I know, I know, I am a tad behind on updating and I am so sorry for that. I have made a lot of changes in my life, like moving out of the country and having a new job. This story is always something I like to return to when I just need to write, and I am glad I was able to find some time to do it now.
I love the idea of Piccolo living with them, it was what I kind of assumed what happened in the three years they trained anyway, with Piccolo always being around and learning how to drive along with Gokuu. He just, kind of became a part of the family, so that is why I wrote it the way I did. Chi-Chi is the only one who could force any of them to do anything.
Anyway, the ideas I have swimming along in my mind now that Piccolo is going to be more in the picture are going to be fun to explore.
I don't own DBZ. Please read and review!
We'll Get Through It
Hard
Gokuu couldn't help but to frown slightly as he peered out his window, hours later after dinner, to see Piccolo mediating at the end of his yard. He could feel the Namek's energy unmoving in that spot since they finished dinner, but actually seeing him there caused his stomach to turn.
Why was he still here?
Chi-Chi was in the bathroom taking a shower, his eyes turned to the closed door that separated the bedroom from the bathroom. He could hear her humming to herself through the walls. Thoughts crossed his mind to join her in there; yet, the sudden feeling of being watched caused the saiyan to turn his head back towards the window.
Piccolo was staring back at him. Their eyes connected for just a moment, and without a moment's thought, Gokuu used his Instant Transformation and appeared in front of the Namek.
The Namek stood to face him.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be heading back?" Gokuu could feel the venom in his mouth, ignoring his inner voice telling him to smile and shake it off as a joke. He didn't have a reason to feel so hostile towards Piccolo; the pair have been through so much together. Between their past in the World Martial Arts Tournament; being sworn enemies, somehow coming together to fight Radtiz, not only training his son but sacrificing himself so his son could live, to Piccolo pushing him out of the way and taking the hit against Frieza's final form—Gokuu and Piccolo have entered this new found… He wasn't sure if friendship was the word, but it was something.
He wasn't the enemy anymore, but he couldn't help but to feel threatened.
"Your wife told me to stay," The Namek replied.
"What?"
"That wife of yours," Piccolo grunted, "Told me to stay, so, I'm staying."
"I don't know what you mean."
Piccolo rolled his eyes, "I don't know what you are not getting," Piccolo sat back down, crossing his arms and his legs, preparing to get back into his mediation state, "She wants me to stay."
"Why?" Gokuu couldn't help but let his cold demeanor drop, he shoulders slumping forward, jaw slightly open. There were a few things he was confused about. One being on why Chi-Chi would ask him to stay, the other—Why Piccolo would obey.
Piccolo turned his head slightly away, light purple hue on the Namek's cheeks. If Gokuu didn't know any better, he would have guessed the Namek was blushing, "She told me to stay for Gohan."
"What does that mean? Why would she want you to stay for him?"
Grunting, Piccolo closed his eyes, his fingers gripping tightly against his arms, "Just ask that wife of yours," sighing, the saiyan could feel Piccolo's energy lowering, entering his mediation state.
"I'm asking you," Gokuu narrowed his eyes, knowing full well that Piccolo wouldn't be answering him once he entered his state, but wanted to say it anyway.
For being much stronger then the warrior in front of him, Gokuu couldn't help but to feel powerless in his own home.
Sensing his wife walking out of the bathroom, Gokuu used his Instant Transformation and appeared back into his bedroom. Once back in this bedroom, he took the curtain and closed it, blocking his view of Piccolo.
Finishing the song in her head, Chi-Chi let out a soft hum, let her loose hair flow from the towel wrapped around her head. A hot shower always eased her mood and her muscles, as she wrapped herself into her robe. She couldn't help to let her mind drift to how warm she felt, taking the towel her in hand and dapping the last of her wet hair into it.
Opening the door into her bedroom, eyes closed, she almost was startled when she noticed Gokuu, armed crossed as he stood by the doorway waiting for her.
"Gokuu-sa," she smiled at him, "You scared me a little."
She placed her hand on his chest, feeling the quick thumping of his heart, yet when her eyes traveled up to his, she noticed the sternness in his eyes as they looked back down at her.
Was he upset?
"What's wrong?" She asked, her hand traveling away from his chest and to his neck. Her fingers lightly glazing his skin.
Her husband continued to stare at her, unmoving, she could tell he was trying to figure out the thought in his head. She dropped the towel she had in her other hand, bringing her other hand up to his shoulder. She moved her fingers down his shoulders. She knew something was on his mind, but she couldn't help to touch him, "Gokuu-sa, you can tell me."
Her robe fell off from one shoulder, exposing her bare skin to him. She noticed her husband's thought trail off, glaring at her skin. His eyes flickered for just a moment, and she took the queue to move her arm down to his fingers, lacing her fingers into his, letting her robe roll deeper down her arm, leaving one part of her chest slightly exposed.
There were no deep thoughts in her husband's eyes, only a new found hunger as he grabbed her shoulders, throwing her down into the bed, almost a little too rough. She lifted her head, about to tell him to treat her gently, but his shirt was off, thrown to the ground, as he climbed up to her.
