Happy Reading!

*Ayaka*

CH. 7

I've altered the ages a bit. Gohan will be 11 going on 12, since I've went back and read his lines they were a bit older than a nine year old.

Bulma-31

Vegeta-34

Goku-28

Chi-Chi-29

Gohan –11

Yamcha-33

Ox King-50

Krillin-32

Android 18(Juuhachigo)-30

Thank you for all the reviews, I hope they keep coming! I love to hear what you're thinking about the story.

On with the show!

"Talking"

"Thoughts"

"Telepathy" or Location Titles

~Capsule Corp: Home~

Goku landed on his balcony and went inside. Kicking off his boots and trudged his way over to his bed and grabbed the closest pillow and plopped down face first on his bed; the whole Chi-Chi conversation weighing heavily on his mind. Gohans birthday is Wednesday and his "wife" told him to stay away or she'd take him away…forever. Some "wife", huh?

"Gohan…Gohan, can you hear me?" Goku asked

Gohan was on his way home from Kame house, where his small luncheon took place when he heard his dad calling him.

"Yeah, Dad. I can hear you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine, Dad." Gohan frowned

"Well, I'm not. I have some bad news champ. I can't come to your birth-."

"What? Why?" Gohan stopped and landed on a nearby shore; he couldn't fly and he didn't want to get distracted

As he landed on the beach, he only thought of one person, "Mom…did she say that you couldn't come?"

"I think I should keep my distance from your mother. Why don't you come and see me tomorrow?" Goku said narrowly avoiding Gohans question.

"Sure Dad."

"Alright son, good night."

"Good night." Gohan sighed

Gohan was mad to say the least and took off into the early evening sky.

~Mt. Paozu: Kitchen/Dining Room~

"Chibi honey, I wish you would make peace with Goku. I miss him."

"Dad, I can't forgive him for what he's done. He needs to put us, his family, before other people." Chi-Chi frowned deeply still stirring the curry on the stove.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Chibi." Her father said adding sugar to his tea

"Well, it's kind of a big mistake."

"Don't you think you…ah never mind." He went back to sipping his tea

"Hm. What were you going to ask?" Chi-Chi turned to her father and put her hands in the pockets of the apron.

"Don't you think you…" The Ox King tried again but this time was interrupted by the opening and the slamming of the front door.

The King and Princess both turned to the hallway that harbored the entrance.

Gohan walked in the kitchen/dining area; his eyes red from tears that had poured down earlier. Everyone was quiet for what seemed like hours looking from one another; until Gohan broke the silence.

"If Dad isn't coming to my party, then I don't want one." As soon as those words came from him his grandfather turned to his daughter with a disappointed look. Gohan turned on his heel to leave but was stopped by the voice of his mother.

"Gohan, your Father and I aren't on good terms right now. I don't think it's a good idea for him to come." She stated

"If Dad isn't coming, then I don't want it." Gohan walked towards his grandfather hugged him and went to his bedroom, where he once again slammed the door.

The Ox King sighed, "Poor Gohan. I can't imagine what he's going through."

"Third times the charm. Don't you think you are responsible for Goku, going to Bulma?" Her father asked sipping on his tea

"What? Dad how can you even say that?" Chi-Chi screamed.

"Chibi, you caused this on yourself." Chi-Chi sighed and turned off the stove then turned back to her father. She crossed her arms waiting for him to continue.

"Honey, how could you ban Goku from Gohans birthday party? You shouldn't separate a father and son, mother daughter and vice versa. That's not right Chi-Chi. I need you to listen to me….not hear me; you are going down a path that you can't come back." Chi-Chi shifted slightly and gazed at the floor, tired of looking at the disappointment in her father's eyes.

"You are slowly losing your family. I don't like seeing this, Chibi; you are going to spend the rest of your life alone. You continue to push Goku further and further and not allowing Gohan to be with him….you'll end up losing him too. I'm going to check on Gohan and then I have to head back home to do some paperwork, if Gohan doesn't want his party, I'll honor his wish." The Ox King went to his grandsons' bedroom.

