Chapter 10
"FOOD, LOVE, & CONFUSION"
Bulma rolled over in bed and slowly opened her eyes the nest morning. Her eyes came into focus as the last bits of her pleasant dream faded away. When her brain was functioning right she sat up and looked for Goku but he wasn't there. She lied back down a little disappointed; he had probably waited until she had fallen asleep before leaving. Yet, she did recall laying her head on his chest, his breathing soothing to her ears and she did remember waking up close to dawn still sleeping in his arms--but where was he now?
Then she heard a loud crash from downstairs and Goku yelling profanities. That could only mean one thing...Bulma jumped out of bed and didn't bother changed out of her pajamas as she ran out her door and down the steps. Just as she had suspected, when she got down stairs thick black smoke was pouring from the kitchen.
Bulma walked in saw Gohan and Goten sitting at the kitchen table, Gohan seemed nervous and Goten seemed embarrassed. Bulma looked at Goku who was putting out a fire on the stove with an oven mitt.
"DIE!" He slapped the fire and it went out.
Bulma giggled behind her hand and approached him, "Goku?"
"Bulma!" Goku turned around startled.
"What are you doing?" she asked as if she didn't know.
"Trying to kill us all," Goten stated.
"Hush Goten," Gohan hissed, even though his eyes agreed with his younger brother.
"I made breakfast!" Goku held out a pan with what looked like, or at least WAS, pancakes.
"You made charcoal you mean," Goten wisecracked.
"Shut up Goten before he makes you EAT that stuff!" Gohan berated.
Goku glared at them and slammed the pan on the table, "just because you to have big mouths, you're gonna eat this stuff and you're gonna LIKE IT!"
"I will never eat your vile poison!" Goten stuck out his tongue making a cross with his fingers.
"I'll eat it Dad...if I have no other choice," Gohan stated, "as for LIKING it, that's a whole different story completely."
"Awww c'mon," Goku scooped a piece up with his hand, "it only looks bad on the outside!"
To prove his point Goku stuff the crusty pancake in his mouth. Almost immediately after chewing it his face turned blue, as his eyes got squinty.
"So tell us Dad," Gohan smirked, "how much do YOU like it?"
"Shut up and go to the car," Goku swallowed bitterly.
"Why?" Goten asked.
"We're going out to eat."
"But Goku I could--" Bulma started, but was hushed when Goku took her hand and kissed it smiling at her and looking directly into her eyes with a certain gaze she couldn't decipher.
He winked and smirked as he lead Goten out of the kitchen, Gohan close behind, "my treat."
Bulma blinked then smiled following them out, "You'll have to give me time to change though."
"You look cute in your PJs," Goku looked back at her with a sly little smirk on his face.
"Goku I'm not going to go out in public in my sleepwear!" Bulma put her hand on her hips as Gohan and Goten walked out the house.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku took her around the waist and pulled her to him live, "live a little."
Bulma blushed as she looked into Goku's black eyes, seeing the same expression from before. She knew what it was, he wanted her, "what has looking like a fool have to do with living?"
Goku shrugged and took her hand taking her out the house, "Let's find out!"
"Goku!" Bulma exclaimed firmly but giggled as she ran out barefoot on the pavement, "I don't even have shoes!"
"Then," he swept Bulma off her feet and held her in his arms, "I'll carry you."
Bulma put her arms around Goku's neck to hold her up, "restaurants have no socks, no shoes, no service rules ya know."
"Hmm...that's right," Goku turned to the door of the house.
"What is Dad doing?" Goten spat wincing at his dad.
"He likes her," Gohan smirked.
"WHAT?" Goten shot a wide-eyed look towards Gohan, "la-LIKES her?"
Gohan laughed as if he knew something Goten didn't and patted Goten on the head, "You'll understand when you're older."
OLDER? Goten panicked inside his head, but when I'm older...it'll be too late!
When Bulma and Goku disappeared inside the house that's when he really began to really flip out, "Gohan...Gohan, where are they going?"
