You say we're not responsible
but we are, we are- Ana

Chapter 23: sheer drop.

Several hours after the battle with super 17 and everyone had gone to Capsule Corp home base to sort out what had gone on. Bulma had been talking with 18, Chichi, Gohan and Videl about the Dragonballs mission down in the lab, Goku had disappeared upstairs somewhere and Vegeta was training. The younger members of the Z gang – except Uub who had gone home – were gathered in the living room for a rare get together in the form of a movie. The adults of the group were usually too busy with their own lives to get together and hang out very often so they liked to try and relax when ever possible. Bra and Pan however just wanted to join in.

Marron sat on the sofa along with Zara and the boys, idly flipping through channels until she reached the news. Pictures of various disasters were shown as the reporter commented on them.

"…One of many volcanoes that were thought to be dead is seen here erupting, as well as various earthquakes hitting Satan city and the northern capital. These are only a few of the disasters that have occurred since the sky opened up this morning…"

Marron turned off the TV and sighed.

"Great, looks like the world is a mess." She muttered.

"Yea. Mum thinks it's all because of the hole. Apparently its caused more damage then we thought." Trunks said.

"So it really is a good thing we're gathering the Dragonballs. We can fix this mess." Zara added. Goten looked over at her.

"What do you mean 'we'? If its us that's supposed to be getting them then shouldn't we be out there?" he asked. Pan looked round at him from her spot on the floor.

"No uncle Goten, you're not doing it. If you had listened then you'd know that. Me, mum and dad are getting them. We're just waiting for dad to finish up with Bulma." She explained. Goten frowned and kicked his niece softly.

"Hey, I can't help it if I have other things to worry about then Bulma's little meeting." He snapped at her and then glanced at Marron. He had been busy worrying if Marron was ok whilst he was supposed to be listening to Bulma.

"Whatever. I'm surprised you even showed." Pan replied. Goten turned his eyes back to his niece and frowned.

"I had something I wanted to check on. Besides, dad's been locked up in one of the bedrooms ever since Bulma's little meeting so I don't see any reason why not to stay. As long as he stays up there I'm fine." He said and folded his arms stubbornly. Pan frowned and kicked her uncle.

"Hey! Would get over it! Grandpa's been through a lot and doesn't need you being mister broody pants!" she half yelled at him. Goten glared at her and opened his mouth to say something but Trunks jumped in before he could.

"Hey, how about we go get some popcorn or something? Can't have a movie without snacks!" he announced and then pulled Goten up, "come on 'ten, lets go." He added and pulled his friend to the kitchen, eager to prevent a fight breaking out in his mother's designer living room.

The others all watched them go and Bra jumped to her feet.

"I need to go talk to Trunks about something…" she mumbled and then followed the guys.

Bra stuck her head into the kitchen and then walked in cautiously when she saw no Goten.

"Is it safe to talk?" she asked. Trunks looked up from the microwave in surprise.

"Huh? Oh yea, Goten's just getting something from the freezer next door. What's up?" he asked and finished setting the timer on the microwave. Bra watched him and then looked up at her brother's face.

"I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought you were gonna ask her out." Bra said. Trunks went slightly red and turned away.

"I was going to…but something kept getting in the way." he explained. Bra frowned.

"Like what?" she asked.

"Just people. I've learned from experience that it's best not to have an audience when asking people if they want to take a relationship to the next level." He explained. Bra tilted her head to the side in confusion and Trunks decided it best that he explained.

"Look, back when she first arrived back on earth I was thinking about asking her out, more as friends then a couple and more for catching up purposes. I eventually got round to it but Goten was there when I did. Afterwards he wouldn't stop teasing us until finally I snapped and said that it wasn't a proper date and that he could come along to prove it. He did and the whole thing was a disaster. I couldn't talk to Zara and afterwards we were more distant. It took ages to fix it." He finished. Bra smiled up at her brother.

"But you were all really young back then, I think 'ten is a little more mature by now. I'm sure…no, positive, that he won't say or do anything that would ruin everything if you went ahead and asked her out." She announced. Goten chose this moment to walk back into the kitchen with a large tub of ice cream.

"Who is he asking out?" he asked as he placed the tub on the side.

"Only Zara." Bra said innocently, making Trunks nearly face vault into the floor.

