Prelude to happily ever after
A/N: Hello! New chapter.
Sorry for the very long update time. I was stuck on the most important part of this chapter and couldn't get past my block. I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter and I started working on the next part.
Thank you for the guest reviewer Teetan02 for your review. I'm really happy you enjoyed it and I hope the next ones will also be to your likings. I hope to hear from you soon. And for the eyes of the pandas, thank you. Your review means a lot. I'm really glad you loved the last chapter and I really hope you will also enjoy the next one. I can't wait to get your opinion on it.
Enough talking from my side. I hope you'll enjoy this new section.
Chapter summary: I do!
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ! However, I do own any new OC in this story.
Chapter 4: Now and forever
"Gohan! Wake up, you're gonna be late. Again!"
Chi-Chi sighed as she kept knocking on her kids' bedroom door before she opened it "I'm coming in!". But it was empty.
She kept looking left and right, as if her six feet son could be hiding somewhere in the open. She then rolled her eyes and closed the door behind her.
Her husband was stuffing his mouth, as usual, and he looked at her with a questioning look "What's up Chi-Chi? Why are you angry?"
The mother sighed again and ruffled her youngest's hair "Gohan ran away, again. I swear, it's the third time this week. The wedding is tomorrow and he's continuously acting like a kid. He arrived late at the food tasting, the tables setting meeting and for the flowers' positioning."
Goku blinked at her "So? He must be training somewhere. I know I'd like to."
She smacked him in the head with a wooden spoon "Seriously, Goku! Do you think of anything besides food and training? Your kid is off doing Dende knows what days before his wedding. What if he gets cold feet? Oh, the humiliation! My son wants to become a delinquent and leave his future wife to go off doing Dende knows what."
Goten tilted his head at his mother "What's a de-delin, deliquent mommy?"
Chi-Chi then screamed "It's what your brother wants to be. Why, me? Why?"
Both Son males blinked at her and let her rant on her own about how her precious baby boy was becoming like his dumb father's friends, and they continued to eat their breakfast.
Gohan knew he loved Videl. More than anything. But, how do you express that? They told him they had to say vows to each other, state the promises they want to live on with for the rest of their lives. But they were so many things he wanted to tell her, to promise her. How to summarize them? How to know which ones are the best and which don't work? How to know which ones to say in front of everyone and which ones to tell her in private? This was all so complicated!
For the last month, they kept on seeing each other's every day. And every time he would see her, he would find her even more fascinating, which would add to his torment. He'd been stuck on his vows for the last two weeks!
Then, they had all the finishing touches to finalize and it wasn't helping him. The first time he arrived late to a meeting, he'd been roaming around the place where he taught her how to fly, hoping for an inspiration. He remembered the questioning look on her face when he arrived late to the food degustation. He was never late to anything, especially something involving food. She was worried at first but he assured her everything was alright.
The second time, he was flying near the world martial arts stadium. It was where he first introduced her to his friends, and where he understood how important she was to him. Where he decided he wanted to protect her no matter what. This had caused him to be late to the tables setting's meeting. This time, she was angry at him. Twice in a row on the most important week of their lives, it wasn't a good sign. She asked him what was going on but he didn't tell her the truth. And it made her angry. Very angry. He had to be careful, she was the bride. She shouldn't be angry the week of her wedding, and he surely shouldn't add more to her stress.
But he couldn't tell her what was tormenting him. What if she easily wrote her vows, and he could barely get passed the first sentence? What would that mean? That they shouldn't get married? Or that they were rushing into it? Or could it mean that he wasn't good enough for her? Or that he didn't love her enough?
His mind was going like crazy and he didn't know what to think. Everything was in a transitioning phase at this point. At the end of the week, they will be husband and wife. They will share a new life together. A single home. Everything.
The third time he arrived late, she didn't talk to him. To say she was angry was an understatement. She was furious at him. And he was late in his own house. They were deciding on where to put the flowers to decorate and they started off with the Son's home. And he was late to that. He was roaming around the place where they shared their first kiss and he just stood there, waiting for an inspiration. But nothing. And when he saw her in his house, she barely talked to him. Except for the necessary on where to put what, it was as if he wasn't there. And again, he couldn't blame her.
But now, it was becoming alarming. His wedding was tomorrow, and he didn't know what to say. To the point where he decided to get his vows online. But that might've been the dumbest idea he ever had.
