Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
As always, a very appreciate thanks to Trugeta and animeprincess1452 for reviewing! You guys are the greatest!
To Trugeta: Yeah. While it appears to be irresponsible behavior to Bulma, there is really a genius at work. And thanks so much, I'm glad the presents did well! I spent a long time figuring out what Goten was supposed to get them, believe it or not...
To animeprincess1452: Thank you, I'm glad I did okay on the presents! And on the scene with Vegeta trying to get rid of Chain...So thank you!
Okay, then...
Late December didn't seem to be an enjoyable time, especially if your heater was broken and all you could do to keep warm was stay in bed wrapped in a large pile of blankets. Well, that was how it was for Chi-Chi, mainly, though the cold didn't seem to bother her husband or son one bit.
"Okay, Chi-Chi, we're going out to train!" Goku called from downstairs.
She shivered and huddled underneath the sheet, bedspread, throw, single blanket, double blanket, pillows, yet another throw, and artificial fur coat. It was very comfortable in her bed, but should she dare step out of her comfort-zone she might tempt fate to hit her with frigidness a bit too hard.
I can't stay in here like this, she thought. When those boys get back they're going to want a meal, and someone has to fix it...Hey, I'm tough, I can take a bit of cold! She stepped out from underneath the covers and hugged herself to keep as warm as possible.
"This is ridiculous," she said. "Someone has to fix this! I can't live in an indoor arctic tundra!" She grabbed the fur coat, pulled it on, and promptly reached over for the phone on her nightstand. She began to dial quickly.
At last, after several rings, someone picked up on the other end. "Hello? This is Bulma..."
"Bulma, I need your help," Chi-Chi told her with a shaky voice.
"What?" Bulma plugged a finger into one ear, trying to listen past the complaints in the background.
"I still want to know why my pancakes are black instead of golden," Vegeta demanded shortly.
"Vegeta, please be quiet for just one second!" she snapped back at him. "Say it again, Chi-Chi."
"I said I need your help. My house is like an icebox; hence I'm stuck in bed almost all day. And since you seem to be so good at fixing things, maybe you could just do me a favor this once. I can make it up to you."
"Hold on," Bulma said. She covered the speaker end of the phone and looked back at her whining family with an aggravated expression.
"Here's the problem, Mom, you didn't even put cooking spray on here," Trunks noted, inspecting the frying pan on the stove.
"That's not why they're black, though. That just the explains why they won't come up," Vegeta told him.
"Well, from the batter, it looks like she put far too much flour in," Bra said. "Either that or too much baking powder, it's hard to tell..."
"Is that why they're unusually thick?"
"Guys, be quiet! I'm on the phone, in case you can't tell! Sit down and zip it for just a few seconds!" Bulma spoke back into the telephone once everyone ceased his or her criticism.
"Bulma?"
"Yes, I'm here."
"Good. Well, can you fix the heater for me?" Chi-Chi asked.
Bulma glanced back to her family. Trunks suddenly jumped back from the lump of pancake in the frying pan that unexpectedly caught on fire. "Oh, my gosh! Put it out!"
"I'll make you a deal," she said back into the phone.
. . . . . .
Demi, who had been brushing the snow off of the winter flowers on her apartment balcony, suddenly noticed that down below her at the gate Trunks, Bra, Vegeta, and Chain had come over for an unexpected visit.
When they came upstairs to meet her, she found that they were here in the hopes that she would prepare a more successful breakfast for them than Bulma had.
"Where is she, anyway?" Demi asked.
"She went to Chi-Chi's," Bra answered while picking Chain up with more support in her arms.
"What for?"
"Their heater is broken, so she agreed to fix it for them."
. . . . . .
Chi-Chi opened her door. "Oh, good, Bulma. You're finally here."
"Oh my gosh!" Bulma exclaimed as she stepped inside. "It is cold in here! I think it might even be colder in here than it is outside!"
"I told you it was. Well, the heater is in the basement. In the meantime, I'll just prepare for your part of the deal." She headed into the kitchen while Bulma headed into the basement.
Right there in the basement Bulma found the heater and the problem. She opened one of the metal panels to inspect the simple machine. "I can't believe this. This has to be the easiest thing for anyone to figure out." She turned a few knobs, moved a couple of wires, and hit the side of the heater to where it cranked back up once more. "Done," she proclaimed proudly, wiping her hands off on her jeans.
When she went back upstairs, Chi-Chi had everything ready in the kitchen. "Did you fix it?"
Bulma nodded.
"Okay, then. The deal was if you fixed my heater I would teach you how to cook. What I want you to make is a simple recipe of fried cinnamon apples for starters. Show me what you know so far," she instructed, and stood aside to let her friend use the already heated pans.
