"Gohan!"

Not now. Gohan cursed the prospect of having to actually talk to anybody. An odd thing for him, given he was usually all about making friends. Having spent the last decade with only the animals or his father's friends, when he started at Paozu Academy a year after the Cell Games and found he actually made friends, it was all he could talk about. His parents both lit up at his babbling.

This morning though, it was all he could do to stay conscious. His own damn fault, sure, though he would place some blame on a certain little brother too. The inability to say no to a pair of puppy dog eyes begging was a curse.

He should have put away his report first though. When Goten's playing had sent a glassful of juice dousing the carefully crafted kanji, it felt like a punch to the gut and he still felt bad about snapping at the toddler over it.

Dad had tried every trick he knew to save the pages but even parental miracles had limits. So after taking about a half hour of punching and cursing in words Mom probably didn't realize he knew, he retreated to his room to painstakingly rewrite it. After three hours, he'd slipped and smeared the ink, resulting in another set back. Having to find all his references again resulted in a long, mind-numbing experience.

He'd put the final touches on it early that morning. Too little time to sleep so he'd all but jumped in the bath, hoping ice cold water might stir his brain to attention. When that failed, he dug in the cabinets and used some of the instant coffee packets Bulma seemed to drop every time she came over. They tasted terrible but it had pecked at his brain enough for him to form semi-coherent conversations.

"Hey, Gohan! Did you hear me?"

Stupid question. One of the reasons Gohan loved this school was how welcoming everyone was. He didn't even have to hide his tail anymore (which had regrown a few months before Goten was born) and all the teachers knew how strong he was. He had garnered quite a few fans because of it. But they also learned about his keen hearing and smell.

Turning, Gohan swallowed his yawn. "Hey Doshi!"

The boy was around the same age, with wild brown hair and green eyes. He lived with a carpenter family in the nearby village. The two boys had spent some time after school together in the nearby fields and woods, usually tracking some animal Doshi had never seen before. "Hey yourself. You're out of it." Peering Gohan in the face, the boy declared. "You look dead."

"Thanks." Gohan had hoped he didn't look as bad as he felt. "Just what I want to hear."

"Sorry. But you do. Up late doing that stupid research project?"

"Yeah. I had to rewrite it."

"Yikes." Doshi winced "Least we have summer break after today!"

True. Gohan had almost forgotten about that. A few weeks without school and this school has a habit of giving light homework over holidays, at least in comparison to other schools. As a trade off, they started school an hour earlier and stayed a half hour late. Irritating some days but when breaks came up, it was worth it.

Smiling at the camping trip he was sure his dad would arrange, Gohan made his way into the classroom with the knowledge that he only had to make it through this day.

OOO

Where was it?

Gohan tried to keep his mood hidden but he had the distinct feeling he was failing. He hadn't heard half of the day's lesson, using every second to dig through his bag.

Nothing. His research paper wasn't there.

It was an improvement from trying not to fall asleep but panic wasn't a fun emotion either!

A deep sinking feeling settled in his stomach. He'd stayed up all night but where was it?! That was a large factor of his grade and the thought of a low or even a failing grade made him think he was going to vomit right there.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Gohan blinked and looked up, his eyes searching out the distinct tapping sound. After scanning the room a moment, he finally realized it was coming from the window to his left.

Dad smiled at him from behind the panes, holding up a familiar stack of papers, stapled together. Gohan about burst into tears and pushed the window open a moment later.

"Dad!" He whispered as loud as he could. "You brought it?! Thank you!"

"Ya left it on your desk. I went in to throw your dirty clothes in the laundry 'fore your mom pitched a fit about you leavin' 'em on the floor and saw it. Figured that you'd need it."

A stern look took Goku's face and he gently took the boy by the chin. "You didn't sleep any last night, did ya?"

"Couldn't." Gohan insisted. "I had to finish."

"Ya always gotta sleep!"

"I know but—"

"Mr. Son, care to enlighten us to what's so fascinating?"

Gohan jerked his head around as his teacher made her rounds towards the window. A hand pressed on his desk and Dad leaned in the window, waving "hey!"

Stopping, her stern face softened. "Oh. Mr. Son. I...didn't see you."

"Is okay. Wasn't tryin' to wreck your class." He set a hand on his son's shoulder. "But I'm gonna go ahead and take Gohan home, Kay?"

Gohan blinked, staring at his father. Now, this wasn't exactly a new thing. Dad had brought him out for lunch a few times but even Dad didn't usually do it right in the middle of class.

His teacher reacted similarly. "I...well, yes but May I ask why?"

Goku blinked at her, a similar image to Gohan. "'Cause I want to." He said simply. Honestly.

The room went quiet but Gohan had to admit, he was liking this idea. Home. Bed. Sleep. Wonderful, precious sleep. Yes. Yes. Thank you, thank you!

"Here." Goku took the paper he'd brought and handed it over to her. "Think that's all he hadda turn in." Clapping his son's shoulder, he said "Let's go!"

"M-Mr. Son!" The woman insisted. "This is most unorthodox. Lunches are one thing but to pull him out of class without a reason..."

Goku set his eyes on her. "I got a reason. I want to. I'm his Dad. I can do that."

"Well...yes, I suppose that's technically true but.."

"Good!"

Wrapping his arm under his son's arms, about his chest, Goku took the boy's blazer and bag in the other hand. "See ya after break!" With that, he pushed back, letting both of them fall through the air to plop down on Nimbus. The cloud took off without a pause.

Gohan took the opportunity to flop on his side, utilizing his father's leg as a bumpy pillow. "Thanks, Dad."

Chuckling, Goku ruffled his hair. "I sent your Mom off with Goten. House'll be nice and quiet."

Closing his eyes, Gohan nodded. "Sleep..."

"That's supposed to be my line." Goku laughed as the wind blew his hair back. "But yeah. Sleep." With a stretch, he added "I'll bring home some roasted fish after you've slept a little bit, Kay?"

Smiling with another nod, Gohan pondered that he had, without a doubt, the best father in the world.