Author's Note: I have to admit, even I was about to cry typing up that last chapter. But it's time for the story to advance and this time I'll be doing another time jump so enjoy everyone.
Three years have passed since the Son family had to say goodbye to Chi-Chi who was a beloved mother, wife, and grandmother. Gohan and Goten were able to make it through the tragedy thanks to the comfort of their wives, and of course Cheena and Kakarot comforted each other along with being comforted by their parents. But things were not as easy for Goku. No matter how much time passed his heart still ached every time he would lay down alone at night and wake up to find his beautiful mate wasn't there.
Goten noticed his dad only seemed to keep falling deeper into depression. Goku didn't eat like he used to or train like he used to and his heart warming grin the Son boys had inherited from him had become a rare expression on his heroic face. Goten decided to talk with his dad and try to help him through this. He knew it wasn't easy to keep going without mother around but Goten wanted his happy go lucky father back, because lately it felt like he had lost both of his parents.
Goku was sitting on his couch drinking a glass of ice cold coke and staring intensely at his wedding picture. The savior of the universe put his glass down and released a depressing sigh.
"I could have been a better husband to her. I know I had to keep training to make sure I was ready if there was ever a new threat to emerge, but I should have spent less time training and more time with her. I was so stupid to choose to stay in Other World for seven years. I must have had a really inflated ego to believe all the threats to Earth simply arose because of me. The Earth wasn't any less safer with me living here, but my family sure was hurting because I chose to leave them." Goku's grief turned into anger, anger at himself.
Goku turned his attention to the floor that could seriously use a good mopping, "Three years I've spent without her cuddled in my arms at night, but she had to spend seven years without me. Seven years of hurting like this…how could I have hurt her like that? I just want her back so I can make up for what I did…I want my Chi-Chi."
Goku's head jerked up at the sound of knocking coming from the door. He opened the door to find his youngest child with a nervous smile like he couldn't decide how should be acting right now.
"Come on in, son. I just made some tea." Goku invited his son into the kitchen.
Goten sat there looking into his cup and sighed, "Dad, I'm just going to come out and say it. I know you haven't been yourself since mom passed away. I know it must get pretty lonely living here all by yourself so I talked with Roza and she and I were thinking…maybe you would like to come live with us?"
Goku gave his son a small smile, "That's nice of you to offer but I couldn't do that. That's your home and you and Roza need your privacy. I would just be getting in the way."
Goten shook his head, "You know that is just not true dad. Besides I know Kakarot would really love it if you came to live with us."
Goku took a sip of tea, "Goten, your house is right next to mine. It's not like I never see the little guy."
"I know that but it's just having people there when you get ready to go to bed or when you wake up in the morning you want someone there, don't you? Besides Roza cooks pretty well, not as good as mom but don't tell her I said that." Goten froze when he realized he brought up his mother.
He looked at his father's expression suddenly turn depressing, "Dad, I'm sorry."
"No it's fine, Goten. We need to remember your mother." Goku tried his best to smile, "She was the best cook in the universe, wasn't she?"
Goten nodded sadly, "Yeah, she was an amazing mom. Strict at times but she always had a kind heart."
The young demi-saiyan began to recall random memories of when he was a kid, just little things like scrapping his knee and his mom applying a bandage with care. Or the bed time stories she would read. Before he realized it, Goten was starting to shed tears.
"Mother…" He whispered sadly.
Goku stood up and gave his son a hug, "It's okay, son. I miss her too. Maybe you're right. Maybe it would be better if I moved in with you guys."
Goten nodded as he tried to recompose himself, "Sounds like a plan. How about you come by for dinner tonight? We're having a hug pot of spaghetti and meatballs, and salad too."
Goku couldn't deny that did sound delicious, "I'd love to, son."
Goten's eyes widened and he quickly jumped to his feet, "I can't believe I forgot! Kakarot has a dentist appointment today! I've got like 5 minutes to have him to the dentist to get a cavity filled."
Goku smiled, "These are the type of everyday situations where instant transmission really comes in handy."
Goten smiled back, "Thanks dad."
Goku and Goten headed outside where Cheena and Kakarot now eight years old were enjoying their lunch which consisted of BBQ sandwiches, potato chips, and soda. Kakarot took three giant bites out of a sandwich and that was all it took to finish it.
"So Cheena, I was thinking we should enter the world martial arts tournament this year. They're starting a new tag team division and we make a pretty good tag team, don't we?" Kakarot suggested.
Cheena nodded, "Well of course. But why do you want to enter the tournament? It's not like anyone could give us real competition."
