Gerald appeared in front of Buu with Goku under one arm. Gerald knew that they had escaped the explosions, but they weren't out of the woods yet. Gerald turned just in time to pull Goku's arm down to prevent him from going back into the burning hell they just escaped.

"Where do you think you're going? You can't go back in there!" Gerald said.

"You left Vegeta in there! Someone's got to go and...." Goku had tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Vegeta is gone! Search your feelings you know it's true! You can't save him!" Gerald yelled back.

Goku stared back at the maelstrom for a few seconds. Then his shoulders slumped. Vegeta was gone.

"Why...?" Goku couldn't believe it.

"Goku, Vegeta knew that if he let go of her she would simply teleport away. He gave his life for us. Did you think you were the only one qualified to give your life to save others?" Gerald said. "I know you are used to being the big altruistic hero and all, but we have a larger problem right now. Do you feel that?"

Goku stretched out his feelings and met a wall of energy coming at them at the speed of light.

"That's the shock wave of the explosion of the star and your Spirit Bomb, and we can't get out of its way." Gerald said barely able to hide the despair in his voice. "I don't think I can fully shield us from it either."

"Buu help!" Buu said.

"I don't think you have the power either big guy." Gerald said.

"Look! There it is!" Goku pointed. In front of them, looming up like a huge tidal wave came a vast wall of energy. They couldn't hear it, but the vibrations it was putting off rumbled in their stomachs.

"Look at that!" Buu pointed.

On the leading edge of the wave, like a gigantic surfboard, the Citadel rode undamaged. Seven crystals were orbiting it like electrons orbit their neutrons. On the font edge, Uub's body was buffeted like a leaf in the wind.

"There! That's our chance!" Gerald said as he extended a powerful blue ki shield around all of them and took off toward the Citadel. "Got to get there! If I miss, we're all cooked!"

Gerald crashed into the paving stones at the foot of the fountain and dropped his ki shield. Goku and Buu stood up and looked around. Amazingly, the entire place looked almost untouched other than the earlier battle damage it suffered, there was still breathable air, and the temperature was around 80 degrees.

"Buu? Where are you going?" Goku said as Buu ran over to the fountain and plunged his hand in.

"That's right! Goku slapped his head, the fountain grants one with to who ever takes a drink!" Goku followed behind Buu.

Buu brought up a glove full of water and drank deeply.

"BUU WISH UUB BACK TO LIFE!" Buu yelled loudly.

A couple hundred yards away, Uub's body glowed momentarily and his body sucked in a lung full of air. Uub's eyes fluttered open as he sat up.

Uub got up groggily and shook the cobwebs out of his head well enough to sense the presence of his friends. Weakly, Uub flew up and toward his comrades.

"He's coming! I feel it!" Goku cheered. He to reached into the fountain and drew out a handful of water to drink.

He drank deeply and started to make his wish.

"What are you wishing for Kakkarot?" Vegeta's disembodied voice reached into his head.

"What do you think? I'm wishing you back to life!" Goku mentally answered.

"Why?" Vegeta asked.

"Because! You're my friend and you didn't deserve to die like that!" Goku answered trying to hold back his tears.

"Stop whining Kakkarot! Sometimes I have to question whether you are Saiyan at all!" Vegeta chastised. "I did deserve to die like that! Remember? That's the way I set out to die years ago! What's left for me in life but a slow death anyway? I died the way every warrior should. Don't you understand Kakkarot? Surely you of all people should understand this! I died standing on my feet fighting an unbeatable enemy. You would have done the very same. What will happen to me if you wish me back now? Royal duties and old age Kakkarot, no more than that. You and I won't even be able to fight anymore eventually. We will have to sit in our rockers while Gerald, Jessica, Bardock Jr. and the brats on Earth fly off to save the universe. I really don't want to become that... obsolete."

"But Vegeta, you still have plenty of time left..." Goku started.

"Kakkarot... Goku... Don't wish me back. Don't you see? We can't live forever. Eventually we have to step aside and let the following generations handle the universe. Once, many years ago, I would have happily drank from that fountain and wished for immortality. I was a fool; I hadn't realized what a curse that would have been. Everything and every person were given a set span of years, and we've been cheating death for a long time Goku. It's time I let go." Vegeta finished.

"I understand Vegeta. I don't like it, but I understand." Goku said sadly.

"Are you afraid of death?" Vegeta asked a bit surprised. "You've died several times to save others, how can you be afraid of death?"

"Not the actual dying Vegeta. I've died many times before, but it never had the feeling of permanence before, I always knew that one-day, some how, I would be back. I've never even considered the possibility of never coming back again, never seeing my beloved Earth again, never seeing Vegetasei again, and never seeing you again Vegeta. That terrifies me more than any enemy I've ever faced." Goku admitted.

