Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ -sobs-
A/N: Thanks to all those awesome people that reviewed. You are the reason I keep on writing (I mean it) :3 Thank you all soo soo soo much.
Lost in Paradise Take care of your mother for me. She needs you. Tell her that I had to do this, Gohan.
Chapter 7
Gohan gasped, as he woke up from his dream with cold sweat dripping from his temples as if he had just come face to face with death again. His father's blue eyes were still printed in his vision as he disappeared right before him.
Gohan pulled the covers off of his body and tried his best to bring his raging heart back to its normal beating.
His father's last words still echoed in his ears, as if it was a command. The young warrior rubbed his eyes tiredly and stood up from his bed.
A day has passed since Goku's death. The air in the house was still dense, awkward and gloomy. Gohan was keeping an eye on his mother. Chichi on the other hand went about her day fairly calm. This bothered Gohan. He knew his mother was holding back. Every smile she gave him, every pat on the head, soft caress every kiss was fake. She was trying to be strong for him.
Ox King also noticed this but he never acknowledged it or commented anything to Gohan which bothered the young saiyan.
It wasn't until dinner that Gohan notice the state his mother was in. While him and his grandfather devoured the meal she had prepared she sat back, watched him with a soft, depressing smile on her lips. She didn't eat a thing throughout the whole day.
In the evening they had all gathered to watch TV. Of course, the first thing that popped was Hercule Satan, hollering and claiming he was the one that destroyed Cell.
Chichi came to life, at least in Gohan's eye. Her fiery and strong tempered flared up like when you pour gasoline to a small flame. She got mad, screamed and pointed fingers at the TV.
"How dare him!" She yelled. "How dare he take credit for something he clearly didn't do?" She growled and shook her head and then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Does he even know there are people mourning?"
Gohan rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to look at his mother. "At least we don't have the press at our door steps, Mom."
That calmed her a bit. She crossed her arms under her chest and relaxed on the family couch, next to her father.
"Gohan is right. We are in a vulnerable state and it's better to go through this alone." Ox King whispered before placing his heavy arm over Chichi's shoulder.
Chichi leaned on her father's shoulder. She was tired. It has only been a day and she felt like she was exhausted from simply trying to put up appearances. She closed her eyes and exhaled. She needed to rest and her father's warm embrace was just what she needed right now.
Gohan turned around when the news were over just in time to see Ox King picking Chichi up. "Is she…"
"She is tired Gohan. I am just going to let her rest." The older man said as he cradled his only daughter in his arms and headed to her room. "Today was a good day."
"It was better than yesterday." Gohan whispered as he stood up from the floor and walked next to his grandpa.
"They will continue to get better…"
Gohan nodded at that. He really hoped that each day that passed he would be able to go on during his daily routine and not remember his father so much… He knew that it couldn't be done. Everything in that small house was a small memento of the times he shared with him. The kitchen always reminded him of the food contests, the living room was their relaxation chamber as was the large trash can they used as the outdoor Jacuzzi. The mountains were their playground and the river was always there to quench their thirst.
Everywhere he looked his father's essence would linger enough to bring him even a short memory.
It was consuming and tiring…
That's why Gohan quickly decided to take refuge of all those memories in his own room. His father rarely went there unless he was looking for him in order to have a little escapade. Goku's being wasn't found in those four walls. Only school books and bug pictures and a telescope decorated the room; a big difference from what Goku was all about.
After an hour or two of sleeping, Gohan woke up to his father's booming voice, saying goodbye and asking him to take care of Chichi.
And Gohan did just that.
He pulled the covers off his body and walked around the house; checking and making sure everything was in order. He could make out Ox King's snores from the outside of the guest's room. Then, he moved to stand in front of his parent's bedroom door. Gohan pushed the door open and peeked his head inside.
Chichi was sleeping while holding Goku's pillow tightly to her body. Her long hair was covering her puffy face. All photographs she had of her family were put down. Maybe she didn't wanted to see Goku or maybe she just didn't wanted to be reminded that those smiling faces in the pictures would never smile with the same intensity as they did.
Gohan knew his mother would pull through. She always did. She was the daughter of the great Ox King, wife to the strongest man in the world. She was no saiyan but her physical strength was almost inhuman. If she could endure Goku's first death, she could survive his second death, right?
Gohan sighed as he watched her stir in her sleep, mumbling Goku's name.
Was she emotionally strong to endure the pain?
Gohan frowned. She had to be. Who was going to give him the strength to pull through if it wasn't his own mother?
He closed the door and went back to his room. He threw himself on his bed and let out a tired sigh. It wasn't long until his body felt heavy and his eyes drifted shut…
Bulma had finally managed to get him to fall asleep. It seems that baby Trunks was as depressed as everyone else.
