A New Beginning
Part Six
"Feeding time, kiddo," Goku said as he watched Chi-Chi breastfeed their son, Gohan.
Gohan was born a week ago. Goku was the first to wake up early that morning since he had a good night's sleep. Chi-Chi was still asleep and not getting up as early as she used to. Ever since Gohan came home, Chi-Chi was up most of the night feeding and changing Gohan. He heard Gohan crying through the monitor. Chi-Chi was beginning to wake up. Since he hadn't seen his son since he went to bed last night, Goku told Chi-Chi, he would get Gohan. When he brought Gohan to their bedroom, Chi-Chi was sitting up ready to feed their child.
As Goku watch Chi-Chi feed Gohan, he became curious. "Chi-Chi is the milk you're feeding Gohan the same as the milk we buy at the store?"
"No, Goku. My milk is more nutritious for the baby."
"What about taste?"
"How would I know, Goku? I don't know what my milk taste like. Only Gohan knows."
"Well, can I taste then?" Goku asked.
Chi-Chi looked at him warily. "Why would you want to do that, Goku? This milk is for Gohan."
"I know. I wonder what it tastes like. Can I? Please. I just want to see the difference."
Chi-Chi shook her head as a sigh escaped her lips. What could the harm be? "All right. You can have taste, but after I feed Gohan."
Goku nodded and waited patiently as he watched Chi-Chi finish feeding Gohan. Afterwards, she burped him and laid Gohan on the bed, turning his eyes away of what was going to happen next. Goku moved to sit in front of Chi-Chi as she lowered the other strap of her gown exposing her other breast.
Goku touched the breast, taking in how enlarge they have both become over the pregnancy. He then covered a nipple with his mouth and gently suckled it for half a minute. Chi-Chi found herself blushing and biting her lip to not moan out for Goku wasn't suckling her like a child getting his milk from his mother, but a husband loving his wife. Goku pulled away and sat there taking it in. He smiled. "It does taste better than regular milk." Goku reached forward for more but Chi-Chi put a hand on his mouth.
She shook her head at him. "No more. This is for Gohan." She fixed her gown and got out of bed. "I'm going to fix his bath now."
Chi-Chi filled the bathroom sink with warm soapy water. Once the water was ready, Chi-Chi got Gohan. She laid him on the changing table. He moved his head a little, focused on his mother and smiled. Chi-Chi smiled back.
"Mommy's going to give you a nice bath so you'll be all clean. Try not to do anything like last time, okay, Gohan?"
Gohan blew a bubble, not understanding his mother. Chi-Chi undressed Gohan, placed him in the sink and used a soft cloth to clean him. First, she wiped his face, his chest, arms and back. As she moved lower to clean his rear, her fingers brushed against something. It felt odd. She never felt that before. Chi-Chi picked Gohan out of the water and turned him around. Her eyes widen in shock of what she saw and she screamed.
Goku was doing one hand pushups when he heard Chi-Chi scream. He lost his concentration and tumbled to the floor. He scrambled to his feet and entered the bathroom where he found Chi-Chi holding Gohan and looking terribly frightened. Gohan was crying too. His mother's frightened screamed scared him.
"Chi-Chi, what is it?"
Chi-Chi turned Gohan around and pointed to the deformed skin sticking out of Gohan's backside. "G-go..gohan…he's growing something."
Goku stared at what looked to be a growing bone. "What is that?"
Chi-Chi sat on the toilet. Her legs were wobbly and she was turning white. "I…I don't know. Goku, what's happening to our son?"
"It looks like he's growing something."
"I know that!" She yelled. "But growing what?" Chi-Chi asked aghast.
"A tail?" Goku guessed.
"A tail?" Chi-Chi repeated. Her eyes widen as she remembered about Goku. "Y-you mean like the one you had as a child?"
"I guess so. Huh. Never thought about that."
Chi-Chi stared at her crying son, still growing pale. "No. I didn't either."
"Chi-Chi, are you all right? You're turning a bit pale."
"It's just…it's shocking," Chi-Chi stuttered as she felt her body heating up and everything spinning around. "Goku, could you take Gohan? I'm feeling a bit lightheaded."
"Uh, sure," Goku said taking Gohan. As he soothed his crying son, Chi-Chi fainted. "Chi-Chi?" Goku leaned over Chi-Chi on the bathroom rug. "Honey?"
Goku returned home with a happy smile on his face. His fighting uniform was torn on his pants and his light shirt. He was careful not to tear the heavy shirt since he didn't have many of those. He didn't care about the torn uniform. Chi-Chi could fix that later. He was happy to get in an excellent day of training, more so than he had in a while. For the past two weeks, Goku was gone for a couple of hours to get in a few light exercises and practice Kamehameha Waves. Today, he left early that morning after breakfast and didn't return until dinner time. Goku hoped Chi-Chi would have the food ready on time. She had been late with the meals since they brought Gohan home and Goku wasn't happy about since he was hungry.
