Halcyon Days of High School

by Jrhall2

Following Majin Buu's defeat, Gohan and Videl are reunited at last and decide not to waste any more time. After a dual confession that leaves them both terribly embarrassed, the young couple sets out to enjoy their time together, learn more about each other, and forge their path in life. Where will their love lead them in these peaceful times? (M rating for later chapters).

6. Happy Birthday Darling

Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! Thank you all again for the views, the favorites, and all the kind words in your reviews! I really do appreciate it so much! Today I have another extremely fluffy chapter for you, one that I'm incredibly proud of. It took a while to get to the point I was really happy with it, but I think it was worth it. I hope it makes for a good read!

Just as a heads up: things get a little spicy this time around. Not full-on ghost pepper spicy. More like Chipotle green sauce spicy. But I figured I'd give a fair warning like I said I would. And again, I'll never write anything tasteless or crass where Videl and Gohan are concerned; I love them way too much to ignore their personalities in moments like that and I have the utmost respect for their characters. I especially hope that shows in this chapter.

Anyway, that's enough out of me. Please enjoy the new chapter and I'll see you all again next week when things will get even more exciting!

---

Chapter VI – Happy Birthday Darling

"Videl, please come in!"

The genial voice of Chief Kaneki resonated through the room. Videl smiled and rose to her feet, shaking the man's hand before following him into his office. He eased the door closed behind them and offered her a seat, sitting down at his desk and smiling.

"It's great to see you again. So, to what do I owe the pleasure? It's rare for you to come into the station." The man was in good spirits, and who could blame him? The city had been quiet and peaceful for almost a week now.

"It's good to see you too Chief. I actually had a few things I wanted to talk to you about, if you have some time." The older man gave an enthusiastic nod.

"I have plenty of time. Since you and the Great Saiyaman chased off those robbers, every other criminal in the city has been too terrified to make a move knowing the two of you are out there!"

"That's wonderful, I'm glad we managed to calm things down for a few days!" Videl knew that crime usually slowed down immediately after she thwarted a plan, but usually it was only for a day or two. It had been six days now since Gohan had flown through the city carrying the robbers' getaway truck over his head and that seemed to have left an impression on the disorderly underworld of Satan City.

"You really do make a world of difference for us Videl, I can't tell you how much I appreciate all you do for us." Videl gave a warm smile.

"I've always been glad I have the ability to make a difference. And actually, what I wanted to talk about concerns that topic."

"I'm all ears, tell me what's on your mind."

"Well, I've been thinking about the future a lot lately. You know it's my last year in high school and this coming winter I'll be taking college entrance exams. But I've been missing so much school lately that my teachers are starting to worry about my prospects. And honestly, I'm a bit concerned too."

Videl felt a little bad; she wasn't being entirely honest right now. Sure, some of her teachers had expressed concerns that she left classes, but she still maintained the highest possible grades in each class and never once felt like she was falling behind, especially now with Gohan to help her study. It was a necessary step for things to move forward the way she wanted though, so she just had to grit her teeth and commit.

Kaneki allowed a slight grimace to cross his face. "We do rely on you quite often, I know. I feel guilty that your studies are being affected." Videl smiled and shook her head.

"You have nothing to feel guilty for. I choose to help the police because I want to. But given all that, I think perhaps I should take a step back from crime fighting this year." Kaneki looked torn, chewing the inside of his lip.

"On the one hand, of course I don't wish for this to negatively affect your life or your future. But on the other…we do count on you a lot and I worry that some of the officers might be lose a lot of morale if they know they can't rely on you anymore…"

"Don't worry, Chief. I wouldn't leave you all without someone to take my place! I love this city; it's my home. Just because I might have to take a step back for my own future doesn't mean I'm sacrificing anyone else's." Kaneki allowed a gentle smile to crease his worn face.

"You've always been such a magnanimous soul, Videl. Don't keep me in suspense then; what did you have in mind?"

"Well first, I have to tell you some new information I learned this week. The Great Saiyaman has a new partner, one that can do a lot of the same things he's capable of." The Chief's eyes widened noticeably and his brow furrowed.

"There's another one? And I thought the first was more than enough to worry about…" Videl couldn't suppress a grin.

"I promise you, Saiyaman and his partner are nothing for you to worry about. They want to help as much as I do."

"You know, I noticed it at the bank heist, but it slipped my mind to bring it up after he flew back in with that truck. You seem much less at odds with the Great Saiyaman than you did a month ago. I'd actually go so far as to call you friends with him." She laughed lightly; she had known that's what he wanted to ask back at the bank the other day.

"You could say that, yeah! I got to know him a lot better at the Tenkaichi Budōkai a few weeks ago. I judged him wrong back in April. So since then, I've tried to be a lot more amicable with him." Kaneki nodded and smiled.

"One of the hardest things we as people can do is to admit we were wrong. I think it's very admirable to extend your hand in friendship." She had certainly done that back in April. Since then, she'd extended her hand in much more than that.

"Thank you Chief. It's because of that I learned about his new partner. She's the same kind of oddball he is – you know, the posing, the monologuing, the suit – but all they want is to help the people of this city. So when I brought up the fact that I might need to step back for a while, Saiyaman offered for he and his partner to take my place and work more closely with the police department."

Of course, none of this was really true. Videl just wanted to be able to fight alongside Gohan without worrying about public appearance. She wanted to fly down to police blockades hand in hand, she wanted to pose with him the way they'd done all week, she wanted to smile and laugh and be at his side. So she'd set up this elaborate tale that Saiyaman and his new partner would be taking her place. The one bit of truth hidden amongst the dishonesty was that Saiyaman really did have a new partner now.

Kaneki's eyes widened again. "Really? They want to assist us directly? Well, that's some exciting news! Though I must admit, not seeing you on the scene will make me feel much more anxious for a while…"

"I really appreciate how much you've come to value my help Chief. But if it ever comes down to it and there's a situation the two of them can't handle, I'm only a phone call away." She smiled as the memories of helping the police out for the past few years flooded her mind. She wasn't really leaving, but it did feel a little like goodbye.

"That alone warms my heart. So, if they're going to be helping us out, how should I contact them?"

"I asked them to come into the office on Tuesday. They'll be out of the area until then but after that they'll pretty much be here to assist you at any time."

"We should be able to keep the peace alone for two days; we're not going to lay down and give up our city that easily!" The Chief had found his fire and excitement again. It was enough to inspire even the most anxious of officer; she'd seen it many times.

"I'm sure you will! And thank you, Chief Kaneki. I'm so happy I got to work side by side with you for so long. And like I said, if you ever really need me, I'm always happy to come help." The Chief gave her a warm smile and stood, extending his hand across the desk.

"We'll do our best to make sure you get to live in a place where peace is the norm and you can prepare for your future without worry Videl. Thank you so much for your assistance over the years. Keep me up to date on your life though; I don't want this to be the last time we talk."

Videl rose and took his hand, shaking firmly and allowing a sincere smile to spread across her lips. "I will, Chief. I promise."

After finishing their meeting, Chief Kaneki personally walked Videl to the door and wished her a great school year before giving her a proud salute. She was a little embarrassed but returned it before waving goodbye. Gohan was waiting for her just outside the doors, having graciously taken her bag and waited for her.

"How'd it go?" he asked once she was close enough that they wouldn't be overheard. Videl took her bag back and slung it over her shoulder, raising her wrist. On it gleamed the silver watch she had gotten from Bulma.

"We're in business, partner!" She winked at him and watched in delight as that adorable, goofy grin crossed his face.

"All right! I'm so excited for us to be able to fight alongside each other for real!" The childlike joy on his face was worth every scheme she'd dreamed up to get here. Seeing him so happy was truly a reward all its own.

"We don't have anything else to do today, right?" she asked. Gohan shook his head, the smile still obvious on his face. "Then why don't we head back home and work on some of our entrances? We don't have school tomorrow so we can go as late as we want!"

For how giddy her boyfriend looked, Videl would have thought it was Christmas morning and no one had told her.

---

Sunday came and went in a whirlwind of bliss and Videl soon found herself lying in bed, eagerly awaiting the next day, a little after 11:00pm that night. She had spent the day with Gohan again and they'd made sure to thoroughly enjoy every hour they had together.

Since Tuesday night, they had taken to learning how to cook together. It rarely went well, but they were starting to make a little progress. Today, they had attempted to make lunch. They had tried a very simple stir fry recipe that had almost turned out perfectly. Unfortunately, they ruined the measurements at the last step and created something that looked more akin to a meadow after a brush fire than an edible meal. They had gone out for lunch after that.

