Family
8
Goku chewed his lip and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't help but think of what Cyrus looked and the anger that he showed. For a boy that was usually calm even when he was mad at his brothers, he never really lost his temper. But the boy did at it was at him. Well, it was at everyone, but mostly him.
He couldn't hang on to the dragon.
It was his fault.
He was just happy to remember his family and was enjoying his children and their children. it was like a big game, a second chance at being a good husband and father and not a fighter. To be there for a change for something other than defeating a threat.
And look at what happened.
He did not recognize the needs of the dragon. He wanted to take care of his own. His family. His wife. His children. His grandchildren. He wanted that. He didn't think it was too much to ask for. Of course, Shelong thought otherwise.
He gave up looking and the ceiling he was anxious. He wanted to spar. All the grandkids had to do their homework after school. He was pretty sure that all the kids were most likely making them do it. Vegeta. well, he was still out of it.
Goku understand how he felt. He didn't know what he would do if he lost ChiChi. he may have left her but she was stronger in that way. She was strong enough to handle him leaving. He knew that he hurt her, but he knew that she could endure.
Could he handle being without her here?
Would he end up like Vegeta?
He would see her when it was his turn to pass on. They would be reunited.when the time comes. He knew that. They all did! But Vegeta still mourned the loss of his wife as if he would never see her again.
Maybe Vegeta would want to spar?
Take some of the stress out of his system.
He wondered if he was well enough yet?
He found himself walking towards Trunk's house. He knew he was staying there. He saw Trunks bring him home the other day. He doubted that he had left the house.
"Vegeta," he said and knocked on the door. He saw Trunks was already there with Crystal. Was it that late already? How long had he stared at that ceiling?
"Hi Goku," Trunks said. "Dad is still kind of out of it."
Crystal, his granddaughter, a thing that he still had a hard time believing at times, looked up and smiled at him. She always had a smile for him. She looked like she was working hard on her homework as he came in. "Grandpa," she said and got up and gave him a hug. "Are you going to go talk to Grandpa Vegeta?" she said and looked up at him.
"I was hoping he would want to stretch his muscles a bit," he said.
Trunks was about to speak but Crystal quickly broke in, "Oh no. He is still not ready for that," she said. "But you can talk to him. He needs to stay."
"He leaving?" he asked.
"He will, but you have to go talk him out of it." She said breaking out of the hug. "It will be really bad if he does."
"What?" he said as she took her chair back.
"Trust me Grandpa, go talk to him. Dad won't," she said and looked at her stunned father. She then went back to burying her face in her book so that her hair fell over her face.
He blinked at Trunks.
"Could you?" Trunks said. "I don't know what she is talking about, but if you could.He won't even acknowledge me." Trunks looked defeated.
Goku nodded. "I can give it a try."
............
Cyrus savored the cup of hot white chocolate. It was the best he had ever had. "Thank you, sir," he said and looked up at the nervous blond man. He had his own cup of the same thing.
"I always get myself a cup when I am upset," he said, "It seems to calm my nerves, even though it has enough sugar and caffeine in it to kill a horse." Cyrus laughed lightly. The poor guy had been shaking when he bought the drinks. It looked like he actually wanted to order something else.
"I won't tell mom that I ran into you. She is upset enough right now as it is," he said.
He groaned. "Upset? Did I do something?"
"No, no, you see," he pointed the scar on his cheek, "Grandpapa attacked me because he thought he could get the dragon out of me."
He rubbed his forehead in a gesture that was so very much like Legen. "Man. Your family is weird." He knew too. He could tell by the look on his face. Did everyone know but him! "That dragon. It went into you? I didn't understand what was happening then very well, I am still not sure what happened."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," he said. "What did I say wrong?"
"Everyone else knew! Everyone and they all kept it from me! Don't you think that piece of information is important!" Cyrus said. "I had the right to know, don't you think?"
Brennen blinked. "I guess," he said slowly. "I don't know what good it would have done you though."
It was his turn to blink.
What good could he have done if he had known? He stopped walking. Would anything be different if he had have known? Well, he would have understood what Vegeta was talking about. He probably still would have done what he had done. He sighed heavily. It doesn't really mean anything.
