The next morning, Chichi woke up to an empty bed. After their argument last night, Goku had threw on some clothes and left. She was guessing he needed to blow off some steam since he left in what seemed to be a sour mood. She didn't bother to wait up or ask where he was going because for once.. she really didn't care. It was 7am and it was time to get the day started, anyway. She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth, and threw on some clothes. She opted for a tight white tank top, training pants, and a pair of tennis shoes. With her hair in its usual bun, she headed downstairs to get started on breakfast.
Almost an hour and a half later, Chichi finished cooking breakfast. The boys would be down any minute and she just had to add a few finishing touches. A second later she heard the footsteps of an excited five year old coming down the stairs toward the kitchen. Goten immediately latched onto her leg, giving her what she assumed to be a hug.
"Good morning, sweetheart." she said bending down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Morning, momma. I'm hungry."
Chichi giggled. "So much like his father" she thought. "Oh I know, sweetie. Breakfast is on the table, but you must wait for your brother."
"Aww, but Gohan is still sleeping." he pouted.
"Sleeping? Mhm, well it is Saturday morning." she sighed. "Okay, dig in."
Within five seconds, the little tyke was in his chair, digging in all Chichi had to offer.
But then she heard him. Goku entered the kitchen not acknowledging her presence at all.
"Hey, slow down there, champ." he laughed whilst ruffling Goten's hair.
"Morning, daddy." he giggled in response with food all over his mouth.
Goku took a seat down at the table, all the while still avoiding Chichi's gaze. He had no intention to eat breakfast, though. Chichi turned her back and began cleaning up the mess she made while cooking breakfast. "If he wants to play the "ignore" game, then so be it."
Time passed by as Chichi cleaned and Goku and Goten engaged in everyday chit chat. Chichi was in her own world and wasn't really paying attention to the conversation until she heard Goten yell out excitedly.
He was jumping up and down, doing flips in the air, yelling "It's gonna be so cool. I can't wait. I can't wait!"
Chichi turned around, raising an eyebrow. "What's gonna be so cool, Goten?"
Goku spoke up. "The Space Training Camp. He wants to go. Isn't that right, Goten?"
She was taken back. "What?" she whispered in disbelief.
Chichi couldn't even tell if he was joking, being sarcastic, or plain dead serious. Either way, she was livid. Was their conversation last night a joke? Did he really think he could pull Goten along with him? Did he think that would make the situation better? She took two deep breaths and pinched the tip of her nose.
"Absolutely. NOT." she said slowly in the calmest voice she could muster.
Immediately, Goten stopped celebrating. He crossed his arms with a pout on his face. "Aww, but why not?" he whined.
"Yeah, why not?" Goku chimed in, sarcastically.
Chichi couldn't believe it. This had never happened before. She felt like they were ganging up on her. She would expect a little opposition from Goten, but Goku? No,this was different. Goku was different.
She took another deep breath. "Goten,sweetie, go to your room. I have to speak with your father."
"But what about-"
"Goten." she repeated in a firm tone. It didn't take long for Goten to get the hint that his mother was serious and made a beeline for his room.
The Son matriarch sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time and leaned against the kitchen counter, crossing her arms. She narrowed her eyes at the man sitting expectantly at the table.
"What do you think you're doing, Goku? Dragging Goten into this is not going to change my mind or make things better, so just stop while you're at it." she said annoyed.
"Chichi, no one is dragging Goten. He wants to go." It was almost as if he was mocking her.
"I will not have you use our son as leverage over my head. I meant what I said, Goku. You leave, then I'm gone, and that applies whether you leave "with" or without Goten."
Chichi emphasized the "with" part. Goku wouldn't actually leave with Goten… right? Although on the inside, she knew she was bluffing. If Goku left on his own, she would take her kids and leave. But on the odd chance he did take Goten with him, she knew she couldn't possibly let Goten come back to an empty house wondering where his mommy was. She refused to look like a negligent mother.
"Chichi, he wants to go." he sat up in his chair, looking her square in the eyes. He had an unreadable expression on his face.
"Well, I don't want him to go." she fired back, with a flame in her eyes.
He stood up, still staring her down. "That isn't your decision to make."
"Of course it's my decision to make! He's five. I'm his mother!" she whispered violently. She would have yelled if it weren't for the fact that the boys were home.
"And I'm his father." he stated matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, only when you want to be." she spat. She didn't mean to say it, but she was so angry that she had no filter.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" his tone became dark as he furrowed his brows.
"I-it means…" she hesitated but continued anyways. She swallowed the lump in her throat, "You can't barely be here and think you have some sort of control over how things go. I mean, you were hardly there for his life." she whispered the last part.
"Only because I died saving the planet and the people I care about!" he rose his voice.
"But you CHOSE not to come back. For five years. Five years you were gone and I had to raise our boys by myself. And now that you're back, I still have to raise them on my own." she exclaimed with watery eyes.
He looked up at her stunned. For the first time, Goku felt genuinely angry at his wife. He couldn't believe she was throwing him dying back in his face. Didn't she get that he did it for them? To protect his family, let alone the planet? His palms were fisted in an effort to contain his anger but it wasn't enough. He needed to leave. Now.
His jaw was clenched.
"I think it'd be best for me to leave." he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
She uncrossed her arms. "What?! Where ar-"
Before she could finish, Goku had exited the kitchen, slamming the front door, rattling the little house. She jumped in surprise when she heard a small voice behind her. It was Goten.
"Momma, what's wrong?" he asked with wide eyes.
"And where's Dad?" Gohan asked entering the kitchen.
Chichi looked at them and brought a hand to her mouth to muffle her sobs.
What have I done? she thought.