A gentle hand closed on Goku's shoulder as he looked up into the eyes of his mate. Beyond Chi-Chi, stood Piccolo, Uub, Jessica, Bulma, Hercule, Gerald Jr. and Buu.

"Death is supposed to be permanent Goku." Vegeta continued. "If not for you, I would have been gone that day on Namek by Frieza's hand. I wasn't ready to go then, and I am grateful for having been saved, but it's time to move on to the next challenge."

"Where are you Vegeta?" Bulma pushed forward. "Just what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"That choice is yours my love. You choose to share my life years ago, then you choose to join me in life again. Will you now join me in death?" Vegeta asked.

Bulma smiled. "To the end of the universe if necessary."

Bulma plunged her hand into the fountain and brought the water to her lips and drank deeply. "I wish to be with my husband, now and always."

Bulma's body glowed slightly, then a halo appeared over her head.

"Goodbye old friends. We'll see you later." Bulma smiled and waved.

"Yes, we will meet again." Goku lifted his hand weakly and waved back.

Bulma disappeared.

"It'll be alright Goku." Chi-Chi embraced her husband.

Uub walked up to the fountain and also took a drink.

"Remember why we took this trip in the first place guys? Buu wanted to be human." Uub said. "Do you still want to be human Buu?"

"Yes! Very much! I want to be human!" Buu clapped his hands.

"Okay then! I wish Buu were human!" Uub said.

Buu's large body began to glow and in a few seconds he began to change shape and shrink. The next thing anyone knows there is a bright flash and when everyone's eyes clear, there was a chubby, pink, baby boy with a long shock of blonde hair extending from his head, laying on the ground. He was swaddled in Buu's purple cape.

Hercule looked at the baby in wonder. He bent and picked Buu up and cradled him in his arms.

"If he starts cooing at it I'm going to be sick!" Piccolo said.

Jessica was by Hercule playing with the baby's hand and making goo-goo sounds.

"Okay, now how do we get out of here?" Gerald asked.

"I wish we were back in our own dimension." Goku said flatly.

The universe changed. It was as if a cosmic reshuffling was taking place. The Crystals flew down and fitted themselves into the dais over top of the fountain and began to glow, and the Citadel started shaking. The stars above them seemed to shift and waver.

The seven forbidden dimensions were back were they once belonged.

"Yes! We're back! I can feel all our friends and my parents!" Jessica said elatedly.

Goku wondered vaguely why his father, brother, Gohan and Videl were on Earth, but he was too depressed to give it much thought. Goku had often suffered from after battle let down, but nothing like this before. If he hadn't come on this stupid quest, his friend would still be alive! Vegeta died because he couldn't accept boredom.

"Come on Goku, let's get out of here." Chi-Chi said.

Goku got up slowly. Everything seemed so heavy to him. His arms and legs felt like lead. It was work just holding up his head.

"Sure Chi-Chi. Let's go home." Goku finally answered.

Everyone put a hand on Gerald's arm as he instantly transmitted them all home.

Behind them, the Citadel began to crumble and fall apart in space.

The shock wave eventually dissipated without harm.

Gerald had honed in on his father's ki. Unfortunately his father was in the middle of a meeting of the Saiyan Council members. They all appeared out in the middle of the main floor.

Roger had felt them all reenter the universe, all but Vegeta and Bulma. He feared the worst.

A hush fell over the assembled family heads.

"I am glad to see you all alive and well." Roger finally said. "Where is the king?"

Goku looked at all the eyes that were now on them. "King Vegeta... " Goku choked up and restarted. "King Vegeta and Queen Bulma is dead." Goku's eyes hit the floor.

A moment more silence, then all hell broke loose. The heads of the families broke the silence in angry shouts and arguments.

"He cannot remain King!" Someone shouted.

"It was one thing while Vegeta was just away, but he isn't a true Saiyan! A new King must challenge!" Another voice angrily cried.

This went on for several seconds.

"ENOUGH! NO MORE!" a booming voice yelled through the din as a huge aura pushed the assembled council members back into their chairs.

"YOU COWARDLY JACKLES!" Goku was now standing above them in mid air. "YOUR KING IS DEAD AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS PICKING HIS BODY FOR SCRAPS!!"

Goku had gone into Super Saiyan Level Six.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Goku screamed. Tears were streaming down his eyes. "I SHOULD BLAST YOU ALL INTO THE NEXT DIMENSION!"

"Goku! Stop this!" Roger called as he started powering up.

Goku immediately felt Roger's change in power and a high-powered ki ball formed on his hand.

"POWER DOWN ROGER!" Goku warned loudly.

Roger realized that even at his full power. He could never hope to match Goku's, he had changed while he was away. Roger realized that there was more Kakkarot in him, than Goku right now. Roger powered down.