The rest of the day they had spent working on their Saiyaman routine and otherwise relaxing together. Videl had settled on calling herself Great Saiyaman No. 2 and Gohan had proposed they refer each other by number, the way the androids had done eight years before. That was how they settled on Ichi-gō and Ni-gō as their way to address each other when they were fighting. She had to admit, it had a lovely ring to it and she was excited to fight alongside him whenever the opportunity next presented itself.

The evening had, strangely, found them spending time with Majin Buu. They hadn't failed quite so spectacularly at their attempts to make dinner and had offered Buu some if he wanted any. The pink giant had excitedly taken them up on the offer and then invited them to watch TV with he and Bee while they ate.

Videl had really been trying to be friendlier with Buu. Since their conversation, she'd made it a point to speak to him whenever she got home or before she left, to offer him snacks, or recommend something for him to watch. To his credit, he happily accepted her kindnesses but never tried to force his company on her. Which made it a bit unexpected that he had invited the two of them to join him, but perhaps he thought she would feel more comfortable if Gohan was around. Gohan had been a bit surprised, but when Videl had agreed he had gone along with it. The most off-putting part was that she actually had a great time…

Videl's phone buzzed in her hand and brought her back to reality. It was a text from Erasa. She unlocked her phone and read it, allowing a wide grin to spread across her lips.

[Wow, sounds like you already have everything planned for Gohan's birthday tomorrow! You go, girl!]

She was nervous and excited. It was the first of their birthdays they would spend as a couple and she really wanted it to go well. Chi-Chi had called her as Gohan was flying over earlier that morning and they had planned the next day together. Videl would bring Gohan back home to his family after school where they would spend the early evening together and have dinner to celebrate. As for her part, Videl would bring Gohan back to the Satan Mansion after everything was finished on Mt. Paozu where she would give him Papa's gift and then her own. She had insisted a bit on that one; she didn't want to give her first real gift to him in front of anyone else.

[Thanks for letting me bounce ideas off you for his birthday present, I really hope he likes it…]

Videl sent the message and chewed her lip, staring out the window at the velvet sky. She was nervous it wasn't a very good present. Knowing Gohan, he would be ecstatic to receive anything at all from her and would make her feel good about it regardless. But she wasn't very confident giving gifts. Before she and Gohan had started dating, she had only bought things for three birthdays a year (and she got Papa a Christmas present in December). Aside from that, she had very little experience.

Her phone buzzed again and she read 'Rase's message several times, taking some comfort in her words.

[Vi, he'll love it! It's such a great gift idea! Plus, it's not like that's all you did for him. Don't fret so much, everything's gonna be perfect!]

She was right; everything would be perfect. She'd make sure it was. It wasn't like anything catastrophic could go wrong and Videl was aware that she was putting way too much pressure on herself, but she couldn't help it. After everything Gohan had done for her, every way he had transformed her life into Heaven on Earth, she wanted so badly to do the same for him, if only for a day. Maybe Tuesday they would have to go back to school, study for tests, and fight crime, but for a just a few hours she wanted to make his life utterly perfect. Just like he always did for her.

[Thanks 'Rase, I know I'm worrying too much. I'll try to relax some. When did you and Sharpner want to take him out to celebrate again?]

They had initially wanted to go out for food after school on his actual birthday, but Videl figured his family would have something planned so she warned them off. It had turned out to be a good idea, in the end. But still, she knew they wanted to treat Gohan and she wanted them to have the chance to. It would make him happy, after all. He'd never had the chance to celebrate his birthday with friends his own age before.

[Maybe this weekend sometime? I'll check with Sharpie! He has a boxing match Saturday, but it should be fine! I'll let you know soon!]

Videl smiled. She knew birthdays weren't a big deal to Gohan, but she was excited to share it with him. So were his friends, something she was thrilled about. She just hoped her presents felt personal enough to him. She was still worried she'd done a bad job, even with 'Rase's reassurance.

'I guess I'll find out tomorrow.'

---

"You ready to head home Gohan?"

The young Saiyan smiled at Videl. She had told him the plan for the afternoon as school had ended and was clearly quite excited. He had never really cared to make a big deal of his own birthday, but for how happy it made his girlfriend, she could make as big a deal out of it as she wanted.

"Yeah, I'm ready! You got everything?"

Videl checked her bag and nodded. They had stopped by the Satan Mansion right after classes had finished so she could change out of her school clothes and into a familiar blue dress, the same one she had worn on their first date. She had been a bit embarrassed when she admitted she didn't own very many dresses, but Gohan had reassured her that she was breathtaking in this one. That seemed to do the trick nicely.

Threading her fingers between his, Videl tugged on Gohan's hand and he felt her ki pulse. Seconds later, the young couple took to the skies, flying away from Satan City and out towards Mt. Paozu.

It had been a nice day so far, Gohan had to admit. Mom had fussed over him all morning, making a huge breakfast as a treat. When he'd arrived at Videl's, he'd been greeted by a black and white blur as she flew from the doorway into his arms and wished him happy birthday before kissing him several times. That had been his favorite part of the day so far…

School had been uneventful, but Erasa and Sharpner had invited them out to celebrate at the end of the week. They wanted to take him to the little diner near campus and buy him lunch; Erasa had been insistent that he'd love their food. It was the first time he'd ever had friends his age excited to celebrate with him. Honestly, between Videl, his family, and his friends, he was more excited to acknowledge his birthday than any other year.

"I hope you're excited for the rest of the day," Videl called to him. Gohan couldn't keep an enormous smile off of his face.

"'Del, I'm more excited for today than I think I've ever been before. Thank you for being so sweet to me." She laughed lightly and flashed him a sly smile.

"You haven't even seen what I have planned for you yet! This is your mom's part still!"

They flew together for a while longer and finally arrived at the mountain. Goten ran outside to greet them, excitedly waving and jumping up and down. "Big Brother! Videl! Hi!"

Gohan chuckled as they landed, reaching out and ruffling his little brother's wild hair. "Hey Goten! Thanks for welcoming me home!"

"Yeah! It's your birthday, I want to do at least that!" His good-natured smile caused Videl to giggle next to him.

"You're so sweet Goten, Gohan sure is lucky to have a brother like you!" The young boy lit up at her words and hopped excitedly off the ground again.

"You think so?"

"I know so! He's told me!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely!"

"Haha! Yay!" He turned and ran into the house again, his loud voice reaching their ears as he went. "Hey Mom! Guess what? I'm a great little brother!"

Gohan wrapped his arm around Videl and pulled her in close against him, delighting at the surprised smile that spread across her face. "You're really great with him 'Del, thanks for doing that." She nestled against his side and wrapped her own arm around his waist, a content sigh passing her lips.

"You don't have to thank me Darling, he's such a sweet kid and he's basically family at this point. I'm glad he's getting more comfortable around me. When we first met, I wasn't sure he liked me." Gohan laughed at the memory.

"It wasn't you, personally. He was just bummed that he couldn't fight me as a Super Saiyan for training in front of you, that's all."

"That makes a lot of sense. Good, I'm glad he didn't dislike me right from the start." Gohan leaned in closer and spoke in a softer, sly voice.

"You know, you did scare both of us when you got mad at me about your hair though. That didn't make him dislike you, but it sure made him a bit skittish." Gohan couldn't suppress a laugh as Videl pouted and punched his arm lightly.

"That's not fair! You caught me off guard that day, not the other way around! If you knew anything about women back then, you'd have known that would set me off!" She crossed her arms and huffed, though Gohan could sense the exaggeration and levity in her gesture.

"I'll give you that one; I put my foot in my mouth without even realizing it." Videl glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before giving up the charade and laughing.

"You did, but it was hardly the most offensive thing you could've said. Remember? I got all bashful when I thought you were suggesting it because you liked short hair."

"I do remember that. Wow, I totally missed that signal back then. Why did you want to date such a fool again?" She laughed and took up her spot against his side once more.

"Because you're a really, really adorable fool! And because I love you more than I can put into words." Gohan felt his cheeks heat up and scratched his nose sheepishly. She really had a way of overwhelming him with the most positive emotions he'd ever felt. Before he could collect himself, she spoke softly at his side.

"Hey Gohan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask? Back then, when you were teaching me to fly, did you really say I should cut my hair only because it would help me at the tournament? Or was it because you actually do like short hair?" Gohan rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at her expectant sapphire eyes.

"Can I be honest with you since we're dating now?" he asked, feeling awkward.

"Please! I'd love to know the real answer. And I promise I won't be mad about it, no matter what!" Her eyes were sparkling and warm, drawing him in and easing his nerves effortlessly.

