A/N: I mentioned in the last chapter (and I think in the description) that this is basically on Gohan and Videl's perspective. That is because that time the story is still being adapted from the main series. I don't want to add up the other scenes because I might need to redo the whole Teen Gohan arc, including those that does not include them like Goku and Vegeta's fight, etc.
But given that the story of this chapter happened after that, then this is all on me. It's like what happened in the blank period as they said. I didn't adapt the filler stories and made my own, though I love that part when Goten and Trunks bathe with Goku on Mount Paozu. ;)
That is the reason why you might see some parts wherein Gohan and Videl are not present in the scene. Anyway majority of the story will still revolve around them. I just included some GoChi and Vegeta x Bulma snippets.
Disclaimer: I don't own DB or any of its characters, be it canon or filler.
CAPSULE CORPORATION, WEST CITY
Goku used Dr. Brief's energy signature as a reference for him to use Instant Transmission. That moment, the old scientist is at the Capsule Corporation's Atrium, together with his wife Panchy. They are looking at their pets of various life forms, checking if each one of them are okay after the explosion that Majin Buu created taking their lives temporarily.
As they arrive, Bulma caught sight of her parents. She rushes to them, glad to see them alive and well.
BULMA: Mom! Dad! (hugs them)
Trunks also comes along, joining in the hug.
PANCHY: Oh! Hi, Honey!
BULMA: I'm glad you're okay.
DR. BRIEF: Well, it was quite traumatic to be washed away by that storm of light. But then, we came back alive.
PANCHY: Ooh! And then we heard Vegeta's voice. And then someone very familiar. Who was it again?
BULMA: (smiles) It's Goku.
PANCHY: Oh yeah... But isn't he dead?
BULMA: He was, but now he's here again.
That was when Dr. Brief and Panchy noticed the group.
PANCHY: Oh! It's really him!
GOKU: It's nice to see you again! (waves at Bulma's parents)
DR. BRIEF: It's nice to see you too, Goku. Welcome back to Earth.
Dr. Brief then noticed Mr. Satan.
DR. BRIEF: Isn't that Mr. Satan?
BULMA: Yes, Dad.
Mr. Satan is quite curious about the sudden interest of the old guy to him. He leaned closer to Videl to ask about him.
MR. SATAN: (whispers) That guy looks familiar.
VIDEL: That's Dr. Brief. He's the owner of Capsule Corporation.
MR. SATAN: (overly shocked) What?
Mr. Stan rushes to Dr. Brief and shakes his hand.
MR. SATAN: Sir... I'm so honored to meet you. I am a fan of your creations. To me you're the greatest scientist that ever lived.
DR. BRIEF: Ah… Well, it's nice to meet you too.
PANCHY: Aren't you that guy on the TV? The one who is chopping those blocks by his hand?
MR. SATAN: Yes, I am that guy. You must be the wife?
PANCHY: Oh yeah! We always see you on TV.
Mr. Satan lets out a goofy laugh. That made Videl facepalm.
VIDEL: (embarrassed) Dad is really embarrassing sometimes.
KRILLIN: I must say, your father seems to have learned the art of humility.
Videl watches her father mingle with Dr. Brief and his wife. It seems like the martial artist is acting like a starstruck fan of the inventor of the DynoCap technology.
VIDEL: Yeah…
She is actually glad at what she's seeing. It seems like her father has really changed. Whatever happened to that Sacred World they've been, she's thankful for that. Though personally, she thinks there might be some other issues that they need to resolve.
KRILLIN: Hey Goku!
GOKU: (looks at Krillin) Huh?
KRILLIN: This reunion has turned to be great after all.
GOKU: Yeah…
The two of them smile at each other.
KRILLIN: I'm glad you're finally back for good, though I think we could catch up next time. Right now, I think we need to go check our home back at Master Roshi's island.
PANCHY: Oh! You're leaving already? But I prepared some snacks for everyone.
BULMA: Mom, let them go home. I'm sure everyone is tired and stressed and they just want to go home and rest for a while.
PANCHY: Oh... okay! But come back soon, okay?
KRILLIN: We will.
YAMCHA: We'll better run as well.
BULMA: Okay… I'll just keep you posted about the party I'll organize.
Krillin and his family said their goodbyes as well as Master Roshi and Oolong. Yamcha and Puar followed. After they left, Dr. Brief finally noticed Maji Buu.
