Prelude to happily ever after
A/N: Hello! New part.
Thank you the eye of the panda for your review. I tried my best to stay a little in character because I imagine them both being cheesy, even in their thoughts, at the beginning of their relationship. I will try to improve my writing more. I'll work on my tenses and pay more attention to them. Writing isn't my day job so I can't call myself a professional writer. And for the dialogues, I usually put a single spacing for the dialogues in the same context to cut the paragraphs and differentiate my ideas. I'm sorry if it was a bit hard to read but I found it easier to keep the flow of ideas going.
Also, for the guest reviewer, thank you for your review. I'm happy you liked my story. I was afraid of not being very in character so your review was very soothing. I'll be satisfied if it brought even a small smile on your face. And I appreciate you taking my defense but I don't want to cause any problem between readers. But thank you again, I really appreciate it. And I hope you'll continue to read the rest of the story.
And sorry for the long update but my job is keeping me very busy and I am balancing several things at the same time. I'll try to update more often.
Chapter summary: A blunder that evolved the steady.
Inspired by the show New Girl, episode 3x14. Because I can imagine Gohan being like that. You'll understand when your read.
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ! However, I do own any new OC in this story.
Chapter 2: Beautiful slipup
What is love? That's a very important question. When you love someone, do you love the idea of this person? His character? The time passed together? The memories shared?
And after how much time does it become okay to say it? By convention, it's after three months into a relationship. Some say it doesn't matter. Some believe that you fall in love only once with the right person.
Love was a very complex subject that no one understood. But everyone agreed it was something beautiful.
Gohan had always been oblivious to social norms. He never understood them. But even he wasn't as clueless as to not understand what love was.
He saw it in the way his parents looked at each other. Same for Vegeta and Bulma even though the Prince didn't let it show in public. He understood it was different than the love his parents had for his brother. Different than his relation with his brother. It was also different than the love he felt for his friends.
And as oblivious as he was, he knew what love was. Because he felt it for Videl. The way he looked at her was the same way his father looked at his mother.
As mysterious as it actually was, he knew it was when you see someone for who they really are. When your heart beats in tandem with the other's, your minds think alike, and your eyes see the same things. You are coordinated.
Gohan understood that being in love didn't mean that you don't see the other's flaws. It meant that you accept them; understand how they complete the human being in front of you. And it was the case for him, because he accepted Videl's flaws and understood how they shaped her.
Her stubbornness made her smart; her tenacity made her strong; being strong-headed helped her face foes stronger than her. Her sharp voice helped her assert herself and her small figure made her a surprising adversary. All her flaws shaped her into the amazing human she was today.
But Gohan didn't know a thing about saying "I love you." Should he be the first one to say it? Was the time okay? Was it too early? Would she say it back? Should she say it back? Should they say it at the same time? Should it be during a date? Privately? After a big romantic gesture? Or it didn't matter?
He was almost overthinking it to the point where he slept on the subject for now. They've been dating for five months now and everything was perfect. He didn't need to ruin it. Being steady was perfect.
But he didn't think he'd forget about it, to the point of celebrating his seventh month anniversary with Videl. And even then, he didn't say a thing. He had simply forgotten.
0o0o0
Videl was sitting on her bed on her stomach, her legs up in the air, and she was talking on the phone "No, nothing. I'm telling you, he doesn't feel the same way."
Erasa, her high school friend, was heard on the other side "There's no way, I'm telling you he loves you. He's just as clueless as ever. Why don't you say it first? You were always so direct with your emotions. What happened now?"
The raven girl blushed "I, um… Maybe he doesn't feel the same? Can you imagine if I tell him 'I love you' and he doesn't say it back? It would be so embarrassing. I don't wanna mess things up. Everything is going so well. Why risk it?"
Erasa chuckled "You're so in love. I love this new side of you."
Videl glared at her, turning on her back and her head laying of the side "Seriously?"
The bubbly blonde tried to stop her laughter "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. On another note, you still in for Saturday?" Videl replied with a "Yes." and Erasa screamed "YEY! Are you sure Gohan can't come?"
Videl shook her head even though her friend couldn't see her "No, he has an exam on Monday. There's no way I can convince him. But I'll try."
The girls then continued their light chitchat.
After they hung up, Videl sighed. Why didn't Gohan say it yet? Didn't he feel this way? She didn't want him to feel forced to be with her just because of everything that happened. She had to open this subject with him, one way or another. But Erasa was right, what was she so afraid of that she couldn't say it first herself?
Two days later, Videl was getting ready to go to her friend's birthday party. Feeling bored, she decided to call Gohan and try her luck one more time.
After three rings, the line opened, and a very cheerful voice could be hear from the other side "Hey. What's up?"
She smiled at his cheeriness "Hey. Nothing, getting ready for tonight. You?"
"Good. I'm almost done with the last exercises."
She then tried her luck "Since you're almost done, can't you come? It will be so much fun. Please? I promise we won't stay up too late."
