Okay I could give you all a really GREAT reason for why I haven't updated in awhile

but I figured I'd save my creative writing for the story, ja ne ;3

Chapter 10: My Brother

Gohan refused to even open his eyes as he lay on the floor of his gravity room. He hurt everywhere. He had done it though, he was able to freely move around in the top setting of one hundred times Earth's normal gravity. The present his Aunt Bulma had given him three years ago, really was one of the best gifts he'd ever gotten. Three years though, Kami… had it really been that long? The now nine year old boy sighed as he turned his head towards the controls. He had been training for hours but if he didn't want to be crushed in his sleep by the gravity than he was going to have to get up and turn it off.

Slowly pushing himself up Gohan sadly thought of how long he'd been in this timeline that was starting to feel more like his own. Minus nine months in the time chamber he was only a few weeks from his own point in the time line. If he hadn't come here he'd be… almost fifteen. He didn't feel fifteen. Gohan mentally shrugged as he turned off the artificial gravity, how would he know what fifteen felt like?

It was a good thing his Father and Piccolo decided they would rest the last two days till the androids were to come because he would really need that time to recover. He knew he was pushing himself past his limits but he had been determined to get back to the power level he had been at before he'd been brought back. He was sure he had been close, so after he recovered from this training session with luck and saiyan genes to increase his strength, he would be.

The little saiyan breathed in relief as the gravity lowered back to normal and flopped back onto the ground exhausted, even as his mind ran in circles going over his mental list. There was about forty hours till the first set of androids arrived, he needed to bring a little of his father's medicine when they left, not all of it or it could break and his father would die, again. He should bring a few things for baby Trunks in a capsule, last time Bulma ran out of diapers, make it seem by accident since he wasn't supposed to know about him, tell them he had them for Goten and forgot to take the capsule out of his pocket.

That's right Goten… that had been the biggest surprise of his life. A few months after he knew Bulma should have gotten pregnant his mother had. That hadn't happened in his timeline and now he was so attached to the little guy he wasn't sure he ever wanted to go back to his timeline. Gohan frowned as he sensed his little brother's upset energy, and the kid had such a set of lungs Gohan could now hear the ten month old's cries. Sighing he pushed himself back up, he'd been laying around too long anyway.

He quickly left the gravity room, capsulized it, flew into the river to rid himself of sweat, used his energy to dry himself and his clothes, and flew home in record time. At his first step into the house his little brother's wails cut off. Gohan smiled at him as Goten sniffled reaching for him from their mother's arms.

"Nii, Nii-tan!" Goten whined pitifully. Chichi sighed, honestly she was glad her boys were close but it was becoming ridiculous. Her youngest couldn't even wake up from his nap without her oldest there to at least say 'hi', if not there was always HFIL to pay.

"Oh alright," Chichi sighed waking over to her sheepish looking eldest. "Here you go, he needs to be tucked back in." She instructed giving Goten to Gohan and kissing both before she went into the kitchen to make dinner. Goten settled quickly into his brother's arms, smiling through his teary face.

"You shouldn't give Mom such a hard time you know, she loves you too." Gohan said but couldn't help to smile back as he gently wiped the tears off his little brother's now happy face. The nine year old slowly let his energy cover himself and his brother, making in feel like they were wrapped together in a warm blanket of Gohan.

Goten yawned content and sleepy as Gohan carried him back to their room. At first Goten had slept in their parent's room but as time wore on and Gohan would be the one to usually get Goten back to sleep in the middle of the night, his mom agreed it would be better if Goten just slept there. Gohan never said a thing about how Goten hardly ever woke up crying in the middle of the night after that. He knew that would hurt his mother's feelings more than what Goten's attachment to him over her already did.

As Gohan sat in a rocking chair gently rocking his little brother back to dream land though he couldn't bring himself to feel too bad about it because he was just as attached to Goten. He felt sick though knowing he soon wouldn't have this if he went back. And his father was dead so there was no way he ever would have a sibling in his own timeline. If he left he knew that he would word the wish so that the other version of himself that had originally been here still would be and would remember what he'd done, so there would always be a Gohan for Goten. There just wouldn't be a Goten for him.

The nine year old took a deep breath as he stood up, and hugged his little brother a little tighter before putting him down in his crib to sleep. He watched the baby a few moments before slowly pulling his energy off the baby. Goten pouted briefly before his face smoothed back out, too asleep to complain. Gohan smile softly at the baby before leaving the room. His mother didn't understand how he could always calm Goten he tried to explain how he wrapped his energy around him but when his father tried it didn't quite work.

Goten had looked so confused, like his favorite blanky had been taken and he was being offered a substitute. He was quiet all of five seconds before he went back to wailing, apparently he didn't accept substitutes. The older boy had almost laughed at his parent's bewildered faces but refrained, not wanting to hurt anyone feelings, he knew he'd be hurt if Goten ever rejected him.

