A/N: I don't know the overall age range of my readers, but there's a little moment at the end that may be a bit sensitive to some of you! Absolutely NO lemon, but it contains a bit of sensuality/'adult' situation. I didn't think it was that bad myself, but after I re-read it I kinda blushed. Feel free to skip it, but I understand if I get some not so happy reviewers since I'm treading on dangerous waters.
"Coach Bardock?"
The Saiyan finally looked away from the screen after earning a computer tan. The rapping on the door of his small office inside the boy's locker room was coming from a blonde-haired boy who wore his hair in a ponytail. Bardock, Dende help the man, could never quite get the names right. The students could easily ditch his class since he never took role call; always marking them as 'here' instead of absent.
Despite the opportunity and surprisingly enough, the vast majority of Orange Star High loved Coach Bardock's gym class. He was the only teacher in the entire school that swore and told raunchy jokes. Even if his workout routines were killer, his anecdotes and overall persona were the key to his popularity. Here, he was one bad dude for real.
Or so, that's what the kids were saying these days.
"Yes...?" He gestured his hand in a circular motion at the boy, waiting for him to give Bardock a name.
"Well, my full name is Marker, but you can call me Mark!" the blonde kid chuckled, earning an eye roll from the adult behind the desk. "I need you to sign something for me so I can go on a field trip next week."
"Can you give me a minute, kid?" Bardock scowled when his vision left the nervous boy to the computer screen once more. "I'm kinda in the middle of something here."
Mark raised an eyebrow when he noticed coach was squinting and inching closer to the screen as if he were struggling to read something. "You know," he began approaching with caution, and even went as far as to place a hand on Bardock's shoulder. "If you're having trouble seeing what it says, you can always enlarge it. That's what I do when the print is too small."
Bardock lifted his hands up so the boy could toy around with the keyboard until the screen became large. When he was finished, he smiled proudly at his coach. "See? Can you read it?"
"...why don't you read it!?"
"Are you sure? I mean-"
"Just read it, kid!" Bardock snapped, and then slightly turned away so Mark couldn't see the blush on his face. "I, uh, forgot my... glasses."
Mark blinked twice. "Alright.. Well. It says, 'Dear Mr. Bardock, we would like you to join us in our yearly get together for the PTO-"
The rest of the boy's words were muted once the Saiyan gym teacher flipped the desk over in anger. Terrified at the sound of the computer crashing on the ground near his feet, Mark jumped backwards five feet and watched as Bardock continued to break things in his office. "HOW THE HELL DID THEY FIND ME!?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mark reached his hands up to grab the tall Bardock by his shoulders and shake him slightly. "No reason to flip, coach! I know my mom bitches about it 24/7, but the Parent-Teacher Organization isn't that bad at all!"
"...What?" Bardock froze mid stapler-breaking. "Parent-Teacher Organization...?"
"Y-Yeah?" Mark backed away some more, hoping the eccentric coach wouldn't try shooting him. "That's what PTO stands for. I mean, at least as far as that message goes... But seeing how you just broke it, I guess we can't reply..."
Bardock controlled his breathing, and slowly walked back over to his fallen desk to lift it up in one swift move. Mark watched with fascination at the brute strength of the man, shocked that he could pick such heavy things up so effortlessly. The Saiyan was fuming at his outburst, and trying hard to hide it from the student. How the hell was he suppose to know that? Hell, the only PTO on his mind was the Planet Trade Organization, and who knows if they were still active. Without Frieza, they weren't much of a threat, anyway.
"...Sorry, kid. Let me just put everything back and I'll sign your shit."
Mark watched with silent appreciation as Bardock signed the permission slip in two swift moves. The last coach that the school had was a great guy, but there was something about Coach B that made every other gym teacher of the past bite the dust. The boy's eyes wandered to a stack of envelopes sitting beside the shattered computer and smiled. "Hey, coach? Today's Friday, isn't it?" when he received a nod, he continued. "Aren't you happy that you get paid today!?"
Bardock looked up from the permission slip slowly and deadpanned. "Should I be?"
The young boy gained a crimson face and began fiddling with his fingers. "Well, uhm, I understand that teachers don't get paid much, but it's still something and I thought maybe... getting money would make your entire day? It sure would mine!"
"Take it, then."
Mark's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. Sure enough, Coach Bardock was offering him the unopened envelope containing a fairly large paycheck. "N-No! No!" the kid nervously waved his hands in front of his face, while Bardock just looked at him with an arched eyebrow. "That's nice of you, coach, really, but I...I can't. It's not right. You probably depend on that for bills and-"
"Look," Bardock sighed and placed the paycheck down on the desk. "Due to certain circumstances, my family and myself are millionaires. I don't pay bills. I don't buy shit. The checks they've thrown at me before have been going towards a gift for my wife and I already bought it the other day. I'm done."
"B-But-"
The Saiyan pounded his fist on the wood, causing Mark to gulp at the way it made everything on top of it shake for a good five minutes. Not only that, but his chair and himself were going through some mini Earthquake. Bardock was looking over the trembling boy twice, and crossed his arms over his chest when their eyes met again. "Look. I know you could use this more than me. I don't have everyone's names down, but I'm observant. You wear the same pair of clothes every other day. So, take the money. But you owe me something in return."
The guilty faced boy struggled to look his coach in the eyes with tearing up. "Y-Yes. Anything. What is it?"
Bardock opened the drawer of his filing cabinet which had absolutely no files in it, and pulled out a single clipboard full of the worksheets the turtle hermit had given him to do every evening before he returned to Gine and Chi-Chi. As much as he loved her, his wife was completely clueless in the academic department while Chi-Chi refused to cheat for him. Not to mention, Goten would surely run his little mouth to Roshi.
Until he gets every problem right, Roshi won't teach him his style of martial arts or the perfection of the Kamehameha. For crying out loud, the boys were already out in the ocean doing it repeatedly while he was banned to the desk of shame.
"Just like you little shits here, I have homework to do. You do this for me, no questions asked, and I'll give you my paycheck."