"Hey, are you alright?" Brennen looked at him with genuine concern.
"I guess so. I guess I shouldn't be so mad at mom and dad after all," he said and started to walk again. "It just not fair."
Brennen grunted in agreement. "No kidding." Cyrus knew that he was referring to the fact that he couldn't be with his mother. He somehow knew that he still longed for her. He felt sorry for him. It wasn't his fault. "You get on the track and then BAM," he yelled, "It throws you off those smooth rails right onto the gravel road."
"Or a river," Cyrus said.
"Yeah," Brennen said and stopped walking and looked down at him. "Can you make it home on your own from here? I really don't want to bump into any of your family. If they are tense, I am sure that I will be a glad scapegoat."
"Why are you scared of them?" Brennen said. "They won't hurt you."
"Oh yeah! Right! Your dad. well, lets just say that if looks could kill, I would be so dead and that other short guy with the tall hair was not exactly looking at me pleasantly. The only one that only remotely talked to me was Junior and your mom. Even though I don't think your mom really wants me interrupting her life again." He said.
"Mom won't let them hurt you," he said. "She sort of cares for you. You -well- your counterpart is the father of two of her children. it does stick a bit you know."
"Well, that is how Junior explained it as well. But, also, what she doesn't know, won't hurt her and will hurt me," he said with a nervous smile.
"Okay then," Cyrus said. "I can make it home from here," he said and thanked him again for the drink.
"Um...Before you go. Could you tell me." He said and looked at his feet. "How are Benot and Legen doing?"
"Legen is a jerk! He is always picking on me!" He said quickly without thinking. He sort of blamed him for the whole attack. He would not have been out catching frogs if he had not pissed him off. "But Benot is good. He is always there for me." Yeah, always there, Vegeta could have easily killed him when he was trying to save him. That was a scary thought.
"There doing good in school? Are they making good grades?" he said.
He nodded.
He was concerned with them, even though they were not really his children. Just like Trunks would sometimes act fatherly to Soyna. Not as much as of late, but he still would lapse.
"I'm the only odd ball in the family," he said.
"Don't be so hard on yourself kid. You have to play the hand fate deals you. It may not be the one you want, but I am sure you could get some better cards if you work at it," Brennen said.
He liked that clique. That was a good one! He just had to work at it and he could maybe figure out where all the strength went that Shelong had. He just had to work at it. Turn over some new cards!
"Thanks Brennen," he said again and started to walk home. He felt better now. A lot better. He figured that he could talk to his mom now without blowing his top. He didn't know why the talk with Brennen made him feel better. He couldn't explain the calmness that came over him. Maybe because he did offer excuses and didn't try to explain things away. He just said it as he saw it and was confused over it.
The sun was almost setting. It was time to go home. Plus, the drink had awakened the hunger and he was starving now.
............
Vegeta was glad to be finally rid of the pest, Goku. He wanted to be alone and made that clear to him, but it took an hour for him to figure out that simple request! A simple request, put simply!
The idiot rambled on about how they had talked to Cyrus. he didn't want to hear any of it! He didn't care! He didn't want to know.
He also talked about how he should not think of leaving until he got over the death of Bulma.. He had to say her name. He never wanted to hear her name again and he started to talk about HER! On and on he droned about the stuff they did together when they were young.
He was relieved that he was alone again.
He could hear his son's family in the next room, talking and laughing. Being a family that he felt that he could no longer belong to. SHE was the only thing that really kept him here. Everyone else had families of their own now. He wasn't needed anymore.
So, why wasn't he already gone?
...............
Benot rubbed his now cast fee arm. Raymond had just removed the cast and it felt funny. "Don't start training any time soon now. I don't want to recast it."
He nodded.
He had no desire to train anymore.
At all.
..............
"Hey?"
Cyrus walked into the compound that was his home. He could see his favorite brother walking towards him without a cast on his arm. He finally got it removed.
"Benot!" he said happily. "How does your arm feel?"
