Family Ties
Chapter 1: Morning Star
The bathroom was still steamy from the shower fumes. Kakarot walked to the mirror and wiped the residue away, revealing the chiseled, Saijin face that had seen so much more than it needed to at this age. His hair was still black at this point. After so many months of Peace his ease with the golden form had just become unnecessary, and Goku decided to go back to his roots, be a family man again. The family man he should have been, the man he started out to be. His back itched where his tail had been. It itched every morning now that Vegeta had taken up residence with Bulma. Perhaps the almost painful reminder of his unknown past was enough to make his body remind him of the unknown life that he couldn't escape, not even with a scalpel. The foggy condensation of the mirror cleared, revealing Chi-chi still asleep in bed. She looks so peaceful he thought, just the way I remember her. So soft and peaceful and bed, her warn, soft look the perfect complement to the cold and battle hardened look of her husband. She's been through a lot, well so have I, but her determination with Gohan, her strength just amazes me sometimes. He didn't want to wake her from such a pleasant slumber, But today was a very important day. One of the first important days that didn't involved violence or slaughter, but finally, an important family day. Gohan's 15th birthday, and all of the Peanut Gallery would be there. Goku smiled at the thought of all his friends together in a few hours, and decided to give Chichi a few more minutes of peaceful slumber. She's earned it.
Although it was still too early for a 15 year old boy to be awake, even a saijin warrior like Gohan, Goku walked calmly to his son's room and cracked the door. Watching the little hero sleep. Books and weights lay strewn about the room in the usual disorder of such a teenager. Beowulf was on the bedstand this morning, he had probably finished it, Goku's eyes turned to Gohan's "finished" bookshelf. The top two rows were filled, and the third getting fuller every week, looking at the titles, Goku saw books he'd never even thought to read, much less at 15: The Divine Comedy, Chaucer, Faulkner, Taoist texts he couldn't even pronounce much less spell or read. Gohan was probably up to 6 languages or so by now, His English and Japanese were impeccable, his Mandarin and Cantonese almost native sounding, his German and Latin still left something to be desired, but Goku only spoke 3 and was still amazed by the boy's intelligence and fluency. To this day it amazes me how much of a scholar he has become, I'm actually kinda glad that Chichi forced it down his throat, he really does seem to love it, and I know that he's smarter than I've ever been, oh well, Gohan's our son, he's going to change the world someday, change the world beyond just saving it from the likes of Cell. As Goku watched the golden haired teen in slumber a sense of pride washed over him. He may be smarter than me, but I can still cook circles around him! Goku thought, and set out for the kitchen. He left the door ajar.
Though he looked foolish in the apron, Goku's skill at the grill was becoming quite famous in Japan, even taking a job as a chef 4 nights a week at a popular restaurant in Tokyo. Transportation was never a problem. Eggs were first, French toast, Pancakes, whatever his hungry family could eat. Goku was even sure to cut up the pancakes so that little Goten could chew them without difficulty. Bulma, Vegeta, and young Trunks would be the first to arrive, and Goku could tell that they were already on the way, Vegeta would be hungry, he knew it. Cute Vegeta, you could have had breakfast at home, but I'm guessing you'd rather come here, stuff yourself with good home cooking and complain about how poor my work was. Of course, complaints aside, I don't really blame you for avoiding Capsule lunches and Bulma's cooking. As soon as the aroma drifted upstairs, Chichi and Gohan were downstairs in a flash. Chichi wore her robe, looking all snuggly just like Gohan hated. The perfect mother, comfy-cozy but still perfectly presentable to accept guests. Gohan look more like the undead, hair in more disarray than usual, clothes loose on his body, and his eyes very weary. Goku smiled as he saw his son turning into such a remarkable, but still very typical teenager. "Dad? What time is it?"
"It's about 9 o'clock, I think you can get up now, Gohan, take a shower and get dresses. Then comeback down and get some eggs."
"Sure, Dad, sure." Gohan said this as indifferently as possible, already tasting the waffles in his mouth.
"Goten is still asleep, Goku. Should I get him up now or wait for Bulma to arrive?"
"Go tell him to take a quick shower and then he can go play with Trunks after breakfast."
"That'll get him clean alright."
"I know, dear, my ideas always work." He said with a slight smirk to let her know that he was being sarcastic.
