Thanks for the reviews folks!

I do not own the song I used in the last chapter, it is "Not A Day Goes By" by Lonestar. That song actually gave me the idea for this fic, which was going to be a one shot originally. But the idea has obviously grown past that, and it's no where near done yet. There's LOTS more still ahead.

And as to killing Hercule…well…all I'll say is that he will not be killed. But yes, he does get beat up. It won't be by whom you expect nor will it be when you expect it.

Also, in this fic the moon was wished back, but in such a way so that Saiya-jins can not be turned into Ozaroos by its light.

I don't own Dragonball Z.

Destiny

Part 3: Back Together

Chapter 4: Reunited

With a soft click Videl turns off the lamp by her bed, leaving the room to be illuminated by the light of the stars and moon. In the dim glow provided by the night sky, Videl slips out onto her balcony and then, using the gift of flight taught to her by Gohan, she silently floats to the ground directly behind an unsuspecting guard.

A groan can be heard from the guard as he falls to the ground, knocked unconscious by a swift blow to his lower neck.

Sticking to the shadows, Videl sneaks past two more guards as they talk about the "assets" of the centerfold in the latest issue of some skin mag. ' So typical…and so unlike Gohan.' Videl thinks to herself as she slips past them.

In a matter of moments she is outside of the home, or prison as she sees it, and away from the eyes of the guards. With a sigh she takes to the air and heads in the most logical direction, north.

• • •

A cold wind blows over the land, stirring the light snow that covers the ground, and sending a chill down Videl's back as she flies over the unfamiliar land. The only light to guide her way through the night sky is that of the stars. However, this dim light starts to fade for the clouds grow thicker and cover more of the sky as she comes closer to her destination. Finally, the dim light of the stars fades completely leaving her in utter blackness.

The slightest feeling of panic fills Videl, pushing aside the feeling of joy that has been building with each mile she has covered, at the thought of having to wait until morning in order to continue her journey since the air seems to be growing colder with every minute of darkness that passes. The cold, biting, air is making concentration difficult as Videl has to divide up her energy amongst keeping herself from freezing to death, flying, and keeping track of Gohan's ki.

But ki sensing is the hardest of the skills that Videl learned in those few days she spent with Gohan, and keeping track of Gohan's ki is becoming more and more difficult as the cold wind bites at her face. And just as Gohan's ki, a power that is unmistakable in her mind, fades with the dulling of her ki sense, a literal light in the darkness appears in the distance. The light is small and dim yet it is enough to cause hope and joy to sore within Videl's chest at finally seeing the place she has been flying towards for several hours. As she nears the light she can see that it is coming from a window.

An almost inaudible crackle emanates from the snow as she lands within the swath of light on the ground. In the window she can see Gohan sitting at his desk while reading a book, and the lamp that guided her over the final distance of her journey. A contented smile forms on her face upon seeing Gohan as she takes a deep breath, the air smelling heavily of burning wood in a fireplace, be sighing. And with the sigh her energy flares as the cold seems to recede from around her just as snow begins to drift down from the clouds above. Through the window Videl can see Gohan look up from his book almost the instant her energy level increased before he gets up and leaves the room.

• • •

A look of confusion crosses Gohan's face as he senses Videl's ki. Looking out the window, he can see a lone figure standing in the snow. But he is unable to make out anything about them through the glare on the window and the gently falling snow. His heart screams that it is Videl, that she has come to him, but his mind tells him to brush it aside as a delusion even though the ki he feels is unmistakably Videl's. So, following his heart, he grabs a coat and goes outside to see for himself.

• • •

Several seconds pass in agonizing silence before Videl sees a light shine forth from the side of the house before winking out. She can barely see the figure walking towards her through the snow and darkness, but the single word, her name, that the person says softly is incredibly clear.

"Videl?" Gohan asks tentatively. Hopping, praying, wanting to believe, that the person before him is not a delusion or dream. But if it is a dream, he does not want to wake up. Gohan's breath is held captive in his chest as Videl nods her head before moving towards Gohan.

• • •

Tears fill Videl's eyes upon hearing the apprehension in Gohan's voice, a voice she has wanted to hear for the past weak, but they do not fall. She can feel herself nodding ever so slightly before her legs seem to move on their own. Only a few steps are taken before she throws herself at Gohan. The tears in her eyes now of joy as they roll down her cheeks to soak into Gohan's sweatshirt.

• • •

Gohan takes a single step before Videl flies towards him. He almost gasps when she does not disappear mere inches from his grasp, and is almost knocked to the ground from her impact. "You-you're really here." Gohan breathlessly says as he wraps his arms around her in a tight embrace.

