Yes you are not imagining this update. It seems my creative juices are beginning to flow again. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. As you all know, I don't own DBZ.

Last time...

Videl snuggled back into his arms. "So are you going to make an embellished account of our life story, her bedtime stories from now on?" she asked with a giggle.

"Well, as long as we're still alive, this story will never end," Gohan responded with a yawn, kissing her on the forehead.

"Goodnight Gohan. I love you," Videl said.

"Love you too Videl," Gohan answered. "Sweet dreams."

Bedtime Stories...

888

Lime leaned her head on Mirai's shoulder as they lay back on the soft grass, looking at the stars. It was an almost crystal clear night with only a few white fluffy clouds scattered across the sky. The moon was hidden by the few clouds in the sky. She was so glad they wished it back. She remembered missing her giant nightlight before the Cell fiasco had happened.

"What was it like in the future?" Lime asked. Although Mirai had been living in their time for the past three years, he rarely disclosed anything more than a few details about his timeline. She hoped that now that they were… intimate he would feel more comfortable telling her about it.

"Death and destruction," he replied vaguely. He hated speaking about his past but he knew since he and Lime had bonded, she would eventually know everything anyway. If something was bothering him, she would know immediately and he knew he wouldn't be able to refuse her once she asked what was wrong.

"No, I mean, what was your life like? Did you go to school? Did you have any friends other than Gohan? What was he like?" Lime asked all in one breath.

Mirai chuckled then sighed. "Well, I never went to school because the androids had been attacking as long as I could remember. My dad died when I was only a year old so I didn't remember him at all. Mom said he died protecting us and that even though he rarely showed it, he loved us. I guess maybe that's why I'm so attached to father in this timeline. You're grateful for what you have when you what it's like living without them," he began with a grim smile.

Lime chuckled. "And here we all thought you were crazy," she teased.

"Hey! He might be a little…different but he's my father!" Mirai defended.

"I know," Lime said, snuggling into his chest. "Carry on," she commanded gently.

Mirai sighed and continued, "After that, Gohan pretty much stepped in as my father figure even though he was still a kid himself. He was only twelve years old when he lost his family. He was so strong you see. It was like he grieved the loss of his family by kicking android ass!"

Lime giggled. "Sounds like the Gohan of this time too," she said. Gohan was always hesistant to hurt anyone but once they hurt someone he loved, it was game over.

Mirai laughed as well but then shook his head. "The Gohan on this time sure had the same vendetta-seeking attitude but he was not like my Gohan. I know this Gohan had been through a lot but he had also seen a lot of happy times. My Gohan was fighting for half his life. He had seen more death and destruction that any teenager should have to face. The look in his eyes was just like the look in dad's eyes when he thinks no one is looking: haunted. He missed his family so much and he blamed himself for their deaths even though he could have done nothing to prevent them."

Lime placed a hand on his shoulder as Mirai recounted the grief of his sensei. "What was he like to you?" she asked, trying to let him think of the happy times, however few there were.

Mirai smiled. "He was my hero to be honest. He was so fierce in battle but yet, would let me cry on his shoulder whenever I got scared. I tried my best to become just like him, especially after he died. I did make a few friends eventually. They were kids and teens Gohan's girlfriend took care of. If we found anyone, Gohan and I would take them to her and she would patch them up and give them a home."

Lime smiled. It was good to hear that even in a world of chaos, someone could think of giving terrified children with no families a home. She then realized what he just said. "Did you say girlfriend?" she asked in astonishment. Where had Gohan found the time for girls?

Mirai laughed. "Yeah, that was my reaction exactly when I found out. I think he had asked her to marry him when it was all over but you know he never made it," he said sadly.

"Who was she? Does he know her in this time?" Lime asked excitedly.

"As a matter of fact he does. She is none other than Miss Videl Satan," he smirked.

Lime looked at him slack jawed. "As in Gohan's camping buddy, Videl?" she asked in disbelief. When he nodded Lime just shook her head in bewilderment. Well it seemed that love was indeed timeless. Even under completely different circumstances, they had managed to meet and fall in love… Now all they had to do was admit it.

"Do you know how they met?" she asked him.

"Yeah he told me everything. Come to think of it it was the first time I saw him smile so brightly," Mirai recounted fondly.

"Well tell me already!" Lime insisted.

Mirai rolled his eyes at her childish behavior. "Once upon a time," he began only to yelp as Lime hit him in the shoulder.

"I'm not a child," she glared at him.

"Do you want the bedtime story or not?" Mirai deadpanned.

Lime sulked, rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "Fine," she grumbled.

"As I was sayig before I was so rudely interrupted," Mirai said, sending a playful glare at his girlfriend. "Once upon a time, in this very land. There lived a man…or boy, depending on what you feel like calling him. He was eighteen years old and had a hard life. You see the entire world was under attack by evil androids. He had lost his entire family and was now living with his godmother and helping to raise her adorable, perfect son."