"Dad's probably just going to let Bulma change," Gohan stared out the window patiently.
"Why does he have to come with her?" Goten questioned nervously. Gohan shrugged un-interestered and Goten sat back uneasily, he could feel something vile turn in his stomach.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku stood outside Bulma's closed door with his arms folded behind his head, "I'm hungry."
"Will you hush," Bulma came out in long overalls snapping the last strap, "Ha! This time I did it all by myself!"
Goku chuckled and then grinned, "Can we go now?"
"But of course!" Bulma giggled and slid down the stair rail.
Goten shot Bulma and Goku secret suspicious glares as they drove down the street in the city.
"So where are we going," Gohan asked playing with Vegeta's GB Advance he found in the seat cushions.
"Dunno," Goku replied shrugging, "I guess we'll drive around until we find a Denny's or something."
"Orrrr we could just go to our old hang out," Bulma looked at Goku, "they still have all you can eat."
"Are you sure about that?" Goku laughed a little, "Now it'll be 3 sayians eating them out of business instead of just one."
"It's gotten a lot bigger since then."
"Well...okay," Goku nodded and quickly turned a corner.
"What are you guys talking about?" Goten cocked an eyebrow, "What hangout?"
"You'll see," Bulma and Goku said in unison.
They parked in front of the old restaurant and got out.
"Wow," Goku looked around, "you weren't kidding."
The small little restaurant that had once been Goku, Bulma, Pwar and later Chi-chi's eating spot had grown so large it took up the entire block and even gained another floor.
"Guess businesses been good," Goku admired the building.
"Yep," Bulma went in.
"Hello," A waitress smiled, "how many will we be serving today?"
"Three adults and one child," Bulma smiled.
"Sure," The waitress beamed then saw Goku, "ohh..."
"Is there a problem?" Goku blinked.
"You have to pay 5 dollars extra."
"Whaa?" Goku blinked again.
"You're son Goku aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"5 dollars extra," The waitress demanded.
"Heh," Goku took out his wallet, "guess they remembered me."
"Guess so," Bulma giggled as Goku paid the waitress. The waitress brought them to a table on the first floor, gave them their menus and left, "It's still a rip off for them in the long run."
"That is why I'm leaving a tip," Goku smiled.
"So uhm..." Goten pushed away the crayons and kiddy menu the waitress gave him, "what do we do now?"
"Well let's see," Goku looked at his menu, "Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch on the first floor--heh. Dinner, Salad Bar, and Desert on the second floor...well help yourself guys!"
"We just take the food we want?" Goten exclaimed.
"Well yeah," Goku answered as if it were obvious.
"Honestly bonehead, don't you get out?" Gohan clunked Goten in the head with his elbow.
"Owe," Goten rubbed his head glaring at Gohan, "No you moronic loser, I thought that was a given?"
"Well, let's go," Gohan got up and went to the buffet, Goten followed reluctantly.
"Aren't you eating?" Goku got up then looked at Bulma who was looking around at her surroundings.
"Yeah," Bulma got up in pushed in her chair.
"Wooow," Goten rubbed his full belly, there were so many plates they had to pile them on the floor, "I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my entire life!"
"I'll say," Gohan patted his own stomach, "man that was good."
"Ah ha!" Bulma exclaimed, "This was the original restaurant!"
"Huh?" The Son family looked at her.
"The was our booth right there Goku," Bulma pointed to one by the window.
"Oh yeah!" Goku lit up and point to another booth, "That's where we sat when I brought you here for your 16th birthday."
Bulma nodded and pointed to the booth they were in, "and here--" she stopped and wiped her hands over the surface of the table.
"Here was where you first met Chi-chi," Goku said softly.
"I wanna here," Goten squealed, "how'd you meet Mom, Dad?"
Bulma looked up curiously, she never heard the story of Goku and Chi-chi's meeting either.
"It's really funny actually," Goku thought back, "she was fighting with this guy in the park, they seemed to be dating or something, and then he pulled a knife on her."