"O-Okay, sir. Sure," Mark was a complete tomato at this point. "But...you're going to have to cash it in since your name is on it."
Bardock shrugged, causing the ripples of his hoodie to move with him. "No problem. Give these to me in the morning, and you'll get your money."
Marker was about to open his mouth to forever and dramatically thank Bardock for his generosity, when there was a sudden tapping coming from the small window outside. The blonde kid strained his neck to see a messy-haired child and a lavender-haired child knocking obnoxiously and whistling for Bardock's attention. "Uhm, sir? There are two small boys outside. I think they want to talk to you."
"Yup," the coach sighed. "They're my grandkids. Ugly little shits, aren't they?"
"...But the black haired kid looks just like you!"
"Shut up, Marker!" Bardock pushed himself away from the desk so he could stand up, and then headed over to the window where he proceeded to flip off his pesks looking in. Not the one to back down so quickly, Trunks returned it while Goten's laugh could be heard.
"Open up, Grandpa! We have a message for you!"
Kakarot
When you're the only one left alive after the rest of us have perished, I hope you're fucking miserable.
- Your Dear Father
"What does it say, Dad?" Gohan questioned, trying hard to read the expression on his father's face but was unable to comprehend it. It looked like a mixture of shock and confusion, with those black brows of his knitted and all. "Uh...Dad?"
Goku snapped out of it by shaking his head, and then tucked the small piece of paper into his gi. The messy-haired hero laughed awkwardly while rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, say, Gohan? Was your grandfather pretty ticked off when I left?"
Gohan tapped his chin, trying to remember the words that Bardock had told him. "Well, he was cussing more than usual... Anyway, I wanted to ask for a huge favor. Do you think after training here with you during the day you could take me home at night to see Videl? I don't want Gramps threatening me, too."
Goku gave his son a huge slap on the back and gave his trademark laugh. "Of course! But for now, how about we have a huge sparing match!?"
"No, no, no!" King Kai's voice came from inside his already half-destroyed house, and soon the blue Shin-jin was poking his head outside the window to glare at the father-son duo. "Goku, you are the worst student ever! Why don't you guys go terrorize someone else's world for a minute or two until I clean up the mess you've made!?"
Gohan blushed, wanting to apologize on behalf of his father until said father began nudging his arm. "Psst, Gohan! What do you say we get out of here and go to the Sacred World of the Kais to train? He's only saying this because he wants me to clean up!"
"Oh, Dad, I dunno... I think you should help-"
"BYE, KING KAI!" Goku had two fingers pressed against his forehead with a flustered Gohan pressed against him. "I'll see you tomorrow or something!"
The irritated screaming of King Kai faded away as Goku and Gohan opened their eyes to find themselves in front of a shocked Kibito Kai and Elder Kai. The old man began yelling about Saiyan ingrates popping in and out of nowhere, while Goku asked Kibito Kai for some food. Having no choice really, the fused being gathered something up for the world's greatest hero.
"Being here brings back a lot of memories," Gohan smiled sadly and looked over the beautiful planet. The devastation that Buu had caused there had been completely fixed by now, and the land was as green as ever. While Goku continued to stuff his face, the son's eyes lit up when he noticed a familiar rock in the distance. "Hey, Kibito Kai?"
"Yes, Gohan?" the purple skinned being asked politely, happily leaving the pigging out Saiyan's side and joining up with the younger one. He noticed that Gohan was pointing at the stone where the Z Sword was once encased.
"Do you think you guys could get another sword? You know, for me to train with?" he chuckled while looking over his shoulder at Elder Kai, catching the old man mid-sleep. "One that doesn't have a Kai trapped inside it?"
Kibito Kai tugged at the color of his shirt, unsure of what to say. Of course, there were no way in hell it was going to happen. If they wanted another Z Sword, he'd have to come face to face with the dreaded God of Destruction. "Uh, well you see, Gohan... A man by the name of Beerus invented the Z Sword centuries ago, and now he's out of commission due to some much needed rest."
Thankfully.
"Well.. do you think there is any way you could ask that Beerus guy to wake up and make one again? I'll pay him!"
Elder Kai had awakened at the name of the god, and both him and Kibito Kai sweatdropped while staring at each other through their peripherals. The God who was fused with a witch chuckled nervously and gave Gohan a weak pat on the back. "I think you may have to wait on that one, kid."
Hopefully a long, long time...
"What's the matter, dog!? Four hundred times Earth's gravity too much for you!?" Vegeta smirked as he dodged a red lazer beam coming from one of Bulma's numerous attack machines. Having felt too much pressure due to Roshi's relaxed way of training, Trunks and Goten had to stop at three hundred fifty.
Bardock wanted to curse loudly when the beam that Vegeta deflected singed his leg a little, but kept it inside. From the tiles of the Gravity Room, he glared up at Vegeta who was effortlessly avoiding all attacks the machines were throwing at him. He wasn't even a damn Super Saiyan. "Tell me, prince, do you ever transform in here?"
The scarred warrior rolled his eyes as Vegeta back flipped towards him, even giving him a quick bump on the noggin with the tip of his boots. Once he was on his feet, he crossed his arms over his chest. "The legend of the Saiyan race deserves to be worked out in much dire settings. Working on your base form before anything is the key to having the ultimate power. And before you open your mouth to spew some bullshit, your precious little Kakarot does the same thing."
Bardock's open mouth immediately closed, and was replaced with a look of a determined warrior. A machine that was trying to do a sneak attack behind him was quickly handled with a roundhouse kick, and the small fragments floating around the room. "How do you know Beerus, anyway?" another broken machine. "Trunks said you looked scared shitless last night."
"I was not scared," the prince growled, and cocked his head to the side when a beam tried singing him. A quick and forceful ki blast annihilated the machine that attempted the dirty maneuver. His eyes dropped down to his boots and focused on a small black dirt stain resting on the tip of them. "You, not even I, can comprehend the power of a god. Especially... Beerus the Destroyer."
Bardock watched silently as Vegeta walked over to the control panel and turned off the attack machines with a single button. The gravity was still rising, but there were no more blasts to dodge or fight against. "You've personally met him before?"