~Mt. Paozu: Gohans Room~

"Gohan, its grandpa. Can I come in?" He asked tapping on his door

He lifted his head from his pillow and answered, "Yes." Then proceeded to drop his head back down on the soft contours of his pillow.

The Ox King came and shut the door behind him, to find Gohan in his pillow. He pulled the chair from Gohans desk and sat beside him.

Gohan faced his grandfather with his red eyes from apparent anger or crying, his grandfather wasn't sure. "It's not fair granddad." He sniffed.

"I know, Gohan." He rubbed his grandsons back

"I don't understand any of this. Dad's been gone for almost 2 months. I don't blame him for coming home, Mom's not the world's most reasonable person. I just miss him being here." Gohans tears threatening to come back.

"I think you should go visit your father tomorrow. Gohan do you still want to have your birthday party?"

"No. I'm not in a partying mood. Thank you for thinking of me though." He sat up and hugged him tight

"Always, Grandson…I have to get back home and take care of a few things. Would you like to spend tomorrow night with me?"

"Yes, can I come tonight too? I don't want to be here Grandpa!" Gohan said on the brink of tears.

"Of course Gohan, pack your bag and I'll be in the living room letting your mother know." Gohan smiled and went to packing.

He found his daughter in the living room on the sofa staring out the window. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Chibi, I'm going to take Gohan for a few days. He doesn't want a party but he says he doesn't want to be here. I'll do something special for him, ok?"

"Ok, dad." Chi-Chi answered quietly.

"That will give you time to think and reflect. I hope you do what you think is right. Listen to me, you can't separate them. It's wrong on so many levels. Good Night, Chibi." He squeezed her shoulder gently.

Gohan ran out to meet his grandfather. "Bye Mom. I'm ready to go Grandpa." They walked out the front door.

"Bye Gohan." She said quietly

~Capsule Corp: Goku's Room~

Goku slept most of the afternoon and evening after his meeting with Chi-Chi. He woke up and sat on the edge of the bed when he heard knocking on his door. Bulma poked her head inside, looking around until she spotted him.

"Goku, are you hungry? I heard from mom you were a no show for dinner. Come on."

He followed her to the kitchen and sat on one of the stools, watching her heat certain Tupperware containers of food.

"Are you feeling ok? You missing a meal it's like national news, Goku." Bulma chuckled, putting his dinner on various plates.

Goku started eating without a word; they continued to eat in silence.

"I can't help you if you aren't going to tell me, Goku." She pushed her plate back.

"Well" He started, as finished his meal, "Long story short. I can't see Gohan without Chi-Chi's permission, if I show up unannounced or try to take him; she'll take him to the Ox Kingdom where I'll never see him again." Goku heavily sighed

"I'm sorry, Goku. I'm absolutely speechless. Why would Chi-Chi do something like that? I wouldn't think that she would do anything of this magnitude." Bulma said in deep thought.

"You don't know her like I do. I don't know what I'm going to do. I just want to go to bed. Goodnight, Bulma." He kissed her cheek and left.

Bulma started to put the dishes in the sink when she had the feeling she was being watched, but she quickly shook it off.

"I didn't think she had the authority to do that." Bulma quickly turned around to see Vegeta sitting on a stool.

"To do what exactly? Why are you eavesdropping anyway?" She turned back to the sink to rinse out the dishes.

"I can do whatever I want, woman." He snickered, "It occurred to me that she left her title behind to be a housewife; I will never understand that. She basically demoted herself to be a domestic; and for what? To be there for a man who makes out with a blue haired slut. Pathetic."

Bulma stopped washing the dishes and stared at the water. How the hell does he know that? Has he been watching me?

A moment had lapsed before she spoke up. "I bet you wish you were the one who made out with me." She went back to scrubbing the dishes.

"What did you say?" He asked in a pissed off tone

"Tch. You heard me." Bulma grabbed a towel to dry her hands. She turned to Vegeta; if looks could kill she'd be dead. Before she knew it he was inches from her face.

"As if I would want to touch you." Bulma unfazed by the closeness just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Whatever. Can I go now princess?"

"You've got some nerve, talking to me like that! Your mouth will be the reason for an early demise.."

She expected Vegeta to continue, but he stopped and actually took a step back. "What the hell?"