"Hey, Chi-Chi! Is dinner ready!" Goku yelled once he entered the house. Gohan was sleeping in his bassinet when he jolted out of his sleep by the loud voice of his father; so he cried.
Chi-Chi was in the kitchen, working on dinner. She stopped what she was doing to go to Gohan when he cried. She glared at Goku upset. "Why did you have to yell like that, Goku?! I had just gotten Gohan to sleep!" She picked up the baby and rocked him.
"Oh. Sorry, Chi-Chi, but I was wondering if dinner was ready."
"Not for a while, Goku," Chi-Chi said as she soothed Gohan. "There, there, Gohan."
"Why not? It is dinner time. I'm really hungry."
Chi-Chi glared at Goku. She wanted to yell but Gohan was starting to calm down. So, in an almost yelling voice she spoke. "Goku, I've been busy all day, cleaning the house, feeding Gohan, and trying to get him to nap. I've barely had time to eat myself because I've been busy with the house and baby."
Gohan started to act fussy, so Chi-Chi rubbed his back soothingly. She shot an angry look back at Goku. "There were times where he wouldn't stop crying. I have to feed him every two hours and it takes almost that amount of time to get him to sleep. I've only just now had a chance to get dinner started so you will have to wait. You're a man, not a child."
Goku had seen those deadly daggers in Chi-Chi's eyes before so he knew to keep quiet. She definitely had a fiery spirit. "Uh, all right. Can I hold Gohan?"
"No! You've been out training all day and you're covered in dirt and sweat. Go take a shower first," she ordered.
Goku headed upstairs to do what he was told. He made sure to clean himself thoroughly. He washed his hair, brushed his teeth and changed into pair of loose black pants and white undershirt. Instead of wearing his heavy boots, he opted for the house shoes. Chi-Chi had often told him he didn't need to wear his weighted clothes when he's relaxing at home.
When he arrived downstairs, Goku went to Gohan in his bassinet sleeping and Chi-Chi was working on dinner. It looked as if it was going to be a while before dinner was ready. Before Gohan was born, Chi-Chi always prepared dinner on time, but since he was born three weeks ago, she was late with the meals and it didn't fill him completely like it did in the final months of her pregnancy. Goku sat in the living room watching Gohan as he wait for dinner.
His dark eyes wondered to Chi-Chi in the kitchen and picked up on a white box on the kitchen table. "Chi-Chi, where did that box come from?"
Chi-Chi sighed annoyed. So, he found it. "That's our anniversary gift from my father."
"Anniversary gift?" he repeated confused.
Chi-Chi looked back at him, hurt spasm across her young face. "You didn't remember, did you?"
She looked disappointed in him. Goku hated to ask but he knew he must even if it was going to make Chi-Chi feel even more horrible. "Remember what?" He saw a painful look in her eyes and that made Goku feel even worse. "I don't know anything about this, Chi-Chi."
"No, I guess you wouldn't," she said rather coldly. "Didn't it even occur to you that something happened today? Didn't the date trigger anything? Well!" She yelled in a fit of angry tears when Goku didn't answer.
"Um, no," he said quietly. Goku didn't even look at the calendar. Maybe if he had, it might have triggered something but even Goku knew that was a lie.
"You remember your birthday, right? Right!" She yelled when Goku didn't answer quickly enough.
"Um, yeah," Goku said meekly.
"He remembers his birthday even though it's the day his adoptive grandfather found him. It's not even his real birthday," Chi-Chi muttered to herself but Goku heard her.
Even though Chi-Chi would hate him, he had to know what it was that Chi-Chi was so furious with him about. "Chi-Chi, if you could tell me what it is, I can make it up to you. I promise."
"You forgot, Goku. How can you--" she cut herself off as she was about to burst into tears. She turned her back on him and resumed making dinner.
Goku went to her. He tried to put his arm around her but Chi-Chi shoved him away.
"Don't, Goku. Just let me finish dinner."
"But, Chi-Chi…"
"Goku, please. Not now."
He backed off. Goku went back to the sofa and watched Gohan, trying to figure out what he did wrong. Dinner was ready an hour later. The food wasn't as filling as before, but Chi-Chi did say she was busy with the baby all day. That may have something to do with it. Sometimes dinner was eaten in silence, which was fine since Goku was busy eating but this time it was very uncomfortable. Goku thought and thought throughout dinner and didn't have a clue what it was he forgotten. This was worse than when he forgot his promise to marry her. He could've looked in the box, but Chi-Chi took it out of the room before he had a chance too. What anniversary was it?
