Hello to all! Thank you for your feedback on the 23rd WMAT saga, I had fun writing it.
Now it's time to end it with a little epilogue before the five year time skip. Enjoy!
Based on MasakoX's What If series "What if Gine went with Goku to Earth?", but a retcon with some changes of my own on how I think the story would have went down had Goku's mother escaped planet Vegeta with him.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-based work of fiction. Dragonball Minus, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, and Dragonball GT are all owned by FUNimation, Toei Animation, and Akira Toriyama.
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CHAPTER 27: WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
"Ow! Mom!" Kakarot whined as Gine fiddled with his bowtie.
"Stop fidgeting." Gine chided. They were in a fitting room within Ox-King's castle, or what was left of it. Today was the big day.
"It's too tight!" Her son complained.
"Then stop moving and let me fix it!" She said raising her voice, which quieted her son down. But Gine was slowly getting frustrated herself. Stitching was one thing, but this... She had never tired tying ties before until Gohan showed her, and it was proving to be a more difficult task than she though such a simple thing could be. After a couple demonstrations and a some torn-through spare ties, she was attempting to do it herself without his guidance, insisting it was the only way for her to learn it.
Gine cursed under her breath as she got the knot wrong again, and tried to pull it loose. She used too much strength and her finger ripped through the fabric as if it were tissue paper. That was the third spare tie destroyed.
"Grr! Not again! Why can't I do it either?!" Gine growled in exasperation, almost wanting to punch a hole in the wall.
Gohan sat in the corner, giggling to himself at the humorous sight of the two Saiyans struggling to get into their formal clothes.
"You want me to do it, my dear? We could practice this some other time without having to be in a rush." He offered.
Gine breathed out through her nose. Her Saiyan stubbornness didn't want her to just give up so easily, but Gohan had a point.
"Sure." She said simply, glad she didn't have to deal with it anymore.
Gohan chuckled to himself and went to Kakarot with another spare to do his tie instead. His fingers moved quickly and with dexterity.
Gine stepped back and looked over Kakarot. Her son was finely dressed in a spotless all white tuxedo that was tailored to his tall and bulky build. It perfectly fit over his broad shoulders and thick arms, so it didn't entirely look like he was about to burst out of it if he so much as flexed. A matching white vest underneath the overcoat, a bowtie, black dress shoes, and a white rose boutonniere provided the finishing touches.
The sight of Kakarot in clothing other than his typical orange garb was certainly eye-catching, seeing him now in something so ornate seemed almost unnatural. But she had to admit that he looked rather dashing in that suit.
As Gohan fixed Kakarot's tie, Gine reflected on the last few weeks leading up to this day. It had been a complete hassle, and that was putting it lightly.
While they were preparing for Kakarot and Chi-Chi's wedding, a mysterious fire had broken out in the Ox-King's castle and nearly burned it to the ground with Ox-king trapped inside it. Gine was able to get him out of there no problem, along with Chi-Chi's very elegant dress that he insisted on saving for the ceremony. He said it had belonged to Chi-Chi's late mother, and it was her wish that her daughter wore it the day she was ever married.
The real hard part was just putting out the fire. No amount of Kamehameha Waves or water drops could drown out the flames until they realized they needed what they called the "Bansho Fan". Unfortunately, Roshi realized that he had thrown it out years ago. But after pulling some favors and pleading, Roshi sought help from his sister, Fortuneteller Baba. Thankfully she saved them from a wild goose chase and was able to pinpoint the Bansho Fan's location, it having washed up on the far-away shore of Octagon Village.
Once Kakarot, Chi-chi, and Gine retrieved it however, they discovered to their dismay that the fan only fueled the fire even more. The entire kingdom was mourning for the impending loss of the castle and Gine felt hopeless to stop it. That was until Baba looked deeper into her crystal ball, then pointed them to Mount Five Elements as the possible solution to putting out the fire. She warned that it was a dark and evil place that ferried the souls of the dead to leave Earth and to Otherworld. But the mother and son duo easily blasted through the illusion world of the pathway to the Magical Furnace of Tajoro. The furnace caretaker, Annin, refused to put out the fire as she said it would threaten the very fabric of reality by letting the spirits of the dead roam the Earth forever. Even temporarily they couldn't extinguish the flames, as it would take two whole centuries to reignite the furnace and that would plunge Earth into an ice age.
With such a simple journey exploding into something so dire, Gine was about to blast Annin on the spot when she mentioned one alternative plan to fix a possible leak that might be responsible for burning the Ox-Kingdom. However it meant that they had to scour the Earth again to find the egg-shell of an extinct bird living in a volcano, and some honey from the Octagon Village they found the fan in. The eggshell remnants were easy enough to find, and Gine wasted no time prying the honey from the lady in the village with grave threats. They had no time to waste.
After the items were gathered, Annin was able to lift the pot out of the furnace for Kakarot to dive in with the eggshell and honey to fix the leak. Sure enough, the fire was finally extinguished.
