As a flash is seen and felt on the other side of his closed eyes, Tien opens his third eye to see Gohan and Chichi standing above him. Both have soft smiles on their faces, and he spies the camera in Chichi's hands. Realizing that the proud man is in a compromising position, he continues to wake up farther. Spikes of black hair tickle his neck and chin, reminding him that Goten had come to him in the evening after having a nightmare. And the boy was still asleep on his chest! As Tien turns his attention back to the mother and older brother, he attempts to give them his most intimidating stare down. "Not a word to anyone. And that picture better not be shared with anyone."
Both mother and son chuckle, knowing the threat is empty. "We are heading out now, Tien. Have fun with Goten. Numbers in case of emergency are by the phone." The petite mother whispers, as to not wake the youngest boy. The teenager waves goodbye to the martial artist and escorts his mother out to the family car.
The tired man rubs at all three of his eyes, realizing that he should get up and meditate to prepare himself for the task of caring for the carbon copy of his deceased friend. The only question he had was, how in the world does he get up without disturbing the toddler? Looking down at the boy, the former champion notices that the boy is wedged against him and the back of the couch. If he could slowly slide himself to the edge of the couch, maybe he could softly lay the boy onto the cushions without waking him. Biting his lip, the big man attempts to maneuver to the long edge of the couch, placing his foot onto the floor.
With his arms wrapped around the small boy, the man gently rolls to lay him onto the couch. Picturing how he looks in his mind's eye, Tien makes a mental note to ask Goku how many times he's played this particular version of 'Twister.' Most of his bulky body is free of the little boy. All except the arm the half Saiyan is cuddling into. This is the most challenging part of Tien's escape. It's a good thing Tien Shinhan has never backed down from a challenge. He takes a deep breath before expanding his senses and notices a stuffed ox close by. It will be perfect for the little boy to cuddle with so he can rise for the day.
Tien stretches his long limbs, fingertips barely brushing the toy's fur. Just a little farther... He glances back at the boy and shifts himself farther away from the boy. Finally, he grasps the toy and twists his body, so he is kneeling beside the sofa. He calms his breathing before sliding the toy between the sleeping boy and his captured arm. The child shifts and the man pull his arm free. Sighing in relief for not waking the boy, Tien rises to his feet and walks out the front door a short distance. He doesn't want to be too far from the house in case the boy wakes up.
Taking a deep breath, the warrior hovers above the ground and begins his morning meditation. Asking the universe for strength and patience for the day ahead of him. He asks for his fallen friend's guidance for watching the young son. Asking for ideas to entertain and connect with the boy that he just met the night before. He could feel so much of Goku's essence within the boy, but he could see that he is his own person. Just like he failed to see in Gohan at that age. Now he understands why Master Roshi really is the wisest out of all of them. The old man sees more than he lets on because of what he has observed throughout his life. Maybe that's why Roshi never takes on many students.
A small hand on his knee brings the man out of his meditation. The tall man looks down at the little boy with big, black eyes and smiles gently. "What sounds good for breakfast, little guy?" Tien asks with a small smile on his face.
"Hmmm... Could we have fish for breakfast?" Goten asks, giving the landing man a sweet smile. Causing the older man to throw his head back in laughter.
Once Tien can get his laughter under control, he smiles down at him. "Ya know, if I'm not mistaken, your dad could eat roasted fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Let's walk down to the river and see if we can catch a nice big one for your Saiyan appetite." The small copy of his friend jumps up and down in excitement and grabs the big man's hand. Excitedly expressing that he will show Tien where his big brother showed him the best place to catch the really big fish. Hand in hand, they walk up the worn path.
Goten leads Tien to a small rocky area with a tree next to it. The tree has a low hanging branch, which the youngest Son lays his shirts on. The tall man turns to find the boy striping to his undershorts, beaming up at the bald man. Well, at least he's not stripping completely down like Goku does... did. Looking around, he shrugs off his clothes down to his boxers. Hmmm... Should I tell him how his dad ALWAYS swam?
"Ummm... Mr. Tien? Can I ask you something about my daddy?" At Tien's nod, the curious little boy continues. "Is it true that my dad used to swim in the river naked?"
The former champion chuckles at the innocent question. "As a matter of fact, Goten, it is. Your dad was never shy about anything. Especially, how he swam. As much as all of us tried to explain to him why he should be at least a little modest, he just could not understand why. We all just assumed it was because he lived for so long alone after his Grandpa Gohan passed away and Bulma finding him."
"That's not what Uncle Vegeta says."
At that comment, the elder fighter raises an eyebrow. "What does Vegeta say about that?" This could go one of two ways... Either Vegeta says that it is because Goku is so stupid, or it just may be a Saiyan thing...
"Uncle Vegeta says that since Daddy hit his head so badly when he was a baby, it caused him to have a mindset of a forgotten Saiyan way of life. Back then, Saiyans didn't really worry about appearances, but more letting their natural strength and skill in battle give them their place in society. That's how Saiyans got their class ranks when some Freezy's grandpa came to the planet."
Tien scratches his chin, thinking deeply about the information the boy just offered to him. That actually makes a lot of sense. None of us knew he was a Saiyan until his brother came looking for him. So, the rest of us just thought it was brain damage and he really did not understand. But it was his species' instinct that took over.
The tall warrior walks to the edge of the rocky formation and eases himself into the river. Goten tilts his little head to the side. "Why did you get into the water like that, Mr. Tien? I usually just jump in."