So, this time, he was walking in the place where he proposed. If this place didn't give him any inspiration, nowhere would. He remembered their first date, the waterfall, thetrees, fruits in the summer and snow in the winter, the animals. Everything he loved about this place and how beautiful it was reminded him of Videl.
He tried to remember the joy on her face this day. Why he proposed to her. Everything he loved about her. Maybe it could help him come up with something. And he was finally visualizing something. He finally had an idea.
He then froze. What time was it? Oh Dende! He was late. Again. Videl was officially going to kill him this time. And worse thing was, it was their first dance final rehearsal. He was a dead man. It was official.
Forgetting he was still in his Gi, he flew towards Satan City. And then he felt a very angry Ki inside the offices. And he didn't dare knock, so he just stood there, hoping for her to calm down. It didn't help that every second he waited would mean he was even more late. Which made her angrier.
He then heard her voice becoming madder "That's it! I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind. Every time! Is he doing this on purpose?"
"Sweet pea, calm down. Maybe he was caught up in some work. You know how much he loves studying."
Then her voice became closer "Stop defending him every single time. I'm gonna kill…" And she opened the door, only to come face to face with him "…him." She then screamed "It's nice of you to show up. You know, it wasn't an important meeting at all."
He tried to stuttered but she cut him "I don't care. I don't care what the excuse is. I don't care if the world is ending again. If there's an apocalyptic chaos coming our way. We missed the rehearsal because you were late, again. I had to train for my first dance with you with my father. You know how humiliating it was. You have three seconds to tell me why you were late this time." He barely had the time to talk that she cut him "And your time is up. Sorry, but that didn't convince me. I'm going home."
Gohan sighed as he looked at Mr. Satan, hopping for his help. But even the world champion didn't dare say anything to his girl when she was angry. He knew for a fact she could beat him to a pulp in barely seconds. So Gohan could only watch his wife-to-be walk angrily in the streets of her hometown.
He had to fix this mess and fast.
0o0o0
"Gohan! You come back right now! It's bad luck to see your fiancée on the night before your wedding." Chi-Chi then glared at her husband, directing a wooden spoon towards him "This is your fault. You're the reason why my son doesn't know how to behave."
Goku then blinked "What did I do?"
Chi-Chi simply rolled her eyes while she got back to her pots to finish preparing for the dinner. If only she could understand what was happening to her son. In seconds, he rushed to his room, took an old cassette reader and left in a hurry. Her gut told her it was to see Videl even though he didn't explicitly say it.
On his side, the oldest Son boy flew as fast as he could towards his fiancée's house. He saw the light coming from her room and landed on her balcony before he gently knocked on her door.
Being accustomed to him, Videl told him to wait a moment for her before she opened the blinds. And Gohan almost gulped when he saw her in her nightwear.
She then whispered "What are you doing here? It's past nine, we have to sleep early." She then saw him turn red and she smirked playfully "You could've waited till tomorrow to see me in my nightwear."
It was enough to send Gohan over the edge as his face turned crimson red. He tried to form a coherent sentence but couldn't muster the words. And Videl laughed at him.
He then sighed and tried to look at her "I'm sorry about today. If you could wait till tomorrow, I'll explain everything."
The girl kept on looking neutrally at him before she invited him in. He sat on her bed and saw the light on her desk on. And he blinked "You were studying?"
She then laughed "No dummy. Unlike you, not everyone enjoys studying day and night. I was double checking everything for tomorrow. I don't want any surprises." She then chuckled "I've been re-reading my vows for like the tenth time to make sure they're okay. Though I'm still not satisfied with them and I know I'll change them again in the morning."
Suddenly, it was like a huge weight was lifted off Gohan's shoulders. So he wasn't the only one who was stuck on them! Sure, Videl had already written them but she was also reluctant. He might actually be good. That's what he tried to convince himself with anyway.
He then saw a dress cover hung on her closet and he tilted his head "Shouldn't you keep your clothes inside the dressers instead of in the covers?"
And she laughed at him "Seriously Gohan? It's my dress for tomorrow! You really think I can keep it hidden?" She saw him try to catch a look and she glared "No peeping. You can wait until tomorrow."
He blushed at her before he sat back quietly on her bed. She then sighed at him "I don't think you came all the way here with a cassette reader to ask what are the papers on my table. Or to get a peek of the dress."