A gloved fist slammed itself into the walls of the Gravity Room, denting it to the point that almost the outer hall could be seen. Even Bardock took a step back seeing Vegeta's shoulders begin to shake up and down.
"Are you...Are you crying?"
Since the monkey-tailed Saiyan knew it was coming, he jumped over a fiery ki blast. The beam continued to ricochet off the walls, ceiling, and floor until it disappeared on its own. Once the blast was out of the way, Bardock turned around to snap at Vegeta only to become horrified at the sight of the angered prince directly in front of him.
Without saying a word, Vegeta grabbed his shoudler. His nails dug into the skin so deeply that it cut the skin, and not too long after crimson liquid began trickling down. With his free hand, the flamed-hair Saiyan formed a fist and began straight punching his gut. Once Bardock doubled over in pain, the prince backed away and allowed him to nearly fall to the floor. The only sounds beside Bardock gurgling were Vegeta's footsteps hitting the tile as he walked over to the control panel.
"Fuck," he grunted after finishing his blood spitting. Once a few minutes of deep breathing did the trick, Bardock was able to stand up completely straight although spots of red still lingered on his mouth. If he knew the prince was just being his regular asshole self, the father of Goku would have fought back. Instead, he was just taking his frustrations out on him. There was a look of fear forming deep in his orbs, the reasoning Beerus had him so bothered that he wasn't willing to share. "You know, jackass, beating the shit out of each other is the kind of training I did with my crew. Really good for the heart."
Vegeta had already turned off the gravity control, but was frozen in front of the panel. There was something the low class had mentioned that caught his attention, something he had been bothering and was also thankful for a subject change.
"Was it Frieza's SuperNova that killed your elite, or did he get one of his henchmen to do it?"
Memories of that day were still so clear in the back of Bardock's mind. He remembered that idiotic joy he actually felt inside him when the doctor told him his crew went to Planet Meat, saying that Frieza had a special mission for him. His hands began to clench tightly that the tan color turned white. What a fucking idiot he was, for thinking all that mattered was getting noticed by the tyrant. By the time he got there, his crew had already been slaughtered. Worst of all, Tora, hanging on by an inch of his life, wishing he had been killed instantly but suffering...
"It was Dodoria," Bardock spoke quietly, but there was hatred laced all around the name of the pink alien.
"If it brings you any solace," Vegeta was speaking with his back turned to Bardock, not bothering to look him in the eyes when he told him. "I killed Dodoria with my own hands. You won't have to worry about him or that bastard Frieza anymore."
The prince didn't wait to hear the reply, and left Bardock alone to watch him walk away.
A little less than two months had passed. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and Bardock along with Tarble had discovered that the holiday seasons were definitely the biggest perks of Planet Earth. Now, it was December 23rd.
The morning of Son Gohan and Videl Satan's wedding.
"Chi-Chi," the girl was red in the face as her nearly there mother-in-law was lacing the back of her pure white dress. "Don't you think it's tight enough?"
"Sorry," Chi-Chi grunted and tried to loosen it up the best she could. "You're much thinner than I was when I got married. You don't know how happy it makes me that you decided to wear my old dress! I never had any daughters, so at least I get to pass it down to you."
Videl self-consciously ran her hands down her ribs until they eventually landed on her stomach. She rubbed it once while staring at her reflection in the full length mirror. Behind her and Chi-Chi were Gine, Bulma, and Erasa already wearing their dresses for the evening's event. Not being too strict on the details since the wedding came so early, Videl just told them to wear whatever color and style they wanted.
"Wouldn't it be funny if I have a daughter, and she ends up wearing this dress on her wedding day?"
Chi-Chi finished tying the white lace into a neat bow, and then placed her chin on top of Videl's shoulder while the two looked at the mirror. Wearing her robe, the poor mother was always the last one to get ready after taking care of everyone else. But she never cared. "If you have a boy, I'll love him with all of my heart. But a girl? I think I'd just die of happiness. Yeah. A beautiful little girl."
Videl took on a sad smile and moved the wisps of her pinned back hair out of her face. The only thing she had left to put on was the veil, but that would have to wait until they got to the place Bulma had set up that wouldn't allow them to be freezing cold in their dresses despite the snow. Knowing the beautiful genius, Videl figured it was going to be something special.
"Thanks for everything, Chi-Chi. My mom left me when I was little, and I always wondered in the back of my mind what this day would be like without her," the bride turned around and took Chi-Chi's hands in hers. There were tears beginning to form in her eyes, but she needed to keep them at bay for the sake of redoing her make-up for the nth time. "But having you here is better than anything I could have imagined."
Chi-Chi bit her plump lower lip and had to force herself to look away. The other night, her sons and husband teased her about breaking down over everything. She had promised herself over and over that she wasn't going to cry today, and this young lady telling her everything she wanted to hear wasn't going to make it happen! She gave Videl's hands a quick squeeze and let them go, turning her back to the bride. "You and your father will always have a family with us. I'm going to get ready now."
Videl opened her mouth to speak to her mother-in-law, but the woman had already scurried out of the room. She would have scratched her head in confusion, if her hair wouldn't fall out. "What's her deal? Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Gine smiled reassuringly, soon taking the spot where Chi-Chi stood so she could observe the bride. "The boys were being mean to her the other day about crying, and I think she took it a little too seriously. She's overjoyed about you having her be such a big part of today."
Relief washed over the young woman, and then she looked over a woman who couldn't possibly be a grandmother. Not following the white scheme, Gine was wearing a woven long-sleeved pale yellow dress with a surplice bodice. The bottom of it reached just under her knees, and she had been hesitant about wearing tights until Bulma reassured them all that the place was outdoors, yet heated for comfort against the winter weather.
"Gine, you look stunning! Yellow looks really great on you!"
The grandmother rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, shush. You're the main attraction here. Are you just about ready to-"
"EEK! GET OUT OF HERE, COACH!"