"I think it's time for bed, Bulma." Bulma jumped at the sound of Goku's voice. He stood in the door of the kitchen with his arms crossed and a deep frown on his handsome features. He let go of the frown and reached his hand out. "Come on. I'll take you back to your room." She walked toward him and took his hand; it was smooth considering he's a fighter.

"I'll talk to you in the morning, Vegeta. Oh yeah, I heard the whole thing." Goku answered a question that was never asked. "Say Goodnight to Vegeta."

"Goodnight…Veggie." With that Bulma laughed hand in hand with Goku up the stairs. "Why is he still holding my hand?"

They left a very pissed off Vegeta in the kitchen. He walked back out the Gravity Chamber to release some anger; he knew better than to pick a fight with Goku.

~Capsule Corp: Outside Bulma's Room~

They stopped right outside her door, he slowly let go of her hand. Bulmas eyes casted down, she really didn't want to let go.

Goku finally broke the silence, "Bulma, you shouldn't start any confrontation with Vegeta."

"I can handle him." Bulma said with confidence and met Goku eye to eye.

"Really?" Goku asked crossed his arms

Bulma let out an exasperated sigh.

"Next time, you piss him off and I'm not around then what Bulma?" Goku asked strictly.

"You will always-"

"You don't know if I'll be around all the time, I don't even know that. Bulma the only way to keep yourself safe is to watch what you say around him. Can you please do that…for me?" He asked lifting her chin so she couldn't avoid his eyes.

"Alright, Goku."

"Thank you. Good night, Bulma."

"Goodnight." Bulma closed her door behind her. She laid down on her bed and wondered why were all the hidden feelings that she had for Goku, kept emerging. Bulma regretted not telling Goku her true feelings what could she do now? He was already going through a rough time, he didn't need more problems to deal with on top of that.

~Capsule Corporation: Bulma's Boardroom~

"Sales last quarter in the North American division have gone down, drastically Ms. Briefs. Even with the Kaito merge it would take at least another quarter to see an improvement." Mr. Tanaka said. He is the overseer of the Western Division; He was an older man in his late fifties with specks of gray hair, short in stature. He wore squared off black glasses and had a small pot belly. He's been with CC, for over 30 years.

"Mrs. Chestnut, who is in charge of the NA division and who is their Executive of Sales?"

"That would be Mr. Nathaniel Takeda and Mr. Chad Tomberlin. Your father and Mr. Takeda are good friends supposedly. They are located in Los Angeles, California. " Juu answered.

"Hm. If they are good friends he should be doing a good job. I'm less than pleased with his performance. Mr. Tanaka what would you do in my position?"

"Well, I'd go to the division headquarters and perform a "no notice inspection"; everything from manpower to sales, everyone should be inspected; we find the flaws and fix them up." Mr. Tanaka took out a handkerchief and started to clean his glasses.

Bulma tapped her pen on the table. Everyone in the room waiting for the next order to come from the CEO's mouth. She started writing on her tablet, and then turned her attention back to her employees.

"Alright here's what we are going to do, I'm going to take Mrs. Chestnut (sales), Mr. Ineda (manpower), Mr. Liddell (accounting) and Mrs. Shinhan (Launch; advertisement) to accompany me to the NA division" They all nodded. "Oh and bring one other person in your division to help and leave a second in charge here. I'll have my father watch over in my place. Meeting is adjourned. "

Bulma and Juu watched everyone shuffled out of the room.

"Guess we aren't going to the annual picnic."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I didn't want to go to it anyway; you'll meet Goku when we get back. I know you are dying to finally meet him."

"Uh, yeah. I want to see the guy that has my best friend flustered. You always blush slightly when you talk or think about him."

"That's not true!" Bulma yelled, still blushing.

"Ok." Juu rolled her eyes. "Do you know that it's a 14 hour flight to LA?"

"Suck it up, Juu. You'll be fine. I'll also miss Gohans birthday, I'll give him his gift when we return." Bulma crossed her arms behind her head and looked at Juu who was confused. "That's Goku's son, he'll be turning 12 on Wednesday, that's when we are flying out.

TBC…

I know it's been awhile since an update, I hope you enjoy!

~Ayaka~