Chapter Four

Every Father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.

-Gohan

I've come a long way in my life.

I've saw things that a lot of men haven't witnessed in their whole generation. From murders and aliens to happiness and battles.

And I can honestly say, that without my father by my side every step of the way, I wouldn't have made it. Some call him a hero. Some actually refer to him as a God of some sort. I'm not here to lessen their importance of him and/or agree. What did I call Son Goku?

Well he was my dad, and that was it. Every little boy looks up to their dad, I mean come on? No amount of words I could say could equally portray the way I saw my father. Yes, he was a hero and a warrior and probably the greatest man to walk this green Earth but the people who had labeled him as these things didn't know him like I did.

They didn't know that as a little boy, he hadn't even been born on Planet earth. And that his favorite activity was to fish, bare handed. Or that he had married my mother after thy had fought at a world tournament. They didn't know the Goku I knew. They didn't know his family side and that is what I intend to tell.

I was about five when my Uncle came and kidnapped me.

Yes, that's what I said, kidnapped.

You've got to understand though, that my family isn't like other families. First off, my Uncle hadn't been born on Earth either and he sure as hell didn't like my Father, who did every single thing to get me back which included teaming up with Piccolo, who had been his arch nemesis back then.

Piccolo.

He who had been both my mentor and one of my best friends. The Namekian had taken me under his wing, against my mother's wishes may I add, to train me. Even if he hadn't know it, I came to adore that man and see him as my second father. Piccolo had recently given his life in order to save Goku. He's in HFIL right now and I couldn't count a second that I don't think about how much I miss him.

My father had the same upstanding respect for Piccolo as I did. Actually, my dad had alot of respect for a lot of people. And his love for Planet Earth was outstanding. How many times had he given his life to save it? Kami, I don't even think he knows.

Although his intentions were always for the best, his family was often left with the short end of the stick. While my father trained in the other world, my mother wept here on Earth. Sometimes, when I was younger, I thought she'd never stop crying. There had always been a price for the peacefulness my dad had given us and, honestly, if I could go back and stop my father from risking his life all those times, I would have.

I know that I might sound very stingy right now but It was true. I never resented my father for leaving us but I did blame him for causing my mother so much grief. Soon after, though, was when I realized something.

When I had voiced my thoughts to my mother, she had slapped me. It had seemed very unfair at the time. I mean, my dad was the one who left but I was the one getting slapped because I cared about her?

Anyway, I never forgot what my mom had said after that.

"I love Goku and he loves me. If He didn't think that I could survive all this time apart then he wouldn't have went. Don't ever put blame on him again. If anything, I am the one to blame for weeping so much."

It had sounded ridiculous! And even now, I still disagree with her. I don't blame my dad anymore but I sure as hell don't blame my mother either. I did realize that they were in love. One of those Saiyan/Human relationships that could never been broken. I never thought that I'd find someone I cared for as much as my dad cared for mom.

Then Videl came along.

Love at first sight is a myth, really. There were no sparks that flew or fireworks that went off. It was only until Buu was blowing up the world and that I realized how empty my heart would be if I couldn't see her again.

My dad took a special liking in my daughter, Pan. Haha, they constantly spent time together and it made my heart swell.

At times, though, I grew angry with him. It had seemed that he spent more time through Pan's childhood then mines. Then I grew upset. It would be only a matter of time before Pan had to experience one of his long absences. I had to deal with my mom's sorrow but I didn't think I was ready to see my daughter in such a state.

Then it came. My father went off with Uub to train and left us high and dry, in the middle of a World's Martial Arts Tournament.

But my daughter never cried.

She never avoided the subject of my dad, she never whined and asked when he was coming back. She simply smiled and laughed and said that she would get stronger to impress him. She reminded me of myself when I was little and if that hadn't made me proud, I don't know what had.

My little girl is grown up and even though she doesn't show it, I know she misses my dad. It's been almost 8 yearsnow since his disappearance with Shenron and, I don't know if anyone else knows it, but he's not coming back. I might sound blunt and discouraging but It's true. My mother, all credit given to her, disagrees. She's been waiting everyday with a grin for him to return and I'd rather have her with this attitude then any other.

Bulma is refusing to believe his disappearance as well. Besides from my family, the blue haired genius is probably the closest to him. After all, they traveled the world together in their younger days.

Vegeta is another mystery however. If he thinks Gokus' gone for good or not, he refuses to stop training and, just like I'm sure everyone has noticed, the Prince's attitude has improved for the better. Krillin is trying his best to move on. It's not working too well for the man, but I appreciate him joking around sometimes to lighten the mood. He too, was close to Goku way back when they were kids.

Goten, on the other hand, seems as though he's afraid that he'll forget our father. He's still chasing anything in a skirt but I see him lingering and staring at one of our family pictures any time he walks through the living room.

I don't know if my father knew about everything he caused. I don't know if he knew about my blaming him, or my mom's sadness, or the influence on Vegeta's attitude, or the pride he gave Pan or any of the other equally life changing events.

No matter what though, whenever I saw my dad, I smiled. And whenever someone compared me to him, appearence, strength or attitude, I felt blissful. And, when my father himself, told me that he was proud of me I teared up. There was nothing he could do to make me hate him. There was nothing he could do to make me ashamed of him and if someone walked by and asked me, "Hey, aren't you Goku's son?" You know what I'd say?

"Damn straight."

And there wasn't a moment of my life that I didn't feel pleased by it.