Bulma had the infant in her arms still. When she tried to put him in his crib, Trunks began to fuss, yearning his mother's presence again. She couldn't blame him; after all, these past days had been a roller coaster of emotions. Yes, the world was saved, everyone was relieved that they could continue on with their daily lives yet, Bulma knew there was a certain family up in the mountains that were probably crying and mourning the loss of one of their own. Everyone was mourning for Goku.
Bulma sighed and the kissed her son's head and headed out to the kitchen. She might wait a while until he was in a deep slumber and then maybe she will let him sleep in his crib. The boy could be possessive; he certainly didn't get that from her side of the family. Bulma chuckled.
She slowly made her way to the living room but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a very familiar hair sticking up from the sofa.
' Weird. I thought he was sleeping already.' She thought before walking the sofa.
There sat Vegeta, laying tiredly on the black leather sofa. He raised his eyes and looked up at her. He grunt and turned his attention back to the muted T.V.
Bulma let out an annoyed sigh. She sat down beside him and got comfortable. "Can't sleep?"
He snarled and closed his eyes before resting his chin on his knuckles.
"Me either." She looked down at baby Trunks who appeared that had found a pretty comfortable nook in her arms. "I can't stop thinking about Chichi and Gohan. Losing their husband and father a second time must be so hard on them."
Vegeta frowned deeply. He hated having deep conversations; scratch that. He hated having conversations, period. He was expecting the woman to be sleeping or maybe taking care of the kid. He did hear her when she was in the kitchen. He thought that maybe if he didn't move she would go away.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Not as much as I would like." He spat.
"Why are you here? You usually hide in the spaceship outside or in the ceiling…"
"I want to sleep." He simply said. "I can't sleep in the spaceship or the ceiling."
"You can go to your room, Vegeta"
"Don't tell me what to do, woman. Not now. Not ever." He kept his eyes closed. Truth was he didn't want to be alone in the ship, or the ceiling or his room. Maybe deep down he wanted to hear voices and people talking and walking around the building.
The sudden silence that consumed everyone when Goku died was actually having his effect on the saiyan prince. He was just too proud to admit it to anyone, even himself.
He hated the fact that Bulma might know the state he was in. She knew him better than anyone.
She raised her eyebrow and looked up at the prince once again. "Vegeta…"
"I am the last one of my kind." He worded his thought. "I am the last saiyan alive." He said once again, maybe this time loud enough for Bulma to hear him. It was moments like these that he despised the woman. Why did she always make him drop his guard? He groaned and grabbed hold of the control before moving it in front of him and changing the channel the moment Hercule came up.
Bulma reached for his hand and grabbed the control and threw it beside her not before shutting the large LCD screen off. . "No, you are not."
"I am. I am the last full blooded saiyan left. Stupid Kakarot had to go and kill himself and be noble." He spat and then sighed placing his hand against his temple and leaning back on sofa. "While I just stood there, watch my son get killed by a freak."
"Vegeta…"
"Don't try to act like you understand, woman because you don't."
"Maybe I don't. Maybe I don't know how it is to lose your kind, your father, your people, your freedom but you are not alone. Gohan, Trunks, they; carry saiyan blood in their veins. You should be proud. A saiyan defeated Cell." She smiled and looked down at Trunks. "Your son fought bravely against the androids and as soon as he is rested, he will go back to the future, kill those androids and bring peace; your son Trunks. The son of the prince."
Vegeta looked at the blue haired genius and then down at the bundle in her arms. Who would think that the weak creature she was carrying would turn out to be such an excellent warrior. Of course, he could never bring himself to say it out loud maybe not now; but he was proud of Trunks.
" Look at him, Vegeta." Bulma said as she got closer to the father of her child and presented Trunks to his tired eyes. "Look. He is alive and safe because one of your race saved us."
Vegeta raised his eyebrow and moved his heavy hand and placed it over Trunk's small torso, feeling the deep breaths and the steady heart beatings coming from the small child. "I want him to be just like future Trunks."
"Well, he is Trunks. He will be strong and powerful just like his daddy." She smiled and couldn't help but lean and give the proud prince a kiss on his cheek. She knew he wasn't going to react. His actions and words told him he had his defenses down, just for her. All she could do was make the most of it.
He just sat there, looking at the sleeping child. "I want to train him as soon as possible."
"Not so fast, let him at least learn how to talk." She chuckled and watched Vegeta finally remove his hand and lean back against the sofa. "You, sir, need to head to bed, now. We can talk all you want about training him tomorrow."
