His Special Gift
Part Five: The Newest Son
Gohan watch the sun rise with a frown. It's been nine months now since his father's death. Gohan stared at a picture of his family. It was taken at his birthday party his Mom threw days before the Cell Games. It was the three of them. Goku had an arm around Chi-Chi and Gohan stood in front of them. They were all smiling in the picture.
His father was gone and soon his mother was going to give birth. He had to tell his mom what happened that day. He only told her half of it. Of the battle, he told his Mom that he was fighting Cell one moment and then he turned into a giant being set to detonate like a bomb so his father took himself and Cell from Earth. He didn't tell Cell that he toyed with him, that he didn't finish Cell off like his father told him. How could he? His mother would be upset with him. He saw how angry she was with Goku's friends when they came by the next day to express their condolences. If he told his mother, he wasn't sure what she would do.
"Gohan!"
From the sound of her voice, his mother sounded like she was in pain. He left his desk and ran into his mother's room. He found her sitting on the bed, her hands on her stomach. "Mom, what is it?"
"I think it's time, Gohan. I've been having pains more frequently. I have to go to the hospital."
Gohan had prepared for this. His mom made sure he knew what to do. "I'll go call, Grandpa."
"No, I have to go now. I can't wait. We'll have to take Nimbus. Tell your grandfather we'll meet him at the hospital." She cried in pain again as she felt a contraction.
Gohan quickly called his grandpa and told him about the situation. He then grab Chi-Chi's suitcase, which she had packed it a month earlier. Gohan helped his mother on Nimbus and they were off to the hospital.
Once she got to the hospital, Chi-Chi's water broke. Chi-Chi was given a hospital room and while she filled out the paperwork, Gohan called everyone to let them know that she was in the hospital.
Gohan came back in the room where Chi-Chi was talking to her Dad. "I called Bulma, Krillin and Yamcha. Bulma and Krillin told me to call when the baby is born and Yamcha said he was on his way."
"He doesn't have to come now," Chi-Chi said. "I'm just starting labor. I probably won't be ready until the afternoon."
"Yeah, your mother is making me go home and get some sleep. I'll be back in a few hours," Ox King kissed her daughter on the cheek and patted Gohan's head before leaving the room.
"Is it really gonna be this afternoon?" Gohan asked.
"Yeah. I'm only dilated by two centimeters. The doctor said I'll have to be dilated by ten before I'm ready," Chi-Chi explained. "Gohan, now that we are alone, I'd like to ask you something."
"Sure."
"I want you to be in the room with me when I give birth. Your father was here to hold my hand when I gave birth to you. I want you to take his place and hold my hand when I give birth to this child."
Gohan smiled. "Sure, Mom."
"I must warn you, I almost broke your Dad's hand so you may be in some pain when I deliver."
Gohan was surprised. "You almost broke Dad's hand?"
Chi-Chi laughed. "Labor's painful. You'll see."
The door opened and Yamcha entered. "Hi, ready to deliver?"
"No, not for a while. I--" she groaned in pain for a moment and Yamcha was at her side in a flash. She opened her eyes when the pain was over. "Just a small contraction. You don't have to be here. Gohan will call you when the baby comes."
"Are you sure? I can wait," Yamcha suggested.
"Thanks, but I'll be all right. I have Gohan with me. He's doing such a good job with me now. His father would be proud."
Yamcha almost frown. "Well, if you feel that way, I'll go then. Let me know when the kid comes," he told Gohan as he got up and left.
****
Baba flew on her crystal ball in a hurry as she searched for Goku on the Grand Kai's planet. Chi-Chi was in labor and was going to have the baby. She promised Goku she would tell him when it was time.
"Where is he?" She asked herself. "Where's that King Kai? He'd know."
She flew to the training grounds where the fighters fought. She saw King Kai talking with a fighter in the North Quadrant. "King Kai, where's Goku?"
"Goku? He's eating. Why?"
"His wife is having his baby."
"She is?! Kai almost shrieked. "Why didn't you say so? He's been pacing the past few days wondering when you would show."
