Chapter Two
Miracles and Angels

                It was two days before Christmas, and Gohan stood nervously as he looked at himself in the mirror. Black slacks met a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top, his hair was ever its difficult self and finally he had decided to let it go. He handled a black box with a red ribbon forming a bow and slid it into his pants pocket. Chi-chi smiled nearby as she lit the twin candles on the dining room table, this was an exciting night for Gohan and she was glad to be part of it. She and Goten would leave from here to pick up groceries after Videl had arrived.
                Nearby a tall woman watched her new friends as they made the final preparations for dinner, pot roast with rice and gravy corn and rolls. It was still amazing to her that she was here and she too was anxious for Videl to arrive. Once all was ready Gohan vanished from sight reappearing inside his room just as the doorbell rang. Opening it revealed a smiling, albeit shivering, Videl, she was wearing loose fitting black slacks and a white button up blouse beneath her coat and scarf. She smiled as Gohan ushered her into the house quickly. She immediately noticed that the only lights in the house were the tree and the hallway light that Gohan had just turned on. The presents beneath the tree seemed to have doubled in amount as the half-sayjin bent down to retrieve one that was wrapped with green paper and bore a golden ribbon bow atop it.
                He spoke gently to her, as he always had his eyes warm with love as he handed her the gift, "Here, this is your Christmas gift...I know it's early but trust me you'll want it for where we are going."
                She smiled lightly and sat on the couch, the past two days had been so long for her, especially now that her dad had left. True her friends had invited her to that party, but the young woman had declined feeling not at all in the cheerful spirit. With her boyfriend's mysterious disappearance she had had very little to dispel the loneliness that had come. Fortunately that was no longer an issue, as she glanced at the young man waiting with a slight smile from anticipation of his first gift. Her slender fingers, soft despite years as a fighter, worked the bow first and then she tore into the paper.
                As she opened the box her breath caught and she pulled out the dress slowly, the velvet material soft against her fingertips as she traced the length of the fabric. A silver tear slid down her cheek, still rosy with the change in temperatures, and she stood wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head against his chest lightly. Strong arms wrapped around her gently, despite his strength she had always been held with the greatest of care. Her breath was warm as her eyes drifted close and she whispered gently to him.
                "It's beautiful Gohan, but you didn't have to..."he stopped her with a gentle finger to her warm lips and whispered back gently.
                "I wanted to Videl, but we have to go, I've got one more thing to show you..."
                She nodded and went to the bedroom nearby to change returning a moment later and Gohan struggled, with little success, not to stare. The dress fit her perfectly, the skirt resting just below her knee and slanting to just above it. Her slender waist gave way to the swell of her breasts and then the modest neckline that dipped just above her breasts revealing only a little cleavage. For several moments he could do nothing but stare awestruck as the light above cast a warm, angelic glow around her.
                She smiled shyly as she spun in a slow circle, "Well...how do I look."
                "Umm...amazing, gorgeous, incredible...pick one," he smiled and walked over and for the first time she noticed his appearance. Tan slacks fitted to his waist with a darker brown belt with a long sleeved t-shirt beneath a gray sweater that accented his eyes. He smiled at her, but she still had no idea either where they were going or how they would be getting there. Gently his hand fell upon her shoulder and the two vanished reappearing in the warmth of Kame's lookout. Videl was shocked, she had heard of instant transmission, but experiencing it was something entirely different.
                She looked around for a moment seeing the dining room of the lookout set with five places forming a "U" shape from the front and two on each side. A large dinner setting with three different meats sat in the middle of the long table. Holly, mistletoe and minor other festivities completed the setting as instrumental Christmas music filled the room with song. Goten sat, dressed in black slacks and a navy blue sweater and next to him sat Chi-chi who smiled seeing upon the two arrive.
                "Ah Videl, you look splendid, I knew you were a six, Gohan truly has no eye for dress sizes," she giggled and hugged her surrogate daughter. "Come, come the food's about to get cold and we mustn't have that now."
                Gohan took the head place, leaving Videl to sit in the chair opposite her surrogate mother. She glanced at the empty place to her left curiously, wondering if they had miscounted or were anticipating another guest. Then her amethyst hued eyes saw the knowing smiles that Chi-chi and her older son shared. But she sighed and closed her eyes preparing to pray before eating, whispering to herself softly. When she opened her eyes she noticed someone now occupying the chair beside her. A long silver dress fell to just above her ankles, and her hair was pulled back in a flowing wave. But her eyes, which held a candle's warm glow, matched the younger woman's perfectly.
                "My baby girl..." the woman's voice was melodious, and warm with love and comfort. It was a voice that, despite not having heard it in nearly twelve years, Videl would have known out of a million.
