Disclaimer: Actually I haven't said this in awhile: I don't own da show!
***
I'm back… and not dead as some of you who wrote me thought. I've just been incredible busy. Insanely busy. This was suppose to be done cough, cough by the time all the season finale's were going on TV cause this is kind of like my season finale. BUT THE FIC'S NOT OVER. Just fyi. Oh, and also… yes I did skip Gohan's birthday which is sometime in May but it ain't going to happen with everything I have to do. So that makes Gohan 19 and Videl is going to be nineteen in a few months. She's entering college, he's about to enter college as a professor. This takes place in the middle of June btw. And if you don't believe I'm busy, E-Mail me and I'll E-mail you back a list of crap I'm involved in/obligated to do this summer.
Also... this is different than the first one I had on the site. This has numerous corrections and added part s to make it clearer. Not a huge difference... but this is definately the copy you want to read. It takes place in one day. From 2:3- AM to around six-ish.
Onward ho!
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
CHAPTER 21
A FEW MONTHS LATER
(MIDDLE OF JUNE)
For some reason, Videl was a waitress.
Videl took off her blue apron and folded it up, setting it with all of the other blue aprons under the counter. She huffed, grabbed a washcloth and began to wipe down the counter in front of her. She glanced at the clock to find it was already ten at night. Only one light lit the entire restaurant as she worked.
Videl paused in her labor as a knock came from the now-locked restaurant doors. She opened the door a little.
"Hello," she said out of curiosity. She couldn't see the visitor but received a glimpse of a bright, kind smile.
"Hi," the person reciprocated. They had a man's voice and stature. "I was wondering if I could come in, at least for some water, I saw you working and-"
"We're closed."
"I know, I saw the sign," the man pointed to the sign on the door. "But I was wondering if I could come in anyway."
Videl leaned on the door for a second, thinking. She decided that it couldn't do any harm to let a nice, charming, polite man into the place to keep her company while she worked. If he tried to rob the place or do something she could always kick his ass, right?
"Sure, come in."
Videl indicated a chair at a table and got him a fresh glass of water. He thanked her and began to watch her as she worked.
"May I ask your name?" The man queried after a minute.
"Videl," Videl responded almost immediately. "And yours?"
The man smiled again and finished off his water. He stood up and brought the glass to the counter. "Thank you," was all he said. The man turned to leave.
"Wait!" Videl shouted. For some reason she just had to know who he was, she felt like she'd known him forever. He seemed so sweet.
The man turned back to face her. "What? You don't want me to go?" He said with a hint of a smile.
Videl began stammering. She didn't want him to go.
The man took a step toward the counter. "Hm?" He prodded.
"I- I- Well, maybe that's true, maybe I don't want you to go," Videl could have killed herself. Stop, stop talking, dumbass, she thought. But she continued. "Sometimes it's just…"
"…lonely?"
"Exactly." Almost immediately the man had reached over the counter, his face still in the shadow. Before Videl knew what was happening the man had lifted her up and she was now laying on the counter. He put his arms around her and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"Who are you?" Videl heard herself ask in earnest.
It was then that the man leaned forward toward her to kiss her, placing his face in the light.
Videl struggled to see who it was in that last second she had but couldn't. He was just about to kiss her when her alarm went off.
"Damn it!" Videl cussed in a loud whisper, waking up to find herself in her bedroom at the Son household. She looked at her clock and was just about to beat it to kingdom come when she noticed two things: that it was summer vacation, so her alarm wasn't even set and that it was only two- thirty in the morning.
Videl yawned and rolled over. Great! She thought. Now I have to try to get back to sleep after that weird dream. She shut her eyes. After a moment there was that sound again, the one that she thought was her alarm. She sat up and let out another cuss.
"A woman needs her sleep!" She remarked to no one in particular. She climbed out of bed and opened her door, standing silently in the softly lit hallway. She heard nothing.
Videl hugged herself. Maybe I should get Goku, she thought.
She was about to do just that when she heard the sound of sheets being tossed around from Gohan and Goten's room. Then a small moan.
Goten is at Trunks', she rationed. So what the hell…?
Videl knocked lightly on the door. No response. She stood there for a second, wondering if she should go in, because Gohan slept with his door unlocked and it would be no problem. But Videl wasn't exactly prone to stepping into boy's bedrooms in the wee hours of the morning.
"Gohan!" She whispered loudly. She heard another moan. Videl shut her eyes. "Okay, I'm coming in! If you're undressed or something I'm just giving you fair warning." Videl turned the handle and slowly opened her eyes. It took a minute for her to become accustomed to the dark. One bed was empty and the other one held a restlessly sleeping Gohan.
Videl walked over to his bed. "Gohan," she said, gently tapping him. He let out what sounded like a small sob and shifted in his sleep again.
"Gohan, you're freaking me out," Videl said, obviously more to herself. "Gohan!"
When her words didn't stop the unconscious half-Saiyan from groaning and balling his sheets in a white-knuckled grip, she leaned over and carefully wrapped her arms around him. "C'mon, Gohan, wake up!"
Gohan opened his eyes a sliver and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry I woke you up, Goten. Go back to sleep, I'm okay."
Videl smiled. "If you think I'm Goten you're definitely not okay," she joked.
Gohan opened his eyes wide and sat up. "Videl!" A look of relief passed over his face before it was clouded with embarrassment. "Oh, Dende, did I wake you up? I thought you were- Wait, Goten's not even here. I'm sorry, I-"
Videl sat down on his bed. "Don't worry about it," she stated tired.
In the true fashion of anyone who's had a more tiresome night then they do day, Gohan fell back onto his pillow.
Videl yawned. "What was that about, your dream?"
Gohan's face flashed one of grief and shame looking at her as if he had dreaded her asking that very question.
"You can tell me, Gohan, you've had bad dreams before," Videl prodded.
Gohan sat up again and shifted his weight so he was sitting more comfortably. "It was just a nightmare."
" 'Just a nightmare'? Gohan, please, I heard you all the way from my room, I thought you were an alarm clock at first or maybe-" She stopped as Gohan swept his hand through his hair, his eyes appearing to shimmer more than usual. He looked away and when he looked back his eyes were dry again.
If he was trying to hide the fact that he was upset his traitorous voice gave him away as it wavered in the next words he spoke. "It was just some strange dream that has no meaning and it was stupid-"
"Cell?"
A nod.
"What happened?" Videl asked simply.
Anyone who met Gohan found that he had an emotionally charged nature, and was seemingly upset easily. But then one had to put it all into perspective. He had seen things that no one should ever have to see by right. And the fact that he blamed himself for half of everything that went wrong in everyone's life didn't help.
Gohan put his hands to his eyes and shut them again, allowing his sleeve to soak up the tears that followed the action.
All Gohan had left from the dream was a feeling of pain. Total pain.
Videl tired of waiting for an answer, scooted toward him and placed her arm around him, rubbing his back.
"Have you ever had those dreams," Gohan began carefully in a whisper. "Where you wake up in a cold sweat and you wonder what you're even doing in life, why you even try…" He paused. "Never mind, the past isn't my favorite place to be, but I seem to end up there, even in my sleep."
Videl put her hands comfortingly in his. "You'll never have to go there alone."
Videl furrowed her eyebrows as she thought back to her dream.
"Sometimes it's just…"
"…lonely?"
"Exactly."
Gohan pulled away from Videl and clasped his head in a vise-like grip. "I think I got too good at the 'my loved one just died and I could have done something' act."
"Gohan you're being too hard on yourself." Videl pulled his hands away from his face.
He exhaled heavily. "I just want them to stop, Videl."
"I know." Neither said anything for awhile until Gohan broke the silence. "Can you promise me something?"
"Sure, Gohan."
"Don't forget me."
Videl quickly raised her eyes to look at him. "What?" She gave him a disbelieving glance and almost started to laugh but saw his serious look.
"If I ever die in a fight or something." Gohan looked away. "You know? Do you think you could ever forget me?"
Her lips could not speak the 'no' which he saw rather than heard.
Again there was a lull in the conversation and again it was Gohan who broke it. "Just forget about the nightmare, I'm getting better at dealing with them, they just leave me feeling really... not myself." A pause. "Sooo...You want to hear what Piccolo told me the other day?"
Videl smiled and yawned, Gohan took that as a sign to continue.
