gohan zipped up the bag and knelt in front of me.

"I love you so much Videl, I promise when I come back I will take some time off of work so that we can spend some time together." A smile broke across my face.

"There's that beautiful smile." I leaned forward and kissed him. I will miss you so much, will you miss me?

A hour after packing Videl and Gohan arrived at Capsule Corp, both picking leaves out of there hair. Bulma answered the door with a big smile.

"Hey you guys, Goten and Goku are in the lab looking at the spaceship". Gohan stepped inside with Videl close behind.

"So how is the progress coming along then?" Gohan asked. Bulma sighed deeply.

"Well, honestly it will probably take me another 3 weeks to finish it." Gohan's eyes widened.

"Well why did Goku ask me to meet him here so early?" Bulma shrugged as Gohan walked quickly down to the launch pad.

"So how are you taking it Videl?" Bulma asked with concern. She knew what it was like to be alone while Vegeta did his training. At least she has this amazing job at Capsule Corp to keep her busy.

"Well it's going to be hard, I just hate spending all day alone at home, and when Gohan is gone I am barely going to have to cook at all! Pan is on one of her diets again." Bulma smiled, both of them understood the turmoil of having teen daughters. A light sparked in Bulma's eyes.

"Hey, why don't you stay here at capsule corp?" Videl thought for a moment. It would be nice to have some company...but with Pan?

"Well what about Pan?" Videl said out loud. Bulma playfully waved away this concern and replied.

"Well what about her? Her and Bra and best friends, they can bunk together and I can give you the spare bedroom. This house is so big it will be no trouble at all." Videl smiled back at her companion and nodded.

"Sounds wonde..." Gohan and goku came strolling up to the pair and she noticed a look of hesitation on Gohan's face. Maybe he decided not to go...yay!

"Hey can I talk to Videl for a sec?" Gohan asked. He casually pulled her arm under his and they walked towards the front door. She glanced up at his face and she knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say.

"The reason my Dad asked us here so early is that... he wants me and goten to go and train with him in the hyperbolic time chamber." Videl closed her eyes and knew that any chance of him spending the last few weeks with her flew right out the window. Gohan continued carefully.

"This mission is going to be really dangerous and as we both know I really haven't been training much for a long time." He glanced down at her, but her eyes were still closed.

"If I can spend the next three weeks training the mission will be safer...and probably will get done faster." He stared at her slightly annoyed at the lack of response. She eventually opened her damp eyes and looked back up at him. He was tugging at the back of his hair like his Father does when he is uncomfortable.

"If you feel like you need to do that then you should." Gohan gave her a quizzical expression, expecting a repeat of this mornings argument. Sensing that, she added:

"This must be hard on you too, to be away from me. I am not going to make it any harder." Videl forced a smile and Gohan pulled her close.

"Thank you" He leaned in and kissed her, her eyelashes dancing across his cheeks.

"Do you mind taking your smut outside." Gohan and Videl turned quickly to see the 'ever-aggravating' Vegeta leaning against the wall. Blushing, Videl pulled Gohan back to Bulma and Goten to announce the plans. She turned back just in time to give Vegeta the evil eye.

"Such a child" he mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. She was never close to Vegeta (But then again who was), every visit to Bulma's House a dance of avoidance between them. I just remembered another annoying aspect of staying here.

Later that day after a wonderful meal, in which Goku ate most of it, it was time to say goodbye. She walked hand in hand with Gohan out to the upper story balcony. It was breath taking. The sun had just touched down and a soothing glow of oranges and pinks flooded the sky. Leaning over the brass railing Videl gazed down at the twinkling lights of West City. All the men are returning home to their loved ones right now. Videl let out a deep sigh but was stopped with kiss from Gohan.

"Everything is going to be alright Videl. The time will pass faster if you don't dwell on it." She looked up at him. Gohan was gorgeous. His deep brown eyes, always full of hope and eagerness, were glazed with a tinge of orange from the evening sky.

"I love you so much." Videl said softly. He smiled and held her against his chest. The soft cashmere cardigan pressed against her cheek.