He bent the arm. "Okay. A little funny actually. I was getting used to the cast."
He did look better. His eyes didn't seem so distant. Maybe he would start remembering what happened that day. Even though, that was such a bad day.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Benot said. "Is there something on my face?" he wiped his cheeks with his hands.
"No. Sorry," he said. "I just was.Benot?"
"What?"
"Do you think mom will ever forgive Grandpapa?" he said.
Benot sighed. "I hope so. I never want to see that happen again. I don't think I could take it." That distant look came over his eyes again. Cyrus blinked at his brother. He remembered what happened all right, he just was not going to admit it.
"I hope so too."
......
Junior took solace in hearing the heartbeat of Marron. She was sleeping now, but sleep would not come to him. He kept his head pressed against her chest and listened to her heart and listened to her breath.
He spent most of the afternoon looking for Cyrus with Goten, who became frantic as the day went on. Of course, they found him with his big brother Benot making a snack in the kitchen.
Goten tried hard not to be as overprotective as Soyna, but today he lost out. He ran over to him and hugged him fiercely and was just about in tears as he apologized again and again.
Benot set him in his place by calling him a wimp. He meant it kind heartedly, and thankfully Goten took it that way. It seemed to bring him back to his normal self as they insulted each other over the food.
But he was worried about his sister.
He stayed for dinner, well, actually cooked it, and was surprised at how little she was eating or interacting with her own family. She may not have been the most open woman in the world but she always was interested in what her family was doing. She sat silently and picked at her food.
The last time she acted like that was.
He jerked away from Marron, causing her to wake.
"What is it?" she said and looked around with wide eyes. Ready to move if she had to. "Is it another nightmare?"
He shook his head.
She just gave him that look. Your lying, her eyes said and she snuggled up to his chest. He put his arms around her.
She once told him that she was glad that they came to this time, for no other reason that she was happy to get to know her grandfather. "It is nice to know that there is someone else in my family like me."
Of course, now, she wanted to kill him.
And she was acting as if he were already dead.
......
A few thoughts on family. to set the emotions rolling at even higher levels.
8
Goku chewed his lip and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't help but think of what Cyrus looked and the anger that he showed. For a boy that was usually calm even when he was mad at his brothers, he never really lost his temper. But the boy did at it was at him. Well, it was at everyone, but mostly him.
He couldn't hang on to the dragon.
It was his fault.
He was just happy to remember his family and was enjoying his children and their children. it was like a big game, a second chance at being a good husband and father and not a fighter. To be there for a change for something other than defeating a threat.
And look at what happened.
He did not recognize the needs of the dragon. He wanted to take care of his own. His family. His wife. His children. His grandchildren. He wanted that. He didn't think it was too much to ask for. Of course, Shelong thought otherwise.
He gave up looking and the ceiling he was anxious. He wanted to spar. All the grandkids had to do their homework after school. He was pretty sure that all the kids were most likely making them do it. Vegeta. well, he was still out of it.
Goku understand how he felt. He didn't know what he would do if he lost ChiChi. he may have left her but she was stronger in that way. She was strong enough to handle him leaving. He knew that he hurt her, but he knew that she could endure.
Could he handle being without her here?
Would he end up like Vegeta?
He would see her when it was his turn to pass on. They would be reunited.when the time comes. He knew that. They all did! But Vegeta still mourned the loss of his wife as if he would never see her again.
Maybe Vegeta would want to spar?
Take some of the stress out of his system.
He wondered if he was well enough yet?
He found himself walking towards Trunk's house. He knew he was staying there. He saw Trunks bring him home the other day. He doubted that he had left the house.
"Vegeta," he said and knocked on the door. He saw Trunks was already there with Crystal. Was it that late already? How long had he stared at that ceiling?
"Hi Goku," Trunks said. "Dad is still kind of out of it."
Crystal, his granddaughter, a thing that he still had a hard time believing at times, looked up and smiled at him. She always had a smile for him. She looked like she was working hard on her homework as he came in. "Grandpa," she said and got up and gave him a hug. "Are you going to go talk to Grandpa Vegeta?" she said and looked up at him.