"Oh my," Bulma covered her mouth.
"Then what Daddy?" Goten sat up interested.
"Well I had to stop him of course," Goku said, "well let's just say that guy'll never bother Chi-chi again."
"Hmm," Gohan sucked down a milkshake, "did mom ever say why she was being harassed?"
"No, she didn't want to talk about it after that."
"Hmm," Bulma propped her head on her hand, "well, are we done here?"
"Yep," Goten stood up and stretched, "ah, cramp."
Everyone laughed and they went on their way.
"So where are we goin' now?" Bulma smiled as they walked down the street disregarding the parked air car.
Goku shrugged and looked at the boys, "Where do you guys wanna go?"
"AH!" Goten exclaimed, "Trunks was gonna bring Bra over today! What if they come over and we're not there and then Bra thinks I don't like her!"
"Chill Goten!" Gohan exclaimed shocked at Goten's interest in girls at such a young age.
"Doomed! Doomed! DOOMED!" Goten dropped to his knees pulling his hair as everyone blinked staring at him wide-eyed.
"Chill out lil' guy," A familiar voice spoke and Goten looked up turning beat red. There Trunks stood with a one-sided grin, next to him was his little sister Bra looking down smiling with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Bra," Goten laughed nervously standing up.
"Hi Goten," Bra looked at Goten, and then stared back at the floor.
"Hee hee," Trunks laughed and then whispered to Gohan, "reminds me of you and Videl."
Gohan turned red and yelled at Trunks, "Shut up Trunks!"
Bulma laughed and took Goku's hand looking up at him, "So what now?"
"We let the kids lead the way," Goku replied looking down at her.
The group continued walking down the block and Bulma couldn't help, but notice Goku continuously staring at her from the corner of his eye.
"What is it Goku?" she asked him.
"It's nothing," Goku answered, "I'm just excited I guess."
"About what?"
"Us," he gave that dashing smile Bulma always fell for.
"What about us?" Bulma continued, stopping to gaze at his smile.
Goku kissed her hand, "I love you, ya know that Bulma?"
Bulma smiled warmly, "yes I know."
Goten stopped and looked back at Goku and Bulma. As he watched he noticed something in his father's expression he had never once seen before.
What's that look in his eye? Goten wondered, He never looked at mom like that before...he seems...happy...
"C'mon Goten," Gohan called, "keep up."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Goten ran after the others.
Dear Journal;
Maybe I don't know much about love--alright, I know I don't know ANYTHING about love--but today as I watched Dad and Bulma together something overcame me. Even if they don't truly love each other, they're still happy with one another. I guess...maybe sometimes...my parents were happy...when I was little...but as I think about it I can't really remember a time. They had to have loved each other though! Or else...Gohan and I wouldn't exist, right? Then again, maybe it's MY fault, I mean I don't have any younger siblings...maybe after I was born Mom and Dad stopped caring about each other...
No, I can't think like that. I'm just so confused right now. I want my Dad to be happy, but at the same time I want my family to stay together, and it seems I can't have them both, so what CAN I have? Do I except the fact that my mother and father can no longer be together or do I stick to my plan and eliminate Bulma? Do I really want to do that? WHY am I even questioning my actions?
If I take Bulma out of the picture then my family will be together again and Dad will be miserable--BUT--if I don't do anything Bulma might become my new mom and Mom will be all alone without a family. I'm so confused. What to do? What to do? What to do? I'm only a little kid! I shouldn't have to be worrying about these things!
Looks like my plan is going to have to take a little break until I figure out what I REALLY want.
Write you later,
Goten
"Goten," Bulma knocked on Goten's door as he shoved his journal under his pillow.
"Come in!" He laid back on his bed.
"Would you like me to read to you again?"
"Nah," Goten grinned, "I'm alright."
"Okay," she tucked him in and kissed his forehead, "good night."
"G'night Bulma," Goten said as she left.
