Disclaimer: Read the third previous chapter to find the disclaimer... Or I'll just state it here... (sigh)... I don't own DBZ, k?

Cutting the Dark Psy/ Psy crap. It was getting boring. This is only for author's notes from now on.

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The next day was a stiff and unpleasant one. It began at breakfast in the kitchen. The way Gohan was glaring down at his plate you'd know he hadn't gotten over his father leaving them for five years. Goku, on the other hand, was giving hopeless glances at his son, wishing he knew of a way to cheer him up, no thoughts coming to mind.

Last night, after the argument, Chi-Chi had given into Goten's pleas to keep Lhuel, and Lhuel was now his pet 'lizard'. He was planning on showing his friends him when school started again. He was excited.

Gohan looked up, getting ready to ask to pass the syrup for his pancakes, when he noticed it was near his father. Glancing away from his dad, he stared directly at Goten. "Goten... Pass me the syrup." He didn't say please.

Goten, not knowing anything wrong, got up from his chair and trudged over to his father with a smile. "Daddy... Gohan wants the syrup." He held out his hand almost expectantly.

Goku sized Goten up quickly and handed him the syrup with a smile of his own. "Here you go, little guy. But next time I wish that Gohan would ask me." He looked at Gohan carefully. "If he doesn't mind." Gohan gave a small grunt as Goten rushed over and handed the syrup over to his brother, who set it down on the table without using it. This sparked Goten to ask a question.

"I thought you wanted the syrup, brother." He seemed confused.

"I did, but not anymore," was Gohan's short reply as he pushed his chair out. "I'm going out."

"To where?" Chi-Chi's stern voice asked.

"... To see Piccolo."

"My, you're saying that a lot."

"Piccolo's my friend. I'm allowed to see him, aren't I?" Gohan spit out angrily and he turned on heel and went out the door, slamming it closed. Goku watched the door creak open slightly from the force it was thrown by, sadness filling his features up quickly.

Chi-Chi took notice. "See, Goku?" She sighed heavily. "He won't hardly listen, let alone talk to you. If we don't do something, I'm afraid he'll do something drastic, Goku. I don't want to lose my little boy."

"He doesn't seem like your little boy anymore," Goku commented lightly.

Chi-Chi agreed. "Who can we get to talk some sense into him?"

"I'll have to try. I am, after all, his father, no matter how long I've been gone..."

"Daddy?" Goten piped up.

"Yes son?"

"Can I come too?"

Goku seemed to ponder as he nodded slightly. "Sure, Goten. I'd be glad to let you come with me. That is..." he added, "If your mom will let you."

"Why not?" Chi-Chi threw her arms up into the air. "I hardly get anything done when he's here anyway. But don't let him out of your sight, Goku. I don't want another child missing."

"Right." Goku got out of his seat and headed for the door, Goten tagging along beside him.

"Get back as soon as you can, honey."

"Don't worry. I won't leave." He walked out the door and took off with Goten.

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Gohan was throwing rocks across the river easily, hardly using his arm. One tiny wrist snap could send the rock miles away. He was about to toss another one when he felt his father and brother's ki nearby. Won't he just leave again? He thought irritably as they landed a few yards away from him. He turned his back.

"Gohan..."

"What is it, father?" Goku flinched at how he said the word father, feeling hate in the word.

"Your mother's getting worried about you..."

"Let her."

"... And so am I." Gohan snorted as Goku stopped then continued on. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for those five years, Gohan. I was trying to get home. I was trapped back there at the labyrinth. And Cell delayed me."

"Really? I thought you beat him by leaving us." Gohan still gave a cold tone to his voice.

"Son, please... I didn't want to put you up to it because I know how you don't... how you didn't want to fight. I remember how fighting felt wrong to you."

Gohan thought over his dad's recent words. What he said did make sense, but he did leave... didn't he? Feeling insecure over his decision whether to forgive his father or not, Gohan crushed the rock in his hands, it turning into dust as he let it fall to the ground in sprinkles.

Goku waited for a response from his oldest son, his face unreadable. Gohan finally said in a lighter tone than from earlier, "You know it's hard for me to forgive you, doesn't it dad?" For once he turned to look directly at his dad.

"Of course, Gohan."

"I'm willing to forgive you... if you don't leave us again ever. I think that's a fair bargain."

"Then I swear not to leave, Gohan. I don't want to anyway. I'm happy to stay here with you, my family." A smile flickered onto Goku's face. "You want to come home now?" Gohan gave his father a returning smile, one he hadn't shown in five years. The smile of a youth who had gotten his father back.

"Sure." He walked over to Goku and Goten, rubbing his little brother's hair then grabbing a hold of his father and brother's arms. "I'm ready when you are." Goku gave his biggest smile yet as he put two fingers to his forehead and disappeared back home.

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Everything's patched up... Or is it? If you think this story should continue on or I should do a sequel, which is what I'm thinking of maybe doing next, tell me in a review. If not, this story is over. Happy Endings.