A Moment's Peace

Part Two

Goku awakened to find Chi-Chi gone from the bed. He could already smell the breakfast Chi-Chi was cooking for them. He looked at her side of the bed longingly, wishing she was still there. He remembered several times in his training with Gohan in the Time Chamber he missed waking up with her. He missed soaking up in Chi-Chi's warmth and having her close to him.

His mind drifted to the closeness of his wife and how their last night of intimacy created their second child and quickly to three days ago when Goku discovered his wife was pregnant.

Goku was up first that morning, watching Chi-Chi sleep. Her head rested on one of his muscled arms using it as a pillow. She was so warm and soft curved up against him. Goku trailed a hand over her body lightly with his fingers. He smiled seeing Chi-Chi reacting in her sleep. He traced a finger down her neck, the crevasse of her breasts, her rippled stomach, making tiny circles along the way. As he descended lower, he noticed something odd.

Goku caressed the area softly, trying to pick up something. He hadn't noticed this feeling before. Goku decided to raise his ki, illuminating his hand in a light glow. Saiyans had strong senses and the higher the power, the higher the senses became. He stroked the area lightly. There was a strange aura around Chi-Chi in this area that wasn't found anywhere else on Chi-Chi's body. Goku has never felt anything like this since… Goku eyes widen at the discovery.

'A life? A child?! Chi-Chi's pregnant?!'

"Goku…" Chi-Chi said sleepily.

Startled, Goku looked up at his wife. "Hmm."

Chi-Chi's eyes slowly opened and she looked where Goku's hands were. "What are you doing?"

'Should I tell her?' Goku asked himself. 'No. She doesn't need to know. Not yet.'

Chi-Chi watched her husband puzzled by his startled looked. She smiled, thinking she knew Goku was looking like that. "Got caught eh?" She pushed his hand aside. "I've got to get breakfast ready and then I have to get lunch ready for the picnic this afternoon." She rolled out of bed and entered the bathroom. "Go back to sleep, Goku."

"Nah, I think I'll meditate," Goku said as Chi-Chi closed the door. He had much to think about; mainly the child Chi-Chi was now carrying and how that was changing his whole outlook on the Cell Games.

Chi-Chi took her shower, dressed and left Goku meditating in their bedroom. When breakfast was ready, she called for Goku and Gohan who were still upstairs. Krillin was already downstairs. He greeted Chi-Chi as she was making breakfast and watched some TV while she cooked. Gohan was quick to come downstairs after his mother's call.

"Where's your father?" Chi-Chi asked as she placed the last of the dishes on the table.

"I thought Dad was down here," Gohan said. "He's the first one at the breakfast table."

"Goku late for breakfast?" Krillin joked as he took his seat. "That's an oxymoron."

"I'll get him," Chi-Chi said and headed upstairs. She opened the bedroom door. "Goku?" She paused seeing him still on the floor meditating. His hands rested firmly on his knees and his head was bowed lowly. What surprised her was the golden aura around him. "Goku? Breakfast is ready."

The golden aura around Goku vanished. He looked up at his wife. "Hmm?"

Chi-Chi knelt in front of him. "What were you thinking of so intensely that you didn't hear me calling you for breakfast? Was it Cell?"

Goku only smiled. "Actually, I was thinking about you."

Chi-Chi raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Are you lying to me?"

"No," Goku answered truthfully. "I would never lie to you."

"That's true. You just keep things from me." She stepped forward and tugged on his blonde hair gently. "Do you have to be a Super Saiyan now? Can't you wait until after breakfast before changing into a Super Saiyan?"

"Chi-Chi, I told you Gohan and I have to maintain our normal life in Super Saiyan forms. We have to do everything as Super Saiyans just as we would do when we're not Super Saiyans."

"I don't think that's best since the entire house can fall apart under your power."

"It wasn't a problem last night," Goku said reaching out to join Chi-Chi's hands in his.

Chi-Chi felt the blush on her cheeks. "Well, THAT was all right."

"It was more than all right. Come here." Goku pulled Chi-Chi suddenly in her arms that Chi-Chi let out a shriek in surprise. Goku growled playfully, burying his lips in Chi-Chi's neck. Chi-Chi screamed, trying to push Goku off her. Goku got back at Chi-Chi by tickling her, making Chi-Chi scream even louder. "I gotcha now! Say it. Say Uncle!"

"Stop it, Goku! Stop!" Chi-Chi shrieked playfully.

Goku smirked wickedly at her as he did last night. "I'll stop when I want to stop," he growled sexily. He tickled her some more ignoring Chi-Chi's playful scream.