They found Goku in the kitchen eating piles and piles of food. "More, please," Goku requested the cook as he ate another plate full of food. The cook put another plate before him and Goku was fast at eating his next plate.
"Goku!" King Kai called.
Goku finished another plate and saw King Kai and Baba. "Oh, Wi!" Goku said with a mouth full of food. He started choking and pounded his chest to get the food down. "Hey, Baba! I thought I felt your presence. Is it time?"
"Yes, Goku, it's time. She's having the baby now."
Goku, King Kai and Baba sat on the green grass outside Grand Kai's place watching the events in Baba's crystal ball. Goku saw Chi-Chi in labor, screaming as she pushed. Gohan was with her, holding her hand. Goku grinned seeing Gohan in pain as well. Goku remembered that feeling of Chi-Chi squeezing the life out of his hand when Gohan was born.
Chi-Chi collapsed on the bed, tired, covered in sweat. "I can't push anymore."
"But Mom, the doctor said you have to give one more big push and it'll be over. Come on, Mom. One more."
Chi-Chi, you've never been a quitter so don't stop now.
"Goku?" Chi-Chi called. Gohan looked confused.
"What, Mom?"
"Your father," Chi-Chi said as she struggled to sit up. "I thought I heard him. He doesn't want me to give up. I think I'm ready to push."
"See?" Goku said proudly looking at Baba. He had his hand on King Kai's shoulder. "All she needed was a little encouragement."
Chi-Chi cried out one last time with all she had, Gohan winced in pain. He may have defeated Cell and helping his mother deliver her baby should be easy, but this was really painful. Chi-Chi collapsed on the bed, spent. There was another cry heard and it came from her child.
"Congratulations," the doctor said holding a crying baby covered in amniotic fluid, screaming his lungs out. "You have a son."
"Whoo-Hoo!" Goku cried jumping in the air. "I have a son! Yes! All right!" He flew around in happy circles a few more times before landing. "That's great! I really wanted another boy! And what a set of lungs he has!"
"Why? Why not a girl?" Baba asked.
"A girl would be great, but I really wanted another boy to look after Chi-Chi for me. This new boy will help Gohan take care of her."
"Ah," Baba said smiling at his noble gesture.
Chi-Chi sat in bed and waited patiently to see her son. After cleaning up the baby and cutting his cord, the nurse wrapped the baby in a soft, blue blanket and handed him to his mother. Chi-Chi held the baby with care. She pulled back the cover to see his face. "Oh, my."
"Wow! He looks just like me," Goku noted seeing the baby through the ball.
"What is it, Mom?" Gohan asked and then saw his baby brother. The spiky black hair was what caught him. The baby had his eyes closed but even without looking at his eyes, Gohan knew what his mother knew. "He looks just like Dad."
"I know," Chi-Chi said choking on her words. She fought back the tears. She held the newborn close to her and looked upward. "Thank you, Goku. I'm going to name him Goten." Chi-Chi looked down at the baby. "That's your name, Goten." She looked at Gohan. "Want to hold your baby brother?"
"Sure," Gohan said before taking his baby brother gently out of his mother's arms. The baby looked so small and fragile. "He's so tiny."
"You were, too," Chi-Chi said. "Look at you, holding him like a pro. Your father was that way, too. He never held a baby before, but he held you like a pro."
Gohan smiled proudly. He looked down at Goten who moved his arms out of the blanket. His eyes were still closed. Gohan reached and touched his tiny hand. "His hand is so small."
Chi-Chi laughed. "Yours were, too."
Gohan held Goten for a few more minutes before the nurse took Goten away after a few more minutes to be weighed and measured and make sure he was in good health for a newborn. Gohan went to make the calls to everyone about the birth and Chi-Chi was taken back to her room where she waited for both her sons return.
****
Gohan held his baby brother in his arms. His eyes were still closed. Goten seem to be sleeping. He was a big brother now. He was going to help his Mom raise this little boy. He was going to look out for him, teach him about camping and fishing like his father did. This little boy was going to look up to him with his father's eyes, he knew. He was going to feel guilt for the rest of his life for what he took from his baby brother--his father.
