Day 4 for Gochi Fall event! The divergence in the canon timeline continues in this story, but it still takes place in the Cell saga.

I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are appreciated.

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Day 4: Sweater/Coffee/Warm: Getting to Know Goten
The loud baby's cry woke Chi-Chi up very early that Saturday. It had been eight months since Goku sacrificed himself to kill Cell and there hasn't been a single day that passed by that she didn't wish he was still here and didn't miss their youngest son being born and his first months of life.
"Hello, Goten." She said with a smile when she approached his crib. "How are you feeling today? Did you sleep well?"
Goten simply smiled at her widely. Chi-Chi bit her lower lip and tried to fight her tears. He was a perfect replica of Goku and that made her cope with his absence in a better way. She picked him up and went to sit back on her bed, that was emptier without her husband. The baby immediately aimed for her breast.
"Looks like someone's hungry."

"Mom, where are you?" Gohan's voice echoed from the hall and seconds later he appeared on her door.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Chi-Chi smiled warmly at him and tapped the space beside her on the bed. "Come here."
She pulled him into a hug the moment he sat by her side. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did. Did you?"
"Me too." She lied, though she knew he knew it as well. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm hanging in there. Some days are worse than the others. If my ego wasn't so big, dad would still be here and wouldn't miss Goten's birth."
"It wasn't your fault, Gohan." She assured him. "You were just a child, your father should have known better. He should have been honest with you since the start and told you about his plan."
"I still feel bad about it." He felt tears forming in his eyes. "I miss dad so much."
"Oh, Gohan." Chi-Chi put a sleepy Goten on the bed and turned to her older son, wrapping her arms around him tight. "I know you do. I miss him too."
"Why did he decide to stay dead? I mean, I know he didn't want any other enemies to come to Earth, but that also meant losing the moment Goten was born."
"I wasn't happy about it either, but you know how your father is. Once he has this idea, nothing or no one can change his mind." She stroked his hair softly. "I learned to live with that. It wouldn't be Goku if he was different."
"You have a point." Gohan pulled away from his mother. "I love you, mom."
"I love you too, sweetie. You've been so great throughout this situation. You're the best partner I could ask for. Goten is very lucky to have you as a big brother."
"I'm lucky to have him too." He bent over and grabbed his tiny hand. "It's so amazing that he looks just like dad. It's like I'm seeing him."
"I feel the same way. How about we have a picnic later on?"
"A picnic?"
"We can have a big red and white towel spread on our yard and a bunch of delicious food. Just you, me and Goten."
"I like that idea! I can help you prepare the food."
"I would love that. We can spend some time together too."
"Definitely. Let's do this."
"I'm just going to put Goten back on his crib and then we can start."
"I can do this."
"Okay." Chi-Chi watched proudly as her two sons bond. She wondered if Goku was listening to it all the way at Mr. Kaioh's planet.

.

Gohan was taking care of Goten in the yard while Chi-Chi prepared the rest of the food.
"Gohan, can you help me over here with the food for a moment?"
"What about Goten, mom?"
"You can put him in the trolley."
"But…"
"It's okay, sweetie. He won't get hurt. We'll be right there."
"Okay."

"Wow, mom, everything is delicious." Gohan stated after he finished his second dish.
"Thank you, sweetie. You can eat more if you want to. There's enough food."
"I think I'm full." He looked down at his brother and noticed he couldn't stop staring at the center of the towel. "But Goten wants it."
"That's the Saiyan blood talking. Being extra hungry since a baby."
"Was I like this too?"
"No, you didn't eat as much. Maybe because you didn't have the ability to turn into a Saiyan until you were in your late childhood."
"So you think Goten can already do it?"
"It's very likely. I wouldn't be surprised if he could turn into a Saiyan form at a young age."
"He's very strong already." Gohan looked down at him. "I can feel his ki."
"We'll have to train him ourselves when he's old enough."
"What? Train him?"
"With your father gone and what happened a few months ago, I feel like we can have as much help as we need. Who knows when another evil force comes to Earth. What do you think?"
"Mom, I think it's a great idea! We can definitely teach him how to be a fighter."
"I haven't done it in a long time and am nowhere as strong as you and Goku, but I hope I can at least do something to help."
"Can we do it too? I don't remember seeing you fight and I'd really like to train with you."
"I'm sorry, Gohan." Chi-Chi bit her lower lip and took a deep breath.
"For what?"
"For being overly strict with you about studying when you were younger. I still think it must be a priority, but I could have let you train with your father a little."
"No, don't apologize. It's not your fault, mom. I didn't want to be a fighter back then and I still don't, but not everything goes our way. I still want to be a successful scientist."
"Of course." Gohan assured her. "But I learned that fighting is also important, to protect our planet. I can't become a scientist if there's no Earth, right?"
"When did you become so mature?" She blinked with surprise.
"Let's see, when I was four I was forced to deal with dangerous animals and learn to get by."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Chi-Chi cut him off, not at all wanting to relive the year he was taken away from her.
"I'm sorry." He apologized. "I didn't mean to make you upset or anything."
"You didn't. It's just a delicate subject. Anyway, let's change the subject."
"Do you think Goten would like a piggyback ride?"
"Definitely! He's still very little to be steady on his own, but I can hold him."
"Great." Gohan handed his brother to their mother and seconds later felt him over his back with his little legs falling over his shoulders.