"Okay, but first lay down, I'm up now and you seem kind of tired…Alright, Piccolo was telling me about how Mr. Popo always waters the plants and that was really starting to bug the shit out of him. Well, Piccolo happened to mention his feelings to Dende and Dende said that he kind of felt the same way too. So they decided to find out what Popo would do if-"
Videl listened intently to the story at first but found herself falling asleep to his deep, soothing voice.
"-Popo was pretty much just pissed after that. Well, as pissed as Popo can get, which according to Piccolo, is pretty pissed. But I don't see him getting mad enough to throw a watering can hard enough to-"
Gohan looked at Videl. Her eyes were closed in sleep. He got up out of bed and covered her with his sheets. "Do you want me to stay her through the rest of the night?" Gohan asked the sleeping figure. He half-imagined her replying, 'If you don't mind, Gohan.'
Out loud he answered, "Not at all."
***
Videl awoke to find herself in Gohan's bed and also to find that it was only three-fifty. "Why can't I sleep?" She silently left the room, wandering the house, but was quickly growing bored of that. So as not to make any noise that would wake up the Son family, she decided to go outside.
The night air was cool and some bird in the distance was calling out. A crescent moon illuminated the landscape and the grass was wet with dew. Videl headed toward the tree where Gohan and she had first kissed on Christmas night, only to find that is was already occupied. Goku sat there with something in his hands and lap and looked busy. Videl cleared her throat as to let him know she was there as well.
Goku looked up and smiled warmly at Videl. While inwardly, he thought of his son. A few weeks ago Gohan had intrusted him with an engagement ring… that looked expensive. When Goku had asked Gohan where he'd gotten it he simply said that it was a favor, something about helping out a jewelry store at a mall. Goku had then questioned GOhan further, asking him when he was planning on asking Videl. Gohan had answered, "When it feels right." and left it at that.
"What are you doing here?" Goku asked Videl.
"Uh, I could be asking you the same thing," Videl replied.
"I asked you first though, so…"
Videl laughed. "Someone's played this game before."
Goku shrugged. "Welcome to four o'clock in the morning, Videl."
"I've already met two thirty," she stated dryly.
"Can't sleep?"
"That's not the half of it."
Videl sat down by the older man and looked over to see what held his interest. It was a sketch of the landscape, with the moon setting in the distance. Shadows played across the ground, but in a comforting, rather than eerie, fashion.
Videl watched him as he sketched and admired his easy-going confidence. Yes, he had confidence, but not in the same way as Vegeta had it. Where Vegeta was grown-up Goku had always been a boy at heart. She found his goofy smile and loving attitude a part of having a good day. She could understand why Gohan had missed him so much those seven years.
Videl had to laugh to herself. His smile was great to see, but if you pissed him off you'd want to run away and hide.
Videl noticed that Goku had stopped drawing.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Just thinking…"
After Goku didn't elaborate Videl spoke up. "About what?"
Goku smiled, considering something. "I guess myself."
"Huh?"
"Myself. Overall. How I've acted… and I wonder if…"
Videl was impatient. "What?" She asked with a grin.
Goku returned her grin. "If he's proud of me."
"Who?"
"My father."
This caught Videl off guard. "Hm?"
Goku leaned up against the tree. "Did Gohan ever tell you any Saiyan history?"
Videl thought. "Like Frieza destroying the planet?"
"Kind of. Did he ever tell you about a Saiyan named Bardock?"
Videl shook her head.
Goku smiled again, faintly this time. "He was my father," he stated in kind of a course whisper and looked down.
"And?"
"Long story short, he received the power to see the future. He saw that Frieza was planning to destroy Vegeta. He warned the other Saiyans but they didn't listen. He decided to fly out to space and ended up confronting Frieza alone. When he got there, and by the time he had fought through Frieza's guards, Frieza's blast had been fired and my father was killed. That was the blast that ultimately destroyed the planet."
"He sounds," Videl swallowed. "He sounds like someone to be proud of."
Goku smiled widely. "Doesn't he? I'm proud of him. I hope he knows that. Maybe I'll get to meet him someday. Usually I don't care what others think of me- if they think I'm scatterbrained and stuff- but I do wonder an awful lot what he thinks of me. Do you think he is as proud of me as I am of him?"
Videl nodded. "I think you're definitely someone to be proud of. I think that Bardock looks at you and is amazed by you… really. I don't think there's anyone in this universe he can -or I can, for that matter- be prouder of."
Videl laughed lightly as she hugged him and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"You mean it?" He asked.
"Yes!"
Goku hugged her back. "That means a lot."
Videl pulled away from the hug and looked down at the sketch. In the silence, when she had been thinking before, Goku had added to the picture. Now she noticed her own form sitting on the ground as she had been a few minutes earlier that morning.
Videl looked up at him and into his expressive black eyes. Goku's bold Saiyan features had always been defeated by his ebony eyes. They were just too different. Curious and devoid of any malice, they were loving and tender, kind and gentle. Videl could easily see what a young Chi-Chi had seen in those eyes.
Videl found Goku staring back at her just as intently as she was staring at him. He cleared his throat. "You know I always wanted a daughter Videl. I always wanted to do he whole Barbie house thing to some extent."
Videl laughed.
"I think of you as the daughter I never had, and love you just as much. I just want you to know that."
Videl smiled.
"Well, hey!" Goku said cheerily. "If I want to do the Barbie house thing, I have Marron for now, right? Last time I went over there we had tea. That usually consists of me wearing a pink bonnet and drinking imaginary tea with my pinky up!"
Videl broke out into hysterics at the thought of the large Saiyan having a tea party.
Goku laughed with her. "That's not the worst of it though!" He commented.
"What's the worst?"
"The worst is being Saiyan and having to pretend to eat!"
They broke out into a fit of laughter again.
Goku sobered up first. "You know that I owe you so much."
"What? Your family is the one that's been letting me-"
"No, my family is the one that needs you. Especially Gohan. I swear you're the thing keeping him from falling into his own self-made hell. I'm not stupid, despite any evidence, and despite popular belief. I see things. I know why you were up this morning. He went through a lot, Cell just pushed him over the edge.
"You know what I did seven, eight years ago? I left a boy that day. A boy who was desperately confused and scared by what had happened and was happening. I knew he could handle it though. But somewhere it got ugly, and it still is."
Goku became quiet and looked back towards the dark sky. The two sat in silence for a moment when Goku, bored, formed a small ball of ki in his palm. It glowed a gentle white that somehow reminded Videl of Goku's own spirit, pure and unadulterated. He removed his hand and the ball stayed there.
Videl mock shielded her eyes. "Great! I've been blinded!"
Goku laughed at Videl and reached out, playfully hitting her.
"Hey! You're lucky I'm blind right now!" Videl took her hands away from her eyes. She leaned over and stared motionless at the spectacle before her. "How'd you do that?"
Goku grinned mischievously. "I'm still doing it. It's a ki blast, just stationary. It takes concentration to hold it there in place. But you can move it too." Goku illustrated this by making it move toward her.
Vidle laughed as he continued. "It's the whole idea behind controlling ki blasts of a larger size." Goku flicked his wrist and the ki blast took off into the sky. "You try."
Videl sat stunned for a moment before replying. "Okay, sure."
Videl formed a small ki blast but before she could even concentrate on keeping it stationary it had left her palm and headed right toward Goku who was sitting only a foot away. It exploded in his face.
"That works, too. Now look who's blinded. I'd say you're lucky I'm Saiyan! Geez… do you have like a targeting or heat-seeking ki blast?… cause that would be great for us fighters to learn!"
Away from them, towards the house, a light turned on outside. "Looks like Tien and Company are up. Also looks like it's going to rain," he observed, looking at the sky. Sure enough, clouds were building in the distance.
"We should get back in," Goku suggested.
Videl stood up. "Okay, want me to make you guys breakfast or something?"
"Ah, Videl, you get me into habits that could hurt me!"
"Fine, I won't."
Goku sighed and with a grunt stood up, too. "I think I'm getting too old."
The comment surprised Videl. She never had thought of Goku as old. It was the exact opposite, actually. He seemed to get younger and become tons more fun everyday.
Goku entered the house and escorted Videl to her room. "You can still catch some sleep. After all it's going to be a rainy day… so sleep in." With that, Goku gave her a gentle push towards her door, then turned and strolled down the hallway to his own room.
***
Videl awoke to the smell of a feast of a breakfast. She changed her clothes and ran out to the kitchen. Gohan was leaning back in a chair, nursing a cup of coffee. He still seemed sleepy behind his glasses which were fogging up due to the hot coffee.