The bride and her minutes away from being grandmother whipped their heads around to see Bardock standing in the doorway with a ferocious Erasa blocking him from coming in.
"No! You can't see Videl until the wedding!"
"I'm not marrying her, dumbass! And this is my room!"
Gine growled lowly and departed from the bride. Once she approached Erasa, she gave the girl a gentle nudge on the shoulder and took her place to look at her disgruntled mate. She didn't even give him time to defend himself before she grabbed him by the ear and began dragging him away from the women. Once they were outside, she stamped her feet through the fresh snow until they were far away enough from the house.
"What the heck is wrong with you, Bardock!? You called that sweet girl such a terrible name, and then you try to walk in on four women trying to get ready!? You're not even suppose to be here!"
While his mate kept rambling on about his stupidity, his eyes roamed her entirety. The dress she wore accentuated her every curve, and the contrast between her dark hair and the pale yellow color caused her face and eyes to stand out. She had always been something of extraordinary and undeniable beauty to him, but every now and then he just completely blew him away.
"I'm sorry."
"And then you-...What?" Gine blinked, taken aback from the apology she rarely got to hear. "You're sorry!?"
Bardock nodded, and cupped the face of the confused woman with his cold hands. She blinked in silence at the proximity of her mate, and watched as his orbs studied every detail of her features that he knew so well. There seemed to be so much that he wanted to know, that he wanted to say about the predicted future and always make sure she'd be protected.
But it just couldn't come out.
Out of everything at the moment, he mostly wanted to feel her lips on his.
There was a longing that all males, even the seemingly cold hearted of them all, had for a woman that was unbearable. The warmth of her mouth compared to his frigid one sent a current through him, while his hands dropped from her face and slid down to her hips. Once they parted, Gine was the only one left speechless.
"Tarble still needed time to find a suit, so I came to get him."
"Oh," Gine managed to breathe out with a still flustered face, and then pulled herself away by a fraction. It wasn't until she placed her hands on his Herculean chest that she noticed he was wearing the tuxedo he did for Gohan's graduation. "Well...at least you're ready. How are you going to get Tarble to the wedding?"
Her mate gave her a 'duh' expression. "...Flying?"
"Mm-mm," Gine shook her head and smiled teasingly. "Tarble and Gure don't know how to fly."
"Shit," he snapped his fingers and then eyed Bulma's large flying vehicle which was never put away in its capsule. "I guess he'll have to go with the women."
Gine frowned. "Why don't you come with us, too? You don't want to get all...even more messy-haired flying, do you?"
The father of Goku tried so hard to ignore the look she was giving him, but it was exceptionally difficult. It seemed that women, whether from Planet Vegeta or Planet Earth, had the undeniable power of manipulation. Bardock dropped his head in defeat, having realized this fact ever since he met Chi-Chi. "Yeah, yeah. Get the hell out of here."
"You scumbag," she winked, and gave him a peck on his cheek that left a red imprint of her lips. Once they heard the front door of the house open, Gine left her husband to wait on Tarble and Gure.
Bardock tucked his hands into the pocket of his coat as he watched Videl come out of the house and enter the car quickly, as if Gohan were around spying on her somewhere. He only caught a glimpse of her, but what he saw, he could only describe as an angel. No snow was falling from the sky, but a fresh and bright white blanket had laid itself out on every city this side of the hemisphere. It was perfect for such an innocent couple coming together within hours. His eyes went back to the backside of Gine as she assisted the other women into the car, since their heels mixed with the snow were making it extremely hard to be functional.
"Are you ready, Son Bardock?"
The scarred male was so entranced by the sight of his woman getting into the vehicle that he hadn't sensed Tarble and Gure coming up behind him. Shaking his head to snap out of his reverie, he turned around and smirked widely. At least Gure was wearing a decent purple scarf to match the purple design of her body. The younger brother of Vegeta was wearing a bright orange tuxedo similar to that of Goku's gi, and he had a matching top hat to go along with it.
"Did you get that half-off from an after Halloween sale?"
"Yes!" Tarble beamed. "Isn't it great!?"
"Relax, kid. You're getting married, not saving the world," Piccolo stated matter-of-factly, and looked around at the faces in the seats. That Bulma woman was so strange. She managed to set up an entire alter in the middle of a snowy field, yet all the objects radiated heat that melted the snow where the wedding was taking place and kept everyone warm. Not that the Namek needed it, but it was something else.
"I think saving the world is much easier..."
Goku, dressed in the same black tuxedo he wore at his son's graduation, placed a firm hand on his shoulder and laughed. "Weddings are so weird, but the cake is so good! You're going to love it, Gohan! And you're looking sharp in that outfit."
Blushing at the compliment, Gohan gave his father a quick and tight embrace. "I'm really happy you've been home this past week, Dad. It's been really fun hanging out without any training or fighting involved. I think you've made Mom really happy, too."
The hero winked, knowing how right he was. Although every inch of him wanted to head back to King Kai's or the Kibito Kai's world, he found there were quite a few benefits staying at home. Some that he hoped Gohan would find out after tonight.
Goku cleared his throat when he noticed Bardock was walking towards them, with Tarble and the girls minus the bride and Erasa behind him. Chi-Chi craned her neck above Bardock to make sure Goku really was actually there, and sighed in relief when he waved to her. They all took their seats in the front, while Bardock joined the boys in the front.
"Do you think this is overdoing it with three best men and one bridesmaid?" Gohan questioned, noticing the army behind him of Piccolo and the Saiyans. They all shrugged, not really caring about this strange tradition. "Uh, Gramps? How does Videl look?"
Bardock smirked. "You're going to be pleased, I'll tell you that."
The official who had married off Goku and Chi-Chi all those years ago bowed before the new groom, and took his place behind his podium at the alter.
Pretty soon, the entire seats were taken up by familiar faces and some not so familiar. Those were the members on Videl's side, friends that had been in her life long before Gohan and were suitable enough to come by invitation. All the Z Fighters and their families were there, Krillin all the way to Tien Shinhan. Every single face smiling, every single person wishing the best for their favorite young couple.
