Finally accepted… at least by three

It's been a while…since I've updated this story. It's been a while… and I'm sorry. Sorry guys, I've been listening to Staind all day. But really I am sorry that I didn't do this sooner. But I'm working on my impending web site, Saiyajin Revived, Uninvited, and a new story that's untitled right now. All this with one hand tied behind my back!!! Ha!! Just playing, I have both hands functioning. Well anywho, I'm trying to complete this story so I can publish the next one, (I've made it a rule not to have more than three stories in the works) so you may see an update sooner than normal.

Also, I am now holding a contest. I am looking for fan art of this story to go on its title page of my site. The winner will become a character in an upcoming story and receive beaucoup praises on my site. Please send your original fan art submissions to nacobesdomain@lycos.com or nacobe@hotmail.com I'm also looking for fan art of Saiyajin Revived and Uninvited.

I don't own Dragonball/ Z/GT but I really wish I did!!! Can't say I own "Someone to Hold" by 112 either. (Falls out on the floor and throws a massive tantrum.)

"…" is spoken, *…* is thoughts, **** is telepathic conversation, #### is flashbacks, is the song. Enjoy and REVIEW!!!!

ChiChi wiped away her tears although more ran down her now puffy face to replace them. Bulma sat on the couch beside her and held her hand. The widowed single mom looked at her friend and knew she, too, had been crying.

"Why would he want to do this? Is it because he thinks I blame him for Goku's death? Well I don't!!! I never did!!! He was just a little boy!" Bulma nodded her head and sighed.

"ChiChi, everybody knows you don't blame Gohan. Gohan only blames himself. It's something he needs to work out alone." ChiChi was about to speak when a couple of thoughts flew into her head.

*When did I end up at Bulma's house? And where's Goten?!?*

The distraught woman quickly stood and yelled,

"Goten!?! Bulma where's Goten?!?" The blue haired woman stood and said,

"My mom took him and Trunks out for a birthday outing. I didn't want him to see you upset on his birthday." ChiChi sighed and sat down.

"I'm not a good mother. That's it isn't it." Bulma quickly rebuttalled,

"Chi, you're one of the best mothers I've ever seen! Why would you say that?"

"Bulma, I didn't even know where my baby was!!!" ChiChi sighed and continued, "and because I'm with Yamucha and I know my son isn't okay with it. He thinks I forgot about his father." Bulma's eyes became clouded with tears. If ChiChi had asked this question yesterday, it wouldn't have phased her. But knowing her first love has been in love with her best friend is one of the most painful things she has experienced.

"ChiChi, honestly, I don't know if you and Yamucha's relationship is the cause of this, but I do know that you've handled the situation between them superbly. Your son knows you haven't forgotten Goku. Sometimes we process things differently from what they really are." ChiChi was about to say something when the front door opened. Both worried women ran to the foyer to see Vegeta enter. ChiChi immediately took this as a bad sign. Although the Saiyajin prince has lived at the Briefs mansion for at least seven years, he never comes through the front door. He was more of a back door and windows kind of guy.

The Saiyajin prince looked at his mate and her best friend. He knew they were expecting an answer about Gohan but he was a bit too angry and hurt to talk to them. He has also had to deal with the pain of losing Goku, the only other full Saiyajin around. Despite his intentions of wanting to kill the man he and Goku, or Kakkorot as he calls him, have become close comrades. After all, his mate is best friends with the man and his mate.

*See Kakkorot, your noble death was not the best move after all.*

In the mist of Vegeta thinking, ChiChi had walked up to the man and asked in a shaky voice,

"Vegeta? Is my son okay?" Vegeta blinked and wondered when did the woman walk up on him and said,

"He is alive and physically okay. But the boy has to deal with his past to truly be okay." Vegeta added in his thoughts,

*Much like myself.*

ChiChi quickly grabbed the man and hugged him. It actually caught him off guard and the look of shock crossed his features. He looked to Bulma and saw a smile on her face as tears came to her eyes. He then heard ChiChi whisper through her sobs,

"Thank you for saving my baby." Vegeta gently pushed the woman away and said,

"I did not save Gohan. Your companion did although he almost died himself." Both women's eye widened and Vegeta answered their unspoken question,

"The fool is okay. The little Namekian healed him." Just at that moment Gohan and Yamucha walked through the door. ChiChi ran directly to Gohan and scooped him in her arms. As soon as she hugged him, the boy broke down in tears.

"I'm sorry mom." ChiChi held on to her son for dear life and said through her own tears,

"Hush baby. I'm just happy you're here with me."

Bulma, Vegeta and Yamucha quietly left the two to talk things out. Vegeta went directly to his sanctuary, the new gravity room Bulma had built on to the house. Bulma and Yamucha went to the kitchen.

___________________________________

As Bulma fiddled around, moving objects to different parts of the room, Yamucha sat at the table with his face covered by his hands. Aside from Bulma's constant moving, the room was completely silent. The woman looked over at the man and sighed. Part of her wanted to be angry with him while the other part admired him for saving her best friends' son. She stopped fidgeting and said,

"Thank you for saving Gohan." Yamucha nodded while remaining in the same position and completely silent. Bulma finally decided to sit at the table and talk with the man. When she sat across from him she could have swore she heard low whimpers. She looked closer and saw his hands were moist.

