Hello all! Here is the next chapter, as promised! I just want to clear a few things up before I begin. The ages of the charas during this are a little confusing. I assumed that Gohan was 11 when he competed in the Cell Games and this is eight, rather than seven years later than the Cell Games. I had to put it all back a year in order to have Videl in college and working as a student teacher. So, that makes Videl and Gohan 18 and Goten 8. I don't know if I put any ages that contradicted those in earlier, if I did I will try and go back and spot them. Videl lives in an apartment (since Hercule's rich enough to afford one and Videl simply did not wan to live at home- who would?) and I'm sorry if I gave a different impression- but Gohan and Goten do live in a house- just not the same one that they lived in during the show. Gohan built a new one. Some people have also mentioned fighting and Goten and Gohan's present strength, but, to tell you the truth, I have not decided all that yet. I don't even know if there will be much fighting. That's about it. Some people have asked me for longer chapters, yet if I make them longer, the chapters will come out much slower. Please review/email me and tell me if you want the chapters shorter but faster (and more suspenseful) or longer and have them talk more time getting here. Okay, now we've done the housekeeping and I just wanted to thank you all (again and again and again) for reviewing me!!

Enjoy!

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Videl cleared her throat to introduce herself (it would not be very polite to simply demand answers of him without introducing herself first) to Gohan, but quickly discovered that he was nowhere in sight. Videl shook her head and looked around once more. She saw him, but he was already waiting in the lunch line. Seemed that Gohan was eager to eat. He reminded her of Goten. Goten was ask and ask how much longer it was till lunch, and then finally, at lunchtime, he would stand impatiently in the lunch line, smiling broadly. After he got his food, however, he would look glumly at his tray and sigh dejectedly. It was almost as if there was not enough food. . .

Videl decided she might as well get in the line also, before it became too long. The food was not really that great, but she had not eaten in a while and doubted that there was anything left in the fridge in her apartment. She would probably stop by the grocery store on the way back from school tomorrow . . .

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Gohan was excited about the prospect of eating the school-cooked spaghetti. He had eaten before coming, but still had room for more. It had been years since he ate any decent food. Eight, in fact. He had never been a good cook. His saiya-jinn half, however, allowed himself (and Goten) to eat just about anything, raw or cooked. That did not mean it tasted all that great, however. There were times when Gohan ached for his mother's cooking almost as much as he ached for her presence. When Gohan asked Goten about the school food, Goten said that there was not enough, but what he had eaten had been the best thing that he had ever tasted. Poor guy, all of this was nothing compared to what Chi Chi could cook. But Goten would never know.

All such sober thoughts left Gohan's mind as he came nearer and nearer to the kitchen. It smelled so glorious, that Gohan could not help but be mightily disappointed in the lack of food presented to him, though he had expected it. Sighing, Gohan headed back to the table to eat, maybe speak for a minute to Ms Carpenter and then finally leave.

Gohan forced himself to pace himself as he ate his meal, and was halfway done before the girl that had been sitting beside him earlier came up and introduced herself.

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Videl approached the table slowly, nervous about talking to this man. She delicately put her plate down and gathered the courage to speak, "Excuse me Sir, my name is Videl. I believe you are the guardian of a student of mine." Videl felt awkward using the words 'Sir' and 'guardian', but 'it never hurt to be polite', Christie, one of the servants at home had always told her.

Gohan looked up, slightly startled at being addressed, then wiped his mouth and stood up, offering her his hand. Apparently someone had taught him manners also, "It's a pleasure to meet you Videl; I'm Gohan, Goten's older brother as I gather you know. Goten has mentioned you at home."

"He's a very special boy." Videl said as she sat down.

Gohan sat down also, but met her eyes when he spoke, saying, "I know. I don't know what I would do without him." He almost seemed to be daring her to contradict him.

This was her chance. Now she could ask her questions. Videl collected herself as she sighed, and began, (AN: don't worry- I'm not stopping here :- P ) "His naivety amazes me. Why did you choose to bring him up so far away from civilization?"

"My father, Goten's father, was the greatest man I've ever known. He spent his childhood living alone with his grandfather. He too, knew very little of the world and its ways. This 'naivety' as you put it, saved his life and made him the wonderful person he was. If there is any method that I can use to make Goten similar to my father, I will and I have taken it. In fact, the only reason that Goten is in school right now is because I felt guilty, keeping him all to myself and my mother would want him to get the proper schooling."

Videl nodded but did not process anything Gohan told her. She still had questions and would sort through all of Gohan's answers later. She could not miss this opportunity, "I believe you made an excellent choice. Goten is the sweetest child I've ever known. If, if this question bothers you, please don't answer it, but, how did his parents die?"

Gohan stiffened slightly and closed his eyes momentarily, "My mother, she, she died in childbirth. My father, he . . ."

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When she told him that Goten was a special boy, Gohan had feared momentarily that somehow Goten had given himself away and she was referring to his powers. But no, Goten would not give himself away. Gohan did not mind answering the girl's question about how Goten was being raised. It would only honor his father more. Asking about the death of his parents, however, was a little too much. He still could not get over his guilt. It was his fault that the greatest man who had ever lived was dead. Gohan alone was responsible.

