The rain calmed and the sun shined bright in the sky. If it wasn't for the massive mud puddles, one could never tell how much it stormed the night before.

Chi-Chi was up early that morning making breakfast. Cooking always brought her peace. As she cleaned the fish in the sink, she looked out the window at her youngest son in the yard practicing his martial arts. It brought back memories of when he was just a boy. He looked so much like Goku.

"Goku," she whispered to herself. Some days she missed him terribly. She missed his goofy smile and immature nature. Always willing to sacrifice himself for others. It was what she admired most about him, and also what she hated. She hated him for leaving; for always missing out on milestones in the boys' life.

Chi-Chi finished cooking breakfast and plated a few trays of food. She grabbed one tray to place on the table for her son when he came through the door.

"Mom, we talk about this every morning. You don't need to cook for us, we have people for that." Goten tried to take the tray from his mother, but she refused.

"I'm still your mother, and I want to cook for you."

Goten reached out for the tray of food again, "At least let me carry it."

"No! Just sit down and I'll bring it to you."

Goten reluctantly sat at the chair nearest to the kitchen. He watched in silent agony as his ailing mother struggled to carry the tray of food.

Chi-Chi did her best to hold the tray steady as she slowly made her way to the table. "Is your wife home?"

"No mom, she went to work."

"Oh. I guess she hates my cooking."

"No mom," Goten sighed, "She always leaves early." Her memory was bad, but lately it was only getting worse. He had to constantly remind her of the same thing day after day.

Chi-Chi crept slowly towards the table. She had almost made it when her hands started shaking uncontrollably. "Oh no," She gasped.

Goten jumped from the seat to catch the plates of food tumbling to the ground, but he wasn't fast enough.

Embarrassed that she spilled the food, she frantically tried to pick up the fragments of food and broken porcelain.

Goten rushed to his mother's side, and tried to help her stand. "Mom it's okay, I'll get someone to clean this up. Don't worry."

"No," Chi-Chi pushed away her son's hands and got down on her knees to clean up the mess. "I can do it."

Goten grabbed some towels to help his mother clean up the mess.

Chi-Chi grabbed the towels from Goten's hands, "I said let me do it!"

The maid rushed in, but Goten brushed her away.

Vegeta sat still in the corner. He heard a bump at the door, followed by a small knock. The slight shadow underneath the door didn't wait too long after knocking. Most of the staff in the large home was terrified of him.

He opened the door and grabbed the massive tray of food, before quickly closing it. The food was always good and seasoned just right. As quickly as the food came, it was gone. He opened the door and pushed the tray outside.

The room was pitch black; the blackout curtains sealed away any unwanted light. Last night was a rough one. Maybe it was a combination of the rain and thunder, but nevertheless, it was rough.

Vegeta scanned the room, but not much could be seen. The darkness in front of him reminded him of his days with Frieza. Locked in a room, not knowing if he would be called for a mission or suffer the same fate as his people. For many years, he carried the weight of it all-the prince of an almost extinct race. Parts of him were still locked in that room, that prison Frieza sentenced him to, until Bulma came along. She gave him everything he never dreamed of-A home, two beautiful children, loving devotion and a purpose that didn't involve murdering innocent people.

He threw his head back against the wall. His body ached all over. Being hit with a Kamehameha blast was better than this; at least he would heal, but there was no healing from this.

Fortunately, the phone rang. Only one person could be calling him. He got up to answer it.

"Daddy, are you up?"

"Yes, Bra. I'm up."

"Did you eat anything today?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to come out of the room today?"

"No!"

There was a short pause on the line.

"Dad, I'm worried about you."

"Don't be. I'll be fine."

"Maybe I should call Trunks. He'll…"

Vegeta cut her off, "I don't need his help. I said I'm fine."

"Dad, you haven't left the room in months. That's not healthy! Mom wouldn't want this for you. "

Vegeta winced, as his wife's last moments replayed in his head:

"Don't cry too much for me, Vegeta." Her frail hand weakly caressed his cheek.

He sat beside her watching her life slowly drain from her eyes.

"Everybody goes sometime," she whispered. "I'll always love you, my beautiful prince."

Her arm fell limply to her side, and just like that she was gone.

"Hello! Hello! Dad, are you there?

Vegeta shook the thought off. "I'm here."

"Dad are you crying," Bra concerningly asked. "I can come home."

"Don't. Just don't worry about me."

"Dad I…"

Vegeta hung up the phone before his daughter could say anything else. He fell onto the bed, hanging his head low. The tears bled down his face. The weight of grief was too much for him to handle.

He was losing control. The pressure was building in his body, and he couldn't contain it much longer.

