Hi! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I started it 3 weeks ago, went on vacation, and then finished it all the next day right after I got back. So, here's the next chapter!

To all those who reviewed: Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ!

Chapter Eight

"Hey, Mom", Gohan said into the phone.

"Well, it's about time, Gohan! You haven't called in days!"

Gohan rolled his eyes, "Yes, well, when you're a teacher you don't really have that much time."

"Oh, don't you give me that excuse again- you have plenty of time!"

"Ok, well, Mom, I just called to tell you that I have a friend coming over for dinner. She's been having some bad experiences lately and I'd like to cheer her up, ok?"

"Well… wait, you said it was a 'she'? Well, ok!"

"No, Mom, she's just a friend. Her mother and brother died a long time ago, and now Hercule died."

"The scum died already? Why should I worry about that?"

"Because she's his daughter."

"Gohan! You're seeing that stupid man's daughter?"

"Mom! We've gone over this! I'm glad Hercule took the credit. And, FYI, Videl isn't anything like him."

"Ok, if you say so…"

"Ok, let me go over the ground rules: No talking about grandchildren and don't mention anything about her family's death, got it?"

"Ok, ok, geez! I'm not that stupid you know! Just be here by seven and I'll be alright."

"Ok, thanks, Mom, bye!"

*_*_*

"Geez, Gohan! You live all the way out here! No wonder you told be we had to leave at 3:00!"

Gohan laughed nervously as he got out of the car, "Hehe, yeah."

As they walked the pasture, Videl noticed a shimmering lake hiding behind some trees. 'I'll have Gohan take me there sometime', she thought and continued walking.

A couple minutes later, Videl saw a very small yet cozy cottage with large, proud mountains just in the back of the house.

Videl was breathless.

"Geez, Gohan. If I'd known that it would be so beautiful, I might've moved out here a long time ago."

"Meh. It kind of gets lonely once in a while." He said simply.

"Well, yeah, but you have your family with you. I would give anything to have that."

Videl looked sadly at the ground. 'I just can't stop thinking about them, can I?' she scowled at herself.

Gohan, noticing her mood, quickly said, "Oh, look! The door!"

He quickly opened the skillfully carved door and let her in first, then followed.

After he closed the door, a woman with dark eyes and midnight hair darker than Gohan's exclaimed, "My baby's back!"

Gohan sweat dropped. "Er… Mom, this is Videl. Videl, this is my mother, Son ChiChi."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Son." Videl held out her hand.

But ChiChi ignored the greeting and quickly gave Videl a bear hug and cried, "Oh, Videl! It must be awful for you! First your mother and brother- now this?!?!"

"Mom! I told you not to mention that!"

"No, no, it's ok- really", Videl pulled away. "My… friend will be mentioning it to the city sooner or later, so everyone will be feeling sorry. I just, don't know why they would though… Gohan where's the bathroom?"

Gohan simply pointed at a door a couple feet away and gave her an apologetic look. She brushed it off and walked to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

"Mom, what's wrong with you!" Gohan hissed.

"Well, can you blame me if I want to tell the girl how I feel?"

"You hated her father!"

"So? Doesn't mean it doesn't give me the right to think she has problems too."

*_*_*

Videl splashed water onto her face, washing away the tearstains. 'Get a hold of yourself, girl.'

She looked at herself in the mirror. 'Should I be here?' she thought, 'I don't think I'm ready for any of this, and yet I still have the petition to finish!'

After drying her face, she walked out the door only to find a boy of seventeen staring at her. (A/N: Hey, you have to admit, Goten HAS to be older than seven if Videl and Gohan are twenty-eight.)

"Uh, may I help you?" she asked the boy, who only stared blankly at her in return.

"No, I live here", he replied casually.

Then, he just looked at Videl, as if studying her.

"Um, sorry- I don't mean to be rude- but do you need something from me?" she asked, wondering why Gohan let a very creepy boy in his house.

"Nope, just looking", he said, still staring at her with big black eyes.

"Right", Videl said, stepping up to the boy. She studied him also. She patted his crazy hair and asked, "You must be Gohan's little brother."

"Yep. And you must be Gohan's girlfriend."

"Uh, correction: Just a friend", she said politely.

"Whatever you say. But my dad says that you and Gohan are going to get together, or else we're going to have to come up with some plans and…"

"Ok! That's enough out of you!" A voice called and two enormous arms grabbed the back of the Goten's shirt and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Videl quickly looked at the boy's capture. He looked a lot like the boy. Or vice versa. In fact, if Videl didn't know any better, she'd say the boy was the man's clone.

Good thing she knew better.

"Hi", the man said, holding out his hand, "I'm Son Goku. And this is my other son, Goten."

Videl shook Goku's hand and thought 'Ok, I thought this guy was dead. Well, Gohan, I'm going to have to ask you some questions tonight.'

"Come on, dinner's ready."

