Goku sighed heavily as he gently swung side to side in his make shift hammock. The sun was setting and the stars could just be made out in the darkening sky. The breeze was cool as it lightly caressed his skin, his wild midnight hair blowing with it. He had both arms folded behind his head and his eyes were focused on the evening sky above him.

Chichi had said they didn't need a hammock in the garden, but Goku disagreed. Goku had always wanted a hammock, but with everything that happened over the years, he just never got round to it. He insisted they had one and he would make it himself so they didn't have to pay for one. Chichi decided to give in and let him make one. So there he was, laying in his hammock, gently swaying back and forth in the comfort of his own garden.

She was the very reason for his down time, in the hammock that she said they didn't need. A few hours ago they had engaged in a heated argument about him wanting to go to King Kai's to train. It started off as it always did, with him trying to persuade her, and then her getting angry at him and raising her voice. Normally it would end with her making her point and getting her way. Today, however, it didn't. Today he stood his ground.

He sighed deeply once again, wondering how it came to this. Well, he knew how, and the guilt weighed heavily on his heart. His absence for those seven years greatly affected his wife, in more ways than he could understand. She brought it up during their argument, not that he needed reminding of his decision to stay dead, but she made a point of it. It didn't matter that he had been back home for six months, his small irate wife was still bitter about it and boy didn't he know it. But today she kept on about it, she took it further than she had before, slandering him, pushing his buttons. His wife knew exactly how to provoke him. After all their years of marriage, she didn't miss a trick!

And Goku snapped. He snapped at his little wife, towering over her, his face inches from hers as he retaliated with words that shocked her to the point of silence. He reminded her that he died for them, that he remained dead for them! He stayed in other world to give them peace, for Gohan to have what was left of his childhood, for Chichi to no longer worry about her baby fighting. Goku harshly reminded her that even though she lost him, he lost everyone. He lost his wife, his son, his home, his friends, everything.

Goku winced as he remembered the hardness of his voice. After throwing that at her he went even further and reminded her of everything she asked of him when he came back. Get a job she said, so he got one! Be home and spend time as a family she said, and so he did! No training she said, so he didn't go and train, not even with Vegeta. The most Goku had done over the last six months was the very basics; push ups, sit ups and stretches, and that was normally in their own garden or kitchen.

Goku grimaced as he recalled the last part of his retaliation. He raised his voice and questioned her, "what more do you want from me?". It was at that very moment he regretted every word that came out of his big stupid mouth. He could see her eyes starting to shine, he could see the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall. But she didn't cry, she didn't even yell. Instead she coldly asked him to leave. After a few daunting seconds, Goku did just that and he walked out of the house.

So there he was, swaying casually in his home made hammock, his mind racing, his heart pounding and his shoulders heavy. How was he going to fix this one?

"You sure did it this time, Goku" he muttered to himself, closing his tired eyes in frustration. They had been through so much during their marriage. There had been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of uncertainty and heart ache. One way or another he always ended up hurting his wife, though it was never intentional. He didn't always think about things when he should. He was quite reckless on times and probably didn't always make the right decisions, but his family was always there in his thoughts.

His family always came first, even if it was in his own little way that no one else could understand. He loved his family with everything that he had, and he would always do whatever it was within his power to protect them.

It broke him inside, knowing how much his family suffered when he died. Gohan struggled with guilt for so long, blaming himself for his father's death. Goten, the son he only met six months ago, spent the first seven years of his life without a father. Then there was his wife …

By now his hammock had stopped swaying and he wasn't really in the mood to get it going again. Goku pulled his hands from behind his head and palmed his face in frustration. Things had been good between him and his wife since returning from the dead. He made a point of talking to her about everything on his second day back, both of them venting their emotions, both of them being completely open and honest with each other. It was the best thing they could have done. He told himself he had to speak to her straight away, he didn't want a repeat of Yardrat, where he took five months to open up to her. Things were so icy and distant between them during those five months and it was the worst.

