This could not be happening.

Gohan flopped on his bed, body tense and hunched. Everything was going so well. Their dates were wonderful, he felt more at ease any time he was with her and now, right when things felt like they might turn serious—no, they WERE turning serious—he was meeting her tonight with his family to have a big meal together! Their parents were meeting! (Well, officially, outside a battle) and her grandparents were going to be there! And his own grandpa would be coming and...

Now this had to happen!

"Big Brother, what's wrong?"

Heaving a sigh, Gohan flopped back on the bed, eyes closed. "My life sucks."

The bed jostled as Goten crawled up to sit by his head. "Careful," he advised. "Mom'll make you put a zennie in the jar."

"Right." Gohan folded his arms over his eyes and laid still.

Goten tilted his head to the side, much like a bird. "What's wrong? Is Mom making you wear a suit too?"

Laughing a bit, Gohan shook his head. "Not that."

"Oh. Well, what is it then? I'll can help!"

Heart warmed a bit by the offer, Gohan uncovered one eye and looked up at his brother. "Thanks but I dunno if you can." Moving a bit, Gohan twisted and a fiery brown appendage moved into view. "See?"

"You got a tail?!" All but jumping up, Goten declared. "No fair! Where's my tail?!"

Seriously? That was his response? Well, he supposed he couldn't blame him. "You weren't born with one," he answered his sibling.

Pouting, Goten flopped down, arms folded. "No fair! That's so neat!" Here, he eyed the twitching tail and asked "Why is this bad?"

Gohan's eyes enlarged. "Why...we have the dinner at Videl's tonight!"

Goten nodded. "Kay. What's that gotta do with your tail?"

Sighing, Gohan said "Not everyone is used to this...she doesn't know I ever had a tail!"

"So just tell her."

Why did Goten make it sound so simple? "Oh, sure. That'll be great! Hey, Videl, did you know your boyfriend is a freak?"

Goten's face darkened. "You're not a freak, Big brother. Don't call yourself that. Big Sister Videl said you were supposed to be nicer to yourself, 'member?"

Gohan eyed his tail, taking it in hand.

"Do you not want it, Big Brother?"

Oh, he'd wanted it back for years. Hard to say why but he felt more complete with it here and yes, the idea of ripping it off was there but he couldn't do that. He couldn't. "I do want it. But...I wanna look good with all Videl's family too. Her grandparents are gonna be there and...and..."

Goten sighed himself. He hoped he wouldn't get in the habit of making things more complicated when he became an adult. It sounded like such a pain. "Well, can you hide it in your pants? Wrap it around your leg or something?"

Eyeing his sibling, he said, "Not in the tight pants that Mom laid out."

Shrugging, Goten said, "Daddy's got a pair of black slacks in his closet. They're bigger. Bet that would work. Black pants are black pants."

Wait, how did... "How do you know what Dad has in his closet?"

"Best place to hide during hide and seek."

"Little cheater! I tol' you Mom and Dad's stuff was off limits!" He had to smile though.

Giving his brother a cheeky grin, Goten said "No, you said Mom's stuff was off limits. I never went on that side." He jumped to the ground. "So should we go ask Dad or not?"

OOO

"Relax, will you?"

Gohan sighed. "I'm tryin' to!"

Goku shook his head, "It'll be fine. 'Sides you already know her Dad! That's the hardest part!"

ChiChi tucked a loose hair back into her bun. "Oh, Goku, leave him alone. He's gonna be nervous. That's fine." She gave him a warm smile "But you'll be just fine, Son." She directed her fiery gaze to her husband and youngest son. "Best behavior. Manners. Hear me?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Came the chorus of answers.

The OxKing, trailing a bit behind all of them, laughed.

Gohan knocked on the large door. The place was huge and no matter how many times he saw it, it was still overwhelming. Very different from the small humble home he was used to. He hoped if he and Videl continued to be serious and if...things kept going as they were...he hoped she wouldn't want a huge mansion. He didn't know if he'd be able to adjust to that.

The door opened on a man with dark hair, glasses and a rather tight suit. "Good Evening," he said with a deep voice. "You must be Miss Videl's guests."

Goten beamed, "Are you a butler?"

ChuChi glared "Goten!"

