Hello everyone. My creative juices are kinda running low so any suggestions you guys have for the story are welcome. Sorry for this crappy chapter. I don't own DBZ.

Last Time...

"Dad said they did! He said they bonded when they had sex," Trunks spouted, causing Lime and Mirai to spit their drink out across the table at the gossiping boys. At that, Goku and Chi Chi whirled around to face the beet-red teenagers. They knew they had gone off screen for a night and most of a day but Chi Chi never expected they would do that before they were married. Thoughts started flying through the mother's head. Were Gohan and Videl having sex as well? No, not her little boy. She raised him better than that. Mirai on the other hand… well he had Vegeta for a father.

Just as Chi Chi began to calm herself down the little boys turned to her. "What's sex?" they asked in unision.

The Talk...

888

Gohan walked through the house, following Videl's familiar ki. As she had no idea where the bathroom was, she had retreated to the first room she could find with a closable door. That room so happened to be his bedroom. He tried the door hoping she hadn't locked it only for it to give away easily in his hands. 'That was easy,' he mused. He was instantly proven wrong as the second he set foot in the room he heard the sound of a door closing and a lock clicking shut. Damn. She had retreatred to his adjoining bathroom. Sighing, he knocked once calling her name out gently. He could have easily broken down the door but didn't feel like dealing with the tongue and pan lashing he would receive from his mom if he did. Internally, he berated himself for not telling his mom that mentioning Videl's mother was a touchy subject. He still didn't know what became of her. From the little information he had gleaned from sparse conversations, she had stopped being a part of Videl's life when she was young; just barely old enough to remember her. He didn't know whether she had died or simply left and he hoped it wasn't the latter. How the former Mrs. Satan could leave her young daughter was beyond him. Hercule he could understand, but not his Videl.

Sitting down with his back against the bathroom door, he tried talking to her. "Come on, Videl," Gohan coaxed. "Let me in. My mom didn't mean anything by what she said. She didn't know."

A few seconds of silence before Gohan raised his hand to knock on the door once more. "I'm really sorry, Videl." He repeated. "She didn't know what she was talking about."

"Don't you know when to leave well enough alone!" came Videl's sharp retort.

Gohan flinched at her tone. Ouch! Well at least she isn't crying… He had no idea how to deal with women when they were upset. What was he supposed to do now?

"Do you want to talk about it?" he tried. "It might help you feel better."

In an instant, Gohan flew backwards; hitting his head hard against the tiled floor as Videl suddenly opened the door. He hissed in more surprise than pain, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh you want to talk about it?" Videl jeered, looking down at him with a manacing glare. By now all traces of tears were gone. "You think it would make me feel better? Well tell me how talking about it is going to bring my mother back? Tell me what possible reason she could have for leaving me if not that she hated me!"

Gohan gulped as he stared up at her, sweat beading on his forehead. Should he keep quiet and let her calm herself down? One look at her face told him otherwise. She wants to hear something now or she's gonna explode! What was it that chick-flick his mom and Lime made he and Mirai watch that day said? Damn why aren't those stupid lines coming to me? Screw this. I'm just going to wing it. "I don't think she hated you. But even if she did it's her loss. She missed watching you grow up to be the strongest and most beautiful girl on the planet." He sighed in relief as Videl's glare softened and she dropped to her knees beside him.

"It doesn't matter that she missed me grow up!" she said angrily. "I still needed her! What was she thinking? I mean girl talk with my dad has been pretty…interesting for lack of a better term" Honestly, anything having to do with girls and their parts left Hercule with a serious stomach ache or worse sticking his fingers in his ears and screaming at the top of his lungs.

Gohan sat up and stroked her cheek. "I think you turned out ok. I mean you still have some trust issues but we're working on that aren't we?" he said with a gentle smile.

"Yeah we are," Videl responded smiling back. She had no idea why but Gohan always knew what to say to make her feel better even when he was the one who got her upset in the first place. She felt instantly guilty for snapping at him for something he had absolutely no control over. Yet he didn't seem to blame her at all.

"You have Sharpner and Erasa and me and Kiara who love you to death and even though he's a bit of an imbicile you have your father as well," Gohan said. "My mom and dad have pretty much adopted you. You have a pretty big family when you think about it. Don't forget it Videl."

Videl smiled and kissed him gently. "Why are you so good to me?" she asked with a smile.

"Because you deserve it," Gohan responded against her lips. "Now can we go back and get something to eat! I'm starving!"

