CHAPTER 38: Dinner for Three

When Keiko invited Goku to stay with her until the Cell Games she assumed it would just be the two of them, plus numerous visits from the adorable Gohan. She didn't expect that the phone would ring as she was outside visiting with Bulma and Trunks. She couldn't have known that it would be Grayson, or that Goku would decide to answer it. There was no clue that when Keiko walked back into her house Goku would have agreed to them meeting Grayson for dinner that very night.

"Why are you so nervous?"

Once Keiko had found out about dinner she felt instantly queasy. She hadn't talked to Grayson in a while and along with feeling amazingly guilty she didn't think their catch up dinner should include Goku. Not because Keiko didn't want Goku around, but she knew that it would most likely end up being awkward.

"I'm not nervous," her hands fluttered through her closet as she stood in her bedroom wearing a navy blue robe.

"You're not a very good liar."

"I take offense to-" blue eyes had been so busy scanning clothing items they had yet to take a glance at Goku as he stood in the doorway. The words were taken from her mouth as she noticed the man standing in a black suit and tie, his hands relaxing by his sides and his eyes focused in on her, "Um, wow."

"What? Do I have a stain?" Goku's eyes dropped to his suit as he searched for a stain that could have found its way onto the black fabric.

"Where did you get that?"

"I got it from my house."

"I didn't notice you leave."

"Instant Transmission."

"Oh," Keiko whispered as she crossed her arms in front of her, "Well I must say you look rather handsome, but you didn't need to get dressed up for the occasion. I'm sure you aren't very comfortable in that."

"I wanted to look nice for you," he said it nonchalantly, not realizing the sweetness that his comment included.

"You have no clue how amazing you are."

"Hm," his head titled to the side, "I guess not. So why are you nervous?"

Keiko went back to looking through her closet, moving towards the fancier items- which were few and far between, "I just feel bad for not talking to Grayson very much."

"You've talked to him on the phone though right?"

"Yeah," she lifted a mustard colored dress out of her closet, studying it for a moment before putting it back, "But I feel like that isn't enough. I should make time to see him, but with everything going on I just haven't had time."

"He will understand, I mean Cell is a big threat, of course you would be busy dealing with all of that."

Cell is only part of what has been keeping me away. Keiko had barely thought of the upcoming Cell Games, mainly because she didn't need the added worry. Her mind had been busy processing the possibility of Ariel being her daughter. The feeling had been intensifying over the past two days, ever since she was sick the day of Gohan's party.

"I know he will understand," Keiko sighed as she settled on a simple black dress, "But I'm also just afraid of it being, well you know."

"What?"

"Awkward. With the three of us there, I don't want someone to feel like the third wheel." And that someone would end up being Grayson, she thought but since her and Goku weren't technically a couple she didn't want to make that assumption out loud. For all she knew Goku and Grayson would end up being best friends and she would be the third wheel. Not likely, but possible.

"That's not going to happen. Ya know what?"

"What?"

"You worry too much."

"Thank you captain obvious," Keiko laughed, "Now if you wouldn't mind I need to change."

"I thought we were over that now, I mean I've already seen you-"

"Ahhh!" Keiko rushed towards Goku, pushing him back and out of her room before he would start an uncomfortable conversation, "Be out in a minute," she slurred as with one last push Goku was out and the door was closed and locked.

Goku didn't even question why Keiko bull rushed him out of the room, because he already knew that sometimes Keiko did odd things. It was one of those accepted facts that they understood about each other. Once Keiko was alone she allowed herself to take a deep breath, closing her eyes and letting her shoulders drop. She was overreacting to this whole scenario and she didn't want her worrying to make Goku worry. He could already tell that she wasn't excited about dinner, and the last thing Keiko wanted was to make Goku feel bad for agreeing to this.

The black fabric slid over Keiko's body, fitting snugly around her frame. The dress was lacking straps, which did mean she would have to compulsively make sure the dress didn't fall. Her hand reached behind her, grabbing for the zipper, only to have it get stuck halfway up. She tried again, never having had an issue with this dress not fitting properly.