But now he felt he had blown it. He always found a way to mess it up, not that he ever truly meant to, but he always did none the less. Goku sighed once again, his eyes opening, focusing on the evening sky. He wondered how his wife put up with him for so long. He wasn't an easy guy to deal with, let alone live with. He brought nothing but chaos into their lives, and yet his wife was still here, in their little home, waiting for him with open arms. She could have moved on a long time ago, but she wasn't tempted once, she was so damn loyal to him and he couldn't be more proud and more thankful.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous when Baba told him he could return to Earth for 24 hours. He hid it well, but he had a lot of anxiety, worried his wife had moved on with someone else. He had spoken to many other warriors in Other World, and quite a few of them told him to prepare for it, because it had happened to them. Goku shut them down very quickly, initially very confident that his wife was loyal to him, but after thinking about it for some time … maybe she did move on?

Why wouldn't she? He died and made the decision to stay dead. He was never coming back. Of course she was going to move on and find someone else. It was such a mixture of built of feelings as he prepared to return to Earth. He was so excited, he couldn't wait to see his son, his friends, everyone! But damn, he was so nervous to see her. But those nerves soon vanished when he saw her, alone, and with his second son, the son he had no idea about.

Her eyes watered when she saw him and her voice broke as she said "Oh sweetheart, I missed you".

His heart pounded like a jack hammer in his chest, all those silly worries were for nothing.

"I missed you, Chichi" he gently responded back to her.

Goku smiled lightly to himself as he continued to star gaze. How did he get so lucky?

"Goku?"

Startled, Goku shot up in his hammock, his head turning to see her walking over to him.

"Chichi" he gasped, her body coming to a halt right next to him. He peered up at her in wonder. She didn't seem angry or upset, in fact, she appeared quite relaxed and had a small smile on her face.

"Can I join you?" She asked sweetly. Goku smiled and laid back, instantly holding out his arms for her. Chichi climbed onto her husband and led down, her head resting on his warm strong chest. She wrapped her arms as far around his large body as she could and closed her eyes, relaxing to the sound of his heart beat. Goku wrapped his large arms around her body, holding her as close to his body as he could. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, a smile then spreading across his face.

They both lay in silence for several minutes, simply enjoying being in each other's arms.

"Mmm, this is nice" Chichi murmured against his chest. Goku opened his eyes, an idea coming to mind.

"Hey, it gets better!" He promised her, his arm reaching out to the nearby tree. He pushed against it, the hammock suddenly swaying back and forth again. Chichi giggled, her husband wrapping his arms around her again, his lips unexpectedly planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You're right" she agreed, "this is better". Goku grinned.

"And you didn't want a hammock" he reminded her. She slapped his chest playfully, her fingers then making circles on the skin that was exposed. Goku could feel the hairs on his arms stand up from her touch. He swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous around her. Just how did she do that to him? Of all the foes he had fought in his life, all the challenges he had faced, all the near death (and actual death) experiences, she was the only person that made him feel this nervous.

"I'm sorry about earlier" he blurted out. Chichi could feel his heart beating faster, and she stopped the circular movements she was making on his chest.

"I shouldn't have said all those things, I didn't mean it how it came out … I just … I'm sorry Chichi" Goku confessed. Chichi propped herself up so she could look at him. Her husband looked so nervous and so remorseful. Her silly sweet husband.

"I know, Goku" she gently cooed, her fingertips tracing along the skin of his cheek and chin, "I'm sorry too. I guess I didn't think about how much you had to sacrifice too". Her eyes caught his, and he looked so beautiful. The stars were all out now and their shine reflected off of his deep, dark, beautiful pupils.

"I guess I just still can't believe you're home and I just … don't want you to leave again" she admitted, her eyes drifting from his for a moment, her fingers now picking at the material on his tank top.

"Hey", Goku tenderly called, his left hand carefully taking a hold of her chin to make her look at him, "I'm not going to leave you, Chi" he assured her, "I just wanted to do some training, that's all, I promise". Chichi smiled lovingly at her husband, her left hand going back up to cup his cheek.

"I believe you. I'm just going to miss you. I missed you so much when you were dead and …" she trailed off sadly.

"And what?" Goku quietly asked but she didn't answer. Goku became concerned, his eyes trying to search hers for an answer.

"I'm just … oh Goku, it's so stupid …" Chichi frowned at herself.

"Hey, you can tell me anything honey, you know that", Goku reassured her. Chichi debated with herself inwardly for a few seconds before speaking again.