But the man smiled, much to Gohan's relief, "Indeed I am, young Sir. I have served Miss Videl's family since her father was a lad."

Gohan sighed. This just might work out fine—

"Wow! You're really old then!"

Never mind.

OOO

Gohan tried to keep his eyes on Videl but it was nearly impossible. The dining room was huge and he thought his father was going to pass out at the food spread. It smelled delicious.

Then there were the grandparents.

They were Videl's maternal grandparents. Apparently her father's parents had since passed on but her mother's were still around. They, understandably, were very protective of their granddaughter.

The woman, a short thing with gray hair that had once been black had the same critical look to her as a grammar teacher. Apparently though, she'd been CEO of her own company for years and it showed in her eyes.

The man was slightly taller but still looked pretty feeble. No hair to speak of except a few wisps of white around his ears. Gohan wasn't sure what he did but it was something with banking.

They grilled you like you were under arrest. And they had a very distinct look about them that they already did NOT like him.

His heart sank.

"So, what kind of job do you have, Mr. Son?"

Gohan turned to his father but after a moment, realized they were speaking to him. How weird. Mr. Son was his father!

"Well, I'm finishing up high school now and I'm preparing for college."

"Yet no time to work a little on the side?" The woman was small, not quite as small as his mother, but with the same kind of intensity. "Surely, you could find the time for that—"

"Grandma!" Videl's voice cut in. "Stop it! Gohan helps his parents with their farming."

"Farming, eh?" The grandfather wasn't much better, though he had a softer voice. "So...we can assume neither of you," he had turned to look at ChiChi and Goku, "have formal education?"

The OxKing stiffened. "That's not fair. My Chichi had the best tutors I could afford."

Oh, that judgmental look.

"Indeed. And you?" He nodded at Goku

Swallowing his mouthful, Goku pointed "Oh, me?"

"Yes, you."

"I learned my readin' and numbers from Master Roshi. I make my livin' off the land. Never saw a need for much else. Not gonna be a scientist or nothin'."

"Thank goodness," the older woman remarked.

Gohan's tail tightened as he strived to contain his emotions.

"My Goku's a martial artist!" ChiChi insisted. "So am I. That takes a lotta dedication!"

"Oh, those tricks that Mark has been trying to root out? Just wonderful."

Videl shouted again, "Grandma! Grandpa! Stop it! This is supposed to be getting to know you, not twenty questions." She added "And it's skill, not tricks."

"Sweetie, it's not a crime to call a pig what it is." The woman scoffed. "A metaphor, naturally." Her eyes said other wise.

"Papa!" Videl turned. "Make them stop!"

"Right." Mr. Satan finally chimed in. "My Videl likes them fine and I trust her judgment!"

The woman sighed. "Mark, you've always spoiled the girl. We're just looking out for her best interests."

Gohan swallowed, a chalky feeling in his throat. "I know we might be...unorthodox but I love your granddaughter."

"Don't throw around that word like it means nothing." Oh, that woman was looking at him like he was a snake.

He'd come here nervous, unsure and so utterly terrified of making the wrong impression.

But he was getting angry now.

"I'm not. My parents never have and neither do I."

"I find that hard to believe." The woman eyed Videl, as if Gohan wasn't even in the room. "Of all the boys out there, you had to pick the country one? Do the doctors and lawyers do nothing for you?"

"Now hold on!" ChiChi stood. "Me and my Goku might not have been rich or nothin' but that's got nothin' to do with my boy!"

Goten frowned. "I don't think I'd wanna be rich. Least not like you. Maybe like Big Sister Videl—"

"She is NOT your sister." The old man had stood now. "And Videl, you tolerate this?"

Her teeth were clenched and her face pale. "I _like_ being called Big Sister. He's got my permission for it."

"Oh, heavens help us! Videl, you're better than this!" He waved at the direction of Goku and ChiChi, ignoring Mr. Satan's frantic pleas of 'calm down, let's calm down!'

Gohan stood, "Hey! If you've got a problem with me, fine. But don't bring my parents into this! They're great parents!"

"Son, I'm sure you're perfectly nice but we see Videl with someone...better. More her level."

"Look, I—"

The room was cut in sound by a loud rip and less than a moment later, Gohan's tail wove around the back of him, clear and solid in view. It refused to be contained any longer.