"I was hoping he would want to stretch his muscles a bit," he said.
Trunks was about to speak but Crystal quickly broke in, "Oh no. He is still not ready for that," she said. "But you can talk to him. He needs to stay."
"He leaving?" he asked.
"He will, but you have to go talk him out of it." She said breaking out of the hug. "It will be really bad if he does."
"What?" he said as she took her chair back.
"Trust me Grandpa, go talk to him. Dad won't," she said and looked at her stunned father. She then went back to burying her face in her book so that her hair fell over her face.
He blinked at Trunks.
"Could you?" Trunks said. "I don't know what she is talking about, but if you could.He won't even acknowledge me." Trunks looked defeated.
Goku nodded. "I can give it a try."
............
Cyrus savored the cup of hot white chocolate. It was the best he had ever had. "Thank you, sir," he said and looked up at the nervous blond man. He had his own cup of the same thing.
"I always get myself a cup when I am upset," he said, "It seems to calm my nerves, even though it has enough sugar and caffeine in it to kill a horse." Cyrus laughed lightly. The poor guy had been shaking when he bought the drinks. It looked like he actually wanted to order something else.
"I won't tell mom that I ran into you. She is upset enough right now as it is," he said.
He groaned. "Upset? Did I do something?"
"No, no, you see," he pointed the scar on his cheek, "Grandpapa attacked me because he thought he could get the dragon out of me."
He rubbed his forehead in a gesture that was so very much like Legen. "Man. Your family is weird." He knew too. He could tell by the look on his face. Did everyone know but him! "That dragon. It went into you? I didn't understand what was happening then very well, I am still not sure what happened."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," he said. "What did I say wrong?"
"Everyone else knew! Everyone and they all kept it from me! Don't you think that piece of information is important!" Cyrus said. "I had the right to know, don't you think?"
Brennen blinked. "I guess," he said slowly. "I don't know what good it would have done you though."
It was his turn to blink.
What good could he have done if he had known? He stopped walking. Would anything be different if he had have known? Well, he would have understood what Vegeta was talking about. He probably still would have done what he had done. He sighed heavily. It doesn't really mean anything.
"Hey, are you alright?" Brennen looked at him with genuine concern.
"I guess so. I guess I shouldn't be so mad at mom and dad after all," he said and started to walk again. "It just not fair."
Brennen grunted in agreement. "No kidding." Cyrus knew that he was referring to the fact that he couldn't be with his mother. He somehow knew that he still longed for her. He felt sorry for him. It wasn't his fault. "You get on the track and then BAM," he yelled, "It throws you off those smooth rails right onto the gravel road."
"Or a river," Cyrus said.
"Yeah," Brennen said and stopped walking and looked down at him. "Can you make it home on your own from here? I really don't want to bump into any of your family. If they are tense, I am sure that I will be a glad scapegoat."
"Why are you scared of them?" Brennen said. "They won't hurt you."
"Oh yeah! Right! Your dad. well, lets just say that if looks could kill, I would be so dead and that other short guy with the tall hair was not exactly looking at me pleasantly. The only one that only remotely talked to me was Junior and your mom. Even though I don't think your mom really wants me interrupting her life again." He said.
"Mom won't let them hurt you," he said. "She sort of cares for you. You -well- your counterpart is the father of two of her children. it does stick a bit you know."
"Well, that is how Junior explained it as well. But, also, what she doesn't know, won't hurt her and will hurt me," he said with a nervous smile.
"Okay then," Cyrus said. "I can make it home from here," he said and thanked him again for the drink.
"Um...Before you go. Could you tell me." He said and looked at his feet. "How are Benot and Legen doing?"
"Legen is a jerk! He is always picking on me!" He said quickly without thinking. He sort of blamed him for the whole attack. He would not have been out catching frogs if he had not pissed him off. "But Benot is good. He is always there for me." Yeah, always there, Vegeta could have easily killed him when he was trying to save him. That was a scary thought.
"There doing good in school? Are they making good grades?" he said.
He nodded.