"Uh…um…"

"Mom? Dad?"

Goku nearly froze as he stopped tickling Chi-Chi and looked up while Chi-Chi in the position she was in, looked upside down, a blush was forming on their faces. "Uh, hi," Goku said.

Krillin had an embarrassed blush on his cheeks as well. Gohan was baffled. "Um, we heard Chi-Chi scream and we thought something was wrong and… Gohan and I will wait for you downstairs." Krillin pulled Gohan's arm and left the room.

Chi-Chi pulled herself out of Goku's arms and began fixing her hair that became loose while playing with her husband. "I think we should go eat and you need to behave yourself. We do have a guest and our son in the house."

Goku watched her leave with a determined look on his face. 'Now I know we can't lose.'

Goku heard footsteps approaching so he closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. This was going to be fun. The bedroom door opened and Chi-Chi saw Goku was sleeping. Chi-Chi crawled in the bed and shook Goku gently. "Goku. It's time to get up."

Chi-Chi yelped feeling her hand being pulled and her body suddenly on top of Goku. In an instant, she felt Goku rolled her on her back. "Goku, what--" she was silenced when he kissed her. When he pulled back, she grimaced at him. "Oh, Goku… morning breath."

He ignored her and kissed her all over her face anyway, tickling her at the same time. Chi-Chi laughed and tried to get away from him. She was able to roll from under Goku and tried to crawl away but Goku grabbed her waist and pounced on her.

"How come I always fall for this?" She asked herself. "Come on, stop." She pressed her hands on his chest to get him off her. "Your breakfast is getting cold."

Goku stopped kissing his wife and got off her. "All right." He yawned as he followed Chi-Chi downstairs to the kitchen table. The radio was on playing some songs. The table was loaded with food. Goku and Chi-Chi got in their seats and after saying grace ate. As usual, Chi-Chi finished breakfast first and got started on the morning dishes.

After the last song ended, the host of the morning radio show talked about the news, which of course was Cell. "Many people are fleeing the city and heading for the country in hopes of getting away from Cell, but really is there any place to hide? Cell plans to blow up the Earth if a fighter doesn't present himself to defeat him. What good is it to be hiding in the country when the whole world will be gone if we lose?" The DJ pressed a button on his switchboard to allow the caller to talk. "All the hits DBZ100. Go," The morning show host, Lao spoke.

"Hi, I wanted to say that in times like these where our death is near, we should make peace with ourselves and anyone we broke ties with on the wrong foot. I don't want to die with any regrets or hate," a female caller said.

"All the hits DBZ100. Go."

A young man was on the line. "I don't think we should give up just yet. We do have Hercule. He will save us."

"Oh, yeah, Hercule," another DJ, Jerry spoke sarcastically. "Cell wiped out an entire army and Hercule punched a hole in a bus. That's not something to compare the two with."

"Hercule is our only hope," Lao argued. "How can you say that about him? There's no one else out there to face Cell."

"Maybe there is," Jerry said.

"What are you talking about?" Lao asked. "Who's stronger than Cell?"

"Some people may not remember it but thirteen years ago there was a guy named King Piccolo who tried to conquer the world."

"Wait a minute, I do recall that," Rita, a female DJ joined in the conversation. "I was a teenager when that happened."

Jerry continued. "Because of King Piccolo, a lot of martial artists were killed and was resurrected miraculously after King Piccolo's death. King Piccolo wiped out a whole city but the news reported that a boy defeated him. They never got his name."

"Speaking of martial artists, where are they?" Lao asked. "We did have a tournament ten years ago. I think it was called the World Martial Arts Tournament. Shouldn't they all join Hercule to beat Cell? Who won that last tournament anyway? Does anyone know?"

Lao pressed a button on the switchboard in front of him to allow a caller to join in the conversation. "Is this Dani?"

"Yeah. I went to the tournament and the finalists were Son Goku vs. Ma Junior, but he turned out to be King Piccolo resurrected. I got out of there like everyone else when we learned that. It was mentioned in the papers days later that Son Goku won."

"I wonder where Son Goku is," Lao asked aloud. "You think he's too old to fight, Jerry?"

Goku looked at the radio surprised mumbling a 'hmm?'. At that, Chi-Chi laughed. Goku old? He wasn't even thirty and had more energy than ever.

"All the hits DBZ100. Hi, Carrie."

"Hi! I didn't think I could get in because the line was so busy! I was at the last Martial Arts Tournament and I saw Son Goku fight. He was really good, kind of cute too!"

"He was?" Rita questioned. "I never attended the tournament."