Bulma thought for a long moment before finally taking up one of the apples on the counter and setting it in the pan.
"This could be a long day," Chi-Chi remarked, folding her arms.
. . . . . .
Trunks was leaning back on the wall while Demi started up some hot water for coffee and heated the oven for making buttered toast.
"Hey, I've been thinking," he said. "Exactly where are we going to have the wedding and the reception? We've done all of this planning and we haven't actually picked where it's going to take place."
Demi paused for a short moment before continuing to butter the bread. She shrugged.
"You want me to choose on that, too?" he inquired, raising one eyebrow.
"I just suggested you plan this stuff a bit more because I never get it done. You know that." She glanced back at him sternly for a moment before setting the bread down on the baking sheet.
"And just a last question. Do you want to do anything or go anywhere particular after we're married?"
"You mean for our honeymoon? I don't know..."
There was a long silence between them. Trunks leaned back even more and stared at the floor, sighing.
"What about going to a hotel?" she suggested.
"Uh, okay. What hotel?"
"What about that one near the university?"
"I know which one you mean...Is that where you want to go after the reception, then?"
Demi thought as she put the tray with toast in the oven. She closed the over door and looked up at Trunks before nodding.
"Alright, then," he agreed. "We can go there. And, uh...I also chose the day of the wedding."
"When is it?"
"I thought the sixteenth would be good. Is that okay with you?"
She gave him a small smile before nodding in approval.
. . . . . .
"Not enough butter," Chi-Chi said, and helped Bulma add a bit more into the pan.
"Sorry," she murmured.
"Don't worry. At least it wasn't too much; it would have made it harder. Now sprinkle in the cinnamon and sugar, but not too much."
Bulma did as she was told, being nervously careful not to spill it or put too much. Finally, Chi-Chi signaled to her that she'd put the right amount in.
"And stir them around so that everything can mix in well," she instructed, watching closely.
"I'm trying," she stated anxiously.
"I think you can take them up, now," Instructor Chi-Chi told her. Bulma quickly took out a plate and scooped the fried apples off.
"That's good, Bulma! Now, you're going to make some pancakes to go with them. Here's a recipe book and all of the ingredients and measuring tools. Get to work!"
Bulma stared at everything before her. It made no sense to her! She could figure out a complex scientific electrical device any day, but flour and sugar was beyond her. Nevertheless, she was determined to finish this.
. . . . . .
As soon as the coffee, toast, bacon, and cinnamon toast with syrup were presented to him, Vegeta seemed to have suddenly become a ravenous animal.
Demi, Bra, and Trunks watched him with expressions that seemed to say, 'Yeah, that's a Saiyan...' while sipping their coffee.
"Dad, when you're finished, we were wondering if you could answer a question for us," Trunks stated plainly.
Vegeta drowned down his glass of milk and refilled it for a later drink. But first things first, and that was to finish the cinnamon toast with syrup...
"We just want to know one thing. Since Demi's real father can't obviously, we were hoping you'll give her away at the wedding."
Vegeta's eyes suddenly grew wide. That request had caused him to nearly choke on his mouthful! He managed to swallow his food before coughing violently. He reached for his glass of milk and finished it off quickly in order to soothe his irritated throat.
Finally, he ceased his coughing fits, looked up at the others and asked, "What did you say again?"
. . . . . .
"Now put the apples on top and drizzle some syrup over it," Chi-Chi told her. Bulma went ahead and obeyed her orders. She set the syrup bottle down and stepped back to marvel at her culinary creation. She had just cooked something!
"Congratulations, Bulma!" Chi-Chi exclaimed. She shook her hand cheerfully. "You just made your first pancake dish! You should be proud!"
Bulma stood up taller and set her hand son her hips. "I am proud! Not one thing went wrong! And look at it, it's even sitting at the right angle!"
"Yes, it is," her friend and instructor nodded.
"Just look at it. It's perfect! Warm, moist, steaming, golden pancakes topped with sweet fried apples and complimented with golden-brown, mouth- watering syrup. It's...it's a real pancake!"
She looked up suddenly when a sweating Goten and Goku came in through the door from their training.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Chi-Chi!" Goku said, and immediately spotted the pancakes on the table. "Yum, pancakes!" He devoured them quickly until nothing but a shiny plate remained. "Good!" he smiled.
Bulma drooped like a wilted flower when she saw that her culinary masterpiece was no more...Yes, the joy of cooking was knowing that what you worked so hard on would vanish in less than a minute at the hands of a voracious Saiyan...Typical...
Well, I hope I managed to do well for this chapter. Review!