He was concerned with them, even though they were not really his children. Just like Trunks would sometimes act fatherly to Soyna. Not as much as of late, but he still would lapse.
"I'm the only odd ball in the family," he said.
"Don't be so hard on yourself kid. You have to play the hand fate deals you. It may not be the one you want, but I am sure you could get some better cards if you work at it," Brennen said.
He liked that clique. That was a good one! He just had to work at it and he could maybe figure out where all the strength went that Shelong had. He just had to work at it. Turn over some new cards!
"Thanks Brennen," he said again and started to walk home. He felt better now. A lot better. He figured that he could talk to his mom now without blowing his top. He didn't know why the talk with Brennen made him feel better. He couldn't explain the calmness that came over him. Maybe because he did offer excuses and didn't try to explain things away. He just said it as he saw it and was confused over it.
The sun was almost setting. It was time to go home. Plus, the drink had awakened the hunger and he was starving now.
............
Vegeta was glad to be finally rid of the pest, Goku. He wanted to be alone and made that clear to him, but it took an hour for him to figure out that simple request! A simple request, put simply!
The idiot rambled on about how they had talked to Cyrus. he didn't want to hear any of it! He didn't care! He didn't want to know.
He also talked about how he should not think of leaving until he got over the death of Bulma.. He had to say her name. He never wanted to hear her name again and he started to talk about HER! On and on he droned about the stuff they did together when they were young.
He was relieved that he was alone again.
He could hear his son's family in the next room, talking and laughing. Being a family that he felt that he could no longer belong to. SHE was the only thing that really kept him here. Everyone else had families of their own now. He wasn't needed anymore.
So, why wasn't he already gone?
...............
Benot rubbed his now cast fee arm. Raymond had just removed the cast and it felt funny. "Don't start training any time soon now. I don't want to recast it."
He nodded.
He had no desire to train anymore.
At all.
..............
"Hey?"
Cyrus walked into the compound that was his home. He could see his favorite brother walking towards him without a cast on his arm. He finally got it removed.
"Benot!" he said happily. "How does your arm feel?"
He bent the arm. "Okay. A little funny actually. I was getting used to the cast."
He did look better. His eyes didn't seem so distant. Maybe he would start remembering what happened that day. Even though, that was such a bad day.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Benot said. "Is there something on my face?" he wiped his cheeks with his hands.
"No. Sorry," he said. "I just was.Benot?"
"What?"
"Do you think mom will ever forgive Grandpapa?" he said.
Benot sighed. "I hope so. I never want to see that happen again. I don't think I could take it." That distant look came over his eyes again. Cyrus blinked at his brother. He remembered what happened all right, he just was not going to admit it.
"I hope so too."
......
Junior took solace in hearing the heartbeat of Marron. She was sleeping now, but sleep would not come to him. He kept his head pressed against her chest and listened to her heart and listened to her breath.
He spent most of the afternoon looking for Cyrus with Goten, who became frantic as the day went on. Of course, they found him with his big brother Benot making a snack in the kitchen.
Goten tried hard not to be as overprotective as Soyna, but today he lost out. He ran over to him and hugged him fiercely and was just about in tears as he apologized again and again.
Benot set him in his place by calling him a wimp. He meant it kind heartedly, and thankfully Goten took it that way. It seemed to bring him back to his normal self as they insulted each other over the food.
But he was worried about his sister.
He stayed for dinner, well, actually cooked it, and was surprised at how little she was eating or interacting with her own family. She may not have been the most open woman in the world but she always was interested in what her family was doing. She sat silently and picked at her food.
The last time she acted like that was.
He jerked away from Marron, causing her to wake.
"What is it?" she said and looked around with wide eyes. Ready to move if she had to. "Is it another nightmare?"
He shook his head.
She just gave him that look. Your lying, her eyes said and she snuggled up to his chest. He put his arms around her.
She once told him that she was glad that they came to this time, for no other reason that she was happy to get to know her grandfather. "It is nice to know that there is someone else in my family like me."
Of course, now, she wanted to kill him.
And she was acting as if he were already dead.
......
A few thoughts on family. to set the emotions rolling at even higher levels.