The constant jarring of the engine cut into his thoughts.

He heard what sounded like a lawn mower outside. He jumped from the bed and opened the curtains. He covered his eyes as the sun beamed into his face.

After a while he was able to see what was going on.

"What is that woman doing?"

Chi-Chi was on top of the riding mower attempting to start it. The ground was too muddy and mowing it would only make a mess. Besides, the grounds were always well kept; one of the many things Bra inherited from her mother.

Vegeta watched as Chi-Chi struggled to get the machinery started, hopping on and off excessively. As entertaining as it was, she was too old and fragile to keep climbing up and down. He didn't want to leave the room, but he wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to her.

He scoffed and made his way out of the room, down the massive hallway to the stairs. It was the first time he had stepped out of the room and house in almost half a year. As he made his way around the side of the home, Chi-Chi in another attempt to climb down the mower missed a step and fell. Before she could hit the ground, Vegeta had her in his arms.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Vegeta gently placed her on her feet. "You know you're too old to be doing this type of stuff. Where's Goten?"

Chi-Chi dusted herself off and politely thanked Vegeta. Goten appeared from behind the corner with two donuts in each hand. Vegeta wasn't happy about it at all. He flew towards the younger saiyan, and his anger was apparent.

"Vegeta you're outside," Goten smiled. His mouth was covered in powdered sugar and red jelly.

"What kind of son are you!"

Goten was confused. "Huh, what are you talking about?"

Vegeta pointed to Chi-Chi behind him, "what kind of son lets his aging mother mow grass!"

Goten looked over and saw his mother on top of the mower again trying to start it up. He dropped the donuts and rushed over to her. "Mom! What are you doing." He turned off the mower and picked her up. "You're not supposed to be out here, remember."

Chi-Chi seemed disoriented. "No, I need to mow the grass. Your father will be home soon."

"No mom you don't." Goten lowered to the ground. He held onto his mother just in case she tried to run off again. "Dad's gone. He's not coming back."

She shook her head, "Yes he is. He told me so this morning." Chi-Chi clutched onto her son tightly. "He told me so. I just spoke to him this morning!"

Chi-Chi tried her hardest to break away from Goten. She often had random moments of disorientation and Goten was left helpless. The doctors said it was okay to let her act it out only if she was safe.

"I have to make dinner. I have to make his favorite. He loves rice and curry. I have to go grocery shopping and do laundry. Where's Gohan? Did he finish his homework?"

Chi-Chi was frantic. Vegeta looked on in disbelief. He knew Chi-Chi wasn't well, but did not know it had gotten so bad.

Goten hugged his mother tightly, "Come on. We can wait for dad inside."

"What about dinner," she sobbed. "You know your father has to have his dinner; he's been training all day. He'll be back any second."

He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. "I know. I'll take care of it mom. Don't worry about it."

She nodded, "okay." She grabbed his hand as he led her to the home.

Goten's face quickly turned serious. He nodded to Vegeta in thanks as he passed him and led her inside.

Vegeta couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Some of the staff had gathered outside during the commotion.

"Put this piece of junk away! If this happens again, you're all fired!

"Yes sir," the staff shrieked in unison, as they all scrambled towards the mower.

"Maybe we need to schedule another appointment."

Vegeta waited patiently in the doorway until Goten finished his phone call.

"Yeah, I'll make sure to do that. No, he hasn't called. I called him twice this week, but he never calls back. I'll probably stop by the house tomorrow when you're off. Hey, we're out of donuts. Can you stop and get some on your way home? And some milk. And ice cream? Love you!" Goten hung up the phone and began pouting over the empty donut box.

Vegeta scowled, "she's your wife, not your slave!"

"Oh hey Vegeta," Goten laughed nervously. "I didn't know you were standing there."

"What's wrong with her," Vegeta asked him in regards to his mother.

"She has Alzheimer's. Some days she's perfectly fine, and others not so much."

"And where's Gohan," Vegeta asked.

Goten sighed, shaking his head, "I don't know. He and mom haven't spoken in a while. He hates it when she insinuates dad cared for everyone else more than us."

Vegeta shrugged, walking out of the kitchen, "well she isn't wrong."

"What do you mean by that Vegeta?"

Vegeta ignored Goten and walked off into the living area where Chi-Chi was standing near the window. Her nurse walked in holding a tray of tea. He grabbed it from her and shooed her away. Vegeta noticed the doors had extra bolt locks on them. He set the tea tray gently on the table.

Chi-Chi was looking out the window towards the sky as if she was searching for someone. She sniffled a bit, tightly clutching her wool blanket. "He's not coming back is he?"

Vegeta poured her a cup and set it across from him, "no. He's not."