Just One Week

XI.

The next morning was glorious. I don't think I've ever woken up feeling so refreshed…so new. It's about time! Gees, why didn't I think of this little solution sooner?! It could've saved me a lot of trouble, that's for sure. Goku wasn't awake yet, however, when I first woke up. No big surprise there, though. Goku is either one to get up very early or very late. No in between. And it was very clear that it was going to be one of those very late days. No matter. It wasn't like I was bored or anything. Just achy. It was the weirdest feeling, but…I wanted him again.

I wanted to do an exact repeat of the night before. Funny. Usually after I slept with a guy, the next morning all I wanted to do was take a shower and go on with the day, not paying any mind to what happened probably no more than twelve hours earlier. …Until later that night, of course. Yes, night was always the time to do the "naughty", huh? It was just something that was written with the deal.

This time seemed different though. Later that night seemed way too far away for its own good. What was the difference anyway? If it was night or day…is it two different experiences? In one scenario you can see the other person and in the second scenario you can't. Big deal.

He held me in his arms all night, so I was already dangerously close to him. All I had to do was lean in and…

* * * * * * * *

Bulma kissed him gently on his lips that were slightly parted in his dream state. Just from that light contact, her whole body jolted with explosions as though she was near the edge of her peak all over again. Talk about sensitive to the touch. She was pleased with this position for a moment, but once Goku didn't respond, an indication that said he was still asleep, she found she had to do more. She wanted him to wake up now…she watched him sleep long enough.

Slithering an arm around his well-built torso, she pushed him closer to her by pressing her hand against his middle back. The task was harder than what it sounded, but she was determined, especially after she let his lips bruise hers and vice versa. Out of this, she only received a slight moan from her partner, telling her that he was very slowly waking up.

No. There would be no slowness.

She slid her hand further down his back until she found that oh-so-sensitive tail spot. The little patch was somewhat fluffy, a soft mark that made her positive of what it was. Learning wisely from the night before, she recognized that even the simplest touch of that certain spot could make the gentle Saiyan go wild with passion. She smirked and smoothed her fingers over the softness. She felt his body jerk and his eyes open slowly, yet fast enough for her to tell that he was fully up and alert of what was going on.

His big, dark eyes locked onto hers, but only for a split second before he had to close and narrow his eyes in slight concentration, trying to keep control of himself as she teased him.

"What a wake up call," was Goku's morning greeting, his voice sounding indelicate.

Bulma let her smirk slide into a small smile as she watched with amazement, his face twisting and turning with the stages of delight. Again, she kissed him, intoxicated with pleasure when he began to respond.

"How 'bout we take a shower…?" Bulma asked, their lips still touching so he could not only hear the words, but feel them as well.

He grinned at her, nodded, and threw the bed covers off of them. Not quite used to the room temperature without the blankets, Bulma squealed and tried to cover herself back up, giggling when she felt Goku lift her up, wedding style, and carry her into the bathroom that was connected to her room.

**********

Downstairs in the kitchen, Trunks stared across the table at Goten, Goten stared over to the side of the table at Gohan, and Gohan stared intensely at a science book he held in his hands, his eyes skimming wildly across the page. One stomach gurgled from hunger, followed by another. Gohan heard this, of course, it was kind of hard not to, but he chose to ignore it. If the two kids were that hungry, he would just wait until they asked for something to eat, instead of just serving them.

"Gohan?" Goten asked, his voice sounding a bit high pitched from how quiet it was a moment before.

"Yeah, hm?" Gohan answered, still reading his book yet paying enough mind to Goten to listen to what he had to ask.

"Why is the sky blue?" came the question immediately, not really sounding curious, just bored enough to ask such a question as that. Goten watched as Gohan lowered his book so identical eyes could stare right back at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he also saw Trunks turn towards Gohan to see how he would respond.

"Well, that's an easy one," Gohan remarked, holding up his index finger like a professor as he was about to explain, "see, there's a certain chemical in the air called—."

"I'm hungry," Trunks suddenly spoke up, his stomach growling once again to back up his statement.

Goten's tummy mimicked his, "Yeah…me, too."

"Can you make us something, Gohan?"