Videl followed after him, chuckling at his childish antics before what he said fully sank in. Did she really deserve it? He hounded him constantly, stalking him even at first, to uncover every last detail of his less-than-perfect life. Yet she hardly ever disclosed anything personal about herself. A relationship was built on trust and she already trusted him with her life. So then, shouldn't she trust him with her past as well? Before she knew it, they were back on the patio and were surprised to see they had a few more guests in the form of 18, Krillen, Marron and Kiara. Upon seeing them, the dark haired girl ran over to them and gave Videl a big hug before she jumped into Gohan's arms.

"Gohan! Videl! I missed you! I had so much fun with Marron! Can I go visit her again soon? Please?" Kiara begged.

"If Marron's mommy and daddy say it's ok then sure! She can even come over and visit you sometimes," Videl said.

At that Kiara looked over at Krillen and 18 expectantly. Marron had also joined in at the begging. She was so happy she had another girl to play with. It was sometimes so hard with Goten and Trunks. They never wanted to play dolls or tea parties. They were only fun for hide and seek!

18 gave a rare smile. "Of course she can. I think it's good that Marron has a girl to play with. There's enough testosterone in the Z senshi as it is," she said, rolling her eyes.

"What's the Z-senshi?" Videl asked. Sharpner and Erasa also looked questioningly at the android.

"Oh it's just what we call ourselves in our little group. It's kind of like an extended family," Chi Chi supplied. "Even if one of them kidnapped my baby and another is trying to corrupt my little boy's innocence," she added scathingly.

"Ok, Chi," Goku said, laying a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Why don't you two come take a seat so we can finally eat? I'm tired of watching the boys stealing sushi rolls!"

Goten and Trunks' eyes opened wide in horror and they both braced themselves for the blow from the Frying Pan of Doom TM that was sure to follow. "Traitor!" Goten accused his chuckling father, rubbing his sore temple.

"Hey, it wasn't very fair that you got to eat while I had to wait was it?" Goku defended.

The boys just pouted as they waited for Chi Chi to give the signal.

888

About half an hour later, everyone had finished eating. The children had excused themselves in favour of a game of hide and seek. It was then that Chi Chi decided to turn on Mirai and Lime. "What is this I'm hearing about you two having sex?" she asked in an eerily quiet tone.

Krillen, 18, Gohan and Videl looked on in interest having not heard this news before. The couple shared a nervous glance and gulped.

'Shit! What are we supposed to tell her?' Mirai asked Lime telepathically.

'I don't know! I thought you were supposed to be the genius!' Lime replied back.

'Chi, let me handle this,' Goku said telepathically to his wife, not wanting her to go off her rocker, and in the end accomplish nothing.

'And why should you? They should know better than that! A tongue lashing is what they dersere and that's exactly what they'll get!' Chi Chi retorted.

'When I'm done with them do as you wish but let me go first,' Goku compromised.

Chi Chi huffed. 'Fine!' she conceded.

Triumphant, Goku walked up behind the teens, pulled back their collars and took a look at the perfectly etched bite marks where their necks met their collarbone. "You bonded. I just hope you know what this means," he began. This was a lot more serious than he thought it was. If they had simply had sex, he would have just told them to be careful next time but this, this could change their lives forever.

"That we're going to be together forever?" Mirai asked weakly.

Goku closed his eyes in frustration for a second before he asked, "Exactly what has your father told you about bonding?"

Gohan squirmed in his seat. His dad had given him that talk on his thirteenth birthday. He had turned just about every color of the rainbow but Goku had made sure he heard every word.

Mirai gulped. "Err, nothing really?" he said in a high pitched tone.

"When a Saiyan finds a partner, one of two things can happen. Either they can have sex without marking one another which would make it just like any human sexual relationship, or you can mark each other which bond you for life. You feel what the other is feeling and share your thoughts and dreams. You can even communicate with your mate telepathically. All, in all, as Trunks said, it's like a Saiyan marriage. After this, you won't feel attraction for anyone else until the day you die, even if your mate has died. Saiyans also go through a kind of mating season every full moon. Your attraction to your mate increases significantly. When you bond with your mate especially during the full moon, your sperm has a much higher potency. Depending on where Lime is in her cycle, there is a pretty good chance that she could be pregnant," Goku said seriously.

At that news the table went silent as Mirai and Lime exchanged worried glances before looking down at their twiddling thumbs. It was true that they had discussed the possibility of it happening but after finding out the risk was even higher was a bit much to handle.