The music had begun, and in came the maid of honor. Erasa, who couldn't go a day without wearing green, was quite the neon sight as she frolicked down the aisle in her tight ensemble. Bardock rolled his eyes, never figuring out why Videl could be friends with someone lacking a brain. Being the only bridesmaid there, the next two to enter were Trunks and Goten.
Chi-Chi immediately ordered the hired photographer to start taking snaps of the sharply dressed boys as they each carried a pillow with a ring on it. Trunks looked absolutely embarrassed, trying to block the side of his face the photographer was trying to snap with one hand while balancing Videl's gold band on the other. Goten, however, was beaming proudly and admiring the awesome way his brother looked in white.
Little blonde Marron came in next, giving 18 and Krillin never ending compliments on having such a beautiful girl. The child happily tossed pink and white flowers all the way to end of the walkway, where she took a seat with her parents. Gohan stiffened up when the music began to change, and the guests got to their feet. Emerging from the blackened curtain came an angel.
That's the best way he could describe what he saw.
Videl, even the name being heavenly, had her entire face completely visible. She opted with a tiara instead of a veil after Bardock told her her head too big for one. But it only made her look like a princess. His eyes had began to sting just as his heart rate sky rocketed. The white sleeveless dress, accompanied with white gloves that was once his mother's, just made him want to run out and hold her, never letting go.
"She sure is beautiful, huh?" Goku whispered, and then silenced himself when he noticed Gohan was on the verge of tears.
Locked in arms with his angel, was Hercule Satan. The champ was already bawling by the time they got to the end of the aisle. Videl whispered something in his ear, causing the father to cry more until she kissed him on the cheek. The afro-haired man looked up at Gohan briefly through blurred eyes.
"I'm giving my baby to you, kid. Take good care of her."
Chi-Chi scooted over to make room for Hercule, and the two cried silently together as Gohan struggled to hold it in. With trembling legs, the bride took her place before her groom. While the official began speaking, her heart's thumping completely tuned him out. Gohan seemed to be frozen in time, trapped in her ocean blues.
"Gohan and Videl will now share their vows with one another."
Gohan took a deep breath as he held onto Videl's hands tightly. He could already hear his mother sobbing in the background, making note to tease her late for it. The truest, happiest smile that could have ever graced him was shining brightly amidst a dark winter's evening. Looking into the irises that had already professed their love for him, the young man knew this is where he was meant to be.
"You have been my best friend, mentor, and my greatest challenge. But most importantly, you are the love of my life and you make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I ever thought possible. You have made me a better person, as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live life. Everything I do, I do it for you. I am truly blessed to be part of your life, which as of today becomes our life."
Videl shook a little in her spot to rid the nerves that were going wild. She couldn't fight it anymore, and judging by the wailing of Gine, she couldn't either. The tears began to roll down softly as she cleared her throat to begin.
"The feeling hit me the moment we made eye contact in class. It was so immediate and powerful, far deeper and inexplicably beyond any calculation of time and place. You don't describe a feeling like that. You also can't replicate it or force it. You just let it flow in and around you. You go where it takes you. And you have completely stolen me. I want to be wherever you are. My home is you."
Gohan bit his bottom lip, and began tapping his foot to stop any water that wanted to leave his eyes. Piccolo gave him a quick tap on the shoulder to stop him from causing an earthquake, and the groom listened.
"Do you, Son Gohan, take Videl Satan to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Two simple words that meant so much were first heard from the groom. "I do."
"And do you, Videl Satan, take Son Gohan to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
The bride. "I do."
"You are now husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
The two stuck their tongues out at each other teasingly, and rolled their eyes when they heard Trunks and Goten making gagging noises. Their little interruption ended as soon as Vegeta and Bardock backhanded them. Once the commotion had ended, Videl's tears had dried away as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. Gohan stared into the eyes of his beautiful wife one more time, reminding himself how lucky he was, and closed the gap between them with a kiss that brought their love together at last.
When the cheers ceased and the music had begun, Videl and Gohan danced like awkward middle schoolers in the middle of the stage Bulma had set up. Becoming annoyed, Chi-Chi snatched Goku up from the table by his arm and began dragging him away. "Come on, Goku! Let's show them how this is done!"
"How humiliating," Vegeta scoffed, and his eye twitched as Goku began snapping his fingers and grooving to the beat while Chi-Chi did her own moves. A crowd had gather around them and were cheering them on. Over the people, Goku's hand shot up and began motioning for the prince to join. Flustered, Vegeta gave Bardock a shove.
"I think he's calling your name, dog!"
Bardock looked at the group on the dance floor and his lips twisted up in disgust. Instead of joining them, he took his wife by the hand and brought her to the grass near the heated cabana. To her surprise, he wrapped his arms around her waist and began moving around in circles slowly, obviously not matching the beat of the music.
"I didn't know you that you could dance?"
"I don't," Bardock rested his chin on top of Gine's head, while maintaining his grip on her hips as they swayed gently. "I'm just mimicking what everyone else is doing."
While the two danced on the icy grass, the photographer asked for Piccolo, Goku, and Goten to take a picture with the newlyweds. He gave Videl pink flowers to hold onto, while Goku wrapped his arm around his son. Piccolo stood in the back, trying to hide his regular turban look compared to the tuxedos and dresses. Having no where else to fit, Goten was ordered to float in the sky.
"Hold on," Piccolo grumbled, and seemed to be embarrassed by whatever was bothering him. "I think I've got something in my eye."
Gohan could tell his dear Namek was struggling, and momentarily dropped his smile to look over his shoulder at the tall one in the back. "Have you tried blinking it out?"
While Piccolo did just that, Gohan turned around and gave the photographer a thumbs up before regaining his original pose. The professional just shrugged. "One, two, three!" at the sound of the click, Piccolo had just barely opened his eyes after whatever was stuck inside them came out. "Excellent, folks! That's going to a keeper, for sure!"
"EXCUUUUUSE MEEEE!" Krillin blurted out while 18 slapped herself in the face. "May I have your guy's attention!? I've got somethin' tuh say on behalf on my buddy Gohan and his beeeeeeeeeautiful bride!"