Dinner was quiet apart from the scrapping of plates, he was starved and he knew his father was too. Saiyans always ate a lot but with all the training burning it off they ate even more. His father had found out about his birthday present a few months after they started training and Gohan had agreed to let him and Piccolo use it. He had been reluctant because he like to train by himself in there but it would be selfish to not let them when it was so important for everyone to get stronger. Luckily his mother still didn't know he had it or she might try to confiscate it when she wanted him to study.

"Dinner was delicious Mom." Gohan complimented with a smile and a bit of rice stuck to his face. Chichi smiled at him as she wiped the rice off.

"Thank you sweetie. And thank you for putting your Brother to bed." His mother replied as she got up and gathered the dishes.

"Of course." Gohan stated getting up to help with the dishes. Spending any time with Goten wasn't a chore for him, he loved putting the little tyke to bed.

"I'm going to go wash up, thanks for dinner Chichi." Goku stated with a kiss to his wife's cheek before leaving. Gohan started drying the dishes his mother washed without a word. This was normal, something they did a lot and the mundane, familiar motions helped him forget his problems for a few minutes.

"Alright, all done." His mother said pulling him from his thoughts, or lack thereof as she dried her hands. "Now you go wash up for bed too." She shooed him out of the kitchen with a kiss to his head.

The next day was easy going, he play with Goten most the day that his mother didn't have him studying. It was now the night before the androids would arrive and Gohan was laying on his bed looking at nothing as he went over his mental check list again. And again. He was so nervous, it was like the night before Trunks arrived, he was back to going over everything he did to see if he messed anything up. Time travel was really stressful.

He finally got up and picked Goten out of his crib and settled the sleeping 10 month old beside him on the bed. He was always calmer with the baby near, it worked both ways. Maybe it was silly but Gohan knew it would work, and fifteen minutes later he was proven right as he slipped asleep. In the morning Gohan woke up to his little brother playing with his face. The chubby hand were stronger than any normal baby's should be and the small nails cut into his face.

"Ooow." Gohan groaned out sleepily pulling the hands off his face before frowning at the giggling baby. "It's not funny, that hurt." Gohan tried to look serious but sighed when his brother only giggled back at him with no comprehension. The older boy forgave the younger easily though, it's not like he hadn't been through worse, and his little brother's smile was worth the rude awakening. Gohan got up and dressed quickly, today was the day.

When they had to leave Gohan reluctantly gave his little brother to his mother so that he could follow Piccolo and his father to face the androids. He knew he wouldn't have much time to spend with the littlest saiyan for a while with everything that was about to happen. So he would make every moment count. Giving his baby brother one last squeeze Gohan released the precious bundle to their mother.

"See you later Goten, be good for mommy." Gohan said, giving his brother a smile and ruffling his hair before taking to the sky. They ran into Krillen once they were close, and his father told him to slow down just like before. Gohan frowned at the similarities but knew that things could and would change, that some already had. Goten was living proof.

Piccolo had talked to him the day before asking if there was anything he could tell him. Gohan knew he was nervous especially since he'd told the Namek there were two sets of androids. He didn't like talking about Cell though. He didn't like to think about the monster, and he had solved that problem anyway. He just had to make sure this timeline's Cell was destroyed too. Besides his sensei had enough on his mind.

As they approached Gohan smiled, he could feel baby Trunks. His father stopped noticing how big the city was, so he, Piccolo and Krillen stopped with him. Gohan could feel Piccolo's eyes on him. Over the years he had told Piccolo a lot of what happened but he never much spoke about Cell, Piccolo knew he was holding back but let him.

They had decided that they couldn't fully trust Gohan's future knowledge because of the fact so much had changed just from Trunks being there a few moments and Gohan had been there years now. So while things could be similar anything could change and they couldn't bet their lives on it being the same. Gohan knew that kind of thinking was right but the constant déjà vu was hard to ignore.

"It's so big." Goku stated looking at the city Trunks had warned them the androids would first show up in. Krillen nodded in agreement.

"Yea, I didn't even know this city existed." The monk commented watching the city from where they were in the air.

"We're going to have to lure the androids away from here, so nobody gets hurt." Gohan stated what he was thinking. Why hadn't they scouted the area out before? Not that they needed to because they couldn't really evacuate a city, but they had three years would it have been helpful to know the territory? Gohan mentally tossed the thought, too late now anyway.

"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still have to find them first." Krillen commented. He was still hoping this wasn't going to happen. That the androids would never show up. With his luck though there would be double the amount of androids they were warned about.