Videl nodded and followed Goku into the warm kitchen.

Goku showed her where to sit while he sat down.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Mrs. Son?" Videl asked eagerly. She hated being bored.

"My dear, how could you even think of helping? Your da- erm… you're the guest! You just relax while I do everything else."

"Uh, ok."

Videl sat down and waited in silence (A/N: Can you tell I have writer's block?).

Gohan came into the room and sat down in a chair next to Videl.

"So, you ok?" He asked.

Videl simply nodded and watched ChiChi set out the food onto the table.

As Goku reached for the food, ChiChi slapped his hand and yelled, "Hey! Let the guest eat first!"

Goku pouted and put his hand limply at his side.

ChiChi's mood turned from angry to nice in a matter of seconds as she asked, "Would you like to eat something dear?"

"Yes, of course. It looks awfully good, Mrs. Son."

"Dear, I hate it when people call me Mrs. Son. Just call me ChiChi."

Videl reached for some rice as she said, "Um, ok."

After she finished getting her food, ChiChi served herself about the same size helping as Videl.

"There", ChiChi said, "Now you boys can eat."

Yes's could be heard from the guys as they loaded their plates with food.

*_*_*

"That was great, ChiChi. I really enjoyed that." Videl said as she placed her dish in the sink.

"Oh, no problem, dear."

Videl sat back and asked, "But I what was really amazing was how much you cooked- and how much they ate."

ChiChi chuckled and said, "You get used to it after a while."

There was silence for a few minutes. Unfortuneatly, Goku was the one who broke the ice, "So, Videl, how are you're parents?"

Videl just stared blankly at Goku as she heard Gohan slap his forehead.

"Um…" Videl thought for moment. She couldn't take this. She needed to go. "Oh, look at the time! I must be going! I have to… grade some papers and… go find new people for the petition."

She quickly stood up and bowed politely, "Thank you so much for everything. I had a great time. I hope to see you soon!"

She quickly walked out of the kitchen without looking and Gohan.

Five seconds after she walked out of the room, Gohan jumped up and chased after her.

"Videl, wait!" he called outside.

Videl turned around and threw him an apologetic look, "I'm real sorry, Gohan. It was great, but… I don't think I'm ready for this yet. I need some time alone to think."

Gohan stepped up to her, "I'm sorry, Videl. My dad has a tendency to ask stupid questions."

Videl just nodded, "I understand. I… have to go. Seeya later, Gohan."

Gohan watched her as she got into her red sports car and drove off.

':Well that went well:' A voice in Gohan's head said sarcastically. (A/N: That's right everybody; conscience is back!)

'Who the heck are you?'

':Well, isn't a bit obvious that I'm your conscience?:'

'I dunno. I thought I was going crazy.'

':Uh, hello? You're hearing voices anyway:'

'Yeah, whatever.'

':So, you have just ruined your friend's evening when all she needed was to be alone. What are you going to do?:'

'Probably yell at my dad.'

':Well, close. What about after that?:'

'Probably help Videl with the petition.'

':Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Your prize is a pat on the back. Thanks for playing:'

'You know what? You suck.'

But before stepping into the house, Gohan gave himself a quick pat on the back.

*_*_*

Videl flopped down on her couch and was about to fall asleep when the phone rang.

'Friggen son of a…'

"Hello?" she asked, picking up the phone.

"Hey, Vi. How you doing?"

"Actually, Max, I don't think it could get any worse."

"Huh?" asked the confused man.

"Ok, listen; I just got invited over to a friend's house to have dinner with his family."

"Oh, is this your new boyfriend?"

"Max…" Videl said in a warning voice.

"Ok, ok, sorry. Please- do continue."

"Ok, so, I'm not sure whether he told his family about my… family. I mean, his mother just came rushing into my arms, telling me she was so sorry about my father! And then, after dinner, his dad asked me how my parents were doing! Can you believe that? He didn't even know my parents were dead!" Videl rubbed her temples and sighed, "I'm telling you, Max. Maybe I'm not ready to go out into the world now. Maybe I should stay inside my apartment for a couple of days. Yeah, that'll work After that, I'll be so refreshed, I can get all my signatures!"

"Vi, that isn't such a good idea."

"Why?"

"Because I'm asking you to speak about your father tomorrow at the meeting."

*_*_*

"Dad! I can't believe you! And after I told you myself not to speak about her parents!" Gohan yelled, pacing the living room floor.

"I'm sorry, Gohan. It… slipped my mind." Goku replied sheepishly.

" 'Slipped your mind?' Dad, you were practically crying, saying it was so sad!"

"He he he…"

"Whatever. I'm going to help Videl with the petition. See you next week." Gohan picked up his coat and left.

TBC!

WAAAAH! That SUCKED! If any of you have writing tips, please let me know! I'm falling apart! Oh, thanks for the reviews!

Bye-Z!