"Goku," she called her hand still on the zipper as she unlocked the door and took a step out.

"Yeah," there Goku was, sitting outside of her room in idle thought simply waiting for her.

"Ugh," Keiko let go of the zipper and slid down onto the floor, "I can't zip up my dress," she leaned her head back onto the wall, her head turned to face Goku.

"Well I can help, I bet you just couldn't reach," Goku gently pulled Keiko on the hardwood floor so she was sitting in front of him.

"I guess," Keiko sat up straight, feeling Goku's fingers brush up against her bare back as he held onto the zipper.

"Okay now I gotta focus," Goku said out loud, realizing how fragile the zipper was and how in his Super Saiyan form he could easily snap it off. He would forget that he was in this form, until moments like this when he was asked to do a task that to him was considered fragile.

"About that," Keiko felt the zipper move painstakingly slow up her back, "It may freak Grayson out if he sees you in Super Saiyan form. I know you wanna stay like that until the Cell Games so it's your choice, I'm sure we could come up with an explanation."

"It's fine," the energy that had been so apparent to Keiko as she sat in front of Goku vanished, leaving her with a tingling feeling surging through her body, "One night won't hurt."

Keiko turned her head to see that golden glow dissipated. Turquoise eyes muted and locked onto the black zipper which had been refusing to rise any higher, "Got it!" Goku announced joyously as he zipper slid to its resting place at the top of the dress.

"Thank you," her lips touched his cheek as she twisted her upper body, feeling the dress clinging to her ribs in a way it hadn't the last time she wore it.

"You're welcome."

"Not just for the dress," she turned her body so their knees touched as they sat cross legged, "For staying with me until the Cell Games, and for keeping me sane during all of this. You'll never know how much that means to me."

"Keiko," Goku's hand reached up to touch her cheek, "I haven't wanted to say anything, but you've seemed really stressed lately. And not like your normal stress, you've been different."

"Different?"

"Yeah," Goku's hand dropped and landed on her knee, "You sit and stare at nothing for a long time like something is on your mind and you can't stop thinking about it. At night you keep tossing and turning and well," he paused, his eyes looking down, "I'm worried."

It was only a matter of time until Goku began noticing the signs of Keiko's worry. She felt stupid for not realizing how much she was projecting it, that her thoughts were coming across in her actions. A part of her wanted to tell Goku what she was thinking, to relieve herself of bearing the secret. She wanted desperately to know what he thought of the possibility of them having a daughter, and if he would still be able to accept her. The fear didn't come with the thought of having a child; it came with the thought of Goku not accepting it. The fear of everyone judging her, the fear that her child would grow up scrutinized and judged based on her mother's actions. It was the fear of his reaction that kept Keiko's mouth shut.

"Can you trust me when I say that you don't need to worry about me?"

"Can't you just tell me what's wrong?" he was desperate, it was obvious from the way his dark eyes searched hers.

"Not now," her heart sank as she watched Goku's face drop, "But not because I don't want to or don't think you should know. I just need time. I promise Goku I will tell you, I just have to figure it all out first."

She felt insensitive by leaving Goku out of something that had everything to do with him. He deserved to know, but she didn't want to get him all riled up over something that may not even be true. She needed to know for sure that she was pregnant, and then she would figure out a way to tell him.

"I promise," she whispered as the gap between them closed, her lips brushing against his. As they separated Keiko's eyes remained shut as she let out a sigh, "Do we have to go?"

"Well if you don't want to."

"You're supposed to say," Keiko opened her eyes and lowered her chin, "Now Keiko get up and let's get going, don't chicken out! We are going and you have no choice now man up!" her voice dropped an octave, sounding nothing like Goku but she had certainly tried.

"Well then," Goku stood up, his gaze down at her, "Keiko get up and let's get going, don't chicken out!" he reached down, grabbing her hands and pulled her up as if she was as light as air. His hands moved from her hands to her waist as he hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Goku stop!" she laughed as he began carrying her towards the front door.

"We are going and you have no choice."

"But I need shoes!"

