Roses and Swans

The wind blew gently over the field making the grass flow in even little waves, almost as if it had been a green sea. Goten happily squealed in delight as he watched a bug jump from one blade of grass to the next, its long legs still too short to keep up with little Goten. Smiling contently, he let out a coo before he grabbed the tiny bug and placed him in his mouth giggling happily. It tickled the roof of his mouth and gave him a satisfying crunch with the two teeth that had suddenly came in. The poor bug never had a chance.

Goten chomped happily, sitting on his butt, as his mother gazed across the field happily watching flowers she had released flowing in the wind. She was standing not more than five feet from Goten, her sides to him as her eyes scanned the large green horizon. Gohan who was supposed to be watching Goten was sleeping under a near by cherry blossom tree, his little brother still too active for him to sleep entirely through the night. His orange ki crumbled, and slightly damp with sweat as drool rolled onto the neck of it. He would have to get his mom to move the nursery away from his room.

Chichi had been standing out in the fields, her hair was down for once today, too tired to blow dry it and do lazy to put it in a ponytail. She wore her normal kimono top with her slack pants but her shoes were off, her feet embracing the soft dirt below. She was releasing flowers for everyone who had died that she known. Her mother… a few of her friends and nannies... her husband. He had come very often to see her… in animal form, and yet his visits became fewer and fewer until she feared he would not come back again. She knew that his next visit of the family would more than likely be his last. She hoped it wouldn't be, but somehow she felt it, and knew it true. So today, on the Day of the Dead, she flew the petals of different colored roses in the wind for her loved ones... a white rose for Goku.

She watched the rose petals fly as far as it could go, and then she turned back to her children, Gohan who was sleeping and a little Goten who was sucking on his pencil nearby. Shaking her head she went over and picked up her little baby, who was very amused with the pink of the eraser rubbing against his two teeth. Goten, her pride and joy, her darling baby. She picked the child up and nuzzled him under her neck, his soft black locks gently spiking into her face, and his tiny blue jumper warm and fuzzy against her skin. He cooed lightly, before spitting up part of the bug on her shirt. Chichi was far to into her fuzzy little son to notice. He was almost a year now. Growing up far too fast for her tastes, and pretty soon he'll be gone and chasing after his brother… who will be chasing after some purple and green freak… sigh… why her?

She settled down at the base of the tree nuzzling close to her little scholar. Gohan's head instinctively lifted and snuggled into her lap, and baby Goten began to bounce in her arms happily. She settled him on her knee as she cooed and excited him making him scream and giggle profusely. Hehehe, he was definitely a mommy's boy. His laughing and giggling began working hard on Chichi's sleepless nights and pretty soon, her had tired out his poor mother, her head leaning heavily against the tree and Goten tight in her arms as she dozed blissfully.

Goten began to get anxious after sitting in his mother's arms for 10 minutes listening to her soft snores. He had done that for the majority of being in her womb, and the first few days there after. It was time for him to break free! He lifted his hand and tugged on her hair, wondering if she were as deep in her sleeps as her deep breaths told. Sure enough, Chichi's locks moved with Goten's hand but her eyes refused to open. Woohoo! Realizing that the coast was clear, he wriggled out of is mom's arms, and happily crawled through the meadow's sweet tall grass. He cooed at little bugs that hopped to and fro making him laugh and drool at the sight of him. He played and followed the bug as long as he could until her grew tired of it and began to search for something more adventurous... noisy and possibly shiny. His eyes caught a flicker of black and orange, glide across the blue sky close to the grasses he was playing in. Reaching his hand up, he called out to it in his interpretation of the English language, traces of drool dripping with each word. The butterfly fluttered by Goten pausing gently on his nose, and flying just barely out of his reach. He then fluttered away from Goten who crawled after it as fast as possible.

The butterfly majestically soared low to the ground and came up as hundreds of colorful butterflies. The child squealed with delight and raced after them, too impressed to let them go anywhere. The butterflies all came together and took only a few seconds to form an image of Goku. The orange of the butterflies his ki, the black his dark hair, flowers and other items filling the whites of his teeth and peach of his skin. Goten screamed in delight, and began waving frantically at the butterflies. The winds picked up around the two and the butterflies began to glow profusely, emitting a warming yellow light around each butterfly figure. Before another squeal could exit Goten's mouth a bight light overwhelmed the warmth and enveloped the entire forest for a millisecond in time. The baby whimpered softly, rubbing at his poor hurting eyes. He continued to rubb and pat until his eyes stopped hurting and then blinking he looked up to where his butterflies should still be. Goku was standing before little Goten, flesh and blood that could only be achieved with the help of Kami. Little Goten murmured a Da Da, before he pushed himself up, and began to waddle towards Goku.

A smile formed on Goku's mouth and he stretched out his arms inviting his youngest son in what would be remembered as one of the happiest moments of his life. Goten squealed some more before hurriedly waddling into Goku's arms his little body being pushed harder and harder for that missing person. Chichi murmured something her sleep and rolled over and for the first time, noticed her little baby was gone. She sat up with a start, and began to frantically search for her baby boy. Her eyes raised to the grass and she saw the most beautiful image known to man.

Her husband was a bright light and her son, walking… for the first time ever… to him. He was murmuring the word she taught him for Goku's picture, and squealing with delight, running to his dad. Suddenly Chichi felt the urge too. She nudged Gohan who woke up instantly to see his mother running across a field to his father who was holding his little brother.

