A/N: This story takes place after the Cell saga, but before the World
Tournament. Gohan has just taken time off school to train, and Goku is
coming back early and staying for two weeks. Enjoy!
__________________________
Chi-Chi hummed happily as she bustled around the kitchen, readying lunch
for her sons. She was in an unusually good mood today due to two reasons.
The first was that she was soon to see her husband, Son Goku again for
the first time since he died, seven years previous. The second had come
not 30 minutes earlier in the form of a telephone call from her best friend,
Bulma Briefs, currently President of the famous Capsule Corporation. Bulma
had announced to Chi-Chi that Goku would be arriving later that day, and
everyone was meeting at CC for a reuinion. The widowed mother set the table
and strode over to the door to call to Gohan and Goten that it was time
for lunch.
However, when she pulled open the door, the two
were already appraoching the house, Gohan looking a little singed around
the edges. "Hey mom! We came back a little early, we were both starved!"
Her eldest son called. Smiling, Chi-Chi let her sons inside and watched
as they sat down to the dozen and a half plates staked with everything
from sandwiches to rice. Goten frowned as he looked over the feast sitting
before him.
"How come lunch is so small today?" He asked in
a childish voice, looking up at his mother.
Chi-Chi smilied. "Goku's coming home today, that's
why! We're all going over to Capsule Corp. right after lunch; Bulma and
Vegeta are having a party to celebrate his coming home!" She smiled happily
as happines bubbled inside her before sweeping her youngest son off his
chair and hugging him tightly. "You get to see your daddy, Goten! I can't
believe it!" Goten, however was too preoccupied with trying to dislodge
the hamburger in his throat to listen much to his mother. Chi-Chi set Goten
down and the young Saiyin pounded himself forcefully on the chest, finally
swallowing the burger. He looked back up at his mother, whose eyes were
shinning happily and smiled broadly. He couldn't wait, either.
Gohan watched with a small smile as his mother swung
Goten around the room, oblivious to the fact that he was choking. His eyes
momentarily misted over with the thought that he'd soon be seeing his father
again.
Dad.... You're finally coming home... Gohan
quickly dove into his lunch, wishing for the first time that he could remember
that lunch would be over.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Briefs living room was filled with people, friends
and family, both young and old, all waiting for the arrival of one person
who had touched so many lives: Son Goku. Bulma smiled around at the everyone
who had come. It was amazing, really, how much their lives had changed
since that fateful reuinion at Master Roshi's...
Her thoughts were interupted as her nine year old, purple haired son
Trunks tugged on her sleeve.
"Mom, dad said that Goten and Gohan are coming.
When are they gonna be here?" He asked impatiently. Bulma smiled. "Soon,"
Was all she said, before walking toward her husband, Vegeta.
"I see you're in a good mood," She noted as the
silent Saiyin Prince leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed.
He grunted in response. "Kakorott is returning from Other World. That means
I'll be able to defeat him in the World Tournament next week." Bulma rolled
her eyes. "What makes you think Goku'll fight in the World Tournament?"
She asked, just to irk her tempermental husband. Vegeta snorted. "He'll
enter. Kakorott loves a good fight as much as I do, Woman," With that,
he went back to silently brooding in the darkened corner. An excited yell
from across the room made Bulma spin around, thinking that Goku had arrived,
but no.
"Goten! Hey!" Trunks was waving through the open
door to his best friend, who quickly bowled the older boy over, rambling
on about how he was about to meet his father for the first time.
"...and Gohan says he's the strongest guy in the
universe, even stronger than your dad, Trunks. Can you believe that? And
he's MY dad!" The pint sized Goku-look-alike said in a constant stream
of talk. Trunks cocked an eyebrow as he brushed himself off.
"Goten, if your dad's the strongest in the universe,
then how come he's dead?" He asked smartly. Goten scratched his head, looking
confused. "I dunno, Trunks. But Gohan said that he was really, really strong
and awesome! And my brother doesn't lie." He stated matter-of-factly.
Gohan laughed as he walked through the door. "You
listen to Goten, Trunks. Our father IS the strongest man in the universe."
He quickly shut up, however when he caught the glare Vegeta was throwing
him. His silence didn't last long, though.
"Hey, Gohan! Long time, no see! Hey, where's your
girlfriend?" A short, black haired man grinned up at the much-taller Gohan,
who had turned beet red. Through ckenched teeth, the teenager mumbled.
"I don't have a girlfriend, Krillin!" Then, "Hey, when did you get hair?"
A rare occasion, a faint blush crept over Krillin's features. "Well-" But
he was cut off as an audible gasp rose from the gathered crowd. Everyone
who hadn't been looking turned around, and found Goku, still wearing his
old orange gi and a more recent accesory, a golden halo floating above
his untamable black hair. He smiled goofily at everyone and gave a little
wave (ha! I rhymed!)
"Hi! Well, is everyone just gonna stand around staring
at me all day?" He said. All but a few people rushed forward to deliver
happy greetings. Bulma, Vegeta, Chi-Chi, Gohan, Goten and Trunks were mainly
those few. Bulma had burst into tears of joy, therefore not rushing forward,
and Chi-Chi couldn't move with a shy Goten latched onto her leg from behind.
Gohan stood there, hardly able to believe his eyes, and Vegeta.... well,
Vegeta hadn't to have moved at all since his conversation with Bulma. Gently
pushing through the small group of people nearest him, he approached Gohan
and Chi-Chi. (Goten was hiding)
Gohan's face broke into a huge smile as his father
walked up. "Hi dad." He said akwardly. Goku looked at his son in amazment.
"Gohan, you're giant!" He exclaimed. Gohan laughed as Goten peeked out
from around Chi-Chi's legs. Goku started at seeing a mirror image of his
younger self behind his watery-eyed wife. "Uh, Chi-Chi... I think there's
a little ME hiding behind your leg!" He said, pointing. Goten smiled sheepishly.
"Goten, it's alright. You can come out; come meet
your daddy." Chi-Chi said sweetly. Reluctantly, the young boy went to stand
before his mother, dressed in the same orange gi as his long-dead father.
"Hi." Goku said with a smile, bending down so that
he was eye-level with his youngest son. "My name's Goku- what's yours?"
Goten shuffled his feet nervously. " I'm... Goten..." He said, wearing
an identical smile to that of his father's. A few moments passed in utter
silence, before Goten's shy-streak broke and he lept at his father, yelling,
"Daddy!" And laughing as Goku caught him easily and set him on his shoulder.
A/N: K, that was a short and rather boring chapter, I know. The next
one will be much better, I promise. This one would've been longer, but
I had to cut it short in order to go to marching band. *mutters dark curses
about upcoming parade**brightens* Anyways! R&R please!!!!