Chapter 1: Dinner

The field was as barren as always, it's hard to make things grow when the land is dry and lacking in nutrients and you're lacking in drive. Chichi was always insistent that Goku make a living as a farmer, she thought it was wholesome and necessary. She was insistent, demanding, that he set a good example for his sons - she wanted them to be scholars, so they wouldn't end up like Goku. But was Goku's life really so bad?

Sure, Goku wasn't the smartest man alive, but he protected his family at all costs and there was always food on the table. What more did she want from him? And when was it his turn to achieve his dreams without being criticised and yelled at? He had dreams, even if they were simple, they were his. And he had a right to them.

Truth be told, their relationship had been falling apart since having Gohan. Chichi had always been mean and strong willed, but since having children she's only getting crueler and more abusive. She screamed her hate for him every day now.

With all the time she forced Goku to work in the fields he was beginning to understand that he was growing unhappy. There were no words per say to explain the feeling in his stomach but he knew going home was the last thing he wanted to do.

Followed closely by working in this terrible, barren waste of earth. Goku rode listlessly along on the tractor, tilling the ground, back and forth. God, this was boring, it took so long and there was nothing to make the time move any faster.

He had been at it for at least a few hours now, judging by the sun it was mid afternoon already. Goku looked around timidly and smiled to himself as he parked the tractor, shutting off the engine. "Chichi won't know if I just train a little." He giggled as he jumped down and began to stretch.

He looked around for something to train on and found the perfect target - there were some large rocks just to the West of his field. And seeing that he had no neighbors here, no one could get mad at him, no one would yell or hit back.

After stretching, he cracked his neck and lunged himself at the rocks, first at the ready. With a violent scream he hit the rocks with a resounding thud, shattering part of it to dust. He had to hold back some so he wouldn't destroy his inatemate sparring partner entirely.

He bounced back, doing a flip in the air and bouncing back towards the rock for another attack. He kept at it for sons time as his mind began to relax and he stopped thinking about his problems at home or getting in trouble. He stopped thinking about all of it, stopped worrying all together. All that was on his mind was how his body moved and how it felt to train. It felt right.

Goku didn't know how long he been at it but he knew that it was long enough by the time he looked at the Sun. It was starting to get dark by the time he worked his way through the rock formation, and he knew he'd be in trouble. He hurried his way back to the tractor starting it up as soon as he say down. He'd have to come up with an excuse why he didn't get more done, he was terrible at keeping secrets and lying, Chichi always found out. And she was always mad.

As he was driving his tractor back to the ricody old shred where he kept it stored at night he felt a strong energy approaching fast. He didn't recognize it at first which concerned him, it was just too far out of range to be sure. He felt his heart quicken at the thought of a new adversary - someone to fight and take him away from this boring life for a little while.

But as the energy grew closer he felt it more strongly and chastised himself for not recognizing it sooner. Vegeta landed next to him as he was locking the door to the shed. Still, Goku was fairly certain that Vegeta wasn't there to get him in trouble with Chichi, so he was a able to relax a little.

"Hey Vegeta, what's up?" Goku asked in his usual chipper tone, a goofy grin dancing on his face.

"Bulma wants you." Vegeta grunted back, he never sounded happy anyway, but his scowl was deeper and he seemed more on edge than normal. He wore his normal blue training gi with white gloves and boots, his arms folded across his chest. "Apparently, she's having a dinner tonight and wants your family over."

Goku knew not to press an issue when Vegeta was like this, so he didn't ask what was wrong. "Sounds great! What time?" Goku said through a big smile showing every tooth in his head.

"Now." Vegeta grunted as he slowly began to levitate off the ground. "Come, I don't have all day." He said offhandedly as he turned his back and began to fly away. He kept his pace slow enough to allow Goku to easily catch up to him.

Why were they just now getting me if they want to hurry back? Why not get me a little early so I could at least change? Goku wondered to himself as he flew next to Vegeta I silence. Whatever the case may be, Goku was especially excited for this dinner. Chichi had been withholding meals as punishments lately and it had been at least a couple of days since Goku had actually eaten.

