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

Chapter 50

Gohan groaned as he felt energies moving from across the world moving towards Capsule Corporation. Adjusting and stretching, he felt a pair of cold feet pressed against him. He gently shook Erasa as he registered that they had overslept and were going to be late for the party. Of course, everyone will know why were late too. At least dad didn't teleport in here last night. Man, that would've been awkward. Feeling two power levels outside he grunted in annoyance.

"You're being too loud", came the sleepy voice of Erasa.

"Yeah, well, we have a guest, and it's time for the party", Gohan replied as he swung his legs out of the bed and stood in the cool air of the large room as he suddenly wished that he had put on something more substantial than the thin boxers last night. Man, that shower was pretty pointless last night since round two came not much later.

Erasa sat up on the bed as she held the blankets up against her chest with her back exposed to the goosebump-inducing chill, "Who's here?"

"Piccolo and Dende", Gohan said curtly before catching his tone. With an apologetic smile, he leaned forward and kissed her before cringing, "Kami, our breath smells awful!"

"I think you mean 'Dende!'", came the smaller Namek's yell from outside the house.

"Pointy eared bastard", Gohan muttered before yelling back, "Yeah, yeah, let me brush my teeth and get dressed."

"You would already be dressed if you didn't spend so much time complaining about us!", came the laughing voice.

"Dende, I swear to you, if you keep this up I will come out as I am and you can see the difference between an asexual plant and a Saiyan", was the annoyed reply.

"I swear I just heard Vegeta's voice in your mouth", Erasa teased.

"Don't help him", Gohan argued as Dended chuckled.

In no time, the young warrior had cleaned up and thrown on a Gi as he headed out the door while Erasa commandeered the bathroom. Marching down the stairs and out the door, he came face to face with the two Namek's. Dende looked as happy as ever while Piccolo looked nearly fearful as he stared at Gohan. Gohan brushed his estranged mentor aside until he realized the oddity. Piccolo was staring at him.

"So, you can acknowledge me?", Gohan growled.

Dende moved between the two, "Yes and no. Gohan, I know how angry you are about all of this, but I can give you a little more of an answer now than before. Will you listen?"

"Fine", Gohan crossed his arms as he waited.

Dende shuffled his feet a bit, "Well, I still can't tell you exactly what is wrong…"

"Fuck this", Gohan turned to leave.

"Wait! Just listen, please", Dende stopped to be sure that he didn't blow the chance, "I'm not intentionally withholding anything. We literally can't tell you. Something's came up...awhile ago...and the result is Piccolo can't speak or acknowledge you. I wasn't able to tell you why or how. I finally found us some workarounds, but with some catches.

He can look at you, hear you, see you, and basically be aware of you again, but he still can't speak to you or about you. However, he can use me as a messenger of sorts. Unfortunately, he can only use me. A lot of the things still can't be discussed. Nothing too specific, especially memories together, but topics that are just now developing or might develop late can still be discussed."

Gohan narrowed his eyes slightly, "So, basically, I lost my best friend and got an acquaintance to discuss the weather with instead."

"We're still working on it, Gohan, but isn't this better than nothing?", Dended asked.

"Yeah, I suppose. Anything you're supposed to tell me right now?", Gohan asked. He waited to see the two Nameks whispering back and forth like school kids, but was surprised when Piccolo placed a hand on Dende's shoulder and they both closed their eyes.

"Hey, kid", Piccolo's gruff voice carried out of Dende's mouth, "I guess this must be pretty weird. I just wanted to tell you that I'm positive that all of this will get taken care of. Don't get too down."

"Woah, okay, that's some weird shit", Gohan stammered out. Erasa was peering around the door smiling as she watched the two friends interact for the first time in months.

A snippet of laughter, "Yeah, I suppose it is. Look, I can't really discuss the past, but I can tell you this. There is still a threat headed for Earth and it will be much worse than you could imagine. Keep training and getting stronger, I'm sure that we will need it. Erasa, I have some words for you too."

The blonde hurried down the stairs to stand before the duo as Piccolo continued, "You'll need to get stronger also. I'm sorry that I can't tell you why. Know that I do not give praise easily, the only ones who ever truly gained my approval were Gohan and Dende, but I want you to know that I am impressed with how well you have done adapting. The last thing is for both of you, Merry Christmas."

Before the couple could respond, the Namekians had opened their eyes and stopped connecting with each other. Each of them looked exhausted as Piccolo nodded to Dende and took off towards their current abode. Dende gave a weary grin and bid them a farewell before following.