"I really did just suggest it because I thought it would help in the tournament, I wasn't trying to be smooth or anything like that. But it's not like I don't like your hair short either!" he reassured her quickly. She giggled and ran her thumb along the back of his hand.

"Somehow I thought that might be the truth. I have to ask then; do you prefer my hair the way it is now? Or did you actually like it longer?" Gohan allowed a calm smile to steal his lips.

"I'm being totally honest when I tell you I love your hair no matter what length it is. I really liked it when it was long, but I really like it short too. You just look amazing no matter what you do with it." Videl giggled again, snuggling closer against him.

"Are you trying to be smooth now?" her sly voice was tinged with mirth and he laughed.

"Not at all! I'm being serious! The first moment I saw you, I thought you were really cute and I loved your hair."

When silence greeted his admission, Gohan glanced down at her and saw her cheeks burning fiercely as she chewed her lip. "You…you really thought that?" she managed at last.

"I really did. I had no idea how to ever go about talking to you, but even I knew enough to think you were really pretty." Videl turned her face up towards him and gave him a brilliant smile, one that was so bright and dazzling it could have lit up the darkest night, even out here on the mountain.

"You are so sweet and wonderful Gohan. Even way back then when I was so suspicious and kinda mean to you, you were thinking such sweet things…" Gohan laughed again, a much more jovial sound this time.

"You did manage to get to me a few times. The morning I left your jet copter up on that roof, I wasn't really thinking about how cute you were. I was freaking out about how persistent you were!" Videl's shy persona cracked and the teasing grin she wore whenever they talked about their interactions back in April reappeared.

"I remember that too! You made me late for school that day!" Her eyes narrowed at him.

"I'm sorry! I felt bad about it then, too! I couldn't look at you all morning!" The sound of gentle laughter reached his ears. Her façade of anger was gone again.

"I know you did. I didn't understand why at the time, but looking back, I could tell you were feeling really guilty about it. It's okay, I love you anyway." The wink she shot him caused his heart to backflip. How was she so cute all the time?

"Gohan, Videl, where are you two?" came Mom's voice from inside the house. The two laughed lightly, realizing they had stopped to chat before they ever made it inside. Sometimes it was just too hard to break away from their conversations for any reason at all.

"We should get inside and see what's up," Videl suggested. Gohan nodded and took her hand again, leading her through the front door and into the Son household.

---

Videl had been charged with keeping Gohan occupied while Mom, Dad, and Goten got ready to give him his gifts. He had changed into a pair of dark pants and the same blue button down he'd worn when he took Videl around the mountain for their first date. He'd done it on purpose; hopefully she wouldn't feel so bad about wearing her own dress from that day again if he did the same.

Gifts were always a strange things for Gohan. He had a certain innate guilt about accepting presents from his family; they had struggled with money for most of his life so he didn't like asking for anything. Still, they had insisted and no amount of reasoning would be enough to persuade them otherwise.

When they were ready, Goten had dashed into the room to collect them, bouncing up and down with excitement. Videl grabbed one hand and Goten the other and the two led him out to the living room. There, his parents sat with wrapped presents in front of them on the table. His father wore his usual orange Gi and his mother a lovely pink dress. She kept eyeing her husband with irritation.

"You know Goku, everyone else got dressed up a little bit. I'm just saying, it wouldn't have killed you to put on something normal for a few hours…" Gohan stifled a laugh as Goku looked at her in surprise.

"Come on Chi, you know I'm uncomfortable in anything but this. Besides, I'd get food all over those clothes when it was dinner time!" She rolled her eyes and let a small smile appear on her face.

"Okay, okay, you get a pass this time; you've been dead for seven years after all. But next year you're putting some slacks and a jacket on!"

"Aw, come on, do I have to?" Gohan and his two guides couldn't help but laugh at last at his whining voice.

"Honestly, it's okay Mom," Gohan tried to reassure her after they'd calmed down. "I'm just glad Dad's home again, it doesn't matter if he's dressed up or not."

"But I want everything perfect for my Gohan's birthday! You're eighteen today!" She reached for a tissue as tears welled in her eyes. "My little boy's becoming a man!" She wailed into Goku's arm and blew her nose fiercely.

"Don't worry Chi, he's still right here!" Goku tried his best to comfort her. Goten ran over and patted her shoulder.

"And even if Gohan went somewhere else, Daddy could always pick him up with his Instant Transmission whenever we wanted to see each other!"

Videl wrapped her arms around Gohan's and leaned against him. "He's such a great kid, comforting your mom like that. I can tell Papa's been feeling the same way about me lately. I'm sure it's really hard for parents when their kids get to this point in their lives." Gohan nodded and watched them with warm eyes.

Of course, he was planning on going away for college next year. In the last seven years, he'd gone from reluctantly studying to really embracing it and discovered a love of scholarly pursuits. To that end, he wanted to focus on his studies now while he had a shot at getting into colleges and could pursue his passions.

But he knew it would be hard on his family, himself included. Mom especially. He'd been here on Mt. Paozu since he was born. For the last seven years, it had just been he, Mom, and Goten. He was thrilled Dad was back now so that when he inevitably did go away for college, Mom would have her husband back. Besides, he would definitely be back regularly. It would be too strange for him if he didn't visit often.

"I have to get a grip. I'm ruining Gohan's birthday and we haven't even started the presents yet! So let's do them before I cry again!" Chi-Chi finally pulled away and shook her head.

Gohan led Videl to the other couch, sitting down and feeling a smile tug at his lips. It made him so happy that she was here next to him, sharing his birthday with he and his intensely strange family. Maybe even that was an understatement…

"Okay Gohan," Goten began, jumping off the couch and landing across the table from him. "I want you to open my present first!" He seized a messily wrapped gift from nearby and offered it to him.

"Thanks little bro, I'd love to!" Goten watched giddily as his older brother began to carefully tear the paper off the present. He felt Videl eyeing him curiously and turned towards her, smiling as he gestured to the box.

"When I was little, I kept ripping the boxes too when I unwrapped them because I didn't know my own strength. Once I even accidentally destroyed the gift inside the box," he admitted, grimacing. "So now I open gifts like this really carefully so I don't break anything."

"That makes perfect sense," Videl conceded, a serene smile on her pink lips as she watched him carefully handle Goten's gift. It looked like she found it endearing instead of strange.

When he finally removed the wrapping paper and opened the box, he found a nice outfit that consisted of a pair of peach-colored slacks and a white button down. Goten immediately launched into an ecstatic explanation.

"I wanted to get you something nice to wear on a date with Videl! I thought pink would be a good color since girls usually like pink, but there wasn't anything pink at the store. So this was the closest I could find. I hope you like it! Happy birthday Gohan!"

Gohan pulled his brother into a hug and smiled. "Thanks Goten, I love it! I'll be sure to wear it the next time we go out someplace!" His smile could warm the coldest of hearts. Videl looked over the outfit before giving him an animated thumbs up.

"This is so nice Goten! You might have a better eye for style that Gohan does," she shot him a playful look and winked. He couldn't help but chuckle as Goten's eyes shimmered and widened.

"Really?"

"Really!" She turned towards the other couch and laughed. "Be careful with him Chi-Chi, you might have a real lady killer on your hands in a few years!"

She just smiled and shook her head. "This one? No way, he takes after his father too much for that to happen." Goten tilted his head curiously and glanced at his parents.

"Daddy, what's a 'lady killer?'" Goku pondered his son's question for several moments before trying his best to answer.

"Uh…I'm not sure Goten. But it can't be good, right? Anyone who goes around killing has to have problems. Especially if they're targeting ladies." Goten nodded firmly.

"I don't want to be a lady killer then! I want to help people!"

"See? Told you," Chi-Chi sighed before laughing lightly at the display. Videl couldn't help but giggle and lean into Gohan, his heart fluttering as her soft hand rested on his arm.

After talk of Goten's potential as a ladies' man (or would-be assassin) had finished, Goku reached down into the floor and produced his own gift. It was more neatly wrapped than Goten's, but Gohan could see where his father had struggled with the task. The corners weren't very crisp and the pattern was a bit lopsided. Still, it had been seven years since he'd wrapped a present. All things considered, it was pretty well done.

"Happy birthday son, your mom had to help me out with the idea a little but I hope you like it!" Gohan felt a serene smile tug at his lips. It had been so long since Dad had been home for his birthday. It didn't even matter what the present was; he was just happy to have his father home to hand it to him.

