Last update of the year! I hope it's good enough. I hope you all enjoy it! Please review. Withput reviews there won't be another chapter. Sorry. I just really want some reviews on it.

Chapter 3: Memories

Chi-Chi headed towards her room with the portrait on her hands. As she walked, the tears that just some minutes ago were held back not to show weakness were now cascading from her eyes. Was she really that naïve to think everyone was buying her brave face? Or that she was over Goku? She put the portrait back in the chest of drawers and sat on the bed. Then something caught her attention. She bent down to grab it. She carefully opened it, and soon the tears were replaced by a wide smile. She had forgotten about her wedding day. It was such an amazing day, the best part was that she was marrying the man she'd been in love with since she was a child, whom she swore to love until death tore them apart. That happened eventually. She then moved on, there's nothing wrong with moving on. But a part of her still feels guilty, even to this day. The smile was replaced by tears once more. The guilt taking over her as she went through the photo album.
"Goku." She said in a low tone. "How I wish you were still here with me. It's really hard not having you around. I miss you so much."
"Mom?" Goten peeked. "Are you okay?"
"Yes sweetie, I'm fine." She patted on the bed. "Come here."
"What are you doing?" He walked into the bedroom.
"Oh I'm just looking at the pictures from my wedding day."
"Cool! Can I see it?"
"Sure you can."
"Look at dad! He looks so thin!"
"Yeah he does. He was only 19 at the time"
"19??? That's almost Gohan's age!"
"That's right."
"He should marry Videl next year."
"What?" She smiled. "No, son. That's not how it works."
"But he loves her?"
"WHAT?" Gohan ran into the room.
"You love Videl."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you clean your ears when you shower?"
Chi-Chi couldn't help but smile. She hadn't smiled like that for a while now. She thanked Goten for doing that to her.
"Yes of course I clean them. But I don't love Videl! I told you she hates me!"
Suddenly the boys heard a crying noise. They looked over at their mother. She tried to wipe the tears away when she felt their gaze on her.
"Mom?"
"What happened?"
"Oh nothing. I just had a bad day, that's all."
"Is that why Yamcha isn't here?"
Chi-Chi said nothing. Instead, she just looked at her eldest son and he already knew the answer.
"Goten, I think it's time for you to go to bed."
"Already?"
"Yeah, mom isn't feeling well, so we best not bother her."
"But I'm not going to bother her, right mommy?"
"I'm sorry son. I promise we'll have lots of fun tomorrow."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Can we go to the park then?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Awesome! Gohan, will you read me a story."
"Sure. But just one okay?"
"Deal." Goten walked to Chi-Chi and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Night mommy."
"Sweet dreams Goten."