As always, a very appreciate thanks to Trugeta and animeprincess1452 for reviewing! You guys are the greatest!
To Trugeta: Yeah. While it appears to be irresponsible behavior to Bulma, there is really a genius at work. And thanks so much, I'm glad the presents did well! I spent a long time figuring out what Goten was supposed to get them, believe it or not...
To animeprincess1452: Thank you, I'm glad I did okay on the presents! And on the scene with Vegeta trying to get rid of Chain...So thank you!
Okay, then...
Late December didn't seem to be an enjoyable time, especially if your heater was broken and all you could do to keep warm was stay in bed wrapped in a large pile of blankets. Well, that was how it was for Chi-Chi, mainly, though the cold didn't seem to bother her husband or son one bit.
"Okay, Chi-Chi, we're going out to train!" Goku called from downstairs.
She shivered and huddled underneath the sheet, bedspread, throw, single blanket, double blanket, pillows, yet another throw, and artificial fur coat. It was very comfortable in her bed, but should she dare step out of her comfort-zone she might tempt fate to hit her with frigidness a bit too hard.
I can't stay in here like this, she thought. When those boys get back they're going to want a meal, and someone has to fix it...Hey, I'm tough, I can take a bit of cold! She stepped out from underneath the covers and hugged herself to keep as warm as possible.
"This is ridiculous," she said. "Someone has to fix this! I can't live in an indoor arctic tundra!" She grabbed the fur coat, pulled it on, and promptly reached over for the phone on her nightstand. She began to dial quickly.
At last, after several rings, someone picked up on the other end. "Hello? This is Bulma..."
"Bulma, I need your help," Chi-Chi told her with a shaky voice.
"What?" Bulma plugged a finger into one ear, trying to listen past the complaints in the background.
"I still want to know why my pancakes are black instead of golden," Vegeta demanded shortly.
"Vegeta, please be quiet for just one second!" she snapped back at him. "Say it again, Chi-Chi."
"I said I need your help. My house is like an icebox; hence I'm stuck in bed almost all day. And since you seem to be so good at fixing things, maybe you could just do me a favor this once. I can make it up to you."
"Hold on," Bulma said. She covered the speaker end of the phone and looked back at her whining family with an aggravated expression.
"Here's the problem, Mom, you didn't even put cooking spray on here," Trunks noted, inspecting the frying pan on the stove.
"That's not why they're black, though. That just the explains why they won't come up," Vegeta told him.
"Well, from the batter, it looks like she put far too much flour in," Bra said. "Either that or too much baking powder, it's hard to tell..."
"Is that why they're unusually thick?"
"Guys, be quiet! I'm on the phone, in case you can't tell! Sit down and zip it for just a few seconds!" Bulma spoke back into the telephone once everyone ceased his or her criticism.
"Bulma?"
"Yes, I'm here."
"Good. Well, can you fix the heater for me?" Chi-Chi asked.
Bulma glanced back to her family. Trunks suddenly jumped back from the lump of pancake in the frying pan that unexpectedly caught on fire. "Oh, my gosh! Put it out!"
"I'll make you a deal," she said back into the phone.
. . . . . .
Demi, who had been brushing the snow off of the winter flowers on her apartment balcony, suddenly noticed that down below her at the gate Trunks, Bra, Vegeta, and Chain had come over for an unexpected visit.
When they came upstairs to meet her, she found that they were here in the hopes that she would prepare a more successful breakfast for them than Bulma had.
"Where is she, anyway?" Demi asked.
"She went to Chi-Chi's," Bra answered while picking Chain up with more support in her arms.
"What for?"
"Their heater is broken, so she agreed to fix it for them."
. . . . . .
Chi-Chi opened her door. "Oh, good, Bulma. You're finally here."
"Oh my gosh!" Bulma exclaimed as she stepped inside. "It is cold in here! I think it might even be colder in here than it is outside!"
"I told you it was. Well, the heater is in the basement. In the meantime, I'll just prepare for your part of the deal." She headed into the kitchen while Bulma headed into the basement.
Right there in the basement Bulma found the heater and the problem. She opened one of the metal panels to inspect the simple machine. "I can't believe this. This has to be the easiest thing for anyone to figure out." She turned a few knobs, moved a couple of wires, and hit the side of the heater to where it cranked back up once more. "Done," she proclaimed proudly, wiping her hands off on her jeans.
When she went back upstairs, Chi-Chi had everything ready in the kitchen. "Did you fix it?"
Bulma nodded.
"Okay, then. The deal was if you fixed my heater I would teach you how to cook. What I want you to make is a simple recipe of fried cinnamon apples for starters. Show me what you know so far," she instructed, and stood aside to let her friend use the already heated pans.