Looking at Goten sleeping, he couldn't take it anymore. He wasn't going to hide. That's not how his father would've acted. He was going to tell his mother everything and own up to it. His mother may be mad at him for it but he wasn't going to hide it anymore.
Gohan put Goten in his cart and looked at his Mom. "Mom, there's something I have to tell you."
Chi-Chi saw the seriously in his face. "What is it, Gohan?"
"I've been keeping something from you. I never told you all that had happened when Dad died."
Chi-Chi looked concern. "What, Gohan?"
"I was fighting Cell like I told you but I was playing with him. I didn't finish him off like Dad told me. I kept telling Cell to surrender because he couldn't win against me. I got cocky. Dad kept telling me that Cell was never going to surrender and that I should just finish him off, but I didn't. I punched him, knocking Android 18, out of him. I could've finished him off then, but I didn't. Then Cell got the upper hand. He increased his size to be a giant bomb and threaten to blow the world up. I couldn't defeat Cell. It was my entire fault. Then Dad showed up and well, you know the rest. It's my fault Mom. It's my fault that Dad died." Gohan cried. Tears ran down his face. "If I didn't lose my head, then Dad would be here with us celebrating Goten's birth. It's all my fault. I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry."
Chi-Chi pulled Gohan to hug him. She let her son cry on her. As much mourning she had been doing, she hadn't noticed Gohan. Whenever she asked, he would tell her he was fine. She knew she should've checked on him more.
'He's been holding all this for the past nine months. He blames himself for his father's death.'
"Gohan," Chi-Chi gently spoke. "Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. Why didn't you tell me you felt this way?"
"I thought you would be mad at me, like you were with Krillin, Yamcha and Piccolo for not saving Dad. I thought you would hate me."
"Oh, honey, I could never hate you. You're my son. I love you. You didn't do anything wrong. You shouldn't have been on that battle field anyway. You're a child." She pulled back and wiped Gohan's tears away. "Now, I don't want you blaming yourself for your father's death. Your father knew what he was doing when he died and it was his decision not to come back. He could've return but he didn't. I don't hate you, Gohan. I'm not mad at you. I could never be. From now on, I don't want you feeling guilty about your father's death, all right. I don't want you and I know your father wouldn't want you to think he's the cause of you being sad and depressed. Okay?"
Gohan smiled, happy to have his conscience free and happy his mother wasn't angry at him. "So, you're not mad at me?"
"Of course not." 'I'll be mad at your father but I'll never be mad at you.'
****
"Aw, he's so cute," Bulma commented, holding Goten. Krillin, Bulma and Yamcha were in the room with Gohan and Chi-Chi looking and wanting to take turns in holding Goku's newest child. "I believe I found a playmate for Trunks."
"I can't believe he looks so much like Goku," Krillin commented and clamped his hands. "Oh, sorry, Chi-Chi. I didn't--"
"It's okay, Krillin. I know he does."
Krillin nodded and looked at her desk and saw a dozen lilac flowers. "Hey, where did you get the flowers?"
"Yamcha," Chi-Chi said as Bulma handed the baby back to her.
Krillin looked at Yamcha who was staring at Chi-Chi. 'Why am I the only one against this? Of course, besides Bulma, I'm the only one who knows.' "Was it painful?" Krillin asked.
"Yeah. It was, but what was strange was that I felt Goku's presence, encouraging me."
Yamcha almost looked guilty. "You felt Goku?"
"Yes," Chi-Chi said. "I thought I heard him say I wasn't a quitter and I shouldn't quit now."
"I felt the same presence with Dad when I was fighting Cell," Gohan added. "Maybe Dad was talking to you, Mom."
"Oh, I hope he was," Chi-Chi said. "I think your father is watching over us, Gohan," Chi-Chi said as Bulma handed Goten back to her.
"Well, hopefully, he's watching over you and Gohan, Chi-Chi," Krillin said grinning as he rubbed the back of his head. "I wouldn't want him to be looking over all of us. He might not like what he's seeing. Ow!" Krillin cried as Bulma smacked him on his bald head.