After dinner, Chi-Chi washed the dishes and Goku spent his time with Gohan. Chi-Chi had to change him once more while Goku play with Gohan afterwards. When the dishes were finished and kitchen cleaned, Goku saw Chi-Chi leave the room. She came back with the white box Ox King left them and another box wrapped in blue.
"Today is our wedding anniversary, Goku," Chi-Chi spoke calmly, although hurt was laced in her voice. "We were married a year ago today." She opened the white box. "My father stopped by while you were training to give us this gift." Chi-Chi revealed an album with the name Son on it. "I haven't had time to get one, but my Dad did and this." She pulled out a silver frame with Goku and Chi-Chi in the picture on their wedding day.
Goku felt very bad. Apparently a wedding anniversary was something important and he forgot.
"I got something for you," Chi-Chi said quietly. She handed Goku a blue package. He looked reluctant to open it since he didn't get her anything. "Open it," Chi-Chi ordered.
Goku slowly tore the wrappings and opened the box. Inside was an orange fighting gi.
"I got tired of sewing your uniform over and over after you tear it so easily here and there after your training, so I found the strongest material I could find and made you a uniform. I have plenty of material left so I'm planning on making more, but I wanted to show you this first before I make the others. I hope it won't tear as easily."
Goku felt the material. It felt soft but tough. Goku was feeling extremely guilty now that Chi-Chi made him something and he didn't have anything for her. Goku set aside the gift and touched Chi-Chi's hands. She tried to pull back but his grip was firm on hers. "Chi-Chi, I didn't know. I didn't know married people celebrated wedding anniversaries. I didn't know about this until now. I would've gotten you a gift. I'm really sorry."
"I can understand you didn't know about celebrating a wedding anniversary. I never told you about that. It's my mistake. You were never exposed to things like this," Chi-Chi said calmly. Goku thought he was in the clear. Chi-Chi was going to forgive him, but then her face contorted in anger as she glared at him. "What hurts me is the fact that you didn't remember that we were married this day."
"You didn't tell me," Goku said simply.
"I didn't think I had to tell you. I thought you would remember. After all, just the other day, you mentioned about the tournament from last year and moped again that there wouldn't be another one."
Goku inwardly groaned. He did say that. How was he going to get out of this now?
"You care more about your fight with Piccolo than the day we married…the day of our union that eventually created our child." Hurt tears spilled from her eyes.
"I--"
With Goku's grip loosening on Chi-Chi, she was able to pull her hands from him. She picked up Gohan from his carrier. "I'm going to get Gohan ready for bed now."
Goku watched as Chi-Chi carried Gohan upstairs. She was furious and devastatingly hurt with him. Goku wondered how he was going to make up to Chi-Chi on this one. Goku could see Chi-Chi was hurt to see that he remembered the day he defeated Piccolo but not the day they married. Piccolo was his greatest adversary who tried to kill him. Chi-Chi was the woman he met as a child, promised to marry and made his life very happy this last year and even given him a son. He fell in love with this woman and was shown emotions he had never felt before.
Goku slowly made his way upstairs, ready for another attack. He found Chi-Chi in the bathroom bathing Gohan in the sink. She paid no attention to Goku as she concentrated on cleaning and entertaining their son. She hummed a soft melody that made Gohan smiled. Goku smiled at Gohan's smile. He saw Chi-Chi's face light up, too. Goku hoped to have Chi-Chi smile that way at him again.
"Chi-Chi."
Chi-Chi's smile faded hearing Goku's voice. Goku didn't let that stop him. "I'm really sorry for forgetting our anniversary. I know it looks bad that I remembered my fight with Piccolo and not the day we married. Just let me explain."
"I think you said enough already," she bitterly replied.
"No, I haven't," Goku gently argued as he stepped in the room. "I've looked forward to the Martial Arts Tournament, the moment I heard of it. It's always been this time of year and even when this time of year happens and the tournament wouldn't be for another year or two, I still thought about the fights."
He touched her arm but Chi-Chi flinched back and continued to bathe Gohan. "I've been fighting all my life, Chi-Chi, but I've been a husband for a year and a father for a month. It's gonna take some time before I'm used to this. Just because I remembered my fight with Piccolo, it doesn't mean I care for that more than you and Gohan."
Chi-Chi scoffed at that as she raised Gohan out of the sink and promptly dried him in a soft cloth. Goku caught a glimpse of the tail that was starting to grow on Gohan. The tailbone was hidden as a small patch of fur was growing. After Chi-Chi awakened from fainting that day, she had become accustomed to the fact that Gohan was growing a tail. She put a diaper on Gohan and carried him to his bedroom. Goku followed them. Chi-Chi put Gohan in a blue sleeper. By now, the baby was too busy to fuss as the warm bath calmed him down and got him ready for sleep. Chi-Chi kissed Gohan's forehead and placed him in the crib.