Videl held out her hand and formed a ball of ki. Removing her hand she grinned. "Tada!"
"My dad taught you that, didn't he?"
Videl just smiled and shrugged.
"Now I know he did."
Videl laughed and totally forgot about the ball of ki which flew across the kitchen. Gohan jumped up and blocked it quickly.
"Saiyan reflexes," he noted. "Never an accident."
Videl held in a laugh. "Is that why you have coffee spilt all over your shirt now?"
Gohan scrunched up his face. "Well, we all can't be perfect all the time, right?"
Goku entered. "What happened here?" He said with a grin.
"Stray ki blast."
"In the kitchen? You know your mom will be out for blood."
A knock on the door drew all their attention. Vegeta entered. "It's the mini fool…" Gohan commented under his breath.
"Vegeta!" Goku said happily. "Surprised you even knocked."
Vegeta sat down in a huff. "How's your life? I see your retard child couldn't even get the food in his mouth today." Gohan chose not to comment, but instead left to go change.
"Never better!" Goku said in response to Vegeta's query.
"Funny."
"I try. What's with you?"
Vegeta rolled her eyes. "I had to bring your brat home, he came in through his window. That and the damn woman threw me out again. I made fun of that slop she calls food. I'd rather eat hardened gum off a street corner! Food my princely ass!"
Goku began laughing so hard tears came to his eyes.
"Kakarott! It's not funny!
"It made me laugh, sorry Vegeta!"
Vegeta sighed. "Yes, well, simple minded beings are rather easy to please. What does a prince have to do to get some edible food around here? I want food now or I'll kill you Kakarott."
Goku hit Vegeta on the shoulder. "I don't think so. Tons of people have tried and they're at least my height so somehow I'm not worried. But never mind- would you like waffles, I was just about to have some."
"Ladies first," Vegeta muttered.
"Gohan- Seconds!" Goku called.
Gohan returned now wearing his gi. "Am I too late?"
"Not to make an ass out of yourself," Vegeta stated.
"Well it's never to late for that, right?" Gohan said cheerily. "You must really be feeling down Vegeta, you're usually so much more pissed. What have you done to the Vegeta Brief we all know and loathe entirely?"
Vegeta looked like he was going to explode but instead opted to eat the waffles Goku placed before him.
Videl grabbed and apple and went back to her room.
Goku turned to Gohan. "Gohan- I have to say this before Videl comes back. Vegeta and I think you should tell Videl everything. About the mating and stuff, just get it out of the way. Explain to her waht it means. I think it's better if you explain it to her now in private than having her hear it through the grapevine."
Gohan put down his fork. "Seriously dad! Put yourself in her shoes. Geez, I can see it now. 'I haven't known you really well except for in these past few months. Hey! You're also living with me and all and, yeah, you may only be going into college, but, what the hell? Will you marry me?'"
"Um, Gohan…" Goku began.
"It's a Saiyan thing, she will not understand it."
"Gohan…"
"It's totally not what I want to tell her, she will totally freak- out. I mean marriage, marriage!"
"Gohan!"
"What?" Gohan paused. "She's right behind me, isn't she?"
Gohan turned around to find Videl right there.
"Oh for the love of all morons everywhere," Vegeta complained. "How come I always show up at the most interesting times. I find your son's little soap opera of a life quite amusing. It's all really rather fascinating."
Gohan spun around. "Vegeta, shut up!"
Vegeta didn't really know what to do with that one.
Videl chewed on her bottom lip as she looked hard at Gohan.
"Please…say something," he pleaded quietly.
"You are too much," she said after a moment. "Is this all a big joke to you?"
Gohan dropped his hands to his side. "What?!"
"Are you going out with me just so you can-"
"You're too blinded by all of your bullshit assumptions that"
Videl huffed. "What assumptions? What I heard sounded pretty damn clear to me!"
"You're not even listening! You don't understand what I've been wanting to tell you here. What my dad is talking about is-" He shouted.
"I have a pretty good idea!" She cut him off. "And there is no need to shout at me, we're in the same room!"
Gohan dragged his hands down his face. He looked at Videl. "You're right, I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be yelled at." He paused. "Okay, so now you know. What do you want to do right now?"
"I don't know, you've left me in kind of a hard place."
"No! Do you want to move out... Again. Do you want to breakup. Do you want me to leave for a while? I mean, just cause I feel like marrying you doesn't mean I'm proposing... Now."
Videl stomped her foot. "But just the idea!"
"Gohan, it's a bit more than that-" Goku began.
"DAD!"
"Saiyan instinct-"
"I'm trying to NOT freak out the human girl who I love, okay?"
"I'm just saying maybe you should come even with her and-"
"QUIET!" Everyone looked at Gohan stunned. "You know what? I don't know anymore, okay Videl? I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, least that's what my dad says. I'll just leave and give you awhile."
Gohan walked calmly toward the door. "And I'm glad you found that so amusing, Vegeta." He stated before shutting it.
"I knew the boy's sentimental feelings would be the death of him." Vegeta stated.
Goku had his eyes trained on the floor, and his breathing was shallow. "Videl, I think-"
Goten walked in the room. "I'm back Videl."
"I was just leaving," she informed the child.
"Not again… I'm BORED."
Videl wheeled around. "Then go find something to do that doesn't involve me!"
Goten looked at Videl hurt.
Videl knelt down. "I'm sorry Goten I'm just- I just- I have to go."
Goku took a step forward. "He just-"
"Point?" Videl asked, cutting him off. "For once I thought things were going good. The last few months especially and-"
"I'm getting to the point," Goku said tersely.
Videl looked down at Goten. "I'm leaving and when your brother asks, tell him not to try and find me this time."
***
"You're at MARK'S!" Erasa's voice screeched over the phone.
Videl winced. She knew Erasa was going to pitch a fit at the news. But Mark did have a spare room and he was willing to let her use it. "I told you the story okay- and I knew Mark had the upstairs loft that was like a guesthouse and I knew it would be fine-"
Erasa's voice cut in sharply on the other end. "Yeah- fine cause he wants to-"
"Don't finish that thought."
Erasa pouted. "You're an idiot. And I don't call people names."
No one spoke for a moment until Erasa heard Videl sigh. "Erasa, I don't know. I think I'm making all the wrong decisions."
"I do, too."
"Thanks."
"I'm just telling you the truth."
Videl unconsciously groped for the ever-faithful necklace of the silver heart that was wrapped around her neck.
***
"She LEFT!" Gohan said frustrated now,
Goku shrugged. "I wouldn't say left. She just took some stuff and walked out the door...about ten hours ago."
"Damn it! Ten hours!"
"Well, you were gone all day."
"Fine, fine. If she wants to play hardball-"
"She said don't try to find her," Goten pitched in.
"No! I am going to try to find her, and when I do…"
Chi-Chi looked at him worriedly. "Gohan what are you going to do?"
"Do you still have it?" Gohan asked his father.
Goku smiled. "Of course." Goku ran out of the room and turned to his dresser where he took something out of his drawer, he came back and handed it to Gohan, who slipped it in his coat pocket.
Chi-Chi looked at the two suspiciously. "What's going on here you two?"
Goku handed his son a credit card. "For emergencies. Spend as much zenni as you need."
Chi-Chi looked at Goku enraged. "Goku! That's a credit card!"
Goku ignored her. "How do you feel, Gohan?" he asked.
Gohan shook his head. "I don't know how I'm suppose to feel. Especially when I'm thinking and feeling like this."
Gohan ran to the door and opened it. Chi-Chi shouted, "Gohan! Answer my question, what are you doing?"
Gohan spun around. "The only thing left for me to do: propose."
"Gohan!"
"Bye!"
"This could be a disaster," Goten remarked.
***
Mark looked out to the rainy day. Watching as the water fell down his window. It was five o'clock and there was really nothing to do. He walked upstairs and knocked on the door to the guestroom, which was more of a guesthouse, as it was equipped with a bathroom refrigerator, microwave etc.
Videl answered.
Mark cleared his throat. "I don't want to seem too forward and I'm not asking you out on a date, but do you want to go out to eat. There's a really nice restaurant, and it's raining so there's nothing to do here-"
"I don't know, Mark…"
"Totally platonic, Videl. Just you, me, some steak or fish or something just to unwind our nerves."
Videl looked down in thought. "Okay."
Mark smiled. "Pick out a dress and you'll be ready to go!" He said enthusiastically.
"Give me five minutes," Videl responded.