Videl mouthed 'Oh dear God' to Gohan as the two left the photographer to take a seat and listen to the drunken police officer in training confess his gratitude and brotherly love for the groom. Bardock and Gine ignored it, continuing their sweet movement together until the female shot her head up to the sky and became frozen in place.
"Gine?"
Bardock slowly looked up to the sky to see what she was focusing on. His pupils flashed red and began to pulsate when he realized there had been another reason why he didn't want to have the wedding on this night; the night of a full moon.
"AHHHHHH!"
Tarble was the first to transform. The brother of Vegeta turned Oozaru had completed obliterated the table he was at and all the gifts that surrounded it just during the transition. The Tarble ape frowned, ashamed of what had happened while certain guests that had never witnessed this before were running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
"Oh no!" Chi-Chi groaned, and began waving frantically at the Great Ape couple not too far from the cake. "BARDOCK, YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR FOOT AWAY- EEEEEEEEEEK!"
She was too late. The scarred monkey had backed into it; the precious white frosted all over his furry foot and the cake completely smashed to pieces.
"YOU BIG BABOON! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" Chi-Chi shrieked, and had already removed her heels from her feet to beat Bardock with. She began chasing him around the field while the oldest and only golden Oozaru ran, destroying trees and shaking the tables wildly with each step he took. Yamcha's wine glass spilled all over his rented tuxedo, prompting him to join Chi-Chi on the chase.
"THAT'S COMING OUT OF YOUR PAYCHECK, BARDOCK!"
The female of the three giant apes of the wedding was the first to bring him down. Gohan and Videl watched as one by one, their guests of family and friends all wanted to join in on the beat-down. They could hear Vegeta's maniacal laugh, knowing he was having way too much fun with this. Hercule had declared Bardock's stomach as a wrestling ring, and not too long a free-for-all broke out.
"Should we... help him?" Videl questioned, not taking her eyes off the fight while tapping her fingers against a glass of wine that hadn't been broken.
"Mmmm," Gohan clicked his tongue and then slowly turned his head to face his new bride. His previously pensive face had turned into that of complete merriment seeing that beautiful face he was always going to wake up to for the rest of his life. "Nah. He'll be alright."
Videl finally smiled as well, and raised her glass up. "To us?"
The husband blushed, and looked to the left of him to surprisingly see a glass half full. He clanked it against Videl's. "And to a lifetime of living with these nut cases."
"I think Buu is a little bigger than Santa Claus," Goku whispered into Bardock's ear, causing his father to chuckle as quietly as he could without the Majin noticing. The pink being could easily snap at any given moment when offended. "What do you think?"
"Shut the hell up, Kakarot!" Bardock smacked his son's shoulder, but the two stifled more laughter when they looked over to see Buu was dressed in a Santa costume to make Gine and Goten happy. "Why the fuck did Satan do that to him? I actually feel bad. He looks ridiculous!"
Hearing the conversations the Saiyans were having, a tipsy Hercule growled and poked Bardock's shoulder harshly. "HEY! If Buu looks so ridiculous, tell me your WIFE is sitting on his lap!"
"What!?" Bardock's eyes narrowed in as his Gine, wearing a hideous green sweater with a giant gingerbread man in the center, took a seat on Santa Claus after Goten had finished making his wish. "...What!?"
"Relax!" Goku howled, and pounded his unexpected father on the back. His face dropped when he saw Bardock descend downwards onto the tiles of the Son's family living room, causing the Christmas playlist to halt as two annoyed wife watched a fight break out.
"Somethings just never change," Chi-Chi clicked her tongue and sighed, yet a smile remained. When she turned around to get a glass of water from the kitchen, she bumped into her oldest son who caught her before she fell down like Bardock did.
"My goodness! You scared me half to death!"
"Sorry," Gohan chuckled and placed her back to the position she was in. The boy hurriedly wiped away any remnants of apple pie from the corner of his lips before Chi-Chi could figure out that he ate the entire thing. "Uhhhh, so where's Tarble and Gure? Don't you think you should invite them over?"
Her son wasn't as slick as he thought. The mother caught sight of the crumbs before they disappeared, but ultimately decided not to get on his case. It was Christmas Eve, after all! "They went to celebrate at Capsule Corps with their own family. It would have been nice having them here, though, you'd be surprised how well Tarble could cook!"
"ATTENTION PLEASE! ATTENTION PLEASE!" Goten raised his hands up in the air seriously, and tried to put on his best adult voice. The calling of the child brought the son and mother inside the kitchen back into the living room to smile at the sight. "It is now midnight! The time has come to open presents!"
Goku and Bardock had to end up being separated after one too many bloodstains had found their way to the carpet. With all the chairs set up previously, Ox sat between the two to block their view of each other while the wives sat on either side of their husbands. Goten winked at his grandmother as he handed her the first gift: a bright red box with air holes poked on the lid labeled 'Bardock'.
The grandfather couldn't help but be suspicious as he saw it thump around. "What the hell is in there? A child?"
Gine rolled her eyes, and handed her husband the box. She smiled after he reluctantly placed it on his lap. "Open it up and see for yourself."
"A...cat?"
The Calico cat tilted her head as she looked up at her new owner. Bardock had absolutely no words or emotion. The animal and the Saiyan just exchanged blank stares with each other.
"We wanted to get you a dog but by the time we got there they'd already been given homes," Goten began to explain, inching closer to his grandfather with his eyes widening with each word. "This cat was the last animal left and she was so sad and then we got sad so we took her and...and...don't you love her!?"
When Bardock remained speechless, Gine placed her hand on his knee firmly and cleared her throat. "I think she kinda looks like you."
"Yeah!" Goku mused, not being the asshole his father thought he was trying to be. The messy-haired hero placed his hand right next to the cat's head, and shortly after it began caressing him. "I can see it! It's those eyes. She's got those black, lifeless, dark-"
"That's enough, son."