He then blushed and passed his hand behind his neck "Yeah, sorry. I wanted to apologize and well, um, do something with you." He then held his hand out for her to take "Can you give me five minutes to redeem myself?" She kept on looking neutrally at him before he tried Goten's signature puppy eyes "Please?"
Videl then playfully rolled her eyes as she held his hand, and he flew them both from her balcony towards the outskirts of the city. He kept on flying until he landed on the roof of a big mansion located at the outside of Satan City.
Videl then blinked "What are we doing here? Is there something wrong with the house?"
Gohan simply shook his head as he looked at the place they would soon call their home. And he had a light smile tucked on his face as he put the cassette reader on the floor and looked at his fiancée "Can I have this dance?" She then laughed at him as he pressed the play button on the reader and held her hand.
Soon enough, the song they had chosen for their first dance started playing and they took their stances and started to turn around to the music.
Videl then rested her head on Gohan's chest and whispered gently "Thank you for this. Why here though? We could've practiced in my room."
He then rested his head on hers and whispered back "Because I wanted to show you how important you are to me. Whatever happens, you'll always be my number one priority. You, our home together, our future family, nothing will be more important. And I hope I can count on you to remind me of this if I ever forget. Like I somehow did for the past week."
She looked up to see his eyes, a smile on her lips. He was just amazing.
She then smiled and looked at him "I love you!" before she got on her tiptoes and brushed her lips to his. He smiled against her lips as he kissed her back before he whispered an "I love you too!"
He then bit his lip "Sorry again for today."
She then shook her head "Sorry I screamed at you. I think all the pressure got to me."
"Wanna enter and sit on the couch for a while?"
She then chuckled "No, let's wait until tomorrow. We'll officially call it our home then."
She then smiled again. Nobody had to know they already shared an intimate moment in this house anyway. This roof will always tell the story of the night before their wedding. It would simply tell it to them, not everyone else.
Gohan then nodded before he held the reader and swept Videl into his hands. He started flying towards her house where he landed on the balcony. She then looked at him "Can I keep the reader here for the night?"
He shrugged "Sure, we never use it anyway."
She then put it on her bed and she smiled at him "I'll see you tomorrow?"
He eagerly nodded before he entered her room and hugged her, whispering to her ear "I can't wait to call you my wife."
She then buried her face in his chest "Me too."
He then made her look at him "I love you."
And she whispered "I love you too!" before they pressed their lips together.
Both couldn't wait for the next day.
0o0o0
"Gohan! Get up, you're gonna be late."
Chi-Chi then yelped when she felt someone touch her shoulder. She then turned around and saw her eldest coming out of the bathroom, his hair still wet from his shower. And he was already wearing his pants.
He then chuckled "Good morning mother." He then kissed her forehead "How are you?"
She then blinked "Good honey. You're up early."
He simply smiled "I barely slept. Too excited. Is breakfast ready?"
She nodded at him, a happy smile on her face while he rushed to his room to put on a shirt. He then raced his brother and father to the table and he started eating. He had a long day ahead and he couldn't wait for it to start.
After he finished eating, he went back to his room where he saw his phone lit up. He saw some message from Videl and he smiled as he texted her back.
He then took the remaining on his clothes from the closet and started to get ready.
An hour later, his friends and the Z-fighters all came to the Son's residence and started celebrating the day of joy. They started to take pictures, laugh as they drank juice and champagne or eat from the sweets table. They took several photos all together, happy to share happy memories.
Gohan had been a part of their group ever since he was a kid. They all basically raised him. Even though Chi-Chi would rather be dead than admit it. But nonetheless, there he was, getting married.
And his smile couldn't get any wider. He was almost certain it would stay stuck like this. Not that he minded it at all. He then laughed when Krillin joked, and he smiled at the photographer when his father passed his arm around his shoulder.
They then all laughed when the demonic duo known as Trunks and Goten tried to pull a prank on Vegeta, or when Bulma managed to get him to take a picture with them.
Gohan then looked nervously at the time. 1:27. They had to go if they wanted to make it in time for the ceremony. In less than three hours, he'd be married.
The group of laughing Z-fighters then all got into their jets and flew towards Satan City Gardens. And Gohan was ecstatic. He looked at the boutonniere of baby orchid he had pinned on his jacket, and she sighed in delight. He couldn't be happier at the moment.