"Son Goku was a great fighter. I saw him in his fight with Tienshenhan in the semi-finals and it was amazing. This guy was running around and fighting with 250 pounds of heavy clothes before he took it off and beat the guy. He wore the stuff like paper, and when he was fighting King Piccolo he shot this amazing blast out of his hands. I don't know how to describe it but it was so cool. Hold on." There was a pause before Carrie got back on. "My husband just told me it was a Kamehameha Wave."

"Okay. Thanks," Lao said. "What's a Kamehameha Wave?"

The Djs in the studio murmured they didn't know.

"All the hits DBZ100. Who's this?" Lao asked.

"Lisa A. A Kamehameha Wave is a famous move created by the legendary Master Roshi. I think it's someone's ki transferred into a massive ball of energy that can be fired on an opponent. Of course Master Roshi is way too old to be alive now and I heard he was a dirty pervert. I did see Son Goku at the tournaments though and if anyone has a chance to beat Cell it's him and not that bumbling idiot Hercule."

"All the hits DBZ100. Is this LT?"

"Yes. I attended the 21st World Martial Arts Tournaments with my Dad and Son Goku was only 12 but he made it to the finals. He lost to Jackie Chun. I went to the next tournament and Son Goku just barely missed the victory. I went to the last tournament and I left when King Piccolo's resurrection revealed himself but Son Goku won. He was really handsome and he got engaged at the last tournament. I think he's married now, but the fight with Piccolo before I left was awesome. I think he's the one who's gonna beat Cell."

"Thanks," Lao said and looked to the other Djs in the studio. "How come we only have female callers calling in about Son Goku? Was he some kind of stud or something?"

"Don't look at me." Rita said. "I don't know what the guy looks like."

"Maybe we should find him and ask him if he's going to fight Cell," Lao suggested.

At the thought of that, Goku looked up at Chi-Chi who was still washing dishes. "They can't do that, can they, Chi-Chi?" Goku asked.

"I hope not. The last thing we need are cameras here," Chi-Chi said. "Besides, we're not listed."

"I don't think we should, Lao," Rita said. "If he is out there training to fight, why should we be calling to bother him? Won't we be getting in the way?"

"She has a point," Jerry said.

"We got four days now. I guess we'll know for sure then. This is our last broadcast until the Cell Games. We'll broadcast afterwards where we hope the Earth will still be here. We're going to spend our final days with the people we care for most so until then stay safe everyone." And with that, Lao ended the talk show to play music on the radio again.

Chi-Chi dried a plate with a soft cloth and place it in the dish rack. "Wow. First some of the stores, some of the TV stations and now the radio. By the time the Cell Games comes, everything will be closed and nothing will be on the air except the Cell Games. I can't blame them. I wouldn't work either if I thought I only had four days to live."

Goku finished his breakfast and brought the rest of his dishes to the sink. "But you don't have four days to live. You're going to be around for a long time."

"I hope so, but just thinking about the Cell Games sends a chill down my spine that something's not right."

Goku leaned on the counter, smiling as if the upcoming games are no big deal. "Stop worrying, Chi-Chi. Things are gonna be fine."

Chi-Chi shook her head as she put another dry dish in the rack. "I don't know how you can be you sometimes. You never worry about anything. All that seems to fall on me. I have to worry about you and Gohan when you fight."

Goku frowned seeing that crestfallen look on Chi-Chi's face. He tried to think of something to get her smiling again. "I'm sorry about that. Wanna go for a drive or fly Nimbus later today?"

"I have to finish the dishes and get started on the laundry. Go take your shower so I can be ready to throw them in the washer after I'm through with the dishes. After that, we can do something."

"Okay," Goku said and headed upstairs.

"Goku?" Chi-Chi called softly.

Goku stopped on the third step and looked back at Chi-Chi. "Yeah?"

"You did train Gohan to his fullest, right? He's at his strongest?"

"Yep."

"And you?" Chi-Chi asked cautiously. "You're at your strongest?"

"Yeah," Goku said slowly as he looked at Chi-Chi carefully, wondering what she was getting at. "Why?"

"Oh, it's just that I heard Gohan talking to Krillin while we were waiting for you at Master Roshi's house. Gohan told Krillin that the two of you didn't spend the whole day in the Time Chamber."

Goku's heart dropped and his stomach was turning in uncomfortable knots. 'Oh, no. Please tell me that Chi-Chi doesn't know I'm not strong enough for Cell. I can't tell her my plan.'

"That's right," Goku said slowly, hoping his suspicions were wrong.

"I was wondering if you and Gohan got all the training you needed since you didn't spend a whole day in that room." Her eyes were sad, yet understanding. "If you have to go back to train some more, I will understand. I did tell you to make Gohan as strong as he could."