DR. BRIEF: Isn't that Majin Buu?
GOKU: Oh yeah. But don't worry. He's not bad anymore. He's the good Buu.
MAJIN BUU: Buu!
PANCHY: Oh, he's so adorable.
MR. SATAN: I guess we better go home, too. Buu, let me take you to my house.
MAJIN BUU: Are there plenty of food there?
MR. SATAN: Of course! You can eat whatever you want.
MAJIN BUU: Let's go!
Mr. Satan picks up Bee, then he looks at Videl.
MR. SATAN: Are you coming with us?
VIDEL: Of course, I am!
MR. SATAN: I just thought, maybe you want to stay with a certain someone…
Mr. Satan's word trailed off as he looks at Gohan who blushed.
VIDEL: Dad! (blushes)
MR. SATAN: Well, I'm just asking.
Mr. Satan turns around and walks to the exit. Majin Buu follows.
Videl glowers as she watches her father leave. She takes a deep breath and turns around to face Chi-Chi and the others.
VIDEL: Thank you for taking care of me.
CHI-CHI: Oh, it's nothing! You're like family already.
Videl feels glad at what Chi-Chi said, though she's aware that it means something more than what it sounds. She glances at Gohan who is innocently looking at her. She looks away as she feels embarrassed all of a sudden.
VIDEL: See you at class.
Videl then turns around to leave. She runs to catch up with her father.
BULMA: I'll call you once the party has been organized!
Videl stops and turns to Bulma.
VIDEL: Yeah!
She then walks instead of running away.
GOKU: Hey Gohan!
GOHAN: Dad?
GOKU: Are you just gonna stare and watch her leave?
Gohan is quite surprised at what his father said. He looks at Videl, who is now almost out of the Atrium. He suddenly panics. No, of course he won't just let her go like that!
GOHAN: Videl!
Videl stops walking. Her body seems to freeze as she heard Gohan's voice call her name.
MR. SATAN: (to Videl) We'll wait for you outside.
Videl waits for Gohan to come to her. Well, she could not move anyway since her feet seems to be planted on the Atrium's floor. She suddenly feels her heartbeat double as she hears Gohan's footsteps advance to her.
The group watches on as Gohan walks toward Videl.
CHI-CHI: Really, Goku?
GOKU: (looks at Chi-Chi) Huh?
Chi-Chi looks at her husband, who is staring innocently at her. She smiles.
CHI-CHI: Nothing.
BULMA: Hey! Let's not look at them so that they won't feel awkward.
The group engage themselves into random conversations.
That time, Gohan stops walking as he's a few feet away from Videl, whose back is still turned onto him. He looks at her, trying to conceal his nerves.
GOHAN: Uhm… Videl…
Videl turns around, making Gohan blush. He scratches the back of his head as embarrassment takes over him.
GOHAN: I promised… we'll talk…
VIDEL: Yeah…
Gohan looks at Videl's face. She's not smiling, just staring at him. Little does he know that she's also feeling the way he does.
Videl looks at the people behind Gohan. All of them are engaged to a conversation of some sort, but she's sure that they are well aware of her and Gohan talking.
Gohan noticed her looking at the group. He looks back and watches the group converse.
VIDEL: I guess, not now.
Gohan looks back at her.
VIDEL: You need to spend more time with your father, and I need to talk to mine, to settle things.
He understands what she said. Somehow, that made him feel glad. At least he knows she cares for his relationship with his father. That made him smile.
GOHAN: (nods) I agree.
VIDEL: (smiles) See you… Gohan…
GOHAN: Okay…
Videl feels like she can't walk away. She looks at Gohan while she walks backwards away from him.
Gohan seems to want to stop her, but he just lets her walk away because he knows they have to settle things with their own family first.
The two of them look at each other until Videl turns around and leaves. Gohan takes a deep breath, then decides to go back to his family.
CHI-CHI: She's gone?
Gohan nods.
CHI-CHI: Did you ask her out?
Gohan blushes.
BULMA: Oh, come on, Chi-Chi! You're stressing your son.
CHI-CHI: You know these guys! They don't know anything about romance and intimacy. I'm just helping him out.
Goku and Vegeta look at each other, aware that their wives are talking about them. Bulma giggles as Gohan becomes more embarrassed.
GOKU: Uh… Why don't we go home now? I'm excited to see our home again.
BULMA: Well, see you soon!