"Goodnight, sweetie," she told Gohan softly. She turned and saw Goku watching her. She frowned at him. "I'm going to bed. I need some sleep before Gohan awakens in a couple of hours."
Chi-Chi remained quiet as she got dressed for bed. As she lied in bed quietly, she heard Goku come in minutes later. He undressed and she felt the bed sink slightly with his large muscled body. She closed her eyes and fell to sleep.
The sound of the baby crying from the monitor stirred Chi-Chi from her sleep. Chi-Chi slowly awakened. She was so tired. Through half awakened eyes she saw it was one in the morning. She only got three hours asleep.
She rolled out of bed and headed for Gohan's room. Her breasts were full and ready to feed Gohan. Chi-Chi picked up Gohan. "There, there, little one. Momma's here. Momma's always going to be here."
Gohan cried as Chi-Chi removed his dirty diaper, cleaned him off and replaced him with a new one. She sat in the rocking chair and tugged on the strings of the top of her gown to reveal a bare breast. She quickly rubbed the corner of Gohan's mouth with her nipple to allow Gohan to latch on to it so he can begin taking in his milk.
Goku was awake in bed listening to the baby monitor. As Gohan ate, Chi-Chi sat in the rocking chair thinking about what Goku said.
"I've been fighting all my life, Chi-Chi, but I've been a husband for a year and a father for a month. It's gonna take some time before I'm used to this. Just because I remembered my fight with Piccolo, it doesn't mean I care for that more than you and Gohan."
"And he expects me to forgive him just like that because he fought more than we've been married? It shouldn't matter. Where are his priorities? For crying out loud, it wasn't long after he defeated Piccolo that we got married."
She looked down at Gohan who was engrossed in his eating to pay attention to his mother. Chi-Chi thought of him.
"What's next? Will he forget about Gohan's birthday or will he completely forget about us because of his fighting? Will he constantly think his fights in the past are more important than his family. He already left me alone an entire day with you. He's never spent the night away from the house, but what if he does and he forgets about us? Will he abandon us the way his parents did him?"
When she saw Gohan had enough, Chi-Chi laid him over her shoulder and patted him gently until he burped. "It's been a year. Shouldn't he be used to us by now," she sniffed as a tear fell from her eye, "used to me?"
Goku lied there. How could he forget about Chi-Chi and Gohan? That wasn't going to happen. Chi-Chi was right. It has been a year. So, shouldn't he be used to it all by now? A part of him said yes but another part of him said no.
When Goku awakened, the next morning, Chi-Chi wasn't there. He rose out of bed to take his shower and then check on Gohan. He was awake in his crib, looking around. Goku never thought he would ever be a husband and father. Of course the thought never came to mind. These thoughts of fatherhood led Goku back to his own parents and his wife's thoughts the previous night.
"What's next? Will he forget about Gohan's birthday or will he completely forget about us because of his fighting? Will he constantly think his fights in the past are more important than his family. He already left me alone an entire day with you. He's never spent the night away from the house, but what if he does and he forgets about us? Will he abandon us the way his parents did him?"
Goku never wanted Chi-Chi thinking that about him. 'Why would she think I'd leave them? I was just training.' He stared at little Gohan. The baby yawned in such an adorable way that made Goku smile. Goku reached down and picked up Gohan.
"Hey, little guy."
Goku touched Gohan's open palm with his finger. When he did, Gohan grasped Goku's finger in his small hand. Goku smiled. He shook it gently. Gohan smiled at his Daddy. Goku pulled his finger away and Gohan frowned and raised his hand for that finger so Goku gave it back to him. Gohan cooed pleased he got his father's finger back. Goku lifted Gohan above his head. Gohan laughed.
"You like that, don't you, Gohan?" Goku laughed and raised Gohan up and down continuously. Gohan laughed and squealed joyously.
Before he spit up all over his Daddy's face.
Goku heard a noise behind him. He turned around to see Chi-Chi standing in the door way. She looked as if she was stifling her laughter. "I just fed him thirty minutes ago." She entered the room to take Gohan from Goku. "Breakfast is ready. Clean up and I'll deal with Gohan."
Goku nodded at the suggestion and left the room. Chi-Chi smiled at Gohan. "You're such a good baby," she said and gave Gohan a kiss on the cheek. She cleaned his face and brought him downstairs. She placed Gohan in his bassinet and waited for Goku at the breakfast table.
Once more they ate in silence. After breakfast, Goku knew he had to talk to Chi-Chi. It couldn't go on any longer. He pulled her suddenly from the sink where she was washing dishes.
"Goku…?"
"I want to explain myself. Chi-Chi, you misunderstood me."
Chi-Chi placed her hands on her hips. "What do you have to say for yourself, Goku?"