"Yeah, Mom's not up yet. And it's past lunch!"

"Why isn't she up yet?"

"Did she forget about us?"

Sighing, Gohan put his book down and stood up from the table and went over to the refrigerator, "I'm sure she didn't, you guys. Maybe she was just up late last night and doesn't feel like getting up yet. That happens sometimes, ya know. What do you want anyway?"

"Spaghetti!" Goten offered.

"Pizza!" shouted Trunks.

The two looked at each other for a moment, as though challenging the other on what food would win in the end. But they soon smiled and threw their hands into the air, "Spaghetti and pizza!"

Gohan's eyes dulled, "I should've known something like that would come out…" he mumbled under his breath before getting out the pizza from the freezer and the angel hair spaghetti from the cupboard. No use in fighting with them, though.

He himself was almost wondering why Bulma wasn't up and going yet…after all, it was after noon. Very rarely did he ever find her to sleep in past eleven, even when she was working on one of her newest inventions vigorously. Even so, he didn't think she had been active in any of her projects lately, especially since his dad was here for a week. Once his dad came into mind also, he had to blush. That could be a big reason of why Bulma and his dad aren't "up" yet. If his mind wasn't occupied, he would have been down for some kind of food some time ago. Shaking his head, he subconsciously put the pizza in the oven and turned it on to three-fifty. He warned Bulma…he remembered.

And she didn't heed his advice. She was going to be so down when it was time for him to leave again…he knew this for sure. Plus, he didn't want to go through what he went through four years ago again…Bulma being so depressed that she leads herself to death like his mom did. Bulma was smart and all, but Gohan was one to believe in dying caused by a broken heart. It happened.

"So lets assume that didn't happen…" Gohan said aloud unknowingly.

"Huh?" both Goten and Trunks asked, confused on where the announcement came from.

Gohan wasn't stupid, but it didn't exactly take a genius to figure out that the two were messing around. What if she ended up pregnant again? That would just leave her with a forth child she would have to take care of as a single parent. That was the last thing Bulma needed. And even though she wouldn't ask him, he would help out, which would put more pressure on him. It wasn't easy helping raise Trunks and Goten with her and he knew it wouldn't be any better if there was another baby. When did everything get so messed up…

"Gohan!"

Hearing his name being screamed, he snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at the two kids who were looking up at him.

"What is it?" he finally responded, blinking twice.

Goten spoke up, "When are you going to make the spaghetti?"

Looking down in his hands, Gohan noticed that he still held the spaghetti box and hadn't bothered to put the strands into the pot yet…heck, he didn't even bother to fill a pot with water yet.

"Oh…heh, sorry, guys," he apologized, getting the pot and putting it under the faucet to shoot water inside it.

Goten and Trunks looked at each other, question marks in their eyes. What had just happened? Gohan looked so distressed and out of it…something they haven't seen him do in a very long time. They were wondering if they should even bother asking, but finally decided against it. Last time Gohan got like that and they inquired him, he snapped at them, and that was one thing they did not enjoy at all.

Gohan, having his back towards the kids, looked down into the water filled pot with sorrowful eyes. Just when he was beginning to get used to things…he had a feeling history was about to repeat itself…

**********

Later that day, around four-thirty or so, Goku and Bulma were just then finishing with their sessions, mostly due to the annoying insisting of Goku's stomach.

"I hope Gohan kept Goten and Trunks occupied…I would hate to see what the house looks like if he couldn't keep them under control," Bulma spoke after she finished putting her shirt over her head. She looked at herself in the mirror to see that she looked okay.

"I'm sure they're fine," Goku spoke up, tying his sash, "Gohan can handle it."

Bulma sighed and turned back towards him, "You're right…" Seeming as though she forgot it immediately, she grinned at her new lover and walked towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck when she reached him. She stood on her tiptoes, also lowering his head gently, and kissed him softly. All morning…and afternoon…and a lot of evening…they had shared many passionate kisses, but now was the down time. The time to be gentle.

She pulled away quickly, however, "I hope Gohan doesn't suspect anything…"

Goku mimicked her grin from earlier, resting his hands on her hips, "I bet he does."