"Anyway don't get too concerned just yet. I suggest you guys go over to Bulma's as soon as possible to be sure," Goku said wisely. "Even if you aren't pregnant I suggest you get a hold of some birth control. Same goes for you four as well," he added turning to the two other young couples.

The teens nodded in silence, hoping agaist hope that Lime wasn't pregnant.

'Anything else you want to add Chi?' Goku asked.

Chi Chi just shook her head. She could see from their shocked faces that they already realized how careless they had been.

Somberly the six teenagers walked towards the den hoping that a good movie would lighten their dampened spirits.

"Well, I think we should be going soon," Krillen spoke up uncomfortably, filling the heavy silence the teens had left in the air. He retreated to the bathroom while 18 went into the forest in search of her daughter.

"I don't see why Gohan needs birth control," Chi Chi scoffed at her husband, now that they were alone. "He knows he isn't supposed to have sex before he gets married!" Sure, she teased him all the time about grandchildren but then there was always the given that this would happen after marriage.

Goku looked Chi Chi in the eyes seriously. "Look, Chi," he said. "Gohan's a teenager. He's a walking mass of hormones right now and it's just a matter of time before he gives into them. If he does wait until he's married that's great but we can't take that for granted. The best thing we can do for him right now is to make sure he protects himself so if he does have sex, he won't regret it, ok?"

"Ok," Chi Chi grumbled. She still didn't like the idea but then again, a swim in the lake with Goku one hot summer's day turned into Gohan nine months later. It was bad enough that Gohan had Kiara to take care of at his age. Another baby would not do right now.

888

At around eight o' clock, Goku popped his head into the den to find all of the teens fast asleep. Turning on the lights, he walked over to Gohan and Mirai and shook them awake. "Hey Gohan, I think it's time you take your friends home. Mirai you take Lime home and head home yourself. Be sure to talk to Bulma as I told you earlier," he said.

"Sure thing, Goku," Mirai said, stretching as he stood up.

After waking everyone up, Gohan led his friends to the front door where Chi Chi stood waiting to say goodbye. "Well, it was very nice to meet you all. I hope I'll be seeing more of you from now on. Gohan don't forget to invite your friends to your coming out ball," Chi Chi said.

"Mom must you insist on calling it that?" Gohan groaned but his mom had already disappeared into the house. Sighing, the Son boy turned to his friends.

"Coming out of the closet are you Gohan?" Sharpner teased, raising his eyebrows. "I knew you liked me a little too much!" This caused everyone in the group to snicker at his comment.

Gohan rolled his eyes and slapped his friend gently upside the head. "No, I am not gay, you idiot! It's just a ball to introduce me to the kingdom. Aside from the palace staff and a few royal allies of my grandfather, no one has really seen me or knows my name," Gohan explained.

"Why?" Videl asked. She was thrust into the spotlight the minute her father had won the WMAT and even worse after he claimed to beat Cell. How had Gohan escaped?

"Well my parents didn't like the idea of me growing up in the spotlight especially when I was younger and had no control over my powers. So when Goten and I were born, they never disclosed anything but our date of birth and gender to the public. The idea was that during the Kingdom Festival after our 18th birthday we would be formally introduced to the public." Gohan continued.

"When is it? I need to find a dress!" Erasa said in a panic.

Lime chuckled. "Next month. Christmas Eve, if I remember correctly," she said.

Gohan nodded his head in affirmation. "It's fine if you guys already have plans with your families or whatever but I'd like it if you could stop by," he said. "To tell you the truth I am not looking forward to it at all. I'll need all the backup I can get."

Videl put a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. "Don't worry. If I can do it, you can. We'll be right by your side the whole way," she said, causing him to smile.

"Thanks," Gohan responded.

"Alright, I think we should get going," Mirai said as he floated into the air.

Lime followed suit. "It was nice meeting you all and I'm sure we'll see each other soon," she said as they both waved and jetted off for Chazke Village.

"Alright everyone!" Gohan announced as he threw a capsule to the ground. "Get in."

The group marveled at the sleek jetcopter that emerged from the smoke cloud. It was a forest green with red detailing. Best of all, it was definitely not on the market yet.

"Is that a Jet X 5000?" Sharpner asked in admiration, just about ready to bow down the piece of machinery.

Gohan grinned. "Yup!" he chirped. "Dad asked me to test-drive it. It should be able to get us to Satan City in about an hour."

"I have wanted one of those forever!" Videl said giddily. "When will they be on the market?"

"Probably not till next year or the year after," Gohan said. "They're still trying to get the cost down to market value."