**NOTE** -_- uhm...uh...Oo me thinks it's time I ended this! R&R
"FOOD, LOVE, & CONFUSION"
Bulma rolled over in bed and slowly opened her eyes the nest morning. Her eyes came into focus as the last bits of her pleasant dream faded away. When her brain was functioning right she sat up and looked for Goku but he wasn't there. She lied back down a little disappointed; he had probably waited until she had fallen asleep before leaving. Yet, she did recall laying her head on his chest, his breathing soothing to her ears and she did remember waking up close to dawn still sleeping in his arms--but where was he now?
Then she heard a loud crash from downstairs and Goku yelling profanities. That could only mean one thing...Bulma jumped out of bed and didn't bother changed out of her pajamas as she ran out her door and down the steps. Just as she had suspected, when she got down stairs thick black smoke was pouring from the kitchen.
Bulma walked in saw Gohan and Goten sitting at the kitchen table, Gohan seemed nervous and Goten seemed embarrassed. Bulma looked at Goku who was putting out a fire on the stove with an oven mitt.
"DIE!" He slapped the fire and it went out.
Bulma giggled behind her hand and approached him, "Goku?"
"Bulma!" Goku turned around startled.
"What are you doing?" she asked as if she didn't know.
"Trying to kill us all," Goten stated.
"Hush Goten," Gohan hissed, even though his eyes agreed with his younger brother.
"I made breakfast!" Goku held out a pan with what looked like, or at least WAS, pancakes.
"You made charcoal you mean," Goten wisecracked.
"Shut up Goten before he makes you EAT that stuff!" Gohan berated.
Goku glared at them and slammed the pan on the table, "just because you to have big mouths, you're gonna eat this stuff and you're gonna LIKE IT!"
"I will never eat your vile poison!" Goten stuck out his tongue making a cross with his fingers.
"I'll eat it Dad...if I have no other choice," Gohan stated, "as for LIKING it, that's a whole different story completely."
"Awww c'mon," Goku scooped a piece up with his hand, "it only looks bad on the outside!"
To prove his point Goku stuff the crusty pancake in his mouth. Almost immediately after chewing it his face turned blue, as his eyes got squinty.
"So tell us Dad," Gohan smirked, "how much do YOU like it?"
"Shut up and go to the car," Goku swallowed bitterly.
"Why?" Goten asked.
"We're going out to eat."
"But Goku I could--" Bulma started, but was hushed when Goku took her hand and kissed it smiling at her and looking directly into her eyes with a certain gaze she couldn't decipher.
He winked and smirked as he lead Goten out of the kitchen, Gohan close behind, "my treat."
Bulma blinked then smiled following them out, "You'll have to give me time to change though."
"You look cute in your PJs," Goku looked back at her with a sly little smirk on his face.
"Goku I'm not going to go out in public in my sleepwear!" Bulma put her hand on her hips as Gohan and Goten walked out the house.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku took her around the waist and pulled her to him live, "live a little."
Bulma blushed as she looked into Goku's black eyes, seeing the same expression from before. She knew what it was, he wanted her, "what has looking like a fool have to do with living?"
Goku shrugged and took her hand taking her out the house, "Let's find out!"
"Goku!" Bulma exclaimed firmly but giggled as she ran out barefoot on the pavement, "I don't even have shoes!"
"Then," he swept Bulma off her feet and held her in his arms, "I'll carry you."
Bulma put her arms around Goku's neck to hold her up, "restaurants have no socks, no shoes, no service rules ya know."
"Hmm...that's right," Goku turned to the door of the house.
"What is Dad doing?" Goten spat wincing at his dad.
"He likes her," Gohan smirked.
"WHAT?" Goten shot a wide-eyed look towards Gohan, "la-LIKES her?"
Gohan laughed as if he knew something Goten didn't and patted Goten on the head, "You'll understand when you're older."
OLDER? Goten panicked inside his head, but when I'm older...it'll be too late!
When Bulma and Goku disappeared inside the house that's when he really began to really flip out, "Gohan...Gohan, where are they going?"