"Bra! Didn't you listen to me?" he asked as he frowned down at the saiyan princess. Bra only smirked back at him in a way that read 'don't worry, I'm right'.

"Really? That's brave." Goten said thoughtfully, interrupting the little sibling tiff. Both of the Briefs turned to look at their friend.

"What do you mean?" Trunks asked. Goten shrugged.

"Its just that you have a strong with relationship with Zara and I'm sure you wouldn't want to ruin it." Trunks and Bra exchanged curious glances and then returned to watching Goten.

"How would asking Zara out on a little date possibly ruin everything?" Bra asked.

"Well, what if she doesn't feel the same way? That'll cause a rift. And then what if everything goes wrong once they are dating? Its impossible to break up with someone and still have a close friendship." Goten informed them. Trunks stared thoughtfully at the floor at this and Bra huffed.

"Well she does feel the same way so they won't ruin anything." Bra said stubbornly. Goten shrugged.

"Yea, but one bad experience can change everything. Besides, you shouldn't decide to go to the next level with a friend just because another did whilst he was angry one time." Goten pointed out.

"He was going to before that. And what are you saying anyway? That you'll never risk a friendship even though you love a girl?" Bra asked. Goten went slightly red.

"That'll be different." Goten said and looked away from Bra's glare.

The microwave beeped, saving Trunks from having to listen to his best friend and sister argue over his love life. Trunks fetched the popcorn out of the microwave and made for the door.

"We better go back to the others." He muttered and hurried out of there. Both Goten and bra watched him leave and once he was out of the room, bra smacked Goten round the back of his head. Goten quickly side stepped away from her as he rubbed the spot she hit.

"What was that for?" he asked. Bra glared and grabbed the ice cream.

"For proving me wrong!" she announced and then followed her brother.

Goku stared at the floor of the dark room. He didn't know who's bedroom he was in but that didn't stop him from huddling on the bed with the door locked as he went over everything that had been shown to him in hell. As far as he could work out, he had two problems. One was making sure that the z gang got stronger and ready for the next villain that would no doubt show his or her face, and the second was fixing the damage he had made in his family.

So far he had thing to preoccupy him so that he didn't have to dwell on what the demon girl had shown him, but now all he could do was think it over and realise just how right she had been.

"Gohan was the most experienced and the strongest of the younger fighters and he still doesn't stand a chance against your old enemies." He remembered Dg saying as the fight with Gohan and Goten against the machine mutants played in his head, Gohan getting encased in metal and Goten getting possessed by Bebi and then destroying the rest of his family.

The kids hadn't stood a chance against super 17 and Bebi had defeated them all easily as well. It was just like what DG had shown him.

"Maybe if you stuck with the idea of passing the role of earth's hero then maybe you could have prepared them all better and this could have been averted. Then again the last time you tried to give them the chance to be the hero you messed it up. You have a problem with making bad choices."

She was right about that too. He had messed up Gohan's life as well as the rest of his family's by training and then hurt them by getting them to try what he did best.

"No more…" he muttered.

He was going to fix it. He was going to prepare everybody and make up for lost time. He couldn't leave them getting hurt anymore and to do that he had to get them stronger not only as a family but as warriors. If he ever got trapped like he had during the super 17 fight then the others wouldn't stand a chance so he would have to make them stronger. Then they'd be safe. It made sense to pressure the others into training more.

"Goku? Are you all right in there? We're getting worried out here…" a voice called from the other side of the door. Chichi's voice. Goku didn't answer and Chichi sighed on the other side.

"Look, Goku, Gohan and the others are about to leave to try an find the Dragonballs. If you want to say goodbye then this is you last chance…" she said. Goku's head turned towards the door.

Guess this is the time he thought and got up. He walked out the door and went down the hall before Chichi could even say anything.

Goku found Gohan in the living room with the rest of the younger warriors. It looked like Goten and Pan had been having another heated 'discussion' that had immediately been silenced once Goku walked in. the saiyan looked round at his children and their friends as they stared at him. Trunks, Zara, Goten and Marron were all comfortable on the sofa and Bra was lying on the floor on top of some cushions whilst Pan was beside her, just getting up from her spot on the floor. Gohan stood at the end of the sofa, next to the door.

"Dad, I wasn't expecting to see you down here." Gohan said in surprise as Goku walked fully into the room. The others continued to stare at Goku as a certain half-breed began to wonder what his chances were of escaping the room and his father.

