Title: A Flickering Flame

Chapter Title: War Counsel

Disclaimer: Sorry, I don't own any of these characters or places. Splat, Skirt, Squish, Kana, Rachel, Shirt, and Crunch are all mine.

AN: Hey a people, I have this one done and ready to go a lot sooner than I thought I would. Hope you like it. Have fun and don't forget to review.

***Story***

The act of awakening came slowly for Videl, her body didn't want to wake. So much had happened to her in the past seven years, that the chance to truly sleep peacefully didn't come as often as she wished it would. Now with the chance to, she didn't want it to end. When she finally woke, she was pressed tightly into the chest of her mate, his smell surrounding her. She felt warm and safe in his arms, his breath stirring her already rampid hair. At the moment between awakening and remembering the past, Videl felt that life couldn't get any better. She was loved, and she loved. But then her memories returned and a sense of heavy foreboding pulled her gently from Gohan's arms. Trying not to wake him, she slid from the large bed, pulling her robe over her bear shoulders as she pad quietly into the bathroom.

Gohan sat up as soon as the light flicked on, but was blocked from view of his mate when the door closed. Flopping back down, he slid his hands under his head and looked up at the gauzy canopy that stretched between the four posts of their bed. His mind was busy with things that had to be done. Protect his friends and family, get Sharpener off their backs, and get them all back home. Three things, that were easier thought then done. How was he going to get Sharpener off their backs without killing him? If he had to, would he be able to kill Sharpener? If he did kill Sharpener, how would it affect him, Videl and the rest of the Z gang? These were questions and doubts that plaid through Gohan's head while Videl was in the bathroom. They disappeared though when she returned. Crawling back into bed, she cuddled close to Gohan, his arms wrapping around her in caveman possessiveness.

~*~*~

Trunks sat up in bed looking around at his friends. The whole gang had been put on one large barracks type room. With Squish, Crunch and Splat snoring he was surprised that any of the other's were asleep. Sighing he laid his head on his drawn up knees and tried hard to block out the large warthog wars going on in the three beds next to him. He didn't hear the soft falls of bear feet as they moved to his bed over the loud snoring but, he did feel it when Rachel wrapped her arms around his waist. He smiled and shifted so that they were laying on the bed, Trunks melted against her back. They really did love each other.

He knew by morning that all of the couples in the room would be in the same beds, they always were when they had sleep overs.

~*~*~

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray," Bulma woke near dawn with Vegeta's head resting on her still firm stomach, softly singing a song that he would deny knowing the words to. He used to sing it to Bra when she was a baby, and now here he was singing it to the twins inside of Bulma. Bulma snickered and ran her hand through Vegeta's hair. He looked at her, love in his coal black eyes. She returned the look and motioned for him to continue on with his singing.

She'd missed having him around when she was with Trunks, and Bra. He'd been training a lot then. Now though, he'd promised her he'd stay close to her, as much as possible. He was proud of Trunks, and the way they had raised him, he loved Bra much to much for his own pride to allow, and he knew that it would be the same with the two little ones inside his mate. He'd helped make these two, and he was for once more happy about it then Bulma was. Bulma hadn't planned on getting pregnant again, but she was surprisingly happy about it, even more so with Vegeta being so considerate of her while she was.

~*~*~

ChiChi leaned over Goku looking at the clock on the other side of him. Seeing the time she tired to pull herself out of his arms, but knew that her attempts would be to no avail. It was 8:00 am, time to make breakfast, but as always she couldn't get out of Goku's arms.

Goku? Goku... It's time to get up, either that or let me go, I need to make breakfast, ChiChi whispered through their bond, hoping that he would at least let her go. He pulled her closer.

We're not at home, Mr. PoPo will make breakfast, you don't have to get out of bed. Go back to sleep, you both need the extra rest, Goku replied. ChiChi sighed, remembering and went back to sleep for a little while longer.

~*~*~

It was around noon when everyone gathered outside on the steps. All of the couples were together, the female sitting on the males laps. All of the married couples had children on the way. With Marron, Bra, and Splat off to one side. Piccolo, and Dende were helping to clean up the tornado zone that was the dining room after six saiyans ate there. The meeting would start as soon as Dende and Piccolo joined them.

"I really should have known, I'm so sorry," Videl whispered, her face buried in Gohan's chest. He nodded awkwardly, doing in part to her face being where it was.