Half an hour passed by. Gohan was taking so long that Chi-Chi thought he might have fallen asleep. She heard a soft knock on the door.
"Come in." She said.
"I thought you were sleeping already."
"So did I."
"So what exactly happened, mom?"
"Nothing sweetie."
"Really? So why isn't Yamcha here tonight?"
"Because…" She sighed. "We got in a fight again."
"About what?"
"Goku."
"Oh."
"Yeah, he thinks I'm still in love with your father."
"Well, are you?"
"Gohan!"
"I'm sorry mom, but everyone knows it."
"Excuse me?"
"Everyone knows you still love dad."
"Oh god."
"Do you still love him, mom?"
"No. I mean, we had a lot of history but no. I don't love him anymore. He never gave a damn about me. He never gave a damn about us."
"What are talking about?"
"Your father never cared for us Gohan."
"Of course he did! How can you not see that?"
"I'm sorry? No he didn't. He chose not to come back. He had the chance to be with us again but instead he stayed there to fight in the world tournament!"
"Mom, do you even know dad?? I do understand your point but dad's main goal was to become the strongest man alive. It has always been like that. You know that."
"Yeah, but his life changed when we got married. He had a family for god's sake! He can't just stay dead and leave us here like that."
"He didn't leave us!"
"Oh shut up Gohan! Stop defending your father. You know he's wrong."
"Fine. Have it your way. It's not worth arguing with you."
"You know I'm right."
"Whatever." He walked away.
"Don't just walk away, Gohan."
"You leave me no choice."
"You're a grown man. So start acting like one!"
"Mom, it's useless to argue with you. And you wonder why dad was never around. He couldn't stand you!"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"He couldn't stand me?"
"Yep."
"Oh my god!"
Gohan immediately regretted saying it. He had just hurt his mother.
"I didn't mean to upset you mom."
"How could I be so stupid? Your father never loved me. I was naïve to think he could fall for me."
"But he did."
"You just said he couldn't stand me."
"That's true but he loved you very much. I'm sure he knew you wanted him to show it more often but it's not his nature."
"I guess."
"What is going on?" Goten walked into his mother's bedroom rubbing his eyes and holding his favorite pillow.
"Nothing sweetie." Chi-Chi picked him up and sat him on her lap. "We were just talking."
"It didn't seem like it."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Mom." Gohan said. "I'm sorry for what I said."
"Gohan."
"It was insensitive and I apologize."
"It's okay son. I understand it."
"Good."
Gohan sat on the bed and hugged his mother. It surprised her because he hadn't done for quite a while now. He used to do it all the time when Goku was alive. How things have changed since then. She held Goten tighter so he could be a part of the hug.
"Goten." She finally said softly. "Do you ever think about your father?"
"All the time. I want to meet him so bad."
Chi-Chi swallowed hard then sighed. It was inevitable. She would have to see Goku again. She couldn't imagine how devastated he would be when he'd find out about her and Yamcha. Guilt filled her mind as she tried to push that thought away.
"Why?"
"No reason. I was just curious."
"I showed him a picture of dad a few days ago."
"Oh yeah?"
As Gohan was telling her what happened, she placed Goten on the bed and knelt down in front of the drawers to grab a photo album. She then sat back on the bed between her two sons. Chi-Chi opened the album and came across a picture of Goku when he was just a child.
"He looked exactly like you Goten."
Goten looked at the picture. He was surprised to see how alike he and his father were. Everybody told him that, but he never really believed it until now.
"He had the same spiky hair you do and also both of you have similar personalities."
"We do?"
"Yeah, he was a very curious person."
Chi-Chi looked at her youngest son and smiled when he made a surprised face.
"Do you miss him, mommy?"
She was startled by his question and sighed before answering "You want the truth? Sometimes I do."
Goten was pretty happy with this answer while Gohan was somewhat shocked with it. The fact his mother admitted she missed his father took him by surprise. The youngest one had a huge grin on his face.
"What's the big smile for?"
"You said you missed daddy and he is coming back."
"You've been saying it for quite a while. Where did you get that from?"
"Nowhere." Gohan interrupted. "Goten, it's time you go to bed."
"But I don't want to."
"It's late, and we have to go to school tomorrow remember?"
"Damn, you're no fun!"
"Sorry brother." Gohan offered his hand to his brother. "Come on, I'll put you in bed."
"I want a piggyback ride." Goten pleaded, faking a crying face.
Gohan sighed. "Fine. Jump."
"Yay!"
Chi-Chi couldn't help but smile at her sons. She could tell Gohan was trying his best to be a good influence for Goten, since Goku wasn't around.

Gohan put Goten on the bed and went to grab some blankets in the closet.
"Hey Gohan."
"What?"
"Was daddy a bad person?"
"No, he was one of the most heartfelt people I've ever known."
"Do you think he will be angry when he sees me?"
Gohan put the blankets over the bed and looked at his brother, visibly surprised.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I wanted to know."
"Of course he won't." He ruffled his brother's hair. "Dad won't be angry when he sees you. He's not like that. I'm sure he'll love you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes silly! I'm sure. Dad only gets angry when he has to fight a powerful enemy. Even then, he still avoids killing them if they're not strong enough."
"I see."
"So no need to be afraid of him, okay?"
"I'm not afraid. Just nervous."
"Well I guess I can understand that. Anyway, I want to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Stop bringing the dad coming back subject up. It's making mom really uncomfortable."
"Alright. I'm happy he'll be back though."
"I know. Me too. But tone down okay?"
"Okay."
"Great. Good night."
"Night."
Gohan turned the lights off and closed the door. He was heading to his room when Chi-Chi appeared in the hall.
"Gohan?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it true that your father is coming back?"

Thank you for every smile and for every memory.
And every time that I looked into your eyes
I knew that we were forever
Thank you for the memories – Sleeping At Last