Kakarot ate a chip, "That's true, but I think it would cheer grandpa Goku up if he saw us fight in the tournament."
Cheena smiled, "Oh now I get it. That is a great idea, Kakarot!"
Cheena noticed her uncle and grandpa approaching and waved at them.
Kakarot jumped up and ran toward his father, "Hey dad guess what! Cheena and I want to fight in the tournament!"
Goten blinked his eyes a little confused as to why his son would want to fight in a tournament he knew he could easily win, "Really? Well if it's okay with your mom and Cheena's parents then I guess you can. But first you have a dentist appointment."
Kakarot took a step back, "Oh no you are not taking me to that awful place! The dentist will stick that big shot in my gum and it will hurt!"
Goten couldn't help but agree with his son. Goten and Kakarot both seemed to have the same fear of needles as their father did. "Look I know it isn't any fun to get a shot. But when I was a kid I had to get shots too. Although to be completely honest with you I didn't need a lot of them since I'm half saiyan but my mom insisted I get them anyways…"
Goten froze again as he brought up his mother once more. Goku's smile disappeared quickly. Kakarot looked at the two grown ups with concern.
"Daddy…I'm ready to go to the dentist now." Kakarot said without a fuss, knowing his father was in no mood for it.
Goten picked up his son and Kakarot wrapped his tail around his father's arm. Goku placed his hand on Goten's shoulder and Cheena grabbed a hold of her grandpa as they were all transported to the dentist parking lot thanks to instant transmission.
Inside Goten quickly signed the paper work and handed it back to the nurse at the front desk. Cheena and Kakarot sat in the waiting room silently watching TV. Goku looked at Goten and patted his son's shoulder.
"Goten, don't feel bad for bringing up your mother. I'm happy you remember her so fondly. Seriously son, don't feel like you aren't allowed to remember her. You loved her, we all did, and we'll never forget her." Goku tried to assure his son everything was fine.
"Thanks dad." Goten said to his father with a small smile.
"Son Kakarot, the doctor will see you now." A nurse said from the door.
"You want me to go with you?" Goten offered.
Kakarot shook his head, "No dad, I'm not a little kid. I got this."
Goten rolled his eyes, "Kakarot, you're only eight years old."
"Can I go?" Cheena asked sweetly and looked at Kakarot with that innocent expression he couldn't ignore.
Kakarot sighed, "Sure Cheena, come on." He smiled.
She jumped up and followed him back to the room where he had to wait for the dentist.
"Alright sweetheart, I have to give you a shot first to numb you and then the dentist will be in here in a few minutes to fill those nasty cavities." The nurse said sweetly.
Kakarot gulped and nodded, "Sure…okay…" He said nervously.
He slowly opened his mouth and just as he felt the sharp point of the needle pierce his gum, he also felt a small warm hand covering his own and glanced over to see it was Cheena. She was comforting him despite the fact he was trying to act like a grown up. Before he knew it the shot was out of his mouth and the pain gone.
"There we go. The dentist should be here in about ten minutes. But no kissy kissy stuff in the mean time." The nurse joked.
Kakarot blushed, "Oh no you see we're cousins actzully." Kakarot's mouth was starting to go numb already.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry about that." The nurse apologized.
Cheena giggled and kissed Kakarot's cheek, "Yeah no kissy kissy or my daddy might beat you up." She joked.
The nurse left but thought the two kids were adorable none the less.
Cheena sat back in a chair in the corner of the room and sighed, "Kakarot…this may be a bad time to bring this up but…um my parents want me to start public school. Have your parents said anything about you going to public school?"
Kakarot simply nodded since if he talked it would come out all muffled.
"I'm kind of afraid about the whole thing though." Cheena admitted.
Kakarot wasn't really afraid of going to school, he just thought it would be really boring and he just really wanted to hang out with Cheena all day. He wasn't interested in school.
"But if we're going to school together then I'll be okay. You did say you would always protect me right?" She asked knowing full well what his answer would be.
Kakarot simply nodded again and gave her a smile.
Right then the dentist came in and Kakarot had his cavities filled. Later that night Goten, Roza, Kakarot, and Goku were enjoying spaghetti and meatballs.
"This is really good, Roza! Goten was right, you are an excellent cook." Goku complimented.
Roza blushed, "Thank you, Goku." Roza thought about Chi-Chi and how she had taught her how to cook all of Goten's favorite dishes.
"So Kakarot, you're mother and I have been thinking…school starts in a couple of months and I think it's about time you started before you get too far behind." Goten brought the issue up to his son.