Bardock awkwardly placed the boxed cat on the floor and turned to face his wife seated next to him. "I, uh, I have something for you, too. I bought it with my own money."
Numerous whistles broke out as Gine blushed. "Y-You did?"
"It sure as hell ain't a cat," Bardock forced a grin on his face when he said the word, but surprisingly enough nobody caught on. Gine watched with curiosity as her mate got to his feet and began to dig inside the pocket of his jacket. His face turned red when he realized all eyes were on him now. The poor guy turned his face away from Gine as he shoved the small box in her direction. "...But I thought you'd like it."
Ooh's and aah's were heard as Gine flipped the lid upwards. Resting on a fine piece of white cloth was a delicate, beautiful ring. There were three flowers going up in a diagonal that were made of real ruby, and embedded around the silver band were small diamonds. Her hands were shaking, but she pulled the jewelry out and slid it down her finger.
It was a perfect fit.
"How did you... know my size?" she looked at her husband in complete awe, never having received anything like this before her entire life.
The scarred warrior became flustered, knowing he'd get hell from his son if he said he measured her fingers in her sleep. Forcing an awkward smile on his face, one that could frightened small children if the only small child there wasn't use to it, he shrugged innocently. "Just luck, I guess."
"Ohh Bardooooock," Chi-Chi sang, and winked when the already crimson Saiyan noticed she was holding a strange green leaf above their heads. "You two have to kiss under the mistletoe. It's tradition."
"Yeah!" Gohan joined in on the teasing while his father laughed in the background. "If you don't, you'll be cursed for the rest of your life until next Christmas!"
It wasn't that kissing Gine was a bad thing, in fact it was the best activity next to fighting that Bardock could think of. It's just that the ugly, gawking faces of his horrendous family were surrounding him. Still, a curse was something the scarred Saiyan would do without after living with one not too long away. He gave his wife a 'fuck it' shrug, and caressed one side of her face with his hand to hide their lips from the world. Once the sound of a smooch was heard, everyone except Piccolo cheered.
Once the big gifts were out of the way, the family began tearing into the presents like there was no tomorrow. Hercule nearly squeezed the life out of Gohan when he saw all the new training equipment he had bought him, and nearly punched the life out of him when the red-faced husband opened lingerie sent from Roshi for Videl to wear. Piccolo hid his emotions when the box he opened contained a yellow sweater Chi-Chi knitted him, a new and expensive canteen from Goten, an album of wedding photos with his eyes closed from the newlyweds, and an IOU from Bardock and Goku. Goten ran around the house shooting Gohan harmlessly with his new pellet gun that Chi-Chi begged Bardock not to get him. Even Buu was having some merriment as he swallowed box after box of the most delicious chocolate Videl could find.
Most of all, Chi-Chi was the happiest. Despite receiving numerous gifts from her loved ones, she didn't ask for anything this year except for one thing that couldn't be bought. She had her family. Her entire family. Her father, father-in-law, mother-in-law, her sons, the addition of the Satans and Buu, Piccolo, and most of all, Goku. They were together, they were joyous, they were complete.
Using the camera with internal processing and timer that Bulma had given her, Chi-Chi had the group line up for a picture. The Polaroid immediately developed the photograph that was taken, and Chi-Chi shook it for a second before looking at what truly was the greatest Christmas photo the Son family had ever taken. Goku came up from behind her and draped his arm over her shoulders, while the wife leaned into his chest.
In the photo, they could see that Bardock's new pet had found her new home snuggled inside his mass of messy hair. Piccolo's eyes were closed once again as he stood beside Ox, but a peculiar smile was on his face as if were somewhat happy about being with them. Gohan and Videl stood in front of the towering Namek and human grandfather, and were holding onto each other as if their lives depended on it. Gine was holding Goten, and it was clear that the child had inherited his grandmother's grin. Buu and Hercule were throwing up peace signs, and directly next to them was the couple who had been going strong through it all for nearly twenty years now.
"Don't you love this, Goku?"
The hero looked around at all the faces inside the home that had been so for as long as he could remember. Gohan, a baby once so small and seemingly delicate, was now a man. His other son had gone through the beginning of his childhood without a father by his side, and was only growing older by the minute. Chi-Chi, albeit beautiful, was aging. Was it true, what Bardock had written in that note, about outliving all of them and ending up with nothing or nobody left in this world?
"Goku?"
Chi-Chi's husband tightened his grip on her as he flexed his arm, and pressed his nose against her glossy hair. "I do, hon. I really do."
"Did you find a name for it, yet?"
Bardock's long winded sigh came through the other end as Gohan tried his best to relax in his chair. Truth be told, he was terrified at the moment. The only thing he could think of doing was calling his old house and be happy with whoever answered. "Yeah. I named her Lucy."
"Lucy? Aw! That's adorable-"
"Short for Lucifer."
"Oh..." Gohan blinked, and looked over his shoulder nervously to make sure Videl hadn't come out of the bathroom yet. He knew he was in for something when he came home after buying her some roses to find the entire room lit by candles. Every time he watched a movie at home when the setting looked like this, his mother would cover his eyes.
He still heard everything.
He still knew.
"I thought with the new addition of Satans in the family, it was appropriate."
Bardock's remarks brought his attention back to the current conversation. Gohan ran a finger through his jet black hair, trying to ignore the fact that the part he was never allowed to watch in the movies was going to happen within minutes. "Huh.. Oh, oh yeah! I get it. Ha.. That's funny... Real funny.."
"Aren't you suppose to be spending time with your new wife, kid? Why the fuck are you talking to me?"
As his luck goes, Gohan's grandfather hung up before he could tell him how nervous he truly was. Now, with the bathroom door beginning to turn, his heart rate had increased dramatically.
"Oh, Gohan?" came the siren song behind him. "I'm ready."
The young man gulped loud enough that it could be heard. "Here comes nothing," he whispered to himself, and then began swiveling around in his rolling chair. The poor kid's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets when he saw what she was wearing. Gone were the baggy clothes she'd always train in, and the modest dresses that screamed her name. In front of him was a vixen in a single red corset.