After a two hours ride, they reached the gardens where the ushers were happily waiting for the groom. They directed him towards his quarters if he needed to freshen up, before Gohan took his place in front of the altar where Kami himself was waiting for him to give his blessing.
He took his place at the right, and he smiled at Piccolo who stood as a witness. Bulma then stood for Videl who had yet to arrive.
He then saw his parents enter after their visit to his future bride and Gohan smiled at his father comforting his crying mother. He then knew in this moment that Videl was even more beautiful than what he imagined her to be.
A few moments later, the peaceful music stopped, and it change into the royal soundtrack Gohan surprised Videl with. She had no idea on what music she was going to enter and he was hell bend on keeping it a surprise. Little did she know he asked him grandfather for some majestic music from their kingdom. He deemed it only fait to have her enter on a music this important.
He then saw her walk in with her father. And he stopped breathing.
And as she kept on approaching him, he was able to decipher her face and dress more. And she was just breathtaking.
The strapless design helped accentuate her chest, while the A-line cut she chose showed her curve very well. It was like the dress was designed specifically to fit her. Despite her shorter frame, the heels she wore helped pronounce her physique and the open-back helped give a dynamic push to her frame. The dress was made of a pearl white color, accentuated with a brooch in the middle, holding the chiffon fabric of the dress.
As she got closer, he could see the veil starting from her bohemian up-style hairstyle, made especially to match her short hair, and the veil was long enough to walk even behind her.
And she finalized her whole style with a single baby orchid in her hair, matching Gohan's brooch, mirroring the white bouquet she was holding in her hand.
She kept on walking the aisle which was decorated with a set of white orchid and roses to match the wedding's color palette. And under her, the green trim grass was decorated with white pearls thrown on the ground.
When she stood next to him, Gohan forgot how to breath. It wasn't helping that the diamond set he had gotten her as a wedding gift was bringing out the blue of her eyes, reflecting on how much they were shining in the sun.
She mouthed him a silent "hey" to which he reciprocated as Dende started talking, officiating their wedding together.
The guardian of the Earth then looked at Gohan, waiting for him to state his vows. And suddenly, the groom forgot what he passed the whole night trying to write.
And the words started to get out on his own "The first day I saw you, I still remember the fire you had in your eyes. I still remember thinking how beautiful you were. I never thought you could manage to be even more radiant. I promise you to always make you smile like you are today. I promise to support all your dreams, to share my whole heart with you, to always remember to show you just how much you mean to me. No matter the challenges ahead, and no matter the difficulties, I know that everything will be always be alright with you my by side."
Dende smiled peacefully at the tear that was threatening to fall from Gohan's eyes as he turned to Videl who had the same look on her face. The Namekian then chuckled at the girl who whispered to herself "I promised myself I wouldn't cry." Before she took a big inspiration to calm herself.
She then smiled at her future husband and started "If you would've told me the perfect score kid would introduce me to something this magical, I would've thought people were lying to me. Thank you for trusting me enough to share all of this with me. And today, surrounded by all the people who love you, I promise to always trust you, support you, stand by your side, no matter the difficulties. I promise to be your partner in every step of the way, and I know we can build something beautiful just by being side-by-side."
It was enough to make the audience sob as Dende continued the ceremony, asking them if they would promise to live their lives together, in sickness and in wealth. Both young adults simply nodded, never parting their eyes from each other.
The Guardian then looked at Gohan as the boy responded to his blessings with an "I do.". And he did the same as he looked at Videl who responded also "I do."
And everyone clapped as Dende finalized the ceremony by saying the traditional closing sentence "I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your marriage be full of love and blessings."
Gohan then smiled as he held Videl's chin up and kissed her tenderly. He then wiped away the single tear that rolled on her cheek as he whispered for only her to hear "I love you so much." Before he kissed her again.
0o0o0
A lively music could be heard from Satan City Gardens, as the party following the wedding was becoming more festive with each hour.
From the open buffet prepared specially to fulfill Saiyans' needs, or the various entertainments prepared for the kids, no one was getting bored.
Gohan and Videl passed around the tables, cheering with their friends, before they sat to eat. They kept on laughing together, look at the kids who were dancing happily on the dance floor, or smile at their parents who were joking together.
It was a sight they would never forget in their lives. Even Majin Buu was having fun and Bee the dog was welcomed to the party.
Gohan then went to sit next to his parents while Videl managed to get her father on the dance floor to dance with him. The groom had a big smile on his face at the sight of his wife next to her father, and his mother gently held him down to kiss his cheek.