                "M...mom...how..." she stared in shock as she broke into soft tears and hugged her mother who returned the embrace warmly stroking her daughter's short hair. Chi-chi felt warm tears as the mother and daughter were reunited and she hugged her eldest son then her younger gently.
                "I've missed you so much sweetheart," Katrina spoke now once they had calmed a bit and allowed themselves to release each other.
                "Not a day's gone where I haven't missed you...but how is this possible...you...you died..."
                "Yes, I did, but your friend used the Dragonballs...he said you knew what they are, to wish me back to life, Merry Christmas from Gohan and family."
                The others smiled broadly as the young woman turned to each of them and hugged first Goten, then his mother, and she kissed Gohan warmly. This was returned softly much to the delight of both mothers, who already saw wedding bells and cakes. Goten just made a disgusted face and returned to his food. Finally the two broke their long kiss and blushed realizing they weren't alone. Videl retreated to her seat next to Katrina. Once the food was finished, and even the hungriest sayjin stomach filled the two boys rose and began clearing the table.
                The woman made their way to the comfort of the sitting room for tea and some quiet talking. Katrina affectionately told stories of her daughter's childhood and of a much different Hercule Satan than the one they all knew now. Chi-chi took over for a suddenly shy Videl, who was hesitant to tell much of what she had done in recent years. Her mother was awestruck to hear of her daughter's courageous exploits as well as her kind acts. It seemed that she had inherited her father's courage, but also her mother's gentle way and to Katrina that was a perfect mixture.
                "So tell me about you and Gohan dear, I'm at my wits end with curiosity about him," she smiled and sipped her tea as her daughter smiled.
                "Well...at first I guess I thought he was something of a nerd, despite being Goku's son and all...but then I remember seeing him with his brother and his simple...goodness. I mean he was so strong, and yet I've only seen him truly angry once...when Spophavich was beating me at the tournament. And when I thought I'd lost him...it was then that I realized what he meant to me, indeed as does his entire family."
                Katrina nodded; she had learned much in the past twenty-four hours about sayjins and dragonballs. And yet none of it surprised her, indeed she was glad to know that they were in this world guarding it despite the world's general lack of knowledge that they exist. The three talked for a short time until Goten entered the room taking a seat beside his mom happily.
                "Goten sweetie, where's your brother?" Chi-chi looked around worriedly as her son shrugged.
                "I donnoe he said he had something to pick up and just vanished."
                "Well that instant transmission he wished for with the second wish is really helping him these days."
                Silently Videl thought, 'Gohan, wherever you went thank you...whatever happens I will always remember this gift.'

                Gohan muttered a very un-Christmas like curse as he flew; it was always difficult when someone had as low an energy signal as Hercule. That meant he had to be closer to find them and lock onto the source. Finally he found it, very faint, but enough for him to use it, pausing in mid flight the half sayjin vanished and reappeared in a swanky apartment high above the streets of New York. Snow whispered around the outer windows creating a serene atmosphere, at least outside. For a moment he saw no one around then he turned and managed to just avoid a vase flying in his direction.
                A sleazy looking woman stood fuming, her hair tangled around her head as she yelled, or more like screeched, "DAMN you Hercule! That tramp daughter of yours is more important than me?! I don't play second fiddle to any woman, especially a tomboy like her!!"
                Behind a couch crouched Hercule Satan, cowering as another piece of pottery flew overhead. Gohan moved and quickly knelt beside him with a grin, "Hey Herc, looks like you could use a hand."
                "W...where did you come from...hey your that boy that Videl likes..." a banshee like screech halted his words in mid-sentence as Rebecca hurled yet another string of curses, some of them were very new to Gohan and Hercule looked to Gohan pleadingly.
                "Come on Hercule, this isn't the place for you...let's go to Videl, and there's someone else waiting for you..." he reached up and caught a vase in mid-flight looking at Rebecca as he effortlessly powered up to super sayjin level two. She stopped in mid word as he walked towards her, only a flimsy robe covering her, but suddenly she felt, for the first time in her life, as if she was indecent.
                "A...are you an angel?" she whispered, her eyes wide with awe and wonder as Gohan smiled and handed her the vase.
                His rich chuckle was warm as he shook his head, "No...but I am a friend, you should go to your family, its Christmas time for loved ones to be together, and Hercule's not the man for you."
                She nodded slowly as Hercule gathered his things together and followed, they stepped onto the balcony much to his curiosity, "Umm, where do we go from here?"