Gohan carefully removed the wrapping paper and found another small box waiting for him, but inside this one were two books – Martial Arts Styles of Past Ages and Sports Psychology: The Effects of Meditation on Performance. They were a pair of texts he had been eyeing lately. Since teaching Videl how to fly, he had wondered how far practical knowledge of ki control could be taken. As a result, he had begun to do some research in his spare time. These books were the next step in his pursuit of knowledge. But for Dad to have given them to him…did he grab Mom's gift by mistake?

Noticing the confusion on his son's face, Goku laughed and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, just the way Gohan always caught himself doing. "I'm not too smart when it comes to stuff like this; all I've ever known is fighting and getting stronger, so I needed your mom to help me with what I should get you. But the way I see it, you spent your childhood helping me fight and you even took my place as Earth's defender when I died after Cell. The least I can do is support your goals for the future now that I'm back!"

Gohan felt his throat constrict for a moment and an enormous smile stole his face. For his whole life, his father had been many things: a staunch warrior and protector, a brilliant mentor and teacher, and a devoted husband and father. Sure, he'd made some mistakes over the years, and his circumstances had often taken him away from his family for long periods of time. But there was no question he loved them all unconditionally. But for the first time ever, the man was actively trying to take an interest in something that wasn't fighting. It wasn't even something he remotely understood. But he supported his son in his endeavors.

"Thanks Dad," he managed quietly, trying to swallow the tightness in his throat. Videl could sense the overwhelming emotions he was feeling and threaded her fingers between his, squeezing his hand and running her palm up and down his arm.

"Course, I'd love it if you'd still train with me sometimes! It's been a long time since we've had the chance to do that together!" The classic goofy smile Goku was known for sprang back to life on his face and Gohan felt himself settle at the sight. No matter what, when, or where, Dad was Dad. This was just another way he could show his support and love for his family.

"Absolutely, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Speaking of, I think it's time for my present now," came Chi-Chi's voice as she extended her gift to Gohan.

The wrapping on this one was, unsurprisingly, immaculate. The pattern of the paper was perfectly centered, the corners and creases so precise it was as if they were crafted by a machine. The bow complimented the color choice expertly and the flashy ribbon curled around it. Truly he was in the presence of such artistic technique that even trained professionals would struggle to compare.

After carefully removing the paper and opening the final box, however, Gohan couldn't keep the shock from his eyes. His mother's present was a pair of training Gis, one purple and one yellow. His mouth fell open and he looked up, only managing a single word. "Mom?"

Chi-Chi laughed and smiled at him. "Videl mentioned that you wanted to start seriously training with your father again, so you could be strong enough to protect us all if anything like Majin Buu ever happened again. So I went and saw Piccolo and asked him if he'd lend a hand preparing some clothes for you."

"Wait, you never told me that!" Goku cried out in surprise. His wife chuckled lightly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"That was a much a surprise for you as the present was for Gohan. Looks like you'll have plenty of training time together after all!"

"All right!" Goku's infectious excitement was more than enough to earn easy laughter from everyone in the room.

"Can I train with you too?" Goten asked suddenly, somewhere between excitement and pouting. Gohan laughed and nodded.

"Of course! With the three of us together, there's no telling how strong we'll get!"

Once the energy in the room had settled, Gohan was reminded of why he was so shocked in the first place, turning to his mom and gesturing to his gift. "You hate when I have to fight, though. What changed?" She smiled at him.

"I guess your father inspired me. I've never liked the idea of you fighting and I've never supported it; that's no secret. But you saved all of our lives from Cell. We wouldn't be here if you hadn't fought for us. And after I lost you when Majin Buu woke up…" Gohan interjected gently.

"It's okay Mom, I didn't really die."

"But you almost did! So I want you to train with your father as much as you want! I want you to get as strong as you possibly can so if anything ever shows up again to threaten my boys again, you can put them right in their place!" There was that fiery determination he was used to seeing from her. Gohan nodded confidently, giving her a reassuring smile.

"That's why I wanted to train in the first place. I promise we'll all get that strong this time around."

"I know you will."

"Plus you offered to teach me," Videl chimed in, leaning against him. "So the stronger you get, the more I'll be able to learn too!" Before more talk of training could enrapture them all, Chi-Chi spoke up once more.

"Well no one can train on an empty stomach, so everyone get ready for Gohan's birthday dinner! I made your favorites!" Gohan's eyes lit up as his stomach growled at the mention of food; it sounded amazing right now. Especially his mom's cooking.

Videl eyed him incredulously. "I thought you said you don't have any favorites." Before he could even speak, Chi-Chi answered her, laughing lightly.

"He doesn't, I just make a bunch of different things for his birthday and it's all gone by the end of the night." Videl nodded, clearly taking mental notes for the future.

Everyone stood up together, laughing and chatting as they headed for the kitchen. Gohan took special notice of the fact that Videl seemed much more at ease this time compared to the last two dinners she'd shared with them. The first time she had stuck very close to him of course and even when she'd come over last week, she had been a little quieter than usual. Now, however, she was chatting with Goten as they walked, and his little brother was just delighted. It warmed his heart to see her getting along so well with his family. The way she bantered with Mom was proof enough that they had long since buried the hatchets they'd both been sharpening upon their first meeting. Everything really was turning out perfectly today. Maybe Gohan would start looking forward to these birthday celebrations if they stayed like this.

---

They had enjoyed another lively dinner with his family and relaxed with everyone for a while before Chi-Chi had suggested he and Videl head back to Satan City so she could give him her gift. They made the flight back out to the city a little quicker than usual; Videl was pushing the pace a bit. She was clearly excited to give him his present.

After landing on the porch, Gohan let Videl lead him into the Satan Mansion, her warm hand gripping his arm and pulling him eagerly through the door. "Okay, so Papa's present is first," she began, steering him towards the entertainment room. Gohan was surprised. He hadn't expected Mr. Satan to feel obligated to do anything for his birthday.

"He got me a present too?" Videl laughed lightly.

"Sort of. You'll understand soon. He's been planning this for a little while now and he's been really impatient about it." Now Gohan was very curious. What had Mr. Satan done?

Arriving in the familiar room, Gohan noticed Buu sitting on the couch as usual, laughing loudly at a new television show. He idly wondered how many shows Buu had already gone through while Mr. Satan had been gone, but decided he was too potentially terrified to even ask. It still felt strange to spend time with the pink monster. Not two weeks ago had Gohan nearly been killed by him. But now, he felt nothing but joy emanate from the creature at any given moment. What a strange twist of fate.

"Oh! Hi Videl! Hi Gohan!" Buu had noticed them at last and had offered an energetic wave. They waved back, Videl being more comfortable than Gohan was. He still felt awkward that the former destroyer of Earth was calling him by name and waving easily to him. Well, stranger things had happened in his lifetime, truly.

"Hi Buu, what are you watching?" Videl asked him. She had really committed to treating him more like a friend since she had talked with him last week. Gohan was very impressed by her.

"Mmm, not sure! But it's very funny so Buu happy! Videl and Gohan make dinner tonight?" Videl shook her head.

"No, sorry. We had dinner with Gohan's family to celebrate his birthday earlier," she explained. Buu tilted his head in that familiar way he did when something didn't make sense.

"'Birthday?' What that?"

"It's the day you were born. Or created, in your case. The people closest to you celebrate the day you came to be because they're happy you exist." Gohan had to marvel at his girlfriend. She was so patient and even kind to him now. Of course, it wasn't like Buu had given her any reason to doubt him since returning to Earth. He was almost like a giant toddler, learning about everyone and everything around him, absorbing information like a sponge.

"Ooh, so Videl celebrating because Gohan is important to her?" It was such an innocent question. She nodded easily.

"Exactly. Gohan is extremely important and special to me, so I have a few things planned for the evening to show him that!" Gohan felt his cheeks heat up as she spoke so candidly about him. He squeezed her hand and she flashed a wide smile up at him.

"Then Buu celebrate Gohan's birthday too!" Both of them were surprised to hear something like that from him.

"How come Buu? I know you recognize him, but Gohan's special to you too?" Buu grinned.

"Buu doesn't know Gohan well. But Gohan make Videl really happy. And Mr. Satan really happy when Videl really happy. So since Gohan makes Videl and Mr. Satan so happy, Gohan makes Buu happy too!"

Gohan gave him a thoughtful smile before speaking for the first time during the conversation. "Thanks Buu. That's very kind of you, really." Buu let out a laugh that landed somewhere between pleased and bashful. It was such an odd combination of emotions to hear from him.

"So how Buu celebrate?" Videl jumped in again.

"You can just say 'happy birthday' to him. Usually you do it with excitement in your voice!" Gohan couldn't suppress a smile; Videl was having fun talking to Majin Buu. He'd never tease her about it because of how hard it was for her to get to this point, but it was really quite a sight to witness.

