Goku woke with a start, hyperventilating and gasping frantically as his mind recovered from his night terror. Out of instinct, he immediately scanned the area around him for unfamiliar ki. Assured his family and he were safe, he relaxed slightly. He analysed his surroundings, and felt the fear swell in his chest as his eyes set upon the peaceful face of his sleeping wife.

"Chi Chi?" he whispered, nudging her slightly. At her lack of response, he tried again, marginally louder.

"Chi Ch? Please wake up..." Irritated at her lack of response, he roughly grasped her shoulders and shook her.

"CHI CHI! WAKE UP NOW"

She screamed and woke up, flailing around in her bed as she adjusted to her surroundings. HIs shocked wife managed to whack him on the nose before he restrained her wrists. She gazed up at Goku and furrowed her eyebrows in anger. "Goku! What the hell?" she screeched, watching him wince at the sting in his eardrums. At this point, both Gohan and Goten had sensed the fear and stirred from the screaming ,and bombarded into the room at super saiyan level.

"Dad! what happened?"

"Why are you two yelling?" Both the sons spluttered out at the same time, worry plastered on their faces as they sank into a fighting stance.

"Boys, calm down. There's no threat, stop worrying, "Goku assured, pulling a still startled Chi Chi into a protective hug. They grew calmer, but remained ready to fight. Chi Chi however, was fuming. "Then why on earth are you screaming at my face whilst I'm trying to sleep?" Chi Chi demanded, feeling around for the frying pan she kept under her bed.

"It's a long story, gather around boys and I'll start from the beginning." Goku said, gesturing for his sons to join him on the bed. Concerned by her husband's rare serious tone, she sat herself up and waited expectantly. Goten looked up at Gohan, and the eldest half-breed nodding encouragingly before Goten slammed into his father's chest and rubbed the almost tears from his eyes. He had always thought of his dad to be the strongest ever, and anything that scared his dad terrified little Goten. He'd rather face Buu a hundred times than watch his father tremble with fear. Goku stroked his hair, then held out his hand for Gohan to sit next to him before he proceeded. Sceptically, Gohan tiptoed over and also leaned into his father, as he felt Goku's arm snake around his shoulder. His family comfortably surrounding him, he began retelling his dream.

"Chi Chi and I were on our way to the supermarket, and I was excited after she told me I could pick out any of the groceries that I wanted. I was so eager, and the traffic was too slow, so I slammed my feet through the bottom of the car Flintstone-style and ran us there to save time. Your mother wasn't even bothered, she just laughed and told me to go faster." Chichi inwardly shivered. There was no doubt in her mind that Goku would resort to such recklessness in order to get food.

"We finally reached the store, and I didn't even bother parking the car as I leapt out of the moving vehicle and burst through the semi-opening automatic doors and eyed the food in awe as the glass tinkered around my feet. Unsure of where to go first, I grasped the cutlery that I had in my pocket as I noticed a steaming steak calling me from across the shop." Totally sucked into the story, Goten didn't even notice as a drop of drool leaked out of Goku's mouth and precariously threatened to fall on his head.

"I spiked up my ki and launched my flight to the steak, when I was smacked to the ground by a powerful blast. When I recovered and got to my feet everything seemed dark, and the items of food began disappearing from the shelves of the aisles. I yelled for it to come back, but the emptiness just laughed in my face. I drunkenly threw my feet in front of one another and chased the disappearing food, only to find that there was nothing on either side of me." Goku paused his story, and drew in a few ragged breaths. The saiyan in his lap hugged him a little tighter, and his sweat heart patted his broad shoulder as encouragement. Spurred on by his loving family, he resumed.

"I looked again to the end of the store to locate the steak, but my heart stopped at what I saw. Slowly, it stopped steaming and started rotting: the flesh peeled; the sinews shrivelled and coiled; there was a patch of mould that expanded along the surface and the smell of rotting meat invaded my nose. It was dying in front of me and there was nothing I could do to stop it! It was so helpless..." Goku sniffled, and wiped the tears that were moments from falling from his eyes.

His family stared at him in disbelief. Gohan blinked a couple times, before removing his father's arm and stalking out the room, complaining about school he had in the morning, and morons. Chi Chi also pushed herself off him and dragged herself to the furthest edge off the bed, before huffing dramatically and closing her eyes. She didn't have the energy to yell at him tonight, instead should would do it tomorrow twice as hard when he did something else stupid. Goten lingered for a minute, staring at his father as Goku hugged him to his chest tightly. Suddenly, he wriggled free of the saiyain's firm grip and running out of the room.

Goku sighed, knowing full well before he started that they would react like this. They didn't understand his pain, and he felt lonely knowing he had to face it on his own.

Just then, he heard feet pattering up the hall and glanced over to the door. To his surprise, he saw the tiny clone of himself in the form of Goten peek his head in.

"Just so you know dad, I checked the kitchen and there's plenty of food. You won't have to go back to the supermarket for at least a couple days," Goten stated and disappeared back to his room. Goku smiled, and laid down his head again to fall asleep.