No matter how much Chichi tried to continue living her life as normal as possible, it became increasingly difficult with every passing moment.

It was true; she had gone through this once before. When Goku died while fighting his brother Raditz, it devastated her, but when he went to the planet Namek, it nearly killed her. He didn't actually die, but he did not want to come home. Why is it that Goku never wants to come home? Does he not love her? What made her so undesirable that he never wanted to come back to her? These thoughts and more plagued Chichi's mind constantly. Every second of thought made her feel just that much more worthless. If Gohan had left her as well, life would have no meaning - only he motivated her to wake every morning.

Yet another day had passed, another drawn-out day without Goku. If one had counted the days as Chichi did, they would count exactly five weeks

since that fateful battle with Cell.

As she stared at her only son, it made her sad to think of what he is forced to go through; growing up never knowing when or if he would ever see his own father. Chichi often wondered if Gohan even knew this person he proudly calls "father." Chichi brushed the hair away from the sleeping boys' eyes. Gohan responded by letting out a small moan and shifted slightly. She smiled and decided it was time for her to sleep as well.

Once she entered her barren bedroom, she slowly closed the door behind her and shrugged off her cotton bathrobe revealing the rather not-so-there nightgown. Chichi walked over to the open window across the room and sat on the small bench in front of it.

'So beautiful,' she thought as she took a glimpse outside, the warm summer breeze tickled and teased at Chichi's skin and hair. She tilted her neck to the side and slightly touched her fingers to her neck, letting contact last for the briefest of moments. When she closed her eyes she could see and almost feel the light kisses from Goku's lips upon her skin. But when she opened her eyes once again, the heavenly sensation and memory faded rapidly leaving her feeling empty again. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around herself and cried like every other night, crying until she had not a single tear left to shed or energy left to give.

~*~

Daylight broke, and Gohan burst into his mother's room to only find her where he's found her almost everyday, sitting at that same window and half-clothed. It broke him up to see his mother like this everyday, so it was time to get her out and about today, time to get her socializing and get her mind off of Goku.

Gohan went into the kitchen and began to cook breakfast for a change. The customary smell of fried dinosaur eggs and steak aroused Chichi's senses enough to wake her up from her sleep. Barely awake, she tossed on her bathrobe, and with her eyelids still half-draped over her eyes, she trudged into the kitchen area. Her eyes instantly opened when she saw Gohan offering her a plate of food.

"Well, this is different. Why didn't you tell me you were hungry?" Chichi asked through a yawn, taking the plate and sitting down.

"Nah, you deserve it," Gohan said with a smile. "Oh, eat fast, okay?"

"What for?"

"Bulma invited us over this morning. She wants to have a little social hour." Gohan stuffed some of the food from his enormous plate into his mouth and chewed rather messily.

"Honey, I don't think I'm really up to going out today..." Chichi frowned a bit, and looked up at her child with an insincere smile.

"But mooooom..." Gohan whined, giving her the 'puppy dog' eyes. "I want to play with baby Trunks!"

Chichi sat and contemplated for a while whether she should or not. "I guess it couldn't hurt."

"Yay!" Gohan quickly engulfed all of the food on his plate and ran to his room to change. Chichi genuinely smiled and began to eat her food as well.

~*~

Gohan excitedly rang the doorbell to the Capsule Corp. and hopped a little. No matter how strong Gohan was he was still a little boy. Bulma opened the door and beamed. Baby Trunks crawled to the door to see who the visitors were this time. Bulma stepped aside to gesture for them to come inside. Gohan darted past her and snatched Trunks into his arms, making the baby laugh wickedly.

"Long time, no see Chichi," Bulma chimed, following up with a hug. "I hope you're okay."

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Chichi allowed herself in and noticed a figure walking in from the backdoor. It was Vegeta obviously coming in from the gravity chamber. He looked a tad pissed, so Chichi quickly looked away and sat herself in the living room.

"How has life treated you, Bulma?" Chichi wondered out loud. "Good I see."

"Yeah, but... quit it Chichi!" Bulma demanded. Surprised by her words, Chichi looked at her rather stunned.

"What?"

"Never mind. Oops, I left Yamcha all alone in the kitchen. I hope Trunks didn't bite him like he did a couple of days ago..."

Chichi let out a giggle as she followed Bulma into the kitchen area. Yamcha was sitting on a chair looking relaxed reading the morning newspaper.

"I thought I was going to be in here alone forever. I knew it was you Chichi," Yamcha said, placing his paper down and taking a sip of coffee.

"You practically live here, so why does that matter, Yamcha?" Bulma retorted. "Anyhow, I invited Chichi over so we could catch up on things, so unless you're going to act grown up, you can leave now."

"Whoa, settle down tiger," he said sarcastically. "Fine by me."

Bulma poured Chichi and herself a cup of tea, and sat down with everyone at the table.

"You know, I don't really feel like talking about him right now..." Chichi said before anyone had a chance to interrogate her about anything. "I've accepted that he's dead for good now, and I can live with it, I just want to have a life right now."

"I understand." Bulma smiled slightly. "How's Gohan been?"

Chichi and Bulma talked for what seemed only minutes, but turned into hours. Five months obviously left a lot for the two old friends to talk about. Every once in a while, Yamcha would include himself in the conversation, only if it didn't include shopping. A baby crying in the distance disrupted their eternal talking session.

"Bulma! Trunks needs a diaper change!" Gohan yelled from the living room.

"That kid, I swear," Bulma fussed. "I'll be back."

Bulma left the room. It seemed as though Bulma was the only reason why Yamcha and Chichi talked at all.

"Personally, you don't seem too happy," Yamcha blatantly said.

Chichi looked at him and narrowed her eyes. "Oh?"

"You're obvious," he pointed out, now staring her straight in the eyes. "Goku was a great guy, you can't be over him that quick."

"Why... no one asked you..." Chichi said defensively.

"Believe me," he said, his eyes saddening. Bulma walked in the room again. Yamcha pointed with his eyes toward Bulma and said, "I know because I still can't."

Bulma looked a bit perplexed. "Did I miss something?"

"No, not at all," Chichi replied. Yamcha stood and reached in his pocket and pulled out a watch. "Yamcha was just..."

"Getting ready to go home, lots of work to finish," he quickly finished her sentence. As he walked toward the door, he gave Chichi eye contact just before he was completely out. Chichi didn't know how to react to him. She couldn't even tell what message he was sending her... or if she was just being ridiculous.

"Well, that was strange," Bulma said rolling her eyes. "He didn't offend you did he?"

"No, he just... never mind." Chichi laughed a little and gathered her belongings. "I bet you're tiring of my company, and I have some things I have to do, so I'll see you around I guess."

"Chichi, you know I never tire of you. What's with you?" Bulma asked, a little worry in her voice.

"Don't be so concerned, Bulma, you'll get gray hairs like me."

Bulma laughed, and walked her over to the front door. "I'm here Chichi, just call me."

Chichi smiled and nodded.

"Gohan! We're leaving!" Chichi called to her son. "Thank you for getting me out today, I needed it."

"Any time."

Gohan ran around the corner, looking a little worn out. "Bye Bulma," he said, smiling at her.

"Don't be a stranger!"