Bulma opened the door to Goku and Chi Chi -- who just happened to be holding a screaming, kicking and pleading Goten under one arm -- and smiled at them. Of course, Vegeta was the picture of elegance, except for the handprints on his neck.

"Glad you made it," Bulma said cheerfully, pulling Goten out of Chi Chi's death grip. Then she yanked her husband over and stood him in front of her best friend's son. "You will NOT hurt him today. Got it?" She kicked the stubborn man in the ass and repeated herself.

Goten didn't look any calmer. Vegeta regarded him coolly and asked, "What are you going to do to stop me, woman?"

She batted her eyes. "I'll tell Goku not to go easy on you in the sparring matches."

He grunted, but nodded, scowling. They were equals in power, but Goku had a cajoling little attitude when they fought. It was almost like feeding Vegeta ideas. Wrong ideas. Every move was easily calculated and followed through, even though they were completely off. Vegeta was learning to ignore the little voice in the back of his head, but that little distraction was all Goku needed. It was the small edge between victory and defeat for the prince.

Goten was no longer by Bulma's side. He was already over by Trunks, trying to goad his best friend into a fight. "Men!" Bulma said, exasperated. She threw her hands up and went down the hall to her lab. "Not only do I have to put up with HUMAN men, I have to put up with the most arrogant bastards in the UNIVERSE, and they're even WORSE than so-called NORMAL men! All in MY HOME. Just get rid of the whole damned male sex!"

Vegeta smirked at her ranting. "So, Kakorrot," he began, only to find the brainless fool over by the king. He only shook his head and smirked, getting ready to watch the show.

"So, Vegeta, how ya doin'?" Goku said happily as he slung an o-so-casual arm and grinned. He pounded K. Vegeta on the back and continued. "Hey, have you gotten any word about this damn surprise? All Chi Chi tells me is that I'll see. What about Bulma?" Then he paused and looked the king over. "And you grew! That's great!"

Vegeta cleared his throat from behind and said, "That damned woman hasn't told me a thing, Kakorrot." Then he waited for the blockhead to figure it out.

"Cool. Goten taught you how to throw your voice? He tried with me, but I couldn't." He shrugged and smiled thoughtfully. "Maybe I can get Videl to tell me something…"

Gohan walked in just in time to be ran over by Bardock with Bulma attached to his tail. "Hey!" he protested. "Jeez, Dad. Cut me a break. That's the same place Mom hit me earlier." Then his eyes focused on the scene greeting him. "Holy shit! There's two of you guys!"

Vegeta finally got tired of waiting and marched over to Goku. "That's not me, moron," he growled, flinging the arm off his father's shoulders.

Goku looked from one to the other and back again, then stayed focused on the king. "Say, Vegeta. Is that what you're going to look like when you grow up?"

Vegeta shoved him through the nearest wall. Chi Chi helped him out of the rubble when the dust cleared and said, "Goku, he IS grown up."

"O, yeah," Goku said as he crawled out of the hole and found himself nose-to-nose with his biological father. "Who put a mirror here?" he asked without thinking.

"Stupid," Chi Chi muttered affectionately, slapping him again. "That's not your reflection."

"O." He cocked his head. "Sure looks like me though."

At that moment, Goten came crashing through the same spot in the wall Goku had gone through. "Hey, Dad," he said as he back-flipped out of the way. Just as Trunks landed a ki blast in the spot he vacated.

Bulma caught each boy by the ear and shook them. "STOP destroying my house!"

Goten looked sorry, but Trunks went through yet ANOTHER wall. "Are you all right?" Videl asked as she dug her brother-in-law's best friend out of the debris. "Is it too heavy?" she wondered aloud as another chunk of rock was lifted off.

"I've had buildings fall on me and she's asking if it's too heavy", he muttered. "Yes, Videl. I'm fine." A glance at Gohan and a mutual shrug shared the same thought: she worries too much.

Goten was pinned underneath Vegeta's seemingly slight weight while he read the paper, striving for a look of normalcy, like they sat like thus often. Actually, during the first few weeks of banishment, it was a pretty frequent occurrence.

Bulma yanked at Vegeta's hair. "Get off of him."

He barely looked up at her, smoothly turning the page. "Can't you see I'm busy, woman?"

Bulma rolled her eyes and used one finger to pull down the newspaper. "The day you start caring about some bimbo athlete's basketball career is the day I give up on attempting to teach you idiots some manners," she said, smirking. "Now get your fat ass off."

He obeyed, but only after her back was turned and as soon as he got up, Trunks took his place. Goten was in the process of getting up when Trunks plopped down on him. "Hey!" the younger boy protested as his best friend made himself comfortable on his back.

Videl giggled and Gohan smiled at his ex trainee, then knelt next to his brother. "That should teach you to shut your mouth," he lectured teasingly.