*He's crying. Is it for Gohan or himself.*

She moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder and said,

"It's okay to let it out Yamucha." The man's shoulders began to jerk ever so slightly and the whimpers became full sobs.

"I thought we were going to lose him!" Bulma held back her own tears as she consoled the man.

"I know, but we didn't. Let just find a way to help him get through this funk he's going through." Yamucha looked up at Bulma with a somber face and said,

"I think it's because of me and ChiChi. It's been three years and he's still not okay with it." Bulma sighed as she listened to the man. It was hard putting away the pain and anger she felt towards him but knew she would have to for her and ChiChi's friendship. Yamucha noticed the woman's anguish and stopped his ranting.

"I'm sorry. I…I didn't mean to, um, hurt you." Bulma looked at her ex-boyfriend and sighed again. She knew he was sincere in his apology but couldn't bring herself to forgive him just yet. After all, she had come to realize their love was in vain for so many years. She stood the walked over to a nearby counter and said,

"Gohan and ChiChi need you right now. Go to them." Yamucha watched Bulma decipher through her feelings and thoughts. He also knew Bulma wasn't ready to forgive him and he understood that perfectly. He stood and started towards the living room. Right before he left the kitchen he turned to Bulma and said,

"I want you to know I really didn't mean to hurt you. I just felt you deserved the truth after so many years of lies. I hope one day you and I could be good friends again." He then left and went to join his girlfriend and her son.

Bulma watched the man leave the room as she digested his last statement. A single tear fell from her eye as she said to Yamucha's retreating form,

"Yeah, maybe someday. But not now."

___________________________________

ChiChi held Gohan in her arms and said,

"Son, please, whatever is bothering you let's get through it together. I can't bear to lose you." Gohan's eyes began to water again as he felt the pain his mother was going through by the sound of her voice.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I just felt like things would be better if I wasn't around. I'm a constant reminder that Dad isn't here." ChiChi sighed and held her son tighter. She blinked back tears as she said,

"No Gohan, your presence reminds me that I will always have something no one else had with Goku, a beautiful family. When I look at you and Goten I know Goku still lives. You two have your father's charm and innocence, not to mention his strength. I will cherish those things forever. If I ever lost you or your brother, I won't only loss that part of your father, I'll lose you and everything that makes you who you are." Gohan looked at his mother as tears fell from his eyes and said in a choked voice,

"I love you mom." ChiChi kissed Gohan on his forehead and said as she embraced him in a hug,

"I love you too son. Gohan we'll get you through this together, okay?" She heard him sniffle and felt him nod. "Son, it's okay to cry. Go ahead and let it out." She soon felt Gohan's body rack and heard his sob deepened into wails as she knew for the first time since Goku's death, her son was letting the pain of losing his father out. She allowed her tears to fall with his as she rubbed his back for reassurance.

"It's okay baby. Everything will be just fine."

Yamucha stood in the doorway watching ChiChi and Gohan embrace each other. He held back his own tears as he saw Gohan cry out three years worth of pain and guilt over his father's death.

*Kami, please let everything turn out okay.*

The man went into the room and sat in a chair as Gohan's tears started to die down. It was then the teenager realized the man was in the room. He pulled away from his mother and went over to embrace the person who saved his life.

"Yamucha, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm so, so sorry!" Yamucha hugged the boy and willed himself not to cry.

"It's okay. I'm just happy you're okay. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something should happen to you." Gohan looked at the man and said in a serious voice,

"I'm also sorry for the way I've treated you over the past couple of years. I, um, know you care for mom, Goten, and me. I just don't want to forget dad." Yamucha looked over to ChiChi and back at Gohan, He blinked a couple of times to hold back his tears then replied,

"I would never want any of you to forget Goku. He is a part of you that you should never deny. I just want to be here for you, that's all." Gohan smiled through his tears and said,

"I know and I love you for that." Yamucha looked at boy before him and smiled as his tears finally forced their way through. He tried to form the words to say to Gohan but nothing seemed to come out. Once he figured he couldn't speak, he embraced the boy and sighed. ChiChi stood and went over to the two and embraced them both. She then said,

"I love you both." She kissed the top of Gohan's head and softly kissed Yamucha on the lips. Yamucha smiled wider and thought,

*Finally, we're like a family.*

Guys, I want to share something with you. This chapter derived from a chapter in my life. I won't go into details but the scene between Gohan, ChiChi, and Yamucha was written from pure experience. This was a hard chapter to write because I poured a lot of my soul and pain into it. I just want to make this a reminder for all of you who have step-parents or your parent has a long time boyfriend or girlfriend; let that person know you appreciate them and understand coming into a changing family is just as hard for them as it is for you. Saying thank you from the heart really means something. I hope you all had a great Holiday. As for me I'm celebrating my birthday today!!! PEACE!!! NaCoBe