So...I'm going to just stop making promises that I can't keep. Last time I updated was on August 6th and it is now June and I said I would update that Saturday. I don't want to spend too much time at the beginning so I'll save you the trouble of figuring out my life until the end. Alas on with the story!
Disclaimer: Yeah, don't own anything, probably never will, like ever.
Last Time~
Maybe we should do this another time.
Just call me so I know you're safe. Don't care what time
I was an hour and a half late already. I haven't showered or bought her a gift. These reservations were really expensive too. I scream in agony. This was supposed to be our night. The night we start planning the rest of our lives together. Everything…ruined. Why?
My baka father
That burning fire in my soul is never going out.
Continuation~ : Chapter 2: Voices of Reason
It's about 10 o'clock by the time I get back to my apartment. I quickly jumped into the shower to get the stink from my little sparring session with Vegeta off me. The moment I'm done I call Marron on the phone.
"Hello Marron," I say as soon as I hear her answer the phone.
"Goten! Thank goodness you're alright. I was worried, when you didn't make our date and then didn't answer your phone. You are alright, aren't you?" I smile. Just hearing her voice makes all the torment begin to disintegrate so quickly.
"Yeah, of course I'm fine. I'm sorry about missing our date. I got caught up in something, that's all," I say.
"Oh? Care to explain?" She asks.
I relay all of the events that took place that afternoon.
"I'm so sorry Goten. It must've felt awful," she says when I finish.
"What do you have to be sorry about? There's nothing you could've done to prevent it. You didn't even know what was going on at the time."
"I know, I just can't imagine that kind of thing happening with my own father. The pain must be unbearable."
"Yeah, I bet Krillin was a good father. He had to be to raise the perfect daughter whom I adore so much." I hear her laugh on the receiving end.
"Well I don't know if I'd say I was perfect."
"You don't have to. I think that you are and anyone who doesn't should get their eyes checked."
"Aw Goten," she gushes then I feel her smirk. "So I got all dolled up this evening and you didn't even show up. I want to know what you plan to do about it. How, Mr. Son, do you plan to make this up to me?"
"You'll just have to wait and see. But I promise you Miss. Chestnut, it'll be a treat." I am smirking as well.
"Oh is that so. I'll remember that Goten. It's getting late, I should probably get some rest."
"Yeah it is getting late. Call you tomorrow, k?
"Okay Goten, bye. I love you."
"I love you too."
We hang up and I put the phone down and collapse unto my bed. My mind starts to wander and soon I am fast asleep.
Tomorrow~
I wake up the next morning with a huge smile on my face. Marron is the first thing that enters my mind. They say that the last person who enters your mind at night and the first person who enters your mind in the morning is the most important being in your life. Which makes sense, seeing as how I want to spend the rest of my life with this woman. I can't wait to pledge my life to this woman.
I hear a knock on the front door. I look at the clock. It's almost noon. I wonder who could be knocking and quickly roll out of bed. I throw on some clothes and answer the door. I am pleasantly surprised when I see my lavender-haired friend.
"Hey Trunks," I say and motion for him to enter.
"Hey Goten," he says walking in. I notice the bag in his hand.
"What's in the bag? Whatever it is, it smells delicious."
"I'm on lunch break and decided to come and visit you," Trunks states dropping the food bag on the table. "I brought you some too."
"Thanks man," I say pulling out a chair.
"Did you just wake up?" He asks looking me up and down.
"What gave me away?"
"Your hair. It's messier than usual and you clothes are disheveled. Your overall appearance is just a big hot mess."
"Maybe I was going for a new look Trunks." I say with false sadness in my voice. "You know you really just hurt my feelings. I don't know if I'll ever be the same."
"If that's your new look from now on, you won't be seeing me so often anymore, and definitely not in public," He jokes back. "I don't recommend it. I'm sure even your girlfriend would drop you with that look." He begins pulling the food and utensils out of the bag. He passes several trays to me.
