Author's Note: This is just to say I have wanted to do this ever since I saw her, more so when the new epis aired. I am sorry but she is just so annoying and I don't know why they take it from her. But..., she is my fav character's mother, so... I gave her a decent one. (nodding head in disbelief, "I still can't believe I did this!")
"Gohan come on! They invited us for a reason," Zandre said, turning back to him as they stood on the outskirts of the Cherryhill village.
"He's always been shy about getting thanks Zandre," Aiko said, holding tight to her hand, a little nervous himself.
Gohan jumped at his remark, almost forgetting Aiko has all of Piccolo's memories, "It's not that little brother. It's the fact that we've lost so much... I took so much time..."
Zandre stroked his cheek, her eyes filled with concern but a small smile played across her face, "Don't tell me all that's coming back again. There was no way you could have prevented any of that Gohan. They knew the risk; they all had their own reasons to fight them. They don't blame you, stop blaming yourself," she said, kissing him.
A slow sigh escaped his lips as they pulled apart. Gohan slowly stood tall and proud, "As always you bring me back up," he said, taking Aiko's other hand as they headed into town.
The entire village was gathered in the square, every available table and a few makeshift ones covered with food. The adults were running around, bringing more food, lighting the paper lanterns strewn all around. As soon as the children saw her, they moved in one large mass toward Zandre.
"Wow you came with Son Gohan and Aiko!"
"Zandre, Zandre will you read my book?"
"No, she's reading mine!"
"She's not reading anybody's! Remember my Papa's got fireworks!"
"YEAH!" "Yeah fireworks!"
"Zandre can we..." got drowned out as they all started asking and planning things to do with Aiko.
"If you want to..." she paused as they all fell quiet at the sound of her voice, "... show him anything, you've got to ask him."
A small, cat-like girl, probably four or five, came up to him, "Who are you?"
Aiko looked at her, then turned to Zandre who knelt beside him, "For all of you that haven't met him, this is Aiko. He was orphaned like some of you, that's why he lives with me. He's kinda shy when he's around a lot of strangers, so I want you guys to be his friends or no books for a month," she pause, turning to him, "You'll tell me if they're mean to you, right?"
He stared, just as shocked as the kids. She winked at him and he had to suppress the giggles as he nodded slowly. The little girl came and took his hand, smiling. They started running away, the whole group yelling about all the stuff to show him.
Zandre stood slowly, wrapping her arms around herself, smiling at the sight. Gohan's familiar form pressed against her back, his arm joining hers, his chin resting in her hair. A sudden huff to the back of her head made her turn to him, "What?"
A small smile and a far-off look in his eyes gave her a tiny hint. He turned to her and said, "I was just wondering what Piccolo would think of that."
"There's a thought!" she replied as she hugged him.
A chuckle shook his body, "Yeah, that'll drive you crazy."
They turned, about to go help the adults when a small bunch of the kids came running back, screaming for help. On instinct ingrained through years of fear, everyone ran to them, following them into the forests. "What happened?" Zandre asked them as they got close enough to hear the others screaming.
"Ryo fell out of a tree and broke his leg," all three replied.
The adults came to the tree, parents scooping up their children. Zandre stopped, watching as Aiko finished healing a ten-year-old boy. She went over, kneeling on Ryo's other side, "What did I tell you Aiko?" she admonished.
The little Namek clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Not unless you say it's okay."
Zandre placed her hands on Ryo's leg, her healing encompassing her hands as she checked him over, "But Zandre, it hurt a whole lot and he was just being nice," Ryo stated as she finished her check-up.
"It's not like that. He doesn't know everything yet Ryo. But he fixed your leg perfectly," she replied as they got up.
Ryo's father pushed through the crowd, pulling his son behind him, huffing angrily, "You get that alien freak away from my son! He's just like that evil Piccolo creature. Get him out of this village!" the other parents, realizing it's truth agreeing.