With all that taken care off, THEN they could continue with the preparations. It still wasn't easy, like trying to find any kind of suit that Kakarot could wear or at least tolerate. He didn't see why he had to wear one if all a wedding was is to exchange promises of staying with Chi-chi forever. But his mother insisted that he did, that he had to "look his best" for his fiancée. So he relented and Ox-King had one of his tailors take Kakarot's measurements and make one for him.
Then came the stream of gifts that Kakarot knew little of what to do with, but at least now he had the capsule house to put those things in while Chi-Chi helped sort them out. They even picked out a plot of land to set up their home permanently, a beautiful wide open field in the grasslands at the base of Mount Paozu. About a few miles away and downslope from the Son homestead. Not too far away from family, but far enough for privacy and for Kakarot and Chi-Chi to call the land their own. Gine was really glad they chose that.
To make things better, now that Kakarot was getting married, Bulma decided to give him an upgraded version of the capsule house as a bonus wedding present. It had more food stockpiled in it to last the new couple their first winter and to help them get settled in. It also had more rooms in it, should they ever decide to "expand their household" as Bulma put it with a knowing wink.
Gine knew what that meant when she heard it, and Chi-Chi couldn't be more giddier from hearing that. She then couldn't stop talking of the future. Of children.
That made Gine's heart flutter with excitement and wonder, daring thoughts no Saiyan mother had ever entertained before.
Her? Becoming a grandmother?!
Not many Saiyans parents ever stuck around to see their children grow into adulthood and lived. Saiyans surviving long enough to see second-generation descendants was unheard of. If it happened here, she could be the first in Saiyan history to see her living grandchildren! Judging by how eager Chi-Chi was at the prospect of being a parent, it seemed likely. Though Gine hoped it wouldn't end up being the eight or nine kids that the girl daydreamed about having. The thought of nine little Kakarots running around causing chaos was a little too frightening to imagine. But not as frightening as to imagine if they are unable to have children, considering if there were any incompatibilities between Saiyan and human genetics. Or worse, if they did have a child and it turns out to be abominably malformed because of those incompatibilities...
Gine shook her head to blot out that dark train of thought, and tried to anchor herself back in the present and what really mattered. Her son was getting married, and Gine couldn't be happier for him.
Now here they were. The wedding was to be a traditional ceremony where everyone had to dress up nicely. Gohan's orange and black martial arts master attire was formal enough so he just had to have it pressed and cleaned. For Gine, she was able to find a nice dress with the help of Bulma and Launch. After an exhausting day of what Bulma called "shopping with the girls" in West City, Gine settled on a simple green dress the same shade as her gi, but with short sleeves and an ankle length flowing skirt along with matching flat heels. The other girls thought it was the most "fashionable" choice of dress for a muscular woman like Gine, and she liked it. It was simple, pretty enough for future ceremonial events, and it fit her perfectly. Plus the activity of shopping with Bulma was something that Gine found to be too vapid and boring for her from all the socializing, and never wanted to partake in it again. She hoped the dress would last her awhile.
"Annnnd, done!" Gohan withdrew his hands as if finishing a work of art. He smiled up at Kakarot, "My word, look at this handsome young man! Go ahead and take a look at yourself, my dear boy."
Kakarot turned to the wall mirror. He looked at the white-clad Saiyan starring back at him with amazement, hardly recognizing himself aside from his own spikey black hair.
He felt down the suit curiously. It was slightly stiff, restricting his limb's movements and made him feel a little overheated. But he looked pretty good.
"Nice." Kakarot said with a satisfied nod. "Thanks for the help, Grandpa!"
"Glad I could. You look quite distinguished in that."
"Hehe, I bet." Kakarot laughed before turning to Gine.
"Mom, what do you think?"
Gine smiled sincerely at him for a good long moment. Seeing how fine that suit was on him made him look... strangely, all grown up for once. Like he was a serious adult, and not the barely controllable wild child he was.
"It's hard for me to believe that this man standing before me is in fact my own baby boy that I came to this planet with so long ago." She said wistfully.
"Aw, Mom, stop it." Kakarot scratched the back of his head uncomfortably and blushed.
He had grown so much, becoming so powerful as a Saiyan and as a martial artist. Now Kakarot was about to marry Chi-Chi, a warrior princess of this world and the love of his life. This was truly something that Gine would never have imagined seeing in a thousand lifetimes. Oh how she wished Bardock could see this.
At the thought of their long lost family and the great joy happening before her, a lump formed in Gine's throat. "I'm so proud of you, Kakarot." She said with her voice cracking, and hugged her son tightly.
Kakarot was surprised by his mother's emotional display and patted her on the back gently. Grandpa Gohan smiled at him reassuringly.
