Disclaimer: Do not own.

It was always the worst second guessing yourself.

Gohan looked at the packed suitcase on his waterbed. The cats were sent away, Videl was up in the air, and his friends were busy preparing for the holiday. He was alone for the time being, and he was secretly wishing a bad guy would attack the planet right now.

Right…now.

Now!

Now!

Gohan sat down on his waterbed and sighed. Maybe if he punched himself in the chest. He would need to be rushed to the hospital, and he wouldn't have to celebrate the holiday with Goku and his family. Technically, it was his family too, but after about eight years of escaping that household it wasn't his home anymore.

With the sound of someone knocking on his door, Gohan stood up and walked into the living room. The door was right in front of his face, and with another sigh he opened it.

Goku and Chi-Chi stood there with smiles on their faces. Goten started jumping up and down.

"Yay! You get to stay with us for a week," he cheered. "I'll go grab your suitcase!"

Goten ran into the apartment.

"He's so excited that you are staying with us," Chi-Chi said as she and Goku walked in. "It's all he's been talking about last night. I'm surprised he fell asleep right away."

'Come in,' Gohan thought as he closed the door behind him. All right, time to put on a poker face.

"Do you have everything packed," Chi-Chi asked as she looked around the apartment. Papers were still scattered all over the table, but the apartment was clean for the most part. "Socks, underwear, extra clothes just in case? Are all the candles blown out? Lights are off? Are you cooking anything in the oven? Make sure that's off or else your apartment will catch on fire."

"Everything's fine," Gohan said rolling his eyes. "I even made my bed Mom."

It was sarcasm, but Chi-Chi still shot him a look. Gohan put his arms up in defense. It was probably a bad idea to have Chi-Chi in a bad mood, especially since he was going to be staying with her for a week.

"I have his suitcase," Goten said as he dragged it through the small hallway. Gohan and Chi-Chi watched as Goten pulled the suitcase, and all of Gohan's clothes came spilling out. "Oops."

"You didn't zipper up your suitcase, did you," Chi-Chi asked attempting to hold back a smirk.

"I knew I forgot something," Gohan said as he walked over and grabbed a few of his scattered clothes. Goten helped him pack away the clothes, and laughed when he grabbed Gohan's underwear. Gohan noticed the pair of underwear in Goten's hands. "I like Batman."

"Yeah, but the bat signal is on your butt," Goten said as he laughed. Gohan got a small chuckle as well.

Triple checking his apartment, Gohan made sure everything was off, and there were no fire hazards near his electrical sockets. He could hear Chi-Chi's voice in his head as he went into the bedroom.

'Did you turn off your lamp?'

Gohan turned off his bedroom lamp near his bed.

'Check the sink to make sure it's not leaking.'

Gohan tightened the handles just in case.

'Make sure you have enough toilet paper. There's nothing like pooping in your own house, but if there is no toilet paper you will be doing the waddle of shame'

Okay, that one wasn't Chi-Chi's voice in his head. Gohan looked at his toilet paper and saw it a little low. He quickly grabbed a new roll, and replaced the old one. Mu-Ma didn't remember the small things, like extra clothes or clean underwear, but she remembered the creature comforts of a home. The toilet was clean, there was toilet paper ready, pajamas on the bed, a basket by the door to throw your dirty clothes in, and a bottle of wine staying cool in the fridge. If it was winter, like it was now, a pot would be on the stove. A bottle, and even powered, of chocolate milk would be right next to it. The house would be clean, and when you returned from your trip you could relax.

Gohan had his house clean, clean sheets on his bed, and a bottle of Jack sitting on his kitchen counter. Whenever he was in the hospital, Seymour would come over and do some creature comforts around the apartment. A blanket and pillow would be on the couch, bread would be by the toaster, a pot with soup would be on the stove, and other small things. Mu-Ma taught Seymour about the creature comforts, and it became a habit for him as well when he went on family getaways.

Turning off the bathroom light, Gohan made his way back into the living room. There his real family stood, all with smiles on their faces.

"Are you ready to go," Goku asked. A five hour drive in the cold, singing car ride songs along the way, and Chi-Chi yelling at Goku because he took a wrong turn somewhere. Yep, sounds like fun!

"I'm all set," Gohan said.

"Good! I hope you like flying!"

"Flying?" Gohan's question was quickly answered once they were outside. There floating in front of him was a little yellow cloud. "You have got to be kidding me."

Nimbus.

Gohan remembered the yellow cloud. They were always flying around, having races, but there was no way Gohan was able to do that now. He wasn't pure of heart anymore.