Goku's ki ball disappeared as he spoke again in a lower voice. "Listen to me well you parasites. King Vegeta's last wishes will be followed TO THE LETTER! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR! If any of you think you can challenge for the throne, feel free, but if you challenge Roger, you also challenge me!"

Gerald, still in his ultimate form, floated up to hover beside Goku. He didn't say a word. If Goku felt his presence, he didn't acknowledge it.

"If any or all of you feel that this is unfair or unjust, then attack now!" Goku finished.

Nobody moved, or spoke.

"Good!" Goku finished and flew out the window.

Chi-Chi was scared; she had only seen this side of her mate one other time. It scared her then as well.

"Please forgive my husband. He's in a lot of pain right now." Chi-Chi thought a moment. "But you know, what you did wasn't very honorable. Don't you Saiyans mourn a fallen king? Vegeta gave his life to ensure the survival of the universe. Gave his life for each and every one of you to live. At least take the time to mourn your greatest warrior."

She jumped up and flew out the window after her mate.

Peppern stood up. "They are right. We've been behaving like fools. I motion that we adjourn and take all this up when cooler heads may prevail."

"I second." Came another voice.

"It's done then." Roger said standing up. He floated across the room to his son, Jessica, and the rest.

"It's good to see you again Piccolo." Roger said shaking the big Namekian's hand.

"Likewise." Piccolo answered simply.

"What do you make of that?" Roger said. "You've known Goku longer than the rest of us."

"I've never seen him like that before. I can read some of his feelings, he's very angry." Piccolo said. "In fact, angry may be a huge understatement. Chi-Chi felt it too."

"Gerald, follow Goku and Chi-Chi. Don't get too close, but just keep an eye on the situation. Try not to let them spot you." Gerald asked.

"C'mon father! That's Goku you're talking about! He can pick up the candle flicker of a ki across half the galaxy! How am I supposed to stay hidden from him?" Gerald asked.

"Just do the best you can son. I'm sure that genius IQ of yours will figure out something." Roger smiled.

"Okay, I'll use a ki shield or something." Gerald took off out the window.

"Wait for me!" Jessica flew out after Gerald.

"Uub, it's good to see you again as well, and who might this be?" Roger said indicating Mr. Satan.

"That's Hercule Satan, Videl's father, and that baby in his arms is Majin Buu." Piccolo explained.

Roger blinked at the man in front of him and the baby in his arms. "Aren't you dead?"

"I was. But I got resurrected somehow." Mr. Satan replied.

"So... What are you going to do with that?" Roger asked.

"I never had a son. I want to raise Buu as my own son!" Mr. Satan said proudly.

"Do you know how to care for an infant?" Roger asked.

"Well, no. Now that you mention it Videl's mother died when Videl was six, so I really don't know anything about babies." Mr. Satan admitted.

"Just a minute then." Roger walked over to an intercom and punched a purple button. In a few seconds a young Saiyan woman showed up.

"Yes sire?" The woman said as she knelt and gave the Saiyan salute.

"Please escort Mr. Satan here to the nursery. See that he's instructed on how to care for that boy." Roger said. "You will stay with Mr. Satan for as long as it takes to see that he an take care of the baby independently. Also, they will be staying with us for a while. See that they have proper lodgings."

"Yes sire, it will be done. Please follow me Mr. Satan." The girl gave a short curtsy and lead Mr. Satan out of the throne room.

"I notice that your halo is gone as well, Piccolo. Are you going to stay with us for a while?" Roger asked.

I haven't decided. I think I will go back to Earth and stay at the lookout for a bit, decide what I want to do from there." Piccolo said.

"I see. Well, I'm sure we can arrange transportation if that's what you want to do." Roger said.

"Thanks, I'll let you know." Piccolo agreed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What's going on with your dad, Goten?" Trunks asked.

"Is he fighting someone?" Bardock asked.

Gohan's eyes closed for a second. Then they opened wide in surprise.

"Just himself." Gohan said sadly.

"I don't know. It's like he's out of control or something. It's like he's trying to blow himself up!" Goten seemed shocked.

"I don't like this. I'm sensing an uncontrolled rage from Grandpa." Pan said. "It's like the time he went Ouzaru before he finally transformed to level four, remember that?"

"Yeah, but he hasn't gone Ouzaru." Goten said.

"WHAT!! He's on Earth now! He's headed to Mt. Paozu!" Trunks said.

"He's going home." Goten answered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gerald and Jessica caught up with a distraught Chi-Chi.

"He disappeared right in front of me!" Chi-Chi bemoaned.

"Okay, hang on then." Gerald put two fingers to his head and scanned farther and farther away.

"Found him! He's gone to Earth." Gerald said.

"Don't just appear around him Gerald, we don't know how he might react in his current state." Chi-Chi warned.

"Right, good thinking." Gerald scanned Earth for another ki. Several were now headed toward Goku's position.

"I found your father, Jessica." Gerald disappeared with Jessica and Chi-Chi.