Goku felt relief flow through him. He was so glad now. Chi-Chi didn't know. Goku could jump in the air and yelled but he wasn't going to. He was worried for a moment. The last thing Goku wanted to do was tell Chi-Chi Gohan was fighting Cell.

"Gohan and I trained as much as we needed. We didn't need a year to reach our limits. Gohan is at his strongest as I am at my strongest."

Chi-Chi smiled relieved and her eyes lit up in joy. "Oh. Okay. I just needed to hear that from you because I was worried you two didn't train to your fullest."

Goku walked off the steps to Chi-Chi at the sink. "I told you not to worry, Chi-Chi. We're going to be just fine." He assured her with a quick kiss, knowing how much she enjoyed affection from him. "No more worrying, okay? Let's just have fun and relax."

Chi-Chi bit her lip nervously. "I'll try."

"Good," Goku said and headed upstairs. When he was in the safe confines of his bedroom, Goku wiped his forehead glad that conversation was over. He was afraid his secret would slip. He remembered promising Chi-Chi he would make Gohan as strong as possible and he did and now that Gohan was farther than him, he was the only one who could beat Cell. It wasn't that long ago when Goku realized Gohan's limits.

Gohan came at Goku with a flying kick. Goku knocked Gohan down and the two resumed fighting again. The two were throwing flying punches and kicks at each other, blocking and hitting each other. The two have been going at it for hours now and as the day was coming to an end, Goku was feeling the drain of his strength. It was time to quit.

Goku jumped back and held out a hand to Gohan who was coming at him, to stop. "That's it, Gohan. We'll stop for the day."

Gohan landed, relaxed yet maintained his Super Saiyan form. "I know I can train some more, Dad. Let's not stop because of me. I can keep going. I'm not tired."

'Keep going? I'm exhausted and he still wants to keep at it? Wow. When did he get so strong?' Goku rubbed Gohan's head. "It's okay, Gohan. We don't want to overdo it. If we do that, we'll put our training off more that we can afford."

Gohan looked as if he understood his father. "Okay, Dad."

After they ate dinner, Goku and Gohan went to sleep. It was strange sleeping in a chamber where there was no sunrise or sunset to tell the days apart but Goku and Gohan managed.

While Gohan was sleeping easily, Goku was having trouble as he laid in his bed thinking about Gohan. 'Gohan has gotten so strong over the past weeks. He has so much energy that I'm having trouble keeping up with him. I wonder…I wonder if he's stronger than me. Has he finally surpassed me?' Goku looked over at Gohan who was fast asleep in his bed. 'So young and yet so powerful. Just like I was when I was his age.'

Goku sat up in bed thinking about this new information. 'I can't get a good reading on Gohan's power since he is driven more by his emotions and not his will to fight. Why didn't I see it before? It's the same with Raditz when he was beating me up and Gohan broke out of Raditz's ship to attack him. Gohan was angry with him. If I get Gohan mad enough, then maybe I can see Gohan's true power.'

The next day, Goku and Gohan were up training again. Halfway through the day, Goku decided to test his theory about Gohan.

"Gohan, I want you to raise your power as high as you can."

"As high as I can?"

"Yeah, your emotions help you fight. Your anger brings out your strength. I want you to create that anger by thinking of Cell killing everyone just as I taught you with Frieza when we first started training. That way, I can see your true power."

"Okay. I think I understand now, Dad." Gohan grew tense and he started screaming, summoning his powers. He thought about Cell hurting his father, mother, Piccolo and he scream louder in intense anger.

The ground started shaking, the tiles split apart and rose in the air. The higher Gohan yelled, the higher his power went. Goku was amazed. He never knew Gohan held such intense power inside him and it was growing.

Goku gasped amazed as he felt what he was looking for from Gohan. Gohan's power had surpassed his own! He never felt such a high ki before. It was higher than Frieza's, the Androids and Cell before Goku went into the Time Chamber. It was still going higher as Gohan screamed. Goku wonder if Gohan's power would ever stop. He hope so before the whole Time Chamber collapsed. The gold dome was starting to crack.

Through all this, Goku couldn't help but feel a sense of strong pride as he witnessed this historic moment. When Gohan was a baby, Goku thought he would never get to train his son like he wanted too, but now at only nine years old, his son had surpassed him. 'My son. Wow.'

Then he felt Gohan's limit. Goku knew there was no way he could catch up to Gohan now. He was so much farther than him. Goku smiled, beaming with pride. He did his job. He accomplished his mission, the goal he strived for when he and Gohan entered the Time Chamber.

