Chapter Three
A Gift of Peace and Dreams

                It was early in the afternoon, but the gray skies above promised yet another snowfall this evening. Frost teased the edges of the windows, the crystals forming beautiful formations. The streets around the Satan mansion were quiet as most families were finishing their shopping or else just enjoying each other's presence. Inside the room was warm with the fire as the orange flames danced off of the gold and red ornaments. Videl turned from the window as the soft melody of Silent Night filled the room, mixing with the steady pop of the fireplace. Opposite the large mantle was a scene she couldn't have dreamt more perfectly. Her father sat with a cup of hot chocolate, a drink he'd not had in ages, with his wife laying comfortably against his chest. She was dressed in white pants and a white sweater that accented her curves perfectly.
                All in all they looked completely happy, and the young woman rubbed the ring on her finger with her thumb. She had been surprised to find the ring, knowing she hadn't had it when she fell asleep. Her thoughts returned to Gohan and she smiled her sweatshirt's warmth reminding her of her boyfriend's arms wrapping around her slender form. It still seemed like some incredible dream, and indeed she had thought it nothing but a beautiful dream when she had found herself in her bed. Then she had noticed her wrinkled apparel and had found the ring on her finger. She had gone to her parent's room to find her father in bed with a woman and for the first time Videl was quite happy to see them together. Her mother was really here and she felt content for the first time in what seemed like ages. And she knew who to thank for that happiness, and she wondered what the young half-sayjin was doing now.
                As if the thoughts were a summons the door knocked and opening it revealed the entirety of the Son family. Gohan wearing jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt sighed, his hands on Goten and his mother's shoulders. Chi-chi's eyes were red from crying and even Goten's usual innocent smile was missing. Quickly the three were ushered inside by a worried Videl and moments later they were warming themselves near the fireplace. The Satan's looked with concern at the family who had so quickly become a part of their own.
                "What happened? I mean, you seem so upset on this day of all days..." Hercule handed Chi-chi a mug of fresh made chocolate which she took gratefully.
                "We left to get a few things for dinner tonight, and when we returned...the house was engulfed in flames..."
                "I managed to salvage some of the house...but everything was ruined...the tree, the gifts, even the bedrooms..." Gohan sighed tiredly and Videl noticed the burnt clothing around his arms and legs. He must've actually gone in to try to put it out. She touched his shoulder gently and he smiled a bit gratefully as his hand gently rested over hers.
                "That's awful, and on Christmas eve too..." Katrina looked down and she shook her head.
                "Well what do you plan now? Family to stay with?" Hercule looked at his wife then their friends.
                "No...my father's away and well...we could stay at the lookout..."
                "Nonsense!" the world champion's voice was louder than expected and he blushed speaking softer, "You'll just stay here...we have more than enough rooms and you'd all be welcome to our table right dear?"
                "Yes, that's a wonderful idea, Oh Chi-chi you must say yes, you can teach me to cook some recipes...and we'll have a true Christmas together!" Katrina smiled.
                "If you're sure we wouldn't be a bother..." she smiled seeing her son's eyes warm immediately at the idea, "Then I accept gratefully."
                So they were prepared rooms in the main hall near Hercule's own room with Chi-chi in one, Goten and Gohan in another. Soon Videl went to her boyfriend's side and smiled a bit.
                "This may not be too terrible after all..."
                "Yea, I worry about Goten though, when he doesn't get his gifts from Santa like he expects too."
                But Hercule smiled and pulled him aside whispering quietly. Soon the half-sayjin was smiling and he nodded letting the World Champion go to make some phone calls. Perhaps a Merry Christmas was still possible; this seemed to be the time for miracles. Glancing around Gohan noticed the other's activities. The mothers were busy in the kitchen pouring over various recipes for the feast they were planning for tomorrow, and Goten had found Videl's video games and had dove right in after getting her permission.
                Gohan returned to the World Champion and nodded once slipping out to face the terrible snow. No one noticed them leave as Videl had been coerced into the kitchen with the others, and it was several hours before the two would be seen.
                The snow blew harder than before as Gohan waited while Hercule pounded on the door to the toy store's closed door. Anderson's toys had been the final stop, and he had split with the World Champion to fight through the crowds. He had been surprised when he had been told of Hercule's intentions to go and get the presents for Goten and Chi-chi. But they were having problems because most stores were sold out of the more popular gifts for the younger boy. So they had come to Anderson's which was already closed, the shopkeeper of the small store lived above the store proper and he came to the door almost reluctantly.
                Curly brown hair rested atop the elderly face with glasses resting on the beak of a nose and he squinted slightly, "Eh...who's that? H..Hercule! Why it's been years since I saw you, what brings you here at eleven o'clock in the evening?"