***
Goku dialed Master Roshi's phone number quickly. "Hey Krillin! It's Goku. Spread the news: my son's going to be on TV sometime tonight. He's going to propose to Videl."
Goku could hear Krillin eating. Krillin swallowed. "Propose? Finally. How do you know he's going to be on TV, though?"
"Because it's Videl Satan and then- you know how Gohan always does things."
Krillin laughed. "Gotcha. I'll call Yamcha, Tien and, no wait, Tien's out at your place, right? So I'll call Yamcha, Bulma-"
"Just call everyone!"
"Alright!"
***
"Told you it would be a short drive," Mark said.
Videl stepped out of the car as Mark handed a valet the keys. He surveyed Videl as she straightened her dress. It was a blue flowing fabric that had many layers. The topmost was a clear silver slip that made the dress unique. It wasn't tight, but it wasn't loose either and Mark found himself looking at her appreciatively. He took her arm and ushered her inside.
A lady walked up. "Excuse me, Ms. Videl. Aren't you going out with that young man… Son Gohan?"
Videl eyed the woman "You're Patty Hughes, aren't you?" she asked.
The woman nodded.
"I have no comment to make to you," Videl said blatantly and walked on with Mark.
Patty watched them enter the restaurant, one of the best ones in the city. Her eyes narrowed, already envisioning her name as reporter of the year. What a scoop this would be!
"I'll find out what's going on yet…"
***
Videl sat down in the chair Mark had pulled out for her.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome."
Mark sat down opposite Videl as she picked up her menu.
Mark reached across the table and pulled the menu down looking into her eyes.
"What? she asked.
"A ground rule: we're here for fun, no problems, no past incidents, just friends. And no Gohan, 'kay? Forget about him for awhile, it kind of looks like you need to."
Videl's mind went to last night.
"Don't forget me."
Videl shifted uneasily in her chair but smiled at Mark.
"Okay."
Videl went back to looking at the menu but actually was using it to hide her face from Mark.
"Don't forget me."
Videl sighed… she had never really wanted to.
So why do I keep running?
***
Gohan arrived at the only place Videl could be if her ki was in the area. Erasa's. He knocked.
Erasa answered.
"Erasa, thank Dende! Is Videl here?"
"No why...?"
"She has to be- I could feel her ki in this part of town!"
Erasa sighed. "I'm not suppose to tell you where she is, but i can casually mention that Mark lives around here too."
She pushed Gohan out the door and shut it behind her. Standing in the rain she shouted to Gohan. "Thank heavens you came! You have to find her! She said a bunch of stuff that was just stupid and-"
"I'm going!"
"Gohan!"
"Huh?"
"Good luck."
Gohan smiled weakly. "Thanks for your help."
"Anytime."
With that Gohan vaulted over a hedge making a bee-line for Mark's.
***
Mark laughed and took a sip of his water. "That's hilarious!" He said. "So that's why you first helped out the police?"
Videl finished, chuckling, "Yeah, I mean, I felt pretty bad when I crashed my first jet-copter into head quarters!"
Their dinner had been served and they were now eating pleasantly and having a quiet conversation. Lost in their talking neither noticed a woman who had been waiting in line for over a half an hour go by and grab a table without a reservation- Patty Hughes.
***
"Mark! Videl! Listen I know you're in there! Please open up! We really need to talk!"
"Sir?"
Gohan turned around to find an elderly lady sitting on the porch in the house across from Mark's.
"Yeah- uh, yes?"
"A young man and woman that looked like Videl and Mr. Sullivan, that's Mark, left about forty minutes ago."
"Thank you!" Gohan responded. Her ki was still in the area, she couldn't be that far away!
He focused and then flew.
***
"-Then I said I might as well just go to Satan Eastern College rather than West Capital University. Which is weird because Gohan's going to be teaching at West Capital!" Mark finished.
"That is kind of strange," Videl answered. "It would be weird to have him for a teacher. I'm going to Satan Eastern Capital, too."
Mark shrugged. "But we're breaking the rules, no Gohan remember?"
Videl nodded.
***
"I'm sorry, sir, coat and tie is not optional. You're wearing- uh- what are you wearing?"
"It's called a gi!" Gohan said loudly.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Gohan rolled his eyes. "Listen, I'll make you a deal. You give me your coat and tie so I can go in and I'll... I don't know... do anything! Paint your house, buy you a new car-"
"No."
Gohan placed the credit card on the counter. "Take as much as you want!"
"I'm, once again, sorry. I don't even have you down for reservations!"
Gohan clenched his teeth. "I'm going in that restaurant."
"I'll call security."
"What are they going to do to-" Gohan sighed. "Okay, okay I'll get a coat and tie!"
"You need reservations as well!"
"Okay!"
Gohan walked quickly down the street until he came across some store with formal attire displayed in the window. He ran in and changed into the first suit he saw giving the clerk the credit card with the directions "Take whatever you need."
***
Mark stood. "Could you excuse me, Videl. I'm going to use the restroom."
"Sure."
***
Gohan was back at the restaurant and cutting the line.
"There! Coat. Tie. Voila! Let me in!"
"No reservations, sir."
"Screw the reservations I-"
"Sir, please- you're all wet and-"
"Ask me if I care! I was in the rain!" Gohan pushed the man away gently and ran towards the dining area fingering the box in his pocket. Now that he was here, how was he going to tell her that he loved her beyond any true scope of the word?
Gohan stopped at the entrance to the dining area and realized just how out of place he was: disheveled and soaking wet. He stood there breathing hard. He scanned the dining area and saw Videl.
Gohan began walking over casually, aware that many people were giving him funny looks and a few were even whispering 'Is that Son Gohan?" to themselves.
***
Videl placed her water on the table and looked up. 'Holy shit, it's Gohan!' She thought to herself.
She began to look around uncomfortably, trying to divert her attention so that she could begin to ignore him. It was then that she spotted Patty Hughes sitting a few tables down by herself and with a notepad in hand.
When Videl's attention returned to the oncoming half-Saiyan he was at her table and out of breath, not to mention sopping wet and slightly muddy in a suit that didn't fit.
Videl began to panic. Everyone turned and stared.
Gohan took a box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful, simple ring. It was small but studded with tiny diamonds around one larger one. It looked...expensive.
Gohan got his breathing under control. "Videl, I only want to do this once in my life, so let me do this right." With that he knelt on one knee and began speaking.
"Videl, I- I know that you're scared and I understand that we're young, that we've only been dating for- uh, I'd do the math but I can hardly function, um- well we've been dating for less than a year.
"However we've been friends longer and there's something about this feeling for you that is something I can't help." He took a shaky breath and wiped his eyes slightly. "It's just that every time I look at you I see the rest of my life and it's terrifying the hell out of me that you might not be seeing the same thing when you look at me and- and- Dende, Videl… You've already made me the happiest man on Earth, and I just know that I want that forever… with you…
"And this may not be the most romantic place, under the most romantic circumstances-" He swallowed, trying to lose the knot in his throat that had developed. "And I never thought of you or our relationship as a joke and I hope this proves it. It just-" Gohan smiled through his tears. "It just feels right. So Videl, I ask you with all the love I have, will you please marry me?"
Videl swore and couldn't help but smile.
Gohan chuckled at her reaction and wiped his eyes again.
Out of the corner of Videl's eye she saw Mark enter her view.
At the other side of the restaurant guards with the word 'SECURITY' on their jackets ran in. "You are under arrest," one began. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You also have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one…"
"VIDEL!" She heard Mark shout. "You can't-" When she turned around to look at Mark again, a large camera flashed in her face.
She looked back at Gohan who seemed to be oblivious to everyone and everything in the room except her. Videl found herself noticing the tiniest things, things she shouldn't be worrying about when just asked the question she had been asked. Things like how Gohan's hair was damp against his neck and how his cheeks were flecked with drops of water.
She knew this couldn't be a hoax- he was there, like he'd always been, even when it was her who'd been the ass. It was him, Gohan, The Great Saiyaman, The Scrawny Kid, The Guy Who Beat Cell… her best friend.
She then comprehended that every eye in the place was on her.
And then she realized why she wasn't worried about what she would say, because somewhere she already knew what she was going to say. But all the same she began stuttering as the answer left her lips.
"Gohan, I-I-"
******
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!
So you're all going to kill me now aren't you? I bet I totally caught you of guard! My computer is going to burn with all the flames I'm going to get. It's all for the cause though. In the next chapter (coming out I don't know when!) : Yeah, the media's back at it and they're going to flip over this one!
