AN: I don't own DBZ. I do own this storyline, though. IT'S ALL MINE!!!! Now if you'll go read the chapter, my pet Saibaman and I are going to go get icees. *Candyland turns around and cups her hands around her mouth* HERE, KIWI!!!!!! *a tired-looking Saibaman comes running into computer room* Ready to go, Kiwi? *Saibaman whistles and nods* Great. Go read, we'll be back soon!

AE Part 8—Father and Son Meeting

The next morning, visitors were signaled by pounding on the door. Everyone had been alerted concerning Goku's visit, and the entire gang was all there together. The last time everyone had been there had been before the Cell Games, and now it could be just like old times, even if it was only for a few hours.

Everyone—Krillen, Number Eighteen, their infant daughter Marron, Tien, Chaot-zu, Yamcha, Bulma, Vegeta, Trunks (who had been taken home the night before by his parents after Goku's arrival), and Piccolo—had come over early so as to not waste any more time than necessary with their long-dead friend, and they were all currently crowded around the kitchen while Goku ate breakfast. For the most part, it was a merry time indeed; everyone was enjoying themselves in the kitchen.

Down the hall, however, someone was becoming slightly annoyed by the noise. Namely, a very young half-Saiyan by the name of Son Goten.

The two-year-old pulled a pillow up over his head, trying to block out the loud sounds, but it was to no avail. Finally, the chibi gave up and crawled out of bed, yawning cutely. (AN: Sorry, but I just know it would be cute ^-^) After pulling on his usual orange and blue gi, he pushed open the door and trudged down the stairs, still rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes. His stomach had only one thing on its mind at that moment: breakfast. The most important meal of the day.

Goten walked around the corner and opened his mouth to ask his mother what the morning meal was going to be—he hoped it would be something delicious, like pancakes! But then he saw something that made him just stand there in shock. To his two-year-old mind, it was very confusing.

There was a man sitting at the table in the chair that nobody ever sat in, and he was eating—a lot! He was wearing a bright orange gi over a blue T-shirt, and had black hair that stuck out in half a dozen different directions. The man seemed very cheerful, but there was just one thing…

He looked like a taller, older version of Goten.

And Goten found that to be very frightening.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" the chibi screamed, suddenly fully awake. Every head in the room turned just in time to see the child disappearing back around the corner. Though they didn't know it, he was making a beeline for his older brother's room.

Meanwhile, at the table, a very confused Goku scratched his head. "What was that?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had been a long, sleepless night for one, Son Gohan. He had gone to bed shortly after his father's reappearance, and had lain awake, watching the stars fade into the first faint light of the dawn. He knew he needed to sleep, and truth be told, he was exhausted, but there was too much going on inside his head for him to just roll over and fall asleep.

He'd listened as everyone came to their little house, but had chosen not to acknowledge them or inform them that he was indeed awake. The longer he could stay upstairs, safely hidden away, the better. He'd only gotten out of bed once, to walk over and push his door closed. With that barrier to the sound, the noise was muffled enough that he could actually relax somewhat and actually do some thinking. For the last hour or so, he'd been ruing a promise he'd made to Piccolo in a mind-to-mind conversation just as the Namekian was leaving…

*Listen up, kid, I want you to promise me something,* Piccolo growled in his mind.

*Yeah?* Gohan replied noncommittally.

*Promise you won't try to run away again,* the mindvoice held just a hint of actual concern, the most Piccolo would probably ever show. *And don't do anything stupid. Can I trust you?*

Gohan hesistated briefly, knowing that when he responded it had to be the absolute truth. You couldn't lie mind-to-mind. Finally, he sighed in defeat. *Yeah, Piccolo, I promise.*

Since he couldn't lie in a mindlink, his word had been taken, and Piccolo had left him with that confidence. And now he was wishing that he hadn't had to make that promise. He wanted out.

Or rather, he didn't want his father to come back and get involved. It wasn't his dad's place to come back and tell him how to live after all this time. The anger continued to burn in Gohan's mind and heart, and he knew that if he was prodded at all, he'd lose it. And then what would he do?

A loud, high-pitched scream broke the relative quiet that he had been enjoying, and he sighed. Wonder what got into Goten…

As if in answer, the chibi came bursting through the door and jumped onto the bed, landing quite heavily on his brother's stomach. This caused Gohan no little pain, but he ignored it and tried to focus on what had Goten so worked up. "What's up, squirt?"

"A weird guy eating at the table!" the child panted. "He looks like me!"

Reality clocked in, and with it came realization. Duh, genius. Goten's never met Dad.

"Gohan!" Goten wailed loudly into the teenager's ear.

"Hey, calm down, kiddo, you're gonna make me deaf," Gohan sat up. "Don't get so freaked out. Just give me two seconds to get dressed and we'll go down together." He quickly through on one of his standard dark blue-purple gis and scooped his two-year-old brother up onto his shoulders for the short trip down to the kitchen. Goten giggled happily at his brother's antics.

Everyone turned and smiled fondly at the sight of the two brothers having such an obvious good time, but it wasn't lost on Gohan that the smiles seemed to be a tiny bit…was forced a good word? He wasn't sure, but there was definitely something hiding behind those grins, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know what. Do they know what happened? Naw, no way. Mom wouldn't just go telling everyone under the sun…would she? No…no way.

The Z senshi greeted him and made room for him at the table. He sat down, carefully schooling his expression as so not to give away anything he didn't have to. Already, he was getting a few odd looks and a very piercing glance from his father.

Gohan made a quick decision and picked Goten up, setting the chibi on the table right in front of Goku. Goten took one look at the father he had never before seen, and screamed again before whirling around and crawling back over to Gohan.

"Goten, this is Dad. Remember, I told you that you looked a lot like him," Gohan asked.

For a second, the chibi just sat there. Then he turned slowly and crawled back over to take a good look at Goku. Goku just looked back.

Finally, Goten's face broke into a wide smile. "Oh, you're Daddy! Big brother said you look like me! He was right!"

A chorus of laughter erupted at the child's enthusiasm, but changed into a harmony of "awwws" as Goten hugged his father for the first time in his life, then took a seat in Goku's lap and started chattering a mile a minute about himself; he also seemed to be regarding Goku's halo with a certain degree of awe, much to the amusement of the observers.

Gohan took full advantage of the group's apparent distraction to tiptoe off and make his way outside. He could have run off right then, except for three things. First, he'd given his word that he wouldn't, and when he made a promise to Piccolo especially, he kept it. Secondly, even if he did break that promise, he'd be caught and dragged back here and then he'd have to face a disappointed Piccolo and Goten and now his father. And lastly, it dawned on him that there was probably someone watching him, most likely Piccolo or Vegeta. They still didn't trust him not to make a break for it.

He sauntered around his front yard for a while, mostly walking in circles. There was no place else for him to go, but he didn't want to be inside with…that man. Just thinking about his dead father was enough to make his blood boil in his veins. He would be all too glad when this day was up and he could go back to trying to forget.

After maybe ten minutes, he heard the front door open and close, so he knew someone had come outside. But he didn't even have to extend a mental touch to find out who it was.

"Gohan?"

The teenager inwardly winced at that voice. Anger battled nervousness and fear for supremacy in his mind, but he managed to put on a level front. "What do you want?"

Goku's voice was concerned. "Gohan, I need to talk to you."

AN: Cue dramatic music please! Hehe…next chappie up soon. If I feel like it. Gods, the power of being the author! Man, I'm just under 400 reviews! Wow! I love you guys!!!!!!