The man screamed. "What is that?!"

"Videl, he's one of those animal-people?! You've got to get kidding!"

Gohan ground his teeth. "It's my tail. I was born with it. I lost it a while ago but it grew back." He eyed Videl. "I wanted to make a good impression and I was afraid that...well, this would happen." He looked down. "But...I'm not ashamed of who I am. My tail comes from my Dad. I'm proud of that!"

"Freaks. That's what they are! I knew I didn't like them!"

Gohan had steeled himself for that word but it still hurt when it hit. He kept himself still, face down, trying to push that echoing accusation out of his head.

But apparently Goku was done.

Unless you lived with the Son Family, you likely never saw the anger side of Goku. It took a lot to trigger it. But at this point, the Son Family patriarch was done.

He stood to his full height and what came out in his voice bordered on living fire. "My son is not a freak." It was an odd thing—there was nothing else said but the command was clear. The way he stood, putting himself partway between Gohan and them, spoke volumes. "And I ain't gonna stand here and let you call him one."

"It's unnatural!"

"It's an affront against nature, just like those other animal—"

"Get. Out."

The voice that broke the conflict was ice molded into fire. A rumbling storm right on the edge of breaking.

Videl stood, her hands digging deep into the table. "Get. Out." She repeated.

Her grandparents eyed her. "Finally. Some sense." Turning to the group of Son Family members, they added, "I believe you heard our granddaughter—"

"Not them." Videl spoke out. "You. Get. Out."

"Videl!" The woman stated, utterly astounded as she stood by her husband. "Don't be rash—"

"Get. Out." Her teeth sounded like they might break. "I asked you to come here because I wanted you to know the man I've fallen in love with. I'm not gonna sit here and let you hound on him or his family anymore."

She suddenly sprung out of her seat, letting her ki lift her into the air where she glared down at her grandparents, her hair blustering around her face. "If they're 'freaks' then so am I!" She pulled ki into her hands and held them there, solid balls of white. "This is MY choice. If you can't respect it—GET. OUT!"

Mr. Satan finally stood. "I think you should leave. My Videl's right. Goku and his family are good folks! If you can't respect that, you're not welcome here."

"Unbelievable." The woman stared at Videl. "Sweetie, are you—"

"Get. Out!"

ChiChi slammed her hand on the table. "Are ya deaf?! Videl said to leave!"

Finally, muttering as they went, the two gathered their things and made their way to the door. The man turned as they opened it. "Videl, sweetheart, this isn't necessary."

"You're badmouthing the man that'll be my husband one day. Get used to it."

Gohan choked a bit. Not because of the words but to hear it. They'd been getting close and...

But oh, if seeing her like this, hearing that protective surge in her tone, it made his heart pulse. And it made him feel...special. Important. Valued.

Only after the door shut and the sound of an aircar taking off was heard did Videl let her ki drop and she landed on the floor.

Goten rushed her with a hug. "Big Sister Videl, that was so cool!"

"Goten!" ChiChi approached and wrapped her arms around her "Sweetie, I'm sorry..."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for. They made their choice. So I had to make mine." She turned and rushed Gohan suddenly, throwing her arms around him.

"Videl—"

"Don't you believe it." She interrupted, teasing his hair which his mother had all but drowned in gel. "None if it."

"I don't—" he began.

"You do. I see it in your eyes." She took his cheeks in her hands and for a time, they were the only people in the world as her eyes married his. "You're not a freak. You're Gohan. Unique, special, different." She reached down and gently grasped his tail. "Tail or no tail."

Gohan's face softened. "I'm sorry that—"

"Don't be." Shaking her head, she reached up, dug her hands into his hair and shook and ruffled until the gel fractured and his trademark spikes broke through. "You're my Gohan. If they can't accept that, screw 'em. If they love me, they'll love you." Turning, she faced the others. "You're all family now. Sorry but you're stuck with me."

Turning to Gohan, she said. "We got together tonight to celebrate our families. How about we still do thst?"

OxKing laughed. "I think that's a grand idea."

Videl broke from Gohan and went from Goten to Goku, pulling their ties loose and ruffling their hair into the trademark spikes. "Better," she said with a firm nod. "I like my family as they are—" she went back to Gohan, twirling his tail gently around her finger. "Tails and all."