***
I'm back… and not dead as some of you who wrote me thought. I've just been incredible busy. Insanely busy. This was suppose to be done cough, cough by the time all the season finale's were going on TV cause this is kind of like my season finale. BUT THE FIC'S NOT OVER. Just fyi. Oh, and also… yes I did skip Gohan's birthday which is sometime in May but it ain't going to happen with everything I have to do. So that makes Gohan 19 and Videl is going to be nineteen in a few months. She's entering college, he's about to enter college as a professor. This takes place in the middle of June btw. And if you don't believe I'm busy, E-Mail me and I'll E-mail you back a list of crap I'm involved in/obligated to do this summer.
Also... this is different than the first one I had on the site. This has numerous corrections and added part s to make it clearer. Not a huge difference... but this is definately the copy you want to read. It takes place in one day. From 2:3- AM to around six-ish.
Onward ho!
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
CHAPTER 21
A FEW MONTHS LATER
(MIDDLE OF JUNE)
For some reason, Videl was a waitress.
Videl took off her blue apron and folded it up, setting it with all of the other blue aprons under the counter. She huffed, grabbed a washcloth and began to wipe down the counter in front of her. She glanced at the clock to find it was already ten at night. Only one light lit the entire restaurant as she worked.
Videl paused in her labor as a knock came from the now-locked restaurant doors. She opened the door a little.
"Hello," she said out of curiosity. She couldn't see the visitor but received a glimpse of a bright, kind smile.
"Hi," the person reciprocated. They had a man's voice and stature. "I was wondering if I could come in, at least for some water, I saw you working and-"
"We're closed."
"I know, I saw the sign," the man pointed to the sign on the door. "But I was wondering if I could come in anyway."
Videl leaned on the door for a second, thinking. She decided that it couldn't do any harm to let a nice, charming, polite man into the place to keep her company while she worked. If he tried to rob the place or do something she could always kick his ass, right?
"Sure, come in."
Videl indicated a chair at a table and got him a fresh glass of water. He thanked her and began to watch her as she worked.
"May I ask your name?" The man queried after a minute.
"Videl," Videl responded almost immediately. "And yours?"
The man smiled again and finished off his water. He stood up and brought the glass to the counter. "Thank you," was all he said. The man turned to leave.
"Wait!" Videl shouted. For some reason she just had to know who he was, she felt like she'd known him forever. He seemed so sweet.
The man turned back to face her. "What? You don't want me to go?" He said with a hint of a smile.
Videl began stammering. She didn't want him to go.
The man took a step toward the counter. "Hm?" He prodded.
"I- I- Well, maybe that's true, maybe I don't want you to go," Videl could have killed herself. Stop, stop talking, dumbass, she thought. But she continued. "Sometimes it's just…"
"…lonely?"
"Exactly." Almost immediately the man had reached over the counter, his face still in the shadow. Before Videl knew what was happening the man had lifted her up and she was now laying on the counter. He put his arms around her and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"Who are you?" Videl heard herself ask in earnest.
It was then that the man leaned forward toward her to kiss her, placing his face in the light.
Videl struggled to see who it was in that last second she had but couldn't. He was just about to kiss her when her alarm went off.
"Damn it!" Videl cussed in a loud whisper, waking up to find herself in her bedroom at the Son household. She looked at her clock and was just about to beat it to kingdom come when she noticed two things: that it was summer vacation, so her alarm wasn't even set and that it was only two- thirty in the morning.
Videl yawned and rolled over. Great! She thought. Now I have to try to get back to sleep after that weird dream. She shut her eyes. After a moment there was that sound again, the one that she thought was her alarm. She sat up and let out another cuss.
"A woman needs her sleep!" She remarked to no one in particular. She climbed out of bed and opened her door, standing silently in the softly lit hallway. She heard nothing.
Videl hugged herself. Maybe I should get Goku, she thought.
She was about to do just that when she heard the sound of sheets being tossed around from Gohan and Goten's room. Then a small moan.
Goten is at Trunks', she rationed. So what the hell…?
Videl knocked lightly on the door. No response. She stood there for a second, wondering if she should go in, because Gohan slept with his door unlocked and it would be no problem. But Videl wasn't exactly prone to stepping into boy's bedrooms in the wee hours of the morning.
"Gohan!" She whispered loudly. She heard another moan. Videl shut her eyes. "Okay, I'm coming in! If you're undressed or something I'm just giving you fair warning." Videl turned the handle and slowly opened her eyes. It took a minute for her to become accustomed to the dark. One bed was empty and the other one held a restlessly sleeping Gohan.
Videl walked over to his bed. "Gohan," she said, gently tapping him. He let out what sounded like a small sob and shifted in his sleep again.
"Gohan, you're freaking me out," Videl said, obviously more to herself. "Gohan!"
When her words didn't stop the unconscious half-Saiyan from groaning and balling his sheets in a white-knuckled grip, she leaned over and carefully wrapped her arms around him. "C'mon, Gohan, wake up!"
Gohan opened his eyes a sliver and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry I woke you up, Goten. Go back to sleep, I'm okay."
Videl smiled. "If you think I'm Goten you're definitely not okay," she joked.
Gohan opened his eyes wide and sat up. "Videl!" A look of relief passed over his face before it was clouded with embarrassment. "Oh, Dende, did I wake you up? I thought you were- Wait, Goten's not even here. I'm sorry, I-"
Videl sat down on his bed. "Don't worry about it," she stated tired.
In the true fashion of anyone who's had a more tiresome night then they do day, Gohan fell back onto his pillow.
Videl yawned. "What was that about, your dream?"
Gohan's face flashed one of grief and shame looking at her as if he had dreaded her asking that very question.
"You can tell me, Gohan, you've had bad dreams before," Videl prodded.
Gohan sat up again and shifted his weight so he was sitting more comfortably. "It was just a nightmare."
" 'Just a nightmare'? Gohan, please, I heard you all the way from my room, I thought you were an alarm clock at first or maybe-" She stopped as Gohan swept his hand through his hair, his eyes appearing to shimmer more than usual. He looked away and when he looked back his eyes were dry again.
If he was trying to hide the fact that he was upset his traitorous voice gave him away as it wavered in the next words he spoke. "It was just some strange dream that has no meaning and it was stupid-"
"Cell?"
A nod.
"What happened?" Videl asked simply.
Anyone who met Gohan found that he had an emotionally charged nature, and was seemingly upset easily. But then one had to put it all into perspective. He had seen things that no one should ever have to see by right. And the fact that he blamed himself for half of everything that went wrong in everyone's life didn't help.
Gohan put his hands to his eyes and shut them again, allowing his sleeve to soak up the tears that followed the action.
All Gohan had left from the dream was a feeling of pain. Total pain.
Videl tired of waiting for an answer, scooted toward him and placed her arm around him, rubbing his back.
"Have you ever had those dreams," Gohan began carefully in a whisper. "Where you wake up in a cold sweat and you wonder what you're even doing in life, why you even try…" He paused. "Never mind, the past isn't my favorite place to be, but I seem to end up there, even in my sleep."
Videl put her hands comfortingly in his. "You'll never have to go there alone."
Videl furrowed her eyebrows as she thought back to her dream.
"Sometimes it's just…"
"…lonely?"
"Exactly."
Gohan pulled away from Videl and clasped his head in a vise-like grip. "I think I got too good at the 'my loved one just died and I could have done something' act."
"Gohan you're being too hard on yourself." Videl pulled his hands away from his face.
He exhaled heavily. "I just want them to stop, Videl."
"I know." Neither said anything for awhile until Gohan broke the silence. "Can you promise me something?"
"Sure, Gohan."
"Don't forget me."
Videl quickly raised her eyes to look at him. "What?" She gave him a disbelieving glance and almost started to laugh but saw his serious look.
"If I ever die in a fight or something." Gohan looked away. "You know? Do you think you could ever forget me?"
Her lips could not speak the 'no' which he saw rather than heard.
Again there was a lull in the conversation and again it was Gohan who broke it. "Just forget about the nightmare, I'm getting better at dealing with them, they just leave me feeling really... not myself." A pause. "Sooo...You want to hear what Piccolo told me the other day?"
Videl smiled and yawned, Gohan took that as a sign to continue.