Not wanting to ruin the atmosphere or Kakarot's suit, Gine withdrew. She wiped away her tears, glad that she didn't have on any of the facial makeup that Bulma and the other ladies insisted that she needed to have on. Gine never understood the human female beauty standards attached to face paints or powders. What was wrong with looking like your plain old self? Also it would've been a hassle to fix. So she refused to have them apply it on her.
"So, er..." Gine said while clearing her throat and collecting herself. "How do you feel, son?"
Kakarot let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding. "Well, a little nervous I guess."
"Oh, don't worry, my boy. It's okay to be nervous on such a big day like this." Gohan said sympathetically.
"I know. I just..." Kakarot tried to find the words. "I never felt this way before, ya know? Like... getting ready for a fight but it's one that will last the rest of my life. It's as exciting as it is scary. Fights last a short time, and to be with someone forever is entirely different. And of course it's Chi-Chi! She can fight like no one else, and she makes me feel so happy. I want to be with her, and the idea of being that happy with her like that, but... I can't stop my heart pounding or feel like there's butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. And I keep think of things like "what if I do something wrong?", or "what if I hurt her somehow?", and "what would happen if or when we have kids?". Is this normal?"
Gine giggled to herself. Her son, the bravest martial artist on Earth that feared no danger nor opponent regardless of power, was feeling nervous of married life and the future? It was adorable!
"You'll do fine, sweetheart." Gine said with a smile. She then thought now would be a good time to give him some last-minute motherly advise.
"You are a good man, Kakarot. You have the kindest soul, and I know you and Chi-Chi will be very happy together. All you have to do is take good care of her, listen to her, and keep her happy no matter what."
"Especially listening to Chi-Chi, my boy." Gohan added sternly. "It cannot be overemphasized enough about how important it is you need to heed her feelings, alright?"
Kakarot scratched his chin thoughtfully. "You mean like to follow her instructions?"
"No..." Gine paused for a moment.
"Well, sort of." She then caught herself. "But anyway, the point is that you hear what she has to say. Be there for her. Talk to her every day, ask her how she feels when she's happy, sad, or even angry. The important thing to any worthwhile relationship is that you communicate with Chi-Chi and accommodate her feelings when you make decisions. She isn't a servant to do your biding or someone to drag along if she doesn't want to do things. If you can manage that, you'll do great."
It wasn't lost on Gine that these qualities were things that not even Bardock had shown her. Most if not all Saiyans would recoil in disgust at what she was suggesting. Showing any kind of affection, let alone empathy or concern for a mate, was seen as a waste of time and a weakness that needed to be expunged from their race. Anything a true Saiyan would ever do for courtship was nothing more than basic mannerisms as long as it didn't get in the way of breeding more offspring.
But the Saiyans were gone. Nothing to stop her from changing the ways of their barbaric race for the better, and parent the way she saw fit. And by the gods she was going to teach her son how to be a good husband.
"Ohhhh, Okay." Said Kakarot as if a light went on in his head. "Sounds like a lot to remember, but I think I'm up for the challenge."
Gine softened her smile. "It may sound like it, but if you two really love each other, you'll have no problem. Chi-Chi can always guide you if you need help, and I know you'll do your best to keeping that girl happy."
Kakarot smiled again. As uncertain as what the challenges of married life would be like for him and all the little details to account for, he knew that being good to Chi-Chi and making her happy was all that really mattered. When it got right down to it, being with her made him feel content as it did her with him. All he had to do was treat her nicely, consider what she wanted, and protect her no matter what. His pure heart would see it to that.
"I will, Mom."
A knock came on the door to their fitting room. They could sense it was Yamcha.
"Come in!" Gine called out.
The door opened to reveal Yamcha in his own black suit for the occasion. His usually long shaggy hair was combed and tied back into a ponytail.
"Lookin' pretty sharp, bud!" He whistled at seeing Kakarot, then spoke to them as a group.
"Uh, hey! Just wanted to let you know that we're all ready outside."
"That's great!" Said Gine. "We're ready here too. Right, Kakarot?"
Kakarot nodded, clenching his fist with a determined look in his eye. "Yeah! Let's do this."
The wedding was a simple ceremony in the grassy fields outside Ox-King's castle on a gorgeous sunny day. The castle itself had seen better days, scorch marks marred it's exterior while entire segments of stone walls had fallen from the fire. But the towers still stood and scaffolding showed that reconstruction efforts were well underway. But all work had paused for this very special occasion.
The gang and the entire kingdom had been invited. A crowd of hundreds of villagers surrounded the large white royal carpet that the bride and groom stood on in the grass like a picnic blanket.
In the front row, Gine and Gohan sat next to Roshi who wore the formal suit he usually saved for the World Martial Arts Tournament. Tien and Chiaotzu were in their Crane School gi's with Launch by their side in her red dress, Puar and Oolong somehow managed to find formal-wear small enough for their bodies and looked presentable as well. Krillin and Yamcha had on their nice tuxes, while Bulma was clad in a form-fitting bachelorette dress with a miniskirt barely covering her thighs and attracting drooling stares from Roshi. After some threats and clutching Yamcha's arm to convey her lack of interest, the perverted martial arts master gave up gawking at her.
