Disclaimer: If I owned DBZ, I wouldn't be writing fanfics, now would I?
A/N: This chapter is a bit sillier than the first two- and has very little to do with Goten's birth. But bear with me, I will get to the point… sooner or later. And uh, I'm embarrassed to admit that I forgot about the whole home-schooling thing. Gomen! So let's pretend they decided to take a break for a while, OK? Thanks for the reviews!
"Krillin! You'll never guess what my mom just told me!"
"Um, no sparring until you've read War and Peace?" the former monk suggested.
"NO! You'll never guess, so I'll just tell you." Gohan allowed for a dramatic pause before continuing. "She's having a baby! Isn't that- Krillin?" He heard the phone clatter to the floor on the other end of the line, and then someone scrambling to pick it up.
"SHE'S WHAT!" Krillin yelled into the phone. "No way!"
In the background, Gohan could hear Master Roshi and Oolong shouting, too.
"What's all the noise about? What's goin' on?" Oolong demanded.
"Who's 'she,' and what's she doing?" asked Roshi.
"Tell us what's goin' on!" cried Oolong.
"Chi Chi's pregnant!" Krillin snapped at them.
Then Roshi's voice again. "Woooo! All right, Goku! That's my boy!"
Gohan frowned. He didn't know what that meant, but he was pretty sure it wasn't good. From the sound of things, Krillin had just whacked Roshi over the head.
"Dirty old man," he grumbled. "OK, Gohan, could you put your mom on the phone?"
"Um," the boy replied, "I think she's throwing up right now." He had just seen her race to the bathroom a moment earlier.
"Oh… well… I guess I'll just come over then. See ya soon."
"'K. Bye!"
Thirty minutes later, Chi Chi, Gohan, and Krillin were sitting in the Sons' living room. Gohan couldn't understand why the other two looked so serious. This was a happy occasion- wasn't it?
"If you want, I can take you to your doctor's appointments," Krillin offered.
"Thank you. It'll be hard for me to drive after a while."
"And I can do the cooking and cleaning," Gohan said. "And you don't have to worry about driving me to school!"
"Gohan, what have I told you about that?" Chi Chi asked sternly.
"I know, I know. But you said it'll be hard for you to drive! Can't we just try it, and if something happens you can start driving me again?"
Krillin was well-acquainted with the old argument. He and Goku both had urged her to let the boy fly, but there was no reasoning with her wehre her son's safety was concerned.
But this time was different. Chi Chi realized that if she was going to raise two half-Saiyans on her own, she was going to have to relax a little. All those strict rules would drive her crazy. So as much as she disliked it, it was time to loosen up.
"C'mon, Chi Chi. Let him fly to school," Krillin said.
"Yeah, Mom. Pleeeeeeeease?" Gohan was looking at her hopefully, his eyes large and pleading.
"Only if you promise to be very, very careful," she sighed imagining all the things that could go wrong. Gohan was overjoyed.
"You mean it? Thanks, Mom! You're the best!" he cried, throwing his arms around her. She hugged him back, already worried that he'd be attacked by something or other.
Krillin stayed a while longer as they discussed a few other baby-related issues. Before he left, he turned to Gohan.
"Have fun flying to school, buddy!" he laughed.
"I will!" replied a grinning Gohan.
"Mom, is this really necessary?" Gohan asked, his voice muffled by the heavy coat and wool scarf he'd been forced to wear. "It's not that cold, is it?"
"We're not taking any chances. I don't want you getting sick," Chi Chi replied, pulling a hat snugly over his ears. "All set! Oh, you look adorable!" she gushed, pushing him to a mirror. His arms were sticking out at 45-degree angles, and the only skin visible was around his eyes.
"I look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."
"No you don't, sweetie! Maybe I should take a picture, I'm sure Bulma would love to see this…"
"NO! I mean, I have to leave now or I'll be late," Gohan objected, waddling toward the front door.
"Oh, well, we don't want you to be late," Chi Chi sighed. As she watched her little boy struggle to put his backpack on over his huge coat, her eyes filled with tears.
"OK, Mom. I'm leaving now."
Chi Chi threw her arms around him and started to weep. "My baby! Please be careful, Gohan!"
"Mom… can't… breathe…" he rasped, trying to extricate himself from her crushing hug. "Squeezing… too hard…" She loosened her grip.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. I just worry about you, that's all."
"I'll be fine. Love you, Mom. See you after school!" he called, excitedly beginning his flight.
"I love you too, honey! Come straight home after school! Don't talk to any strangers!" He waved as best he could in acknowledgement and sped away. "AND DON'T GET INTO ANY FIGHTS, GOHAN!" she screamed after him. Chi Chi watched until his tiny figure disappeared before returning to the house.
Please, she prayed silently, let him be all right.
"Glad that's done," Gohan said to no one in particular, dumping the last of his anti-illness gear behind a bush. Aware that it was completely unnecessary, he had landed in a small forest clearing to dispose of the extra clothing. As much as he loved his mother, he had to admit that she drastically over-reacted most of the time.
Stretching his arms over his head, he gladly breathed in the fresh air. Gohan grabbed his backpack and levitated above the trees. Looking off into the horizon, he found himself wondering what the baby would be like. For him, this was a new adventure, unlike any he'd had before.
"Big brother," he whispered, grinning, before taking off in the direction of school.
A/N: See, it has a little bit to do with Goten's birth! Sorta. But just one more chapter of silliness, and then back to business. I promise. Please review!
