"This is probably your best meal yet, Chi-Chi!" Goku sunk himself into the dining chair. It was a Saturday morning and he was just enjoying his time with his wife, son, and father-in-law. For the past few weeks now, he had been taking things easily, as well as everyone else. Sure, Raditz was still in the back of his mind but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. If he had to put Raditz in a category, it would perhaps be in the very same one as Piccolo.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it." Chi-Chi wiped her mouth with a napkin before deciding to pick up the dishes. Chi-Chi and Gyumao were both already finished with their own meals, though they almost always had to wait up for Goku and Gohan. The latter didn't eat as rekclessly as the former but both had a giant appetite, which was something Gohan would deny at times, despite his actions when it came to eating proving otherwise. Gyumao had a very big appetite and was the one looking for seconds, which was surprising, as it would be him and Goku looking for seconds as well. Chi-Chi quickly noticed something was off when she saw her father scratching the backside of his head as if he was completely unsure about something. "What's wrong?"

Gyumao moved his way from the fridge and just showed his daughter instead of saying it. With a simple glimpse at the fridge, there appeared to only be some capsules remaining. That in addition to Goku's hunting and fishing would only last them a few more days, solely because of how much everyone else ate in the house. The woman was initially hoping that she could just clean the dishes and spend the rest of her day relaxing. She was all worry free until the realization of there needing to be a stop at the grocery shore came and hit her. "Fine," she huffed. "I guess I'll have to go to the store." As she went through the kitchen with a hastened paste, she instantly came to a halt before opening the entrance door of the house. "You don't want to come, dad?"

"Ehh...I don't know," Gyumao responded. The man started to reach for his neck and rubbed it. "I can barely fit in that car of yours and you know how much strain it puts on my neck."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "So much for the big tough guy look, huh?" The comment obviously made Gyumao a bit upset but Chi-Chi was just too frustrated with how her day not going how she planned, which consisted of a long day's rest before preparing dinner. In mere moments, she was out of the door.

Once the engine roared, Gohan instantly jumped out of his chair. Every time his mother left to go shopping, he and Goku would go out to train. This day he was so excited that he had forgotten the presence of his Grandfather. "Alright, let's go!"

"Hey, Gohan...!" Goku yelled, a pinch of worry in his voice.

"Ah?" stopping in his tracks, Gohan slowly turned around to face both his grandfather and father. Looking onto the confused Gyumao, that's when he realized that he made a mistake. "Oops."

"Eh?" Gyumao looked back to Gohan and Goku, who were both staring oddly at him. "What's going on?"

Goku stood up from his seat and slid over to Gyumao, placing his hands on the man's big chest. "Think you can keep a big secret?"

Gyumao felt like he knew this had to do with his daughter being excluded from this secret. "Sure..."

Directly outside of the house, Goku and Gohan were a few yards away from one another as Gyumao was seated in a lotus position, watching them both. Father and son were both getting ready to fight.

"You two ready?" Gyumao asked. Gohan and Goku both nodded, then locked their eyes intensely locked onto one another's. Gyumao noticed just how anxious the two were ready to start their little session just by how their feet and fists were twitching. Despite how much his daughter was against Gohan fighting, Gyumao was convinced by both Goku and his grandson the intentions behind it were well so he went with it. Besides, being one of the many children of Martial Arts, Gyumao was just about already an immediate advocate from the get go.

"START!"

Not one split second later, Gohan vanished out of sight. Goku only responded to this with a little smirk prior to executing the exact same action as his son. One moment, both were on land, then back in the air they were, trading blows. From the air to the ground they went, and back from the ground to the air.

Goku expected the next predictable move by Gohan and prepared to send an elbow his way as the kid was manuevering behind him. Gohan saw this coming from the start and reacted with a duck before wrapping Goku's waist with his arms. "GOTCHA!"

"Eh?" As hard as it would be to lift someone off their feet on the ground, Gohan took it a step further and decided to lift Goku up in mid-air. "Nice try, son!" Goku caught Gohan with a good one in the stomach, coercing his son to let go. Once his grip was weakened, Son Kun turned around and kicked Gohan away softly, sending the kid soaring toward the trees within their vicinity.

Gohan recovered quickly and stopped his involuntary movement any further by increasing his chi.

Down below, Gyumao was in absolute amazement at just what he was witnessing. Gohan was fighting at a far higher level than he himself could ever in all his lifetime. "That kid's something else..."