The Son family said their goodbyes, then goes out of the Capsule Corporation. Bulma looks on, smiling as she watches Goku leave with his family. The spiky-haired Saiyan is happily talking to his wife, and Gohan is carrying Goten on his shoulder. The Ox King walks with them as they made their way to the exit.
PANCHY: Trunks, honey, I made some cookies earlier. Do you want to try them?
TRUNKS: I do!
PANCHY: Let's go inside then.
Panchy, Dr. Brief and Trunks all go inside to the living room. Vegeta follows them, but he stops when he realized that Bulma is not following them. He turns around, seeing Bulma still looking at the door.
VEGETA: Are you not coming inside?
BULMA: I still can't believe that Goku is really back for good.
Vegeta looks at the door as well. The Son family is now nowhere to be seen.
BULMA: Remember how hard it was for Chi-Chi during that seven years he's been dead? (turns to face Vegeta) Which is something that I was about to experience because my husband died, and it seems I cannot wish him back because he has done some stupid things like blow up the bleachers in the World Martial Arts Tournament!
Vegeta is stunned.
BULMA: What in the world were you thinking earlier? Did you really want to kill those innocent people! Ugh, Vegeta! You're hopeless!
Panic creeps through the Saiyan Prince as he sees his wife's angry look at him.
VEGETA: I only did that because I know you can resurrect them all with the dragon balls!
BULMA: Your obsession with defeating Goku is getting out of hand! Aren't you ever gonna stop?
Vegeta looks away, quite irritated at what Bulma said.
BULMA: Do you know how worried I was?
Now, that was unexpected. Vegeta looks at Bulma. Are those tears on his wife's eyes?
BULMA: And then you died? You died! How dare you die on me!
Bulma angrily wipes her tears away. Vegeta looks on as he sees his wife starts to cry.
BULMA: I know you did that to save the world but...
Bulma totally lost it. She cries her heart out, pouring all the anxiety and pain that the situation has caused her. To her surprise, Vegeta comes to her, pulling her in and holding her in his arms.
VEGETA: I'm sorry...
And that made Bulma cry more.
BULMA: Do you know how I felt? How scared I was? How devastated I was finding out you're dead?
Vegeta does not answer. Instead, he consoles his wife by caressing her hair and planting small kisses to her head.
BULMA: Don't you ever do that again, okay?
Vegeta stops. Can he really tell her that he won't be fighting again and put his life on the line when the situation desires?
VEGETA: I'll try…
BULMA: Just try?
Bulma looks at him, perturbed at his answer. Vegeta looks at her helplessly. He wants to agree, but doing nothing and letting them die when he knows he could have done something makes him feel worse.
Eventually, Bulma seems to sense that as well.
BULMA: Whatever…
Vegeta watches Bulma as she wipes her tears and tries to calm herself. Now that is alarming. As much as he enjoys seeing his wife get feisty, that moment he feels like his heart is crushed as he feels her despair.
Bulma noticed him looking.
BULMA: What?
Instead of answering, Vegeta pulls her to him, holding her tightly.
VEGETA: Let's stay like this for a while.
Bulma smiles. She reaches out and hugs his husband as well.
That moment, Trunks came back to call his parents inside. He stops when he sees them standing and holding each other from a distance.
TRUNKS: Why is Dad and Mom holding each other in the middle of the Atrium?
He decided to just go back and let the two adults be.
PANCHY: Where are your parents?
TRUNKS: At the Atrium. They just stand there hugging each other.
PANCHY: (smiles) Let's just leave them be.
TRUNKS: Grownups are so complicated.
.
Meanwhile, Goku and his family are now outside the Capsule Corporation.
GOTEN: Dad, are we going to teleport to our house?
GOKU: Uh... well, I need an energy signature as a reference if I'll use the Instant Transmission.
GOTEN: So how are we going to go home?
GOKU: We could fly?
CHI-CHI: Goku, I can't fly.
GOTEN: Mom uses the Nimbus when she doesn't like to drive.
OX KING: I also don't fly, but I have this.
The Ox King shows them a capsule containing an airship. He pressed the button on top then throws it onto the ground. A grey airship emerged.
GOHAN: Oh yeah! Let's just use Grandpa's airship.
All of them enters the airship. The Ox King goes to the driver's seat, and Gohan sits beside him. Goku and Chi-Chi sits behind them, as Goten sits on Goku's lap. Goku puts his arm around Chi-Chi's shoulder as she leans onto him.