.

Chi-Chi walked outside the next morning holding a hot cup of coffee. She had found an orange sweater that belonged to Goku in their wardrobe and decided to wear it, something that felt perfectly for that chilly morning. Wearing it made her miss him a little more, but it was like she could feel his presence behind her. She shook her head and drank a little more of her black coffee.
"I really wish you were here today, Goku. I miss you so much."
"I missed you too, Chi-Chi."
She held her cup of coffee tight not to drop it because of her shock. She felt her eyes tear up even before she began to turn around. She bit her lower lip and took a deep breath before looking up at him.
"You're really here?"
"I am." He had the widest grin on his face.
"I've waited for this day for so long." She hesitantly ran her hands through his arms, to make sure he wasn't a mirage or something. "And now it's finally here. You're going to come back for real, right?"
"Absolutely. I couldn't wait to come back and see you. It was very hard to spend this year away."
"Then why didn't you come back sooner? Why did you only wait until now to be brought back to life?"
"As confusing as it sounds, I wanted to train a little more with Mr. Kaioh."
"You didn't come back right away because you wanted to train?!" She was so angry she nearly shouted. "What about me and Gohan, huh? Have you at least thought about us?"
"Of course I have. I haven't spent a single day without thinking about you two. But training wasn't the only reason why I decided to stay dead, actually it was the least important one. I just couldn't risk putting the entire planet into danger again and we both know it would happen eventually if I came back. I thought you'd know that by now."
"I do know it. But I also got to see Gohan blame himself for being extra confident to defeat Cell and you having to step in and end things on your own. The first months were very hard for him, until Goten was born. He had to be stronger for his little brother and for me too. He didn't say it out loud, but I know he felt that way."
"I'm sorry, Chi-Chi. I had no idea you all felt this way. I thought I was looking out for everyone by making that decision. I didn't think about how you and Gohan would feel and I'm sorry for that. I want to make up for it."
"Well, you can start by meeting your son."
"Yes, I would love to see Gohan again. Where's he?" Goku looked over his shoulder, searching for him.
"Not Gohan, Goten. I was pregnant when you decided to sacrifice yourself, remember?"
"That's right. I stayed alive for two or three months after you said you were carrying a baby. How old is he now?"
"Four months. He's the sweetest baby ever."
"Where's he now?"
"He's upstairs, sleeping." Chi-Chi began to head to the house and looked over her shoulder towards him. "Do you want to meet him?"
"Of course, of course."
"Then don't just stay there. Let's get inside. You'll be beyond surprised when you see him, trust me."

