Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or any of its products nor anything associated with it.

Chapter 26

Gohan landed gently on the front porch of his new home and made his way quietly inside. Please, let her be asleep. I've been gone all damn night and I still have no idea as to what is going on, and now I probably have a royally pissed girlfriend waiting for me. He slowly opened the door to their shared bedroom to find Erasa pacing back forth with a very cup of coffee in her hands.

As soon as she spotted him she whirled around on her heel, "What is going on? You left here like the world was going to end, and, the next thing I know, there's some report on about an earthquake that made underground gas pockets explode in a forest hundreds of miles away. Then it's a video of you and Vegeta duking it out over West city with both of you announcing each other's name at the top of your lungs.

Before Gohan could explain, Erasa's phone began to ring. Gohan watched as she snatched it up and grimaced before answering, "What do you want Videl?"

Gohan's mouth opened slightly as he listened to only Erasa's side, "I've seen the news...No I don't think they are connected...Yes, that video is of Gohan is me...I was going to get ran over!...Lifting a car is very different from being to fly and shoot lasers, Videl!...Did you seriously call at five thirty in the morning just to yell and argue!...Oh, I'm sorry if I sound like I don't want to talk...We didn't exactly part as friends last time...You called me a piece of ass!...Well good luck with that, especially since I don't live there anymore!"

Gohan cringed as Erasa slammed her phone down on the dresser as a series of small cracks was heard. I wonder if that coffee is actually helping anything? With a weary sigh, he moved to comfort Erasa only to have a slim hand shoved in his face.

"Back it up, mister! You are covered in dried blood and sweat, your clothes are ruined, yet again, and I'm still irritated!", Erasa declared.

Gohan's pride couldn't take anymore slamming as he stood up straight despite his body's protest, "I was out saving people! It's not like I just up and left for shits and giggles!"

Erasa took a long drink of her coffee before responding, "You could've called! You could've destroyed the news vans or the helicopters! You could've gathered those Dragonball things and just wished it all away!"

Gohan threw his hands up, "I would love to just wish it all away, but with Dende dead, the Dragonballs won't work! As it stands, my best friend is dead, the guardian and his assistant are dead, and the only other strong fighter left on this planet just had a psychotic break!"

Erasa winced as tears slowly formed in her eyes and the waterworks began, "I'm sorry, Gohan. I was just so scared and nervous. I was so worried that I'd fall asleep while waiting for you, or that something would happen to you, so I just made some coffee and forced myself to stay awake."

Gohan grabbed Erasa's heaving shoulders as she sobbed and nervously asked, "You don't normally stay up late or drink a lot of caffeine do you?"

"I'm just so sad! I want a puppy! I'm sorry that Piccolo is dead! Can you even have children being a hybrid! I'm just so confused", Erasa bounced between emotions while Gohan just stared wide eyed.

"Bulma is working on what to do about Piccolo. I think I can still have children, but we can worry about that at a much later time. Now, why don't I go get cleaned up and we'll just get you that puppy", Gohan tried to reason with the exhausted and caffeine high girl.

The teary eyed Erasa bobbed her head as she dabbed at her eyes. Gohan took the silence as a positive sign and hurried over to the dresser and grabbed a fresh Gi. He was in the bathroom and showering in a matter of moments as he tried to flee the emotional girl.

After he had cleaned himself off and redressed in clean clothes, he stepped out of the bathroom ready to face Erasa. He looked around and spotted a head full of blonde hair sticking out from underneath the blankets. Oh thank goodness, we really didn't need a dog already. I'm fairly certain that comes after sex. Of course, living together normally comes after that too nowadays. Even better yet, I can get some sleep now.

Gohan stripped down to just his pants and crawled under the blankets as he pulled the thin frame of Erasa against him. With an arm around her waist, he held her close as he drifted off into his own slumber.