"Okay, Gohan! That's enough!" Goku yelled over his son.

Gohan slowly powered himself down but only enough that he was a Super Saiyan. "How was that, Dad?"

"Great, son. Just great. I'm very proud of you." He smiled down at Gohan. "I think that's enough training, don't you? Let's clean up and go home."

Gohan looked flabbergasted. His eyes nearly bugged out. "Go home? But Dad, we haven't been in here for a year yet."

"I know and we don't need, too. We're already strong enough and we reached our limits."

"We… have?"

"Yeah. There's no point in going higher. We can't," Goku said.

"Um, if you say so," Gohan said completely doubtful of what his father said.

"Good. We'll take a bath first before we go. I don't think Chi-Chi would want to greet us all dirty and sweaty."

"Right."

As the two headed for their baths, Gohan was still puzzled about his father's suggestion to leave now when a year wasn't up yet. Gohan wondered if his father forgot his goal to make Gohan stronger than him. Gohan still didn't understand why his father wanted him stronger than him. The idea was crazy. Gohan never felt he could be stronger than his own father. He was just too strong.

"Dad, how come you wanted me to surpass you?" Gohan asked. "I know I haven't done that but I'm curious."

'That's what you think, Gohan.' Goku smiled down at his son and placed an arm on Gohan's shoulders. "When you surpassed me, you'll know."

Goku sat on the grass in his yard waiting for Chi-Chi to finish with the laundry. As he waited for his wife, Goku took in the quiet peace around him. It was another warm, sunny day. A few birds chirped as they flew by towards the large tree in their yard where the family rested. The river flowing in front of his house was pure and sparkling in the sunlight. Goku remembered when he and Chi-Chi were building this house and how he created that manmade river for her so they wouldn't have to travel so far to get water and for the indoor plumbing of their home. Goku took in a deep breath of air enjoying the country area he lived in. Everything was so much peaceful here and cleaner. The air was fresher, the water purer and it was quiet, which he enjoyed.

"And I almost never saw it again."

Goku laid on his back with his hands behind his head. As he saw the various shapes of clouds passing by, he thought to when he was sick, where he nearly died. Goku thought he was going to die. He wasn't sure he'll see a lot of things again--his wife, his son, no one.

"If I had died, so many things would've been left undone."

Goku lied helpless on the futon. He was in severe pain. The pain in his heart hurt so badly, worst than he ever thought possible. He clutched a hand over his heart as the pain rushed through him violently. He was like an infant and couldn't do anything to get attention other than crying out in pain.

'It hurts. It hurts! Someone stop the pain!'

"It's okay, Goku. I'm here."

It was Chi-Chi. He felt her lifting up his head and putting something in his mouth. Goku knew what this was. The medicine. As the cool liquid rush through his body, Goku could feel it working through him and his heart feeling better. He could hear himself easing his screaming and Chi-Chi lowering his head back on the futon. Now he was just breathing heavily as the medicine slowly took affect.

Goku could hear footsteps coming his way and the presence of someone else. His son. Goku could hear the door slamming open.

"Mom, I thought heard Dad."

"You did, but it's okay. I got him his medicine and he's resting now."

Goku could feel Gohan sitting beside him. "It's kind of weird seeing Dad like this, Mom."

"How weird?" Chi-Chi asked and Goku could feel her fingers running through his hair.

"Lying like this. Dad's always been so invincible. He could do anything and everything, Mom and seeing him like this when it's a struggle for him to even breath is surreal." Gohan moved even closer to his father. "I'm scared, Mom. What if Daddy doesn't wake up?" By the sound of Gohan's voice Goku could telling Gohan was starting to cry. "What if the medicine doesn't work and Daddy dies like he does in Trunks' time?"

Goku could hear Chi-Chi moved from his side and over to Gohan. Goku couldn't see it but he knew Chi-Chi was hugging their son. "Don't talk like that, Gohan. Your father's going to be just fine. This medicine is going to work…and your father's a fighter. He doesn't give up anything without a fight."

Sometime later, Goku was feeling his body being too warm and he was getting hotter. He needed water, something to cool himself down but he couldn't move.

'I can't even get myself a glass of water. I'm so weak and I'm burning up. It's so hot. Chi-Chi…Chi-Chi, are you near? I need some water.' He could say it in his mind but he couldn't open his mouth and whenever he did that, he was screaming. Goku never thought he would be so crippled from a virus. 'I need to speak. I need to tell Chi-Chi I'm hot.' He could hear himself breathing heavily and sweat falling down his forehead. 'Someone help me! I'm burning up!'