Chi-Chi looked absolutely stunning. She wore a long silk-white wedding gown with small gems sown into the lining, making her body sparkle in the sunlight like some ethereal being. Along with arm length silk gloves, a flower crown and veil, the sight was a far cry from the orange Turtle school gi she wore and even the blue fighting dress that highlighted her voluptuous form. Words or pictures couldn't do her justice. Members of the gang remarked to each other in hushed voices just how Chi-Chi, their fellow companion and fighting friend, could be so enchanting. They also starred dumbstruck at Kakarot, never imagining him in such a personable appearance.
Chi-Chi turned to address the crowd. Her smile was as bright as the sun.
"Thank you all for joining us on this wonderful day I've been waiting so long for! This truly is the happiest day of my life, and I'm so glad you are all here to see it."
Everyone applauded Chi-Chi, especially the villagers. They would never turn away the chance to see their king's daughter getting married.
She looked down at her dress contently, then turned to her father. He sat before them all by the minister who was to ordain the marriage. "You were right about this dress, father. It's perfect! I couldn't imagine this day without it!"
Ox-king was so large that he didn't need a chair and just sat on the ground. He wore his finest royal outfit, and looked at Chi-Chi with tears of joy.
"You look beautiful! You're mother would be so proud, I wish she was here to see you now." His deep voice cracked.
Gine felt the love and longing in Ox-king's words, and couldn't help but feel emotional herself. He truly missed his dear wife. But wherever Chi-Chi's mother was, Gine hoped that she knew that her daughter would be happy and taken care of.
The minister, a short but esteemed looking man with a white robe and holy book in his hands, coughed to draw everyone's attention to the front. The soon-to-be newlyweds turned to him, the ceremony had begun. Chi-Chi clutched Kakarot's hand, grinning excitedly.
Gine turned her full attention to them too. Her Saiyan senses picked up the scent of the magnificent feast behind the gathering that awaited them all for the reception, and her stomach was grumbling. But she didn't dare give in to the craving just yet, nothing would take her away from this precious moment.
"Dearly, beloved, we are gathered here today in celebration of joining Son Kakarot and Chi-Chi the Ox-Princess in holy matrimony..."
As the minister droned on, Kakarot couldn't take his eyes off of his fiancée. Time seemed to flow funnily as he was was mesmerized by how truly beautiful Chi-Chi was. It occurred to him to realize just how fortunate he felt to be marrying her today.
All in all, he had lucked out better than he could have ever dream of. A new home of his own, all of needs taken care of with more prize money that he knew what to do with, and now he had a loving wife-to-be who was eager to start a family with him.
No, he wasn't lucky. He was blessed...
"Do you, Chi-Chi the Ox-Princess, take Son Kakarot's hand in marriage to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and cherish for better or worse for as long as you both shall live?" The minsters words broke Kakarot out of his introspection for this very critical moment.
"I do!" Chi-Chi gleefully exclaimed and turned to her fiancé. "I'll be the best wife in the world to you, Kakarot."
Kakarot felt the inside of his chest turn warm at her words, like he had just gulped down a hot bowl of soup on a cold snowy day.
The minister then turned to him. "And do you, Son Kakarot, take Chi-Chi's hand in marriage to be your lawfully wedded wife to love and cherish for better or worse for as long you both shall live?"
"Huh?" Kakarot looked perplexedly at Chi-Chi's hand. "Why would I want just her hand? I ain't into body parts or nothin'" He said innocently.
The entire crowd went dead silent. Krillin, Yamcha, and Master Roshi were trying their hardest not to burst out laughing, leaving them snickering uncontrollably.
Chi-Chi, bless her heart, just sighed instead of exploding into rage at him for ruining the moment.
"It's a figure of speech, Kakarot. Just say 'I do'."
"Oh! Uh..." Kakarot looked alarmed that he did something inadvertently wrong. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled nervously, a bead of sweat falling down the side of his face. "Uh, yeah! Yeah! I-I do! That's what I meant! Hehehe, silly me. Of course I take her to be my wife!"
Gine nearly fell over in her seat. Either it was a terrible joke, or her son might be a little stupider than she thought.
The minister was taken aback by the groom's fumbling of his vow, but laughed it off himself. It was just nerves he guessed, he had seen it many times before. Everyone else had a good chuckle too, and as quick the awkward moment came it vanished as if it never happened.
He held his hands up happily to the two of them and proclaimed: "Very well then, it is done! By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kakarot... you may kiss the bride!"
Unable to contain her joy, Chi-Chi squealed and threw herself into Kakarot's arms. He wrapped his around her smaller form, and the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
The audience stood and cheered wildly. The men of the Turtle school whistled and cheered while Bulma and Launch were a mess of tears at the romantic sight.