Goten did just then, but left his tongue sticking out. A flicker of a smile passed over Gohan's face. He swatted the teenager playfully and stood. "Hey!" he said as he turned to his mother. "How about some food? I'm starving!"

"Me too!" Goten chimed in as he struggled under Trunks uselessly.

Chi Chi rolled her eyes. "So what else is new?" she muttered to no one in particular.

Vegeta stood by his father when Bulma looked half-heartedly at Goten. "Vegeta, I said to get off," she repeated.

"I'm not on him, woman," Vegeta said smugly, leaning on the nearest wall. "I'm over here. Or didn't you notice?"

Bulma turned to face her husband, then whirled around to find that Trunks and Goten had switched places. Goten was lounging on the young prince's back, fingers dangling under the other boy's nose. In the quick scuffle that had occurred, Goten had somehow gotten Trunks on his stomach with both hands behind his back, which he was currently laying on, one elbow on the purple head.

"I think your mom wanted you to stop bugging me," he said teasingly, leaning over his friend's head to see his face. He smiled and wiggled his fingers.

In on smooth move, Trunks flipped Goten on his back and sat on his legs, leaning on the partially bared chest. Goten's shocked expression earned himself a laugh from Trunks. "Father used to do that to me ALL the time. You should be more original," he teased.

"Well, Vegeta took the paper so I had nothing else to do," he shot back, putting his hands behind his head.

Trunks smiled down at him. "Aren't you a little too old to be reading the comics?"

"This from a guy who keeps a stash of old Superman comics under his mattress."

Trunks sat back a little. "How did you know that?" He stole a glance at his father, who didn't seem to know who Superman was. Bulma, on the other hand, was nearly hysterical with laughter, and everyone else either grinned or chuckled.

"It's not THAT hard to find out," Goten said, grinning. He knew he had the upper hand, but he was biding his time. "I don't hang around you for nothing."

Trunks let him up and Goten smiled slyly. "I never taught you to dig through other people's stuff."

"Never said you did." He licked his lips and grinned, obviously enjoying driving his best friend up the wall with confusion.

"Then what the hell are you talking about?"

Goten only smiled, a reaction Trunks was very familiar with. It was the same one Bulma gave when she wasn't going to answer any more questions. Extremely frustrating in his opinion.

"Of all things, Trunks, Superman?" Bulma asked, even though she didn't LOOK like she could form a coherent sentence.

"Why not? Who the hell is he?" Vegeta asked, breaking into his wife's howls of laughter.

Bulma, with great glee, filled her husband in on why the comic character was so much like Saiyans. As she got into the details about more-than-human speed, coming from another planet and anything else she could think of, Vegeta grew another smirk on his face. Goten looked positively triumphant while Trunks tried to figure out how to suddenly turn invisible.

"At least it's not Wonderwoman," he muttered to his mother. "That's what Goten has." Then he grinned at his best friend. "Oops. Did I just say that out loud?"

"You know damn well you did," Goten said as he turned red. "Traitor."

Trunks grinned at him. "Double-crossers get double-crossed."

Goten grabbed him and hissed so no one else could head, "They're NOT Wonderwoman comics. They're only the COVERS to them."

Trunks raised one eyebrow almost imperceptibly and looked at Goten. Then he chuckled to himself. "Of course. I should've known better," he muttered.

Bra waddled out into the room, and Trunks knelt to pick her up. She ignored him and went straight to Goten. He swiped her off the floor and grinned at Trunks. "Hey buddy. How ya doin'?"

"Good," she said, bouncing in his arms. "How 'bout you?"

"Great. You know, your big brother doesn't play fair."

"I know." She stuck her tongue out at Trunks and glared at him to the best of her ability. "He only play with Daddy."

"No. He beat me up."

"Trunks!" She waved her finger at him and she sounded like Bulma despite her age. "You're s'posed to be NICE to Goten! He fun!"

Trunks rolled his eyes and glared at Goten. "Smooth move. Turning my own sister against me."

Goten shrugged. "I try."

"Uncle Goten! Uncle Goten!" Pan flung herself at him. He easily caught her in the arm not occupied with Bra and kissed her forehead.

"Hey, how's my girl?"

"Great, Uncle Goten!"

Goten looked up at Trunks and smiled again. "I told you you I was a lady's man."

"O, yeah," Trunks agreed sarcastically. "Too bad they're less than half your age. And one's related."

"They'll get there someday."

"Like when you're dead for the last time?"

Goten shrugged and grinned again. "These thing take time, Trunks." He released Bra to her brother and kissed her cheek. Then he rubbed her head and whispered, "Meet the ways I find out what's in your room." Then he handed Pan over to him and grinned at the expression on Trunks' face. "See ya later. I'm gonna go raid the fridge."