His savior came in the form of his wife. He could feel her hand on his forehead. "Oh, no. He's burning up." He could hear the worry in his wife's voice and his covers being thrown off him. That was a great relief to Goku, but he was still hot. Chi-Chi removed the light shirt on his body and his pants. Goku could hear a fan being turned on and in his direction. He was starting to feel a little better. He heard footsteps and Chi-Chi leaving the room. Goku's body was feeling less hot now. He heard Chi-Chi returning to the room.

Goku inwardly sighed feeling a cool towel on his forehead. 'Thank you, Chi-Chi. Thank you.'

Goku could feel Chi-Chi with him throughout the day rarely leaving his side. One morning, Goku could hear Chi-Chi at his side, lifting his head once more. "I want you to try to drink this, Goku. It's not your medicine but it's some juice I made by mixing some fruits Master Roshi had in his refrigerator in his blender. I know you can't eat solids but I'm sure you can swallow something other than your medicine."

Goku opened his mouth and swallowed the juice she slowly gave him. 'This tastes good! Ah, it's nice and cool too!'

He could hear Chi-Chi laughing. "I think you like this."

"It's really good, Dad," Gohan said and Goku could hear him drinking his own juice.

"Gohan when you're finished with your drink, could you take your father's and then come back and help me take him downstairs for his bath?"

"Sure, Mom."

'Bath?' Goku was puzzled.

A minute later, Goku felt Gohan's and Krillin's presence. He could feel Chi-Chi nearby. Krillin lifted Goku's upper body while Gohan picked up his father's legs. He could hear Chi-Chi leaving the room first. Goku felt himself being carried out of the room and down the stairs. He felt Yamcha's and Master Roshi's presence but no one said anything. He heard the sound of the TV. A news reporter talked about people clothes lying on the ground in an empty city. Goku didn't have time to think about that as he felt his body being transported into another room. He smelled disinfectants and soap. The bathroom. He was in the bathroom.

"Thanks you two. I'll take it from here," Chi-Chi said and Goku could feel his body in a chair and Krillin and Gohan leaving. Chi-Chi locked the door after them. He could hear her footsteps in front of him. "The water's just ready."

Goku could feel Chi-Chi over him removing his heavy blue shirt, his white tank undershirt and his boxers. He felt his body being lifted and pressing against Chi-Chi's. He then felt his body being slipped into the water. It was just right, not too warm and not too cold. Goku always wondered how Chi-Chi made the best baths. He felt Chi-Chi dipping her sponge into the water and cleaning Goku's body.

"I know you're dirty, Goku, being in that fight with that android and then lying on that futon upstairs for more than a day." He felt Chi-Chi stopped in her cleaning and heard her sniff. She was crying.

"Stop, Chi-Chi. Stop crying. Goku's here now. That's all that matters. He's going to be just fine." He felt her resuming cleaning his body and washing his hair. "I bet under different situations you would enjoy this." Chi-Chi laughed.

When she was done cleaning him, she lifted him out of the tub and wrapped a large towel around him. He felt Chi-Chi picking him up and placing him in the chair. Chi-Chi dried him off and put on a fresh set of clothes. There was a knock on the door and Gohan and Krillin entered. "I'll clean up here. Take Goku upstairs but be careful with him."

Once Goku was placed back on the futon, Gohan and Krillin left the room to allow Goku to sleep.

'I'm so weak I can't even give myself a bath,' Goku scolded himself. 'I can't believe it. I never thought I would be this weak. I can't even defend myself if the Androids come for me here. What if they do come and I can't defend Chi-Chi or Gohan? They'll die. It'll be like my nightmare again.

'I never thought this virus would take me out so badly. I wouldn't even be alive right now if Chi-Chi wasn't here taking care of me. Oh, man, what if I really died? Then Chi-Chi and Gohan…Trunks' future would happen in my world. No, Gohan and Chi-Chi suffered in Trunks' world. I can't let it happen in this one, but I can't fight anymore.'

If Goku could laugh at himself, he would. 'I never thought my time has passed to protect Chi-Chi and the others was so soon. We're so vulnerable now. Everyone's waiting for me to come back. The Androids could come here and kill us all. There has to be someone else to defend the others.

'Gohan.' That was the only name that came to his mind.

'Gohan survived the first attack of the Androids in the future. It took them years to get him. Gohan is the only one to follow in my steps now. If I survived this virus, I must train him to be stronger than me. He's the only one who can protect the world now. He has it in him, but there's not enough time to train him to surpass me unless… unless I take him to the Time Chamber on Kami's Lookout. Yeah, that could work. Or is he Kamicollo? I feel Piccolo and Kami have merged bodies. I wonder what his new name is. Kamicollo or Pikami? Nah, Kamicollo sounds best. I wouldn't mind sparing with him to see how I stand against him. That would be fun!' For the first time since his virus, Goku could feel himself smiling.