"Do you really expect me to ride that," Gohan asked as he pointed to Nimbus.

"Well, driving takes too long, and if you can't ride Nimbus I thought I could just carry you," Goku said as he smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

'That's even worse,' Gohan yelled in his head.

"You should try it Boss," Goten said with Gohan's suitcase above his head. Gohan looked at the yellow cloud once more. His guitar was in a guitar case that he carried on his back.

'Here goes nothing.' Gohan put his hand on the cloud and pressed down. His hand did not go through, which looked good, but Gohan knew that it could be a trick. 'Okay Nimbus. I know it's been a while since we had a flight together, but I would greatly appreciate it if I can sit on you. The last thing I want is to be carried bridal style through the air.'

Gohan placed his one knee on Nimbus. Once he didn't fall through Gohan placed his other knee on the cloud.

"Holy crap I'm actually on this," Gohan said. He wasn't in the best position in the world with his hands and knees on Nimbus.

"You were right Goku. Boss was able to sit on Nimbus after all," Chi-Chi said. She thought he would fall right through like Master Roshi. She never thought he, Boss, would be pure of heart. When she saw the girly magazine pile on his coffee table she knew that Boss would fall right through Nimbus.

'How in the world am I/he on Nimbus,' Gohan and Chi-Chi thought.

"This isn't so bad," Gohan said still on all fours. "It's a little weird at first, cause you know…it's a cloud, but it's kind of comfy. I'm not quite used to this, so if it goes slow I can caAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten watched as Nimbus flew up into the air.

"Wait for me," Goten cried as he flew up with the suitcase.

"Nimbus likes him," Goku said. He picked up Chi-Chi off the ground. Chi-Chi fixed her purple scarf around her neck, and Goku took off in the air.

Gohan, who was clinging onto dear life, closed his eyes fro a moment. He'd forgotten how fast Nimbus flew. Gohan opened his eyes and looked around. No one was around him, and there was one thing Gohan always enjoyed doing.

Flying.

He quickly jumped to his feet. Nimbus flew up towards the sky, then flew straight towards the ground. They flew by lake that was not yet frozen, and Nimbus flipped Gohan upside down. Gohan smiled as he put his hands above his head, and let the cold water hit his hands. Nimbus flipped them both back around.

"You remember me, don't you Nimbus," Gohan asked. Nimbus spun in circles. Goten caught up with Gohan.

"Nimbus really likes you," he said with the suitcase in his hands.

"Pretty cool huh," Gohan responded. Goku and Chi-Chi finally caught up. Chi-Chi had her head tucked into Goku's chest. The wind was harsh, and the cold wasn't helping much either.

It didn't take too long before Gohan saw the mountain landscape. He was now sitting on Nimbus, hands tucked into his leather coat, and remembering the land. He looked over to his right and saw the frozen waterfall. Piccolo meditated there, but the Namek was not there. Gohan wasn't sure if Piccolo still meditated there. The only reason why Piccolo chose that spot was to be closer to Gohan.

Just past the water fall was where he and Goku trained. The mountains showed some damage, but nothing recent. Gohan knew that in just a few minutes they will arrive at the house near the mountains. His stomach knotted. He hasn't seen the house in eight years. Chi-Chi always wanted to expand the house, add another bedroom to the second floor, and a full bathroom downstairs. The only full bathroom was next to Chi-Chi and Goku's room. Chi-Chi would use the shower, and Gohan and Goku used the barrel that was outside. Hopefully there were two full bathrooms, and Gohan didn't have to bathe outside in the snow.

"There's our house," Goku shouted. Gohan looked down, and saw the little house. From up in the sky it looked the same. Same roof, same color, same barrel sitting in front of the house.

Goku landed on the ground and helped Chi-Chi to her feet. Goten landed soon after, and dropped the suitcase on the ground. He quickly ran to the front of the house.

Nimbus hovered down next to Gohan's suitcase. Once off the cloud, Gohan grabbed his suitcase and thanked Nimbus. The yellow could was happy, and spun itself around Gohan before taking off into the sky.

Goten ran back to Gohan, and grabbed his arm. He proceeded to drag Gohan into the house.

"Goten," Chi-Chi called out, but the two disappeared into the house. She folded her arms and shook her head. "That son of mine."

Same couch, same old TV, same dishes in the dish drainer, same fire place, and the only difference Gohan saw were new pictures on the mantel. The room smelled liked the forest. Redwood trees to be exact.

"This is our living room," Goten said. He pulled Gohan to wards another door. "This is our bathroom!"

