For disclaimer, see chapter one.

Author's Note:

I really can't say anything more than *sniggers*, well, read and find out J . Enjoy, and comment!

Binge Party

Gohan, rather, Great Saiyaman, flew home slowly. He had to consider this. Ho does one convince one's mother to let him spend the night a t a 'strange boy's' house? Especially when Gohan was not the best of liars, and he knew it. In fact he was down right rotten in the field. Maybe he would get lucky and his father would be home and in the house. Goku usually did a wonderful job convincing his wife that their eldest did indeed need to go out and live a life of his own.

Ducking down through the trees to skim along a small midforest creek, Saiyaman grinned. Videl would be there. As would Erasa, Sharpner, and likely fifteen other people. He let his gloved fingers drag through the water as he flew along. All that was important was that Videl would be there. With that many people around, no one would think twice if he pulled her off to the side for a little heart to heart. He really needed to talk to her.

Dashing at the water with a scowl, he took off back above the tree tops. He was almost home. Gohan mentally slapped himself. No use getting overly excited after all. He wouldn't press the issue with Videl, but… she could just hand him a let down. Not that Videl could ever let him down.

Giving himself a mental shake, Gohan landed lightly in his front yard. Clicking the small red button on his watch, he waited the moment it took for the Saiyaman outfit to disappear before walking up to the doorstep. Allowing himself a deep inhalation of air, Gohan pushed open the door. Don't act guilty.

Abruptly, Gohan found himself toppled from behind. Twisting slightly form his on the floor position, the young man peered at the weight on his back and smiled. "Hello to you too, Goten!"

"Hiya Gohan!" The boy bounced a bit on his back before leaning forward. "How was school?"

Gohan levered himself up on to all fours before replying." It was fun," he stood and Goten slid off of his back, "How was your day, Goten?"

The boy through his hands in the air towards Gohan, and obligingly, the elder brother picked him up. "Was fun! Me an' Dad went an' played in the big lake!"

"Is that so?" Gohan smiled at his father who had patiently been standing at the doorstep through out their conversation. "Did you catch any fish?"

"Nah, Momma said she didn't want fish again. She bought chicken for dinner tonight!"

Gohan raised his eyebrows and Goku filled in on the conversation. "Yup, Chi Chi said she wanted a change of pace, so… we get chicken tonight."

"And that chicken is almost done, if you three will get in here and clean up."

The three in question all looked at Chi Chi and quickly looked down at the floor. Honestly, none had done anything wrong, but as was often the case Chi Chi's tone made them feel guilty anyway. Two yes mom's and one yes dear followed the three into the small Son house.

Gohan dropped his bag in his room, little brother still in hand, before going back to the bathroom. Both Son boys quickly washed their hands (Somehow with Goten hanging on the whole time) and walked to the dinning table. Goku was already seated, chopsticks ready in his hand and an anticipatory smile on his lips."

Gohan lightly dropped Goten into his seat before taking his own chair. Chi Chi laid on the table the four biggest, plumpest, juiciest chickens he had ever seen. The half Saiyan felt his saliva glands working at the sight of them. And the smell, he simply could not begin describing the smell. The mother then laid out the side dishes, rice, Mihso soup, and a fruit dish, before she sat down with them.

Three sets of eyes were dragged from the food to the woman who had created this formidable feast. It was only at her O.K. that they would be allowed to eat. Chi Chi cast her eyes about them before smiling and nodding her consent.

And all hell broke loose.

Amidst the frenzied eating and pleasured sounds coming from the Saiyan and his children, one could barely here oneself think. All the better for Gohan, as he pushed his concerns back and put all of his energies into inhaling. In a matter of minutes the table was cleared. Goku sat back, patted his stomach, and smiled at his wife. "That was delicious, Chi Chi!"

Chi Chi, who was still daintily picking at the chicken breast on her plate, scowled. "Sometimes I wonder how you would know if it wasn't good, Goku. You three don't ever seem to leave enough time to taste it!"

Goten looked up at his mother, all young and innocent in appearance, and stated what was so obvious to him. " But we do know, Mom. Bulma doesn't make good stuff, I know that. You do, you make very good stuff!"

Flustered, yet pleased with the compliment, Chi Chi busied herself with finishing her meal. Gohan took a deep breath, this would likely be the best chance to pose his question that would be had all evening. "Mom, may I spend tomorrow night at a friend's house?"

Chi Chi looked at him, thoughtfully, and proceeded to answer a question with a question. "Who's house, Gohan?"

"A friend of mine at school. His name is Sharpner."

"Oh," Chi Chi smiled, "I've heard you talk about him before. Certainly."

Gohan couldn't believe his ears. "I can go?"