Before Goku could speak, there was a knock at the door. Chi-Chi quickly left his side to answer the door. "Papa!" Chi-Chi said and hugged her father. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd drop by to see my daughter and her family." He gave a wave to Goku. "How are you doin' my boy?" The Ox King laughed joyously and looked around. "Where's my grandson?"
"He's sleeping in the bassinet," Chi-Chi said.
Ox King walked over to his grandson and made goofy faces that brought a smile to Gohan's face. He looked to Chi-Chi and Goku and held up a bag. "I brought some toys and clothes for Gohan."
"Papa, you're going to spoil little Gohan," Chi-Chi said as she looked through the bag.
"He's my grandson," Ox King said as he picked up Gohan from his bassinet. "I'm allowed to spoil him." He made himself comfortable on the sofa, taking careful not to break it. "I forgot to drop it off when I brought you your anniversary gift." When he looked at his daughter, he noticed tiredness in her eyes. "You look tired, Chi-Chi. Gohan has been keeping you up all night, hmm?"
Chi-Chi smiled through her exhaustion. "He is a newborn after all."
Ox King laughed. "Yes, you kept the maids up a lot with your endless cries, but you had the cutest cry," he laughed at the fond memory of his daughter as a newborn.
Ox King looked to his son-in-law. "So, how are you doin', son? I missed you yesterday when I dropped off your gift. Chi-Chi said you were training. How's that going?"
Chi-Chi promptly excused herself to finish washing dishes. Goku hidden his wife's behavior toward him with a smile. "Great," Goku said.
"Speaking of training, shouldn't you get going, Goku?" Chi-Chi called out from the sink. "You always go on your morning runs around this time."
"Oh, well don't let me get in your way. I should be here after you return," Ox King said.
Goku was very reluctant to leave Chi-Chi, but he would look suspicious if he didn't and Goku wasn't comfortable letting the Ox King know about his problems with Chi-Chi. "Okay. I'll see you two later."
When Goku left, Ox King looked to his daughter. "Is everything all right, Chi-Chi?"
"What do you mean, Dad?"
"I get the feeling something isn't right between you and Goku." He placed Gohan in his bassinet and entered the kitchen. He towered over his daughter as she washed the breakfast dishes. "You can always talk to me, Chi-Chi. I may be able to help."
Chi-Chi shoulder's slump and she buried herself in her father's embrace. "Oh, Papa!" she cried. "It's so horrible!"
Ox King patted his daughter's head gently and walked her to the couch. "Now, Chi-Chi. Tell me everything."
Chi-Chi told her father what had happened last night. Ox King listened patiently and kindly. He stroked her dark hair comfortingly. "Well, Chi-Chi, welcome to married life. You knew it wasn't going to be easy."
"I know, Papa, but--"
"I know what you're going to say," Ox King said gently. "Now you know how simple and innocent Goku is. Things are seen differently in his eyes. Marriage is a new thing for him. It will take time for him to become adjusted to things."
Chi-Chi opened her mouth to protest but Ox King raised a hand to his daughter telling her to let him finish. "Goku is a warrior who has been on his own for years. He has never been a husband or father before. It's bad that he forgot the anniversary, but I'm sure he didn't mean to."
"It's not so easy, Papa," Chi-Chi sniffed as she wiped her tears from her eyes. "Goku's a husband and father now. I'm a wife and mother. Gohan and I should be Goku's top priority."
"Oh, Chi-Chi, I can understand your anger, but I think you're making a huge deal out of one mistake Goku made. Goku is always going to be a fighter. Being a fighter and loving to fight is a large part of who he is. If you take that away from him, then you're going to take away something you love about him. Can you actually do that?"
Chi-Chi shook her head slowly. "No."
"I also think you jumped the gun too quickly on his feelings about you and Gohan. You said he wanted to say something to you. Let him and calmly take it from there. I know how quick-tempered you are. Be tolerant with him."
Chi-Chi gripped her hands over her skirt and cried, "I know he loves me, Papa, but how much? I love Goku more than my own life. We didn't start our marriage with him loving me," she said in a regretful tone. She felt so terrible about this situation and was beginning to have doubts in herself. "Maybe I made a mistake going about it that way." She said it so low that she thought her father didn't hear her.
But he did. He smiled sympathetic at his daughter. "I don't think you made a mistake. I think you're doing the best you could. I see a change in Goku from a year ago and it's because of you. Just talk to him. Don't give up so easily, my dear," Ox King advised.
"I'm never giving up, Papa, but sometimes it's so hard, especially since Gohan's been born."
Ox King could see the worry on his daughter's face. "What else has been happening?"
