Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
Chi Chi was relaxing downstairs in the living room, reflecting over the fact that her due date was drawing near. She had been spending a lot more time downstairs because of her big belly, choosing to sleep on the couch, and it was starting to become overtaxing. Bulma had thankfully made the offer for her and Gohan to stay in the city with them until the due date. That way, Chi Chi would be able to get to a doctor very quickly. It would take the pressure off of her and Gohan who was still struggling with the idea of setting an example for the new baby to follow. He hadn't discussed it much with his mother, but she knew. Anytime she mentioned the baby, Gohan would be excited but grow distant for the day. It reminded her of how he was at the start of his grief. She could only hope that it would get easier with time.
"Everything is packed, mom," Gohan called down to her as he descended the stairs. "I got all the clothes you asked for and the books you wanted to read."
The mother smiled at her thoughtful son. "Thank you, Gohan," she replied, her expression content. "Bulma will be here any minute to pick us up."
"How are you feeling?" her son asked dutifully. "Do you want a snack before we go?"
"No, I'm fine," she assured the teen. "Besides, Bulma's mother is going to be feeding us the rest of the day." Gohan paled slightly. Despite having a Saiyan appetite, sometimes the grandmother could be incredibly overbearing. It seemed her son hadn't been thinking about that. His thoughts had been very preoccupied as of late. At least being around the frenzied family would distract him from whatever was haunting him. That alone would be a good thing.
When the finally arrived at Capsule Corp., Gohan decided to explore and distract himself. He wandered into the kitchen, a snack being placed in his hands as soon as he entered the room. Bulma's mom was nothing if not attentive.
He checked on what Trunks was doing, the young toddler playing with his toys in the living room. Trunks was a kind kid, offering Gohan something to play with every so often. He would definitely be a good sharer as he got older. Bulma was doing a great job with him.
Eventually, the hybrid ran into Vegeta. Actually, he came inside for lunch and saw Gohan and Trunks lazing about the living room. The prince crossed his arms, his eyes roving Gohan's entire form. He grimaced and grunted before mumbling something about "a waste and disappointment" before entering the kitchen. That had actually gone better than Gohan had expected.
About a week passed at Capsule Corp., each day with a new chaos in the Briefs household. It was lively there, and it kept Chi Chi and Gohan entertained and sidetracked. It was definitely what they needed before the new baby would be born.
Speaking of, during lunch one day, Chi Chi had finally felt a contraction, and that started the events of what turned into a pretty hectic day. Vegeta had just entered from his training, Bulma shoving Trunks into his hands demanding he watch him. The Saiyan gawped at the woman, about to protest, but he turned tail when he figured out what was going on, Chi Chi doubling over in pain.
Bulma managed to get Chi Chi and Gohan to the hospital, handing Gohan her phone so he could alert his grandfather. Ox King planned to head to the hospital as soon as he received the news, though it would take him quite a while to get there. Until then, Gohan would do whatever he could to be there for his mother.
The teenager was wary, concerned for the woman in labor. Chi Chi may have gone through this whole process once before, but her elevated ki and the pain she felt bothered him. He didn't know what to do to make it better. Of course, there wasn't much he could do. When they got to the hospital, Bulma had gone in with his mother, assuring him that she was in good hands. Gohan was left to his own devices to wait.
It took hours, almost a day, for Little Goten, his newborn brother, to enter the world.
Gohan had been allowed in to see his mother and the baby, and he was relieved that his mother was all right, much different than how she had been earlier. His little brother was so small, smaller than he expected, but he definitely had the lungs of a Son on him. Chi Chi soothed the newborn, rocking him in her arms, and she motioned for Gohan to come over. Seeing the little bundle, dark eyes peeking open to see him, touched Gohan in ways that he hadn't expected, and already he was promising himself to the child, to protect him and guide him to the best of his abilities. Someone had to.
Much later, Chi Chi was resting comfortably in her room, staying overnight for observation. Gohan ended up going in the hall, looking in on his baby brother as the doctors and nurses tended to him. The child was safe and sleeping, and the silence of the hall gave Gohan the time to reflect over the past few hours, how scary it was to hear his mother screaming in pain while sensing her ki going out of control and waiting for the birth with barely any information. Gohan had felt powerless and stressed.
The stress had really gotten to him, that helpless feeling reminding him of the moment his father had transported himself off the Earth with Cell.