Videl shakes slightly, both in joy and because she is cold, before replying, "Yes. And I never want to leave."

With a gentle touch, Gohan trails his fingers down her cheeks. Her skin feels cold to the touch and seems to draw in the heat from his own body. "Come on. Let's go inside where it's warm." He says as he picks her up in his arms and goes back inside.

A contended sigh escapes Videl's lips at being held caringly in Gohan's arms and at the warmth of the house that washes over her upon entering it. When Gohan gently sets her down on the couch she has to consciously keep herself from protesting when he goes into another room, leaving her alone by the fire. Gohan returns a few seconds later with a thick blanket in his arms which he wraps around Videl's shoulders after she removes her damp coat.

The dim light of the fireplace dances across their faces and sparkles in their eyes as they look deep into each other's eyes. One lost in a sea of black and the other lost in an ocean of blue. Each can see the pain and weight of the other's past, as well as the happiness and nervousness of the moment. Unconsciously they slowly lean closer, the distance between them shrinking with each passing second as time seems to slow. This time there is no one to interupt them and pull them apart. At last they feel the gentle caress of the other's lips on their own.

The sensation seems to ignite something within them and the kiss deepens as their tongues explore the other's mouth. Ever so slowly, they lay down on the warm rug in front of the fireplace; the blanket around Videl's shoulders lies forgotten on the floor next to them. Neither knows nor cares whether the change in position is from Gohan pulling Videl down with him or Videl pushing Gohan to the floor. Gingerly, their hands start to explore each other's bodies, but their heavy clothing is in the way and it is to warm as the temperature in the room seems to rise. Suddenly the black sweater that Videl has on and Gohan's navy blue sweatshirt seem to disappear as they are tossed aside, leaving both in a thin T-shirt. The kiss that had been broken to remove the pieces of clothing resumes with more passion then had been there before.

Gohan's hands slowly untuck Videl's shirt from her pants before moving under it. His fingertips slowly trail up her sides. The sensation of Gohan's cool gentle fingers are creating sends a shiver down Videl's spine as she moans lightly against Gohan's lips.

In the dancing light of fire, neither notices the sound of ripping cloth as their shorts are torn from their bodies. Nor do they notice the loss of their other pieces of clothing to the disheveled pile next to them. Soon there is nothing between them as skin touches skin, igniting a fire within their bodies that neither has felt before. As their hands roam over the each other's bodies, memorizing the feel of each curve and causing feelings and sensations neither has experienced before, their unconscious minds and animalistic instincts begin to take control.

Slowly they move to a beat only they can hear as they feel the pleasure building within them. They quickly lose themselves to the sensations coursing through their bodies as they move as one. Suddenly, the sensations send them over the edge as they are racked by a surge of pure ecstasy. And in that moment of pure pleasure their teeth sink into the nape of the others neck, sending a flood of metallic moisture into their mouths as they taste each other's blood on their tongues. Pulling apart slightly, they can see traces of their own blood on the other's lips, but it is only for an instant for their lips quickly meet in a kiss. As they separate, panting slightly, they gaze into the each other's eyes.

"I love you Son Gohan." Videl says softly as her eyes slowly close and she drifts off to sleep.

"And I love you Videl Satan. More then you'll ever know." Gohan whispers in reply as he runs a hand through her sweat dampened hair before he too drifts off to sleep.

As they sleep Videl's face twists in pain and sorrow as she experiences all that has happened to Gohan in his life. She hears Raditz, Gohan's uncle, as he explains the origin of the boy's father. The news that Gohan's father is not human comes as a shock to the girl just as it was to those that had been there and witnessed the event. And the word Saiya-jin that Gohan had said on the day they first met has meaning.

• • •

Beside her Gohan sleeps as he sees Videl's life in his mind. He is blinded for a second as Videl steps out of a building and into a bright, sunshiny day. After several seconds he is able to see a white sandy beach with clear blue water crashing against it in a spray of white foam. "This is really pretty." He hears Videl say as she looks up to her parents.

• • •

Suddenly, Goku is on the ground in pain and Videl, seeing and feeling this from Gohan's perspective also finds herself in pain while being taken by the longhaired Saiya-jin. Feelings of fear and sadness fill her as she feels Gohan's emotions from when he was locked in the small, spherical, spacecraft that Raditz arrived in. And through Gohan's sobs she can hear the sounds of fighting going on outside the pod. After several minutes of fighting she can hear cries of pain from Goku, and feel anger begin to build within Gohan. For what seems like less then a second everything goes blank then comes back to reveal that Gohan is no longer inside the pod, but lying on the ground.

