Disclaimer: You've probably all forgotten that I don't own DB-anything...it has been a long time...I don't. *slaps hand over Jack's mouth before he can say anything*

A/N: *waves a white flag over the top of her desk* Yes, yes, I know I know! You win! I'm updating!

Sorry about the fact that it's been well over a month...I've been busy. My challenge, which went very well, thank you, was more time consuming then I anticipated, and all of my teachers decided it was time to finally start assigning work again. Add in Xmas, and sheer inability to find the right words, and there ya go. But I'm updating! I am! See? See? *points anxiously below* Ok, so the next couple chapters aren't the best in this 'epic' (someone told me this has gone beyond epic, I can't think of another word, 'cause it sure as hell ain't just a story anymore!), but they're something. And they're leading into Thursday night! (*My God! You mean I've been working on this thing for nearly a year and still haven't gotten through the work week? Gah!*) Yay for me! Hopefully I'll be able to write some more shortly...shortly being before Valentine's day. ;P

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Petrified Tears
chapter 67



Gohan walked into the small house, a slight smile that suggested intended pain settled on his lips.

Videl followed him in, closing the door and quietly moving in a beeline for the kitchen, unaware of what had struck Gohan's oft-overworking mind, but completely alert to the fact that something uncharacteristically evil was taking place in the mind of the saiyan scholar.

"ChiChi?" she called, moving into the room, hearing Gohan enter behind her. The beautiful doll that belonged to Goku, the doll that looked to be made of china but was seemingly made of diamond, was nowhere to be seen.

An apple pie, beautifully rescued as only ChiChi could have done, sat cooling on a cooling rack on the counter, two others sitting next to it in perfect order; one a simple, normal sized pie, the other two large, but nothing compared to the pies that had once been made for Goku.

A small card was leaned up against the smallest of the pies; one word, five simple letters, written on it.

"Videl, why, do you think, would Pan and Trunks want my mother at Capsule Corps?" came her husband's voice, oddly amused by still innocently naïve, from behind her.

"What do you mean?" she asked, turning back to glance at him as he stood in front of the open refrigerator, the milk carton in one hand, a taped note in the other. Leave it to ChiChi to put a note in the first place Gohan would go.

Gohan glanced at her over his glasses with a bewildered smile, then glanced back down at the note in his hand. "'Gohan, Pan called shortly after Videl went after you, requesting I bring a meal for her and Trunks. I would have waited for you to fly me over there, but Goten got home early and was all too willing to escort me since the trip included food. I will be home shortly; I intend to spend some time with my granddaughter, and I have a feeling Trunks and Goten have a few issues to work out. Ask Videl to start dinner and I'll do my best to brink Pan home with me. Love you both, Mom.'"

Videl shrugged, not quite understanding the amused glint in his eyes. "They're hungry; it's four in the afternoon, and according to what you told me, neither had anything to eat for breakfast. Besides, you know how Trunks usually calls, begging ChiChi make an extra plate for him at dinner or that she find some way to bring him food." She chuckled quietly. "Humans can only live so long on Bulma's cooking; I've decided it's not nearly as long for you saiyans."

Gohan laughed and moved to the cupboard, pulling out a glass and pouring himself some milk. He moved back to the table and sat down, setting the carton in front of him and raising the glass to his lips, glancing at the note again as he did.

Videl watched him, happy that he'd finally found his happiness again, then turned back to the tag ChiChi had made for the pie she'd saved.

"Videl."

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A/N: And yes, I do like pie. REVIEW! (please)

-Panabelle ;P
Shrine of the Saiyan Squirt