"Man up," he took a few more steps before stopping, pulling Keiko off his shoulder and holding her in front of him so their faces were even and her feet were dangling in the air, "Do you want to go get your shoes or I can go get them."

"I'll go get them," she said it with too much of a smirk, and Goku could tell something was up even before she began flailing and escaped from his grasp.

Her feet hit the ground running, hoping Goku would at least let her try to escape. She made it to her room without him catching her, and knowing Goku wouldn't destroy her home she closed and locked the door. There was only one pair of heels that she felt comfortable enough to wear, and they were actually Bulma's she had 'borrowed' years ago and never returned. She had only taken one step towards her closet to retrieve the shoes when out of the corner of her eyes she noticed him.

"Using Instant Transmission is so not fair!" she whined as Goku began laughing. This time he didn't allow her to even try to make a run for it before she was once again on his shoulder.

"At least get my shoes and purse before we go," her breathing was short from the laughter as she guided Goku to the closet, pointing out the accessories she needed.

"Will you at least let me walk into the restaurant once we get there?" she huffed as Goku carried her outside.

"Maybe," he smirked, moving towards the sidewalk.

"My car's over there ya know," Keiko lifted her chest, pointing towards where her car was parked.

"I know," before Keiko could explain how odd it would look if they arrived without a vehicle Goku placed two fingers on his forehead and they were standing in front of the restaurant.

"Um…hey?"

The florescent streets lights illuminated the busy downtown area. Restaurants and shopping areas lined up next to each other as bystanders stopped what they were doing to take a glance at the man holding a barefoot woman on his shoulder. The brick colored restaurant was line with large windows, clear enough that the people enjoying their pasta stopped mid bite to turn and see the odd spectacle. Grayson stood with hands in suit pockets, a puzzled expression adorning his face.

"Hey," Keiko carried the word out, laughing slightly to break the tension, "Nice to see you."

"Did you uh hurt yourself? Or why is he carrying you?"

"I fell," Keiko lied as she slid off of Goku's back, the dirty cement beneath her feet, "You know I was just walking alone when uh-oh!" she took her shoes out of Goku's hands, slipping them on and gaining two inches in height, "I'm fine now so don't worry no need to continue talking about my mishaps."

It stayed silent for a moment, enough time for anyone who had been staring to avert their eyes and continue on with their evening. Cars sent rushes of wind as they passed, but this cooling air did nothing to take the redness off of Keiko's cheeks. It wasn't until Grayson began laughing, both at the situation and at how embarrassed Keiko was, that things lightened up.

"It really is nice to see you again Keiko," Grayson enveloped her in a hug, his chest still rising with laughter, "You too Goku," he released her, reaching his hand out to shake Goku's. The handshake lasted a second before Grayson retracted in pain, Goku's normal handshake having been too powerful for Grayson.

"Well," the man shook his hand before sticking it back in his pocket, "Let's go inside."

The dinner was peaceful, made even more so when Goku decided to consume a normal amount of food. The rate at which he consumed it was still abnormally quick, but Grayson didn't seem to mind and Keiko was simply used to it by now. They babbled on about unimportant things like the weather and how the pollen count seemed to be rather high. Conversation never neared anything if extreme importance, giving Keiko a feeling of normalcy. Once the dinner was over Keiko was content to go back home, a feeling of relief settling into her gut as the guilt of not seeing Grayson floated away.

"Before you go, Keiko, can I talk to you?" The clacking of her heels stopped as she turned to Grayson, wondering what he would need to talk to her about in private. "I promise it won't take long," he assured.

"Yeah, okay," Keiko saw no reason to worry, yet her mind jumped to a conclusion that perhaps she was in for a lecture.

As they walked away from Goku and the bustling street she braced herself to have to turn Grayson down once and for all. Not once had Grayson condemned Keiko for loving a married man, but it was apparent in his eyes that he still had some strange hope living inside him. A hope that Keiko would realize how foolish her love was and seek an alternative, and perhaps that alternative would be him.

"You seem happy," his voice drew Keiko away from her thoughts as the pavement beneath their feet turned to grass.