• • •

Gohan recognizes Hercule easily enough. The only real differences between this younger version and the one he knows are less bulky muscles and hair that is cut neatly instead of being in a frizzy afro. The woman, however, is a different story. There are several things about her that stand out and mean something in Gohan's mind. But what it is he can not put his finger on for some reason.

• • •

Videl watches as Raditz staggers towards her, Gohan. In her mind she can hear Gohan's confusion as to what just happened. But before she can learn anything else about the scene, everything goes black as Gohan is knocked out.

• • •

In an instant a couple of years of Videl's life flash by before they slowing and showing Gohan a memory of one of the few days Videl will never be able to forget. He sees Videl's father sitting in front of her, his head resting in his hands before looking at his daughter. "Mommy is sick." Hercule says softly. "She had to go to the hospital." A wave of sadness sweeps through Gohan as he feels what Videl had felt upon hearing the news. "Is Momma gonna be alright?" She asks. "Of cou…I don't know sweetie. I don't know." Hercule replies quietly, catching himself before saying something that he would regret later.

• • •

With the bite of cold water the world of black resolves into one of color as Gohan regains consciousness. As Videl watches the memories play out in her mind she sees a large green man standing before Gohan. She can feel Gohan's fear towards the tall man as he explains what has and will happen. 'He's going to leave Gohan alone, in the wilderness, for six months? Is that guy nuts?' She thinks as she experiences the seemingly endless days of being chased by one creature or another before it changes to him chasing the creatures, and then to him and Piccolo sparing.

• • •

The sharp odor of disinfectant fills Gohan's nostrils and over powers all other scents as Videl walks into the hospital along side her father. The sound of their footsteps seems to be amplified a hundred fold as it echoes off the white, sterile, walls of the corridor. They pass a group of quietly chatting doctors and nurses before entering one the many rooms lining the long hall. The small room, like the corridor they were just in, is white except for a few touches of color, a painting of a landscape on one wall and a small vase of flowers on a table. And the only major piece of furniture in the room is a single bed. The occupant of the bed looks towards the door upon hearing it open, and smile creases her face.

• • •

Videl watches through Gohan's eyes as they encounter Vegeta for the first time. With is a tall man that she soon learns to be Nappa. A fight quickly ensues and six green monsters spring from the ground, grown from seeds planted by Nappa. Gohan's anguish washes though Videl with each friend that is hurt and killed in the battle. Videl watches through Gohan's eyes as he and the man she has come to know as Krillin fight a losing battle against Nappa. Just as it seems as Krillin and Gohan are going to be killed by the mountain of a man, Goku appears and saves the day.

• • •

And finally, on a cold and rainy day, Videl is at her mother's bedside in what was then Orange Star City while holding her mother's hand. "I want you to grow up and do what makes you happy, Videl. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something because you can do anything you want to." Videl's mother says weakly as she gazes at her daughter. Videl nods at her mother. The woman's eyes seem to lose focus as she gazes at her daughter. What had struck Gohan as odd about Videl's mother suddenly dawns on him as she starts to speak again. "I love you Videl, my little angel." Videl's mother says with her last breath as the life fades from her black eyes and Videl feels the cool warmth of her mother's hand turn into the clammy touch of lifelessness. Gohan watches as Videl's vision becomes blurry with tears and in the background he can hear Hercule crying.

• • •

As the two Saiya-jins begin their duel it is clear that Goku is far stronger the Nappa. Shock fills Videl, echoing that which she can feel coming from Gohan, as Vegeta kills Nappa with a ki blast because he is losing the fight. And then, as smoke from the blast clears, Goku tells Gohan and Krillin to leave. But as Gohan and Krillin fly away from the battle scene, a light appears in the sky over the two combatants and they feel Vegeta's energy shoot upward. Videl can feel fear build within Gohan as he and Krillin turn back to help Goku. As Gohan lies helpless on the ground, he looks up at the glowing ball of light. Suddenly, everything goes black and the next thing Videl sees is Chi-Chi leaning over Gohan.

• • •

There is no rush of doctors and nurses into the room when the quiet beep of the heart monitor turns changes into a constant tone. Everyone knew that the woman would die from the virus. And even if they were to some how manage to revive her it would have only buy her a few pain filled hours at best. That knowledge lead both Hercule and Selene to sign a do not resuscitate order. At the time Hercule's hand had been shaking so bad that he barely managed to scribble his name on the piece of paper. Gohan sees a blurry image of a nurse enter the room and turn off the heart monitor, plunging the room into utter silence.