"Okay! Buu do! Happy birthday!" he called across the room, his high-pitched voice loud and happy. Videl laughed lightly and squeezed Gohan's hand. She could probably sense how strange the situation was for him.

"Thanks Buu, I appreciate it!" He put on his best good-natured smile and called out to him. The pink creature smiled and cheered, probably happy to have done it right.

"Okay Buu, we're gonna take some time for ourselves now okay? I have to give him Papa's present and then I have my own for him." Buu nodded, reaching for a bag of candies he hadn't even touched since they'd walked into the room.

"Okay! Videl and Gohan have fun with celebration!" And just like that, his eyes locked onto the television once more and he began laughing delightedly as he shoveled assorted chocolates and sweets into his mouth.

Videl pulled Gohan's arm and led him gently across the room and out into a new hallway. Once they were out of earshot of Buu, Videl leaned close. "Thanks for humoring him, I know it's still pretty awkward to talk to him like that. I feel the same way." Gohan shook his head, smiling.

"Don't worry, I don't mind at all. Yeah it's a bit uncomfortable still, but I've lived through stranger. Besides, every time I see you with him I'm just more and more impressed by how far you've come from just a week ago. You're really amazing 'Del." She blushed a bit and cuddled up closer.

"Thank you. I've really been trying to get through my fears of him. It's actually been kinda working."

"So no more nightmares lately?"

"Nope! I don't know if they're gone for sure but lately I've been sleeping really well!"

"That's wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that!" She floated up into the air and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"I couldn't have done it without you." Gohan pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the forehead.

"That's not true. You're the one who did it; I just supported you."

"Well I couldn't have done it without your support then," she amended, grinning up at him. Gohan laughed and knew that was as good as he was going to get. Videl spoke again quickly before he could say another word.

"Okay, it's present time! I'm too excited to wait any longer, come on" Gohan laughed and agreed with her, letting her lead him the remainder of their trek with so much vigor she was basically dragging him along.

She brought him to a small study, clearly belonging to Mr. Satan if the décor was anything to go by. Trophies, portraits, certificates, all manner of accolades that had been showered upon the man were displayed in glass cases along the wall. There were two red chairs on display and a large television inset on the wall. It was almost cozy if you ignored all the sparkling memorabilia. On a large desk at the side of the room, though, was a silver briefcase with a letter on top, addressed to him.

"Papa really wanted me to make sure you got this today. He wrote the letter before he left though," she explained, handing it to him. Gohan opened it curiously, wondering just what he could expect from Mr. Satan for his birthday.

'Gohan,

Happy birthday! I hope you've been having an amazing day with your family and my little princess! Sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate too, but I hope this can make up for it.

I want to explain what this is first. After the Cell Games seven years ago, I took credit for your victory over that monster. You saved the world and everyone in it, including Videl and I, and I got up in front of cameras and told the world you and your family and friends were liars and tricksters. The only thing that would have made what I did any more terrible is if I had actually spit in your face after you saved us all.'

"'Del, your dad doesn't need to feel this bad about what happened back then," Gohan began, looking up from the letter and grimacing. Videl smiled and shook her head, leaning against his arm and nestling in.

"Keep going, I promise it's not all depressing."

'Since meeting you and your family the last few weeks, I've realized I didn't just wrong the savior of the world. I wronged good people who deserve much more than they've been given by the world, pretty much as a direct result of my actions. So I want to fix that starting today!

In this case is my birthday gift to you. It's also a gift to your entire family. I know none of you ever wanted to be in the spotlight so I'm not going to reveal who you all are to the entire world. But that doesn't mean I can't make my own amends while keeping you out of the public eye. It's the very least I can do since everyone's giving me credit for defeating Majin Buu too. So just know that this is only the beginning of my making things up to you.

Happy birthday again Gohan! Enjoy your day!

Mr. Satan

Gohan placed the letter on the desk and gazed curiously at the briefcase. What could possibly be in there. Videl prodded him forward gently, a warm smile evident on her face. Slowly, he reached forward and undid the clasps, opening the lid with all the delicacy of a of handling a fragile piece of art.

There was no art piece inside, nothing that could be broken at all in fact. Instead, there was a large collection of Zeni. An enormous collection, really. So much money he couldn't accurately fathom it. His mouth fell open and he stepped back, looking between the case and Videl quickly. She wore an enormous smile on her face.

"Uh…Videl…how much is this?" he managed at last, shaking his head in disbelief.

"A few million," she explained casually. Gohan felt his eyes widen into saucers.

"That's…that's too much, he doesn't have to do that. I-I can't…take that kind of money from you guys…" Videl laughed lightly.

"Relax Darling, do you know how much money we have? We're never gonna have to worry about anything ever again for the rest of Papa's life, my life, my kids' lives, and probably their kids' too. And that's not counting the amount in this case…or the amount he's being paid for this media circuit…or the ones he's doing over the next few months either."

"B-but 'Del, this is…this is such a huge amount…"

"And Papa really wants you and your family to have it. He knows you're people of modest means and don't want to live like us, but he also knows that you've struggled with money before. I was the one who suggested it, actually," she admitted. Gohan gazed at her in wonder and guilt as she continued.

"If you'd been known as the savior of the world seven years ago, you would have been given those millions and so much more. So I told Papa that he could ease his guilt over taking the credit by giving you and your family some of the reward so you'd never have to worry about money again either!"

Gohan was struggling to wrap his head around her words. Finally, he managed to speak again, but only after taking several moments to calm his racing mind. "'Del…you have no idea how happy this will make everyone. Mom won't have to worry about money for such a long time. Dad can train and fight and compete to his heart's content. Goten could go to an elementary school if he wanted to. This is just amazing, seriously."

"This isn't all he's giving you, by the way," she told him, grinning as he whirled towards her with shock evident on his face. "This is just a start. He told me he's giving your family every single Zeni he gets from the Majin Buu media tours. We're already set for generations; we don't need it. You and your dad have saved us all so many times now. You deserve it."

Gohan couldn't form words anymore. He just stepped forward and pulled Videl into a close hug, holding her tight. She wrapped her arms around him and rubbed his back, nestling happily against his chest.

"You deserve everything in the world Gohan, everything you could ever possibly want. I hope Papa's gift helps you have that." He stepped back and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes.

"I already have everything I could possibly want, Videl."

He expected she would smile or blush. Part of him wondered if she might scoff or tease. But what he hadn't expected was tears to well up in her eyes. Before he could wonder if he'd said something wrong, Videl sniffed and gave him the lightest little punch he'd ever felt.

"Geez Gohan, you can't just say that to me with no warning. I wasn't ready for something so sweet…" she managed, a bright smile spreading across her lips, her teeth catching the lights above them and sparkling like starlight.

"Sorry I overwhelmed you a bit 'Del. I just love you so much. Thank you for everything." Videl sniffed again and wiped her eyes.

"I love you Gohan. You're the best thing in my life and I'm so happy every day I get to be with you."

Gohan pulled her back into a close, warm hug. She nestled in and held on tight, sighing contentedly and nuzzling him. It was such a calm, relaxing feeling, being close to her like this. If this hug was all she got him for his birthday, it would be the greatest gift he'd ever received.

---

Of course, a hug wasn't all Videl had gotten Gohan. Soon, she had led him out of the study, brining the case with them, unwilling to let him forget it before he left later. She brought him back to her bedroom and asked him to sit on the bed and close his eyes this time. He followed her instructions to the letter, settling onto the mattress and placing his hands over his eyes just to reassure her. A few moments later, he felt her sit down on the bed as well, placing something in front of him.

"Okay, open your eyes!"

He moved his hands and gazed down at the mattress. There were two boxes in front of him, one much larger and one very small. They were neatly and colorfully wrapped, with shining ribbons and handmade bows. She had clearly spent a long time on these and he felt his heart flood with happiness. He was so lucky to have her.

"These look so good I almost don't want to open them," he admitted, laughing lightly. She gave a bright smile and scooted across the bed until she was by his side, leaning against him.

"I'll wrap more presents for you soon. You have to open them, the anticipation is killing me!" Gohan chuckled.

"Shouldn't it usually be the other way around?"

"Probably. What can I say, I just love giving you gifts!"

"And I know I'll love anything you ever get me. What should I open first?"

"Um…open the big one first!" Gohan reached out and took the box into his hands, giving it a very light shake. Several small objects bounced around.

"Hmm, what could it be?" He made a show of pondering and Videl tugged his arm impatiently, giggling in that charming way she did when he teased her.