She heard him sigh on the other side "I'm sorry but, I prefer not. Parties aren't my thing and I prefer to review during this time. We'll do something when I'm done. What do you say?"
Videl sighed as Erasa got out of the restroom. The bubbly blonde then lost no time snatching the phone from her friend and put on speaker mode to tease the spiky haired boy "Hiya Gohan! Don't you wanna come and see Videl wear something sexy?"
The raven girl hissed at her when they heard Gohan laugh "I hope you girls will have fun. I'll talk to you in the morning Videl. Love you."
Then Gohan hung up.
And both girls blinked.
Videl then slowly turned towards Erasa "Did he just?"
"Yup."
"And he hung up?"
"Yup."
"As if nothing happened?"
"Yup."
Videl then blinked again "Did Gohan really tell me he loves me for the first time? Over the phone, just like this?"
Erasa then laughed "Yup." Videl glared at her, telling her to "Stop it." and the blonde girl chuckled "Sorry, it was too tempting."
The raven girl then sat on her bed "I can't believe it."
Erasa then smirked "Well believe it. Now up, we have places to be."
Videl blinked at her "You seriously believe I'll go to the party after that?"
Erasa rolled her eyes at her before she dragged her out of the house, ignoring her protests.
0o0o0
On Gohan's side, he couldn't be redder. He then turned around to a very surprised Bulma who couldn't stop blinking at him.
He then jumped in surprise and screamed "Hey! What are you doing in my room?"
Bulma then rolled her eyes "Your mom's been calling you for an hour. Dinner is ready. But now I see you had things more important to do. I take it things are going well with Videl?"
Gohan remained quiet, not knowing what to say.
When Bulma saw him hesitant, she blinked "Gohan? Did you break your brain?"
Then Gohan gulped before he tried to form a coherent sentence "I, umm, I… I slipped up. Oh Dende, I slipped it up."
Bulma tilted her head before she blinked, realizing what he just said. She then gasped at him "You slipped up your 'I love you'? Are you serious? You never said it before? It's been what, six months?"
"Um, seven…"
Bulma then gasped harder "Seven months! And you didn't say it before? I, I can't, it's too much. Did you wanna say it to her?"
Gohan slowly nodded his head at her and Bulma sighed "You are dumber than your dad."
The boy turned a very bright shade of red "I didn't mean to say it like that. It slipped up. I don't know, I imagined how beautiful she'd be since she was going out and I didn't think of anything else to say."
Bulma smiled gently at him before she focused again "And why are you still here? Go find her. Now!"
Gohan then blinked at her before he left in a rush once he felt Bulma's demonic aura enveloping him.
The CC heiress chuckled to her "He's as clueless as ever. Wait till Chi-Chi hears this." She then got out of Gohan's room "Hey Chi-Chi, you'll never believe what I overheard Gohan say…"
Then Chi-Chi's screams echoed through the night, disturbing the peacefulness of the 439 Mountains Area.
0o0o0
Gohan rushed into the night, trying to focus on Videl's Ki. He then felt it weirdly approaching his direction and he stopped in midair when he saw her jetcopter flying in his direction.
He smiled at Erasa who was driving as she landed the copter before she pushed Videl out and smiled at them "I'll leave you two be, okay lovebirds? Gohan, I can count on you to bring her back home? I have a party to go to. And no funny business you guys."
She then laughed when she saw them both blush and she started up the jet, leaving them alone.
Both teens stood still, an awkward silence dominating.
They both started talking with a "hey." before they shut up again.
Gohan then cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck "You look beautiful."
And Videl blushed at his words.
She was wearing a black skirt with a white crop top, showing very well her defined curved. Her hair grew a little bit longer and she started wearing necklaces and light accessories. And she was even waring a little makeup that reflected the blue of her eyes.
Gohan then sighed before he looked at her "I didn't mean for it to slip up. I'm sorry."
She bit her lower lip and nodded at him. So, it was said by mistake after all. Her first intuition was right; he didn't feel the same way as her.
But then, he continued "But I'm not sorry I said it. I think I should've said it a long time ago. Yes, I should've. I love you, Videl Satan. I really do."
And then he saw her eyes sparkle with excitement.
He then approached her and started to caress her cheek with his hand "I love you Videl. And nothing could ever make me love you any less."
She had a tear in her eye at his declaration and she held his hand with hers, intertwining their fingers together, while the other set on his broad shoulder "I love you too."
He smiled at her answer, a big Son grin plastered on his face, as she got on her tiptoes to kiss him. She caressed his hair, her smile never leaving her face, before she felt the need for air and she broke the kiss.
She then decided to tease him "Took you long enough."
And he laughed "Yeah, that one's on me."
And they both laughed before he brought her closer and held her waist with his arms, leaning in closer to kiss her again. And she kept on smiling as she kissed him back, her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
His slipup was the best thing that could've happened.