"Okay, but first lay down, I'm up now and you seem kind of tired…Alright, Piccolo was telling me about how Mr. Popo always waters the plants and that was really starting to bug the shit out of him. Well, Piccolo happened to mention his feelings to Dende and Dende said that he kind of felt the same way too. So they decided to find out what Popo would do if-"
Videl listened intently to the story at first but found herself falling asleep to his deep, soothing voice.
"-Popo was pretty much just pissed after that. Well, as pissed as Popo can get, which according to Piccolo, is pretty pissed. But I don't see him getting mad enough to throw a watering can hard enough to-"
Gohan looked at Videl. Her eyes were closed in sleep. He got up out of bed and covered her with his sheets. "Do you want me to stay her through the rest of the night?" Gohan asked the sleeping figure. He half-imagined her replying, 'If you don't mind, Gohan.'
Out loud he answered, "Not at all."
***
Videl awoke to find herself in Gohan's bed and also to find that it was only three-fifty. "Why can't I sleep?" She silently left the room, wandering the house, but was quickly growing bored of that. So as not to make any noise that would wake up the Son family, she decided to go outside.
The night air was cool and some bird in the distance was calling out. A crescent moon illuminated the landscape and the grass was wet with dew. Videl headed toward the tree where Gohan and she had first kissed on Christmas night, only to find that is was already occupied. Goku sat there with something in his hands and lap and looked busy. Videl cleared her throat as to let him know she was there as well.
Goku looked up and smiled warmly at Videl. While inwardly, he thought of his son. A few weeks ago Gohan had intrusted him with an engagement ring… that looked expensive. When Goku had asked Gohan where he'd gotten it he simply said that it was a favor, something about helping out a jewelry store at a mall. Goku had then questioned GOhan further, asking him when he was planning on asking Videl. Gohan had answered, "When it feels right." and left it at that.
"What are you doing here?" Goku asked Videl.
"Uh, I could be asking you the same thing," Videl replied.
"I asked you first though, so…"
Videl laughed. "Someone's played this game before."
Goku shrugged. "Welcome to four o'clock in the morning, Videl."
"I've already met two thirty," she stated dryly.
"Can't sleep?"
"That's not the half of it."
Videl sat down by the older man and looked over to see what held his interest. It was a sketch of the landscape, with the moon setting in the distance. Shadows played across the ground, but in a comforting, rather than eerie, fashion.
Videl watched him as he sketched and admired his easy-going confidence. Yes, he had confidence, but not in the same way as Vegeta had it. Where Vegeta was grown-up Goku had always been a boy at heart. She found his goofy smile and loving attitude a part of having a good day. She could understand why Gohan had missed him so much those seven years.
Videl had to laugh to herself. His smile was great to see, but if you pissed him off you'd want to run away and hide.
Videl noticed that Goku had stopped drawing.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Just thinking…"
After Goku didn't elaborate Videl spoke up. "About what?"
Goku smiled, considering something. "I guess myself."
"Huh?"
"Myself. Overall. How I've acted… and I wonder if…"
Videl was impatient. "What?" She asked with a grin.
Goku returned her grin. "If he's proud of me."
"Who?"
"My father."
This caught Videl off guard. "Hm?"
Goku leaned up against the tree. "Did Gohan ever tell you any Saiyan history?"
Videl thought. "Like Frieza destroying the planet?"
"Kind of. Did he ever tell you about a Saiyan named Bardock?"
Videl shook her head.
Goku smiled again, faintly this time. "He was my father," he stated in kind of a course whisper and looked down.
"And?"
"Long story short, he received the power to see the future. He saw that Frieza was planning to destroy Vegeta. He warned the other Saiyans but they didn't listen. He decided to fly out to space and ended up confronting Frieza alone. When he got there, and by the time he had fought through Frieza's guards, Frieza's blast had been fired and my father was killed. That was the blast that ultimately destroyed the planet."
"He sounds," Videl swallowed. "He sounds like someone to be proud of."
Goku smiled widely. "Doesn't he? I'm proud of him. I hope he knows that. Maybe I'll get to meet him someday. Usually I don't care what others think of me- if they think I'm scatterbrained and stuff- but I do wonder an awful lot what he thinks of me. Do you think he is as proud of me as I am of him?"
Videl nodded. "I think you're definitely someone to be proud of. I think that Bardock looks at you and is amazed by you… really. I don't think there's anyone in this universe he can -or I can, for that matter- be prouder of."
Videl laughed lightly as she hugged him and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"You mean it?" He asked.
"Yes!"
Goku hugged her back. "That means a lot."
Videl pulled away from the hug and looked down at the sketch. In the silence, when she had been thinking before, Goku had added to the picture. Now she noticed her own form sitting on the ground as she had been a few minutes earlier that morning.
Videl looked up at him and into his expressive black eyes. Goku's bold Saiyan features had always been defeated by his ebony eyes. They were just too different. Curious and devoid of any malice, they were loving and tender, kind and gentle. Videl could easily see what a young Chi-Chi had seen in those eyes.
Videl found Goku staring back at her just as intently as she was staring at him. He cleared his throat. "You know I always wanted a daughter Videl. I always wanted to do he whole Barbie house thing to some extent."
Videl laughed.
"I think of you as the daughter I never had, and love you just as much. I just want you to know that."
Videl smiled.
"Well, hey!" Goku said cheerily. "If I want to do the Barbie house thing, I have Marron for now, right? Last time I went over there we had tea. That usually consists of me wearing a pink bonnet and drinking imaginary tea with my pinky up!"
Videl broke out into hysterics at the thought of the large Saiyan having a tea party.
Goku laughed with her. "That's not the worst of it though!" He commented.
"What's the worst?"
"The worst is being Saiyan and having to pretend to eat!"
They broke out into a fit of laughter again.
Goku sobered up first. "You know that I owe you so much."
"What? Your family is the one that's been letting me-"
"No, my family is the one that needs you. Especially Gohan. I swear you're the thing keeping him from falling into his own self-made hell. I'm not stupid, despite any evidence, and despite popular belief. I see things. I know why you were up this morning. He went through a lot, Cell just pushed him over the edge.
"You know what I did seven, eight years ago? I left a boy that day. A boy who was desperately confused and scared by what had happened and was happening. I knew he could handle it though. But somewhere it got ugly, and it still is."
Goku became quiet and looked back towards the dark sky. The two sat in silence for a moment when Goku, bored, formed a small ball of ki in his palm. It glowed a gentle white that somehow reminded Videl of Goku's own spirit, pure and unadulterated. He removed his hand and the ball stayed there.
Videl mock shielded her eyes. "Great! I've been blinded!"
Goku laughed at Videl and reached out, playfully hitting her.
"Hey! You're lucky I'm blind right now!" Videl took her hands away from her eyes. She leaned over and stared motionless at the spectacle before her. "How'd you do that?"
Goku grinned mischievously. "I'm still doing it. It's a ki blast, just stationary. It takes concentration to hold it there in place. But you can move it too." Goku illustrated this by making it move toward her.
Vidle laughed as he continued. "It's the whole idea behind controlling ki blasts of a larger size." Goku flicked his wrist and the ki blast took off into the sky. "You try."
Videl sat stunned for a moment before replying. "Okay, sure."
Videl formed a small ki blast but before she could even concentrate on keeping it stationary it had left her palm and headed right toward Goku who was sitting only a foot away. It exploded in his face.
"That works, too. Now look who's blinded. I'd say you're lucky I'm Saiyan! Geez… do you have like a targeting or heat-seeking ki blast?… cause that would be great for us fighters to learn!"
Away from them, towards the house, a light turned on outside. "Looks like Tien and Company are up. Also looks like it's going to rain," he observed, looking at the sky. Sure enough, clouds were building in the distance.
"We should get back in," Goku suggested.
Videl stood up. "Okay, want me to make you guys breakfast or something?"
"Ah, Videl, you get me into habits that could hurt me!"
"Fine, I won't."
Goku sighed and with a grunt stood up, too. "I think I'm getting too old."
The comment surprised Videl. She never had thought of Goku as old. It was the exact opposite, actually. He seemed to get younger and become tons more fun everyday.
Goku entered the house and escorted Videl to her room. "You can still catch some sleep. After all it's going to be a rainy day… so sleep in." With that, Goku gave her a gentle push towards her door, then turned and strolled down the hallway to his own room.
***
Videl awoke to the smell of a feast of a breakfast. She changed her clothes and ran out to the kitchen. Gohan was leaning back in a chair, nursing a cup of coffee. He still seemed sleepy behind his glasses which were fogging up due to the hot coffee.
Videl held out her hand and formed a ball of ki. Removing her hand she grinned. "Tada!"
