A Moment Alone
by Trey Tackett
thanks to Christian Rogers for his help and input.
characters are property of Akira Toriyama and all respective holders.

Setting:During the 3 years before the Android Saga
---------------

"Wait up, Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan shouted, as he ran outside his house. He smiled as the
Namekian warrior stopped and looked back at him. "Dad should be out any minute."
Piccolo smirked, "Good, then we can continue with training."

ChiChi looked out at Gohan and Piccolo, shaking her head. She still couldn't get over
the fact that Piccolo, the same Piccolo everyone had feared for years, was now residing
with her family. She sighed, thinking to herself.
Goku smiled to himself as he made his way past ChiChi and towards the door. "We'll be
back for dinner, OK, ChiChi?" He paused, noticing her depressed look. "ChiChi?"
"Goku..... we need to talk," ChiChi asked, looking up at him.
Goku blinked, then nodded. He shouted out the door, "Hey guys, go on without me, OK?"
"Huh? You sure?" Gohan yelled back.
"Yeah, your mother and I need to discuss some things," Goku replied. He watched as
Gohan and Piccolo flew off and into the distance. He then pulled up a chair and sat down next
to his wife. "What's on your mind?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about us, and the things that've happened
over the past few years," ChiChi began. "And quite frankly there's been a lot to think about."
Goku frowned a little, "Like me being an alien?"
"Well, that, but more on everything else. The fact that you're not even from this
planet just makes some things about you make more sense. Whether you're alien or not, you're
still the man I fell in love with and married, Goku. Its just.... I mean, the whole thing
with you getting killed, coming back, and then going to that planet..." ChiChi said. She
looked up at him, I didn't even get to tell you good-bye before Raditz killed you, Goku. Thats
stuck with me for a long time."
"But everything worked out in the end. I got wished back with the Dragon Balls and here
we are," Goku replied.
"Maybe, but what if you couldn't have been wished back?" ChiChi asked.
Goku blinked, he hadn't ever thought about that.
"Then there was Vegeta, Namek, and Gohan coming back telling me how you turned gold
and tried to sacrifice yourself to save the universe. What did I do when you left? I yelled
at you," ChiChi said.
"Thats just the way you handle things, ChiChi. It doesn't make me love you any less,
in fact its one of the things I like about you. You always say whats on your mind," Goku
replied, smiling.
"I don't understand why it always has to be you who fights, though. Why not just let
Piccolo or that Vegeta guy handle it?" ChiChi asked.
Goku remained silent for a few moments, thinking. "Because we have to give our all
when we can. If I don't do all that I can do, how can I sit back and expect others to do their
all?"
"And if I asked you to stop?" ChiChi asked.
"I wouldn't be able to. I have to be sure that this world has a future, not only
for the beings that live here, but for you and Gohan. I have to be sure that it'll be safe
so one day he can grow up and have a family of his own, and that you and I can be happy
together," he replied.
They both remained silent, letting the words soak in. ChiChi slowly smiled.
"I can accept that," she said, leaning over to put her arms around him.
Goku embraced his wife, smiling, "Is there anything else thats on your mind?"
"Actually... yes. I want to see this 'Gold' you that Gohan talked about," ChiChi
replied.
Goku laughed, "Ok, but we'll have to get a bit away from the house so I don't end up
leveling it." He stood up, picking ChiChi up into his arms, and carrying her outside.

The End.