                The super sayjin chuckled being reminded of a scene from Dickens's novel as he touched Hercule's shoulder, "Just think of those who you should be with right now Hercule...your daughter...now close your eyes..." as the world champion did so the older of the Son household put his fingers to his forehead and they vanished reappearing at the lookout in the middle of the women's conversation, but just out of sight.
                "...short hair...he wasn't very helpful but I think he didn't want to say that he did like hair short because it would have embarrassed him. So that's why I cut it."
                Gohan whispered to the girl's father, "All she ever wanted for Christmas was you to be with her, open your eyes Hercule, and give her that gift."
                Hercule did as he saw his daughter, looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her before. He had never seen her wear a dress before and he had to admit it accented her very well. He hesitated for a moment just as Katrina spoke up giggling.
                "It was reversed with your father and me. I had short hair, shorter than yours actually, and he loved women with long hair...so I let it grow fearing to lose him to someone else," she smiled softly, "He told me that I was foolish because he'd never love anyone like he loved me, save maybe you Videl."
                Hercule felt tears in his eyes as he walked towards the woman, "Ka...Katrina? Is that really you?"
                All the women turned at the sound of his voice and Videl's eyes widened in surprise as Katrina stood slowly walking to him as tears shimmered in her eyes, "Hercule?"
                He cried softly and drew her into a tight hug which she returned despite the sudden loss of air, "My dear dear Katrina...I thought I'd never see you again."
                "Oh Hercule, everyday I missed you," she cried softly against his shoulder and Videl came over and did something she'd dreamt about doing for twelve long years. She hugged both her parents and felt the love for each of them. Gohan smiled watching as he folded his arms across his chest, he might not be an angel, but perhaps there was one watching them this day. Seeing the family reminded him of his own, his father gone and he gently hugged his mother gently.
                "How, how did this happen?" he asked holding his wife as if afraid that she would vanish again.
                Videl pointed to her boyfriend and began explaining how he had wished her mother back. The tale required much backtracking. Everyone sat down for the telling, Gohan with Videl, Katrina with her husband and Chi-chi with a tired Goten. Finally the entire story came out, with many explanations of various oddities. Hercule looked at Gohan for a long moment and then spoke slowly.
                "Well, I think you lied," all the women were about to cry in outrage but the world champion held up a hand to silence their protests, "You told Rebecca that you were not an angel, but I think you are, for only an angel could have made all of this possible."
                Gohan blushed softly, "Well I just wanted Videl to have a perfect Christmas, and I know what it's like to lose someone you love."
                She smiled but looked on worriedly as her mother spoke, "Yes, about these women you've been with since I died..."
                "Umm well you know honey....they weren't anything special...I mean," Hercule had a strange look on his face, and Gohan saw it for shame. Despite his reservations about the man, he didn't want this ruining all he had worked for. Still looking somewhat angelic with his aura shining around him he spoke gently.
                "Mrs. Satan, while I don't condone what Hercule did, he didn't love anyone and was seeking a release from the pain of your loss, and I see that he is shamed by what he has done, but if you forgive him, I can say with near certainty that he is unlikely to do it again."
                Hercule nodded his fervent agreement and looked at his wife imploringly, "Alright...but just this once you big oaf." She smiled affectionately and kissed him softly. The others sighed in relief and they relaxed talking quietly. Videl leaned comfortably against Gohan's chest as he powered down and wrapped his arms around her.
                "So Gohan...what do you want for Christmas?"
                He shook his head and smiled, "I've already received all I could want, a wonderful mother, a great brother and the loveliest girl alive."
                "But come on there's got to be something you want...I mean you've gotten me so much and I have nothing for you..."
                He stopped her with a gentle kiss, "Just be happy, and that will be enough for me."
                She smiled and closed her eyes falling asleep almost immediately as he ran his fingers gently through her hair, with a sigh he knew it was time to take her home. Fortunately she slept soundly as he rose setting her to a laying position and walked to the Satan parents who were laying in a similar way. Gently, so as not to wake the sleeping forms, he touched Hercule's shoulder and they vanished reappearing in the master bedroom. Easily he hefted the pair and laid them gently in the large bed, he then returned and drew his girlfriend into his arms softly, and she nestled against his form lightly and sighed.
                Again he vanished appearing in her room and laying her down gently, he knelt beside her bed and watched her sleep for a long moment before drawing the small box from his pants pocket. Opening it revealed a silver ring inscribed with twin falcons each holding a heart. He slid it onto her right ring finger and kissed her forehead gently glancing at the clock with a smile, 12:05 am, Christmas Eve day. Slowly he vanished leaving the young woman with warmth that had little to do with the thick blankets around her light form.
                Soon enough Goten and his mother were asleep leaving the soft snow to fall on content hearts for now. Each one remembering something special and anticipating the next morning.