"Well, before Gohan, I can always get breakfast, lunch and dinner finished on time as well as my other work, but with Gohan here, I can't. Sometimes I have to hold him before he gets to sleep and that sets me back in cooking food, cleaning the house and doing the laundry. I know it's my job to do that, but it's hard to balance all that right now. I barely get any sleep because every two and three hours Gohan is crying in the middle of the night for his diaper to be changed or him to be fed. I love Gohan, Papa and it's not him."
"Then it's Goku?" Ox King guessed.
"Yes," Chi-Chi admitted guiltily. "Sometimes, I have just gotten Gohan to sleep and Goku would wake him up and Gohan starts crying again. I'm always the one putting him back to sleep, changing his diaper and giving him baths. I do all the work with Gohan while Goku plays with him. It's not fair. Goku whines 'I'm hungry,' when dinner isn't on time like it was before. I want to be the best wife in the world for Goku and I'm doing the best I can, Papa, but it's not easy."
She ran a frustrated hand her long hair, but it was a relief to get this off her chest. It was almost therapeutic. "Once I'm through with Gohan, the cleaning of the house and clothes, I have to take care of Goku, whether it's sewing his clothes or getting his bath started sometimes because he may have gotten his muscles sore in training. I'm so tired and I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since Gohan's birth and then I work so hard getting Goku's gift ready for our anniversary and he forgets it."
"So, this has been building," Ox King presumed. "Chi-Chi, have you talked to Goku about this?"
Chi-Chi shook her head. "No. He should know this already."
"You know, you always had that problem, Chi-Chi. You have trouble communicating your feelings." Chi-Chi stared at her father surprised. She didn't feel that way. Her father continued. "Oh, sure you get upset and yell, but you often let your anger hide part or all of your true feelings. It's taken me years to see that and it's certainly going to take Goku more than a year to see that. Because of his innocence, Goku often sees the surface of a person and thinks that's what that person is when there's much more. If you don't talk to him and just assume he should know these things, then there will be more problems in your marriage."
"Goku, helped when I was pregnant," Chi-Chi admitted.
"Yes, after reading those pamphlets and the doctor sating you had to take it easy. Now that you had the baby, he doesn't think you need help. You need to tell him."
Chi-Chi nodded, agreeing with her father. "Okay, Papa. I'll do that."
Ox King remained pensive. "He's a man who never had responsibilities before, Chi-Chi and he must come to realize the need to be here for his wife and son. Just give him the light and show him the way."
Chi-Chi nodded again and hugged her father. It was great to have him around. She could really talk to him about her problems. "Thank, Papa."
Ox King was glad to help out. "You're welcome, my dear."
Ox King held a container of the night's dinner under his arm as he headed out the door.
"Do you really have to go, Papa?" Chi-Chi asked her father worried about the trip home he'll have to make. "It's dark."
"Don't worry, dear. I'll be all right." He gave her a hug and whispered in her ear. "Besides, you and Goku have to talk. Remember what I said."
"I will, Papa. Have a safe trip home."
Chi-Chi stood in the doorway, watching her father drive off. When she couldn't see him, she entered the house. Goku was holding Gohan as he slept on his father's shoulder. The little boy's arms hung lazily and his head rest on Goku's muscled shoulder.
Chi-Chi sat on the sofa and patted a seat for Goku to take. He did. Before Chi-Chi said anything, Goku spoke. "I'm really sorry for not remembering our anniversary."
"I know," Chi-Chi said quietly as she smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt.
Goku breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She wasn't angry anymore. "If I had known, I would've gotten you something."
"I know, Goku," Chi-Chi replied in the same voice.
"My fight with Piccolo was great even though I nearly got killed, but it doesn't mean it's more important than you and Gohan. It's not. I guess it's really going to take some time for me to understand all this stuff about marriage," Goku said honestly.
"I know," Chi-Chi said again.
Goku didn't like how Chi-Chi was taking the news. "Is something else the matter?"
"Yes, Goku. You." For the first time since they talked tonight, she looked at him. "You need to be more responsible. I'm not talking about the anniversary. I'm talking about you as a husband and father."
Goku looked confused. He didn't understand what Chi-Chi was talking about.
Chi-Chi could see that as well. "Goku, you need to understand because of the baby, there will be changes. It will be a while before I cook like I use to. I have to put a lot attention on Gohan because he's our child and he's also a newborn. You need to see that and think of your child more than yourself."
"I don't--"
"Yes, you do," Chi-Chi cut him off irritated. "I don't have anything against you training, but I do think you when you come home, you should understand that I'm tired with the baby and house and give me time to adjust to it. It wouldn't hurt if you help out by changing a few diapers and giving Gohan his baths instead of just playing with him when he's awake."