Bulma thought for a long moment before finally taking up one of the apples on the counter and setting it in the pan.
"This could be a long day," Chi-Chi remarked, folding her arms.
. . . . . .
Trunks was leaning back on the wall while Demi started up some hot water for coffee and heated the oven for making buttered toast.
"Hey, I've been thinking," he said. "Exactly where are we going to have the wedding and the reception? We've done all of this planning and we haven't actually picked where it's going to take place."
Demi paused for a short moment before continuing to butter the bread. She shrugged.
"You want me to choose on that, too?" he inquired, raising one eyebrow.
"I just suggested you plan this stuff a bit more because I never get it done. You know that." She glanced back at him sternly for a moment before setting the bread down on the baking sheet.
"And just a last question. Do you want to do anything or go anywhere particular after we're married?"
"You mean for our honeymoon? I don't know..."
There was a long silence between them. Trunks leaned back even more and stared at the floor, sighing.
"What about going to a hotel?" she suggested.
"Uh, okay. What hotel?"
"What about that one near the university?"
"I know which one you mean...Is that where you want to go after the reception, then?"
Demi thought as she put the tray with toast in the oven. She closed the over door and looked up at Trunks before nodding.
"Alright, then," he agreed. "We can go there. And, uh...I also chose the day of the wedding."
"When is it?"
"I thought the sixteenth would be good. Is that okay with you?"
She gave him a small smile before nodding in approval.
. . . . . .
"Not enough butter," Chi-Chi said, and helped Bulma add a bit more into the pan.
"Sorry," she murmured.
"Don't worry. At least it wasn't too much; it would have made it harder. Now sprinkle in the cinnamon and sugar, but not too much."
Bulma did as she was told, being nervously careful not to spill it or put too much. Finally, Chi-Chi signaled to her that she'd put the right amount in.
"And stir them around so that everything can mix in well," she instructed, watching closely.
"I'm trying," she stated anxiously.
"I think you can take them up, now," Instructor Chi-Chi told her. Bulma quickly took out a plate and scooped the fried apples off.
"That's good, Bulma! Now, you're going to make some pancakes to go with them. Here's a recipe book and all of the ingredients and measuring tools. Get to work!"
Bulma stared at everything before her. It made no sense to her! She could figure out a complex scientific electrical device any day, but flour and sugar was beyond her. Nevertheless, she was determined to finish this.
. . . . . .
As soon as the coffee, toast, bacon, and cinnamon toast with syrup were presented to him, Vegeta seemed to have suddenly become a ravenous animal.
Demi, Bra, and Trunks watched him with expressions that seemed to say, 'Yeah, that's a Saiyan...' while sipping their coffee.
"Dad, when you're finished, we were wondering if you could answer a question for us," Trunks stated plainly.
Vegeta drowned down his glass of milk and refilled it for a later drink. But first things first, and that was to finish the cinnamon toast with syrup...
"We just want to know one thing. Since Demi's real father can't obviously, we were hoping you'll give her away at the wedding."
Vegeta's eyes suddenly grew wide. That request had caused him to nearly choke on his mouthful! He managed to swallow his food before coughing violently. He reached for his glass of milk and finished it off quickly in order to soothe his irritated throat.
Finally, he ceased his coughing fits, looked up at the others and asked, "What did you say again?"
. . . . . .
"Now put the apples on top and drizzle some syrup over it," Chi-Chi told her. Bulma went ahead and obeyed her orders. She set the syrup bottle down and stepped back to marvel at her culinary creation. She had just cooked something!
"Congratulations, Bulma!" Chi-Chi exclaimed. She shook her hand cheerfully. "You just made your first pancake dish! You should be proud!"
Bulma stood up taller and set her hand son her hips. "I am proud! Not one thing went wrong! And look at it, it's even sitting at the right angle!"
"Yes, it is," her friend and instructor nodded.
"Just look at it. It's perfect! Warm, moist, steaming, golden pancakes topped with sweet fried apples and complimented with golden-brown, mouth- watering syrup. It's...it's a real pancake!"
She looked up suddenly when a sweating Goten and Goku came in through the door from their training.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Chi-Chi!" Goku said, and immediately spotted the pancakes on the table. "Yum, pancakes!" He devoured them quickly until nothing but a shiny plate remained. "Good!" he smiled.
Bulma drooped like a wilted flower when she saw that her culinary masterpiece was no more...Yes, the joy of cooking was knowing that what you worked so hard on would vanish in less than a minute at the hands of a voracious Saiyan...Typical...
Well, I hope I managed to do well for this chapter. Review!