"Well, it's been a good day so far!", Erasa exclaimed.

"Yeah, you ready?", Gohan cut straight to the next point.

Erasa shook her head at his stubbornness before answering, "Yeah, but you're not. Go put on some normal clothes, surely we can be a normal couple just for today."

"I don't think we have the same definition of normal", Gohan grumbled as he headed back inside to change.

Shortly after the couple was flying across the mountain range with their auras flared brightly around them to ward off the cold. Spotting west city, Gohan cast his senses out and confirmed that they were surprisingly not the last ones to arrive. With a glimmer of hope, the two hurried to land and get inside. Panchy opened the door with a smile as she led them to the indoor garden completely altered for Christmas.

Erasa looked on in awe as she looked at the plants and trees expertly decorated with lights strung everywhere. The smaller more peaceful animals had brightly colored sweaters on, much to their annoyance. The glass dome gave them the perfect view of the falling snow while the interior smelled and felt every bit of spring. In the center of the clearing was a tall evergreen planted right into the ground and outshining everything else with presents around the bottom.

"That's just sad, boy", Vegeta said from by the buffet.

"What do you mean", Gohan asked as that glimmer of hope began to dim.

"I mean, I didn't feel a single spike in Ki this morning. All tuckered out already?", the prince questioned.

"Did it take you all night to think of that?", Erasa fired back.

Vegeta shrugged, "Sorry that we can't all finish as quickly as your mate."

The hope was completely gone as Goku cut in, "Maybe you should stop before you fall behind."

"Speaking of behind, please don't tell me you stayed constrained to missionary the entire time", Vegeta mocked as he sat down with his plate.

"It was our first time!", Gohan retaliated.

"Didn't stop Chi-chi", Goku muttered.

"Dad!"

A roaring laughter came from Vegeta as Gohan realized he had lost and Erasa wanted to sink into the ground. Then the door opened again. Turning the two teens were in high hopes that their friends had come to save them.

Seventeen quickly dashed that hope as he entered, "Thanks to you two, we had to fly to the opposite side of the globe last night so that Videl could focus."

"It was like a damn signal flare, how about reigning that in next time buddy!", the raven haired girl snapped as she marched past with the Android smirking.

Then silence reigned as every head turned towards the door as Hercule Satan stood in the doorway wringing his hands from his nerves. Looking up, the afroed man looked from his daughter to the familiar face of Erasa then to the faces of those that he remembered from that day years ago. Finally, he settled on the one that he most nervous about. The spiky haired teen detached himself Erasa, all embarrassment completely forgotten as he walked towards the Champ.

Gohan studied the man as he walked forwards. The afro was still there, but the famous handlebar mustache had become a full black beard. The muscles seemed more developed. His blue eyes definitely shown clearer. By all indicators, the man was in the best shape of his life.

Everyone watched with nervousness as they couldn't see Gohan's expression, but Hercules expression of confused fear was very visible. Gohan came to a stop just before the martial artist with a hand extended and a smile evident in his voice, "You know when you don't come in doing flips and yelling and all that other bullshit you seem like a much cooler dude. Hell, I love the beard."

"Oh, well, thanks", came the same rumbling voice but without the volume as he accepted the offered handshake.

"Well, come on in, I doubt Videl tracked you down just so that you could stand in the doorway", Gohan replied with a smirk. Turning back around, he made his way back towards the group as the man made his way. Slowly, everyone began to resume their actions as Goku and Yamcha even ventured forth to converse with Hercule.

"I knew you could play nice when you wanted too", Erasa teased.

Before Gohan could reply Videl cut in as she approached, "Hey, thanks for that. I really wasn't sure if he would show up much less stay, but I think he feels a lot better about it now. He's been working his ass off to get stronger. He wants to learn about everything if you might…"

"I'll talk to Krillin or someone later. I can't handle any more students. Besides, it would take time away from training you two, but I will take care of it", Gohan assured.

"Thanks", Videl said with a grin as she excused herself to go visit her father and introduce Seventeen, who oddly enough looked nervous.

Time seemed to be gliding by as the morning wore on. Gohan watched Erasa glance towards Videl and Hercule over and over again. She isn't still angry, is she? Maybe she doesn't trust Hercule, or maybe she's jealous but of what? I mean they don't have fame or fortune anymore. They only just now got one another...one another. She misses her mom.