The adult chuckles at the innocence of the toddler and looks up at him. "First of all, knock off the mister stuff. I'm just Tien. Second, I got into the water slowly, so I don't scare the fish away by disturbing the water too much. How long does it take you to find and catch a fish when you just jump in, Goten?"
The youngest Saiyan looks down as he thinks about the question he was just asked. His little head slowly rises, and Tien can practically see the lightbulb of understanding turn on above his head. "A really long time, Mr... I mean, Tien. It's cause I make a lot of noise getting in the water?"
"Sure is, kiddo. Come here and I'll help you get in slow so you can see how much faster we can find our breakfast." Goten walks over to the big man and reaches his little arms out to be pulled into the water. The boy is surprised with just how gentle the hulking man can be. "See how you barely disturbed the water getting in? Now when we go underwater, go under just as slow and I bet we'll find our breakfast pretty darn quick."
Black spikes bob up and down in comprehension at the instruction. Both males take a deep breath and submerge into the river. Almost immediately, they find a whole fleet of large fish to catch. Tien counts to three and they attack the fish. Stunning a total of two fish for roasting, they each haul one to the shore and don their clothing once again. As they drag the fish back to the house, Tien spies the old firepit that Goku always used when the guys would come over while Chichi would be gone for one reason or another.
The former champion realizes in that moment that something about being around Gohan and Goten made the usually composed man become very nostalgic of learning to be a friend from their father. Man, Goku. Times like these with your boys remind me of how much I miss you. You would be so incredibly proud of Gohan. I know all of us are. But this little Goten, I feel like I'm finally getting to see what you may have been like as a kid. You truly left us all one last gift before dying, didn't you? Thank you, my friend. I stand by what I promised. I will not stand by while your boys take up your legacy.
Tien starts the fire to roast the fish, as Goten finds the two roasting spikes for him to stick the fish on. "Gohan never lets me put the fish on. Momma would get mad at him because she don't want me to get hurt."
"Well, we better do as your momma wants so you stay safe. Did you know that this is your dad's favorite way to cook fish?" The former rival chuckles at the little boy.
"Yeah, Uncle Krillin tells me and Trunks all the time. Can I ask you something?" The little Goku copy suddenly turns serious on the big man.
"Of course, squirt. What's on your mind?" Tien replies as he shoves a fish onto the wooden pit.
"Is the reason why everyone gets sad when they meet me because I look like my daddy? Do I remind them of him?"
Tien quickly turns to the little boy who is sheepishly twisting his toes in the dirt and wringing his little fingers. He was NOT prepared for that kind of question from this four-year-old boy. The older man finishes setting up the fish to roast quickly and grabs the sad little boy and sits with him on the nearby log. "That is a big question for such a little boy, Goten. While I cannot speak for anyone else, it is a really complex answer for me. Do you want me to try and explain the best I can?" At Goten's nod, Tien stays quiet, simply trying to figure out how to explain the emotions to a young kid. "Let me see... Yes, you look and act just like your dad did. Do I miss my friend? Very much so, I do. Am I sad that he is gone? Yes, I am. Am I sad to know YOU? Not in the least. In fact, now knowing you eases the sadness in my heart of missing him, but it does make me sad that you will not get to know just how great your daddy was of a friend, fighter, teacher, and he was a great daddy to your big brother. If I were ever to make a wish on the Dragon Balls, I think I'd wish that you knew how much your daddy meant to all of us. But there is one thing that I want you to remember, Goten. I want you to remember that you are Goten. You are not Goku. You be Goten. Do you understand what I'm asking you?"
"I think so... Don't try to be my daddy, just be me. Am I right?" At Tien's nod, the little boy continues. "And the only reason everyone gets sad around me is because they wish I could know my daddy and my daddy could know me. Right?" Again, the bald man nods. "Am I the reason Big Brother cries at night and says he's so sorry to our Daddy?"
That stopped Tien. Everyone in the gang knew Gohan well enough to know that the secret Goten just let him in on was true. The pain that young man has hidden from all of them runs deeper than they could ever have expected. He knows Yamcha has never checked up on Gohan since the Cell Games, and neither had Tien, since calling Chichi the night he was babysitting Trunks. Everyone in the gang has always thought of Gohan as the nephew of the group. What with him being the first offspring of anyone in the group and all. The big man now felt completely ashamed of himself. Every single one of them had simply carried on as usual because it's what Goku had asked of them as his dying wish. Gohan didn't know until the previous night that none of them blamed him for Goku's death. He should have come to check on the teenager as he grew. Poor kid probably assumed everyone's distance was their way of blaming him. When that wasn't what their reasoning was. "Gohan feels like he's to blame for you not knowing your dad. But it's not his fault in the least. Your dad chose to save Gohan that day and ended up giving up his life for your brother to live. Next time you catch your brother saying things like that, you get up and hug him tight. Remind him how much you love him as your big brother. Can you do that for me, Goten?"
"Yessir. I will remind him every night. I promise Tien."
The rest of the day continued with laughter and play that the older man had never experienced in his entire life. Yes, he messed up with Launch, but he could find peace with his friends' children. These kids remind him of why he still straps his boots up to save the world. To protect the innocent that he had harmed for years before meeting Goku.
Howdy Everyone! I'm SOOOO sorry I have not written anything in well over a year. A lot has happened in my life since January and there are so many more changes in my life just beyond the horizon. Please be like Tien and have a ton of patience with me as I take these changes head on. I am planning to write a chapter for one of the other DBZ stories after I reread what I've already written to refresh my memory. Thank you all for sticking with me.
Which version of Marron should Tien babysit for? The 2-year-old toddler around the Buu Saga or the 6-year-old from the Super timeline? Review and let me know!