"No you're not," Bulma said as she caught him by the wrist. "Not until we show you our surprise."

"Then hurry up, will you?" Goten whined. "I'm starving and the rest of us are ready to kill you guys. So what the hell is it?"

Bulma opened her mouth, but Vegeta butted in. "And is you say 'you'll see' woman, I swear..."

"You swear what?" Bulma asked innocently, batting her eyes.

"You'll see," he mimicked perfectly.

Bulma glared at him and punched his shoulder. Then she rubbed her knuckles and glared harder. "You just wait. I WILL hurt you." He smirked and rolled his eyes.

Chi Chi produced four dragonballs and smiled. "So, you guys ready for this?"

Videl pulled out two and grinned as well. "Got yours, Bulma?"

"Just a sec," she answered as she dug through yet ANOTHER drawer. "It was here somewhere…"

Bra giggled. "Mommy silly." Then she pulled the five-starred ball out from under the cabinet and smiled. "It was there for a long time."

Bulma grinned and accepted the shiny object. "Thank you honey," she said sweetly. "Yup. Got it."

King Vegeta was unable to understand any of the goings-on, and Bardock was just as confused. "What the hell are you doing?!" the Saiyan scientist finally roared.

Bulma looked over her shoulder. In her husband's native language she said with a grin, "I almost forgot they were there."

King Vegeta glared at her, but Bulma ignored him. Videl chuckled at the king's infuriated gaze, but turned her attention to her husband.

"Mind giving me a hint?" Gohan murmured in her ear, tail wrapping around her waist.

She smiled up at him. "It has to do with the dragonballs." She gave his tail a light squeeze -- knowing perfectly well he'd evolved from that handicap since growing it back last time -- and slipped out of the light grasp.

Goten was starting to pace, with Trunks trying to keep Pan from starting another sparring match with his little sister. King Vegeta was just about to blow his cool when Bulma turned around and said, "I think we should go outside now."

"Why?" both the newcomers and Goten asked at the same time.

Chi Chi rolled her eyes. "You can't very well call the dragon when you're INSIDE. It kills the house." She grinned and shook her head. "You of all people should know that Goten."

He shook his head. "I've never seen the dragon, remember?" It was true. In the twenty years he'd lived, he had yet to see Shenlong in person. He'd always noticed the thunderous black clouds and the hurricane winds, but the powerful lizard had not yet been seen.

Bulma picked up Bra and bounced the lavender-haired girl in her arms. "Don't feel bad Goten. Neither have they." She then looked past him to her father-in-law. "And the dopes from outer space haven't either, and they're older than you are."

Goten shoved his hands in his pockets. "Can we hurry this up though? I haven't eaten anything all day." He looked up at Chi Chi's cleared throat. "That wasn't me! That was Dad that went hunting!"

Goku backed away when his wife's glare was directed at him. "I'm hungry too," he finally said.

Chi Chi rolled her eyes. "Fine. Come on guys. Let's do this before they die or something."

K. Vegeta finally stood and yelled as loud as he could, "What the hell are you DOING?"

"O, yeah. You." Bulma shifted her daughter to the other arm and walked over to him. "We're going outside and making a wish. Three actually. You can come if you want, but you might get a little scared."

"I am a Saiyan warrior! I am afraid of nothing!"
Bulma nodded, though her face looked anything but sincere. "Then come. I don't care. Just stay out of my way. All right?" She smiled pleasantly. "Come on kids."

Pan tugged Bra out of Bulma arms and smiled happily, wanting to walk with her best friend. Trunks tossed his sister in the air as he walked by, then was shocked when she didn't come down.

Pan looked up at her flying friend and clapped gleefully. Bra went in tiny circles and giggled. "Daddy! Daddy! Lookie!"

Vegeta turned around lazily, then his eyes rose slowly upward. Bra waved at him as she curved back toward her brother. Vegeta actually smiled; not his usual smirk or some crazy, I'm-gonna-kill-you-smile, but one that was real. Bulma grinned proudly at her daughter, then noticed her husband's expression. Her jaw dropped as she waved a hand in front of his black eyes.

"Vegeta? Are you all right?"

He looked at her, amused. "Of course woman. Why would I be otherwise?"

"Because you're… you're SMIILING!"

He shrugged. "That's what one does when one is happy. Or am I wrong?"

Bulma's answer was cut off by Bra. "Daddy! How do I get down?!"

He looked up at Trunks staying under her in case she figured it out on her own. "Just don't concentrate as hard and let your energy down a little." She stopped, then fell into outstretched arms.

"He said a LITTLE," Goten reprimanded teasingly. "It takes a little work, but you got it."

Pan was jumping up and down. "Goody goody Bra!" she said joyfully.

Goten grinned at his niece and swooped her into his arms. "Guess I'll have to teach you too, huh?"