Kakarot sighed, "Dad, I'm a fighter. School is for people who want to become college professors like uncle Gohan is. I'd rather just lay back and hang out with Cheena."
"Videl told me they she's planning to enroll Cheena in public school at the beginning of the year too. You wouldn't want Cheena going down to school all alone would you?" Roza asked, playing on Kakarot's protectiveness toward Cheena.
Kakarot played with a meatball with his fork and sighed, "Alright mom, I will go to school if Cheena does."
Goku grinned and poked his grandson's shoulder, "You really like Cheena, don't you?"
Kakarot nearly choked on the meatball he was trying to swallow, "What! Uh no of course not! What makes you say that, grandpa!"
"Yeah, I mean they are cousins." Roza said as she rubbed her lip with a napkin.
Goku blinked, "Oh I didn't mean like that. I just meant they're best friends and all." Goku laughed.
Kakarot nodded, "Yep, she's my best friend."
Goten looked at his father questioningly, "Besides even if Kakarot tried to make a move on her, Gohan would be pretty mad." Goten said in a half joking way. The hybrid had an idea that his older brother had a negative disposition toward Kakarot, but didn't want the rest of the family aware of it. No reason to start trouble unless Gohan did something that forced Goten to take up his more violent fatherly duties.
Roza glared over at her husband and thought to herself, "Who the hell does he think he's fooling. I can tell when he's hiding something. Looks like he and I will have a very interesting conversation before we go to sleep tonight."
"Goku could you do me a favor and put the leftovers in the fridge? Kakarot you can help your grandpa clean up too. I suddenly feel like I need to lay down." Roza said in a soft tone to try and sound like she was feeling sick. "Oh and Goten could you help me get into bed?"
Goten nodded and smiled, "Of course I will." The hybrid stood up and walked with his wife upstairs.
As soon as they were in the bedroom she locked the door and smirked, "So my dear husband, what are you hiding?"
"What do you mean?" Goten asked confused.
She placed her finger on his chin and gave him a suspicious smirk, "You're a terrible liar, you know that? What is this thing about Gohan, Kakarot, and Cheena you're not being completely honest about?"
Goten frowned, "Roza it's no big deal. Let's just not talk about it, it will only lead to trouble."
"If it includes my son then I have every right to know what is going on. Now don't make me angry Goten, you don't want to see a full blooded saiyan woman when she is angry." She gave him a frightening glare.
"Oh alright. But please don't get mad." Goten asked.
Goten sat down on the bed and began to explain, "Gohan thinks Cheena and Kakarot are getting too close…if you get what I mean. He also has hinted he thinks Kakarot will grow up to be nothing but trouble."
Roza gripped her fist, "But why! Kakarot has done nothing wrong. Kakarot has done nothing but been good to Cheena. Goten, I'm sorry to say this but I think you're brother is kind of paranoid."
Goten nodded, "I hate to say it but I kind of agree."
Roza looked at the window and sighed, "I'm starting to see what Videl was talking about."
"What do you mean?" Goten asked.
Roza looked at Goten and said, "I shouldn't be telling you this. After all what is said between wives should stay between wives but Gohan is your brother so here it is. Videl told me sometimes she feels like Gohan doesn't even notice her. She said when she and Gohan first started dating that he was so passionate, but that over the past few years he seemed to just kind of ignore her. I'm starting to see why she would think that. He's so focused on this whole paranoid thing that he hasn't been paying attention to his wife."
"Really? Poor Videl…I just wish I could talk to Gohan about all of this but he wont listen to me anymore." Goten explained.
"You think your father could talk to him?" Roza asked.
Goten nodded, "I think so. After all Gohan adores father, and dad…well let's just say that between Gohan and I, Gohan is probably the favorite."
Roza shook her head, "You know your dad doesn't have a favorite."
"Look I know dad loves us both dearly but he and Gohan bonded in a way I could never with my father. It's to be expected with Gohan being the first born son and all. Gohan was mom's favorite too. But I'm older now and that doesn't bother me like it used to." Gohan admitted.
Roza looked at him sincerely and asked, "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." He stood up and kissed his beautiful wife. "Now how about we get some sleep. I'll tell dad to talk to Gohan tomorrow."
"Alright. Just let me go say goodnight to Kakarot." She said before she headed down the hall to her son's room.
Goten looked out the window at the calm grassy field and sighed, "Brother…" He whispered to himself.
Then he looked at his reflection in the window glass and for a second he could of sword he saw his reflection turn to Ryo's face. Goten shook his head and sighed, "I must really need some sleep."