His lips touched hers, kissing her, his whole mouth consumed her, and she couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but to get the layers of clothes off her. She wiggled her way out of her robe, exposing the rest of her body to her husband. He wasn't really looking at her, which was unusual when they made love. Normally he was gentle with her, caring, making sure to cradle her in his arms as he entered her.
This was something different, he grabbed her arm, holding it above her head as he kissed her down her neck. His free hand moved down her side, feeling down her until he found her other hand and moving it above her head. His hands were so large compared to her small frame, and he grabbed onto both her wrists with his one hand, holding her back.
"Gokuu-sa, what are-," she yelped softly as Gokuu bite down on his shoulders, his other hand moving down her body, spreading her legs apart. She felt herself open; hot, unable to move under her husband. Gokuu wasn't really looking at her; he was looking down at her body, lifting up her leg, getting himself into a better position. His movements towards her almost felt forced rather then pleasure.
He never handled her like this before.
Before he could move further, she pressed her chest to him to try to get his attention. His eyes looked back at her. She locked eyes into him. There was something within his eyes were telling her something, she couldn't really make out why he was looking at her the way he was. She tried to move one of her hands to touch him, but he lightly squeezed both her wrists, not letting her go.
"Gokuu-sa," she breathed, there was something beyond sex that was happening right now that she couldn't figure out, "Tell me."
"Why is Piccolo here?"
"Wait, what?" Chi-Chi looked up at him, "You're thinking of Piccolo right now?"
Gokuu let go of her arms, rolling over to his side of the bed. Sitting up, Chi-Chi picked up her robe from under her and wrapped it around her. Gokuu eyes were staring up at the ceiling, one arm resting behind his head, deep in thought.
"I can't talk to you if you aren't going to talk to me," Chi-Chi crossed her arms, "And I know you want to say something, but you aren't saying it."
"Why is Piccolo here?" Her husband glanced over at her.
"Well," Chi-Chi leaned over her husband so he had to look her in the eye, "I thought it would be good for Gohan."
"Gohan's fine," she watched as her husband stand up from the bed, walking over to his fallen shirt, putting it on.
"You very well know that isn't the case," Chi-Chi stood up on the bed, allowing herself to stand well above her husband, "As much as I hate it to admit it, there is something about him that makes Gohan, well, more like Gohan."
"I don't know what that means," Gokuu crossed his arms, "Gohan isn't any different."
"Gokuu," Chi-Chi hated the distance between them, hated the way he was feeling right now, and all she wanted to do was to close the gap. She stepped off the bed, taking a few steps towards her husband. She was mindful not to get too close, he was clearly closing himself to her, and she had to inch her way up to get him to open up, "He is different. We have to stop having this disagreement. You keep saying he's fine, but how can you say that? Can you really look me in the eye and tell me that you think Gohan is happy right now?"
He continued to stare at her, she could see him thinking through his thoughts before saying anything. His shoulders slumped, his arms uncrossing from his body. His heart looking absolutely torn that it allowed her to cross the distance between them. She took both his hands into hers, "This will be good for him, and it will in turn be good for us."
"I don't like it," was all he said, he wasn't looking at her.
"I don't either, but its what's best for now."
"You are always doing this," Gokuu looked up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Chi-Chi's eyes widen at the remark, before she narrowed her eyes back at him, letting go of his hands, "Always doing what?"
"Keeping secrets," was all he said to her.
"I don't even know what you are talking about," Chi-Chi squared her shoulders, her hands on her hips as she leaned her body forward, "I don't like the look you are giving me."
"I don't' like this," Gokuu responded, "I don't like any of this."
"What do you mean not liking by anything of this?" Suddenly there was a fear that she was gong to lose him, that he was going to leave her again. He had left her so many times before, and each time he did it felt like he would not come back. She always had the fear about him, that this isn't the life that he wanted. That he would be happier if he were alone, able to train, and leave them behind.
She wanted to sob at the thought, but instead she couldn't help but the feel angry. How many times did they have to go around in this circle, why couldn't they just be on the same page, to get along, to see what is best for Gohan.
She just wanted what was best for her family, yet she was good at hiding her fears with her anger.
Her husband just stared at her, she could see his mind racing, trying to come up with something to say, but his thought process was much slower then her building anger, "Are you going to run away again? Are you just going to leave?"
His eyes widen at that remark, and she could see the pain written across his face. She knew she was supposed to care, but she didn't know how to bring her anger down, "If you are going to leave, just leave already."
A part of Gokuu wanted to do just that, to turn away to only just clear his head. The last time he did that, it left his family devastated. He knew he had to think this through, the find the way to best explain what he was feeling.
He didn't know what he was feeling; his mind was all over the place just trying to keep up with his wife's sudden switch of emotion. He could also feel Piccolo at the distance, clearly awake, and clearly of earshot of this conversation.
He had to keep his feet in place, knowing that if he left again he would really mess things up. Yet, Gokuu wasn't good with emotion. He didn't know what to say or how to say things to make his wife feel secure. His Grandpa told him to stop running and to talk to his family. He had to find the right way to do that.