"For your information I'll have you know she loves me unconditionally, which is more than I can say about you and your love life."
"Yeah well she probably doesn't have the heart to tell you. She knows if she's dumps you looking like that you'll probably never find love again."
"Oh haha. But I am very lucky to have found Marron. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"I noticed. Your apartment is always significantly neater when she comes around and you clean up nice."
"I'm just trying to be the man she deserves."
"Then don't worry. If she loves you as much as you say she does than you don't have to try so hard."
"I know I don't but I want to. She makes me want to."
We tear into all the food like madman who haven't eaten in weeks. After all the food trays have been emptied I stand up and begin cleaning up. Trunks watches me for a little before asking, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" I reply, feeling like I know where this conversation is heading.
"I've been your best friend longer than anyone. I know when something is off." I feel his stare as I turned around to throw away the remaining trash. He sits and waits patiently for a response. He motions for me to sit down again but I choose not to. A few moments pass before he says, "I should get back to work."
"No, no," I say quickly. I feel my anger beginning to resurface again.
"Well, go on, you might as well tell me. Or I can probably go find out from Gohan."
I'm still silent. I look him in his eyes and it's as though he can immediately tell what the issue is. He speaks, "It's your dad, isn't it."
"My dad just makes me so angry. It's like I've never been this angry before." I see Trunks nod sympathetically. He knows. It's been like the millionth time he's heard this before.
"Yesterday at lunch, it was as if nothing ever happened until Pan became upset. He was just as carefree as usual. And mother seemed to forgive him so quickly. It's just so irritating. Pan doesn't get it either, and I understand that. She loved spending every minute with him when she was younger. I really think he was her role model and then bam he leaves and the dynamic changes you know? My father, my own father probably didn't even give us a second thought. I mean how would you feel if your father just up and left you for ten years and didn't visit once even after he promised that he would. I know your dad isn't always everyone's favorite person to be around but how often does he drop everything and bail."
"It's true. My dad is many things but I don't see him abandoning our family. Apparently he wasn't always like the way he is now. Mom says he's changed a lot since everyone first met him. She says now he's just grumpy but before he was cold and ruthless. My sister certainly adores him and even though he won't say or show it, I know he adores her too."
"You see, even Vegeta wouldn't even abandon his family. Sure he trains a lot but he wouldn't just up and leave."
"Speaking of which I felt your presence outside Capsule Corporation last night and dad said you demanded a spar but you weren't focused enough. He said something about your dad doing something to tick you off, I just had no idea what it was but now it all makes sense," Trunks says.
"I swear Trunks, if I ever have kids, I will never abandon them ever. If I ever even think about it, you have my permission to beat the hell out of me."
"Will do, because I am not dealing with this again," he tries to lighten the mood. "That reminds me, how are things between you and Marron? I thought you were supposed to propose soon."
"Yeah, actually that was supposed to happen last night but I was preoccupied as you know."
"That really sucks."
"Yes, thank you Trunks."
"Hey don't blame me. Look at the time I should get back to work. The president's job at Capsule Corp. isn't going to do itself." He gets up and heads towards the door.
"Sorry Trunks. Thanks for the food," I say opening the door. He walks through the threshold and then turns around.
"No problem but a little advice."
"What's that?"
"Maybe don't let your anger at Goku affect your life so much."
"I really hope you're not suggesting I forgive him."
"No, not yet anyways."
"Not ever Trunks."
"Just think about it, k?" He leaves and I am left alone again. I decide to start preparing for the rest of my day. Heeding Trunks' advise I fix my hair and then proceed to brush my teeth. When I'm finished I decide to tidy up the rest of my apartment. Little things, like straightening up and making the bed. I come across a photo of Marron and I. I look at it for a while. I start to think about how I'll make up last night's would be date to Marron. It's real hard because I want everything to be perfect. I know she won't care but I don't want to wait so long that she starts having doubts about where the relationship is moving or not moving in this case. Suddenly I feel a vibration. I check my phone and sure enough it's a text message.