She felt Aiko cling tightly to her leg as Gohan stepped between them, "Piccolo was once an evil man, but he changed. He was the one who taught me how to fight! If it weren't for Aiko's FATHER, you'd all be dead! He was a great man and my best friend, if any of you have anything against him or LITTLE BROTHER here," he swung his hand toward Aiko, stopping as Zandre took his hand.
She bent down and picked him up, letting him cry into her shoulder as she said, "It's true his father was an alien, but so was mine and Gohan's. Our fathers being aliens is what allows us to help, healing or fighting. If you can't accept him then you can't accept us. And until you can, don't expect much out of me," she paused, turning to Gohan, "Let's go home, we're not welcome here."
He turned back to the crowd and nodded curtly before gently stroking Aiko's back. The little Namek's head turned toward him, a small smile crossing his face. They turned and left the villagers speechless as they left the forests. Suddenly they could hear all the children calling out to them.
Zandre and Gohan stopped on the edge of town as the kids crowded around them again. "Wait, we want to come with you," they all cried out.
Gohan turned to Zandre to find a caring smile crossing her face, "No, you can't guys. You have to stay to make your parents understand, okay?"
He smiled as they groaned and grumbled their understanding. "If you really want to, go hide for a while, it always helped me..." his explanation got cut off as they sensed someone approaching by air.
Trunks suddenly appeared above them, a solemn look on his face. Gohan joined him, anxious, "What is it Trunks? What's happened?"
He couldn't look at Gohan, so he turned to Zandre as she hovered up to them, the pain so clear on his face. She slowly sensed the problem, "Let's go to your house Gohan."
"What's going on? It's not..." he left it hanging, turning from one to another before he took off.
Trunks and Zandre quickly followed.
They landed beside the well to find Bulma slowly approaching them, her head hung. Gohan ran toward the door, stopping as a form slowly came through. "Thank Kami! Grandpa, I thought that...why ... no, oh Kami NO!" he almost yelled as he ran into the house.
Zandre handed Aiko over to Trunks before following Gohan, stopping long enough to hug Ox-King, consoling him briefly. She slowly went to the bedrooms, hearing Gohan's muffled crying. She paused in the doorway, giving him some time alone with his grief.
"I don't know what happened, she said she was going to take a nap. When I realized she hadn't started supper when she always did, I came to check on her and she was..." Ox whispered from behind her.
Zandre went in further to find ChiChi lying too still on the bed, what she could only guess as one of Goku's shirts clenched in her hands. Gohan was kneeling at the far side, arm on the edge, crying into it. Zandre slowly approached, stopping right beside him, watching him overcome with his grief.
After a few minutes, he jumped, suddenly realizing she was there. He turned to her, pulling her closer, "Zandre, you've gotta save her. You gotta help," he pleaded as he made her sit on the edge.
"Gohan, I can't. There's nothing I can do," she said, trying to console him.
He caught both of her hands in his, placing them over his mother's heart, "Zandre, help her," he begged, looking into her eyes.
She turned away, not being able to stand to see so much pain on his face. 'I can't help her Gohan. But I can help you and Ox.' She thought as her hands started glowing. Zandre tried to make it cross into ChiChi's body, but it would only show her inner workings. She searched everywhere, not finding a reason why.
"Gohan I can't. She just passed away. There's no signs on any reason why she died. She's gone Gohan. She's with your father now," Zandre said, turning him to face her.
For an instant she suddenly saw him at four, taken away from all her knew and loved. She slowly pulled him close, placing his head in her lap. He just sat there, staring into space as she slowly stroked her head and back.
A large presence beside her made her turn to him. He slowly nodded and said, "I never thought I'd outlive my child. She was all I had," staring at her peaceful face.
Zandre forced a smile as she took his big hand, "No. You've got us," she said.
He tried to smile back as the tears started flowing. He came and knelt in front of her, coming into Gohan's view. "Grandpa"
Grandfather and grandson encircled each other in a hug, their love and grief for a lost daughter and mother connecting them. Zandre stood, about to leave them with their pain and memories, when they pulled her close within, Gohan pressing his head to her stomach. She stood there, consoling them with her presence, her caresses, and her silent tears.