"Hey Goku over here!" Yamcha called out from the cliff side, it looked like all his father's friends were gathering there. Goku smiled and went to them, with Gohan, Piccolo and Krillen close behind. The nine year old smiled widely when he saw Bulma and baby Trunks as they all landed. He had purposely not had any contact with Bulma or Vegeta since future Trunks left so that he wouldn't interfere with Trunks being born. He didn't exactly know how or when Trunks was conceived, nor did he want to, but it was something he wasn't taking any chances with.

Bulma waved with little Trunks in her arms, clinging to her. Krillen seemed surprised and then Gohan remembered that Bulma had drastically changed her hair. He didn't even notice anymore with all the styles she went through. While his father went onto question why Bulma was there with a baby no less, where they knew something dangerous was about to happen Gohan smiled at Trunks. The baby gazed at him for a moment before turning back shyly into his mother.

"I hope you don't think I'm nuts for asking but, what's the deal with the baby Bulma?" Krillen asked like he wasn't sure he really wanted to know the answer. Gohan knew he'd asked Yamcha if it was his son before but the question seemed so absurd now. Okay so last he should know in this time period she had been dating Yamcha. But the kid just screamed Vegeta. Trunks had gotten his mother's coloring but the shape of his eyes and face were all Vegeta, and of course his energy felt like a saiyan, though maybe he noticed that more now because of Goten.

"He's not my kid." Yamcha stated with a slight sneer. Krillen must have asked when he was zoning out, the monk looked surprised it wasn't Yamcha's. "Well if you think that's a shock just wait. Wait until she tells you who the father really is." Yamcha frowned, like he was sulking. Gohan hadn't really noticed it the first time but Yamcha was kind of a sore loser. Hadn't he cheated on Bulma?

His father walked up waving his fingers at the baby with a laugh. "I bet its Vegeta, isn't it? Right Trunks?" His father said as a question or a statement Gohan didn't know but felt the urge to face palm either way. How could his father be so careless? It didn't matter now as Trunks was already born but still.

"Now who told you that Goku?" Bulma asked looking surprised as everyone else looked shocked. "I wanted to keep it a secret, I was going to surprise you guys." She complained lightly. As his father laughed nervously Gohan couldn't help but sigh. He had let himself get attached to his father again over the three years he'd been here. With all the quality time while they weren't training he couldn't help but relax bit by bit as they went fishing by the lake they always used to, cloud watching, or even shopping with mom is the city. He had slowly begun to hope that if he failed and his father did still die, that he would agree to be wished back.

"Well, actually I thought I'd just take a guess. I mean he kinda looks like Vegeta." His father laughed nervously throughout the whole explanation.

"You guessed his name too." Bulma said with a bit of suspicion, though mostly curiosity. Like she didn't think his father was capable of lying to her. At the moment Gohan had to agree, his father was a terrible liar.

"Uh, yea, what are the chances of that, huh? Uhm maybe I'm psychic!" Goku said half joking. Gohan was sure Bulma knew the chances of that were less than zero but it looked like she wasn't going to push the issue.

"Outrageous, who would have guessed Bulma and Vegeta…" Krillen pondered next to him still shocked. Vegeta had come to kill them all once, so Gohan could understand everyone's astonishment, he was surprised when he first knew too. Yamcha, who was still brooding in the corner kind of groaned.

"Well since were on the subject, where is Vegeta?" Piccolo asked stepping up behind him. Gohan knew Vegeta would show up later but hadn't gone through every detail with Piccolo of his own timeline since they agreed not to rely on it.

"I don't have a clue, I really haven't seen him around lately. I know he was training to come here, but, what with the baby and all. Well I guess I must of lost track of him." Bulma answered as best she could. Gohan knew exactly what she meant, with Goten in the house he couldn't always keep track of anything but the baby, as toys and other things got scattered everywhere.

"He'll show, he wouldn't miss a fight." Goku declared. And Gohan had to agree for Vegeta to miss a fight would be like his father skipping lunch, it just didn't happen. Not bothering to listen anymore Gohan stepped up to Bulma.

"Hey Aunt Bulma, what time is it?" Gohan asked, it shouldn't be too long from when the androids were supposed to show up, and he was nervous. Had he changed something?

"Well let's see," Bulma said looking at her watch "According to my watch it's 9:30" she answered.

"Bulma you should get out of here those androids are supposed to show up in a half hour!" his father cut into the conversation. Gohan frowned at being interrupted as his mother had drilled manners into him, but didn't bother saying anything. His father probably didn't even know he was being rude and he was just worried for Bulma's safety.

"Don't worry I just want to see what these things look like and then I'll go." Bulma stated with a laugh. Like she was completely safe, probably because she knew none of them would let anyone hurt her, and maybe her trip to Namek gave her courage, whatever the case it was clear she wasn't going.

The time seem to pass slowly, and Gohan wanted to play with Trunks but wasn't sure how to approach. Eventually he just came over and sat by Bulma. After saying 'Hi' to her, it was easy playing with Trunks. He had lot of practice now with his brother. After a while he got Krillen in on it too. Gohan watched as Yajirobe dropped off the sensu beans, but stayed by Bulma, it was then everyone realized the androids were late.