Hey little bro. U busy?
Gohan. I should have seen this coming. I shoot him one back.
Not at the moment. Need Something?
He doesn't take long to reply.
I need to talk to you asap. Come to my place now if you can.
I let him know that I'm on the way and fly to his place. It doesn't take long before his home comes into view. I see Gohan sitting outside, reading of course. He's such a bookworm. I decide to have some fun.
"Give me all your lunch money ya nerd."
"Take what you want just please don't hurt me," He says back and we both laugh.
"So what did you want to talk to me about," I say walking towards him. Suddenly the smile disappears from his face and his tone becomes serious. The atmosphere changes. I immediately know what this is about. "Is this about the lunch yesterday. Because I-"
"You what?" Gohan says seriously and I detect a hint of accusation in his voice. It makes me slightly uncomfortable. Gohan was my father figure for the first seven years of my life so hearing him speak like that makes me feel like a small child being scolded again.
"I tried to keep calm yesterday. I really did."
"All mom asked for was one, just one civilized lunch," he says, emphasizing the word one, making me wince.
"Look Gohan, I'm sorry but-"
"No. I don't think you are. I think you were just waiting for an opportunity."
"That's ridiculous. What happened yesterday was my reaction to Pan's sorrow."
"Pan is a child. Such reactions are expected. You're an adult. You have to learn to control your emotions. What you did yesterday, it made the situation worse. Now mom feels bad, dad feels bad-"
"He should feel bad after what he did to all of us." I shoot back angered by my brother's words. "How can you sit here and defend the man who made your daughter feel-"
"You're not listening. You think I don't understand when my own daughter's upset." He calms down. "I understand why you're so angry. Believe me."
"Sure," I say mockingly.
"It's true Goten. You think those seven years after dad was gone I was oh so just happy-go-lucky."
I calmed for a moment. I remember the nights, hearing the cries of what I assumed to be nightmares. "No," I say. "That's exactly the reason I'm so mad at him."
"Well I'm not," Gohan says calmly.
"How can you not be?" I say still angered.
"Listen Goten. Don't get me wrong, when dad left I was a lot of things. I felt guilty, and sad and angry much like you."
"I don't feel guilty-"
"Goten" He says scoldingly for interrupting him.
"Sorry, go on."
"I didn't understand why dad would just be okay with leaving because I certainly wasn't. One night after waking up from one of those nightmares, I went down to the kitchen to get something to calm my nerves. When I got there, mom was sitting there, staring at a mug of tea. Her eyes were puffy and red. She seemed shocked to see my up. It was late, it must've been around three thirty in the morning.
Flashback
Gohan wandered down the hall, glimpsing at each of the family photos as he walked down the halls. Almost each one had a photo of his dad and himself in them. Some were of just his parents while others had all three of them. The last one at the end of the hall was a picture of Goten his mom and himself shortly after Goten was born. The Ox-King had taken it. Gohan allowed a small smile to creep on his face briefly before his mind reminded him that he was the reason that innocent little boy would grow up without a father.
Upon reaching the kitchen, he noticed a small, dim, light was one. The light was above their stove but it softly lit the room and within Gohan could see his mother with each hand wrapped around the tea mug. Her eyes were red and shiny. He knew she must've been crying. It only intensified his guilt. She must've heard his footsteps because immediately she looked up.
"Gohan! What're you doing up at this hour? I thought you went to bed hours ago."
"I couldn't sleep. I thought taking a walk might calm my nerves."
"Bad dream?" She asks.
"Something like that," he responds. She smiles weakly at him and he does the same.
"Thinking about your father, aren't you." Gohan stares dead at her. She pulls out a chair next to her and motions for him to sit by her and he immediately does
"How,how did you know?" Gohan asks in a shaky voice looking up at his mother.