"My dad taught you that, didn't he?"
Videl just smiled and shrugged.
"Now I know he did."
Videl laughed and totally forgot about the ball of ki which flew across the kitchen. Gohan jumped up and blocked it quickly.
"Saiyan reflexes," he noted. "Never an accident."
Videl held in a laugh. "Is that why you have coffee spilt all over your shirt now?"
Gohan scrunched up his face. "Well, we all can't be perfect all the time, right?"
Goku entered. "What happened here?" He said with a grin.
"Stray ki blast."
"In the kitchen? You know your mom will be out for blood."
A knock on the door drew all their attention. Vegeta entered. "It's the mini fool…" Gohan commented under his breath.
"Vegeta!" Goku said happily. "Surprised you even knocked."
Vegeta sat down in a huff. "How's your life? I see your retard child couldn't even get the food in his mouth today." Gohan chose not to comment, but instead left to go change.
"Never better!" Goku said in response to Vegeta's query.
"Funny."
"I try. What's with you?"
Vegeta rolled her eyes. "I had to bring your brat home, he came in through his window. That and the damn woman threw me out again. I made fun of that slop she calls food. I'd rather eat hardened gum off a street corner! Food my princely ass!"
Goku began laughing so hard tears came to his eyes.
"Kakarott! It's not funny!
"It made me laugh, sorry Vegeta!"
Vegeta sighed. "Yes, well, simple minded beings are rather easy to please. What does a prince have to do to get some edible food around here? I want food now or I'll kill you Kakarott."
Goku hit Vegeta on the shoulder. "I don't think so. Tons of people have tried and they're at least my height so somehow I'm not worried. But never mind- would you like waffles, I was just about to have some."
"Ladies first," Vegeta muttered.
"Gohan- Seconds!" Goku called.
Gohan returned now wearing his gi. "Am I too late?"
"Not to make an ass out of yourself," Vegeta stated.
"Well it's never to late for that, right?" Gohan said cheerily. "You must really be feeling down Vegeta, you're usually so much more pissed. What have you done to the Vegeta Brief we all know and loathe entirely?"
Vegeta looked like he was going to explode but instead opted to eat the waffles Goku placed before him.
Videl grabbed and apple and went back to her room.
Goku turned to Gohan. "Gohan- I have to say this before Videl comes back. Vegeta and I think you should tell Videl everything. About the mating and stuff, just get it out of the way. Explain to her waht it means. I think it's better if you explain it to her now in private than having her hear it through the grapevine."
Gohan put down his fork. "Seriously dad! Put yourself in her shoes. Geez, I can see it now. 'I haven't known you really well except for in these past few months. Hey! You're also living with me and all and, yeah, you may only be going into college, but, what the hell? Will you marry me?'"
"Um, Gohan…" Goku began.
"It's a Saiyan thing, she will not understand it."
"Gohan…"
"It's totally not what I want to tell her, she will totally freak- out. I mean marriage, marriage!"
"Gohan!"
"What?" Gohan paused. "She's right behind me, isn't she?"
Gohan turned around to find Videl right there.
"Oh for the love of all morons everywhere," Vegeta complained. "How come I always show up at the most interesting times. I find your son's little soap opera of a life quite amusing. It's all really rather fascinating."
Gohan spun around. "Vegeta, shut up!"
Vegeta didn't really know what to do with that one.
Videl chewed on her bottom lip as she looked hard at Gohan.
"Please…say something," he pleaded quietly.
"You are too much," she said after a moment. "Is this all a big joke to you?"
Gohan dropped his hands to his side. "What?!"
"Are you going out with me just so you can-"
"You're too blinded by all of your bullshit assumptions that"
Videl huffed. "What assumptions? What I heard sounded pretty damn clear to me!"
"You're not even listening! You don't understand what I've been wanting to tell you here. What my dad is talking about is-" He shouted.
"I have a pretty good idea!" She cut him off. "And there is no need to shout at me, we're in the same room!"
Gohan dragged his hands down his face. He looked at Videl. "You're right, I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be yelled at." He paused. "Okay, so now you know. What do you want to do right now?"
"I don't know, you've left me in kind of a hard place."
"No! Do you want to move out... Again. Do you want to breakup. Do you want me to leave for a while? I mean, just cause I feel like marrying you doesn't mean I'm proposing... Now."
Videl stomped her foot. "But just the idea!"
"Gohan, it's a bit more than that-" Goku began.
"DAD!"
"Saiyan instinct-"
"I'm trying to NOT freak out the human girl who I love, okay?"
"I'm just saying maybe you should come even with her and-"
"QUIET!" Everyone looked at Gohan stunned. "You know what? I don't know anymore, okay Videl? I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, least that's what my dad says. I'll just leave and give you awhile."
Gohan walked calmly toward the door. "And I'm glad you found that so amusing, Vegeta." He stated before shutting it.
"I knew the boy's sentimental feelings would be the death of him." Vegeta stated.
Goku had his eyes trained on the floor, and his breathing was shallow. "Videl, I think-"
Goten walked in the room. "I'm back Videl."
"I was just leaving," she informed the child.
"Not again… I'm BORED."
Videl wheeled around. "Then go find something to do that doesn't involve me!"
Goten looked at Videl hurt.
Videl knelt down. "I'm sorry Goten I'm just- I just- I have to go."
Goku took a step forward. "He just-"
"Point?" Videl asked, cutting him off. "For once I thought things were going good. The last few months especially and-"
"I'm getting to the point," Goku said tersely.
Videl looked down at Goten. "I'm leaving and when your brother asks, tell him not to try and find me this time."
***
"You're at MARK'S!" Erasa's voice screeched over the phone.
Videl winced. She knew Erasa was going to pitch a fit at the news. But Mark did have a spare room and he was willing to let her use it. "I told you the story okay- and I knew Mark had the upstairs loft that was like a guesthouse and I knew it would be fine-"
Erasa's voice cut in sharply on the other end. "Yeah- fine cause he wants to-"
"Don't finish that thought."
Erasa pouted. "You're an idiot. And I don't call people names."
No one spoke for a moment until Erasa heard Videl sigh. "Erasa, I don't know. I think I'm making all the wrong decisions."
"I do, too."
"Thanks."
"I'm just telling you the truth."
Videl unconsciously groped for the ever-faithful necklace of the silver heart that was wrapped around her neck.
***
"She LEFT!" Gohan said frustrated now,
Goku shrugged. "I wouldn't say left. She just took some stuff and walked out the door...about ten hours ago."
"Damn it! Ten hours!"
"Well, you were gone all day."
"Fine, fine. If she wants to play hardball-"
"She said don't try to find her," Goten pitched in.
"No! I am going to try to find her, and when I do…"
Chi-Chi looked at him worriedly. "Gohan what are you going to do?"
"Do you still have it?" Gohan asked his father.
Goku smiled. "Of course." Goku ran out of the room and turned to his dresser where he took something out of his drawer, he came back and handed it to Gohan, who slipped it in his coat pocket.
Chi-Chi looked at the two suspiciously. "What's going on here you two?"
Goku handed his son a credit card. "For emergencies. Spend as much zenni as you need."
Chi-Chi looked at Goku enraged. "Goku! That's a credit card!"
Goku ignored her. "How do you feel, Gohan?" he asked.
Gohan shook his head. "I don't know how I'm suppose to feel. Especially when I'm thinking and feeling like this."
Gohan ran to the door and opened it. Chi-Chi shouted, "Gohan! Answer my question, what are you doing?"
Gohan spun around. "The only thing left for me to do: propose."
"Gohan!"
"Bye!"
"This could be a disaster," Goten remarked.
***
Mark looked out to the rainy day. Watching as the water fell down his window. It was five o'clock and there was really nothing to do. He walked upstairs and knocked on the door to the guestroom, which was more of a guesthouse, as it was equipped with a bathroom refrigerator, microwave etc.
Videl answered.
Mark cleared his throat. "I don't want to seem too forward and I'm not asking you out on a date, but do you want to go out to eat. There's a really nice restaurant, and it's raining so there's nothing to do here-"
"I don't know, Mark…"
"Totally platonic, Videl. Just you, me, some steak or fish or something just to unwind our nerves."
Videl looked down in thought. "Okay."
Mark smiled. "Pick out a dress and you'll be ready to go!" He said enthusiastically.
"Give me five minutes," Videl responded.