"You don't need to apologize, I should. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have yelled at you, let alone try to hit you," Gohan replied to her, pulling her tighter into his arms. "Thank you for stopping me Dad, I don't know what I'd of done with out you there," Gohan called to his father, who was sitting a few yards away, ChiChi curled up asleep in his lap. He seemed to be meditating, but Gohan heard his soft, "You're welcome, and let's hope we never find out." Gohan nodded in agreement and was about to talk to Videl a little more with Piccolo and Dende turned the corner.

"Let's get this over with, I'd like to get away from so many hormonal females as soon as possible," Splat complained loudly, receiving glares from all of the females around, and sending the three pregnant ones into tears, which earned him glares from their men, as well as two growls. Piccolo laughed outright at the look on Splat's face after all of this pasted. There was still three silently sobbing women, two flustered men, trying to calm them down and one very angry Prince, letting Bulma snuggle to him.

"At the moment, what we know is that Sharpener was released from jail yesterday, he knows that Videl and Gohan are alive, meaning he failed at what he wanted to do, free Videl for himself or kill her so no one else can have her, but he killed his brother instead. He's going to be very angry and is going to do what he wanted to in the first place, kill Videl, or have her for himself. Now, seeing as we are all up here, Sharpener can not harm us, but that only works until we go back home," Trunks said, over the top of Rachel's head, who was asleep in his lap.

"So, we have to either kill or deter Sharpener," Goten said, pushing Skirt up to her feet. She popped her back and headed off toward the bathroom. She wasn't a fighter, so she didn't need to be involved in this discussion. Goten watched her, smiling at her elbow length new growth green hair as it swished behind her. He knew her eyes were a much darker color green, yet her favorite color to wair and anyway was yellow. It went so well with green. Glancing at her twin, he saw the light yellow hair, and dark gold colored eyes. Looking at Shirt, he saw the bronze hair and knew that Crunch was looking into a pair of Aqua Marina eyes. Before he and Skirt got together, he had always wished to run his hands through her shoulder length hair, but was now glad that he had Skirt and Crunch was stuck with the temperamental, yet very sweet Shirt. Looking over at Squish, he smiled at the tall women lounged in his lap. He had been shocked when she had put the red stripes in her pure white hair. But that's what had Squish giving in and going for her. That and her robins egg blue eyes. Kana had gone for Squish because of his deep rich voice, and sweet tender attitude. Not to mention his Sky blue eyes and lavender eyes. Crunch was the by far the weirdest looking in the group. He kept his silver hair in an elbow long mohawk, which set off his blue/grey eyes. Looking at his best friend, he was not surprised to find a black and purple striped head resting in the crook of his neck, her granny apple green eyes closed, fast asleep.

His friends were unbelievable, and he loved them all, would even give up his life for any of them (Okay, ladies and germs ((jk)) I'm heading to bed. I'll work more tomorrow. It's 1:40 am. Goodnight. Morning, well afternoon, it's 12:51, and I'm back). They were a part of this large family, and yes all of them were like a family. He knew that if anything happened to the parents of any of the children, they'd be taken care of.

"Gohan, do you want help, or are you going to do this on your own?" Goku asked, looking his son in the eye. Gohan sighed, running his hand over Videl's hair, before nodding.

"I'll try to deter him, along at first. If that doesn't work, I'll come get someone who will help deter him. If that doesn't work, I might need help killing him. I won't let him get to my family, or friends, let alone my mate," Gohan growled out, holding Videl closer to him. He'd lost her for seven years, he wasn't going to lose her again.

"We won't let him get to her Gohan, we won't," Bulma said from her place on Vegeta's lap. She had her arms around his waist, her head against his shoulder. He had his arms hanging at his sides, but he seemed to be okay with her clinging to him. Gohan nodded, looking at the rest of them.

"Sharpener going after Videl is like him going after anyone of our mates, we won't let him get her," Trunks said what everyone was thinking. All of the others pulled their mates closer, a look of possession on all of the males faces. Splat looked around, rather surprised at how much all of them love the other half of them. He was looking forward to finding the one he would love.

~*~*~

Sharpener smiled as he looked around his room. He was back in his home, out of jail, and now he would have his love back. He'd have her, or he'd make sure no one else would. Videl was too good for that freak Gohan. So there was only one way to get her back. Kill Gohan. It really was going to be fun.

AN: I don't know if that last paragraph made sense, sorry if it didn't. My brain has officially shut down at the moment. I got this one up pretty early. And it came easier than most other ones. Don't know why. Could be the fact that not a lot of it was action, just talking and stuff. Oh well. See ya next time.

ArchAngelStar

(2020 words! Yeah for me!)