"Welcome to the family, Kakarot!" Boomed Ox-king. He rose and placed his massive hands on both of the backs of his daughter and his new son-in-law with a congratulatory backslap for both of them.
Gine couldn't stop clapping, a swell of pride overtook her. "I can't believe my son is married now!" She said aloud to Gohan beside her, almost sounding unbelieving to her own ears. Her son, her little Kakarot, was a married man! And she had the pleasure of calling the fiery princess Chi-Chi as her own daughter-in-law. Oh what a happy day indeed!
Gohan couldn't help but feel touched too. "Neither can I, my dear. Neither can I..." He whispered while wiping at his eyes. He silently prayed for all the best for his adopted grandson and granddaughter-in-law in all that they will have together and what they would do next.
Kakarot held Chi-Chi up by the waist and spun her around, both laughing ecstatically. Ox-King held out his hands high above them.
"THREE CHEERS FOR SON KAKAROT AND SON CHI-CHI!" Ox-king boomed. The entire crowd gave their three consecutive "hip-hip-hurrays" as the newlyweds embraced and kissed again for a long, passionate moment.
Their lips parted, and Chi-Chi gazed into her new husband's eyes.
"I love you, Kakarot..."
...
NINE MONTHS LATER...
...
"KAKAROT, I FUCKING HATE YOU!" Chi-Chi yelled as another contraction twisted her insides.
"What?! Why?!" Kakarot shrieked, he was tittering on panic.
Chi-Chi sat up despite the pain from her swollen nine-month belly.
"YOU DID THIS TO ME, YOU IDIOT!" She screamed in her husband's face. Kakarot recoiled quickly, frightened by his wife's labor-induced fury.
"I-I-I-I'm sorry, Chi-Chi! I-I didn't mean-" He stammered, feeling crushed by her temperamental words as much as the iron-tight grip she held his hand with. What was he supposed to say to that?
"It's alright, it's just the pain talking! Okay?" Gine said as soothingly as she could to both of them, especially Chi-Chi.
They were at Wukong Hospital in West City. Grandpa Gohan and Ox-King were waiting outside in the lobby while Gine and Kakarot were by Chi-Chi's bedside.
Gine had been anticipating this day for the last nine months with a mix of excitement and dread. She had been ecstatic to learn from Kakarot that Chi-Chi was expecting, that Gine herself was going to be a grandmother afterall. But the initial joy gave way to fear and uncertainty as she thought about all the things that could go wrong with the baby. Fears she harbored even before Kakarot and Chi-Chi were married had now come back to haunt them all the way to the day it would be born.
She had never considered what would happen if a Saiyan and a human tired to conceive. Saiyans had never cross-bred with others race, and always thought the act of producing hybrid offspring to be an unthinkable contamination of Saiyan blood. Then again, they always saw every species besides themselves as lesser.
Even though both humans and Saiyans were similar except for seemingly superficial reasons, there were still a world of differences between their species. Many things could happen to their prospective child, and Gine had tried her hardest not to think of the images of it ending up as a stillborn, or worse as an deformed mass of abominable flesh. So Gine kept an eye on Chi-chi's pregnancy like a hawk, keeping her reservations in check and made sure to prepare her son and daughter-in-law for parenthood, hoping for the best.
So far everything turned out okay as Chi-Chi carried it to term. They made regular trimester doctor visits to check up on the baby's development. Everything about it looked normal until one day when the doctors noted in an ultrasound that the child had an extra appendage they had never seen before. They freaked out when they realized it was a tail.
Gine was worried that the doctors would react this way, and they nearly considered performing emergency surgery to save the baby and remove the extra appendage from whatever complications that might threaten it's life or that of Chi-Chi. But Gine was able, albeit barely, to convince them that it was nothing to worry about, emphasizing that by showing off her own tail and commanding Kakarot to do so with his.
The doctors, with their scientific curiosity, asked Gine a barrage of medical questions about their tails. Gine had to threaten them with violence in order to drop the subject. In the end they forgot about cutting Chi-Chi open to retrieve the baby, saving the child's Saiyan birthright.
Chi-Chi doubled over as more pain shot through her. Now they were here at the critical moment. The baby was positioned correctly, and was ready for delivery.
The pain ebbed slightly, and Chi-Chi fell back onto her pillows with a groan. She was panting hard, drenched in sweat and her face was a mess of stray hair strands and tears.
"I want goddamn painkillers! Please! Just give them to me!" She wailed, the pain was unbearable and was on the brink of breaking down into uncontrollable sobs. Gine placed a damp cloth on Chi-Chi's forehead to help cool her off.
The midwife, a sweet-looking old lady, was at the end of the hospital bed between Chi-Chi's legs. She worked professionally, checking on the baby's condition and switching out blood-soaked cloths with fresh ones dipped in hot water.
"You said you wanted natural childbirth. It's too late for drugs now."