Gohan is looking at his family, waiting for them to comfortably sit down. He smiles as he sees them close to each other.
OX KING: Happy?
Gohan looks at his grandfather. He smiles at him.
GOHAN: Never been this perfectly happy.
EAST DISTRICT, MOUNT PAOZU
In a few hours, they were back to Mount Paozu. Goku is the first one to come out, obviously excited to see his house. He's still carrying Goten, and Chi-Chi follows behind them.
GOKU: Wow! I really missed this place!
Chi-Chi moved closer to Goku and touched his back. He looks at her, then puts his arm around her shoulders. Chi-Chi hugs him by the waist.
OX KING: Gohan, Goten! Why don't we go catch some fish for dinner?
GOHAN: That sounds great!
GOTEN: Dad, do you want to come fish with us?
OX KING: Goten, I'm sure your dad wants to take a rest. You can fish with him tomorrow.
Goten looks at Goku, who just smiled at him. Gohan felt worried that his little brother will not buy that reason and will insist in taking Goku with them, but in the end the young kid agreed.
GOTEN: Okay!
Goku and Chi-Chi watch as the three leaves.
GOKU: Let's go inside.
Chi-Chi nods. The two of them goes inside. Goku looks around to the unfamiliar setting in front of him.
GOKU: You redecorated.
Chi-Chi did not answer. Goku looks at his wife who is looking straight into the living room. It seems like there's something on her mind that moment that she wants to say. He takes her hand, squeezing it lightly. Chi-Chi looks at him. She smiles.
CHI-CHI: Dad said it will help me get through with... with depression...
Goku's heart breaks as he saw the pain in Chi-Chi's eyes. She smiles at him, but he could still sense the sadness that she felt during that time he was away. That made him speechless.
CHI-CHI: Oh my... what am I saying? I should be happy... We should be happy.
Goku pulls her hand, then locks her in his arms.
GOKU: I'm sorry.
He puts his lips onto her head.
CHI-CHI: Don't be, Goku. You did what you had to do.
GOKU: Still, you suffered because of what I did.
And with that, Chi-Chi's tears finally dropped. She burrowed her face on Goku's chest as she cried harder. Goku tightened his arms around his wife.
CHI-CHI: I was so scared when I realized it will just be me. That you're gone. That you left me. I thought I wasn't gonna make it. I thought I wasn't strong enough.
Goku's anger surged as he felt his wife's sorrow. He's angry at himself for leaving his wife behind. But, does he have a choice? At the end of the day, it was the best he could do. Is it right to blame himself for doing the best he can?
CHI-CHI: (looks at him) I asked myself why it has to be you. Why does it have to be my husband who always saves the world? But then, I realized, that is what I loved about you in the first place. It's you being strong, being righteous, being brave enough to do what is right and to do what you should. Even if it means dying just to save the world.
Goku wipes away the tears from his wife's face. Chi-Chi breaths deeply, trying to calm herself.
CHI-CHI: And then, I will be proud because I married the greatest person on Earth... on the whole universe. I'm proud because I chose to love you, and you chose to love me.
That made Goku smile. He holds her face, locks eyes with her, then slowly moves his head closer to hers until his lips touches hers.
GOKU: I love you...
He kisses her. Deeply. Sweetly. Longingly. It's the kiss that he has been meaning to give her ever since he saw her again this morning before the tournament. If only no one was there and it was only the two of them.
It was a long kiss. It was a kiss that they missed for seven years. It was a kiss that meant to relieve their longing for each other. But it wasn't enough. Goku knows he wants more, but not right now. Maybe later. He ends the kiss and pulls away before he cannot stop himself from doing what he wants.
Chi-Chi touches Goku's face, tracing every line as well as caressing it. It made him close his eyes.
CHI-CHI: You still look the same.
Goku opened his eyes.
CHI-CHI: You still look good, while I look older.
Chi-Chi's face saddened.
GOKU: No, you don't!
CHI-CHI: Oh, come on, Goku! We both know I've aged a lot. Seven years is such a long time.
Goku looks at his wife as she glowers at him. He smiles.
GOKU: You're still beautiful to me.
How can he tell her that he finds her more attractive when she glowers at him like that? Ah! He knows how! He reached down to her and kissed her again.
That made Chi-Chi smile. She puts her hands around his neck and clings onto him.