Knowing that company was coming, Gohan took great pride in his appearance, learning from both of his parents that around others, it was important to look as nice as possible. After a long shower, Gohan examined himself in the mirror and was pleased. Then he walked into his room. Ugh, I don't want to deal with this right now, but there is a good chance that someone will come up stairs, I should tidy up a bit. Oh well, he thought, picking up books and putting them on shelves, equipment and clothes in his closet, etc. He then found his best tunic and slacks, and went down stairs with his hair as orderly as was humanly possible. Once downstairs he helped his father with the breakfast and set the table. The first guests would be there in a few minutes…
Chapter 2: Reunion
Bulma had brought along her parents and Master Roshi as well and all of them touched down in their capsule after Vegeta arrived, who insisted on flying himself. Vegeta was never very personable towards his wife in public. Chichi would kill him, but Bulma had become accustomed to this sort of prideful behavior from the arrogant prince. The prince of a dead planet. Goku and his older son both watched them arrive from their respective windows. Goku couldn't help but smile at the trivial display of pride and gave a little chuckle, stifling laughter. One thing he had learned long ago though, was that Vegeta hated laughter, and Kakarot's laughter more than all. As it was Vegeta was already looking at Goku with the familiar disgust, one of the many evidences of animosity that remained between the two, even though they had become uneasy friends over the last few months, easy for Goku, less so for the Saijin prince. Gohan also smiled as he saw his old friends arrive for his birthday. He smiled looking at the presents they brought, but also just for the sheer company of the people that trained him and brought him up. Both father and son gave a big gaping grin as little Trunks ran inside to find Goten as soon as Bulma had given him her permission. Soon the house would be filled with the childish laughter that all present remembered so well, all except Vegeta. The guests filed in to have their morning meal.
Once again Goku astounded them all with his culinary creations, and even Vegeta was having a tough time keeping his usual indifferent face on and ate a little faster than usual. As expected, Vegeta complained anyway and Goku smiled and shrugged at the companion's display of arrogance that he had come to tolerate so well. After the meal, Goten and Trunks ran away to play with legos and the rest of their toys in the wreck room. They would be grappling by the end of the day. Bulma and Chichi cleaned up the plates and left them for the boys to do the wash later, while Vegeta and Goku discussed Vegeta's new affinity for Pop-Tarts and some of the other, smaller conveniences of Earth, the little things that kept him comfortable in the sterile, scientific home that he now had. Even though the Capsule corporation reminded him of home, both on the planet Vegeta and on his many layovers at Freiza's palace. Vegeta greeted Gohan when he neared, reluctant to speak to the young warrior, one who had surpassed him in power. With Goku there was always a struggle between them, to see who was the strongest, but Vegeta and everyone there knew, that Gohan was far stronger than Vegeta, stronger than he could ever be, and the boy was only 15. Gohan understood his animosity, and kept his distance from Vegeta. The birthday boy went to the wreck room to play with his younger brother and God-brother. "Hi Gohan!" Trunks was the first to notice him.
"Hey guys, what are you up to in here? Not causing any trouble I hope."
"No way big brother, we would never cause trouble, never, well unless we had to."
Gohan chuckled a little, forgetting that the little guys didn't recognize the humor in his earlier statement. "Don't worry guys, I trust you. Goten, be sure to come in later when your God-father arrives."
"Piccolo's coming?!"
"He didn't say so, but I'm sure he'll be along. Every birthday since my days in the wilderness, he's been there for all of them. Well, not the one in hyperbolic time chamber, but that's ok. We can't blame Piccolo for that now can we?"
"Nope."
"Of course not!" Trunks chimed in."
"Ok, have fun you two, don't wreck the place."
"Ok Gohan, see you later."
Gohan walked out to greet the next guests, Piccolo would be the last to arrive, and everyone knew it. Krillin and 18 were the next to arrive, and the whole family walked out to greet the couple. This time Gohan was the one to chuckle at the awkward looking couple, Krillin so much shorter than his girlfriend, an android that was created to destroy all of them. The irony escaped no one, but all treated her like the friend she had become for everyone there. Krillin gave his greetings and went inside to find his old friend. They embraced with big hugs, childhood memories coming back to both of them. They smiled when they thought of Goku's prepubescent adventures, and Krillin's comments for all of them. Both smiled. 18 joined up with the rest of the women, Chichi still a little uneasy around the android, but Bulma gave her a big hug and all was well, the ladies talked about their husbands and the sheer idiocy of the rivalry that was always there. "Oh well," said Chichi aloud, "boys will be boys." The other girls eyed her a moment, and they all laughed at "the boys."
Yamcha, Tien, and Tchou-sou arrived next, greeting the birthday boy and everyone else, making their way inside to snag some of Goku's meal before it was gone. Piccolo would be along soon, and if he remembered, Future Trunks may show up later in the day. Instead of waiting for the last few guests to arrive, the assembled party started passing around the presents and going through some memorabilia. Even Vegeta joined in the celebration and the merriment that comes with such a reunion. No one among them among them sensing or suspected the five guests to arrive later on. The messenger would be along before the day was out.