'Same toilet, same sink,' Gohan thought as he once again dragged.

"This is my room! You'll be sleeping here with me!"

Gohan stood in his former bedroom. The first thing he saw were two bed. One bed, by the window, was his old bed. Right after the Hyperbolical Time Chamber, Goku and Chi-Chi bought him a bigger bed. He'd only slept in it for a few days before he ran off. The sheets were different, but from the looks of the bed no one slept in it. The smaller bed was Gohan's old bed, which he assumed was now Goten's. Both bed were nicely made, but only the smaller one looked slept in.

The bookshelves were still filled with his books. Gohan walked over to the bookshelves, and touched a few of his old friends. He was reading novels by the age of six. Some of his old school books were mixed in as well. Gohan pulled out his geometry book and opened it. There, on the old white pages, were notes next to problems. He noticed a loose piece of paper, and pulled it out.

"Holy crap," Gohan said as he looked at the math problems. He couldn't believe he once knew how to do this! By the date on the paper he was…eight years old!

"That's one of Gohan's old books," Goten said. Gohan put the paper back into the book. "It looks like a different language!"

Gohan looked at a few other books on the shelf. There were plenty of language books. French, Spanish, Japanese, English, and even German. There were more math books, science books, history books, and fine literature on his bookshelves.

"Do you know any of this stuff," Gohan asked. Goten acted more like Goku. If he had the brains…

"Mommy said that I'm too young for those books," Goten said,. "I don't want to learn them anyway. I want to be a fighter like my dad!"

Nope. Goten was just like Goku.

"So…Gohan knew all this stuff?" It was weird speaking in third person.

"Yep! My brother is the smartest!" Goten sat down on the big bed. "I haven't met him yet. He left my mommy and daddy before I was born."

Goten was putting him on a guilt trip without even knowing it. Gohan sat down on the bed next to Goten.

"I miss my brother too," Gohan said. He looked down at Goten.

"Did your brother run away too?"

"He died in a car accident two years ago."

"Oh." Goten looked at the ground. He jumped on the bed. "I have a great idea! We can be brothers!"

Goku and Chi-Chi appeared by the door. The look on their faces showed shock, and soon it was apologetic. Goten didn't see them there. He was too excited about his idea.

"Goten," his mother said as she walked in the room. "I don't think Boss-"

"I've always wanted a little brother," Gohan said. He looked over at Chi-Chi and smiled. "Every little brother needs an older brother."

"Yay! Trunks is going to be so jealous that I have you as a brother," Goten sheered. He hugged Gohan around the neck. "I don't want a dorky brother like Gohan anyway."

"Goten!"

"Sorry Mom."

Gohan noticed that Chi-Chi was trying to hide some of her anger. Goku stood there and smiled.

"Since he's Goten's older brother, does that make Boss our son," Goku asked.

"You're pushing it," Gohan and Chi-Chi said.

"Wow Boss. You've only been here a few minutes and you're already fitting in!"

"Goku, you and Goten can set the table for dinner. We'll let Boss get a bit comfortable. Please use the dresser next to the bookcase for your clothes. The top two are empty."

Chi-Chi pushed Goku out of the room and Goten followed. With the door a still crack open, Gohan placed his guitar next to the bed. He put his suitcase on the bed and opened it. His once neatly folded clothes were now balls. Gohan refolded his clothes, and walked over to the dresser. There were four drawers on the dresser, and being the curious fellow he was, Gohan opened the third one.

He pulled out a few of his old clothes. Gohan questioned why his mother would keep them for such a long time. Goten had a few years before he could grow into them, so why keep them in a drawer? Gohan put the clothes back, and looked in the fourth drawer. He pulled out his purple gi, and noticed his Piccolo like shoes and wrist bands in the drawer.

"I thought this was cool," Gohan questioned. He shrugged his shoulders and put the gi back.

(PG)

Goten finished setting up the table and ran into his bedroom. Chi-Chi watched as Goten pulled out his chest full of toys, and dropped them all over the floor. She was about to walk over and remind Goten to give Boss time to settle in, but to her surprise Boss started to play with two of them. Goten was thrilled, apparently they watched the same show, and grabbed accessories from his closet. Chi-Chi watched as the two set up a police station, and play cops and robbers.

With a smile and a gentle head shake, Chi-Chi continued to cook dinner. She wasn't very fond of the idea of Boss staying for about a week, but Goku did make a good point.

"But Chi-Chi, Boss is a nice guy," Goku pleaded. He had just returned from his spar with Vegeta. He reeked of sweat, and his clothes were torn apart. "Why can't he stay with us?"