CHI-CHI: Don't you ever die on me again, okay? At least, not in the near future.
GOKU: (chuckles) I will try.
Chi-Chi hits his left shoulder.
CHI-CHI: Come on!
That made Goku laugh.
CHI-CHI: If that happens, God forbid, then let me revive you with the dragon balls.
Goku looks at his wife. God, how he misses her! He once again kissed her, and their lips lock as their hearts rekindle the love that they have for each other. Chi-Chi clings onto him as he holds the back of her head with one hand, locking her body with his other arm.
After the kiss, Chi-Chi holds onto him. He holds her tightly as he looks around the house. He then sees a picture. Goku thinks it was taken five years ago. In it was the Ox King, then Chi-Chi who is sitting on a chair and is carrying a two-year-old Goten. Goten has Grandpa Gohan's dragon ball. Then beside Chi-Chi is the eleven-year-old Gohan, and he's carrying Goku's picture.
Once again, he felt his heart tightens as he saw his picture within the picture. His whole body stiffens, and Chi-Chi felt that. She looks at him.
CHI-CHI: What is it?
GOKU: We need to have another family picture.
Chi-Chi frowns as she could not understand what Goku is saying. To clarify what he meant, Goku walks towards the picture he saw. He picks it up and looks at it.
CHI-CHI: Oh… that.
Goku looks at the picture, and Chi-Chi can feel the sadness that took over him. She takes the picture from his hand and puts it back in the shelf upside down. She then wraps her hands around Goku's waist. Goku holds her by the shoulders.
CHI-CHI: We will. It's the first thing we'll do tomorrow.
To make him feel better, Chi-Chi holds onto his neck and kisses him. Goku kisses her back, and all the sadness he's feeling earlier seems to have been washed away.
When the kiss ended, Goku gives his wife a teasing smile.
GOKU: You missed kissing me so much, huh?
Chi-Chi blushed. She once again pinched him on the side. Goku just laughs. Chi-Chi smiles as she moves to the couch. Goku follows her and they sit together, leaning on the backrest. He then puts his arm around her shoulders as she leans onto him.
GOKU: I miss this...
CHI-CHI: Me too.
The two of them closes their eyes as they continue holding each other, feeling the nearness that they missed for seven years.
GOKU: Uhm… Chi…
CHI-CHI: Hmn?
GOKU: Is Krillin…
Chi-Chi looks at her husband.
GOKU: He's really married to Android 18?
Chi-Chi laughs at Goku's facial expression. He looks like as if what he said is the most absurd thing in the world.
CHI-CHI: Oh Goku! So much has happened during the seven years you're gone.
As they sit beside each other by the couch, Chi-Chi told Goku everything that he missed during that seven years he's not with them.
Meanwhile at the lake, Gohan and the Ox King watches as Goten takes off his clothes, and then swims into the lake.
OX KING: I remember, you're just like that when you were young.
Gohan smiles as he remembers that memory.
OX KING: It's the first time we went fishing together, back when your dad just died after fighting Cell.
Gohan remembers that time. It was the first time that he was able to go out after his father died.
GOHAN: Yeah…
OX KING: And now, he's back.
Gohan looks at his grandfather, smiling at him.
OX KING: I can feel you're very happy about it.
GOHAN: I am, Grandpa. I am very happy.
OX KING: I'm sorry if I have to take you away like this. I just feel like your parents need to talk about some things first. You see, these past seven years was not easy for your mom.
GOHAN: I know, and I understand. I actually think we did the right thing. Dad and Mom need to do a lot of catching up.
OX KING: You're right...
Goten suddenly showed up from the water with a big fish on his hand. The fish is trying to escape as the young Saiyan clings onto it.
GOTEN: Hey! I got a very big one!
Goten throws the fish to Gohan, which he perfectly caught.
GOHAN: Whoa! This is really big! Good job, Goten!
OX KING: Yeah, good job! But I think that won't be enough. Knowing Goku, he can eat a whole fish for himself.
GOTEN: Then, I'll catch some more!
Goten dives in the water again.
GOHAN: We said we're fishing together, but it's just him who's doing it.
OX KING: He's enjoying himself, so let's just let him do it.
Gohan nods at his grandfather.
Goten was able to catch two more fish before the three decided to come back home.
A/N: The picture I used on this chapter is something that I saw on Pinterest. Whoever did that, credits to you.