When they arrived at Capsule Corp it looked like the meal had already been set up on the balcony.Bulma, Chichi, Gohan and Trunks were already there talking and laughing. Goku's heart sank as it got suddenly quiet and laughter fell from faces as they landed near them. He was suddenly worried beyond twain that Chichi had found out about his training break today.

"Took you boys long enough." Bulma smiled, "but it looks like we can finally dig in!" She lead everyone back to their seats and began to dish up he plate, indicating food the others to do the same.

Goku looked to Chichi momentarily before reaching for the food himself, the court nod she gave him as approval was enough to dig in despite knowing she was definitely mad.

Both of the full blooded Saiyans are with gusto, almost inhaling their food. Goku's mouth watered as he ate. He hasn't realized just how hungry he was until he started eating. It hadn't been long enough to show any physical signs that he hadn't eaten in the last few days, but he certainly felt the effects. His stomach actually hurt, but he needed and enjoyed the food. To the unknowing eyes around, nothing was out of the ordinary.

After they had all finished their plates, a chorus of thanks spilled out to Bulma who smiled happily. "I'm sorry if I kept you waiting to start, but the food was amazing!" Goku laughed as he spoke, trying to stay as cheerful as he could with Chichi next top him.

Bulma was about to reassure him that they didn't wait to long for him and thank him for the compliment, but was cut off before she could even start by Chichi.

"I won't have you ditching work early just to stuff your face, you eat enough as is." She wasn't raising her voice yet, but her tone was incredibly hostile, her arms were folded and her glare was deadly.

Goku was quick to apologize again and laugh it off as though he didn't notice the harshness in her tone. But he did flinch momentarily, which Vegeta did notice. He shared brief eye contact with Goku before returning his gaze elsewhere. Something was off and he could sense it, he and Goku shared a heritage and there was a connection there, even if he didn't like it. He could sense when something was wrong with the younger man, he just wasn't sure what it was.

Vegeta was the only one who seemed to notice however because both of the kids had already commanded their mothers attention talking about things they planned and wanted for the weekend. Chichi still had her fistsballed under the table but her tone turned lighter when talking to Gohan.

Goku sat quietly listening to his son, smiling and laughing lightly along with everyone else, but he didn't seem himself and didn't actually get up until it was time for him and his family to go home. At which time Chichi told him to stand and follow her; he did so without question.

Chichi drove her little car home with both Goku and Gohan sitting quietly in the back. Not a word was spoken the entire ride home, and once they got home Chichi was quick to put Gohan to bed.

Chichi turned to Goku once they were alone and the glare was back. "What did you get done today?" She asked hotly.

Just what Goku had feared, she had to have found out somehow. "I told you before I left this morning what I planned on doing today, using the tractor to plow the field, and that's what I did." Goku replied, it wasn't really a lie, but it was still hard. Despite the problems the two of them had, and they were big problems that couldn't be fixed at this point, he still had some residual feelings for her. After all, they've been married for so many years.

Chichi let out an exasperated sigh. "Stop lying to me! You never actually do any work and you know it." She spat, her voice rose a few octaves, it always did that when she was mad - which was always anymore.

"I'm not lying!" Goku protested, "you can't just assume I do! I was out there working today!"

The argument would go long into the night and both of them knew it. It always did. In a matter of moments Chichi was full blown yelling at Goku and beating on him. She hit him with anything hard and heavy she could reach, but her favorite was the frying pan she kept on the counter. It was heavy and made of cast iron, so it did the most damage. Goku would protest as he always did, but he could never bring himself to hit her back, he was a trained fighter and sparring was his passion, but he didn't believe in hurrying people without reason.

Chichi may treat him terribly, and hurt him in so many ways, but Goku could never bring himself to hurt her. He still loved her in a strange way. You don't hurt those you love. Besides, she was human so he had to hold back with her as is. A gentle part on the back to him could easily break her. Saiyans were naturally strong as a race, and he was one of the strongest.

The fight would last the night, and Goku would leave the house part way through. He couldn't stay in the house with her like this, and she couldn't bear to look at him.

Gohan was kept in the dark about most of the marital problems his parents faced, but he wasn't deaf, he knew there were fights, and knew they got lots. He'd gotten into the habit of listening to music at night so he wouldn't have to listen to the screaming. He knew the problems, but didn't know the physical side, or the extent.

He turned the volume up.