***
Goku dialed Master Roshi's phone number quickly. "Hey Krillin! It's Goku. Spread the news: my son's going to be on TV sometime tonight. He's going to propose to Videl."
Goku could hear Krillin eating. Krillin swallowed. "Propose? Finally. How do you know he's going to be on TV, though?"
"Because it's Videl Satan and then- you know how Gohan always does things."
Krillin laughed. "Gotcha. I'll call Yamcha, Tien and, no wait, Tien's out at your place, right? So I'll call Yamcha, Bulma-"
"Just call everyone!"
"Alright!"
***
"Told you it would be a short drive," Mark said.
Videl stepped out of the car as Mark handed a valet the keys. He surveyed Videl as she straightened her dress. It was a blue flowing fabric that had many layers. The topmost was a clear silver slip that made the dress unique. It wasn't tight, but it wasn't loose either and Mark found himself looking at her appreciatively. He took her arm and ushered her inside.
A lady walked up. "Excuse me, Ms. Videl. Aren't you going out with that young man… Son Gohan?"
Videl eyed the woman "You're Patty Hughes, aren't you?" she asked.
The woman nodded.
"I have no comment to make to you," Videl said blatantly and walked on with Mark.
Patty watched them enter the restaurant, one of the best ones in the city. Her eyes narrowed, already envisioning her name as reporter of the year. What a scoop this would be!
"I'll find out what's going on yet…"
***
Videl sat down in the chair Mark had pulled out for her.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome."
Mark sat down opposite Videl as she picked up her menu.
Mark reached across the table and pulled the menu down looking into her eyes.
"What? she asked.
"A ground rule: we're here for fun, no problems, no past incidents, just friends. And no Gohan, 'kay? Forget about him for awhile, it kind of looks like you need to."
Videl's mind went to last night.
"Don't forget me."
Videl shifted uneasily in her chair but smiled at Mark.
"Okay."
Videl went back to looking at the menu but actually was using it to hide her face from Mark.
"Don't forget me."
Videl sighed… she had never really wanted to.
So why do I keep running?
***
Gohan arrived at the only place Videl could be if her ki was in the area. Erasa's. He knocked.
Erasa answered.
"Erasa, thank Dende! Is Videl here?"
"No why...?"
"She has to be- I could feel her ki in this part of town!"
Erasa sighed. "I'm not suppose to tell you where she is, but i can casually mention that Mark lives around here too."
She pushed Gohan out the door and shut it behind her. Standing in the rain she shouted to Gohan. "Thank heavens you came! You have to find her! She said a bunch of stuff that was just stupid and-"
"I'm going!"
"Gohan!"
"Huh?"
"Good luck."
Gohan smiled weakly. "Thanks for your help."
"Anytime."
With that Gohan vaulted over a hedge making a bee-line for Mark's.
***
Mark laughed and took a sip of his water. "That's hilarious!" He said. "So that's why you first helped out the police?"
Videl finished, chuckling, "Yeah, I mean, I felt pretty bad when I crashed my first jet-copter into head quarters!"
Their dinner had been served and they were now eating pleasantly and having a quiet conversation. Lost in their talking neither noticed a woman who had been waiting in line for over a half an hour go by and grab a table without a reservation- Patty Hughes.
***
"Mark! Videl! Listen I know you're in there! Please open up! We really need to talk!"
"Sir?"
Gohan turned around to find an elderly lady sitting on the porch in the house across from Mark's.
"Yeah- uh, yes?"
"A young man and woman that looked like Videl and Mr. Sullivan, that's Mark, left about forty minutes ago."
"Thank you!" Gohan responded. Her ki was still in the area, she couldn't be that far away!
He focused and then flew.
***
"-Then I said I might as well just go to Satan Eastern College rather than West Capital University. Which is weird because Gohan's going to be teaching at West Capital!" Mark finished.
"That is kind of strange," Videl answered. "It would be weird to have him for a teacher. I'm going to Satan Eastern Capital, too."
Mark shrugged. "But we're breaking the rules, no Gohan remember?"
Videl nodded.
***
"I'm sorry, sir, coat and tie is not optional. You're wearing- uh- what are you wearing?"
"It's called a gi!" Gohan said loudly.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Gohan rolled his eyes. "Listen, I'll make you a deal. You give me your coat and tie so I can go in and I'll... I don't know... do anything! Paint your house, buy you a new car-"
"No."
Gohan placed the credit card on the counter. "Take as much as you want!"
"I'm, once again, sorry. I don't even have you down for reservations!"
Gohan clenched his teeth. "I'm going in that restaurant."
"I'll call security."
"What are they going to do to-" Gohan sighed. "Okay, okay I'll get a coat and tie!"
"You need reservations as well!"
"Okay!"
Gohan walked quickly down the street until he came across some store with formal attire displayed in the window. He ran in and changed into the first suit he saw giving the clerk the credit card with the directions "Take whatever you need."
***
Mark stood. "Could you excuse me, Videl. I'm going to use the restroom."
"Sure."
***
Gohan was back at the restaurant and cutting the line.
"There! Coat. Tie. Voila! Let me in!"
"No reservations, sir."
"Screw the reservations I-"
"Sir, please- you're all wet and-"
"Ask me if I care! I was in the rain!" Gohan pushed the man away gently and ran towards the dining area fingering the box in his pocket. Now that he was here, how was he going to tell her that he loved her beyond any true scope of the word?
Gohan stopped at the entrance to the dining area and realized just how out of place he was: disheveled and soaking wet. He stood there breathing hard. He scanned the dining area and saw Videl.
Gohan began walking over casually, aware that many people were giving him funny looks and a few were even whispering 'Is that Son Gohan?" to themselves.
***
Videl placed her water on the table and looked up. 'Holy shit, it's Gohan!' She thought to herself.
She began to look around uncomfortably, trying to divert her attention so that she could begin to ignore him. It was then that she spotted Patty Hughes sitting a few tables down by herself and with a notepad in hand.
When Videl's attention returned to the oncoming half-Saiyan he was at her table and out of breath, not to mention sopping wet and slightly muddy in a suit that didn't fit.
Videl began to panic. Everyone turned and stared.
Gohan took a box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful, simple ring. It was small but studded with tiny diamonds around one larger one. It looked...expensive.
Gohan got his breathing under control. "Videl, I only want to do this once in my life, so let me do this right." With that he knelt on one knee and began speaking.
"Videl, I- I know that you're scared and I understand that we're young, that we've only been dating for- uh, I'd do the math but I can hardly function, um- well we've been dating for less than a year.
"However we've been friends longer and there's something about this feeling for you that is something I can't help." He took a shaky breath and wiped his eyes slightly. "It's just that every time I look at you I see the rest of my life and it's terrifying the hell out of me that you might not be seeing the same thing when you look at me and- and- Dende, Videl… You've already made me the happiest man on Earth, and I just know that I want that forever… with you…
"And this may not be the most romantic place, under the most romantic circumstances-" He swallowed, trying to lose the knot in his throat that had developed. "And I never thought of you or our relationship as a joke and I hope this proves it. It just-" Gohan smiled through his tears. "It just feels right. So Videl, I ask you with all the love I have, will you please marry me?"
Videl swore and couldn't help but smile.
Gohan chuckled at her reaction and wiped his eyes again.
Out of the corner of Videl's eye she saw Mark enter her view.
At the other side of the restaurant guards with the word 'SECURITY' on their jackets ran in. "You are under arrest," one began. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You also have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one…"
"VIDEL!" She heard Mark shout. "You can't-" When she turned around to look at Mark again, a large camera flashed in her face.
She looked back at Gohan who seemed to be oblivious to everyone and everything in the room except her. Videl found herself noticing the tiniest things, things she shouldn't be worrying about when just asked the question she had been asked. Things like how Gohan's hair was damp against his neck and how his cheeks were flecked with drops of water.
She knew this couldn't be a hoax- he was there, like he'd always been, even when it was her who'd been the ass. It was him, Gohan, The Great Saiyaman, The Scrawny Kid, The Guy Who Beat Cell… her best friend.
She then comprehended that every eye in the place was on her.
And then she realized why she wasn't worried about what she would say, because somewhere she already knew what she was going to say. But all the same she began stuttering as the answer left her lips.
"Gohan, I-I-"
******
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!
So you're all going to kill me now aren't you? I bet I totally caught you of guard! My computer is going to burn with all the flames I'm going to get. It's all for the cause though. In the next chapter (coming out I don't know when!) : Yeah, the media's back at it and they're going to flip over this one!