                He barely noticed Gohan's shivering form as Hercule spoke, "Listen Gary, I need a favor, I know you have some stuff that you keep for displays and in case of shortages, we need these toys and quickly. I know it's a lot to ask, but do me this favor."
                "Hercule...what possessed you to wait until now??"
                Quickly he explained the Son family's predicament as they were ushered inside the warm shop. Most of the shelves were stocked with toys old and new, simple and complex, hi and low tech, the wooden floor creaked with their footsteps as Gary moved to one shelf pulling things off slowly.
                "If it weren't Christmas Eve, Hercule, and if it were anyone else I'd not be doing this...but well, every kid deserves to have a merry Christmas, and besides I figure it won't kill me."
                Hercule smiled a bit, "Gary Anderson, you're a saint."
                "Yea yea, just as long as I get better pay," but the elderly toy salesman smiled a bit as he rang up their purchases. Gohan quickly totaled it up and noted that the price was significantly less than it should have been. But he knew somehow that the man was intentionally lowering the price. As they went out he thanked the shop keeper again, but he simply smiled and shooed him off.
                "Go on go on be gone already its Christmas eve...day actually, Merry Christmas to you both," true enough they had been there almost an hour as the clock chimed midnight. But even now they had much to do, for only half the gifts were wrapped and they transported to the lookout with a Merry Christmas to Gary. Once they arrived they began wrapping with a will.
                Gohan took the two bags for Goten while Hercule began with the ones for Chi-chi and Katrina. Time passed slowly and Gohan yawned a bit knowing they hadn't called anyone but it had been difficult just to maneuver through the crowds. Hercule had called in several favors to do this, and as he looked at the older man he could see how tired he was. With a smile he looked at the last of the gifts, and placed them in the bag.
                "Thank you for doing this Hercule...it'll mean a lot to him."
                Videl's father smiled as he scribbled 'To Goten From Santa' on the last gift and put it into the bag which Gohan hefted easily, "You brought back my life itself, it's the least I can do."
                Gohan placed a hand on the man's shoulder lightly and they vanished from the lookout into the large living room. They had no more landed than the youngest woman's voice spoke from behind them.
                "There you two are, we've been worried sick!"
                Both men jumped and turned slowly to see Chi-chi, Videl and Katrina sitting on the couch with arms folded. Before them on the table was a plate with cookies and a glass of white milk and several new presents had found their way beneath the tree. Gohan sighed and set the bag down looking at the three women and the table that was still set for everyone, with the candles slowly dying. The music, 'O Holy Night', playing in the background seemed starkly serene against the three frowning ladies.
                "Well? Who's going to explain this?" Chi-chi sounded just as vexed as she looked. Her dress, a loan from Katrina's wardrobe, was white and danced lightly around her shins as she rose. Even with all his power Gohan cowered against the woman's anger.
                "Well...you see...we wanted to make sure Goten had a Merry Christmas, and since the gifts were destroyed in the fire...we thought we should make that happen and well...it took a lot longer than we expected..." Gohan sighed a bit and looked down, "We're sorry we didn't call, we wanted it to be a surprise..."
                By now all the women we smiling and Chi-chi looked at the others, "What do you say girls? Shall we forgive them?"
                The Satan women smiled and nodded much to the relief of the men who felt as if they had been under the executioner's axe. The hugged both men and smiled, content now that their worries had been reassured. Then Hercule began setting the gifts around the tree as the others prepared for bed, Gohan and Chi-chi were well prepared for a very ungodly wake-up when Goten finally woke up. Soon the entire mansion was asleep, each dreaming of the morning and content with the peace of Christmas.

                Five very short hours later, the sky filled with falling flakes of snow swirling through the darkened sky seeming as if millions of tiny stars filling the air. Inside all was quiet in the mansion as the occupants slept soundly, the only sound the steady string of songs filling the living room area. Hercule had been true to his word as the gifts circled the tree in beautiful settings with wrappings of green and gold with silver bows carefully tied. The packages of various sizes rested in the warm room the cookies and milk gone from the table while the fireplace mantle bore six stockings filled with knickknacks of all descriptions.
                Suddenly the calm setting was shattered by the eight year old Goten's excited voice filling the entire household, "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!"
                Before the eager half-sayjin could make a mad dash for the tree and the gifts though, a strong hand caught the collar of his short sleeved t-shirt firmly lifting him and turning him to face the very tired face of his older brother, "Goten...it's too early yet, and besides you remember we aren't at our house and the Satan family might like to wait until a normal hour to open gifts."
                "But...but..." Goten began to protest when a smiling woman stood in the doorway.