"Talk. Ugh. Don't you female earthling never shut up? That's all you do, talk. Your mother drives me crazy every time I see her cause all she does is – "
"Talk. I get it. Get up, Vegeta." She stood up and walked to the kitchen. Incredibly, Vegeta stood up and followed her. He kept on muttering about how humans talked too much and how conversations were the reason he hated them all. Also he murmured something to Bulma's ear; something that made the mother of his first born blush. Something about actions speaking louder than words
He looked at his desk watch. 5: 45am He rubbed his naked stomach and decided to head for the kitchen to get something to eat. When he entered the kitchen he was surprised to see his mother, wrapped in her robe, blowing on a hot steamy cup of chocolate.
"Hey."
Chichi raised her eyes from the cup and let out a tired smile.
Gohan quickly noticed the bags under her eyes. She had been crying.
"There is some more in the stove. I just made some." Chichi said. "Unless you want a sandwich or something else."
"It's okay." He said, as he went to the kitchen counter, pulled a cup with the name "Gohan" on it and poured himself a cup of chocolate. He then turned and sat down beside his mother.
Chichi pulled a small bag and put it beside Gohan.
The young saiyan stared at it before grinning happily. "Thanks!" He grabbed the marshmallow bag and put a couple into his drink.
"You are up extra early. Can't sleep?"
"I had a bad dream, that's all." Gohan replied.
"You are going to have a couple of those, kid. I know I will."
Gohan frowned. He couldn't help but feel guilty and think that his father's death was entirely his fault. If he had just killed Cell when Goku had told him too, none of this would've happen. He would've having cocoa with both his parents.
"I am sorry, Mom." He said, being careful not to slam his cup against the wooden table. "This is entirely my fault…"
Chichi gulped down the warm liquid before setting it on the table then she turned her body to the side and gathered the trembling boy in her strong arms. "Gohan…"
"No, Mom. Listen to me. It is my fault. It's my fault Dad sacrificed himself. I was so arrogant I didn't kill Cell when Dad asked me to." He grabbed hold of her forearm, being careful not to squeeze it. "I… I was so stupid, Mom."
Chichi rested her chin on Gohan's head, ignoring the unruly hair tickling her nose. "No. You are a kid. If it is anyone's fault it's Cell's. That thing should've known better than to try and fight the Son family. Don't blame yourself Gohan. Your father should've known that you were going to get all Vegeta on everyone as soon as you found out how strong you were." She smiled and replaced her chin with her lips, closing her eyes as she gave the child a kiss. "I understand how you feel but please. Let's put everything behind us and start anew. Hmm?" She pulled away enough to see his damaged, hurt gaze. "We must help each other now that your father isn't here. We must look out for one another. " She caressed his cheek and wiped away a sneaky tear that had managed to escape his eyes.
"But, Mom…" He sighed and looked down to her lap, hiding the same his face irradiated. "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't be hurting. He would still be here."
"Stop blaming yourself." Her voice was strong, serious and low. She grabbed hold of his face and made the demi saiyan face her. " Your father wouldn't have wanted to see you like this! I don't want to see you like this. You are alive because of the decisions you made. We are here, Gohan we are alive and well. Let's make the best out of it. It won't be easy without your father but, I know we can pull through." She let out a tired, honest smile. "You are my baby boy; you are strong and smart just like me." She teased. "Learn to forgive yourself, Gohan."
"I can't…" His tears fell freely now down his cheeks. "I can't just forget."
"Fine. Don't forget but try to forgive. You have so many good things heading your way. Make space in your heart to enjoy life."
"It will be hard, Mom. To forgive myself for my stupid attitude…"
"That's why I am here. I will be here to guide you and support you when you need me." She pulled him in for another hug and held him tightly to her chest. " I won't leave you, Gohan. I am not going anywhere, I promise."
His smaller hands came to rest on her back as he hugged her, engulfing himself with her warmth; that warmth that always calmed him when he was just but a baby and a toddler.
"It won't be easy but we have managed before." She cradled his cheeks in her hands and pulled his face up to meet hers. She smiled and pressed her forehead with his. "We are strong, kid. We can do it."
Heavy steps interrupted the two Sons. They turned around just in time to see the Ox King yawning and scratching his lower back.
"Morning." The giant said turning his attention to the empty stove. "So, are we eating?"
Chichi couldn't help but throw her head and laugh, something that caught both Ox King and Gohan off guard. She patted her lap and pushed herself off the dining table. "You sit down, Dad. I am going to make a big breakfast for my two boys." She said, trying to sound as cheerful as she possibly could.
"After that we are getting out of this house. Even if it is still dark outside." Ox King said, taking Chichi's place beside the shirtless Gohan. "Either that or we two have a little escapade to the mountains, How does that sound, Gohan?"
Gohan folded his arms over the table and rested his chin over them. He smiled happily and nodded at his grandfather. "It sounds perfect, Grandpa."