The two vehicle-enthusiasts' shoulders sagged in disappointment. That was going to take forever! Damn!

"Alright let's go," Gohan said. "We don't need anybody's parents throwing a hissy fit," he smirked, the comment pointing directly at Videl.

The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes at him. "I call shot gun!" she yelled, hopping into the front passenger seat.

Sharpner was at a loss. "Hey! No fair!" he yelled.

Videl sent him a wide grin. "Deal with it!" she said cheekily, watching as the boy grumbled, taking his seat next to Erasa in the back.

888

At around nine thirty, Gohan touched down on Videl's balcony. After taking Erasa and Sharpner home, he had traded his jetcopter in favor of his Gold Fighter costume.

"Do you want to come in?" Videl asked demurely, as he placed her gently on her feet.

"Sure, for a little while," Gohan answered with a nervous smile.

The two walked into the room, one for the very first time. Unsurprisingly given her personality, the room was rather simple containing no more than the essentials with the exception of a small plasma screen TV and a video game system. Her furniture was a tawny color. The curtains were a shade of blue that mirrored her eyes. There were three doors visible; one leading to the hallway, one to her personal bathroom and the other to her closet.

"Nice room," Gohan chatted as he took a seat on her desk chair. He watched as she took a seat on her bed, her fingers fidgeting as the look he knew all to well to be one of deep thought crossed her face. She looked down at her fingers, not even acknowledging his comment. He honestly had no idea what to say. It was easy for him to make conversation when they were in the forest. That was his terrain. But here, here was her turf.

"I'm sorry," Videl blurted out, looking up at him. She seemed surprised the words had actually escaped her mouth.

"What for?" Gohan asked concerned.

"I mean, I've been badgering you trying to get every single detail of your life out of you even though you didn't want to talk about it yet I completely shut you out this afternoon," she said, getting up and beginning to pace the room, gesturning passionately with her hands.

"It's ok, Videl," Gohan started reassuraingly but was interrupted by Videl.

"No, it's not," she admonished. "It's… it's not fair so… I'm going to tell you…about her."

"You don't have to," Gohan tried again softly but again she cut him off.

"Yes I do!" she said firmly, her face contorting to a look of anguish as she held her head. As her expression steeled, she added softly, "Not just for you, for me as well."

"Okay," Gohan whispered.

"I need to sort this out. I've been trying to talk it out with my dad for years but he never listens. Erasa had a lot of things going on as well with her parents divorcing and having two half siblings and I didn't want to add my problems to hers so I'm going to talk to you," Videl said.

"Okay," Gohan repeated. Erasa had mentioned her 'evil step-mother and the demon twins' quite a few times.

"When I was little, my mom was like my hero. She was small, like me. She also had the same hair and eye color as me. She actually was a figure skater before I was born but quit so she could take care of me. Back then we lived in a small house just big enough for the three of us. I remember she was a fantastic singer as well. She used to sing me to sleep every night or whenever I felt sad, she'd just sing to me and I'd feel a lot better. She was the one who first took me to ballet lessons… and football practice. We used to bake peanut butter cookies every weekend. I remember raiding her makeup kit and closet so many times because I wanted to be beautiful just like her and whenever she caught me, she would wipe the lipstick off my face and tell me I was beautiful just the way I was," Videl began.

Gohan nodded. "She was right," he said simply and let her continue.

"When I was ten, things suddenly changed. My dad had just won the world martial arts competition, but unlike your dad, the win got to his head. He bought that huge mansion in the city. He was never home anymore and whenever he was he would ignore us both. My mom and dad started arguing a lot and after a while refused to even speak to each other. One day, I came home from school and she wasn't there. Dad said she left us and wouldn't tell me anything else," Videl said, hanging her head. "From then on he started drinking and partying even more. Can you believe I haven't seen him in a month?"

"Every time I tried to ask what happened, he would just badmouth her. I even tried going to the police, but he had paid them to keep their mouths shut," Videl said brokenly.

"I just want to know what happened to her, you know?" Videl said. "I just want to know whether she's dead or alive or if she has a new family now or lives alone. It just hurts not knowing."

Gohan and Videl sat in silence for a while. Videl had stopped pacing the room and resumed her perch on her bed, staring at the floor. "I'll help you find her," Gohan said after a long while.

"How are you going to do that?" Videl asked bitterly, looking up at him.

"I know some powerful people," Gohan said with a smirk.

Videl smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks," she said.

"Anytime," Gohan responded.

888

Review please and keep the ideas coming.