"Yes, you may. As long as you have all of your homework done tonight. It will be good for you to get out."

The young man grinned , got up, and gave his mother a big hug. "Thank you , Mom."

"You're welcome dear. If you are done, pick up your dishes and it's off to study with you!"

Nodding to her, Gohan did just that, sneaking the cordless phone off with him. Closing the bedroom door behind him, Gohan sat down and dialed a familiar number.

"Hello?" She had no need to introduce herself, the number was to her own private line.

"Hi Videl!"

"Gohan! So, how'd it go? You with us tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, surprisingly enough, Mom didn't put up any resistance to the idea."

"I didn't think she would."

"Why?"

"Just call it woman's intuition."

Gohan laughed. "All right then. Hey, I don't know where Sharpner lives…"

"I guessed that too. Meet me at the herb shop on Fulton tomorrow at one. We'll go to Sharpner's from there."

"O.K. Thanks Videl. See you at one!"

************************************************

In order to make it on time, Gohan allowed himself a half an hour fly time. He had taken off after eating a hearty lunch, his mothered was worried about how he'd eat at the party. With the spare time, he figured even with taking his time, were Great Saiyaman to spot any trouble on the way he still wouldn't keep Videl waiting.

As he flew above the Satan City town hall, Gohan spotted a delegation surrounding one overweight, balding man. "I bet that's Mr. Pulaz." he mused.

A few heads looked up as he flew above the police crowd. Saiyaman smiled, though he was to high above for them to see such a detail, and returned their friendly waves. The guys on the police force didn't always seem to be the most talented officer's ever, but they were a kindly enough group.

Finding a narrow and deserted ally way a block from his designated meeting spot Saiyaman flew in. After a brief moment and a flash of light, Son Gohan peeked around the corner. Seeing no one in sight, Gohan exited the ally and strode towards the herb shop.

The half Saiyan had found a pair of jeans, only slightly tattered, and a black turtle neck for the occasion. It was nice out and all, but a titch to cold for anything less than a long sleeve. He was very much so oblivious to a few of the looks he was getting from passing women.

Gohan found Videl standing outside the shop sniffing fondly at a cut of Jasmine. She liked Jasmine then. Gohan filed that away for later use. He smiled and called out to her with a wave.

Videl waved back and watched his approach. If he hadn't of known better out of Videl, Gohan would have said the look was appraising. And her eyes lingered for a long moment on his chest. The Jasmine was all but forgotten.

Finally she blinked and brought her smile back for him. Gohan expected some comment about food stuck to his shirt or some such after that look. Instead she walked up to him and studied his jeans for a moment. Plucking idly at them she looked back up to him and questioned, "Your mother lets you have normal clothing? Jeans even?"

The young man, who for some reason beyond his explanation found himself blushing, smiled slightly. "Heh, yeah. These are only for weekend out of school where though. Mom doesn't think they would be appropriate for an educational environment."

"Oh," She stooped, almost as if at a loss for words. But Videl was never at a loss for words… "Well, Sharpner lives this way, lets get going."

She threw the Jasmine and a passing businessman yelling into his cell phone promptly trampled it. Videl didn't notice, she was all ready weaving a path down the crowded side walk. Gohan stopped and looked at the trampled flower wearily. He felt the hackles on his neck rise, this spoke of a bad omen to him.

"Gohan!"

Looking back the task at hand, Gohan hurriedly followed after his impatient friend. It was only a feeling, he counseled himself. "Probably nothing."

Videl looked at him questioningly. "What?"

He smiled. "I'm just mumbling to myself."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh that answer eases my conscience."

"Hey," Gohan grinned, falling into the familiar banter, "I'm a good conversationalist!"

The blue eyed fire cracker shook her head. "I still don't think that's a reasonable excuse for talking to yourself."

Gohan just smiled at that and she laughed. Putting her hands on his shoulders, Videl turned him suddenly left and pointed at a little white house that looked like any other on the street. "That's Sharpner's place."

Gohan nodded and allowed her to guide him to the door as such. The close contact was nice. It was Videl who stepped up and hit the doorbell, which was good. Gohan was feeling a bit unsure of himself now that he was there.

Sharpner answered the door. Before he could say a word, Erasa ducked under his arm from inside the house and came bubbling out to greet them. She hurried the two in and amidst her endless chatter, Gohan and Videl were able to pick out that two more people were arriving (making the party of just six, complete) And that twenty movies had been rented between Erasa and Sharpner (Even though there would be no way possible to watch them all).