Chi-Chi gently to the sleeping Gohan off Goku's shoulder. She sat him in her lap. "We have one child in the family, Goku and I'm holding him. Things are different from when it was just us. We only had to look out for each other. I only had to think of you, but it's not like that now. I have this child to think of first. There are times in the middle of the night, I rather sleep, but I can't because Gohan needs me. It's time for you to think that way as well."
Goku sat there taking it in. Maybe he was being a bit irresponsible and still thinking about himself first. As a kid, when he was hungry, he'd take care of it first before anything else, and now with Chi-Chi as his wife, he would tell her he was hungry and she would quickly fix him something.
"Maybe we had Gohan too early," Chi-Chi admitted quietly, "but I don't regret it."
"I don't either," Goku agreed.
"No, you don't," Chi-Chi spoke gently as she cuddled Gohan. "But I don't think you were ready for it as I was. You weren't aware of the responsibilities of having a child. It's time now, Goku." Chi-Chi leaned forward to give Goku a quick kiss on the lips. "Good night. I'll see you upstairs."
As Goku watched Chi-Chi go, he let Chi-Chi words set in. A lot of what Chi-Chi said was making sense. He was feeling guilty for not helping Chi-Chi out more but she was doing such a good job with it, he didn't think he had to help. Now he saw it was just a cover. He felt guilty for not picking up on it, but he also felt Chi-Chi should've told him. No matter what, changes had to be made and it had to start with him.
To Be Continued
AN: Maybe I should've explained this at the end of the last chapter but I didn't think I needed to, but I have to on Gohan's tail. Gohan was not born with a tail. If you've seen "Memories of Gohan" where Goku, ChiChi and Ox King are trying to name Gohan (who is a newborn), ChiChi picks Gohan up and he doesn't have a tail. In a flashback where Goku and ChiChi are walking Gohan in his stroller (who is about five or six months) Gohan does have a tail. From this, it's safe to say that because of Gohan's mixed genes his tail wasn't produced at birth like a full blooded Saiyan but slowly developed after birth.
Another thing I may have to comment on is Goku's behavior in this fic. A lot of you think Goku was great a Dad in the beginning because he is when DBZ starts, but he wasn't. He had to mature into one. Truth of the matter is that he was a bit naively selfish. Goku has been so used to living on his own that living with a wife and child and taking care of them is new to Goku and he will make mistakes along the way. The best examples I can use is "Memories of Gohan" from the two flashbacks. In the first one, Goku, ChiChi and Ox King are trying to name Gohan. The English version goofed a bit so I'll explain it from what happens in the JV. Only Ox King and ChiChi were coming up with names. ChiChi tried Einstein and when she saw Gohan didn't like that, she tried Archimedes. (I think the EV still had ChiChi trying to name Gohan Einstein) When that didn't work, Ox King list some names. Gohan didn't like that either. So Ox King and ChiChi are sitting on the couch when it occurred to them that Goku hadn't made any suggestions and he's the father. EV makes it worst with Goku saying he was going to go fishing. In the JV, Goku feels ChiChi and Ox King eyes on him and he says, "Me?" He's a bit confused as to why they are looking at him for a suggestion. ChiChi and Ox King tells Goku that he must have at least one name. Goku says he's hungry, which of course gets ChiChi to yell at him and she makes a good point by telling him he's not a child and that he ate just a little while ago and how he could be thinking of his stomach at such an important time. I believe we can all agree that naming your newborn is more important than your stomach especially when you ate an hour ago. Another mistake Goku made was releasing the stroller when he and ChiChi were walking Gohan and sending him flying down the hill, over a ravine and into a tree.
Marriage was thrust upon Goku before he had a real meaning of it. He thought all he would have to do is live with ChiChi. So far in the previous chapters that's what he has been doing, living with ChiChi. He still had yet to fully understand what it means to be a husband and father. He's getting better on the husband part but he's not there yet and he hasn't started yet as a father. When you're a parent, you have to be selfless and think of the child before yourself and Goku hasn't been doing that yet.
Sadako: Are you sure about that? It was never mentioned. I know ChiChi had a birthday for him in May but it was because he missed one spending nearly a year in training with Goku. Gohan even said it wasn't his birthday.
Lady Athena: Oh, wow. You're not going to be too happy about this chapter then since Goku is making mistakes. I think you're right about DBZ being one of the most butchered anime series and we can only wonder how amazing and much better it would've been in America if Funimations didn't change it so much and did the dumb thing in directing it towards young kids. I think Sailor Moon is also on the list of the most butchered anime. I like EV version of Sailor Moon and I haven't seen the JV Sailor Moon but I'm betting it's a lot better as all animes are better than the dubbed versions. I think Funimations not only insult ChiChi's character but they completely bash her at times. I hope no Japanese are watching the English version and see how horrible it's being portrayed here. I hope Akira Toriyama never see it either. If the dub viewers read the manga and sub, they would like ChiChi better. Her temper is really meant to be comic relief but viewers of the EV misinterpret it. Good luck on your schoolwork and happy graduation. I know I was glad to leave.