"What do you mean about that?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Krillin probably talking about himself since he had a crush on Android 18."
Krillin just grumbled.
A nurse entered the room. "Excuse me, but visiting hours are over. You'll have to leave."
"All right. I have to get home anyway," Bulma said. "I'll stop by your home in a few days. I know it's gonna be hectic with that baby around." Bulma waved and left.
"Yeah, I'll see you around. Call if you need anything okay," Krillin said before leaving.
"Congratulations, Chi-Chi," Yamcha said before leaving.
Ox King kissed his daughter on the cheek. "I'm proud of you, sweetie. I'll come back tomorrow to take you home." Ox King went to stand by the door waiting for Gohan.
Gohan hugged his Mom and looked down at his baby brother. "I'll be back as soon as I can tomorrow, Mom."
"I'll see you later, son." Gohan smiled and left with his grandpa. The nurse walked over to take Goten. "Oh, can I be with him for a few more minutes."
The nurse smiled. "I'll come back," she said and left.
Chi-Chi picked up Goten and held him. He lay sleeping. "My beautiful Goten. You look so much like your father."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Chi-Chi stopped talking when she heard a noise. She looked around and didn't see anything. She shrugged and looked at her son. "I bet you're going to have an appetite like him. I know your father wished he could be here."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Chi-Chi put Goten down in his cart. This time she heard the noise from her window. She walked to it and to her shock she saw Vegeta. What the…? She opened the door and Vegeta stepped in.
"What are you…"
He walked passed her to Goten. He looked down at Goten sleeping. He turned to face her. "I came to say you did well."
Chi-Chi blinked. "Excuse me?"
Vegeta sighed. He didn't want to say this more than once. "You're strong for carrying this child and getting over Kakarot's death. Saiyans form a bond when they choose a mate for life and when one dies suddenly, some mourn, and some kill others or themselves. You persevered, so you did well." He folded his arms. "I just hope you don't make this child into a weakling."
Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "I'll raise him well and his father will be proud. Don't worry. He'll be stronger than you."
Vegeta scoffed. "Get real. He'll never be stronger than me. I should kill you for making such a remark."
"Oh, I don't think you'd want to do that. You see, if you kill me, then Gohan will kill you for killing me and he'll send you to Other World where you would have to deal with Goku and he won't be too happy with you for killing me."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
"Thank you for your words. Goku's death was tough, but this child made me persevere."
"Like I care. I said what I had to say." Vegeta said stepping out the window and flying back to his home.
Chi-Chi returned to look down at Goten. Staring at the innocent child, she knew he had changed her life for the better because of him. He helped her through the most difficult period in her life. Things would be different. How? She wasn't sure yet, but something inside her told her life would be changed forever by this child.
To Be Continued
Part Six: Forgiveness Through Innocence
Lotus Demon: I guess since Piccolo is friends with Goku and Gohan, he wouldn't think it was right that Yamcha make a move on Goku's wife.
CB: I agree Chi-Chi can be just as naïve as Goku sometimes. One of the reasons why they are meant for each other. In the Cell Saga where Goku was looking for the dragon balls, Chi-Chi was at Master Roshi's. Krillin and Yamcha were there too watching Hercule on TV pulling three buses. He punch a hole in one of the buses and ripped three phone book pages. The crowd cheered Hercule on thinking he was strong enough to beat Cell. Master Roshi said, "That's sad." He was referring to the people for thinking Hercule could beat Cell. Chi-Chi said, "I agree. Someone could've used that bus." Everyone else was looking 'Oh…kay.' Yeah, Yamcha is going to realize his ideas are foolish. I think that's in the next two chapters.
GOGI: Hope you enjoyed this one.
Lady Athena: Nah, couldn't make it a Y/CC. I don't they have anything in common to form a relationship.
Gogirl: Chi-Chi only love is Goku. It's kind of obvious how she is around him.
Trinity: Thank you!
NickeyWhite2: Well, thank you! She is one of my favorites, so I understand her very well.