Chi-Chi's fury returned with a vengeance as she glared at the midwife with delirious anguish. "WHEN HAS ANYONE EVER LISTENED TO WHAT I SAY?! Forget what I said about not using drugs, just give them to me!"
"I'm sorry but that's what we are dealing with, dear. You are fully dilated already, so you are just going to have to ride it out, okay?" She explained with unfathomable patience. Gine had mad respect for the woman having to put up with Chi-Chi's temper.
Chi-Chi fell back as the pain built up again. She moaned in despair. "Oh, please, make it stop!"
Gine's heart went out to her daughter-in-law for the agony she was suffering right now. She remembered the pain of giving birth all too well.
"Not yet, dear. The baby's just about to crown and I need you to push. Alright?" The midwife coached. "Don't worry. Gine and Kakarot are right here with you, and we aren't going anywhere." When Chi-Chi was too incoherent to respond, she asked again more firmly.
"You need to push, Chi-Chi. Okay?"
Chi-Chi started crying. "I can't..." She choked between sobs. "I can't! It hurts so much! I'm not ready to be a mother!"
Gine smiled at her. "No one's ever truly ready, Chi-Chi. But you are the strongest woman I know, and I know you can do this. Okay? I believe in you!"
Reluctantly, Chi-Chi nodded. "Okay..." She said exhaustedly, as if ready to give up at a moment's notice.
Gine gave her daughter-in-law's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry. Kakarot and I aren't going anywhere. Right son?"
"Right!" Kakarot nodded with absolute certainty. He knelt by Chi-Chi's side, holding her close. "I love you, Chi-Chi. Like Mom said, I'm right here and not leaving your side."
Chi-Chi pressed her temple against his hand intertwined with hers. "I love you too, Kakarot..." Gine felt warm at the sight, even in deep pain and all the hurtful things said, they remembered that this was the magical day they were going to be parents.
"Okay, here comes another contraction. Ready?" Warned the midwife.
Chi-chi squeezed her eyes tightly shut, anticipating the pain and what she had to do. She concentrated on breathing.
"One, two, three, and... PUSH!"
The next wave of pain struck Chi-Chi like a bolt of lightning. She threw her head back and pushed with all her might, letting out the loudest scream any of them ever though her lungs would make. The windows of the delivery room rattled in their frames, she clutched both Gine's and Kakarot's hands so hard it actually hurt them.
Poor Kakarot, he was distraught. He felt so helpless seeing his wife in so much pain, and frustrated that there was nothing more he could do than just be by her side. All Gine could do was help coach Chi-Chi along, as she was the only other person who could sympathize with her pain. But Chi-Chi was tough as nails, she would get through this.
"Good, good!" Said the midwife evenly. "Push hard! Harder!"
The pain crested, then subsided. Chi-Chi fell back, half-sobbing. Before she could cry, the next contraction hit seconds later. She screamed again through gritted teeth as she pushed.
"You're doing good! You're past the head, keep going!" Said the midwife.
Chi-chi panted hard, half-sobbing. "I can't... I can't keep going."
"Yes you can! Believe me, the hardest part is almost over." Gine assured her. "You can do this! Now PUSH!"
Chi-chi moaned in dread. With one last grunt, she let out another ear-piercing scream. Kakarot was worried she'd tear her vocal chords. But he held her hand even as she threatened to break the bones in his fingers. It was all he could do to comfort her.
Gine felt bad for her son. He looked pale and about to faint from all the stress and agony his wife had to endure. He was praying for it too be over with. Chi-Chi's pregnancy had made her moods so completely unpredictable and extreme at the best of times during the last nine months. It was quite a trial by fire just to start their new marriage by taking care of his pregnant wife, and then to see her suffer like this was almost too much. He didn't know what he would've done without his mother's support.
With one final push, Chi-Chi's pain evaporated as quickly as it came. She collapsed into the bed, breathing heavily. Then, tiny lungs filled with air for the first time and a very soft crying pierced the room.
"It's a boy!" The midwife announced proudly as she carefully held up the crying newborn.
Chi-Chi was physically, mentally, and emotionally sapped from the ordeal but the sight of her newborn child froze her in place in awe.
"Kakarot, would you do the honors and cut the cord?"
He did so with the snips provided to him, not taking his eyes off of the child. Then the midwife busied herself with washing the newborn with a damp cloth and wrapping him in a thick thermal blanket.
They helped Chi-Chi into a sitting position and gently placed the little buddle in her arms. His crying softened to whimpering as he felt the safety of his mother's embrace. Something warm burst in Chi-Chi's heart as she lay her eyes on her baby for the first time. Both Gine and Kakarot leaned over to get a glimpse as well.
He was the tiniest thing Gine had ever seen. He had light colored skin like his mother, a face like a peach with eyes that blinked open and closed. His head was topped with a mat of messy black hair, a little rosebud mouth that made sucking noises, and little pink fists no bigger than her thumb. From an open crease in the blanket, twirled the little furry brown appendage that was his tail. A healthy baby boy like any other, the first hybrid between human and Saiyan.