His eyes scanned her over for a moment, his face turning the same color as her lingerie. This was Videl in a whole 'nother light. Her chest was just...out there.
And that wasn't all.
"VIDEL!" he covered his eyes, but peaked at her shyly through his fingers every now and then. "You're not wearing any underwear!"
The wife frantically covered her hoo-ha with a nearby pillow, truly believing she was going to make her sweating husband faint. "W-Well, yeah!" she tried to hurriedly explain herself. "Erasa told me there's no point since in wearing it since it's suppose to come off anyway!"
Gohan's chest began heaving, like he was close to hyperventilation. Oh, yeah, she had her girlfriends to talk to about this moment. All he had was what he learned in health class. Heaven forbid he ask any of the loons in his life for advice. He was on his own, with a woman who probably had much higher expectations than he could give. "I...I think I'm going to pass out..."
Videl threw herself onto the bed and began rubbing the empty side in a circle. "N-No, Gohan! Don't do that! It's okay... Come here. Sit with me."
Truth be told, Gohan was just as clothes-less as Videl was - except he was still wearing his underwear. His favorite pair of underwear, at that. The boy slightly groaned, and wiped his sweaty palms on his knees before getting out of his chair. Trying to hide what was happening to his body, he awkwardly positioned himself on their mattress until they were staring at each other face to face.
Trying to think of moments she had seen in chick flicks, Videl reached over and removed Gohan's glasses. The boy blinked his eyes in curiosity as she put them on her face. "So... how do I look? ...Sexy?"
He scratched the back of his neck while chuckling nervously at the blurry figure. "Uhm... I couldn't tell ya. I can't see."
Videl threw her hands up in the air after removing the glasses from her face. In frustration, she tossed them at her husband's chest and climbed off the bed. Afraid that he had done something wrong, Gohan immediately put his spectacles back on his face and adjusted them.
"V-Videl? What's wrong? Did I hurt your feelings?"
"No, how could you?" she stuck her nose up in the air, knowing full well what she was doing. The only time Gohan didn't act like a complete goober was when they fought, or trained. "You're one of the weakest fighters there is. I bet I could knock you out in an instant.
Being with the girl for quite a long time now, he was beginning to figure her out. She was trying to make things less awkward for him. He wriggled his eyebrows, causing the glasses to move along with them. "Does Miss Satan want to fight the Great Saiyaman!?"
Videl's shoulders began to move up and down as she laughed mockingly, and then she pointed a finger to her husband on the matress. "What kind of Saiyaman wears teddy bear underwear!?"
"Alright, that's it! Put 'em up!"
The newlyweds were smirking at each other as Gohan began to jog in place like a professional boxer. They squared up, and the male began pacing around her in a circle. When he ended up in front of her, Videl balled up her fist and struck him square in the chest. The electricity of ki that Gohan had helped her find raced down her arm, causing thrills on both ends.
The fight continued down the hall into the living room. The sweat was pouring off the female, and her growing hair was beginning to stick to the back of her neck from the dampness. Videl drew her hand back, and the sound of her fist hitting his naked chest could be heard throughout the room.
Not wanting to embarrass her, Gohan fell backwards onto the floor. Prone on his back, he stared up at his treasure. She stared back, with her chest heaving underneath the Christmas themed corset. Like a predator, she crouched down on the floor and began crawling towards the frozen man until she was seated on his lap, with her small hands on his shoulders.
One hand began to roam the area of his exposed chest until she found the faint beating of his heart. The woman in her beckoned for him to find her, to take control and be the man that was inside of him. Yet, at the same time, her nineteen year old self was frightened to the very core. He had already touched her in places deep within her heart, and with the dim lights of the living room, imagination could run wild in the dark.
How the hell was she suppose to know this dork was going to render her helpless? How the hell was she suppose to know a boy who wears teddy bear underwear could leave her breathless? It just didn't make sense. Videl was the very same girl who almost got beaten to death at the World Martial Arts Tournament, yet was never afraid. The fight between raw desire and fear were now increasing their warfare as she began to see that Gohan was more than what he seemed.
Now studying the enlightened orbs of the man trapped beneath her, tears had begun brimming in the corner of her eyes. The man beneath her had the strength to kill her in a single blow. Even at the age of eleven, he had a well-developed form so unnatural. The man beneath her wasn't human. He had the blood of a deadly warrior race running through his veins. The man beneath her could snap into a violent rage when pushed too far. Still, for a person that could be the military's secret weapon, his heart was completely hers. Her heart was completely his. That was just something she couldn't fight, or back down from.
He loved her more than she could comprehend.
Perhaps that's what was causing the undeniable tension to rise.
She would only surrender to him.
Despite the A/C being off and the wild winter storm happening outdoors, heat was radiating throughout the room from the contact of their bodies. The newlywed husband was staring up at his wife, whose thighs were pressed firmly against his hips. It was expected for a male not yet twenty years old to focus on the body of a female, but Gohan's attention was transfixed on something else.
It was those eyes of hers. Those cerulean pearls that he could never get out of his mind. The irises that reflected her love for him. Seeing them glossed over with tears sent a jolt through his body, and it was clear to the young Saiyan hybrid that she was the one he would die for. He would be her shield, her defender and guardian against anything that dare threatened something so special.
She was his.
He was hers.
"Can you protect me, Gohan?"
Her body was still hot as he rolled her over, and within a single breath she was cradled in his arms. They were finding themselves heading back towards the bedroom from which they started in, and her slender arms were wrapped around his neck. He pressed his lips against hers in a gentle closed mouth kiss, before pulling back ever so slightly.
"I can and I will protect you, Videl. Always."
She swallowed his words with a kiss while he kicked the door closed behind them.
The smell of Christmas pines became the aroma of the bedroom they shared as the wax dripped down the burning candle slowly. The delicate finger tips of the young bride lingered against the bronzed shoulders of her husband until they lazily slid off when she fell into a deep slumber. A single flame remained flickering throughout the rest of the night, illuminating the faces of the couple who would find themselves still holding onto each other in the morning.