"Dad's probably just going to let Bulma change," Gohan stared out the window patiently.
"Why does he have to come with her?" Goten questioned nervously. Gohan shrugged un-interestered and Goten sat back uneasily, he could feel something vile turn in his stomach.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku stood outside Bulma's closed door with his arms folded behind his head, "I'm hungry."
"Will you hush," Bulma came out in long overalls snapping the last strap, "Ha! This time I did it all by myself!"
Goku chuckled and then grinned, "Can we go now?"
"But of course!" Bulma giggled and slid down the stair rail.
Goten shot Bulma and Goku secret suspicious glares as they drove down the street in the city.
"So where are we going," Gohan asked playing with Vegeta's GB Advance he found in the seat cushions.
"Dunno," Goku replied shrugging, "I guess we'll drive around until we find a Denny's or something."
"Orrrr we could just go to our old hang out," Bulma looked at Goku, "they still have all you can eat."
"Are you sure about that?" Goku laughed a little, "Now it'll be 3 sayians eating them out of business instead of just one."
"It's gotten a lot bigger since then."
"Well...okay," Goku nodded and quickly turned a corner.
"What are you guys talking about?" Goten cocked an eyebrow, "What hangout?"
"You'll see," Bulma and Goku said in unison.
They parked in front of the old restaurant and got out.
"Wow," Goku looked around, "you weren't kidding."
The small little restaurant that had once been Goku, Bulma, Pwar and later Chi-chi's eating spot had grown so large it took up the entire block and even gained another floor.
"Guess businesses been good," Goku admired the building.
"Yep," Bulma went in.
"Hello," A waitress smiled, "how many will we be serving today?"
"Three adults and one child," Bulma smiled.
"Sure," The waitress beamed then saw Goku, "ohh..."
"Is there a problem?" Goku blinked.
"You have to pay 5 dollars extra."
"Whaa?" Goku blinked again.
"You're son Goku aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"5 dollars extra," The waitress demanded.
"Heh," Goku took out his wallet, "guess they remembered me."
"Guess so," Bulma giggled as Goku paid the waitress. The waitress brought them to a table on the first floor, gave them their menus and left, "It's still a rip off for them in the long run."
"That is why I'm leaving a tip," Goku smiled.
"So uhm..." Goten pushed away the crayons and kiddy menu the waitress gave him, "what do we do now?"
"Well let's see," Goku looked at his menu, "Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch on the first floor--heh. Dinner, Salad Bar, and Desert on the second floor...well help yourself guys!"
"We just take the food we want?" Goten exclaimed.
"Well yeah," Goku answered as if it were obvious.
"Honestly bonehead, don't you get out?" Gohan clunked Goten in the head with his elbow.
"Owe," Goten rubbed his head glaring at Gohan, "No you moronic loser, I thought that was a given?"
"Well, let's go," Gohan got up and went to the buffet, Goten followed reluctantly.
"Aren't you eating?" Goku got up then looked at Bulma who was looking around at her surroundings.
"Yeah," Bulma got up in pushed in her chair.
"Wooow," Goten rubbed his full belly, there were so many plates they had to pile them on the floor, "I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my entire life!"
"I'll say," Gohan patted his own stomach, "man that was good."
"Ah ha!" Bulma exclaimed, "This was the original restaurant!"
"Huh?" The Son family looked at her.
"The was our booth right there Goku," Bulma pointed to one by the window.
"Oh yeah!" Goku lit up and point to another booth, "That's where we sat when I brought you here for your 16th birthday."
Bulma nodded and pointed to the booth they were in, "and here--" she stopped and wiped her hands over the surface of the table.
"Here was where you first met Chi-chi," Goku said softly.
"I wanna here," Goten squealed, "how'd you meet Mom, Dad?"
Bulma looked up curiously, she never heard the story of Goku and Chi-chi's meeting either.
"It's really funny actually," Goku thought back, "she was fighting with this guy in the park, they seemed to be dating or something, and then he pulled a knife on her."