"Come on!" She exaggerated her voice and whined, making the most adorable puppy-dog eyes at him. He felt his heart leap and fought down a blush.

"Okay, I'll open it," he conceded with a light chuckle. His stomach filled with butterflies as she lit up, her bright smile sparkling.

After carefully undoing the wrapping paper, he found himself holding a tin. And upon removing the lid, he was greeted by the sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies. Homemade from the look of them. Some were a bit lopsided, some were small whereas others were noticeably larger, and not all of them had the same ratio of actual chocolate chips in them. But Gohan thought they were perfect. Videl had made them for him; there couldn't be a more delicious cookie in existence.

"'Del these look amazing!" he spoke with a warm voice. She laughed and shook her head.

"They look like a toddler made them. But I hope they're at least good. You made me salads on our first date so I wanted to make something sweet and special for you today."

Gohan took a cookie and popped it into his mouth, Videl watching anxiously. As he chewed, he felt a wide smile capture his lips. For all the little imperfections, the cookie was a perfect blend of flavors, sweet and satisfying. He hummed as he finished it.

"These are so good!"

"You're just saying that…"

"No, really! Try one!" He grabbed a cookie and pressed it into her hands before she could object.

"But these are supposed to be for your birthday! I tested them last night anyway!"

"It'd make me happy if you'd have one with me," he coaxed her, grabbing another cookie for himself. Letting a resigned grin spread across her face, Videl finally agreed and bit into the cookie. She chewed for several seconds before her eyes widened.

"Wow, these actually did pretty well! They might even be better today than when I finished them last night!" Gohan had just finished his second and gave her an excited nod.

"Right? You did such a great job on them! Thank you so much 'Del! Nobody but Mom has ever made me food by hand like this." Videl gave him a warm smile and took his hand in hers.

"I'm really happy you like them. It won't be the last thing I make for you," she promised, giving his hand a warm squeeze.

"I can't wait to see what other treats are in my future then!" Gohan placed the lid back on the tin, wanting to save the rest for later.

Videl took the little present in her hands and offered it to him, her eyes suddenly swimming with a bit of nervousness. "I…this is my big present for you. I hope it's not too impersonal…I don't feel like I pick very good gifts…"

"I'm sure whatever you chose will be just perfect. And I promise, any present from you will always make me feel special and loved." She gave him a small smile before pressing the gift gently into his hands.

Gohan set about opening the paper carefully and, once he was finished, was greeted by a rectangular grey box. He wasn't entirely sure what it was. There was a sleek looking piece of machinery pictured on the front and it was shrink wrapped.

"Uh, Videl? I'm sure it's amazing, but…what is it exactly?" he asked sheepishly. She looked surprised for a moment before giggling and scooting closer, grabbing something from her nearby bag.

"It's a phone! One of your very own, like this one!" She held her own device up next to his box and he saw the similarities. It was obvious now, but he had never seen one still in the box. A familiar sense of guilt washed over him though.

"These are so expensive though, aren't they? 'Del, you didn't need to do this for me." She shook her head, the smile never leaving her face.

"Gohan, you know money doesn't mean a thing to me or Papa. I wanted to do this for you. Every high schooler should have one! Besides, it wasn't entirely selfless," she admitted. He felt his eyes widen from curiosity and waited for her to continue.

"I did get it for you because I think you'd enjoy having one. But…I also got it so we can talk to each other whenever we want," she admitted, her cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink. Gohan felt himself smile widely.

"That's true, we could talk whenever with this huh? And you wouldn't have to worry about calling my house anymore."

"We can send messages back and forth too, the way I do with 'Rase and Sharpner and Papa!"

Gohan slowly felt the guilt he always held when receiving presents starting to dissipate. Videl was clearly excited for him to have this. She had gone so far out of her way to do something nice for him and he didn't want to seem ungrateful to her. And he had to admit, the idea of being able to talk to her whenever he wanted was incredibly appealing…

"Thank you," he began softly, earning her curious gaze. He met her eyes and felt a serene smile appear on his face. "This is so sweet and thoughtful of you 'Del. I have a hard time accepting gifts sometimes, especially more expensive stuff, but I can tell you spent a lot of time doing this for me and I'm really excited about it! You're just the best."

Videl blushed more deeply but leaned into him happily. "I'm so glad you like it! I was worried it wasn't personal enough," she admitted. Gohan shook his head.

"Not at all, it's wonderful! Anything that lets me talk to you as much as I could ever want is more than special!"

Videl took his hand in both of hers, the warmth of her palms radiating across his skin. Her hands were so soft and comforting. She met his eyes and gave him the most breathtaking smile he'd ever witnessed.

"Happy birthday Darling."

She leaned in slowly and kissed him, a sweet, gentle kiss that made his heart skip several beats and his mind go entirely blank. He managed to kiss her back, but it was more by muscle memory than anything else. When she drew back, he felt himself blushing pretty deeply.

"T-thank you for making today so amazing," he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Anything for my Gohan. I'll make every birthday amazing from here on."

"I can't wait."

Videl snuggled up against his side and took the box containing his phone from his hands. "Oh, by the way," she began, "there's all sorts of plans and things to worry about when you get one of these, but I've already taken care of it all. It'll just work after we get it set up!"

"You really did spoil me with this, you know?"

"I wanted to! Now here, let me show you how it works!"

---

They had spent a little while going through Gohan's new phone. He had watched attentively as Videl explained the ins and outs of the device, teaching him where certain settings and apps were located, demonstrating how to do certain things with it. When he asked how he'd contact her, she showed him how to put a number in his phone, using hers as the example. He was very pleased that hers was the first number he'd ever gotten. It made him very happy to think about.

After a while, she had finished her tutoring session. Gohan hoped he would remember everything, but truly the most important part to him was if he could remember how to call or message her. The rest would just come with time.

"Hey Gohan?" Videl asked suddenly, her voice small and shy.

"Yeah? What's up 'Del?"

"Can…can I ask for a little present too…?" He almost had to strain to hear her.

"You can ask for anything, always," he reassured her. She took a steadying breath before speaking again.

"Do you think…maybe we could…lay down and cuddle together…?" Gohan felt his face turn bright red at the thought. It was a really nice thought though…

"Uh…um, s-sure."

"Don't let me pressure you or anything! It's just something that's…been on my mind a lot lately," she admitted, her own face flushing scarlet. Gohan quickly shook his head and waved his hands.

"N-not at all! I…it sounds really nice…"

"I, uh…great," she managed, almost breathless. If her heart was racing as quickly as Gohan's was right now, it wasn't that surprising. She stood slowly and moved the leftover wrapping paper and the tin of cookies from the bed before flipping the light switch by the door. A comforting darkness settled over them, the silver moon and pinpoints of starlight the only things that illuminated the room.

"Is…is this okay?" she asked softly. Gohan nodded but quickly realized she may not be able to see him just yet.

"Y-yeah, this is nice," he reassured her. Videl crossed the room again and climbed back atop the mattress, settling in next to him again.

"Do you…want to lay down…?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Mhm," was all he managed, swallowing nervously.

Videl placed her hand on his arm and guided him down towards her mattress, turning towards him as their sides met the bed. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness now and he could see her vibrant sapphire eyes as clearly as the stars over her shoulder. She looked nervous too, but once they had settled in a bit, a small smile stole her lips.

"When I fall asleep at night, I imagine cuddling with you," she admitted, her eyes shimmering now. Gohan felt himself slowly calming down, reminding himself that this was still Videl, the girl he was hopelessly in love with and the girl who blushed as badly as he did when they tried new things as a couple. They were both awkward when it came to this stuff; it wasn't just him.

"You mean like this?" he wondered aloud. Videl shook her head, smiling.

"No, I imagine it more like this." She scooted herself very close to him, wrapping her left arm around his back and pressing her body against his. His breath caught in his chest as she curled up under his chin, nuzzling her forehead into his chest. He felt her legs tangle themselves up in his and heard her sigh contentedly. This was simultaneously the most terrifying and the most amazing things he'd ever experienced.

"You can hold me too, you know." It sounded like she meant to tease him, but her voice was still shy and barely a whisper. Gohan did his best to ease his nerves and wrap his arms around her like he always did when they hugged. He let his right arm hold her close, resting his palm on her upper back. Her eyes fluttered closed and she hummed giddily. He must be doing it right.

"L-like that?" he asked, trying to preserve the quiet atmosphere.

"Yeah, just like this," she reassured him, nestling against his chest even closer.