His heart began to burst as he stood up and began the race towards his dad as well. His mother reached him first, grabbing tight and crying tears of joy as she screamed over the things that had just happened. Gohan was second, and he came careening into his dad, sending all four of the family flying backwards onto Goku's back. Goten was tucked safely under one arm, Chichi in the other, and Gohan sitting on his father and mother's stomach screaming happily about the father that had decided after all, not to leave them.

Heh… I missed you too Gohan, mind getting off your mom and me?

Oh… heh… sorry.

Gohan released his mother, father and little brother from their prison and they all sat up, tall blades of grass surrounding them.

Daddy! I missed you so much! I can't believe you're back now! Are you back for good? Did they wish you back with the dragon balls?

Whhoooaa Gohan slow down, son.

Dad are you staying! Can you stay!

No Gohan I'm afraid I can't. This is just for tonight.

Gohan's face instantly fell, and tears formed in his eyes. His bottom lip quivered and he looked almost as if his face were about to burst like a damn, and just before the waterworks began his mother pulled him into her lap and spoke softly to him, in that voice that only mother's could create.

Gohan, aren't you happy to see your father? Do you remember how you thought you would never see him again, and guess what… now he's here. Kami is giving you another day to be with him, and to enjoy him. Don't be greedy, just be thankful that you've gotten this much.

Chichi pulled him tight into her arms and gave him a kiss on his forehead making him realize just how good a chance this really was. She released him and he instantly fell into his father's arms, snuggling up with Goten against Daddy's chest. Goku turned to his wife with large eyes, full of gratitude for helping him to make this last visit easier. Chichi merely looked back and nodded her eyes full of understanding and wisdom. Tonight, was a night of the Gods.

As the night wore on, Goku played catch with his son and counted numbers on the toes of the other. He tackled his boys to the ground in a fit of giggles and cheers, all while explaining the life of different trees and flowers and other things a boy ought to know. It wasn't until nightfall, well after 12 A.M. that both boys fell sleep in their father's arms, Their mother humming softly nearby. She continued humming until Goku broke the silence with his low and shaky voice.

Chi…you know.. I leave at dawn right?

Yes I know Goku.

Are you upset with me Chi?

No…not at all. You gave my boys the night of their lives…something that

Gohan had been praying for a long time, and something Goten will remember just maybe forever. You're a good father Goku.

But am I a good husband?

Chichi pursed her lips. That was not a question she was prepared for… and for that matter… willing to answer. She wanted to tell him how wanted to tell him how wonderful it had been to see him. How much of a good husband he had been by saving the world, and making sure he helped her with little Goten those few times. She wanted to tell him how much she's dreamed of this day… how much she wished that he really could stay. Then there was another part of her that screamed, demanding that her tired and aching heart tell exactly what she had been feeling, neglected, scared… hurt. Chichi closed her eyes briefly to hide the emotion flickering in her large dark irises. When she felt she could answer without her voice telling a tale... she looked towards the sky and spoke.

Goku… do you remember that star… that we wished upon, not long after we married?

Yeah Chi…it's right there.

Goku lifted his heavily callused fingers and pointed high towards the sky. It was the brightest star in the night sky, even brighter than Polaris… it was the star they both had named Gosha.

As long as you still remember that that is where our star is, you can never be a bad husband to me.

She smiled a bit at her words… never could he be a bad husband. He saved the world and left her all alone and yet it was all out of love for her… her and their family. She closed her eyes and leaned against her husband… Pulling their oldest into her arms. He yawned loudly and coughed before snuggling into his mother's strong arms. A smile flickered again across her mouth. A child they both had created, and a child…she would raise in his image…Gohan. Goku looked down at the son she had left in his arms. Goten. A child of his spitting image… a child of his strength his heart his love. Him and his wife's child. He looked so handsome… he was growing so well. He knew it was taking a lot out of her but she was doing it anyway, taking care of their children, something he didn't think he could ever do. His wife... his admirer.

Without second thought, Goku leaned in close to his wife and captured her lips with his own. Electricity suddenly flowed through them, as memories of happy and bad times flowed through them and awakened in their hearts and minds. Her soft sweet lips, his rough full lips, together in perfect balance and perfect harmony. When they pulled apart they were both panting, both full of the life they feared they had lost. Even if it was just for tonight they were together again.

Chichi sat back catching her breath and then suddenly stood Gohan in her arms and began to walked quietly back to the house.

Chi?

Goku called to her, fearful he had upset her, and afraid of her rejecting her. She turned to him full smile while she held their oldest in her arms.

Come on Goku, let's get them into bed and we'll talk like we used to do till the wee hours of the morning.

Smiling, Goku stood, Goten in his arms and raced to his wife's side as they made their way back to the house that was rearing two children and holding the memories of one of the greatest love stories, in history.

Hey you guys. Heh... yeah not a very lively chapter compared to my others huh? Sorry… college must really be getting to me. Well, the next chapter is I'm sorry to say you guys, but the last. I don't think I'll be making a sequel to this or anything. If I get enough responses I just may, but it will all depend on if I can come up with an idea, lol. The next chapter will be painstakingly long, so please think of this chapter as something that's going easy on your eyes, lol. There will be special thanks, tears and a bit of laughs okay you guys? I hope you enjoy the next chapter… the finale… Gosha. Carolina loves you guys! ----