Chapter 2

On Sunday, Chi-Chi pulled her SUV up the familiar drive way. She remembered years ago being surprised that Goku had found a small bungalow just ten minutes from their original house. For some reason, she thought he'd be content with a small apartment to live it up in the city.

Still, she was happy that he'd chosen a place not too inconvenient for her to drive to and that the boys did seem to like the sprawling yard and separate rooms. She wasn't sure where Goku got the money to afford such a thing after splitting their finances, but she supposed the government owed him a lot for his service. All in all, it was none of her business.

The door opened before Chi-Chi had a chance to knock and she had to swallow a gasp, as she was met with the sweaty, shirtless torso of her ex. Speaking of shirt, it seemed to be haphazardly tied around his head like some sort of twisted turban-helmet combo.

"Heya, Chi!" Goku greeted, completely oblivious to how his state of undress was affecting her. It had been literal years since she'd seen his gleaming body in a similar state, though if she was honest with herself, she didn't really need to. The images were burned in her brain probably for eternity.

"I saw you pull up from the yard." He moved aside to let her in, and waved absentmindedly at his figure, anticipating her question. "The boys and I are just planting some vegetables in the garden."

She wandered through his hallways until she reached his back patio. Gohan and Goten seemed completely engrossed in the dirt digging, completely ignoring her presence.

She hadn't realized how close Goku was standing, until she bumped her shoulder against that broad chest of his. He didn't move, simply looked down with an apologetic look. "Sorry, we lost track of time, or else I would have tried to wrap this up sooner. And they'll both need showers after this."

"You need a shower," Chi-Chi said, feigning disgust as she pinched her nose. Truthfully, he smelled wonderful; a mixture of earth and grass and something uniquely Goku. He laughed easily, and shrugged.

She stepped forward and cleared her throat theatrically, causing both Gohan and Goten to raise their head. Their faces dropped.

"Hi, mom."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks for the enthusiastic welcome."

"We're planting lettuce!" Goten chirped happily, head to toe in dirt. It was a little ridiculous looking, especially with one arm in a sling that had a clear plastic bag tied over it to protect it from all the activities. Gohan was a little less worse for wear, manning the shovel.

"Did your dad remember to put sunscreen on you?"

"Yes, mom," all the boys, including Goku, echoed in the same tone.

"Well, time to wash up and go home," Chi-Chi said, with an arm wave.

"Awwwwww, mama." Goten's face crumbled, looking like he was going to pitch a full-blown tantrum, when Goku swooped in and scooped him up like a weightless sack of potatoes. His muscles rippled at the movement, and Chi-Chi had to avert her gaze quickly lest she stare.

"You heard your mom," Goku said merrily, as he swung the child around over his shoulder. Goten squealed in delight, enjoying his father's gentle rough-housing. "Time to clean up."

Gohan, ever the dutiful son, began to clean up the area and glanced at his mother ruefully. "I would hug you hello but as you can see..."

Chi-Chi grabbed his head and kissed his temple. "There's a clean spot."

"Mom." Gohan was grumbling but he'd flashed her a small smile. Regardless of his age, Chi-Chi thought, he was always going to be her little Gohan.

"How's your brother's arm?" Chi-Chi asked her eldest, while trailing behind Goku and Goten who was giggling in his arms.

"Okay. He was getting super bored since Dad didn't let him work on the garden at first, since he didn't want to his arm to to get worse. Then Goten started whining so much I googled to see how to make it work. Hence, the plastic bag."

Chi-Chi chuckled. "Like father, like son. They're both master whiners."

Suddenly, there was a peal of discontent. "I can do it myself!"

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "And there's one now."

"Hey, dummy, your arm is broken, you have to shower differently. You need help still," Gohan sniped as poked his head into the bathroom. Chi-Chi also poked her head in and saw her youngest was half-in and half-out of his t-shirt. Goku looked like he was struggling not to burst out laughing.

Unexpectedly, Chi-Chi felt her chest twinge at the entire scene in front of her. Soon, this idyllic interaction will be gone, and she would go back with her kids to a separate house, and sleep in a separate bed. It had been a while since she had this shot of sad nostalgia.

"Chi-Chi?"

He tilted his head curiously.

