Insert standard disclaimer here:

A/N: Gomen it took so long to get this chapter out. I moved into a new house, so my computer was packed away for a while.

A Family Like No Other

Chapter 3: Sanity Broken

It had been a month since Goten was born, and Chi-Chi was too busy with taking care of him to worry about Gohan's long absences from the house. Gohan had thrown himself into intense training on his own, as well as stepping up the training he did with Piccolo. He felt that he needed to be stronger since he was the man of the family now.

When Gohan came down to breakfast, Chi-Chi noticed that he was rather pale, despite the grueling hours he spent in the sun training.

"Gohan, are you feeling alright?" she asked, attempting to feel his forehead for a fever.

"I'll be fine, Kaasan." Gohan assured her, dodging her hand. "I need to meet Piccolo soon."

"Take it easy today." Chi-Chi cautioned, worry heavy in her voice.

Gohan waved off her concern and left to find Piccolo. A few hours later, Piccolo arrived at the Son home, carrying Gohan. Chi-Chi directed Piccolo to Gohan's room so that he could lay the boy down in his bed. Piccolo stood back and watched with concern as Chi-Chi bustled around trying to figure out what was wrong with her oldest child.

When Gohan began to thrash in his bed, clutching his chest, Chi-Chi phoned Bulma while Piccolo tried to keep him from injuring himself. Bulma assured Chi-Chi that she would bring Hiroshi-san over immediately. Gohan continued to struggle, his breathing becoming labored.

Vegita arrived moments later with Bulma and a very shaken up Hiroshi-san. Taking a few moments to examine the young Sayjin, Hiroshi-san came back with a devastating announcement.

"Son Gohan has contracted a rare form of heart virus." he sighed, remembering that Chi-Chi had just had another son. He was reluctant to break the worst of the news. "We don't have a cure for it as of yet."

Chi-Chi said nothing, she just returned to her son's room and sat by his bed. Piccolo left quietly after saying his goodbyes to the sick Sayjin. Vegita took a glance at Bulma before nodding his head and returning home. There was nothing that he could do there, so he would leave while Bulma stayed. Bulma slipped into Gohan's room silently, and sat with her friend.

The two women took turns sitting by Gohan's bed and taking care of Goten. Chi-Chi slept in her seat beside Gohan's bed, while Bulma took to the couch at night. Their vigil lasted a week before Gohan slipped away from them.

A service was held in memory of Son Gohan, but with no body to bury, Chi-Chi was not taking it very well. Kami had come to tell them that Gohan would be allowed to retain his body after death and train with King Kai. However, because his death was of natural causes, he could not be brought back.

The service was small, not many people had known the young sayjin, but all of the people who had fought beside him were there. Yamcha, for once, was not making any sarcastic comments. Master Roshi was being serious as well, not even paying attention to the well-dressed women in the group. The others were solemn as well. Son Gohan had tried so hard to fill his tousan's place, but he had not even gotten the chance to prove that he could do it.

After the service, Bulma invited Chi-Chi to move back into Capsule Corp., but Chi-Chi simply shook her head and departed towards her own home. She didn't call or stop by in the weeks that followed either.

During dinner one evening, Vegita suddenly stood up. "I'm going to get the brat." He announced. "Have a room ready for him. Without giving Bulma a chance to reply, he was out the door.

Flying towards the Son home, Vegita kept track of the oddly fluctuating ki that he had noticed earlier. Try as he might, he couldn't figure out what could be happening. Within minutes, Vegita landed in front of Chi-Chi's house. Not bothering to knock, he let himself in.

The sight that met him was heart-wrenching. Chi-Chi sat in the middle of the floor, staring at something only she could see. Clutched in her arms, Goten was struggling to get free. The low threatening growl the baby made almost made Vegita back away from them.

"Onna!" Vegita snapped, trying to gain her attention. "Let the brat loose." Not receiving a reply, Vegita tried again. "Chi-Chi, you need to let Goten go."

Chi-Chi didn't respond, even when Vegita blasted the table beside her. Goten, however, reacted by releasing small ki blasts at the arms that held him down. When Chi-Chi didn't flinch as the small blasts burnt her arms, Vegita knew that he would have to take the boy from her himself.

He was surprised when Goten stopped growling as soon as Vegita took a step towards them. Trying not to startle the boy, Vegita slow advanced until he could kneel in front of them. Once Vegita loosened Chi-Chi's hold on Goten, the boy took off.

Vegita whirled around trying to locate the child. Since Sayjin children learned fast, he knew that though the boy was only four months old, Goten could run. Detecting his suppressed ki, Vegita smirked. Goten was in the kitchen. Realizing that he would be busy for a while, Vegita phoned Bulma.

"Moshi moshi?" Bulma answered.

"Onna, bring your medicine man over here." Vegita demanded. "Kakorot's mate has lost her mind."

"Hai, Vegita." Bulma gasped. "We'll be right there."

"Leave our brat with your parents." Vegita warned her. "He should not be here."

Without another word, Vegita hung up the phone.

Chapter 4: A New Home

Coming soon...

Review, please. It might just inspire me to get the next chapter out faster.