Eyes widening, she smacked him playfully in the chest, stepping away from him, "Don't say that! You'll make me feel odd around him."

Tilting his head to one side, Goku gave a look of confusion, "Huh? Why's that, Bulma?"

Her eyes went dull, "Never mind…"

~*~

All the rest of that day, all five of us decided to go shopping. Goku mentioned that he felt kind of bad that he wasn't spending that much time with the kids, so he wanted to do something all of us could do. I didn't argue with him, after all, it made my day that much better to see how much fun the boys were having.

That night, again, Goku and I couldn't keep our hands off of each other. It would start off with small caresses, but eventually lead to small kisses, which in turn ended with us entangled within each other once more. It was so perfect…I knew it would be like this forever.

Of course, when I thought of forever, that's when I remembered forever was only two more days. To tell the truth, however…that completely slipped my mind. Don't ask me how I forgot something like that, but it seemed that I got so caught up in the romantic moments I had with Goku, that…I made myself believe something that was not. Sure, Goku and I shared great times. We found love again. With each other, nonetheless. We got connected…we bonded. And it was because of that greatness that made the days fly by that much faster.

That's right.

Before I knew it…just one week was up. We had spent the last few days together with the kids, having some time alone, but…not as much as I would have liked. Nights were our time…to stay up half the night making love, talking, or just laying in each other's arms. By the end of his last day with us, you could tell what would be happening the next day around ten-thirty. Everyone was sad. I'm not sure who was more depressed, me or Gohan. But because of those bad vibes radiating off of us, Goten and Trunks also felt low. They were old enough to understand what was going to happen.

Goku, of course, didn't want any of us feeling sorrowful. I'm telling you, I had no idea how he kept that cheerful smile plastered on his face for us when I knew for a fact that it was killing him inside, also. Sure, his eyes held that same something he's always had in them, but once I looked deeper…I saw that he was dying. Not just in body, but in mind.

On his last night, after the boys fell asleep around midnight, we shared something else. A deeper bond. An impossibly deeper bond. I don't know how to explain it. But as we became one for probably the last time, we made sure to hold each other tight, to go slow to make it last as long as possible, to talk to each other, to reassure the other that they'll be there no matter what…to cry.

I never thought I would witness Goku crying over something like this…but when I felt myself coming to my climax, knowing it would all be over soon, I couldn't help but let out a shard gasp before tears began sliding down the side of my face. He wiped my eyes…told me not to cry. But as he said it, his own voice cracked. He let two tears of his own out, shuddering when I felt them land on my cheeks.

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was the early morning of Goku's last day and everyone was up to spend his last few hours with him. Goten and Trunks didn't say much, not wanting to let their voices show what their faces already did.

They all sat in the middle of the couch, huddled together as best as possible. On one side of Goku sat Bulma, Trunks half on her lap and half on his. On the other, Gohan with Goten half on his lap also. No one knew specifically what to say, so they decided to reminisce on all the good times they shared in the short week. They laughed at some of their memories, which both felt good, yet wrong at the same time. Should they really be laughing on such a tragic day?

It happened too quickly. Before any of them knew it, they heard Baba's voice outside, calling for Goku. They all looked at each other for a moment before Goku made the first move of getting up and heading out the door, followed very closely by his family.

"Are you ready, Goku?" Baba asked when they all stepped out of Capsule Corp., showing a wrinkly smile at the crew.

Goku himself gave a halfhearted smile, "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose…"

Baba nodded, floating a little higher on her crystal ball, her voice coming out even more raspy now, "I'll give you a few more minutes to say your good byes."

He in turn nodded, thanking her silently. He turned back to Bulma, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks, seeing them all trying their best to hold back their tears. He smiled more, hoping that would cheer them up a little bit. He first stepped towards Goten and Trunks, kneeling down to their eye level.

"I have to be going now, guys."

That was all he had to say before the two children burst into tears, throwing themselves on him, each taking a separate shoulder as they gripped onto his gi tightly.

"Don't go, Daddy!" Goten sobbed, shaking his head as he let his tears disappear within his father's orange clothing.