"Hey, Erasa, I'm going to go talk to dad for a while. You need anything before I go?", Gohan asked.

"Hmm, hang on, Bulma. No, I'm good but thank you", Erasa answered as she turned back towards the blue haired women.

Gohan nodded and headed towards his dad. Pulling the questioning Saiyan aside, he began to explain, "do you think you could teleport me to Erasa's mom? I know it's a long shot but I got to know."

"Well, I haven't ever met her, and I didn't know Erasa before she tapped into her power so I can't even look for a similar power. I guess the answer is no, but…", Goku ended nervously.

"But what?"

"Well, I could take you to where you need to go as long as there is a large gathering of people. Can you sense her mom?", Goku asked.

"She's in Satan City. If you could get me near the heart of the city, I could get to her and back to you in no time", Gohan answered.

"Alright, I should really teach you this move", Goku reasoned as Gohan rolled his eyes.

Gohan grabbed his father's shoulder as the Saiyan raised his right pointer and middle fingers to his forehead. While no one was looking, the two disappeared in an instant. Vegeta's eye snapped open immediately as he felt them relocate. Looking around, he realized no one else knew it yet and decided to keep it that way if anyone began to ask questions.

The father and son team appeared in the middle of the square where Gohan's interview had been held. The streets were deserted with snow piled high and pushed aside. All of the shops were closed up and the lack of people made the thriving city feel dead. Gohan nodded his thanks to his dad before shooting off in the direction of the desired Ki signature. In less than a minute he was descending towards an old but clean looking apartment complex.

Finding the floor and window that he was looking for, he rapped his knuckles firmly on the glass as a blonde haired, blue eyed woman turned to look at the sound and dropped the cup of coffee in her hands in shock of a floating man outside her third-floor window.

Opening the window she grabbed Gohan by the arm as she tried to speak, "You...you're..you're the boy on that defeated Cell. You're the one that saved my Erasa…"

"Yeah, I was sort of hoping you might remember me", Gohan started unsure of the next step. I can't just sling her over my shoulder and take off.

"Is she doing good? I mean, you don't have to tell me, but it would make me feel a lot better", Crystal pleaded.

"She's fine. I actually came to check on you. I think she's missing having a mother, but I need to be sure that you're willing to be just that before I go any farther", Gohan commanded.

"I'm doing okay, but I would love to see her again. I know this little place doesn't exactly say it, but I'm really doing a lot better. I was told what you had done to those thugs and then I found out who you really were. I knew that my Erasa would be in good hands with you, so I sold that old house. I took the money and have been trying to better myself. I got this little place and a steady job. It's not much, but it's more than I had just months ago", she explained in rapid fire as she fumbled for anything to prove what she was saying, pulling out her work I.D. and three-month clean badge from the necklace around her neck.

Gohan disregarded the small tokens and stared into her eyes as he spoke, "If you were to see her again, what would you expect?"

Crystal's eyes misted over but her voice was firm as she answered, "Nothing, I had my chance and now I've blown it. All I can hope is that she is willing to let me have a small part in her life again. I don't expect her to care for me when I'm old. I don't expect you to play hero if I ever screw up again. I can't expect anything from her, but I can hope."

Gohan nodded as he motioned for her come closer, "Hang on tight."

Gohan gathered her up and floated back out the window, shutting it behind him. Shooting back the way he came, he met up with his dad and grabbed onto his shoulder. Not thinking of warning the already startled woman. The trio appeared in the middle of the party with Goku covering his ears, Gohan gritting his teeth, and Crystal screaming in fright from the strange sensation of teleporting.

"Kakarot, you just attract banshees", Vegeta grumbled as the scream died.

"Hey, Gohan brought her here not me", Goku defended himself.

"Mom?", Erasa's voice brought a sense of calm around the group.

Nearly everyone present was aware of the issues Erasa had growing up with the exception of Tien and Chiaotzu. Erasa rushed forward and hugged her mother. While Erasa was trying to understand exactly why she was there Crystal had resorted to just crying. Gohan eventually stepped forward.

"Well, Videl and Hercule made me realize that everyone should see their family if they want to and you seemed to want to. So, yeah…", he trailed off awkwardly.

Erasa smiled and leaned over and kissed his cheek as Yamcha and Krillin took the opportunity to lighten the mood and wolf whistle. Just like that, the tension was broken. The party was back in full swing as tears slowly dried up and everyone began to reconnect. For the moment, everything was at peace and everyone could relax a little.