Gine was more relieved than anything else. All of the worries and aching dread she carried in her heart about the baby's outcome lifted like a lead weight off of her heart.
The baby opened his wide obsidian eyes that looked at Chi-Chi with all the wonder of being brought into the world. They were eyes just like Kakarot's.
"Oh my Kami..." Chi-chi whispered, awestruck and overcome with emotion. This was her son!
"Yeah... that's basically what it's like." Gine said wistfully, not taking her eyes off of her newborn grandson.
She suddenly felt herself back in time, remembering when both her sons were born like it was yesterday. How she felt absolute joy at holding her firstborn, Raditz, in her arms after he was born. Like Chi-Chi with her child now, Gine felt how her little Raditz was the most precious thing in all the cosmos.
She had fought so hard to push him out, not crying as much as Chi-Chi did but did nearly bleed to death. His eyes had the same hardened frown of Bardock, but within those eyes was a soul that did not know all the ugliness and brutal horrors of survival in such a cruel universe. She felt so much love for him, and would do anything to keep him safe no matter what. But that never came to be. Those eyes of innocence were lost as soon as he was hooked to his incubator, brainwashed to be a cold-blooded soldier. Then sent off into space to a fate unknown, full of so much pain and suffering to serve an overlord he never met. Her child that she would never see again...
Gine shoved that thought aside. There will always be other times and places to reminisce of her long lost son. But all that mattered now was the family she had here, and this precious new life in their arms.
"Hey you." Chi-Chi whispered softly to her son. She stroked a thumb along his little fleshy cheek. "I'm your mommy."
The baby cooed and reached for his mother's hand with his little pink one, wrapping his tiny fingers around Chi-Chi's.
Kakarot stared slack jawed at the baby. It was as if he had yet to comprehend that the helpless and tiny little bundle was in fact his own child.
"Gosh." He whispered. "He's so... tiny."
Kakarot leaned closer and gazed at his son's puffy face. The baby gazed back at him, and Kakarot felt a searing, cleansing, and enveloping love blow his heart into a million tiny pieces and reshape it. It made him feel things he never thought he would feel. An overwhelming want...no, NEED, to protect this life he helped create. His child. He felt like he would do everything to keep him safe, and would give up anything for him, even his own life.
"Hey, little guy. I'm your daddy." Kakarot said softly. He carefully brushed his calloused fingertips through his son's messy hair. The baby reached out to his father with curiosity and clutched his finger with his tiny hands too.
At the touch of his son's fingers, the brave exterior of Kakarot the Saiyan martial artist cracked. His eyes glistened and tears fell down his cheeks. This was the most beautiful thing he had ever beheld, and it threatened to make him fall apart in front of his wife and mother. But he didn't care if he did. He never felt so much joy and love in his life.
The sight of her own grown up and indestructible boy looking so vulnerable made Gine's heart feel like it was going to burst.
"He's beautiful..." Kakarot tried to say through the lump in his throat.
"I know." Replied Chi-Chi, exhausted but overflowing with happiness. She turned toward her husband and gave him a kiss. "I love you so much, Kakarot."
He smiled back. "I love you so much too, Chi-Chi."
The couple shared the joyous moment for a second longer before Chi-Chi looked up towards Gine. "Thank you so much for being here, Gine. I don't know how I could've made it through without you."
Gine gave her daughter-in-law a warm smile and squeezed her hand. "From one mother to another, it's what we do."
The door opened as Gohan was let into the delivery room, followed by Ox-King who had to squeeze his large frame through the opening. Both gentlemen gasped at the sight of the baby in Chi-Chi's arms.
"Oh, Chi-Chi!" Ox-King bellowed happily. He bent down to see how his daughter was doing, for he was scared out of his mind from hearing her agonized screams from across the building. He gazed down at the baby, tears flooded his eyes too now at seeing that he was a grandfather. "He's wonderful!"
Gohan couldn't believe the amazing sight as well. He put his arm around Kakarot's shoulder and hugged him tightly. "My word! Congratulations! I'm so proud of you both."
The midwife stood aside and let the family bask in the moment. She had seen this happy occasion of new parents welcoming their children into the world many times before, and it never ceased to bring her joy.
"So, have we decided on a name yet?" She asked after a few minutes had passed.
"Well... I was hoping it would be a girl. To name after my mother." Chi-Chi said with a hint of disappointed, but smiled at the child with pure love.
"But I'm so blessed to have you either way." She cooed and nuzzled the baby's face with her nose, making him giggle.
"Did you have a name for a boy?" The midwife asked.
Chi-Chi hummed in contemplation for a few moments. "How about "Einstein?"" She suggested.
Everyone groaned at that, a name sounding way too ill-fitting. Even the baby grimaced at the sound.