Goku got out of his battle stance and began to descend onto the land. Gohan kept a close eye on his dad as he went lower and lower, not knowing just what his next move would be. Son Goku got comfortable on his feet, craned his neck, and cracked his knuckles. Once let a bit looser, he beckoned his son to attack.

Gohan didn't hesitate at all and shot forth full speed. Goku was put on alert because he didn't expect his son to go all out so soon. With a quick hop backward, Goku just so happened to barely miss an incoming punch. Gohan disregarded the circumference of the crack he formed into the hard land and dashed at his father once more, sending off a barrage of punches and kicks go.

"Have you been doing secret training?" Goku asked as he dodged and swatted away all of Gohan's attacks. His son responded by manuerving behind Goku with blinding speed, following with a kick aimed for the back of the neck. Son Goku reacted quickly enough by moving his head to the side and getting ahold of Gohan's foot. "Well...?"

"Just a few pushups, situps...and juice," the boy responded with a giggle before yanking his foot away and flipping back a few yards away from his father.

"So I don't have to take it as easy on you, do I?"

Before Gohan could even do so much as react facially, he was caught with a quick elbow to the face that sent him off his feet. Before he could get far, he was grabbed by the ankle and re-directed into the air. Son Goku appeared behind him and sent Gohan back down with a downward kick. Giving his son no breaks, he went directly after the young boy, who just barely caught himself before crashing down hard.

"Now I'm on ya like white on rice! Huya!" Goku appeared as if he was going to send a punch at his son but stopped mid-way, letting the momentum behind his ki do the rest. Gohan was hit with an insane force of wind that got him right directly in the chest. Flipping over, the kid couldn't do anything but dig his nails into the ground as he slid back.

"So?" Goku asked, pouncing up and down lightly on his feet. "You want me to kick it up another notch?"

Gohan let out a deep breath, thinking to himself. The kid didn't like fighting all too much but he loved the fact that he got to spend more one on one time with his father doing so. Just about every time they trained together, Goku came out with the edge. This, of course, was because of strength. There was a big gap between them but it wasn't as big when it came to brains.

I've got to bait him somehow.

An idea slowly coming to him, Gohan began to wag his tail back and forth. Goku's eyes narrowed onto the tail going in motion back and forth and beamed inside just when an idea came to him.

Yep, I'm going to win this.

"Here goes...!" Off his backfoot, Gohan shot directly ahead for Goku, who just waited for the perfect moment. When the distance them two was close enough, Goku stepped to the side and got a hold of Gohan's tail.

The kid's eyes went wide at the sudden harsh grip of it. The last time, Goku didn't even remotely squeeze this hard. "Now, what did I tell you about your weakness, Gohan?"

"That...I had to remove it...?"

"Exactly." Goku lifted his son up face to face, all the while maintaining his tight grip. "Don't get rid of this and you'll lose every single time."

Gohan giggled. "You're right."

"Ah?"

"HA!" At point blank range, Gohan hit his father with a full force wave of ki. Goku didn't see this coming and stumbled many steps before eventually falling on his back. Gohan landed down on one hand and got up on two feet, now looking down on his dad as he was in a momentary daze. "Everyone has a weakness and I think yours is letting your guard down too much, daddy."

"Ow..." Goku felt like his face was crisped and burned. Simply touching it would make him wince at the current moment.

"Uh...guys..." Gyumao started. The big man was going to be the one to commend Gohan on his win but there were definitely more important matters to worry about now.

Since Goku was face down on his back, he could already see the car that Chi-Chi generally drove in making a way back. Still, he was far too stunned to do anything at the moment except mouth "crap..."

"Uh-oh..."

Chi-Chi wasn't to even come back home this early. It normally took her an hour and a half to leave, get groceries, then come back.

The car came down quicker than a meteorite from outer space. Once the engine came off, the woman hopped out of her car and crossed her arms. When she was up above in her vehicle, the woman had gotten a good look of what Gohan had done to Goku and needed no explaining. "So I leave for not even 10 minutes and this is what I come back to?"

"Why so early?" Goku nervously asked as he slowly got up.

Chi-Chi glided over to Goku and smacked him directly across the face, eliciting a loud yell that even scared the birds away and managed to make Gohan and Gyumao wince. "WE TALKED ABOUT THIS GOKU!"