Goku stared at all of the kids and then silently turned the TV off, earning annoyed groans and looks from the others. He then looked over the group.

"We need to talk." He said bluntly. The others exchanged looks of confusion whilst Goten shrunk down in his seat.

"Um…what about, dad?" Gohan asked as he perched himself on the armrest next to Trunks. Goku cleared his throat as he quickly thought over what to say.

"Its about your training. I'm…concerned." He started and for once he looked his age. No longer was he the carefree Goku but an old man who reality had just given a hefty blow to. It was enough to give all who knew him a chill.

"Um…why? We've been training, no need to be concerned about that." Pan said, confused as she stared up at her grandfather.

"I know you have but its not enough. You guys need to get stronger and fast." Goku explained. This just succeeded in confusing the group even more.

"Why? There isn't another threat coming, is there?" Zara asked. Goku shook his head.

"Then why the hurry?"

Goku gritted his teeth at the logical question. They didn't understand.

"You're weak, ok? You wouldn't stand a chance if there were another threat or monster." He explained. The others all frowned at Goku, some trying to work out exactly what he meant and the others just plain insulted.

"What the hell is that meant to mean? We're the strongest in the universe at the moment! And you don't even know how strong exactly we've all gotten!" Goten exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. Marron grabbed his arm in an attempt to hold him back.

"Calm down…" she muttered and he seemed to do just that after giving her a sideways glance.

Goku watched them and then turned continued his little speech.

"You may think that you're strong now but the truth is that super saiyan three won't cut it anymore and nobody in this room besides me has reached that level. Goten is in the sub level and Gohan and Zara may be almost equal to one but that's not enough. With the way it goes with villains, you guys won't stand a chance."

"So what are you saying, Goku? That we need to train more? I know that I haven't got enough time to train anymore then I already do and I'm pretty sure it's the same for everyone." Zara explained.

"What are you talking about? You guys have tons of free time. I've seen Goten just staying at home all day, doing nothing. And then there's what you're doing now." Goku said, confused. Goten was the one to answer.

"You're thinking of when I was 17! That was ten years ago and everything is different now! We all have jobs and careers we have to think about. I have to go out and earn money to support mum and me since you won't. Gohan helps out with his scholar job but he has his own family. And Zara and Trunks both work for C.C. Trunks is the CEO for crying out loud! He can't just dump that job so that he can train just cause someone is paranoid."

Goku stared at his youngest and then looked at the others.

"I think you can put your jobs aside to help protect the world. I care the most about you and the Earth and to do that you guys need to be as strong as I am. Stronger even. Its just irresponsible to not train when you're the only ones with a slim chance to protect everything." Goku replied. The whole group glared at Goku for this and Zara stood up, her eyes beginning to go red.

"Hey! We are not irresponsible. We just have a lot on our plates. We have to look after ourselves to be able to do what you're telling us to and to do that we need money and there go jobs. We may not like it but that's how the world works. But you wouldn't know that since you've been living in your own for so long." She told Goku and then left, Trunks following and calling after her to calm down.

Goku watched them go and then turned to the others.

"What was that about?" he asked, confused. Goten frowned at his father as he answered.

"It was about you. You can't just run off for years on end and then come back and tell us what to do and give us speeches about responsibility! You don't even know anything about responsibility otherwise I would have had a father to watch me grow up and help me along the way. Instead I only had Gohan for most of it! That was unfair and irresponsible on your part, dad."

Goku stared at his son in surprise.

"Goten…I'm…I'm sorry…I want to make it up to you I really do…" he started but Goten interrupted.

"Don't, dad, just don't I don't need you to try and apologise when you're not sorry. I'm sorry that I don't have the fighter's spirit like Uub and Gohan had so I'll just go. You can go and forget about me and spend time with a real saiyan since you obviously want to so much." He told his father and then shoved past, leaving the room and the building.

Goku stared hopelessly forward and settled on his eldest son. Gohan averted his gaze, unsure if he should be sorry for his father or mad at him for his little outburst.

"I…need to go find the Dragonballs. Come on Pan, your mother's waiting." Gohan said in a near whisper when he found his voice and then led his daughter out. Bra followed them in an attempt to escape the awkwardness, leaving Goku alone with Marron.

Goku stared at the doorframe and felt his knees give way. He had once again ruined everything…

"Goku?" Marron's voice asked softly from the sofa. Goku was silent for a long moment.