"Yeah I am," she focused her gaze on the trees ahead of her, the open escape of lush foliage that was hidden by the shadows of night.

"Good," he chuckled, "I was worried."

"You don't have to, I know you don't approve but I'm happy with my life."

"Good, that's good. And I'm not just saying that to be nice. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. Doesn't matter who you're with- Goku, me, some random guy- as long as you're happy then I'm happy."

She could tell that he meant it, and that it broke his heart. He possessed the knowledge that Keiko's heart was firmly given away and he had managed to overcome that. "I'm sorry," she didn't know what else to say, because saying 'thank you' just didn't feel right.

She was thankful for his attitude, but she wasn't thankful that she had to be the one to break his heart, to teach him this unusual lesson. They were two people that could so easily be in love had they met decades ago. Had they been friends when they were children, had she never even met Goku then she knew their lives would be different. That is why she apologized, because she knew that she could have loved him, but that she never would.

"Look the real reason I wanted to talk to you is to tell you I'm going away for a little bit."

"What's 'a little bit' mean?"

"Two, three weeks tops I made sure it wouldn't be that long."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm getting treatment," he stopped walking, the park surrounding them, "I have cancer Keiko."

"How long have you known?"

"A while."

Keiko wasn't sure what happened first. Whether it was the tears or the slap across his face that sent him staggering backwards. The grass cushioned Keiko's fall as her knees hit first, her head finding its way into her hands. She didn't care to know the details; in fact she wanted to not have to even speak to Grayson right now. The reason he shaved his head, those moments where he sounded so exhausted on the phone, and Keiko had no clue what had been going on. She had been so engrossed in her own problems, issues, life that she ignored Grayson never once thinking to question whether he was truly okay or not. The guilt ate at her, making her feel nauseous as all of her problems suddenly seemed miniscule and her mind was plagued with the thought of Grayson facing this and possibly not surviving it.

"Keiko, please don't. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I was just afraid of your reaction. But you don't need to worry, I'm getting treatment and I still have a lot of life to live."

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry," she mumbled into her hands as Grayson sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her frame.

"Keiko stop," he chuckled, "I told you I'd be fine."

"I know, but that's not why I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being there for you Grayson, I'm so sorry that I wasn't there and that you felt you couldn't tell me."

Goku found them there, sensing a spike in Keiko's ki he was quick to arrive to see her sitting on the ground sobbing. Grayson was quick to explain from his spot on the grass next to her, where he was holding tightly onto her body. An ache manifested in Goku's chest as he picked Keiko up from the ground, cradling her in his arms. He promised Grayson to make sure she was okay, assuring him that she would be fine and contact him soon. Grayson swallowed the lump in his throat; allowing Goku to step in as the comforter- the person Keiko needed the most. As Grayson turned to leave he heard his names called, turning to see Keiko wiping tears from her eyes.

"Listen up Grayson," she sniffled, "Now that I know you better be prepared, I'm going to be watching you like a hawk now. No way in hell I'm gonna let you do this alone, we're gonna beat this. Me and you."

The tears had momentarily ceased from his eyes, and Grayson couldn't resist the small laugh that came from his chest. "Me and you," he repeated, nodding before he waved goodbye and began walking out of the park.

"I'm okay," Keiko mumbled as she got out of Goku's grasp, her feet hitting the floor, "I promise, it just hit me hard and I couldn't control it, but I'm fine now. I'm gonna be strong- for Grayson."

Goku's arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly as he kissed the top of her head, "He's lucky to have a friend as strong as you."

"No, I think I'm lucky to have a friend as strong as him."

Author's Note: First off, I realize that anyone following this story is probably amazed that I updated and frustrated that it took me so long- and for that I apologize, but I am back and hope to have more regular updates until the end of the story. Thank you to all of the readers who have stuck through this journey with me, I promise it will have an end. Please make sure to leave a review letting me know what you thought. Also I am going to make an effort to post any news on updates, stories, any new banners, etc on a tumblr so check it out (the link can be found on my profile)