"Owwie Owwie Owwie!" Goku didn't even care about his wife's temper at the moment but more so the throbbing, burning pain that was going all around his face. He wouldn't wish this pain on his worst enemy even. "C-Calm down!"

"SERIOUSLY? CALM DOWN!" Goku saw that other hand coming and took off on foot. "Oh, don't you run away from me, mister! You have some explaining to do!"

"CHI-CHI LET ME EXPLAIN!"

Gohan for the very moment was just relieved that he wasn't getting fussed at but he already knew that he was going to get his turn eventually. Gyumao wasn't safe, either.

After things had finally calmed down, Goku was settled with some bandages over the majority of the face subsequent to putting some cream so the burns wouldn't be as bad. Gyumao had decided to go on home as it was now just Goku and Chi-Chi in the kitchen. Moments earlier Gohan had been sent to his room to go study before he was to get a talking to of his own.

"Now, we've talked about this..." Chi-Chi started, leaning against a counter with her arms folded. Usually, her voice would have been all the way through the roof but she had done enough of that around half an hour earlier.

"I know..." Goku softly responded. "But you never let me explain my side to it?"

"Because there really isn't one in the first place. All fighting does is bring hurt and pain and it's obviously not doing anything good for this family..."

"As far as you can see..." Goku responded.

"You act like I didn't fight when I was younger, too, Goku. You act like we never fought one another in the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. Ya know, the very same place where I saw you get a hole blown through your chest? You forgot that part?"

"And if not for me being as strong as I was, I wouldn't have been able to beat him."

"But you're you, Goku. No matter what, you always take down the enemy. You were the little boy to take down Piccolo twice! You can take down anybody. And you fought off those other guys, you can fight off anyone."

"The point is that I wouldn't be able to do so without being as strong as I am. And to be strong and able to come out winning, I need to get stronger."

"Okay but that's you, not Gohan."

Goku sighed. "But what happens if I'm gone? What if something happens to me?"

"Hm...let me think..." Chi-Chi started rubbing her chin. "Krillin, Tien, Yamcha..."

"No," Goku interjected. "Sure, those guys are strong and they can handle themselves but if not for me, everyone would be dead. Thing is, I've always had more potential than all those guys and I'm the one to always give fights the finishing blow, either with or without their help. And you know what?"

"What, Goku?"

"Gohan has even more potential than me. For the very day I'm gone, at least I'll know that you and everyone else will sure enough be safe."

"You're talking hypotheticals, Goku!"

"Yeah, whatever that means..."

"Why don't I ever get a say so in what I want to do?" Gohan asked, creeping right from the corner of the living room into the kitchen.

Hearing the voice of their child had Chi-Chi look up instantly, a bit surprised. Though unlike Chi-Chi, Goku was wondering when Gohan would swing on in. He could feel the kid's presence while he and Chi-Chi were conversing.

"Gohan, what are you doing here?"

"I was overhearing you two speak."

"Eavesdropping, you mean," Chi-Chi corrected.

"Uh-uh." Gohan got to twiddling with his thumbs. "I hear you guys talking about me fighting again."

"Again?" Goku asked. If he was right, that indicated that Gohan overheard this little topic of discussion more than once.

"Something you won't be doing anymore," Chi-Chi responded to Gohan.

"But I like fighting with dad. It's fun."

"Not all things fun in the world are what's best for you," Chi-Chi told Gohan. "You've seen how ugly it can get so why even bother? You're a young boy! Studies should be top priority!"

"But can't I make my own choices?" the boy asked.

"Gohan, you're five years old. Your parents know what's best for you."

"Then daddy knows what's best, too, then, right? You both do." Chi-Chi paused for a moment. Of all things for Gohan to respond with, he just had to throw her own words right back, though with it being twisted in a manner she didn't like. Sometimes, the woman thought her son was too smart for his own good. What other five year old could respond back so quickly with rational thoughts? Without a fast enough response, Gohan continued to talk. "Dad knows it's best because everyone can be safe with me getting stronger. I don't like fighting but if it's something I must do so everyone I care about is safe, then I will."

"Goh-"

"And I like studying, I really, do," Gohan added. While he spoke, he kept his eyes glued to the floor, not even bothering with looking his mother in the eyes directly. He knew that look she could give off at times and it was the very same look that made him back off. But this time, he felt like he needed to share his own opinion. "I like the idea of being a scholar but I can do both. Studies all week and training all day?"