• • •

A few images of time spent in a hospital flash through Videl's mind before she begins to see images of a strange looking place. She quickly learns that Gohan is on another planet. 'Gohan has been to another planet?' She asks herself. 'I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, I've already learned that he is half alien.' The memories of the fight with Frieza and of the time spent on planet Namek seem to go by much faster then those of the fights with Nappa and Vegeta.

• • •

Several years worth of memories pass buy, each showing a reclusive Videl. Her only real contact with someone besides her father is a blonde haired girl that Gohan recognizes as Erasa. Gohan watches as the young girl spends her free time training. The memories start to slow and Gohan sees Hercule through Videl's eyes as she watches her father practice. Gohan can feel that Videl is somewhat perturbed by the sight since her father seems to almost be moving in slow motion.

• • •

Videl watches as Gohan and his friends fly to a remote area where a large ship sits neatly on the ground. She can sense Gohan's surprise when Frieza emerges from the ship, and then his utter disbelief upon seeing a man with lavender hair transform into a Super Saiyan and easily dispatch Frieza and his father. A few hours later, after Goku has arrived, the boy tells them about two androids that are going to be attacking.

• • •

Years flash by as Gohan watches Videl's relationship with her father gradually deteriorate until one day when the remaining shreds are torn apart. He sees that it is a few days before the 24th Tenkaichi Budokai and Videl is preparing to spar with her father. To Gohan's trained mind he can tell as soon as the fight begins that Videl will be the victor. And he can feel her confusion when she beats her father. Now it was not exactly a cakewalk, but it was not too difficult for her at the same time. And Hercule, as ignorant as he can seem at times, did a good job of covering up the fact that he tried to win the fight but could not.

• • •

Grief almost overwhelms Videl as she sees and feels Gohan's memories of the Cell Games. Specifically, when his father had sacrificed himself to save the planet from Cell's self-destruction. Then, seconds later she feels pain and a seething anger unlike any she herself has known or felt from Gohan's previous memories, run through each pour of Gohan's being as though it were her own upon seeing Cell return from the dead. It almost seemed as though Gohan's vision literally turned red as he and Cell face off in one final showdown that ends with the killing machine's life.

• • •

The fights of the junior division of the 24th Tenkaichi Budokai seemed to fly by as each easily defeated opponent after another walks, limps, or is carried from the ring. And as Videl sits and watches the adult division Gohan can feel that fights are boring to the young girl.

• • •

After the 24th Tenkaichi Budokai and Cell Games both their lives become depressing in their own ways. For Gohan it is living day to day with a little brother who will never know his father. And for Videl it is a life in the spotlight. She would rather have preferred to stay out of the public's eye and live a boring life. It's not until their sixteenth birthdays that something happens. On those days, both began to have odd dreams and hear a strange voice. Neither of which made sense until they met each other a short time later.

• • •

Gohan's eyes gradually open to reveal a room barely lit by a dying fire. He can feel the warmth of Videl's body pressed up against his own. Slowly, Videl opens her eyes and looks up at Gohan.

In her eyes he can see a thousand questions waiting to be uttered. He knows that each is about the memories that ran through her mind, and he knows the one answer that will answer all of the questions. "Yes, everything that you saw really happened to me." He says softly while tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

Tears fill Videl's eyes for how much pain Gohan has gone through in his life, but only one falls as she kisses him. "I'm sorry." Videl says quietly as she pulls back.

"Don't be. It's in the past." He whispers before kissing her and wrapping his arms tightly around her.

The kiss quickly deepens as their bodies once again react to the feeling of bare flesh against bare flesh and do a dance as old as mankind itself.

As they lay in each other's arms while feeling pleasures their carnal actions created slowly fading Gohan uses his ki to put another log in the fireplace and ignites it with a small ball of ki.

"Mmm…thanks." Videl says sleepily as she snuggles into Gohan's arms again.

"You're welcome." Gohan replies only to here the soft sound of Videl's breath as she sleeps.

With a content chuckle Gohan pulls the blanket over Videl and himself and drifts off to sleep.

Neither notices the sound of the door opening a few minutes later as they sleep peacefully in each other's arms.

Another chapter for all you wonderful folks! I have but one request on behalf of myself, and of several others I'm sure. Would some of you guys and gals write more sappy romance fics? They used to be plentiful, but now it seems like they're almost non-existent. I don't like angst stories.

Please Review.