"Eh, he's not really feeling that. But it's your choice." Said Gine.
Chi-Chi looked thoughtful, then her shoulders sagged. "I guess it doesn't sound like a good name. Any ideas?"
Ox-King held his chin in thought. "How about, ummm... "Ox-King Junior?" Or... "Ox-Monkey?" Or... "Big-Ox?" Or..."
The baby, somehow already agitated by the ill-fitting names for him, started crying. Chi-Chi looked at her father apologetically. "I guess he doesn't like those names either."
Ox-King deflated a bit. "Oh, darn."
Gine chuckled. As much as she and Ox-King had bonded over their children, she wouldn't want the surname of Ox on anyone either.
Gohan pondered for a moment, "Hmmm. How about... "Goku?""
"Go...ku?" Kakarot tried to pronounce that odd name. Then shook his head, "Nah. It sounds cool and all, but... just doesn't sit right for my son."
"Okay. How about Karot?" He suggested. "Seems to make sense, you know? Kakarot and Karot!"
Chi-Chi turned to him. "Gohan, we already have one person with a silly enough name like Kakarot."
Gine was about to take offense to that when the baby suddenly started laughing, drawing everyone's attention. The sound of her grandson's laughter was like music to her.
Chi-Chi gawked at him happily. "Aw, he's so cute!"
"Maybe he liked your joke." Said Gohan.
"Oh stop it, Gohan." Chi-Chi said, her eyes rolling. The baby laughed again.
Ox-King suddenly perked up. "Hey... I think you just found a name for him!"
"Huh?" They all said.
"Here, watch." Ox-king leaned down over the baby.
"Gohan!" He repeated to the baby, who laughed even harder at the mention of "Gohan".
"Would you look at that! I think he likes my name." Said Grandpa Gohan with a chuckle.
"Yeah, he does!" Said Chi-Chi with amazement.
"Ah!" Kakarot caught on. "Gohan!" He said aloud. "I like it!"
"Gohan..." Chi-Chi tested the name too. Her son was in a laughing fit that she couldn't get enough of now that everyone was saying that.
Chi-Chi smiled. "It sounds perfect!"
Gine looked over to Grandpa Gohan, who was at a loss for words. The man that had took them in and helped raise her son who even called him his own grandfather. If anything, he deserved this honor.
"I like it too." Said Gine.
With that consensus, Chi-Chi looked down at her son. "Well, Gohan, is that what you want to be called?"
The baby laughed again in reply, and so did everyone else.
"Very well, then. Son Gohan it is!" Said the midwife as she filled out the birth certificate.
Grandpa Gohan, a man who had always embodied composure and steadfastness, had his eyes turning moist. To think that eighteen years had passed since Gine and Kakarot had come to Earth, literally crashing through his doorstep with nowhere to go. They had come so far since he took them in, gave them a place to call home and a second chance at a happy life. They became the family Gohan never had, and changing their lives for the better. And now to see his adopted grandson, that he helped raise, from another world now wedded to the daughter of his best friend and now bringing a child into the world to be christened in his name was truly something special that he will treasure for as long as he lived.
"I'm very humbled." He choked out as Kakarot gave him a big hug.
"Grandpa Gohan, meet Little Gohan!" Said Kakarot with with a sweep of his hand to the baby.
Gine had to chuckle at that. 'Little Gohan' sounded kind of catchy.
Kakarot picked up Little Gohan from Chi-Chi and held him up as he laughed.
"You're really silly aren't you, Gohan? Yes! Yes you are!" Kakarot said in baby-speak, laughing with his infant son.
Gine watched with a smile as Kakarot played with his son. She knew right then and there that Kakarot was going to be a wonderful father.
"Would you like to hold him too, Mom?" Kakarot asked.
"I would love to, sweetheart!" Gine beamed. Kakarot walked around the bed and gingerly placed the baby into his grandmother's arms.
Little Gohan's eyes met Gine's as she cradled him. Something within her stirred, a feeling of pure love that she hadn't felt since Kakarot was born and held him the same way she held her grandson now. She thought she'd have no room left in her heart for him, that no matter how cute and loving he was, no new child could never replace Raditz. But she knew it wasn't fair to him.
No matter what she felt, this little boy deserved all the love a family could give and she was going to spoil him with it. He will have both of his parents and even grandparents to watch him grow up. Something that no Saiyan had ever had the fortune to have. He will never be exposed to the horrors that she and all other Saiyans had before him. He will grow up in peace and determine his own destiny one day. He will know what true happiness and safety are like. And Gine couldn't be happier for him.
Gine stroked his little face. "Hello, Little Gohan. Welcome to the family." She said softly.
A/N: If you made it this far, thank you so much for being patient with me writing out almost all of the altered early Dragon Ball sagas. And now with this conclusion of the Junior Saga out of the way, we can finally move on to Z. How will things play with Gine around, especially when Raditz shows up?! Tune in next time to find out!