Welcome back, you guys! I know...it's been a while. But, at least it wasn't quite as long as last time.

I actually wrote the first part of this like 2 weeks ago...I just haven't had time to sit down with the song, not to mention the fact that I was indecisive about which song to use.

THE NOTES

1. The song is called "Lullaby" by Starsailor. Apparently a British artist/group. As you can tell, I don't know much about them. I actually came across the song by accident. Must have been fate, but it works pretty well for what I want to do with this.

2. Once again, I've changed some words...

One more...a HUGE thanks to Blueydmnstr for beta-ing! You guys, if ya need an English professor, she's the one to go to! Major help! Thanks, girl!


"Videl, you can't blame yourself for this," Gohan said gently, watching his tortured wife.

"How can you say that, Gohan? It's all my fault," she croaked, the fatigue apparent even in her voice.

"No, it isn't."

"Yes it is!" She jumped up from her place on their bed. "She should have been able to survive. Seven months. They said if I carried her for seven months, it would be okay. But it wasn't okay, and it's all because of me." She wrapped her arms around her slender figure. "I should have been more careful."

"Videl, you did everything that you could. You were so careful."

"No. I was too weak. If I had been stronger, then she would be okay. She would have been able to fight for herself."

"She was a fighter, Videl." He took a deep breath, and ran a hand through his hair. "But even the strongest fighters sometimes lose a battle."

"It's not fair, Gohan. Why our baby?"

"Would you have preferred it to be someone else's child?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. Maybe. Is that what it would have taken for me to keep her here? Did Dende tell you that?"

"Videl, I'm sorry. I know that it hurts."

"'Hurts?' You think it 'hurts,' Gohan? It's excruciating! I see myself in that damned mirror...and it's repulsive. I'm repulsive! Has your own reflection ever brought bile to your mouth? Ever made every part of your body constrict with pain and sorrow and self-loathing?"

He closed his eyes, dragging in a breath of despair. Once again, he brought his gaze to her own. Still, he was unable to find any words. There were none.

"I didn't think so." She moved to the window and looked out at the horizon, though she could see nothing.

He put his arm around her shoulders, and she moved away from the contact, almost in a frantic gesture. "Videl, there was nothing you could do." It was a soft whisper, a desperate plea.

She considered his words for a second. "I shouldn't have let them take her. I should have carried her to full term."

"You know it was unsafe. I would have lost you both."

"Maybe not. That baby had Saiyan blood in her. She would have made it."

"You know that the doctor said it was unlikely. That's why they had to take her."

"And still, she died. And it's all my fault."


Get back on your feet again
So insincere

Videl had known from the beginning that coming to her father was a mistake. He had never been the most sensitive man. Why should he be sensitive to her? She was deserving of nothing.

Quiet little angel
I held you so dear

It had been three months since the divorce. Gohan was getting on with his life. Why shouldn't she get on with her own?

Get back on your feet again
I'm so into you

He was gone. She had cast him from her life like a dirty rag.

We met in a cinema
You fell from my view

Her life...she had never thought that it would be like this. Things were supposed to be different. Opening up to Gohan had been a mistake...

Living was a mistake.

Lullaby
Stop twisting my words tonight
If you get high on life
Don't leave me behind

Now, she only had one person left...

Get back on your feet again
Nothing to say

...her father.

Some of your weaker friends
Get in my way

She was merely a burden to him...if that much. Sure, her father cared for her...

Get back on your feet again
You always seem down

...but he could never understand.

Some of your weaker friends
Don't want you around

No one could.

Lullaby
Stop twisting my words tonight
If you get high on life

She collected her things once again. She had to get away.

Don't leave me behind

She boarded the bus, and watched solemnly, as her home vanished from her line of vision.

Lullaby
You live in my ruined mind

She touched the window, as the hills zipped by in a blur.

Make light of all my fears
And lead me from Hell...

"Good-bye," she murmured hoarsely.


I debated about personalizing reviews, and decided to go for it...

Blueydmnstr - Okay, so you might be what you call a dubbie...MY definition of dubbie is someone who refuses to hear the real story of an anime. Furthermore, those people are just plain narrow-minded, which I know you aren't. I'm glad you like it, and you know I'll write more, because I like it too.

Moonsrevenge - (cause that's what it still says) Well, at least I have Veggie on my side...makes all the difference. Thanks, girl!

Burned Vamp - I really don't know what to say, because there really is nothing that I can say, but I do thank you for reviewing. Your comments meant a lot.

alannapurple - Before.

Reviewer 100 - Nice to see ya! I know how you felt...no words...Thanks for reviewing tho.

;) - yes.

dbz98-isbell - thanks! and thank you for reviewing!

Pikazoom - Hey, glad you're still keeping up with the story! And I still haven't decided what to do with this. Yes, originally, it was a branch, but now...I dunno. I've got 4 doors open to me, and I'm not sure what I want to do...but I have an idea. Thanks for dropping by!




Once again, a big thanks to all who reviewed, and an enormous thanks to Blu!

See you guys in the next update!