Sharpner put a pizza in the oven (much to the amusement of Erasa and Videl at seeing him even that close to cooking) to hold them over until Suthey and Leawitz (Sharpner's friends who Gohan had never heard of before) arrived. The pizza, of course, stood no chance and did nothing to quelch Gohan's hunger. He had expected that he would wait until Sunday evening before he would get his next filling meal. It wasn't a big deal, he had gone hungry before, and would likely do it again before the end of his days.

Choosing to go for a western taste, the four teenagers picked Scary Movie as their first afternoon treat. Subtitled, of course, as dubbing was horrible and three of the four in the room didn't speak English quite as fluently as the schools expected. Around the scene where even the murderer couldn't decide who the real killer was, the doorbell chimed. Sharpner opened the door and let his two friends in, along with what they carried.

Alcohol. A lot of alcohol.

Gohan felt something like fear rise from the pit of his stomach. Alcohol. He had read about it, and had been warned about it. Oh dear Dende he had been warned about it. His mother had alternated between tears and rage as she warned him against the drugs of the real world an his first day of school.

The half Saiyan looked around the room and kind of smiled sheepishly. He must have been wearing his heart on his sleeve as a look passed between Sharpner, Erasa, and Videl. Each of them grinned in unison and Gohan swallowed convulsively. Videl made her way over to Gohan and asked quite innocently, "Haven't you ever had liquor before, Gohan?"

He shifted his feet. "I ah… no…." and for some reason a vague remembrance of an apple and a crazy song in his youth tickled his memory.

The daughter of the most famous man in the world smiled at him then, a genuine smile, instead of the feral grin she had been wearing just moment earlier. That made him very nervous. "Well, this would be your perfect chance to experience it then, wouldn't it?"

She began guiding him to the hastily set up bar. "I… I don't know Videl. I don't think…"

"I know you don't," she cut him off, "Just try one drink, Gohan, it won't kill you."

The half Saiyan wasn't positive, but he was pretty sure this was what they referred to as peer pressure. His mother had informed him in no uncertain terms to avoid peer pressure. But… this was Videl and she wanted him to try it. Why should that make a difference? Hormones and love interests. "All right."

She smiled again and wrapped an arm around his waist, using the other to gesture at the table. "So… what would you like?"

There really were only four varieties to pick from, but, "I don't know. I've never had it before, I wouldn't know…"

Videl scowled at the table before finally settling on a strawberry wine cooler. "I'll split this with you. There is hardly any alcohol in it, it's just a sweet syrupy drink. "And she divvied the bottle equally between two glasses.

Picking up a glass, he swallowed half of it in his nervousness, closing his eyes. And he stopped fro a moment. She was right, it was just a sugar drink… with an after taste he wasn't so sure was enjoyable. That part had to be the alcohol. Gohan opened his eyes and offered Videl a tenuous smile. She returned it, grabbed another two bottles, and guided him to the couch. The party gathered around the television, and it didn't take long for some of the members of the group to begin feeling the effects of their fun. Gohan however, sat quietly on the couch beside Videl, sipping at his drink. Which Videl continued kindly refilling.

Somewhere along the way, the color of his drink changed along with the strength. He hadn't really registered when that had happened, but now he was drinking some sort of orange juice mix. And if he was laughing louder at the movies now, it was only because they were funnier. After all, Gohan thought, he had only had maybe a couple of glasses.

And at some point, he found himself playing with his watch. Which he was distracted from when Videl asked if he would like any popcorn. Stopping what he had been doing, he stared at her for a moment, she really was quite beautiful, before registering the question. "No thazz allll…." Gohan stopped and swallowed, for some reason his tongue was misbehaving,. "No thank you."

Gohan gave Videl what he hoped was a confident smile, which oddly enough sent her into a fit of laughter, and took another swig of the orange juice stuff. Videl had called it a Screwdriver. He couldn't believe he had ever noticed an after taste!

The next the half Saiyan noticed, it was black outside and if his watch was right, it was two in the morning. He had no idea what had happened between the last time he had looked at his watch and this, and didn't really care. Gohan couldn't think, everything was fuzzy, and found after a vague attempt that he also couldn't stand. In falling back to the couch, a memory was triggered. Long buried if not forgotten, of the first time his father had died. He could fairly hear the screaming again. A tear slid down his face, and then another. Curling into as small of space as possible, Gohan cried.

Other memories began emerging. His normal barriers had been broken down by alcohol. The half Saiyan found himself sobbing. It registered to him that he hadn't really cried since he was ten, when he had thought he had cried himself out of tears.

And then Videl was there. Somehow he was half on her lap bawling like a babe into her chest. She cooed quietly to him, rubbing his back and murmuring sweet things that held no meaning. In her arms, he felt safe, and realized that nothing really mattered anyway. Allowing his heavy eyelids to slide closed, Son Gohan fell into comforting oblivion.