"I love you too." He held her for what seemed like eons until he felt a tap on his shoulder from Goku. Gohan nodded and pulled Videl in for one more kiss.

After they had taken off Videl still stood on the balcony watching the fading light of where they had traveled. The sun had set and the distant moon glimmered through the passing clouds. It is so peaceful, even the people of West city seem to be holding their breaths. After a few minutes Videl pulled herself away from balcony and receded inside the compound. Despite the serenity occurring outside, inside boisterous laughter and incessant chattering filled the house. In the living room Bra and Pan were occupied in a 'important' conversation about the boys in their class. Bulma was in the adjacent kitchen washing the dishes and listening to the radio. Videl walked over to the sink and began drying the dishes. Bulma glanced over.

"You okay Videl?" She asked, momentarily pausing the rhythm of dish-washing. Videl nodded with a half smiled and looked back at the dishes she was drying. Oh Gohan please come home soon.

After the dishes were done and the loud teens had retreated back to their lairs, Videl and Bulma sat in the living room sipping hot tea. Videl let out a deep sigh in contemplation.

"Bulma...how do you deal with being lonely?" Bulma looked momentarily disturbed by the question but replaced it quickly with a smile of reassurance.

"Honestly, I just throw myself into my work...Vegeta is always training. And even when he isn't it is hard to feel like he is even here anyway. I have just...sorta given up constantly pursuing a broken connection." Videl was surprised by the sudden admission and put her hand comfortingly on Bulma's shoulder.

"I never realized how hard it must be for you...with someone like Vegeta. He is just so cold." Videl stopped herself and searched her friends face for any sign of being insulted. But all she could see was the same intelligent, confident woman she knew so well.

"He really does have a soft side. But it takes a lot of effort to bring it out. I am not a young woman anymore...I just don't have the energy to put in the effort to make him feel safe and comfortable around me." Bulma, becoming increasingly more interested in the subject of her partner, and had forgotten about what had initiated the conversation in the first place. At least something to take my mind off Gohan.

"It can be really infuriating, he tries to start fights with me. I think he actually enjoys it!" Reminds me of my fight with Gohan this morning. Videl nodded sympathetically.

"So I just ignore it...and go and push myself to work harder. Sometimes it is the best thing to do." The conversation with Bulma was intended to make Videl feel better but it just made her more unsure than ever.

"Do you think I should find a project too?" Videl asked curiously. Bulma thought for a moment and replied:

"Why yes, and I have just the thing. It isn't anything glamorous...but it would really help me out. And take your mind off Gohan." Videl smiled at the thought.

"I'll take any job you have!"

"Great! Let's meet in the lab at 6 AM then. And I will show you what to do."

After some time, the two friends bid each other good night and walked separately to their rooms. The corridors of the house were dark and Videl's footsteps clanked against the cold metal floor. Where is this room? There must be more than 20 guestrooms! Finally at the end of the hallway she found a door partially open and peeked inside. Within the room was a large bed, a table and another door, to which she assumed led to the bathroom. Videl's coat was hanging over the bed. Must be my room then.

Before she could close the main door to the bedroom she heard a whoosh sound coming from the hallway. She peered outside and saw that Vegeta had flown into the hallway window.

Whew I was worried for a sec...not that this awkward small talk will be more pleasant than an intruder.

"Hey Vegeta, out for a midnight fly?" She said in a lighthearted manner. Vegeta walked pasted her and grumbled angrily. Jeez what won't piss this guy off? At least Gohan isn't that bad. After watching his thick hair blend into the hallways darkness she walked back into her room and shut the door. After inspecting her new room she fell into the soft bed and fell asleep. Thoughts of Gohan and an impending loneliness haunted her dreams.

~Okay everyone, its off to a start, I will add the next chapter within the next two days, many...interesting developments heading your way. Keep reading and leave me some reviews so far, with any suggestions: formatting or plot ideas. I already know in general where its going to go but I am open to new ideas. Thanks for reading so far. :D