Author's Note

Anyone have some ideas for the next Gold Fighter rescue? I just need a slightly unique crime to make the setting and that's it.

Oh, and Mr Blue 22, you got what you wanted. This chapter is devoted almost entirely to Videl and Gohan bonding moments!

I had another pathetic weepisode in the bathroom before coming out. When I did, most of the booths had emptied. Even ours, where only Gohan was to be seen. I glanced around for them when I reached the table. Had I frightened them off or something?

As if reading my mind, Gohan looked up from his empty milkshake and said, "They had to go home eventually. Their parents were getting worried."

"Oh God," I sighed and covered my eyes with one arm. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven," he replied. He looked at me tight-lipped. "Videl? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It was an accident." I slid into my seat. The new glass of ice water reminded me how thirsty I was and I nearly drowned myself.

He eyed me doubtfully. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, get over it," I said sharply after gulping half my drink and setting it back down. It was nice to see my good ol' lying self again, I must have made my father so proud.

"...Okay. I'll pay for everything."

I mentally winced. 'Everything' held a deep significance; he meant the broken glass too.

"I'm the rich one here, Gohan-" Like a sign, my cell phone jingled my favorite tune just then. I held up a patient finger and, taking the phone out, slid the top frame and checked my new text message.

From: Dad

Be careful how much you spend, sweet pea. Akane would like to have a talk with us as soon as you get home.

My stomach twisted in a knot. Akane was definitely a bad sign. Why did Dad want me to watch my spending? We had plenty of money, didn't we?

"Is everything okay?" Gohan asked tentatively slow. I looked up. His concerned, gentle eyes were the kindle to light the unexplainable, consoling fire within me like they always did. I suddenly felt like my stomach wasn't flopping anymore.

"Everything's fine," I said, surprisingly easy and pocketed my phone. "My dad just wants me to go home soon, is all."

Gohan nodded. "In that case I'll go to the cash-"

"No! Gohan, you can pay if you want but..." I had decided this was serious enough to heed my father's warning. My eyes dropped to my lap, where my hands were folded tightly together. "Can you please just hang out here a while? I... I don't feel like going home just yet."

Gohan searched what he could see of my face. "Okay," he murmured. "My mom is going to bang my head with the frying pan, but you need someone right now."

I perked up. "Frying pan? Huh?"

"The Frying Pan of Doom."

"Okay... That is?"

"It's what keeps the family in line, let's just say that." He seemed to shudder at the memory of his mother's attitude adjuster.

I rolled my eyes. "Lucky. My dad gives me an hour-long lecture."

He chuckled. It felt like medicine on my wounds, just like his eyes. I shook my head. What was I saying?

"Videl, I don't mean to pry, but is there a reason you don't want to go home?" he asked in soft pitch.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I just don't feel like it. Besides, you're okay to talk to."

"Ha... I am?"

"Yeah, sure," I said with full nonchalance. Right after that compliment, irony hit and we were plunged in an awkward silence. I watched my thumbs twiddle, could see him shuffling his feet under the table. It was overbearing until the perfect conversation starter arose. "You know the Delivery Boy's real name was Gohan?" I asked.

There was a long silence. Finally he answered cluelessly, "...Oh yeah?"

"Yep," I said.

"Wow, that's weird." He laughed nervously.

"Yep," I repeated and lifted my eyes again. When I did, he looked away. "And you know he would be about your age by now?"

"Really?"

"Mmhmmm."

"Wow, even weirder!" He grinned goofy and scratched the back of his head.

"Yep."

Another screaming pause in the conversation that nearly made my sanity double over and then his compassionate voice broke through: "Is it about your father?"

My heart jumped to my throat. "W-what?"

He smiled soflty, the empathetic way. "Don't answer if you don't want to. But I noticed that...that didn't happen until Erasa and Sharpner started talking about your father. You looked pretty upset as soon as they did."

I drummed my fingers on the table (my good hand). "Well," I said. "I'm not going to answer. But you're smarter than I thought."

"Heh..." His shoulders sagged and he looked at me with a dimming gaze. "Listen, Videl," he began tensely.

I was starting to loathe that phrase. Listen, Videl. It was as bad of an omen as Akane's existence.

He gave a mirthless smile. "I don't know what it is you're going through, and I'm sorry that you are-"

"That's enough pity on me for one night," I snapped.

He waved a hand. "Let me finish. I won't ask anything, okay? And you don't have to explain anything you don't want to. I know I've only been your friend..." he trailed off uncertainly in thought. "Do you consider me a friend now or...?"

I thought about it. Hmm... "Sorry Gohan, but you lie too much."

"Okay," he replied in a half sigh, shoulders falling limp again.

"However," I said and he lifted his head just as abruptly. I smiled pillow-y soft. "I understand that everyone has their privacy. I'm not gonna say how, but I have an axe to grind with what your secrets might involve. If it wasn't personal, I probably would've dropped it. But here's the thing. I know what secrets are like. So I can say that I've decided we're friends."

He beamed at me in his success. I deserved a punch. This was so stupid of me. Here was someone who might be the Delivery Boy, the idiot that couldn't have saved my life and his by proving to the world he was Cell's murderer. The one that might also be the Gold Fighter, who was taking my job away from me. Yet here was me befriending him. But how could I not? Now that I knew him, just a bit, it was hard to say no to such a sweet guy.

"Thanks, Videl. So as I was saying, I know haven't been a friend for long. Nor are we that close. But you can come to be about anything, and I promise I won't judge." Somehow, I was more focused on the flowing compassion of his tone. But that stunned me the most; he wouldn't judge.

"I know you wouldn't, Gohan," I said lightly and smiled again, but not as big.

My phone went off again at the worst moment. I muttered an apology and revealed it from my pocket to read the latest text message. Dad again?

Come home as soon as you can. Akane has gotten impatient.

I swallowed audibly and put my cell phone away. I looked at Gohan, whose sincerity was bouncing off him.

"Looks like I have to go home," I said apologetically. At the same time, my emotions would have been running wild if it weren't for Gohan's hypnotic onyx orbs.

He nodded. "Alright. Maybe we can do this again sometime."

As I got up from my seat and turned back to him, my latest smile had never felt realer. "I'd like that."

I was home by midnight. I slammed the door, bounded down the Hall of Hercule's Undeserved Fame, and entered the kitchen in a rush. My heart was racing faster than I. What was happening? Did Akane really know? What was she going to do with the secret? Would she tear us apart? Or would she black mail us? Not once did the thin possibility that she'd understand cross my mind.

"Dad?" I asked breathlessly. He was seated at the elegant table, a good distance from Akane and his head buried in his hands. When he heard me, he snapped up.

"Videl, sweetheart." Circles drooped beneath his eyes. I had never seen him so troubled. Never saw him troubled, period. It troubled me, too, that his check book was splayed out on the table.

Akane turned her smug face on me. "Hello, Videl." It didn't sound at all like a greeting. It sounded more like her eyes, like chips of brown ice. If that didn't freeze the soul, her evil smirk certainly would.

And you'll never guess what was pinched between her thumb and index finger.

She waved it. "Are you familiar with this DVD, Videl?"