She then smiled "You chose well."
He simply nodded "I know."
She then saw him from the dance floor and she smiled at him. He simply got up and walked towards her before he smiled at Mr. Satan who started crying as he handed over the hand of his little princess.
Both husband and wife then stood hand in hand as the DJ switched to the track they had chosen for their first dance.
As they kept on dancing, Videl rose a playful eyebrow at Gohan "Now can you tell me why you were late every day during the week?"
He then laughed "Yeah. I was actually stuck on my vows and kept on going to our places so I could get an inspiration." She chuckled at him and he smiled "It didn't help that I forgot what I initially wrote the moment I saw you and I had to improve."
She then laughed "You're unbelievable. But, if I'm being honest, I also changed mine on the spot. It suddenly didn't fit."
Gohan simply smiled before he looked into her eyes "I'm so lucky to have found you."
She then firmly nodded "I know." And he laughed.
The night kept going on. Everyone danced together; the kids played with fireworks sticks and colored bombs; and the desert was gone in the blink of an eye. The piles of empty cups and glasses were the perfect proof that everyone was having a good time.
But eventually, the night had to end and the couple of newly wed excused themselves to leave.
Gohan scooped Videl and flew with her in the night, before they reached the front door of their now home.
The newly wife then tilted her head at him "Why are we here? We have to change or we're going to miss our plane."
He then simply said "I booked tickets for tomorrow in the afternoon instead of tonight."
"Why?"
He then smiled "Because I couldn't wait to be here with you. We can finally call this place our home."
She simply smiled as he got the key out of his pocket and they both unlocked the door hand in hand. They then walked inside the house, looking at it with a different angle.
Gohan sighed in delight as he loosened his tie, and he looked at his wife who was still wearing her wedding dress. She then turned around to face him and smiled before she held his hand and rushed towards the living room.
He then chuckled when he saw the cassette reader on the table "Why is it here?"
"Because I want to have it in our home. It's special."
He then laughed "You do realize they aren't cassettes anymore, right?"
She then nodded "I know. The one with our song is more than enough."
He laughed at her as she pressed the play button, and she sighed as she hugged him, her head resting on his chest. He hummed in delight as they simply moved slowly in place.
She looked up and saw him look at her, and she smiled playfully "What?"
He then smiled softly "Nothing. Just thinking how everything is finally perfect."
She then decided to tease him "What makes you think that?"
He simply kept on smiling "Because I know it. I know that whatever happens, everything will be okay the moment I'll look into your eyes. It's a simply fact."
She then bit her lip as a tear gathered in her eye "I don't deserve you."
And he simply hugged her harder before he kissed the top of her head. She then looked at him in the eyes before she got on her tiptoes and kissed him. He eagerly returned the kiss before he held up and she put her hands around his neck.
When they let go, Gohan held her hand as they both sat on the couch. He then passed his hand around her shoulder and held her tight. She then chuckled "Can you at least let me change?"
He simply shook her head "Later. I want to spend as much time as possible with you."
She hummed peacefully and snugged cozily against him as he held her tight. Videl then exhaled contentedly as she looked up. And she saw Gohan smile at her.
"What?"
He then chuckled "Nothing. Still can't believe you're mine."
She then sat straighter, a leg passed under her, and smiled "Well believe it." She then gently caressed his face "You're stuck with me."
She then kissed him again. Soon enough, the kiss got more passionate as she gently lowered him on the couch, feeling his body pressed on hers.
He then suddenly got up and scooped her. And she blinked "What's going on?"
He surprisingly smirked "The dress is starting to annoy me. Let's get it off." She then blushed at his words.
As much as she got to know him, she still enjoyed whenever his Saiyan side would slightly show itself. And right now, it was suddenly a perfect moment.
He then opened the door to their room and gently put her on the bed before she kissed her again with the same urgency they showed previously. She then put a hand on the back on his head and slowly lowered him next to her on the bed, while the other was busy removing his tie.
She then looked at him and smiled deviously "It's a good think you pushed back the tickets."
And as usual, Gohan turned bright red. And Videl laughed at him.
Her smile never left her face and she kept on looking at him. From the first time she interrogated him in the street to tonight, all the moments that lead to their life together were forged into her memory. And she knew she made the right choice and that Gohan's love for her will always grow.
Now, and forever.