"I'm just worried that you don't wanna be home with me … you've been away for so long and been on adventures in Other World, and I'm worried that you will get bored of being stuck here with me". It felt good to finally get it off her chest, but she felt guilty for thinking it.

"You think I don't wanna be home with you?" Goku questioned.

"I know, it's so stupid, I'm sorry" she mumbled, turning her head away, almost ashamed of herself. Once again, Goku cupped her face with his left hand, bringing her eyes to meet his again.

"Hey, don't apologise" he comforted her, "I'm the one that should be sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way" he mentally cursed himself for being so foolish, "I'm always running off or leaving you, but it's not because I don't wanna be here with you. I'm the one that wanted to come home with you at the lookout, remember?" He reminded her. Chichi smiled.

"You did say, if I could put up with you" she chuckled.

"Exactly! Now why would I even suggest that, if I really didn't wanna come home? Besides, what would I do without your home cooking? Who is gonna cook all that yummy food for me, if you don't?" He teased. Chichi laughed some more, sniffing back the tears.

"Goku, honestly, is that all you missed? Me filling that bottomless pit of yours?" Chichi joked back, poking his stomach, causing Goku to giggle.

"Aw, Chi, you don't understand how much I missed your cooking! King Kai can not cook like you" he told her very seriously. Chichi laughed again, then rolled her eyes at him. He smiled sweetly at her, his left hand then combing some of the lose hairs from her face, "and of course I missed other things too". Chichi cocked an eyebrow.

"Like?" She pushed. Goku folded his arms and hummed deep in thought, "Goku" Chichi shouted at him, punching his arm, "I'm being serious!" She scolded. Goku couldn't help but stifle a laugh at his now slightly irritated wife.

"I missed you getting all angry at me" he admitted, causing his wife's frown to deepen, "I had dreams about you getting mad at me and chasing me with your frying pan" he teased. Chichi bit her lip, trying to contain her laughter. Her stupid immature husband …

"I missed your laugh" he told her, his voice more serious and sincere, his hand gently stroking her face, "I missed running my hands through your hair" he pulled her hair from its constraint and let it pool around her shoulders and down her back, "I missed your smell … I missed your smell a lot".

And he really did. Her scent was something he grew to love very quickly in the early years of their marriage. He couldn't describe the smell, but it was captivating. It was just her. There was no smell like it. And when he got her all flustered and riled up … now that was a different scent all together. That scent completely possessed him, he could not control himself around her when she smelt like that. Kami, it was intoxicating.

Goku swallowed, his eyes suddenly deeply fixated on hers, and it was as if his wife could feel the change in him, because she gave him the same look, her breath caught in her throat. Goku cupped both of her cheeks and pulled her to him, his lips meeting hers fiercely. Chichi quietly moaned against his lips, her both hands holding onto his top with gentle urgency. The kiss lingered for several seconds, Goku then parting his lips from hers slightly, his nose rubbing against hers.

"I missed your kisses" he whispered almost erotically, her breathing suddenly becoming ragged. He kissed her again, this time more firmly, his right hand delving into her hair, grasping her hair at the back of her head to deepen the kiss. His left hand travelled down her back and to her butt, where he grabbed it and pulled her hard against him, so he could rub her against his growing excitement. Chichi moaned into his mouth, her tongue slipping into his mouth to taste him.

"Goku" Chichi gasped, his hungry lips leaving hers and kissing across her cheek and down her chin. Her hands gripped his tank top desperately, her hips now rolling involuntarily against his as he kissed and nipped at her neck, "not out here" she managed to breathe out.

"Aw come on", he urged, his hands now undoing the clips on her cheongsam, "We never done it on a hammock before". Chichi couldn't help but laugh at her husband's suggestion.

"Exactly, we will probably end up falling off or breaking it" she warned him. Goku's gaze caught hers once more.

"It would be totally worth it" he reckoned, his lips finding hers again. Chichi giggled as her husband continued to seduce her, her top half now open and bare to him as he started to plant kisses down her chest.

"Oh Goku" she moaned, "my silly husband" she whispered to him as he reached her breasts.

"All yours" he whispered back.

Dedicated to Gochi Week 2021