Some good news and happy memories.

4

A short time later, Goku had awakened and was listening to Gohan tell all about his life at the university, how happy he was at home, and one little detail that he was intending to tell his father shortly but, didn't have the chance to. It seems that Pan was expecting her first child and soon everyone would be calling him "Grandpa Gohan" He expressed the fact he wasn't sure he was ready for that but, his father said he was very pleased and that he thought he would do just fine.

About that time, Videl and Pan came upstairs carrying trays holding all types of plates and bowls. It was time for the evening meal and Gohan was so wrapped up in talking to his father that he had forgotten how late is was.

"Hello, dad," said Videl, "We've brought you something to eat."

"It smells wonderful," said Goku.

"We didn't know what you would like, so we made some of everything," chirped Pan, "I hope you like it."

As soon as they sat the trays down, Goku began to plow his way through each of the dishes in fine Saiyan tradition, with chopsticks flying. He certainly didn't look like a man on his deathbed at that moment.

"Well, I guess nothing interferes with your father's appetite, huh?" asked Videl.

"I guess not," replied Gohan, scratching the back of his head.

"Why don't you go downstairs and eat with the others," said Videl, "We'll stay with dad and visit with him for awhile."

As Gohan was going down the stairs to join the others in the kitchen for dinner, he thought about how surreal this whole thing was. His father had gone away before, but he always came back at just the right moment. This time it was for keeps and he wasn't sure he could stand that thought. It was at that moment he heard Pan say "...and if its a boy we'll call him Goku after you grandfather!". He heard his father's laughter fill the room and he then knew that as long as the Son family continued, his father would always be with them. Goku's spirit would always be inside their hearts.

Gohan entered the kitchen, greeted by the sounds of lively conversation and dishes rattling. Marron and 18 were feeding the kids at a small separate table.

"Remember what grandfather always says," said 18 with a smile, "a Saiyan always eats everything put on his plate."

"That goes for you, too," added Marron, directing the comment at her two.

The children returned a chorus of "Yes, Ma'ams" and "No Problem" as they quickly cleaned their plates. Gohan couldn't help thinking that was one rule they would never have trouble following.

All the others were gathered around the table, except Chiaotzu, who really didn't need a chair. He just floated cross-legged to the right of Tien. Bra literally floated around the room herself, clearing away empty plates and bowls and replacing them with full ones. Gohan took one look at the way his brother and Vegeta were attacking the food and thought he had better get started. He had a lot of lost ground to make up. After all, Sayians do have a competitive streak and he was ready to take them on. Gohan reached out to grab the last turkey drumstick on the plate directly in front of him, when Vegeta's hand shot forward too. Unfortunately for Vegeta, so did Bulma's.

"Share!" she snapped, slapping the back of her husband's hand with a resounding smack. He quickly withdrew his hand, grunted in Bulma's direction and went searching for another plate.

After dinner, Marron and 18 put the children to bed and Pan and Videl came downstairs with the trays.

"Grandfather is sleeping now," said Pan.

"The girls and I will check on him throughout the night," said Videl, "in case he needs anything."

As they all sat around the table having tea, it suddenly became very quiet in the room. It almost felt like an awkward moment among strangers. Most of the group sat staring into space. Yamcha had his head hanging down, studying his shoes and Trunks was staring so intently into his teacup you would have thought he was waiting for some psychic message to appear in the tea leaves floating in the bottom.

Gohan thought he had better do something before someone started to cry and the whole group went to pieces. That would not please his father and it wouldn't make him comfortable either. The one thing that Goku didn't want was for anyone to be sad about his passing. He had lived a long and happy life, full of adventures. He wanted them to be happy, to know that the next place he was going was full of adventure too. There were lots of things he didn't get to do the last time he was there and he would be seeing his wife and his friends again.

Gohan noticed that Bulma's eyes had turned red around the edges and were about to fill with tears. She had known Goku the longest and the silence was beginning to wear on her. Gohan suddenly broke that silence by asking a question.

"Bulma, tell me again how you met my father?" he asked.

The question had the same effect on the room as dropping a book ,flat on the floor, in a library. It quickly got everyone's attention.

"Well, um..." began Bulma, "well, I almost ran him over with my car, actually. At the time, he thought it was some kind of monster and was ready to fight with it. You should have seen the look on his face when he first saw me." The tears in her eyes were replaced with a smile and then she started to giggle. "He was so cute. He was little, but very strong for his age and he would say just exactly what he thinking too. Sometimes, it was a little embarrassing." She was laughing now, thinking about all the things they had done together as kids. The rest of the group had begun to lighten up too.

Piccolo then spoke up, "I remember when I first met you father. I hated him on sight but, after we battled, I found him to be a great warrior with a strong heart. I have come to respect him greatly."

"He may have been a 'cute kid' and a 'great warrior', but he still doesn't know a damn thing about rose bushes," sniped Vegeta. The whole room burst into laughter and a sly smile played across Vegeta's face. He didn't make jokes very often, but when he did he relished the moment.

And there they all sat, laughing and trading stories. Bra made a fresh pot of tea and passed it around. They sat and talked late into the night of great adventures; and battles won and lost. How one man had touched their lives so greatly. What they didn't realize was Goku had been listening from upstairs. The laughter and happiness he was hearing down there was making him feel quite content. As he drifted back to sleep, with a wide smile on his face, he thought that today was as it should be. The day was perfect and getting more perfect by the minute. Soon it would be time to go, soon...soon...

I hope my readers like this story and I hope it isn't too sad to read. Don't worry, there will be some lighter moments later on. I promise. Please leave reviews. I would love to hear from you about what you think. Thanks.