Gohan looked sternly at them. "When the time comes, I'LL teach her."

Goten pouted. "Party pooper." Pan agreed, echoing him. He brightened and nudged Trunks. "Think now she'll follow you again?"

Videl redirected Gohan's attention. "How about teaching me?" she asked, her voice not serious.

"Don't know if you can."

"Come on. Krillin can. Hell, even Yamcha can!" She saw Vegeta stiffen just the slightest bit at the name of Bulma's ex. She hid a small smile and looked pleadingly at Chi Chi's oldest son.

"They're also fighters, with power levels way over yours," he answered.

"If I ever get strong enough, will you then?" She pouted, looking just like Pan. Gohan smiled and nodded. "Promise?"

"Only if you show us that goddamn surprise. I think Goten is ready to kill someone. And I don't think you want to use one of the wishes to bring someone back again." Videl grinned, then looked around. "Where IS Goten?"

Everyone except Trunks and Vegeta looked around quickly. "You mean you can't hear him?" Trunks asked, shaking his head. "In the kitchen."

They listened, then did various things that equalled teardropping. Goten was launching an attack against the -- also locked and also Saiyan-proof -- refrigerator.

"Kamehameha!" he yelled. A pause then: "Hey! It didn't work! What the hell?! Bulma?! What the hell is this thing made of? Mom! This isn't FAIR!"

Bulma giggled and Trunks tilted his head back and shook it. Goten continued his all-out effort against the object, then it was quiet.

"Damn you Bulma!" he shouted in frustration. Bulma laughed aloud and put a hand on Vegeta's arm to keep him from going to get the teenager.

Trunks shook his head again and entered the kitchen. "What are you doing, moron?"

"What the hell does it LOOK like I'm doing?! I'm freaking HUNGRY!"

Trunks grinned and casually pulled out the needle that held the door shut and locked. Then he held it out to Goten and smiled.

"I was going to do that next," Goten said, somewhat unconvincingly.

"Right," Trunks said sarcastically. "Come on. They're going to show us whatever they've been planning."

"About time," Goten grumbled. "The sooner we get this damn thing over with the sooner we eat."

"Is food the ONLY thing you think about?" Trunks asked as they walked back out.

Goten flashed a grin. "No. There's that cute girl in class yesterday that occupies a LOT of my mind."

Trunks casually hit him on the back of the head. "She's taken, dolt."

"So why am I supposed to be afraid of a jealous boyfriend?"

"Because that jealous boyfriend is ME."

"Aw, damn." Goten snapped his fingers and glared at Trunks. "How'd you convince her to go out with YOU?"

Trunks smiled mischievously. "I have my ways."

"You took your allowance early, didn't you?" Goten asked as they each grabbed one of the girls and followed the gang outside.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Mr. Money Man," Goten sang, then was instantly silenced by a glare from Chi Chi. "Sorry," he muttered, then looked at Trunks.

Bulma set the dragonballs on the ground and allowed Goku to call for Shenlong. It had been so long since he'd done it, it was almost foreign to him.

As the black clouds rolled in and the winds whipped up dust and sand, Goten shivered. Something about calling the Eternal Dragon always gave him the creeps, even from over 3,000 miles away.

Bulma sat back and shook her head. "I don't think I'll EVER get used to this." K. Vegeta and Bardock were on guard, looking around for the enemy, basically standing back-to-back.

Videl looked like there was a spotlight on her face as the glowing dragonballs started to pulse and Shenlong appeared, outlined only in light as the beam shot upwards. Then it took on features and the huge body cleared and became solid and green.

Goten suddenly felt like an ant looking at a crocodile. Shenlong was HUGE, and he didn't look really friendly either. Trunks looked on in awe while the little ones were shouting out how much they wanted to go for a ride on it. The three married women were standing in front of the dragonballs, facing away from the glowing orbs.

"Mortals, what have you summoned the Great Shenlong for? I will grant you three wishes that are within my power. So tell me, and let me return to my lair," the upgraded dragon said, a bass rumble that shook the ground.

"So, Goten. What do you think?" Chi Chi asked her youngest son.

Goten had to work his jaw a few times before he found his voice. "Amazing," he answered breathlessly.

"Kodak moment," Trunks muttered. "Goten quiet."

"What about you, Vegeta?" Bulma asked her husband. Even though Shenlong was nowhere NEAR Namek's Eternal Dragon -- and even though Vegeta had seen this one countless times in the past -- he had never commented on it.

Vegeta crossed his arms. "Just get on with it, woman." She stuck her tongue out at him, then turned around to face the dragon the size of three humpback whales. "We are ready to make our wishes," Bulma called up to him.

"Then get on with it."

Bulma looked at Vegeta over her shoulder. "Dammit, he sounds like YOU." She missed the smirk because she then turned around and said her request. In Namek.

"What the hell...?"