Gohan shook his head, trying to rid himself of the images he didn't think he'd ever be able to forget. Footsteps alerted him, and he could see Bulma walking down the hallway towards him. He could have sworn she had gone home for the night. "Hey, kid. How are you holding up?"
The teen took note of how she didn't ask "How are you doing?"
"Fine, I guess," Gohan replied cautiously. "Thank you, for being in there with mom. I don't think I could have done it."
Bulma sighed and nodded, looking at the sleeping Goten. "You shouldn't have to," she told him. "You're going through a lot."
I know, Gohan thought. But he didn't answer. The two remained in silence before Bulma spoke up saying something Gohan hadn't expected. "Don't get me wrong. I love your father, but he should have come back. He should be here, now."
It surprised Gohan to hear someone else say something like that. It was how he and his mother truly felt, but the others had agreed to go along with it. "I miss him."
"I know, kid," she whispered. "I know. I do too." They were quiet again for what felt like an hour. "Just…do me a favor. Don't forget that you're a kid too. I know you're going to help your mom and feel a certain responsibility to Goten, but don't overtax yourself. You can still be a role model even if you just act as a protective older brother. Just be you, and don't grow up too fast."
Gohan nodded, accepting that and feeling a bit lighter. He was still overwhelmed, but at least he had his godmother to set him straight. The teenager had been warring with himself, not wanting or thinking himself able to fill his father's shoes. If he kept true to himself, though, he wouldn't have to. Everything would work out, he hoped.
The next day, Bulma had returned the small family to their mountain home, and Gohan had forcefully suggested his mother rest one more day. He did what he could to help her out. It was easy, for the most part, the first day. When Goten was hungry, he brought him to his mother, and he was able to change his diaper super quickly. Most of the day, Goten spent asleep. Gohan knew it wouldn't always be that easy, especially because babies could awake late at night.
And night was the worst for him.
Chi Chi was sound asleep, so Gohan snuck into her room and took the baby monitor. He had tried to fall asleep, but he couldn't. If he was going to be awake the majority of the night, then he didn't mind taking some of the pressure off his mother. She didn't need to deal with getting up in the middle of the night, especially not after just giving birth. Besides, he required less sleep anyway.
He debated on going out into the woods again, only because he couldn't just run off now. He had to look out for someone else, now. His mind won out, and he decided to fly away, taking the monitor with him. He didn't go far, just into a nearby tree looking up at the waxing crescent moon thinking about his father again. Before Bulma had spoken of him, Gohan had been trying to avoid thoughts of him as much as possible. It was too painful for him to envision any of this. Part of it was sadness and the fact that he missed his father, but he definitely held a bit of anger.
Bulma had hit the nail on the head. Goku should be there, and part of Gohan was angry that his role model had left them alone. He and his mother would have to make up for his absence. Where it was hell for him, Goten might struggle growing up without a father figure. Gohan had long since come to terms with the root of his problems and emotions, that he had once been a hopeful yet frightened child, turned warrior who held firm belief in his father's abilities, and now his father, his hope, was gone.
Gohan yelled up to the sky in frustration, just to try to make the anger go away. It helped slightly, making him feel strangely better, but he couldn't relish in that. The baby monitor went off. He sped off back to his mountain home.
Quickly and quietly, he made his way to the room up in the attic, and he picked up his baby brother, rocking Little Goten back to sleep. It seemed that the baby really just wanted to be held. A real smile formed on Gohan's face. He was absolutely take with his brother.
He placed the sleeping baby back in the crib and went to leave only for Goten to be fussy again. Gohan sighed, walking back over to the crib. He looked down and saw Goten's wide eyes on him. "You don't want me to leave, do you?" He didn't get a response, but Goten didn't look away. "Alright, fine. You can stay with me tonight."
Again, he reached in the crib for his brother, a brown, furry tail falling and hanging limp. Gohan stared at the familiar appendage, a thought coming to his head about how dangerous it could be. He looked outside at the moon again knowing they had time to worry about it. For now, he was tired, and Goten would hopefully fall asleep with him. He brought Goten to his room and put pillows all around his bed for extra protection. His brother would be safe with him, he knew. He didn't feel so worried anymore, not after Goten fell right back to sleep nestled against him.
Yup, he was definitely taken.