Lime rolled her eyes ay his taunt but refused to give in.

Seeing she was not taking the bait, Mirai continued. "Well anyway, our hero was out trying to prevent the androids from destroying a place called Orange Star City. He fought them with all he had, yet they beat him to the ground mercilessly. They taunted him, calling him weak and left him to bleed out. They destroyed the city anyway, sending a building crashing down on top of him. About an hour later a search and rescue team came along, led by the beautiful Videl Satan. Her father had died in a previous attack but instead of dwelling on it she tried to find any one who might have survived the attack. You see, the girl had been harboring kids from other towns who had lost their families in previous android attacks. Now it seemed that she was going to have to take in more kids from her hometown as well. The girl found him, bleeding heavily and with a lot of broken bones. She thought he was dead at first but upon checking his pulse found that he was still alive. She had him transported to the underground hospital she worked in and treated his wounds."

Mirai Timeline…

Gohan woke up, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. He had no idea how he got here and he wasn't sure if those who brought him here were friendly. Sure they patched him up but who was to say they didn't work for Dr. Gero. Besides, he had to get home to Trunks and Bulma. They were, no doubt, worried sick about him and he didn't want them going looking for him alone. Who knows what might happen once they ventured outside. The room was artificially lit and there were no windows so he couldn't tell what time of day it was. He figured he was either in the interior of a building of underground. He had to get out of here. Ripping out the IV and all the other equipment they had hooked up to him, he got up and began to walk out the door. Just as he opened the door, a small body crashed into his chest and on instinct, he held her waist so she didn't fall.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked him, a menacing glare on his face.

Gohan was taken aback. Not since his mother or Vegeta had he seen such a look on a person's face. His spirits instantly fell as he remembered his mom and the father Mirai never knew. Yet, he didn't let it show. His face remained a blank slate. "Home," he replied simply.

"Home? Don't you realize what happened to you? You were half-dead when I found you! You're lucky you're even alive! Now get back on the bed before your stitches break!" she commanded, her voice escalating to unheard-of decibels.

"I'm fine," Gohan responded, relinquishing his hold on the girl's waist before attempting to walk around her.

She stopped him yet again. She stared at the young man before her. He was tall, with dark hair and eyes, golden brown skin and a muscle tone to die for. He was dressed in nothing but a backless hospital gown, yet stood proudly before her. He was about her age yet his stance was defensive and his eyes were alert, already contemplating future escape routes, no doubt. It was like he was a soldier of some sort. "Go lie down," she said firmly.

"No," he replied coldly.

She glared hotly at him. "I really didn't want to do this but you seem to want to learn the hard way," she said grabbing a tranquilizer needle.

Before she could aim it, Gohan knocked it out of her hands and backed her against the wall so that their bodies were flush against one another. Her eyes opened wide and she stared into the glaring eyes of the boy-no…man above her. For the first time since her father died, Videl felt fear for her own life.

Seeing the fear in his captive's eyes, Gohan gaze softened. "You don't need to be afraid of me. But never try that again," he said gently yet threateningly.

The girl nodded, still terrified out of her mind, but feeling better as he moved away from her.

"I'll stay only long enough for you to see that I'm really fine then I'll go. I have people to take care of," he compromised.

"Fine," she said, regaining her confidence as he sat on the bed. Her face turned cherry red as he untied the hospital gown, revealing his body in all its glory. Videl struggled to stay professional, trying not to stare at his gorgeous physique. He was hot! "C-could you place the gown over your lap please?" she asked, her voice nearly trembling.

He looked up at her in surprise and smirked at the blush on the nurse's face. She was quite beautiful. Her dark hair framed her heart chaped face and cerulean eyes gracefully. He complied without asking. He didn't really want to embarrass the young girl further. He was used to Bulma stripping him off completely and putting him in the regen tank. Obviously this was not how they conducted things here.

She started with his arms, studying his face for any sign of pain as she gingerly touched the once broken limbs. To her surprise, they were fully healed. She then moved on to to his ribs and found that they too were fully healed. Only faint bruises hinted at the attack he had suffered only 24 hours before. She blushed and shifted the gown in his lab to expose his left thigh which had been sliced open by a piece of falling debris. Once again, only a scar hinted at the damage. She checked his heart rate, blood pressure and lung capacity and found that everything was normal. How was it that he was in the ICU alst night and was perfectly fine today? It just didn't make sense! No one could heal that fast!

"I'll get you some clothes. We had to cut your old ones off you," she pouted at the 'I told you so' look on the patient's face.

"I'll be waiting…" Gohan said. "By the way what's your name?"

"Videl," she answered. "And you are?"

"Gohan," he responded with a smile.

Short again, I know but review anyway ^_^