Goku followed Chi-Chi upstairs and noticed a lot of things had changed since he was gone. The most significant one was the crib that used to be in their bedroom wasn't anymore.
"It's in Gohan's bedroom now."
"Huh?" He looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"You were going to ask about Goten's crib, weren't you?"
"Well, yeah. So they are sleeping together now?"
"They are. I thought it would be good for Gohan to have a company. Goten adjusted pretty well to this change."
"That's good. So were are they?"
"They are sleeping on our bed. Sometimes I let them do that." Chi-Chi looked at him. "Are you ready?"
He nodded. "I've been ready for his moment for almost a year."
"Goku, meet your son, Goten."
Goku couldn't stop a smile from coming into his lips. It was like he was staring at his child version. "Chi-Chi, he looks just like me!"
"I said you'd be beyond surprised. Me and Gohan were too. But in the end, I think he helped us miss you less, if that makes sense." She looked down at him and smiled. "It looks like he's awake."
There was a moment of silence in which Goku and Goten just stared at each other, in awe and curiosity, respectively. The Saiyan shared a look with his wife and she nodded encouragingly.
"You can pick him up."
He stretched his arms and held him in his arms. He had forgotten what it was like to hold a baby. "Chi-Chi, he's so pretty."
"Yes, he is." Chi-Chi couldn't help but smile at their little bonding moment. "We do make some pretty children, don't we?"
"Absolutely." Goku held Goten with only one arm and watched as his tiny hand wrapped around his index finger. "Hello, Goten. It's daddy."
It didn't take long for the baby to grin at him, which caused him to grin just as much.
"He knows who I am."
"Of course he does." Chi-Chi stroked Goten's hair softly. "He heard your voice when you talked to him while I was still pregnant with him."
"Dad!" Gohan exclaimed and hugged Goku as tight as he could. "When did you come back?"
"Not too long ago, son. You became really strong."
"Thanks." He blushed a little. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, son."
"You're staying for good this time, aren't you?"
"That's the plan." His tone was excited.
"Cool!" The boy felt like crying and then looked down at his little brother. "Goten will love having you around."
"And I can't wait to get to know him." Goku looked down at the baby Saiyan in his arm.

.

"Gohan, where are you?" Chi-Chi yelled from the door, cupping her mouth so her voice could echo longer and louder. "It's dinner time."
"Hasn't he come back yet?" Goku came down with Goten in his arms.
"Not yet. He went to the river and hasn't come back for snacks like he does everyday. I'm worried about him."
"I'll go find him."
"Thank you. And put on some warm clothes on Goten if you take him with you. It's cold outside."
"Got it."

"Gohan!" Goku yelled, though he didn't have to. He could feel his son's ki near the lake and headed there with Goten in his arms. "There you are."
"I should have known you'd find me through my ki."
"You really should." He said lightly and sat next to Gohan. "Didn't you hear your mother calling you? Dinner is ready."
"I heard her, but I'm not hungry."
"Gohan!" Goten threw himself towards him and he picked him up.
"You're not hungry? That's too bad, the smell of the food is delicious." Goku gave a light punch on his forearm, but he didn't react at all. "Alright, so Chi-Chi..."
"I'm sorry, dad." Gohan said in an impulse and cut him off. "I'm sorry for getting you killed almost a year ago. If I hadn't had such a big ego, things..."
"Is that what you think?" The oldest Saiyan leaned a bit forward and placed his arms over his thighs, still looking at the calm river ahead. "That's funny, because I think you were pretty brave out there."
"What?" The boy turned to him. "I wasn't."
"No, you were." Goku squeezed his shoulder a little tight. "I should have told you about the plan since the beginning. Piccolo warned me, but I didn't listen. I thought I was doing the right thing. So I'm the one who needs to apologize."
"Dad." Gohan's eyes were teary. "It's not your fault, really. It's mine. And because of me, you missed half of mom's pregnancy and the first months of Goten's life."
"Hey, I don't want you to blame yourself anymore. It was my decision to stay dead and keep the Earth safe for a while. I thought I was protecting the three of you, but I didn't realize you and Chi-Chi would miss me."
"Yeah."
"But I'm back for good now, and I really don't want you to be upset at me. So can we just forgive each other?" Goku placed his arm over Gohan's shoulder and grinned. "Because there hasn't been a single day that I didn't miss my fight partner. And, if you want, I'd love to be yours again."
"Of course!" He exclaimed.
"Awesome." Goku stood up and then offered him his hand. "Now let's go back. Your mother must be worried about you."
"Okay."

"Finally!" Chi-Chi ran outside when she saw they coming and hugged Gohan tight. "I was worried about you. Where have you been?"
"I was by the river. I'm sorry, mom. I lost track of time."
"It's okay, sweetie. Go take a shower. Dinner is ready. We'll wait for you."
"Alright." He ran inside the house as fast as he could.
"Did you talk to him?" She grabbed Goku's forearm and they shared a look.
"Yes, I did."
"And? Don't leave me hanging, Goku. I want to know how it went."
"Well, I think he won't blame himself anymore. I apologized to him and he opened up to me and here we are."
"I'm so happy to hear that!" She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Hey, Chi-Chi." He reached for her hand when she began to walk away.
"What?"
"Can we…" He looked down at Goten and then at her. "You know?"
"Oh." She felt her cheeks burn and was unable to contain a smile. "Absolutely."