"I—" He paces around the room, trying to get his thoughts in order, trying to figure out the right thing to say so his wife could understand his feelings, "I need a minute, let me just think."
He saw his wife relax slightly at this, but he still felt her guard up. He continued to pace the room, trying to figure out the right words to say to her.
Chi-Chi watched her husband deep in thought, pacing around the room. At first, it was brothering her that he wasn't just saying what he wanted to say. Yet, as she watched him pace back and forth, really thinking about what he wanted to say, it made her realize that she was not thinking at all.
She always assumed the worst of him. When he had not wanted to come back to Earth after Namek, he only stayed away so he could control his power. When he left them for those two horrible, long days, she came to learn about the future and what it held for her family. Her husband was always a leader, the one who inspired people, but he couldn't be like that all the time. She needed to give him a break, allow him to not be the hero for a change.
Something about Piccolo was really bothering him, and she had to allow him to have some space and to figure it out for her. Letting her anger drain, she went back to the bed, sitting down, and began to clear her mind. She knew how to meditate, and she would do it from time to time to clear her head.
That is what she needed to do now, clear her thoughts and open herself up to her husband's feelings.
He had no idea how long he was pacing, but he was able to feel the energy relax around him after a little bit. He no longer felt a pair of eyes on him, and opened up his senses to make sure she was still in the room without looking up at her. She was still there, though he had sense she moved back to the bed. He also reached out to find his son, he could feel his son's energy spike ever so slightly in his sleep. He even reached out to Piccolo, noticing his power rising slightly along with Gohan's.
Closing his eyes, sighing every so slightly, Gokuu knew what he had to say.
"I just don't like it-," he looked up at his wife, who was mediating on the bed, he stopped speaking, waiting for her to finish. She looked so peaceful; it was hard to realize that she was angry at one point. Gohan was a lot like her; Gokuu realized, both overly caring, a tad too sensitive, quick the anger, but also quick to peace. Both were too good for him.
She opened her eyes, giving him a soft sad smile, "I'm sorry Gokuu-sa, I shouldn't have said those things to you before. I am calm now, and I am ready to listen."
He gave her a soft smile in return.
"I just feel," he felt his cheeks burning up, waves of embarrassment washing over him. He didn't like feeling this way, "That, I mean, I-," he looked over at his wife, "Sorry. I don't know how to say it."
"Just say it," she nodded at him, leaning her body forward. She didn't get up to him, and he was grateful she didn't. Gokuu wanted the space.
"I feel like you are always keeping secrets."
"You said that before," Chi-Chi's voice raised slightly, "And out of the both of us, you have kept a lot more secrets then I have."
"You don't ever talk to me," Gokuu didn't know how to say it, but once the words came out of his mouth, they were automatic, "You always know how to make him feel better without ever asking me. You don't ever tell me what's happening. You just say its wrong, or you know how to fix it, or that I am wrong. I don't like feeling that way Chi-Chi. I'm always the last to know about everything."
"Gokuu-sa, I-," Chi-Chi looked away from him, and Gokuu could tell she was trying to think of what to say. He never knew he could say something to make Chi-Chi unable to respond quickly. He always felt like she was two steps ahead of him in any conversation they had. It was only for a few moments before she looked back up at him, "You've been gone for so long…"
"I know," He slumped his shoulders, his hands flat on his side. He knew he had this way about himself that looked sloppy when he was upset. That's how he felt about everything that was happening, that he just made a sloppy mess of his family.
"What I mean…" Chi-Chi signed, "Is that I am kind of use to doing all this alone. I've hated you being gone, it killed me honestly, but I am use to making all the decisions. I'm sorry if you felt like I haven't included you in raising Gohan, that was never my intention."
"I know…" Gokuu nodded, looking down at his feet. He felt horrible, but he also felt a little silly for having this conversation, for caring as much as he did. Chi-Chi was always the one who made the decisions when it came to their family, and it never bothered him before. He really didn't know why it was bothering him now.
"Can you sit down with me?" He felt his wife touch his arm softly, pulling him softly down on the bed.
He didn't really want to look at her, so he just looked down at his hands. Chi-Chi took one of his hands and held it, he let her, tightening his grip.
"I'm sorry." She sat next to him, putting her head on his shoulder.
Gokuu sighed, resting his head on top of hers, "I'm sorry."
The stayed like that for a moment, leaning against one another, holding hands. Gokuu had to admit that it was nice to finally be at this level with his wife. To hold hands, to be able to talk to one another about what was bothering them. They never did this before, for the longest time it felt like two people living together and not sharing a life together. Now, he felt like her teammate for the first time.
"Do you want me to tell him to go?" Chi-Chi finally asked, "I'm sure he won't mind."
Gokuu thought about it for a moment, he knew the answer despite how he felt, "No, I think you're right. Piccolo will be able to help with Gohan. Plus, it will help to have him close by to train."
"It's hard," Chi-Chi squeezed his hand, "It's hard seeing him love someone else, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Gokuu breathed out, letting his senses open up, sensing Gohan sleeping peacefully alone for the first time in a long time as he felt the Namek's noticeable energy circle around their home, "It's hard."