"I can't believe I actually listen to that kid; androids, that's a good one." Yamcha said like Trunks had been lying. Gohan frowned wanting snap at the insult to the boy from the future who was also the baby in his surrogate Aunt's lap.

"Don't be so literal you guys, it's only 10:17. I wouldn't jump the gun just yet." Bulma defend her son, though she didn't know it yet.

"Excuse me, but I think we would have sensed their power levels by now. Sorry to disappoint you Bulma but those androids just aren't coming." Yamcha spoke condescendingly with a smirk. Gohan glared at him, Yamcha really was a sore loser, and was being a jerk because of it. Of course just then Yajirobe's sky car exploded.

Gohan was as shocked as the others, he had forgotten they had done that first. After they watched the two androids descended to the city, Gohan snapped out of his shocked and flew across the island before diving down into the water where Yajirobe was without waiting for his father's orders. They would figure out they can't sense the androids without him, he needed to make sure his forgetfulness didn't cause Yajirobe any serious injury.

By the time Gohan got the complaining man back to where Bulma was he could sense Yamcha's energy being drained. He shot off quickly and arrived to see Dr. Gero holding Yamcha up with one hand over his mouth as he drain the life out of him. He was about to intervene when a gas truck came barreling down the road. He thought quickly before going after the gas truck first. Yamcha was strong enough to survive a few more moments, if that truck hit the gas station it was headed for a lot of people would die.

Gohan jumped in front of the truck and dug his feet into the ground slowing it down to a stop before it would crash. As he came back to where the androids were though it was obvious he had been noticed. Now both androids were watching him. So much for the element of surprise.

"Put him down." Gohan commanded. Yamcha wasn't his favorite person but he didn't want him dead. Both android 20 and 19 continued to stare as a red light flashed in their eyes for a moment.

"Son Gohan, nine years old, son of main target. Threat level, minimal." 19 stated. Gohan ignored the insult and shot three small blasts into the air to signal the others. Last time the explosion was what probably got everyone's attention but he figured he just diverted that. He couldn't wait though Yamcha was losing energy by the second.

Gohan gasped. Without warning 20 had plunged his hand through Yamcha's torso. It had happened so fast. After that Gohan didn't even think, one second he was standing in shock the next he had kicked 20 off Yamcha and was standing in front of his father's unconscious friend protectively. Almost shaking in anger. 20 crashed into the building across the street while 19 watched slightly surprised. At his speed or strength the boy didn't know and at the moment he didn't care. However he took a deep calming breath to keep himself from lashing out and showing anymore of his power.

In Gohan's Timelined

Chichi frowned as she sat with the Nameks. Not that it was their fault, she actually liked them; they were helpful, kind, and knew the value of a good education. No, she was terrible frustrated at the progress, or lack thereof, finding the dragon balls. They had landed on New Namek a week ago after months of traveling, and have only recovered three of the magical balls needed to wish her baby back.

If that wasn't bad enough she hadn't been feeling too well either. She felt tired, ache, and had even thrown up once when they landed. It was a pretty smooth landing for a space ship too, not that she would admit that to Bulma after throwing up like that. Chichi sighed, she must have caught a space flu or something.

She looked up as she spotted Piccolo, and smiled as she saw he had a large orange ball with him. That's four. She had been reluctant to be friendly to Piccolo for a long while after he stole her son to train him to fight evil aliens, when he should have been at home studying. However in the last couple years she had seen how much the green man cared for her little baby, and started warming up to him.

Piccolo nodded to her and set the two star ball down with the other three orange balls. It was taking longer because they only had one dragon ball radar. So while one of them took the radar the others could only be pointed in the right direction and an approximate location. Once whoever had the radar got the ball they'd gone after they would go over to help one of the others, but it was still slow going.

"We'll have him back soon." Piccolo stated in his deep tone. Chichi looked up from the ground she'd been staring aimlessly at and took a breath, putting on her 'determined mom face'.

"Yes, we will. He will have so much studying to catch up on when he gets back!" She huffed. Honestly she wasn't think much about her son's homework, right now she couldn't think far passed; Goku's dead and isn't coming back and I need to get Gohan home.

Piccolo only nodded to her. He didn't really agree with all the studying she maybe his student do, but it really wasn't his business and a distraught mother, newly widowed didn't need his opinion. At least not at the moment.

AND CUT!

"Do not worry about the future for it is not yet come. Live each day in the present and make it beautiful."

To my reviewers:

X13 : Not nearly as long as I take to post them.

chibi fighter : I know I loved Icarus! And it was a funny filler, the only episode I saw Gohan draw stuff that wasn't equations.

Thanks to all my reviewer! You are the reason I keep this story going :D