"Because he is a bad influence," Chi-Chi said putting her foot down. "Bulma has told me stories about his drinking and smoking. She even did a background check on him. Did you know he did drugs? Do you want Goten to hang out with someone like him?"

"But he's different Chi-Chi!"

"He's not different Goku! He still smokes and drinks, and Goten will pick up on things like that! He curses Goku!"

"But Chi-Chi-"

"No more Goku!" Chi-Chi pointed her finger at him. "This discussion is over. Boss will not be staying with us and that's final."

With a confirm nod, and knowing that she won, Chi-Chi started to head up to the bedroom.

"Where's he going to go?" Chi-Chi stopped on the third step. She turned around and faced Goku. He turned his head towards the door. "I know you don't like Boss very much Chi-Chi. He's not nice sometimes, and he does have a short temper."

"It's called karma Goku," Chi-Chi spat. Goku turned and looked at her.

"He lost his mother Chi-Chi. Isn't that enough karma?"

Chi-Chi remembered having tea with Mu-Ma. She kept telling Chi-Chi how her sons were always in trouble, but they were very kind. Chi-Chi watched Boss interact with Goten and Trunks a few times. He was a giant kid himself! She watched him with Videl, and they always looked so happy together. Videl always smiles when she talks about him. Boss wasn't a bad guy; he was just a bad influence.

"Videl doesn't want him to be alone," Goku continued to say. "It's only for Christmas. Just this one time…please Chi-Chi!"

Goku never begged.

"Fine," Chi-Chi said giving in. If it meant that much to Goku how could she not say no.

"Great! He'll be here for a week!"

"What do you mean a week?!"

Goku walked up the few steps and kissed Chi-Chi on her cheek.

"I'll confirm with Boss tomorrow! You're the greatest!"

Dinner was prepared.

Gohan looked at the food on the table, and couldn't believe he used to eat this much food. Goten and Goku were already waiting at the table.

"Have a seat right here," Chi-Chi said as she pulled out a chair, his old sitting chair, for him to sit.

"Thank you," Gohan said as he sat down. "Um…you cooked a lot of food for one extra person."

"Don't worry. Goku and Goten will eat it all. I'm sure you've seen Vegeta eat. Please fill your plate first. If you don't, Goku and Goten will eat all the food."

'I'm sure they will,' Gohan thought. He found a few of his favorites on the table, and reached for them. Since his stomach no longer had the saiyan appetite, Gohan's plate wasn't fully filled. He grabbed some pork fried rice, chicken, dumplings, carrots and peas. Even though he didn't like peas he still put them on his plate. Chi-Chi was also putting food on her plate, and once her fork poked a piece of pork, Goku and Goten started to eat.

Gohan watched as the food in front of him disappeared. He wasn't used to seeing two saiyans eat at the same time. The pile of dirty dishes were stacking up, and Gohan realized that if he didn't eat his food someone else would.

"It's so nice to eat with someone who doesn't shove food in their mouth," Chi-Chi said. She was sitting to the right of Gohan. Goten was across from him, and Goku sat to the left.

"This is really delicious," Gohan said sticking a chicken in his mouth. He missed his mother's cooking. Mu-Ma wasn't the greatest, and TJ couldn't cook to save his life. Gohan picked up a few peas with his chopsticks, and noticed a strange taste. "What kind of peas are they?"

"I usually buy fresh peas from a farmer near by, but I forgot to buy them when I was at the market." Chi-Chi took a sip of her water. "I found some canned peas hiding behind some things, and decided to cook them up. Do you not like canned peas?"

Gohan picked up a few more peas, and stuck them in his mouth.

"They're not my favorite," Gohan mumbled.

"What do you mean canned peas tastes like cat butt," Mu-Ma exclaimed.

"They taste funny," an eleven year old Gohan said. He's only been living with Mu-Ma and TJ for two months, and this was the first time he had ever tried the peas. His Cell Games hairstyle was replaced with a Mohawk, and his gi was replaced with black jeans and blue tank top. TJ nodded in agreement.

"I don't care if it tastes funny. Both of you are still going to eat it."

"You can't force me," TJ commented. He had a matching Mohawk like Gohan's.

"You wanna bet?"

"Yeah I'll bet!"

Mu-Ma got up from her seat with a bowl of peas. TJ got up from his seat, and started to run. Gohan was finishing up the rest of the food as Mu-Ma chased TJ around the house. Gohan watched as TJ ran out the door. Mu-Ma stopped at the door, and started to yell.