"Oh my. He's smiling. Goku's smiling." Chi-Chi was heard declaring happy and her footsteps leaving the room.

Goku could hear Chi-Chi calling for the others to come up in the room. Master Roshi asked what the problem was and Gohan asked if it was his father. Chi-Chi just told them they have to come see.

'What's going on?' Goku asked in wonder.

Suddenly Goku could feel Chi-Chi, Gohan, Yamcha, Master Roshi, and Oolong surrounding him.

'Why do I feel everyone around me? What are they looking at? Oh, well. I wouldn't mind fighting Pikami or Kamicollo to see how strong he is. His power is higher than I was when I became a Super Saiyan. I wonder who this new guy is that Kamicollo has trouble fighting. He must be strong to take Kamicollo's arm.'

Goku then heard everyone praising over Goku smiling. Master Roshi spoke how Goku was smiling as if he was preparing to fight someone strong and he heard Yamcha agreeing and going on how great it is that Goku's already thinking about fighting and would be ready to save them.

'I'm not ready to fight, yet, Yamcha,' Goku thought.

Goku heard Yamcha talking to Chi-Chi saying he didn't mean for it to sound as if Goku was going to fight so soon. Goku would laugh if he could at Chi-Chi arguing with them for only thinking about Goku saving them while he is still sick from the virus, but all he could do was smile.

Goku saw Chi-Chi looking down on him. "What are you thinking, Goku?"

Had he drifted off again? Goku wasn't aware of it. One moment he was looking at the clouds and the other, he was thinking about being sick. "Just how lucky I am to be alive. I really thought I was a goner with that virus."

Chi-Chi sat beside him. "Yeah, I'm glad that's over with. I was really worried there."

"I know," Goku agreed. "I heard you."

Chi-Chi was surprised. "You could you hear me?" Chi-Chi asked.

"I could hear everything in the house and far out when Piccolo was fighting Cell in his imperfect form. I could even hear Vegeta's defeat to the Androids."

Chi-Chi was baffled by this piece of news. She didn't know how to respond to that. "You Saiyans…" She stood and held her hand out to him. "Ready to go on Nimbus?"

"Sure!" Goku took Chi-Chi's hand and stood up. "Wanna call Nimbus?"

"He'll come to me?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Of course he will. I told him once and I'm sure Nimbus never forgotten that."

"I never called Nimbus before. This sounds like fun." Chi-Chi put both her hands on the sides of her mouth. "Nimbus!! Come here, Nimbus!"

A yellow cloud moving in the opposite direction of the other white clouds, shone in the sky with a yellow streak behind it and promptly landed in front of Goku and Chi-Chi.

"Hiya, Nimbus! It's been a while!" Goku said cheerfully. He helped Chi-Chi on Nimbus and the two flew into the sky!

This is what Goku liked to see--Chi-Chi laughing and smiling happily without a care in the world.

He felt bad for putting her through this--making Chi-Chi worry about him and Gohan as they fight, spending time away from her while he trained. He knew Chi-Chi wasn't fond of that, but he had no other choice. He had to do it to ensure her, their son as well as the planet's safety. But for now, he wanted to see Chi-Chi happy and be with her as a husband and wife should. That was his goal right now.

To Be Continued

AN: Yes, I know I mention Gohan as nine and he really was nine when he killed Cell. I know all about the 11th birthday thing in the anime but it was only in the anime not the manga and if you do the math, Gohan is nine and seven years later he's sixteen where he starts high school. I believe high school in Japan starts at sixteen. If anyone watches Inuyasha, they would know about Kagome (15) studying for entrance exams into high school the next year.

The other thing I wanted to comment on was the end of the last flashback where everyone is looking over Goku. That's a scene from an episode in the Cell Saga "Piccolo's Folly" where everyone is wondering why Goku is smiling and Yamcha comments on Goku thinking about a fight and ChiChi gets upset that he's thinking about Goku getting ready to fight so soon when he's not ready. I really appreciate the meaningful reviews you've sent me and I hope it continues.

Moon Girl: I think I made people go mad with my insane cliffhangers, especially from 'UL'. That was a lot of fun, despite those annoying reviews. Yeah, I think it's time I go. I'm gonna miss it, but I know this is what I have to do. You haven't seen the shows? They were nice. It's okay for not reviewing earlier. I'm glad you were able to now. I was wondering what you were going to say. Yes, I'll still be here to review, but I won't be writing any more stories.