Usually, he was quite balanced and centered, but Videl was so easily able to show him excitement and elation the likes of which he could only have imagined before. But the longer he laid next to her, cuddling closely with her, holding her in his arms, his chin resting just atop her head, the more relaxed he started to feel again. He could smell the mango of her shampoo, the light scent of flowers from the perfume she wore. They were comforting scents that made him feel calmer than any meditation could ever manage.

He turned downward and kissed the top of her head, holding her just a bit tighter. She sighed happily again and began scratching his back lightly. This was truly what Heaven must feel like. Scratch that; he'd been to Heaven two weeks ago. This was even better.

"Gohan," came Videl's gentle voice, drawing his attention effortlessly.

"Yeah?"

She pulled back just slightly and inched upwards until their faces were level, a serene smile on her face. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Videl."

She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, a soft, gentle kiss. This time, he managed to keep his brain from shutting off and kissed her back. His heart fluttered as she wrapped her arm around him again and pressed herself closer, the ballet their lips were caught in deepening.

Gohan felt his heart leap as an unfamiliar feeling jolted through him. Videl's tongue was grazing his lips lightly, gently asking for more, unsure if he would reciprocate. He had read about this. Couples sometimes kissed differently than he and Videl had so far. Sometimes they used their tongues too, right? Was that what she was trying to do?

He felt her try her hand a bit more insistently. He was nervous and his heart was hammering in his chest, but, he kept reminding himself, this was Videl. She was absolutely just as nervous as he was. Probably more so since she was the one taking the chance and initiating right now. And he really did want to…

Slowly, Gohan let his lips open, her tongue meeting his at long last. It was a strange, foreign sensation, but it felt nice. Different, but nice. Videl let slip a light hum as she reached her hands upwards to the back of his head and pulled him in closer. His own tongue responded to hers without needing to think much about it.

The longer they kissed, the more enjoyable it was starting to feel. This wasn't a sweet good morning kiss, nor a chaste 'I love you' kiss. There was a depth to this kiss he hadn't experienced before. But that depth was starting to win him over in a big way.

Before he could get too lost in the sensation, Videl pulled back, breathing hard. Her face was scarlet but her eyes sparkled as she met his. "Was…was that too much?" she managed between deep breaths. Gohan shook his head.

"N-no. I was a little unsure what to do but I liked it," he admitted, feeling his own face flush.

"You don't have to know what to do, I don't really know either. We can figure it out together."

"That sounds perfect." Their gazes remained on each other. Videl's hand on his back was trembling lightly and Gohan felt his body long for her. Would she want to kiss him like that again so soon?

"Gohan," she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Come here."

In an instant, Videl pressed her mouth to his again, her lips parting and her tongue grazing his own once more. He responded and felt an overwhelming sensation of bliss and excitement as her tongue began dancing hungrily with his own. Now that he had experienced it twice, Gohan quickly decided it was one of the most enjoyable feelings he'd ever experienced.

He pulled Videl in closer, unaware he'd even done it. Their kiss grew hungrier, more desperate. He found that the longer they kissed like this, the closer he needed her to be, but no matter how tightly he held her she was still too far away. Videl ran her hands through his hair, gripping and pulling lightly, sending shivers of satisfaction racing down his spine in waves. His heart was thundering in his chest and he couldn't calm his body.

Videl started rolling just slightly and Gohan followed her without thinking. She moved her arms down to the back of his neck and pulled him after her. She was lying on her back now and Gohan quickly realized he was almost directly on top of her. His heart began racing as he felt the rapid rise and fall of her chest against his. Her long legs wrapped around his. Her hands tangled in his hair once more.

Not wanting to leave her out, Gohan tried the same. He ran a hand softly into her hair and pulled very gently. Videl moaned into his mouth and he panicked. Had he hurt her? He let go immediately and raised up some, interrupting their embrace. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

Videl was breathing heavily and her face betrayed her confusion, but her eyes never stopped sparkling. It took her a moment to realize why he was asking before she put it together in her head. "Oh! Yeah, I'm okay Gohan, you didn't hurt me at all! I made that sound because it felt really nice when you did that," she admitted, blushing badly again.

Gohan took a calming breath and nodded at last. "Oh, okay…good. Sorry, I guess I overreacted there. I just never want to hurt you."

Videl simply smiled up at him. "I trust you entirely. I know you'll never hurt me. I promise I'll tell you if something's wrong, okay?"

Gohan smiled back, feeling a bit calmer now. "Please do."

"For now though…I, um, really liked that…do it again?" Videl let her eyes flutter closed as Gohan leaned back down towards her, pressing his lips gently against hers once more.

It didn't take long for their kiss to deepen to that same intoxicating level and Gohan tried again, tangling his hand in her short hair and tugging gently. Videl let out a longing moan and pulled him down closer on top of her. That was a good sign, right? That meant she liked it? She had promised to say if he did anything wrong, so he trusted her and went along with it.

A few moments later, Videl seized his wrist and began guiding his hand from her hair down to her hip. His heart skipped several beats as she pressed his hand against the cool skin of her leg. She slowly began to guide his hand upwards next, underneath the hem of her dress and up her thigh. Gohan's eyes opened in surprise, breaking their kiss again.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes glazed over with longing. Gohan was breathing heavily as she continued to inch his hand higher and higher with each passing second.

"Uh…um, are you…sure?" he stammered at last.

Videl nodded, stopping her hand in place, holding his still. "I know we're not ready to go all the way. That's not where I'm leading you, don't worry. But," she whispered, slowly shifting onto her side again and easing his hand around towards the back of her leg, "I don't mind if you touch here. Only if I'm not pressuring you into it though."

Gohan locked eyes with her before swallowing and nodding. "I know it's hard to tell for how nervous I am but…I'm pretty aware of how attractive you are. Honestly, I've thought about stuff like this a few times now…" he admitted, fire springing to life in his cheeks. She giggled despite the blush creeping up to her ears.

"Then don't be shy Darling. I want you to."

Gohan nodded and Videl tugged his hand upwards until it rested against her butt. He could feel the prominent curves, the fabric of her underwear, her warm hand still resting atop his. Sensations he'd never imagined raced through his mind and body, overwhelming, addicting, intoxicating.

Videl leaned in close and nibbled his ear, sending shivers of pleasure down his back and arms. "You can squeeze a bit if you want to," she whispered, her hot breath causing his body to tremble again.

Taking her words to heart, Gohan did exactly that. He was relieved when her face twisted in immediate gratification. She gasped lightly then sighed. The feeling was a bit too much for her to take without responding, evidently; she seized his face with her hands and pulled him into an aggressive kiss.

He felt his body react without really thinking about it. The harder she kissed him, the more his tongue responded, the tighter he gripped her, which in turn caused her to mewl and kiss with more fervor. After a particularly satisfying moan passed her lips, she all but pushed him onto his back and pressed herself down on top of him.

Gohan's heart thundered in his chest. Every new sensation felt like absolute bliss. The way she kissed him left him reeling, he couldn't get enough of the confidence she moved with. Every touch of her fingers against his skin was like being stricken by an electric current, the most deliciously overwhelming feeling he'd experienced in his life. She was so impossibly attractive. He'd felt it for a while now, but he was acutely aware of the ways in which his own body was signaling that attraction. It was likely she'd noticed too.

Caught up in the moment, he didn't even realize his other hand started running up her other leg. Bringing it under her dress as well, he squeezed her with both hands and Videl gasped in delight, her eyes widening as a little smile played across her pink lips. Gohan realized what he'd done and let go immediately, drawing his hands back.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! I…I guess I got carried away there…" Videl leaned in close and kissed him on the cheek.

"You don't have to be sorry Gohan, I'm not upset. I was just surprised, that's all. I didn't really expect you to be so confident the first time we did this," she explained as she tried to catch her breath. She was breathing hard. But then, so was he.

"I was just kinda feeding off your confidence, honestly. You know an awful lot more than I do," he conceded, smiling sheepishly. Videl blushed but managed a giggle too.

"I've done my research. I've been thinking about doing something like this with you for…a while…" Her face burned fiercely and she moved off of Gohan, lying down on her back next to him.

"I may not know much, but I know that was amazing," he told her delicately, hoping he wouldn't embarrass them both even more. At this point, it seemed their shame was so far behind they couldn't even manage an extra blush over that comment.

Gohan leaned on his elbow and turned towards Videl, smiling at her. She reached out and took his hand before closing her eyes and trying to relax her body some. His eyes were drawn to some movement happening below him. She was still breathing hard from the excitement before, her chest heaving. Perhaps it was the hormones he knew were raging just then or maybe his mind hadn't had enough of her yet, but he quickly became aware of the fact that he was nearly entranced by her chest as it rose and fell. Extremely entranced, in fact.