"I don't get it," he finally muttered, "I keep messing everything up…"

Marron watched him carefully. She had never seen Goku act like this before and she was sure no one else had either. Goku was a man who was supposed to be perpetually cheerful. Nothing was supposed to faze him. But something in hell had made him panic and now he was experiencing the negative emotions with no idea how to handle them. Marron felt sorry for the saiyan.

"No…you didn't mess it up…" she muttered softly. Goku stared up at Marron in surprise.

"Yes I have. I've torn my family apart without even realising it and I've probably done something similar with the kids just then…I…don't get it." He replied. Marron watched him and then sighed. She slid off of the sofa and made her way over to the saiyan.

"You haven't ruined anything with the others. You just…went in unprepared. You can still make things right. Apologise to them and maybe even explain to them what's got you so spooked. And as for your family…well…you'll just have to start making up for lost time, won't you? Chichi and Gohan will love to have you around again." Marron explained. Goku listened to her carefully and then nodded.

"Ok…but what about Goten? I…what I've done over the years seems to have affected him the most. He hates me and he's not going to just let me make it up so easily." Goku said and then glanced back at the floor again. It hurt to think of what he had unintentionally done to his son just by being himself.

Marron sighed again.

"Goten…has a lot of issues right now. He was burned pretty badly by your leaving with Uub…" she started and thought back to her little talk with the youngest Son man at the budokai.

"But he's not lost. Talk to him, possibly fight it out if need be, but don't give up on him. Goten needed his father and he still does." She finished and looked at Goku again. Goku stared at her thoughtfully.

"And how do I do that if he refuses to stay in the same room as me?" he asked. Marron bit her lip.

Goten is going to kill me…but I'm to worried about him not to try and get him to fix it…she thought.

"Leave it to me." She said, almost in a defeated tone of voice that Goku didn't notice as he smiled up at her.

Well, at least things might actually get back to normal around here if I help…she thought, ready to do her part in order to save the earth's hero…

A/n: meh, bad ending probably but its done despite that. And yea, by 'everything goes wrong for Goku' I meant he manages to get the younger members of the z gang mad(er) at him.

Next chapter we'll be getting a few of the conversations Goku needs to have as well as a few twists/surprises and the official start of the shadow dragon saga. Yay!

Oh, and if you're wondering why I have a quote from the song 'we are' by Ana at the top of this chapter then its because I got a good part of this chapter planned out in my head when I first started listening to it. Thought it tied in…

Reviews:

Son Oliver: um…Vegeta going ssj4 was natural in the sense that he skipped ssj3 in the series and I'm going to explain why in a later chapter. But on another note we got part of a talk with Goten and Goku like you wanted. Goku knows how bad a father he is and he want to make it up. I just hope I managed to get Goku's side of it down well. He may be a naïve little so in so but he still (well now anyway) got hurt by his actions and Goten's reactions. It's tearing up Goku just as much as Goten and that'll be why Marron helps out (even if it will get Goten annoyed at her…)

Chris: glad you liked. What's coming up is going to be a lot different to GT though. GT was completely focused on Goku and it had next to no focus on the others (except for Vegeta but that was only one or two episodes and it completely overlooked what had happened in the Buu saga…more or less) as For Gohan…you'll have to wait and see what I do… :p

Rejhan: yes, SSJ Bra. You got what you asked for in an earlier review :) the fight scene didn't really need much changing…just think that maybe I should have done something better with Myuu and Gero…

Super saiyan 4 chichi: well…I kinda had to put in SSJ 4 Goku or else he would have gotten pretty beat up…but thanks –sweat drop-

Erica: ah, sorry… it probably should have been longer but I just needed super 17 saga as an excuse to violently knock Goku down a peg…after that there wasn't much to change besides having the others fight…

Chico: thanks :) and its not long for the bigger plot changes either! Yay!

Trugeta: -sweat drop- oh yea, the Kamehameha thing. Well Goku got carried away as he does and also he needed an attack that would destroy 17 since he was kinda desperate after what he saw in hell. Guess that was my lapse of thinking for the week. But the silly thing is that a few days after it I actually found a script for the show and found the bit I was struggling to remember: why Goku fired the blast in the show. Trust GT to not have Vegeta warn Goku…-grumbles-

Anyway, see you all next week for the next update!