                "Merry Christmas to you two." Videl beamed as she walked into the room wearing a simple pair of sweat pants and a tank-top shirt. Her cheeks pinked visibly when she noticed Gohan's bare torso and she looked down. Suddenly she was almost barreled to the ground by Goten hugging her with a bright smile.
                "Merry Christmas Videl!!" he laughed happily and Gohan sighed wearily standing, still wearing his pants from last night. The older of the sayjins drew a white t-shirt over his head, his hair slightly shaggy, but he smiled as Videl steadied herself and let Goten go, the child taking advantage of this by running down the stairs.
                "Welcome to my world Videl...and Merry Christmas."
                "Thanks Gohan...and thank you for the ring...it's lovely," she moved and gently kissed him. The young warrior kissed her back lightly and smiled.
                "Well let's get down there before the room's completely ransacked."
                But when the two got down stairs they found that they needn't have bothered as Chi-chi was standing guard at the gifts, much to her son's chagrin. Hercule and his wife sat on the couch a warm fire now filling the room with its golden light. As Gohan and Videl entered hand in hand they smiled and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Chi-chi smiled hugging each of the teens in turn and they moved to a nearby chair, Videl moving so she was sitting comfortably on her boyfriend's lap.
                "Can we now mom??? Please?!" and Goten's eyes got big as he looked at her imploringly.
                "Oh can those eyes grow any bigger?" the room's occupants laughed happily as Chi-chi waited for one last moment then nodded, "Yes, Goten we can start opening the gifts now."
                "YAY!!!" and the young man dove into the gifts like a mole to the Earth. But he didn't immediately open any as he spent several minutes searching and surprising everyone by finding one for each person in the room before getting the first of his own.
                'To Gohan from Videl' the label on the small red papered box read and Gohan slowly opened it surprised at what he found there. It was an elegantly carved figurine, that was him in perfect detail and he had angel wings and a halo. Inscribed beneath the figure were the words, 'For my angel of light, how you should always be to me, Love Videl'.
                For a moment the Sayjin was speechless for a moment and he spoke softly, "Videl...this is...wonderful...thank you."
                "It's what you deserve..." she smiled gently taking his hand.
                Goten excitedly revealed his new toys as Hercule and his wife smiled and opened their gifts. Chi-chi was surprised when she received a new frying pan, which caused both half-sayjins to gulp nervously with uses they conceived for the object which had nothing to do with cooking. More gifts came and Gohan regarded another one from Hercule. All stopped for they were curious what the World Champion had for the young man given the trials between them in the past. As he opened it the young warrior's eyes met Videl's father's slowly. In the box was a simple plaque with the words in elegant writing which Gohan read aloud softly.
                "A true champion stands not before the people shouting his glories, rather he is the one who comes forth when need is greatest. On behalf of the peoples of the world..." and he stopped blinking, "thank you Gohan the slayer of Cell and defender of the planet Earth."
                "Dad?" Videl spoke in a very soft whisper.
                "I don't know whether you wish to have the world know about you or not, but I haven't forgotten the young boy who stood before Cell and saved the world, or the sacrifice of his father," he sighed, "Nor have I forgotten the blowhard who took all the credit for himself without a word of thanks."
                "I don't wish for fame...or anything like that, but I am thankful for your kind words they mean a lot."
                Videl regarded her boyfriend for a long moment, "So it was you? You were the one who beat Cell?"
                "Yes, I did," Gohan sighed a bit waiting for the fear he had seen when others had discovered how truly powerful he was.
                But the young woman smiled very faintly, "It's about time you told me, Chi-chi spilled the story months ago." This caused Gohan to turn questioningly to his mother but she whistled innocently until Hercule spared her the trouble of coming up with an excuse.
                "And Chi-chi I called a friend of mine to begin reconstruction of your house first thing Monday morning."
                "Oh but I can't pay for that..." Chi-chi stammered but the World Champion cut her off with a raised hand.
                "Good because I wasn't going to let you."
                The gifts were soon finished and even Goten's insatiable desire for presents was satisfied. The rest of the day was spent with the two families gathering for a wonderful feast. Content with the feeling of peace that only being with those one loves and cares for can bring. Gohan's hand found Videl's and she squeezed his softly beneath the table as Hercule carved the turkey. Each felt that this was the greatest Christmas they had ever experienced, and could not picture a more perfect way to spend the holiday.
                That night, with Goten fast asleep the five sat together before the tree listening to the soft melodies of peace on Earth, goodwill towards men. Videl stared into the fire silently and just enjoyed the presence of her parents, her surrogate mother and her boyfriend. For the first Christmas in a long time she was happy and slowly her eyes closed and she prayed for all people to find the peace that Christmas could bring. The perfect end to a perfect day was when she fell to sleep her head resting on Gohan's chest...safe in the arms of her angel.