She started out of her reverie, assessing the scene in front of her and she waved him off. "Go. I'll deal with this."

"I'm going to use dad's shower," Gohan declared and left the room.

"I don't need help!" Goten protested.

"Baby, it's just to make sure you don't get your cast and arm dirty while it's healing," Chi-Chi said soothingly. Goten struck his bottom lip out, the gesture so similar to his father, and it was exactly equal parts annoying and adorable.

"I'm not a baby," he mumbled, but allowed Chi-Chi to help him out of his shirt.

"You sure you got this?" Goku asked quietly, an odd expression on his face. "I mean, technically, I should have already gotten them clean by now."

"Yeah, you should have," Chi-Chi said dryly. "But it's fine. It's not like I have anything to rush home to."

He seemed satisfied with her answer, maybe even strangely happy, since he flashed her another one of his brilliant smiles. "Okay, great! I'm just going to be in the yard to clean up a bit then I'll be right back."

As Chi-Chi helped her youngest clean up, she noticed how orderly everything looked. She remembered that the house used to look like utter chaos the few times she'd visited… not that she lingered very long except to pick up her kids, but she'd been unimpressed with all the mess. She'd bitten her tongue several times, telling herself it's not up to her to nag Goku to clean up after himself.

He parented his way, she parented her way.

But even though she'd only swept past the house to go straight to the yard and was now in the bathroom, her keen preference for order and cleanliness seemed to have been acknowledged.

Goten was finally clean, and Chi-Chi was toweling him dry when she noticed that he hadn't brought his clean clothes in the bath. "Baby, where's your clothes?"

"My room."

Chi-Chi nodded, telling him she'd be back in a second.

When she exited the bathroom, she realized she had no idea where his room was. This was probably the longest she'd ever been in Goku's house. She looked around, saw some doors ajar that seemed much too large for a little boy. So, door number three then, Chi-Chi thought. That must be Goten's…

But when she opened the door wide, she came face to face with her husband—ex! Ex-husband!

In the nude!

Chi-Chi shrieked in surprise, her hands flying to her eyes. "What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing? You didn't even knock!" Goku exclaimed, his hands going to his hips, which only emphasized how starkers he was.

"Why are you getting changed in Goten's room?" Chi-Chi wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"Goten's room? This is my room," Goku exclaimed.

"This is a child's room," Chi-Chi insisted, peeking between her fingers to verify that she wasn't going insane. It was a sparse room, with one double bed in the middle. She peeked again and noticed that Goku was now scratching his head in confusion, still completely naked as the day he was born.

Goku laughed, realization dawning. "Oh well, maybe it could be. You were thinking I took the master? That's Gohan's room. He's a teenager. He needs the space," he explained as if that actually explained anything. "Goten's is across the hall."

"Can you… can you please put something on?" Chi-Chi said, waving vaguely at his direction, her eyes still closed.

"Hm? Why? It's nothing you haven't seen before."

"For god's sake, Goku!" Chi-Chi exclaimed in frustration, dropping her hand, her eyes flying open at the same time. She let out a little eep, realizing her moment of pique gave her another eyeful, and Goku just laughed. This time, she kept her eyes straight ahead while her face flamed, and he lifted a brow as if daring her to cover her face again.

"Is there something else?" he asked expectantly, his mouth twitching and dammit… she couldn't find that sexy too, did she? He was so infuriating!

It was then she realized she had absolutely no reason to dawdle in Goku's room once she realized Goten's clothes weren't there. She nearly flew out of the room—promptly running into her eldest child.

"Mom? What're you doing in dad's room?" Gohan asked, as the door was still slightly ajar. Chi-Chi clearly saw that Goku was just shrugging on his boxers. Dende, his backside was ama—She reached behind and slammed the door shut.

"Just a little lost," Chi-Chi squeaked out. "Thought that was Goten's."

"Maaaamaaaaaa, I'm dry now…! Where are you?!"

"See?" Chi-Chi waved vaguely in the direction of the hallway bath. "I just need to grab Goten's clothes."

Gohan lifted his brows but silently pointed to Goten's door just across the way.

When she found what she needed finally, she went straight back to the bathroom, studiously ignoring the still-closed door to Goku's room.

.