"Can't you stay a little longer?" Trunks asked softly, having just a bit more control over himself than Goten. He sniffed loudly; trying to hold everything back, since he knew everyone was watching him.

"I wish I could…" Goku said gently, hugging both of the boys close to him in a final hug. After a moment, the boys knew it was time to let go, leading them to take a step back and look down at the ground, sniffing uncontrollably to keep their tears from falling.

Goku stood back up to his rightful height, then taking a few steps to the side to stop in front of Gohan. Again, he smiled and put his hand on his oldest son's shoulder, "Looks like you're the man of the house again, Gohan."

Gohan, in his best attempts, tried to give a smirk, "Yeah, guess so…" Even Gohan lost control. He took a step forward, paused, and then wrapped his arms around his father. He didn't cry, but it took everything within him not to. In a whispered voice, he spoke so only Goku could hear, "I'll miss you, Dad…things aren't the same without you."

Nodding, Goku simply patted him on the back, "I'll miss you, too, Son."

Separating, Goku again took a few steps down the line, then standing in front of Bulma. She had been looking down at the grass she stood on, finding it hard to believe that it was that very spot where she had first met Goku a week earlier. Never in all her life did she feel a week could have gone by so quickly. She saw him step in front of her, leaving her to suck in a deep breath for courage, put on a fake smile, and look up at her best friend. Bulma didn't have time to do anything else. Goku was the one that wrapped her up in his arms, pressing his face into the crook of her neck. So much for keeping control. As soon as she felt his arms around her, her face scrunched up into a pain she hoped she would never have to feel. Her once again bright, blue eyes sparkled with tears, her hands gripping onto his sides. She opened her mouth to speak, but found that she could form no words. Were any words even appropriate for a time like this?

"I love you, Bulma," he whispered into her ear, leaving her that much more vulnerable to the tear ducts.

He was only able to hold her for a few more moments before he heard Baba behind him.

"It's time to go now, Goku."

Goku nodded while still having his face buried, giving her a hard squeeze without hurting her, only then being able to let go. He looked into her eyes, leaving him with all his strength to keep a smile while seeing her blurry orbs.

He felt himself floating up. Baba was then taking him back to the other world. As he rose above the rest, he saw all their sad faces looking up at him. With one last final wave, he began to turn around so he could watch as the sky became closer, silently saying goodbye to all of them.

It was only then that Bulma could speak. Something within her snapped, making her eyes go wide and her legs wobble until she fell to her knees, "No…Goku…come back. Goku…" Bulma squeezed her eyes closed, pounding her fists on the ground, and screamed her heart out, "Goku, don't you dare leave me! Come back, Goku!" And that was all she could do. Tears made small wet spots on the cement, her body shaking with madness.

"Come back…" she said in her normal voice as though he were standing right beside her. Subconsciously, she could feel Gohan wrap an arm around her, trying to comfort her…but nothing could help her now. She let Goku slip through her fingers too easily…and now he was gone.

As Goten and Trunks watched their mother break down in front of their eyes, Gohan felt himself go eerily still. He knew this was going to happen. He knew! Didn't he warn her!? Didn't he tell her?! Bulma knew this was going to happen, he told her enough. And now…now he was being reminded of what happened four years ago. He closed his eyes in an attempt to keep his sanity. No…it wouldn't happen again. Bulma would get over this. She just had to.

Up high in the sky, both Goku and Baba had heard Bulma's desperate pleas. Goku's eyes saddened again as he scanned over the ground that was getting smaller and smaller with each passing second. His eyes weren't the only ones that held sorrow. Baba was heartbroken at the dramatic moment. She gave Goku a side-glance before sighing softly, talking quietly to herself.

"Maybe I can do something to help…"

----------

Hey! I'm sorry I took so long to update again, but I lost this story when my computer crashed and kinda got disappointed. Then…I find out my dad put it on a floppy disk. -_- Yeah….anyway, I'm sorry if this chapter seemed to go by quickly, but I really had no other ideas of what they could do. And besides…this story is winding down to its last moments. About three more chapters should wrap everything up. …That's kinda sad, now that I think about it. I loved this story…I'm gonna miss it! ::cries a river::