They reappeared in front of Raditz, who thought he was under attack at first.

"Damned it! Don't do that!" Raditz exclaimed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Goku could feel the kis around him better than any person living could. He could feel his sons, father, brother, and several others headed toward him. He was in no mood to speak to anyone right now, not even Chi-Chi when she, Jessica, and the boy appeared. Everyone stopped for almost a half an hour. Then a ki that Goku did not recognize separated itself from the others and headed toward him. The ki was familiar somehow, but he couldn't place it. It was definitely a Saiyan power, but none that he could recognize. In fact, stretching out his senses, there were three dozen or so Saiyan powers he had never encountered before within a few hundred miles of him.

Goku landed by his old home. This was where old Gohan had brought him to live after crashing here all those years ago. Goku decided to ignore the ki that was coming in for the moment. He checked his old home and discovered the Four Star Dragonball just as he and Chi-Chi had left it. Goku felt safe here, this is where he first learned how to fight. The ki was getting closer now. It was zigzagging back and forth like they didn't quite know where to find him.

Goku walked down to the lake where he first found Chi-Chi after she had been changed into a Saiyan. At the other end the waterfall still poured over the cliff above.

Goku realized vaguely that whomever was looking for him must have spotted him because they were headed straight for him now.

"Don't they realize that all I want is some peace so I can think!" Goku thought angrily. "Whoever this is, they'd better not start anything!"

Goku was still in Level Six and made no move to lower his ki.

A female figure floated down in front of him. She was a strikingly beautiful middle aged woman that was horribly familiar, but at the same time, strange to Goku. Her hair looked much like Raditz's hair when he first came to Earth. The strange part was that looking in her eyes was like looking into a mirror.

"Who are you and what do you want?' Goku snapped.

"Let's leave who I am out of it for a minute. As to what I want, I want to know why Earth's greatest hero, and Vegetasei's greatest warrior is out here pouting like a child.

"Who says I'm pouting?" Goku turned his back on the stranger. "I'm... Grieving. Can't a man grieve after they loose their best friend?"

"Sure. Grieving is a good thing. As long as the grief isn't wrapped in a self pity sandwich and garnished with self loathing and guilt." Celritri said.

Goku was silent.

"Your friends told me what happened. They told me how Vegeta died. He died well and with great honor. How could you ask for more than that for your friend?" Celritri said.

Tears were silently flowing down Goku's cheeks.

"He died because of me. Because he came after me just because I got bored and needed to find a fight to be in." Goku said slowly, trying to mask the sadness in his heart.

"You would have done the same for him, wouldn't you?" Celritri said. "In fact, I hear that you've gone to the very edge of hell and pulled him back from the abyss."

Goku turned around and fixed his eyes on the woman in front of him.

"Why am I even listening to you?" Goku said steadily.

"Don't you know? Can't you feel it?" Celritri asked.

"What do you mean?" Goku responded.

"Your heart is too clouded by your ego at the moment to feel what is so obvious to me, Kakkarot. Vegeta would not have wanted it this way, you know that as well as I do." Celritri said.

Goku still didn't say anything. He wasn't even sure why he let this woman speak to him. It just seemed right some how, like they were connected in some way.

"I-I failed...." Goku trailed off where the words failed him.

"You failed? I hear that you saved the entire universe. How did you fail?" Celritri asked.

Goku fell to his knees. "I couldn't save him!" Tears were running like rivers down Goku's cheeks.

Goku felt a pair of small be strong arms encircle his shoulders. A hand at the back of his head pulled him to her chest.

"It's okay Kakkarot. Everything will be okay." Goku heard as the woman gently rocked him back and forth.

Then it hit him. He knew. He just knew.

"Mother?" Goku asked in a whisper.

"Yes son. It's me. Sorry to have been gone so long." Celritri said.

Goku's last reserve washed away as his body dropped back into its normal form.

"Now that's the Kakkarot I remember." Celritri smiled.

"You didn't fail Kakkarot. There are just some things beyond your control, no matter how powerful you are. People die son, that is just a fact of life." Celritri said as she stroked the back of her son's head. "You mustn't blame your self."

"I'm sorry mom. You must think I'm an awful baby." Goku slightly muffled voice said.

"No Kakkarot. I think that I'm the luckiest Saiyan in the universe to have such sons as you and Raditz. You have both turned out to be great warriors. Who says a warrior never cries?" Celritri said. "Besides, maybe this will make up for all the times you needed a mother and I wasn't around."

"Consider it a debt paid in full." Goku sniffled.

Celritri rocked her son back and forth for several more minutes in silence until she noticed that his breathing had become deep and regular.

"Kakkarot?" Celritri pulled her son's head back and smiled.

"Fast asleep." Celritri said as she stood and picked her son up in both arms and lifted them both gently off the ground to head back toward the others.