"Oh my," Bulma covered her mouth.
"Then what Daddy?" Goten sat up interested.
"Well I had to stop him of course," Goku said, "well let's just say that guy'll never bother Chi-chi again."
"Hmm," Gohan sucked down a milkshake, "did mom ever say why she was being harassed?"
"No, she didn't want to talk about it after that."
"Hmm," Bulma propped her head on her hand, "well, are we done here?"
"Yep," Goten stood up and stretched, "ah, cramp."
Everyone laughed and they went on their way.
"So where are we goin' now?" Bulma smiled as they walked down the street disregarding the parked air car.
Goku shrugged and looked at the boys, "Where do you guys wanna go?"
"AH!" Goten exclaimed, "Trunks was gonna bring Bra over today! What if they come over and we're not there and then Bra thinks I don't like her!"
"Chill Goten!" Gohan exclaimed shocked at Goten's interest in girls at such a young age.
"Doomed! Doomed! DOOMED!" Goten dropped to his knees pulling his hair as everyone blinked staring at him wide-eyed.
"Chill out lil' guy," A familiar voice spoke and Goten looked up turning beat red. There Trunks stood with a one-sided grin, next to him was his little sister Bra looking down smiling with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Bra," Goten laughed nervously standing up.
"Hi Goten," Bra looked at Goten, and then stared back at the floor.
"Hee hee," Trunks laughed and then whispered to Gohan, "reminds me of you and Videl."
Gohan turned red and yelled at Trunks, "Shut up Trunks!"
Bulma laughed and took Goku's hand looking up at him, "So what now?"
"We let the kids lead the way," Goku replied looking down at her.
The group continued walking down the block and Bulma couldn't help, but notice Goku continuously staring at her from the corner of his eye.
"What is it Goku?" she asked him.
"It's nothing," Goku answered, "I'm just excited I guess."
"About what?"
"Us," he gave that dashing smile Bulma always fell for.
"What about us?" Bulma continued, stopping to gaze at his smile.
Goku kissed her hand, "I love you, ya know that Bulma?"
Bulma smiled warmly, "yes I know."
Goten stopped and looked back at Goku and Bulma. As he watched he noticed something in his father's expression he had never once seen before.
What's that look in his eye? Goten wondered, He never looked at mom like that before...he seems...happy...
"C'mon Goten," Gohan called, "keep up."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Goten ran after the others.
Dear Journal;
Maybe I don't know much about love--alright, I know I don't know ANYTHING about love--but today as I watched Dad and Bulma together something overcame me. Even if they don't truly love each other, they're still happy with one another. I guess...maybe sometimes...my parents were happy...when I was little...but as I think about it I can't really remember a time. They had to have loved each other though! Or else...Gohan and I wouldn't exist, right? Then again, maybe it's MY fault, I mean I don't have any younger siblings...maybe after I was born Mom and Dad stopped caring about each other...
No, I can't think like that. I'm just so confused right now. I want my Dad to be happy, but at the same time I want my family to stay together, and it seems I can't have them both, so what CAN I have? Do I except the fact that my mother and father can no longer be together or do I stick to my plan and eliminate Bulma? Do I really want to do that? WHY am I even questioning my actions?
If I take Bulma out of the picture then my family will be together again and Dad will be miserable--BUT--if I don't do anything Bulma might become my new mom and Mom will be all alone without a family. I'm so confused. What to do? What to do? What to do? I'm only a little kid! I shouldn't have to be worrying about these things!
Looks like my plan is going to have to take a little break until I figure out what I REALLY want.
Write you later,
Goten
"Goten," Bulma knocked on Goten's door as he shoved his journal under his pillow.
"Come in!" He laid back on his bed.
"Would you like me to read to you again?"
"Nah," Goten grinned, "I'm alright."
"Okay," she tucked him in and kissed his forehead, "good night."
"G'night Bulma," Goten said as she left.
**NOTE** -_- uhm...uh...Oo me thinks it's time I ended this! R&R