"Better?"

ChiChi stopped, took a deep inhale and handed the stone back to Goku in answer. He took her hand, pulled her close and the two nearly merged into one with how close they became. They were both sweaty, dirty and a tangled mess of emotions and muscles but the closeness mattered more than anything else.

"Been a long time but it helps." ChiChi flexed her wrist a bit. Anger and frustration built up easily lately but she found that Goku's little stone system was very helpful. If she felt too frustrated or angry or irritable to talk, he would know by the delivery of the stone and would find a way to help her expel that energy so they could talk.

Sparring (or rather her throwing punches and Goku catching them) had become a recent activity and she'd forgotten how much of a release it could be. By the time they'd gone a good ten minutes, she was exhausted but her mind felt clear. She conveyed as much, pulling back from her husband.

"I'm glad it helps!" Goku's smile, as per usual, was infectious. The man was impossible to stay angry at and the way he put her and Gohan before everything else made her warm throughout her body. "Did you wanna talk now?"

She considered "Is Gohan back from Bulma's yet?"

Goku stopped, felt out with his ki then shook his head. "Nope. I can still feel him dartin' around Capsule Corp."

ChiChi nodded, "Let's take a walk then, by the lake."

Goku was always down for a trip through the mountain so after grabbing a water bottle for each of them, the couple headed off. The trees passed overhead and a few animals jolted across the path but otherwise, they were alone.

"I'm feeling a little let down," she finally said.

Goku eyed her, "Let down?"

She nodded, a low color to her cheeks. "It's a silly thing but well, I guess I've been thinking about the party at Bulma's and...I don't blame Gohan but I'm still upset that it got ruined." She smiled a little "He apologized to me so many times for it but...well, the party was still ruined, whether he wanted it to be or not."

Goku considered. "I'm sorry," he finally said.

Shaking her head, she remarked "Don't be. Like I said, I don't blame Gohan. Especially now that I've learned all this stuff about how emotions and the brain and everything process. The way he blanked—he couldn't have processed right then if he wanted to. It just makes me sad." Her eyes lowered "If I'd known then what we know now, we could have made it so much easier for him."

"I know. But at least we know now." Goku pouted. "I don't like it when you're sad. Can I make you happy?"

Laughing, she gently pushed his shoulder, "Goku, you always make me happy. 'Cause you're you." She eyed him, though with a soft edge to her eyes. "I'm not asking you to fix it, Goku." She paused, considered. "Didn't Gohan's therapist bring that up?"

He stopped, rubbed his chin a moment "Oh. This is a "just listen" moment!" He grinned, pleased with himself for recalling that term. Gohan's therapist had indeed mentioned it several times—sometimes, people just needed to talk about their emotions so that they were not bottled up. It didn't mean they wanted an answer or advice or anything like that. They just needed a listening ear. That was a hard concept for Goku because if someone he loved was hurting, then naturally he wanted to fix it.

But this wasn't one of those times. "This is a listening moment," he repeated, hooking his wife's elbow with his arm.

Nodding, with a smile, ChiChi laid her head on his shoulder. "Yes. Just listen. I don't need Gohan to feel bad about it because I already know he does. He's apologized so much for it. It wouldn't do any good to bring it up to him. He already knows it hurt me. I already know that wasn't his intent. I just...needed to vent some."

Goku smiled at her, gently rubbed her shoulder as they came upon the lake. Shifting to sit side by side, the two removed their shoes and slid their feet into the cool water.

"Ooo!" ChiChi laughed a bit "Autumn is definitely here!" But she leaned back a bit on her elbows and sighed happily. "Hard to believe, just a few more months and we'll be a family of four!"

Goku smiled, rolled onto his side and looked at her. He'd not seen her so happy in a long time. That was the look he wanted to see on her all the time—glowing, enthusiastic, at ease, happy. So much had happened that he'd nearly forgotten how wonderful just these tiny moments could be—just the two of them and the mountain.

A low giggle snapped him outta his thoughts. ChiChi was laughing at him, but that girlish giggle that he used to hear when they first got married. She'd pushed it aside for so long. So focused on being the perfect mother, the perfect wife. He still remembered when she'd said she didn't like it because her accent coated it and she would snort sometimes.

"What are you starin' at, Goku?" She laughed again.

"Do that giggle again, Chi." He grinned. "I like the giggle."

Her face flushed and she protested "That giggle makes me sound like a pig."

Goku shook his head and gently wrapped his arms around her, letting his hands rest on her belly. The baby stirred a little but not much. "Does not. And even if it did, pigs are cute."

ChiChi gave him a half-hearted glare but couldn't find the gumption to be mad. She knew what he meant. So, she relaxed instead, against his chest. "You're a tease."

"Nu-Uh," he insisted with a grin. "Not me!"

Reaching up and flicking his hair out of his eyes a moment, she insisted, "Oh, yes, you are." She snuggled back a bit and if Goku's hands would shift occasionally from her stomach to her breasts then that was not something she was going to protest.

"Been thinking a lot ChiChi," he said simply. "All this stuff with the therapists and Gohan and everything...I guess I used to just think you knew stuff so I wouldn't think I needed to ask or tell you. But I'm tryin' to stop doin' that."

The human woman smiled, "Well, I think all of us had some communication issues, including me. Maybe you just assumed things but so did I. So did Gohan. But we're doing better." She waved one of Goku's painted stones. "These help. Gohan been using his?"

"A little bit. We did some sparrin' the other day but he also tol' me he just wanted to sit with me. So, we did. He asked you for anything yet?"

She shook her head, "No but I expect that. He's startin' to talk with me more...just to talk and connect." She smiled again despite a hint of sadness. "You and Gohan have a bond, Goku. Me and him...we used to have one, when he was a little thing. But life changed that. Changed us." She reached up, tweaked his nose. "So, we're making a new bond. And it's goin' good!" She expanded her smile a little "Just is gonna take some time but that's okay."

Goku nodded, rested his head against hers, cheek to cheek. "Good. I want both of you, happy. You just tell me what you need." He rubbed the back of his head a moment. "Sometimes I'm kinda clueless when you just give me hints. Even if I'm tryin'."

"I know. But that's part of what makes you you and I love you." ChiChi reached upward again and planted a kiss by his ear before stopping and whispering to him in a low tone.

Goku blinked. "Oh. But...won't that hurt the baby?"

With a sly grin, ChiChi shook her head, "I promise it won't, Goku. And you oughta know I'm not made of glass."

Goku laughed. "That's true. You sure ain't that!" He paused, reached out with his ki. Nope, Gohan was still busy with Bulma and it felt like there were a few other folks there. They'd be busy a while.

That time, when he wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her back, his hands purposely cupped something besides her belly.