He found himself unable to explain to this girl how his father died. It was ironic. Here was the daughter of the person who haughtily accepted praise for killing the being who killed Gohan's father. She wanted to know how he died. It would be funny if he told her that the fault lay on the person who killed Cell. Ha. That would confuse her. Gohan opened his eyes and looked into the sapphire eyes of the girl next to him. She was quiet and still, innocent looking. He could not burden her with his grief. Gohan struggled to speak, "My father, he . . . . What interested you in teaching, Videl?"

Gohan felt like a coward. Oh well. That was what he was, at heart, anyway.

It felt awkward, calling this girl, 'Videl'. She had, however, introduced herself as 'Videl'. He would have felt safer with 'Miss Satan', though he had feared that he might spit the name. 'Satan' was not one of his favorite words.

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There was a level beneath Videl's curiosity that was somehow glad that Gohan had chosen not to tell her about the death of his father. Something deep down understood and identified with Gohan's decision not to tell her. Videl's curiosity, however, was not very happy. Oh well, "I've always enjoyed working with children. I also think that teachers have the most important job on the planet. They mold the adults of the future."

Gohan was nodding, "I know what you mean. There was one teacher, in particular, who affected my life greatly. In fact, he still does. Without him, I would be lost," the conversation stopped for an uncomfortable moment before Gohan continued, "In fact, he's watching Goten now."

Gohan flashed Videl a quirky smile and she could not help but smile back, "Thank you, Gohan. It's encouraging to know that some of the ties forms will last."

Videl found, a moment later, that she was still smiling at Gohan and his black eyes, and he was smiling back. Gohan broke the contact and looked down at his plate, which was now empty. He stood up.

"I really should be going. I promised Goten that I would be home to tuck him in and I need to talk with Ms. Carpenter before I leave. It was nice meeting you."

Videl stood up also and answered with her last question, "It was nice meeting you too Gohan . . .One last thing, though. Where, where did Goten get his strength?"

Gohan seemed to freeze. Gaining control of himself a moment later, he replied, "Strength runs in the family." With a broad smile and wave, Gohan left the table.

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Gohan burst into ssj as soon as he jumped off of the school roof (AN: I just had to have him leaving from the school roof. Makes me laugh) and soared through the air, headed for home. He was glad that he went. Human interaction was good for him. It had been nice to talk to an intelligent being that did not have pointy green ears or spiky black hair. The food had been good to! It had been extremely hard for Gohan to eat at a human pace and with a human appetite. He decided to come into town sometime in the future and eat out at a restaurant. He would have to come by himself though. Two half-saiya-jins would be too much for any regular restaurant to handle. A light glowed amongst the trees a distance away. There was his home.

Goten was waiting patiently in bed for Gohan when he arrived.

"Mr. Piccolo went home when he felt you ki coming." Goten greeted him.
"That's fine," Gohan plopped down next to Goten, "You 'bout ready for bed, Squirt?"

"Tell me a story first Gohan!" Goten said excitedly.

Gohan could not help but chuckle at Goten's eagerness, "Which one?"

"Tell me about . . . Frieza!"

"Okay. There once was an evil tyrant called Frieza . . ."

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As she entered her apartment, Videl forced all thoughts of Gohan and Goten out of her mind. The whole situation was too confusing and depressing. She did not want to be thinking about it all, tonight in her apartment. It was too late and any thoughts she had would be foolish and not even worth thinking about.

Videl plopped wearily down onto her dark plum bedspread. It had been a long day, yet she was not ready to go to bed yet. Videl looked around her apartment contentedly. The dark colored theme gave the room a slightly exotic yet calming ambiance. Various tropical plants were scattered about the room and kitchenette. There were no overhead lights, yet a lamp was lit on her desk beside her laptop and another was lit beside her bed. Her room was perfect, and she loved it, yet it seemed so empty.

Videl had tried to cover up the emptiness with all of her favorite book, stuffed in various corners of the room and by buying more and more plants to take up space. It was still empty. And lonely. Videl never realized that she would miss the staff, and even her father's presences so much.

Sighing, she slipped out the screen door of her apartment onto the small balcony. She was several stories up in an apartment building walking distance from Campus. The city lights glowed warmly at her, but Videl still felt lonely and empty. She hugged herself tightly and turned gently from side to side. No good.

It would probably help if she had friends. Erasa was really the only person she could trust to be her friend, and Erasa was at a smaller college out of town. Videl could not make any friends at school because all they saw was Hercule's daughter. Friends would be nice, but what Videl longed for was a relationship. A boyfriend. The only problem was she had yet to find anyone who met her requirements. Yes, she had requirements. He needed to be intelligent, sweet, well mannered, good with children, and stronger than her. None of the guys she knew filled that last requirement, yet it was a must. She would just feel too uncomfortable were she able to physically control her partner.

"Don't think so negatively!" Videl scolded herself out loud, "There's someone out there who is perfect for you. He's waiting for you, just like you are waiting for him."

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What do you think, eh? I would really like to know and I know that you really want to tell me, so, why don't you review!?!? I know that there were not many questions and Gohan did not gorge himself, so I'm very sorry if any of you are disappointed! Now that Gohan and Videl have been introduced, I'm planning on changing the story's genre to romance and putting in oodles more G/V lovin! Of course, I'll put in even more if I get requests (in the form of reviews)! Please, be a super special person and review!

-pd