"Some things a mother just knows," she responds and begins stroking his hair. "Gohan, you know you can tell me anything, right honey" She says. "I know I don't always approve of everything you do but you can always, always, come talk to me."
Gohan nods and turns away, feeling the tears come back. He didn't want his mother to see his pain.
"Gohan, I know you're hurting. You don't have to pretend in front of me." With that the dam bursts and Gohan immediately turns and seeks the comfort of his mother. She instantly wraps her arms around him and he does the same.
"It hurts so bad mom. Why did he do it? Why did he leave"
"I know baby. I know it hurts. Just let it out."
"I want him to come back. I need him to come back. Why won't he just come back?"
Chichi stayed silent, letting her eldest son release all the emotions he's been keeping bottled up. When he seemed to calm down some, she decided to speak again.
"I've wondered the same thoughts you have Gohan. I wondered for months if there was something I did and or something I could've done that would've made him stay. Then it hit me, the day that Goten was born."
Gohan looked up his mother. She gave him another small smile. "It's not that your father wanted to stay away from us Gohan. It's that he loves us so much that he wants to do whatever he can to make us all safe. His birth was a reminder of that. Our family is the most important thing in the universe to him. Who knows how he'd react if something happened to us that could've been prevented by staying away. Do I wish he didn't do it, of course. Am I mad he did it? Sure sometimes. But I can't stay mad at him. We can't change what he did but we can move on. I'm not saying it has to be right now, it'll take time. You know what gets me though?"
Gohan shook his head. Chichi stood up. "Come with me." Gohan stood up and followed his mother. They walked into Goten's nursery. The one month old was sleeping soundly. Chichi wrapped an arm around Gohan's shoulder. "This precious little boy is what gets me through," She whispered. "I look at him and I understand why your father did what he did. He wanted to protect the lives of everyone he loves. Goten was our last gift from Goku. He's just like his dad, so innocent and happy and certainly has his appetite. Life is a precious thing and Goku wanted to make sure we could live ours. Understand?
End Flashback
"I did a lot of growing up within those seven years. One of the most important things I learned is that while yes you can be mad at the things a person does, you can't hold onto that pain. When you're bitter about something it eats you alive. You have to learn to let it go. I'm not saying to mask it and keep it all bottled up either, but learn that life is too short to hold onto old grudges."
"So, you want me to forgive him?"
"Yes, but not for his sake. Do it for yours. Think how much energy you have wasted hating him."
I didn't need to. It's been ten years.
"Goten, I'm going to let you in on a little secret."
"What's that?"
"Hate accomplishes absolutely nothing. Nothing at all happens when you hate someone. You can't let others take away your peace of mind. Accept what has been done and move one. Find someway to go on in a healthy manner. No one's saying it's an easy task but it's so worth it in the end. You'll be feeling so much better once you just let it go. I promise." He smiles at me.
I understand but I'm still not ready to forgive him yet. I don't voice this to Gohan but I nod. I don't know when I'll ever be ready to forgive him. It's too much. Gohan and I chat for a bit before we both see Pan running towards us. She must've just came back from school. She ran towards me and we both hug.
"Uncle Goten, what're you doing here?" She asks happily
"I just came to visit my favorite little niece." I shoot back.
"I'm your only niece," She says smirking.
"Pan why don't you go take care of your homework," Gohan chimes in.
"Daaaaaad," she complains.
"Your dad is right Panny," I say. She sulks and trudges back into the house.
"Well you have your hands full, so I should be going," I say getting ready to take off.
"Goten, I meant what I said. I'm teaching Pan the very same."
"Okay Gohan."
I leave his home with a quick goodbye to Pan. I am left to ponder my thoughts alone.
End Chapter
Hey guys! I finally updated. I hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave a comment and sorry for any mistakes. I'm going to get started on the next chapter soon. There's only like two or three chapters left. I've been busy with college stuff. When I started this story it was the summer before my senior year in high school. It got busy and hectic but I'm golden now.
~Happy Readings and Many Blessings to you all