Chuquita: So, are you reviewing by every two chapters now instead of one? That's a drag waiting two weeks to read a story. Blame Funimations writers for the misinterpretation. I don't know why or how they got ChiChi's character so messed up.
CB: Well, you're not liking this chapter then, but hey, things weren't always easy for them. Marriage is hard work and you have to work at it to make it work, especially when babies are born. SATs fairly easy? Wow. That's a good thing then.
SK: I know very few Japanese words but I'm not even going to try it. I love the way ChiChi calls Goku Goku-sa in the anime but I'm not putting it in my story. It wouldn't make sense for me to put some in anyway because it wouldn't look right and every time I used the word, I'll have to put it in the AN to explain what it means. I've read a few stories, where the Japanese word is used and the author never translated it and it didn't make any sense to me.
Gogirl: Why people shoot deers? They don't have anything better to do? How do you know about Goku's mother? She probably did fall from the sky. Hee. Hee. Akira Toriyama did create his character so anything is possible. Goku's first days as a Daddy isn't all that good. He has lessons to learn.
Kinoha Chi: I've been buying some of the manga in America and they aren't even in the Buu Saga yet so since you read it all can I ask you something? I heard a rumor that Goku saw ChiChi die to Majin Buu and he went ballistic in the manga. Is that true? I've seen the JV and Goku wasn't in the show at all when ChiChi was killed. They showed Goten's reaction and I wonder if the anime changed it. Your friend has the Japanese anime channel. I need to go over your friend's house! I also hate how the EV portrays her and it's because of them, that many people in America do not like her. It is a lie that Goku is afraid of ChiChi. I believe it was just a joke when it was in the manga, anime and EV but people in America misinterpret that joke and think it's true. Come on, if Goku was really afraid of ChiChi, then how come he always gets his way ie., fighting and taking Gohan to train.
The manga probably portrays ChiChi the best. The anime of ChiChi is a whole lot better than EV but they have over exaggerated ChiChi's temper and her making Gohan study but Funimations pushed it WAY overboard. I think the anime made ChiChi this way because ChiChi is not seen as much in the manga and she's often quiet. The anime has to extend what was in the manga since it was very plot driven and Toriyama never had subplots. He always get to the points in his stories. I have to disagree about the controlling because ChiChi does have some control over Goku just like Goku has control over ChiChi. It's not in a bad way. It's in a good way like love. It's because of their love and respect for each other that they have that power. Everybody has some control over someone. Like our parents. Our parents tells us to do our chores, clean our rooms, etc and we do it. Spouses have some control over another. They can get them to do things that no one else would, not they would want to. ChiChi is only looking out for her husband and wants what's best for him, such as having him to get his license. I thought the whole thing with G/CC after he returned from Yardrat was funny too. In the manga, Goku is very apologetic and very guilty for what he did because he said he was sorry over and over and he couldn't believe he did that. The EV didn't have Goku apologize at all even though he did sound apologetic. It's true. ChiChi is his weakness. Hee. Hee. I think I've seen the pic you're talking about. I believe it was volume 30, but the graphic novel calls it 14 because they divide it from DB and DBZ. ChiChi and Videl are suppose to be alike so I guess that includes height. Heights are expected to change in the anime just like Goku's uniform. It's supposed to be orange but most of the time it's red.
Jessica: Is that your way of asking me if I've been pregnant? No, I haven't, but my mother has been and I visited a website about pregnancy. I like to be informative in my stories and try to keep it as true as possible. At least you guys learn something, right.
Cecilia: Read AN.
CT: Read AN.
Marshmallow: Goku will be a good Daddy but he has to realize his responsibility first. He made several mistakes when Gohan was a baby and those are just stepping stones for him to be a good Daddy. It's not easy and it's not done overnight. Hey, I'll protest with you, just tell me when and where.
Moon Girl: Not much humorous stuff. I was working on this chapter for being serious and show everything not as perfect because it's not in marriage and having babies. Goku made some mistakes in his early time as a father and he has to learn from it and learns what it means to be a father. He won't be great at it at first. I'm just being realistic.
Carrie: Thanks. Yep, Goku has that bond with ChiChi. Aw, sweet Gohan. As you can see, Goku's not doing so good so far. I told you. Have to be realistic you know. Everything's not roses.
Mic Mic: Explain sex to him? Well, that was five chapters ago and it's not important to the story I'm presenting here, and I'm wondering if you understand that. There are more things in a relationship than sex that makes it work. If you can get the JV, do so but it will cost you some money. Hail the conquering hero? Hee. Hee. That sounds like something from Aladdin.