He had mostly focused on her character and her personality since they'd met and especially since they'd started dating. He had always found her beautiful and cute, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought it was impolite to gaze upon a woman's body with thoughts of lust or desire. Mom had never taught him that directly, but it just seemed like the right thing to do. But perhaps things were different when you were dating someone. If both partners in a romantic relationship were fully aware that they were attracted to one another, then was it wrong to appreciate the other's body?

Lately, Gohan had wondered about that. Was he noticing the more feminine features of Videl's figure because his hormones were running wild? Or was it because they had discussed eventually wanting to have their first time together, effectively letting the other know that it was okay to think of them that way? Whatever the reason, Gohan had caught himself numerous times admiring the shape of her muscular thighs beneath her cycling shorts when they worked on their poses without the Saiyaman costumes. The way those shorts clung firmly to and stretched across the curves of her bottom he'd just become intimately acquainted with whenever she bent down to grab something out of the kitchen cabinets. The fullness of her chest whenever she hugged him tight, pressing herself right up against him.

"Gohan?" came Videl's soft voice. He came back to reality in a flash, mortified to realize he'd been absentmindedly staring at her chest as he'd pondered. His cheeks flushed hotter than they had all night and he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Um…sorry 'Del…I was just kinda lost in thought there, I didn't mean to…" he trailed off, not sure how to save face in this situation. To his surprise, his girlfriend simply giggled and waved a hand lightly.

"It's okay, I'm not mad. It's flattering when you do it," she explained. The anxiousness that was overwhelming him finally started to dissipate at her words. She was so sweet and kind to him. He felt very lucky that she was so understanding.

"Still, I, uh…sorry about that," he whispered, giving her a timid smile. A long silence fell between them before Videl spoke. Her voice was so quiet, the word 'whisper' could barely describe the softness of the volume.

"Do…do you want to feel?"

Gohan felt his mind fly away in a whirlwind of surprise. Was she trying to overwhelm him with euphoria? With thoughts and feelings and sensations he'd never even imagined before? If she was, she was doing a pretty good job. He wasn't sure how to answer, instead allowing his mouth to open and close like a goldfish several times before, blessedly, Videl spared him the awkwardness and spoke again.

"It's okay, I know this is pretty new to both of us." She reached out and took Gohan's hand, resting hers on top and drawing him closer. "Tell you what," she began in a sultry tone, gazing at him with half-lidded eyes. "If you don't want to or it's too soon, take your hand back. Otherwise…let me help…"

Gohan felt her hand lead his insistently towards her chest. Should he pull his hand away? If he was being honest, he didn't want to for his own sake. He was worried she wouldn't like it if he went through with it. But she was the one suggesting it and now placing his hand for him. There was no way she was opposed to it if she was taking such an active role, right?

He felt his hand come into contact with something soft. His eyes widening, he gazed downwards and saw Videl giving him a gentle smile as she pressed his palm into her breast. He still couldn't find the right words to respond with, but she didn't seem to mind.

"You wanna hear a secret?" she whispered. Gohan's throat had become so dry he couldn't even croak out a single word, opting instead to nod and meet her eyes.

"I've imagined you doing this a few times now. I know you've had the most innocent and pure upbringing anyone can imagine…but I just couldn't help myself," she admitted. Gohan swallowed hard and finally managed to find some semblance of his voice.

"T-that's okay, I…I don't think that's a bad thing." Videl began to move his hand, still underneath hers, in small circles. He could feel the fabric of the dress and her bra underneath shift with the motion, a content sigh passing her lips.

"Is this a bad thing?" she asked softly, gazing into his eyes as she moved his hand with a bit more force.

"N-no…it's not at all," he managed at last. Her eyes shimmered as she let go of his hand, letting him continue on his own.

He tried to follow the way Videl had coached him, but it didn't seem to do much for her. Eventually, she suggested he try gripping a bit more firmly, promising to tell him if anything hurt. The first time he curled his fingers in just a bit, Videl gasped and twisted beneath his touch, biting her lip.

"You okay?" he whispered, this time not interrupting his motions. She nodded quickly, her breathing a bit shallower.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she promised. "Just…wow. Use your other hand too," she told him, nearly breathless now. Gohan couldn't help but smile, albeit awkwardly. It seemed like what he was doing was working better now.

He placed his remaining hand over her other breast and began to squeeze in the same gentle way. Videl whimpered and writhed a bit under his touch, closing her eyes and drawing her lip between her teeth. He was starting to worry if maybe she was in pain when she suddenly moaned and seized his hair in her hands, pulling that same satisfying amount she had earlier.

"Oh, just like that Gohan," she managed to pant, her face reddening. This time it wasn't from embarrassment it seemed. He moved his hands with just a bit more confidence, starting to trust that what he was doing was something she actually enjoyed.

She pulled him down towards her and into a kiss. His weight was on her now but she didn't seem to care. It wasn't quite as desperate a kiss as it had been earlier in the night, but her desire was obvious. She squealed into his mouth and trembled beneath his touch as a particularly pleasurable sensation washed over her body. Her hands fell from his hair to his back and held onto him tight. He felt her nails dig into his skin through his shirt just slightly. Her touch was electrifying.

She pulled back and gasped for air, her chest heaving beneath his fingers, before moaning loudly. "Mm! Gohan, this feels – ah! So amazing…" He felt himself becoming quite aroused just from the sounds she was making, not to mention everything else about the situation.

Videl brought her leg up slightly and he felt her thigh press between his legs. The sensation could truly only be likened to being struck by an actual bolt of lightning. The shivers that shot through his limbs were unlike anything he'd ever felt before. Satisfying and not, all at the same time. That tiny little motion she'd made had felt amazing. His body was telling him it wasn't enough yet. He wanted more.

But they had been honest with each other that they weren't ready to go that far just yet. Even in the heat of the moment, Gohan felt the same way as he had a week ago. He wasn't as hesitant anymore to admit he wanted Videl like that. He wanted her a lot. And clearly she wanted him too. But not before they were ready. Gently, Gohan slowed his hands and rolled over to his side, meeting Videl's gaze. Her eyes were glazed over with a fog of desire and need, but she seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking.

"Yeah…maybe that's a good place to stop for tonight," she admitted, breathing heavily. Gohan nodded, giving her a small smile.

"It's not that I wasn't enjoying it…just…I could feel myself getting a bit too into it and I didn't want to accidentally pressure you for more when we're not ready yet." She adjusted her dress and smiled up at him, her eyes glowing with admiration.

"That's so sweet of you. And pretty rare for guys to do, you know, especially when they're our age. Hormones are a tough thing to resist." Gohan laughed lightly.

"I guess all the meditation helped then; I have pretty good mental discipline."

"You sure do. You have pretty good technique too," she teased, winking at him despite her blush. Hearing her joke with him again though made a lot of the awkward tension he'd been feeling disappear. He felt a grin tug at his lips.

"Only because you taught me," he countered, earning a lovely smile from her. She met his eyes and smiled softly.

"Gohan…thanks for being so open with me about this stuff. And for being honest about things. I know I can always trust you, no matter what." He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, tracing the shape of her face with his fingers.

"Always Videl. And I trust you with anything and everything too. Thank you for being so patient and kind with me. And for such a perfect birthday. I'll never forget it." Videl was beaming.

"It's the very least you deserve, Love. Next birthday will be even more amazing if I have anything to say about it," she promised.

Gohan leaned in and they kissed again, very soft and sweet this time. The lust had settled and the familiar, loving embrace they usually shared was back in full force. After they pulled back, Videl gave him a shy smile before speaking softly.

"And you know…next time we do this…maybe we can go just a bit further if we're ready…" Her cheeks burned but she refused to look away. Gohan felt a similar sensation capture his own face.

"I…I think I'd like that…" he managed softly.

Videl pulled him down next to her once more and they cuddled close. Gohan was still trying to reassemble his mind after the incredible and entirely unexpected evening they'd shared. It had been awkward, timid, and hesitant, but it had been indescribably fantastic too. When he had met Videl back in April, he had never once imagined he'd been here in her room, lying in her bed with her, holding her against him. Much less doing the rest of the things they'd done tonight. Yet here he was, the luckiest guy in the world, living that exact dream.

He glanced out the window and noted the moon had moved pretty far from where it was when they'd started. It was getting late enough that Mom would probably start worrying soon. They had school tomorrow, too. He should get home. But not yet. No, for a few more minutes, Gohan was perfectly content to stay right here with Videl wrapped up in his arms and enjoy the best birthday he'd ever had for just a little longer.

---

10/14/2022