Gohan shrugged his shoulders and ate. He grabbed TJ's plate and started to eat his leftovers.

"Finish the peas," Mu-Ma said slamming the bowl down next to Gohan. Attempting to be like TJ, Gohan tried to escape. "Oh no you don't!"

Mu-Ma pinned Gohan down on his chair, and shoved the bowl of peas down his throat. The peas juice slid down his throat along with hundreds of other peas. Satisfied that all the peas were gone, Mu-Ma put the empty bowl next to Gohan.

"My mouth tastes like cat butt," Gohan said. He used his napkin to wipe away the taste.

"You'll get used to it," Mu-Ma said as she sat back down in her chair. She pointed a chop stick at Gohan. "Sometimes you have to eat things you don't like. One day a pretty girl will cook horrible food for you, and you will complement her because you like her. If you run off like TJ you'll never get laid!"

Gohan's face turned bright red.

Gohan remember the next few days were nothing but canned peas.

"If you don't like them you don't have to eat them," Chi-Chi said. Gohan looked over at her, and wore a small smile.

"Canned peas were Mu-Ma's favorite," Gohan said. He put a few more peas in his mouth. "They still taste like cat butt."

Chi-Chi felt her heart reach out for the young man. She kept forgetting that this was Boss' first Christmas without his mom. Chi-Chi knew how he was feeling. When Gohan ran away, the holidays were always tough. The first Christmas without Gohan nearly killed her. She bought presents, put them under the tree, and wished that he would be home. That morning he never showed up. For three years Chi-Chi would put his gifts under the tree. When it was the forth year Chi-Chi left his gifts up in the attic.

"The first year is the hardest," Chi-Chi said. Her eyes started to water. "I still end up buying Gohan gifts even though he hasn't been home in years."

Chi-Chi continued to eat while Gohan's appetite disappeared. Not only did he miss Mu-Ma, but now he felt like crap because of his mother.

"He'll be home one day," Gohan said attempting to finish up his plate. It was rude to leave a plate full of food at the kitchen table.

"I know he will." Chi-Chi smiled. "And when he comes back he'll be married with children, and be the scholar that he always wanted to be!"

Gohan rolled his eyes.

"He could be in jail serving life in prison." Chi-Chi slowly turned her head. Gohan gulped. "Or not! He's probably not in jail! He's probably never been in jail! Just ignore what comes out of my mouth!"

Goten chuckled from the other side of the table.

(PG)

Nine thirty.

Nine…fucking…thirty.

There was no way he was going to bed at nine thirty. Chi-Chi and Goku were already in their bedroom, and Goten was in his bed. Gohan laid in his bed, wide awake, and sober. There was not an ounce of alcohol in the house, except for a few bottles of wine hidden somewhere, and he was craving something to help him sleep.

Gohan was not used to going to bed this early. His normal bedtime was two in the morning! He had a choice between tossing and turning and getting no sleep, or entertain himself until he was tired. There wasn't much in the house to keep him entertained. The TV only had three channels, there was no reception in the house, and even though he had his laptop he didn't have wifi. Yep, killing time was nearly impossible in this house.

Gohan sat up in his bed. Goten was already asleep, so talking to him to kill time wasn't going to happen. Playing his guitar would wake up Goten, and his parents upstairs as well. Deciding that his laptop was better than nothing, Gohan went over to his suitcase and pulled out his electronical friend with a small rectangle box. Careful not to step on Goten, Gohan walked into the kitchen and plugged in his laptop cord.

Feeling old every time he did this, Gohan pulled out a pair of reading glasses. He didn't always wear them, and when worn while using his laptop he would get a headache. If he got a headache he could sleep it off. This was the only option he had to get some sleep, at least this early in the night. Headaches were not fun, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Too bad there wasn't a local bar anywhere in walking distance.

With ear buds attached to his laptop, Gohan put on some music and opened a word document. With no internet connection Gohan decided to balance his checking account, play solitaire, free cell, mine craft, and wrote a new song. This took a whole hour, and Gohan was banging his head on the table. After two minutes of head banging, Gohan looked at his laptop once more.

"I don't know what else to do," he exclaimed. "Fine, I'll watch the jewelry channel!"

Gohan pulled the headphones out of his ears, and closed his laptop. He plopped onto the couch, and turned on the TV. His choices were infomercials, more infomercials, and the jewelry channel. Part of him hoped that one of those three channels would put him to sleep, or else he was going to pull an all nighter.

Two chapters at once?! Yeah…I did that!