"You know what my stance is on that, Gohan."

"I know but it really is best. I can't see it all, but I know I have potential, too like daddy says I do. I don't like the harm that comes with fighting but if fighting means having to prevent it, then I will try my best." The boy then looked ahead at both Chi-Chi and Goku. "I want to do both."

Goku looked over to Chi-Chi, who gave him a quick scowl before turning back to face their son. "My word is final, you know that."

The kid's head went back down and he began to play with his fingers yet once more. "I know that but to limit someone, even your kid by making their own path, is sort of like taking away a part of their own free will. See, I've been doing a lot of reading whenever I get ahead of my studies. It goes on about how we're all our own person and that the only person who has a choice in their own action is themselves. It says it doesn't matter what peers or even family say. In regards to parents, we look up to you for guidance. You show us a path and then we have the option to choose. And like I already said, I want both."

Both Chi-Chi and Goku were left speechless by this. Chi-Chi was blatantly upset by Gohan's words and the thought of him turning into a delinquent even came to mind, however, it was immediately discarded as she knew her boy was far too smart for that. As her face got red and eyes feeling heavy, she briskly left the room before Goku or Gohan were to catch wind of her crying. The thoughts of seeing her son hurt like Goku was in the tournament was far too much for her at the moment. That was the biggest reason she didn't want him fighting in the first place.

Gohan looked over to his dad, who was just as wide-eyed. Seeing as to how fast Chi-Chi walked off, Gohan knew his mother was upset and even felt guilty by what he just did. He was hoping to not hurting anyone's feelings. Goku wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he wasn't totally dumb.

"Hey, son. Come here." Gohan seemed stuck for a moment, as he was trying to figure out whether to go after his mother or listen to his dad. "Don't worry about Chi-Chi, I'll talk to her. Come see."

Doing as told, Gohan approached his father, who stood up. Looking up at his dad, seeing that same ole reassuring smile lifted a bit of stress off the boy's shoulders. "I want you to know that you were brave in what you just did. I'm proud of you."

"But what about mom?"

Goku patted Gohan on the head and walked passed him. "Head over to your room. I'll talk to Chi-Chi."

"Okay."

In their room, Chi-Chi was seated on the edge of her bed, hands pressed tightly up against her face. She didn't make any sounds as she was not only upset but angry as well. Part of her wanted to blame Goku in the first place but she felt as if this entire thing was inevitable. She had a gut feeling. All she did was try to restrict the impossible from happening.

"Chi-Chi..." Goku entered the room, speaking softly. When aware of someone being emotionally upset, he tried his best to not remain aloof and be cordial and attentive. "What's wrong?"

The woman's head jerked up at Goku, displaying a few tears rolling down her face. She quickly followed with a sniff of the nose and cleared her throat. "Nothing," she said as her voice was on the mere verge of cracking.

"I'm not that stupid, Chi-Chi." Goku sat down right beside her. "Are you really that upset about all this?"

She didn't want to verbally admit it but she did so by nodding her head anyway. "All I want for this family is to be normal. For us to be happy while Gohan grows up with the proper education. For you to stop being so careless, putting yourself in dangerous situations. Everything how I imagined it just isn't going the way I always hoped."

Goku frowned. He was upset when someone he really cared about felt upset. "If it really makes you that sad then-"

"No, no, Gohan had his say, Goku. He's decided what he wants. Even if he's just a five year old, he's too smart for his own good and I can't stop him from doing what he wants."

"Are you sad because of me, mommy?"

Chi-Chi shook her head as she wiped away more tears. "No...of course not, honey."

"Then why are you crying?"

"It's just...wel..." she sighed. "Forget it."

Gohan walked towards them both and hopped up on his mother's lap and just wrapped his little arms around her neck. "I didn't mean to make you upset, mommy. I'm sorry."

"Aww..." she dug her face into Gohan's full set of hair, smiling softly. At the end of the day, her son still cared for her.

Seeing this all resolved brought a smile to Goku's face. In his mind, he was thankful that he didn't have to be the one comforting his wife as it was never a skill that he managed to develop over his own lifetime.

"Don't forget you're apart of this family too, you clown." Chi-Chi grabbed Goku by his arm and pulled him in for the hug as well, which only had Goku silently cry in internal pain as his face started to hurt yet again.

Though if he needed to go through a little pain to comfort both Chi-Chi and Gohan...

Then so be it.