Ch 4

The week was incredibly slow going. Chi-Chi worked mechanically, everything working perfectly as planned for the week's schedule, but she felt oddly hollow inside. Nothing had changed, not really, but her conversation with Bulma really rattled her.

Goten, who was more perceptive than she had given him credit for, gave her extra hugs and kisses. He couldn't quite articulate his worry as it was too much for him to really comprehend, only that his mother needed a bit more affection.

She was more than happy to lend Gohan her car for the weekend, not only because he wanted to visit Videl in Satan City to finish his assignment, but it gave a perfectly legitimate excuse for her not to see her ex.

The image of his chiseled body continued to flash in her mind at intermittent times, and she just didn't want to deal with the real-life figure lest she say or do something to embarrass herself.

She'd done enough self-inflicted harm in that arena.

Fortunately, nothing of note passed the next few days, and soon Chi-Chi was back to completely focusing on her catering business and forgetting about silly naked exes and lonely nights.

It was an early Thursday evening when Chi-Chi was at the doctor, Goten on her lap. Soon he'd be too big for such cuddles, but she was going to take what she could get while he was receptive to it. She'd already been acknowledged by the receptionist so was just waiting to be called when Goku came into the room, looking a tad breathless, like he'd sprinted to the appointment.

She saw several women's heads turn at the commotion, but their gazes stayed for obvious reasons. He was wearing a white button down shirt tucked in dark tailored pants, looking like he'd just burst out of a magazine. The two top buttons were undone, exposing a delicious column of his throat. His sleeves were pushed up, revealing taut forearms as he scribbled his name down into the sign-in sheet.

Chi-Chi found her face grow warm. She was so used to seeing him casual, since she only ever saw him when she'd dropped off her kids for the weekend. Even when they were married, she'd rarely seen him in any business casual attire, but as this was a weekday, it made sense to see him more formal looking than normal.

She didn't realize she had been bracing herself—for what, she didn't know—until he'd turned and flashed her a grin of welcome, waving to her before walking over. She relaxed slightly but was flooded with confusion at her own reaction.

"Sorry I'm late," Goku said, bending to lift Goten up from her lap. "Hey kiddo."

Goten giggled. "Hi, Dad!"

"Hey, how've you been?" Goku asked, as he settled on the seat beside her. He tilted his head, his expression nothing but open and curious.

"Good," Chi-Chi squeaked. She cleared her throat, mortified, coughing slightly. "Good, I'm good."

An elderly lady off to the side leaned forward and said, "You are a lovely family."

"Gets his looks from his dad, right?" Goku said easily, winking at the lady. The woman blushed and tittered delightfully.

"Your wife is very lucky," the old lady went on pleasantly, nodding toward Chi-Chi.

"Oh, she's not my wife," Goku said, still that cheerful grin on his face.

At that, all the ladies in the room who'd been discreetly eyeing him were now openly gaping.

Chi-Chi felt mildly humiliated. The tips of her ears burned and she blinked rapidly, forcing herself not to react beyond flashing a calm, bland smile. She realized that was possibly the first time in seven years Goku made the correction instead of her.

She had no right to be upset about it.

It was the truth after all.

"Son Goten?" a nurse called out.

"That's us. C'mon kiddo," Goku said in the same pleasant tone, lifting Goten onto his hip. He went ahead with nary a look back, the optics of it looking like she was trailing after him.

Her jaw was beginning to ache from the smile she was forcing through her lips.

"Why hello, there Goten!"

A raven-haired vision in a lab coat greeted them, arms stretched.

"Dr. Chow!" Goten squealed and ran into the woman's arms. The doctor gave Goten a squeeze before standing.

"Hello, Goku," she said with a smile that Chi-Chi could only infuriatingly gather was flirtatious. She saw him flash his patented thousand-watt grin. If steam could rise from her head, Chi-Chi was sure she resembled a locomotive.

"I'm Chi-Chi," she interrupted, sticking her hand out, breaking the prolonged eye contact between her ex and the doctor.

"Oh, yes, you must be Goten's mom," the doctor said with a pleasant smile, shaking her hand firmly.

"We're very busy, so if you could please examine my son's arm?" Chi-Chi prodded tightly.

"Don't be rude, Chi-Chi," Goku said, angling her a disappointed look. "If you have to go somewhere, I can stay here until Dr. Chow is finished with the exam and I'll drop him off after."

She was about to say something in defense when she saw her son settled on the examining table and Dr. Chow taking out her stethoscope. She took a calming breath. Breathe. She was an adult. He wasn't doing anything out of bounds. It was not a big deal…

As the exam went on, Chi-Chi had to acknowledge that Dr. Chow had an incredibly friendly bedside manner. Goten was put completely at ease, and she answered all of her questions thoroughly, assuaging her concerns about Goten's recovery and next steps.

A quick x-ray would confirm the bone setting nicely, so they agreed that it was time to take the cast off, but for Goten to wear a sling for another week and to take it easy.

By the time it was all said and done, Chi-Chi's brief flash of irrational jealousy was gone and replaced with gratefulness at the doctor's professionalism and care.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Chow," Chi-Chi said with a genuine smile.

"No, thank you. You raised such a lovely boy," the doctor said easily.

"Does this mean I can play video games again?" Goten asked, causing everyone to laugh.

As they made their way to the clinic's exit, the receptionist waved Goku down.

"Oh, Mr. Son. I need you to sign something," the young woman said. He looked at Chi-Chi, gesturing her to wait, so she held Goten's hand and watched Goku scribble on the desk before half jogging back to them.

"That's odd, usually they only need one parent's signature," Chi-Chi said as Goku held the door open for them.

"She said something about an emergency contact number for their records," Goku explained as they headed to the parkade.

Chi-Chi frowned. That was odd. His number should already be added to their kids' files, a quick look would—

By the time they reached her car, Chi-Chi realized that receptionist just wanted to flirt with him and get his number! And he gave it to her!

For god's sake the girl looked to be in her early twenties!

"All right, this is where I say good-bye," Goku said but was looking directly at Goten. He crouched, opening his arms up for his youngest. Goten launched himself at Goku. "Whoa, kiddo, you still need to be careful with that arm. Remember to put on lotion!"

"Bye dad! See you tomorrow!" Goten said.

"See ya," Goku said, then finally met her gaze. "You too?"

"Hm? What?" Chi-Chi said startled. She'd been a small daze, just thinking about the past hour and the idea of Goku dating.

"Tomorrow," he clarified, looking at her oddly. "Will I see you tomorrow? Or will Gohan…?"

"No, no, I need the car for the weekend," she said.

"Oh? Big plans?" he asked, his expression one of bland interest, the kind you give in polite company during a cocktail party.

If big plans included grocery and going to the gym for the first time in weeks, it was huge plans.

"Yep, yep..." She trailed off, her smile turning tremulous.

This was torturous.

"Okay, bye," Chi-Chi said abruptly, turning to Goten to help fasten his seatbelt. When she snuck a look back, he was already gone.

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