Goku-lover21: Oh, I hate "A Broken Promise." I wish I never wrote that story. I really think people took it the wrong way when I post it. Sorry. I have to stop.

Skittle Kicks: I think those who portray ChiChi OOC, not just a little but a LOT OOC aren't showing any respect to the show or to the creator himself by making the characters looking so bad and those who do that are often immature. I know very little Japanese so I'm not going to embarrass myself by getting it wrong. About that line, I was referring to an episode in the show where ChiChi, Gohan and Krillin were at Roshi's house where Goku arrived suddenly and took Gohan and Krillin away to the Lookout to meet Dende. ChiChi didn't know where they were going or who they were going to meet until Krillin returned to Roshi's place where I assumed he explained to ChiChi what happened.

SS 4 ChiChi: I wished you reviewed more then because I didn't know. I liked to talk to positive reviewers. How am I supposed to know anyone like my story unless they review? If I ever post on fanfiction.net, I will not be writing anymore lemons. More minors are reading it more than adults and I'm not comfortable with that since they shouldn't be reading it and the reviews are immature by most minors because it seems to be all the minors talk about is the lemon in the story and nothing else. I do create a plot in the story with the lemon but the immature minors only talk about lemon scenes or write few words "This is great" without talking about the story and it's disappointing to me that many immature reviewers only have sex on the mind and not focus on the plot of the story.

Lady Athena: I don't think I'll ever lose interest in DBZ. I still love the show and I always will and ideas are still running in my head. It's just that it's time I took a long break from writing fan fiction to do other things and if I don't try, I'll never know. Also, there are things about fanfiction.net and the direction it's going that I'm not happy about that I want out. I'm still gonna be around because I'm doing rewrites of 'UL' and will be posting that on Midnight's website and there's a side story I'm working on that pertains to UL but it has nothing to do with Goku and ChiChi. It's slow in coming together. I know what I want but it's difficult putting what's in your head down on paper or in this case, keyboard. Hee. Hee.

You're right. There aren't things well written in the DBZ fandom. I think Inuyasha has taken away some of the good writers of DBZ. The story will be heartwarming for most part and that was hard to do because I had to figure out what they did in those five days. I think it's best to leave things to the imagination more than write out a lemon, especially when too many minors are reading it and that's all they talk about. He's a pervert but I love Roshi. He makes me laugh and perfect for comic relief. I always like Krillin. I'm your favorite author for G/CC? ::hugs:: That's so nice and I'm so honored. It's going to be kind of odd to know I don't have to post once a week anymore when I'm done, but things like this happens I guess. Man, I sound like I'm retiring.

Vampires24: I really did and I think it's paying off.

Carrie: I love Roshi. He's a pervert but he's great comic relief, but he's also was a good teacher in martial arts to Goku and Krillin. Well, ChiChi didn't consent to it at first. She was about to get away. Hee. Hee. I don't see how any couple could make love when the husband is a SS unless he transfers his powers to his wife otherwise, the wife would surely die. Yes, I think Goku powered down afterwards. About Goten, I wonder if he was a surprise. I always like Krillin and they were very good best friends. He was the one who looked out for Gohan on Namek and probably the one who visiting ChiChi and Gohan more after Goku's death since it was his best friend who died.

Kinochi: I think Goku is acting like a normal man who wants to be intimate with this wife. Just because we never see it doesn't mean he's not like that and I think he exudes that just by how he fights and behaves sometimes. He can be persuasive when he wants to be like how he convinced Vegeta to go in the Time Chamber with Trunks and he convinced Old Kai to train Gohan. What Goku said in the subbed was a lot funnier and bit a surprising because I didn't expect Goku to say something like that but then he IS married and has experience with a woman, he would know what a guy would like to do to a woman, but him saying it was so funny!

I think since everyone seen the anime more than the manga, I should follow the story close to that. I saw DBZ first before DB so I didn't know ChiChi's character all that well and I was surprised at how naïve she was but when I saw DB, it all made sense. It's funny. I do think anime exaggerate Goku's naiveté sometimes but it's all in good humor. That's how I meant with that line. Something funny and loving.

Danichan: WOW! That's a lot. That's such a nice compliment! I don't know what to say except thank you. I love the time between the games because anything could've happened just like the times between the Androids and the start of DBZ. You mean there are some good B/V fics? The ones I did see were OOC clichés. Yeah, I think it's time I stop. Who knows. There may be others who come up with good stories. I'm just happy to know I've influenced other people and helped them show the truth between G/CC since they are so misunderstood.