Author Notes: Chapter is shorter than the average, mostly because this is an interlude and just a quick glimpse before we move on to part 2. Thanks for reading as always. I appreciate you beautiful people.

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Interlude - 1

Gohan rubbed at his eyes behind his glasses. Another late night, but he was so close to finishing this book and he didn't want to put it down yet. A few months had gone by since his dad had been taken to Whis and Beerus' planet, and he had made that deal with Krillin to chase after him once a year had passed. He didn't have time to waste. He needed to figure out this issue.

At the rate he was going, he might actually change direction for his masters degree. Being taught psychology directly would make this go so much faster because he could get clarification for his questions. As it was, he had to hoard books on the subject and look for possibilities. He didn't want to jump to the first idea that his brain had conjured. A personality disorder of some sort, yes, but everyone seemed so torn on whether a split personality could be real so it must be something else, right?

Gohan sighed and leaned back in his black leather work chair, holding the book up in a new position. His neck was killing him from reading for so long, and his vision was starting to blur away from him. He needed a break, but he felt like he was so close .

And then the book was torn out of his hands and an exasperated wife - with their daughter resting on her hip - stared down at him. "Gohan. Really? Again?"

"Uh…Sorry?"

Videl shook her head, tossing his book on the desk. "It's already six in the morning. Your mother will be here in two hours."

"Wait, what?" Gohan shot forward in his chair, getting a giggle from Pan as she reached for him. "It can't be tomorrow already!"

"It is. Here, hold Pan," Videl said, handing their daughter over. "I've got to make some kind of breakfast and some coffee for you so you don't fall asleep."

"Oh gosh, right, sorry."

Videl shook her head and rolled her eyes. She didn't say anything else, but she did smile as she made her way out the door. Gohan watched her leave and then stared after her in silence. At least until Pan slapped his face and mumbled in baby talk.

Looking down - and holding Pan under her arms - Gohan smiled and really took a moment to look . His daughter was getting so big. She could even say a few words and phrases clearly, and she had started walking - little steps and for short periods of time. It was all happening so fast. Was time really going by while he kept his nose in the books?

He sighed. "I haven't been giving you enough attention lately, have I?"

Pan patted his face and giggled. "Dada. No time."

"Right." Leaning in, Gohan kissed her forehead. "I'll do better."

For now, he'd focus on the family. His mother had called last night saying she had some big news to share. Something she didn't want to share over the phone. Goten had been pretty excited when he talked on the phone, too, but he refused to explain, either. So they were coming over today - in a few hours - to discuss whatever had happened.

At first, he'd thought maybe his dad was back, but a quick check of ki signatures in the area proved that hope wrong. So he'd dropped into the bad habit of reading past midnight - well past midnight apparently - in an effort to figure out what was wrong with his father. Yet nothing made sense. Nothing that he was willing to believe at least. So he kept digging, kept reading, kept hoping for some answer to just -

"Gohan!"

As Videl called from the other room, Gohan shook the thoughts out of his mind. Later. He'd get back to those later. Right now, family. His stomach growled and Pan giggled. Okay, food first. And coffee. Definitely need the coffee.

Picking Pan up into his arms, Gohan stood up and made his way to the kitchen. He could already smell the breakfast Videl had going, and it was making his mouth water.

~!~

"You're what?"

A few hours later, Gohan sat - well, now he stood - in his living room area with his mom and brother sitting on the couch across from him and Videl beside him. Cups of tea and coffee sat untouched on the coffee table between them. Honestly, Gohan almost knocked his knee on the table as he rushed to his feet, but thankfully he avoided such a mishap.

So he could have plenty of time to process the news without distraction.

Chi-Chi stared up at him, hands in her lap, sitting calm and controlled in her yellow cheongsam. "Don't shout, Gohan."

"Yeah, but -" he swallowed. "You're pregnant."

Goten bounced on the couch, wearing a blue t-shirt with the outlines of stick figures fighting a dragon. "Now we both get to be big brothers, Gohan! I wanted to tell you earlier, but mom said it had to be a secret. I'm glad I waited because your face sure is funny."

Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Gohan sank back down into the couch. He immediately felt Videl's hand on his leg and glanced at her, giving a shaky smile. He was glad that Mr. Satan had come by and asked to take "little Panny" out to the zoo today. He really needed to focus on this news from his mom, and he appreciated Videl being here without having to worry about the baby. Plus, a little break was always nice, though he was going to make sure to spend time with Pan later after what he said this morning.

But that was for later. For now, he needed to focus. Close his eyes. Turn his senses to his mother. He hadn't been able to feel Videl's pregnancy until she brought it up, but he knew what to look for, and sure enough he felt the little bundle of energy forming around his mother's stomach. A little bit of his father's ki and a little bit of his mother's.

Letting out his breath in a rush, Gohan opened his eyes and met his mother's gaze. "Well, I guess that means the dragon's need to use two wishes makes sense after all."

Goten sat forward. "Wait, really? Is that what happened?"

"Yeah," Gohan nodded, turning to his brother. "Remember how I said it might be a certain kind of special case, but I didn't want to say because I wasn't sure?"

"Oh! Uh…sure."

Gohan chuckled because no his brother didn't remember, but that was all right. "I had forgotten all about it because I've been focused on researching, but…"

He drifted off, his eyes finding his mother and freezing in place as the words died on his tongue. She didn't look as happy as he would have expected. In fact, she was staring down at her lap and her hands were…shaking? Gohan almost asked her what was wrong, but then he remembered Goten was here too and he swallowed the words before they could escape. Best not to make a scene. He didn't want to worry his brother.

But still…why wasn't she happy? Why was she so upset? Could it -

"Gohan, I -" Chi-Chi looked up and forced a smile. "I know this is going to sound strange, but I want to keep this a secret for as long as possible. I don't want word getting back to your father."

He blinked. "Uh. Why not?"

She shook her head. "I can't explain. I'm just worried the news wouldn't really…help."

"Well, maybe, but -"

Goten shot to his feet, finger pointed out. "Mom doesn't have to let him know everything, Gohan, but even if that guy finds out, I'm still strong enough to protect them just fine on my own. We don't need him."

Gohan opened his mouth, then shut it, sitting back on the couch and crossing his arms. He knew Goten still didn't want to accept "that guy" as his father, but it didn't even make his mother flinch to hear it now. Videl rubbed at his leg and he glanced at her, seeing worried eyes. Oh, yeah, they were going to talk about things later for sure. This was big.

At least Goten seemed excited to have a younger sibling. He didn't have to worry about that front. No jealousy or anything. Good.

His mom smiled at his brother and pulled him back down to the couch to get him close enough to pet his hair, which was so different from the old Goku-look-a-like style. "Yes, you are, sweetie. You're plenty strong enough to protect me and the baby from anything, huh?"

"Yeah!" Goten exclaimed. "Dad can meet him after he gets everything figured out."

"That's right," Chi-Chi said with a smile. "Hopefully that'll be sooner rather than later."

"Mhm! He'll come back and be like normal and we won't have to deal with that stupid jerk part of him anymore!"

Gohan did his best to school his features. Straight face. Don't show anything. But all the while, thoughts ran through his head. Things that he'd researched. If it was split personality, or rather, dissociative identity disorder, then things were going to be more complicated than they had expected. Dad wouldn't be able to simply chase out the other personality; he might be able to bury it, but after everything that had happened, Gohan kind of doubted that to be possible at this point.

Then again, miracles could still happen. He had to believe in the best. Because his family needed him too. His mom needed things to be hopeful. Anything less might break her. And he really didn't want to witness anything worse than a little nervous trembling in her hands.

Should he even bring that up to her? Or would she push him away? Krillin and Eighteen were doing a good job of checking in on his mom and Goten, after all. He didn't need to be too worried. They'd keep her happy. They seemed to be doing a good job with Goten, at least.

Well, for now, he had to keep things happy and hope for the best outcome. Hope that he was wrong about the diagnosis. Hope that even if he was right, that it would work out anyway.

Please. We need something good. Let the baby be the best thing for her, whether Dad comes back whole or not.