Chapter 13
Gohan was excited, nervous but definitely excited on his flight with Piccolo. The whole idea that he would have a sibling soon was mind boggling, maybe it was because he was gone at school for the whole time, but it just seemed to happen so fast.
Gohan soon realized by the direction they were flying that they were heading towards West City and Capsule Corp. Gohan was definitely glad that his mom had decided to enlist Bulma's help instead of remaining alone in the middle of the woods to have the baby. Touching down outside of the large domed building, Gohan quickly made his way towards the large entry pausing for a moment when he realized Piccolo wasn't following. Giving his mentor a questioning look, Piccolo offered his answer.
"I'll come by later, I only signed on to get you kid." Gohan nodded in understanding realizing that Piccolo probably needed a break from everyone and bid his friend farewell. Making his way inside, the young saiyan was quickly greeted by Mrs. Brief.
"Oh my goodness Gohan, look at you! You look so handsome, are you here to play with little Trunksie?" The ditzy blonde woman exclaimed before she was cut off by the blue haired genius herself.
"Mom, clearly Gohan is here to see his mother and the baby." Bulma rolled her eyes at her oblivious mother before turning to Gohan with a smile. Mrs. Brief merely smiled her usual smile and watched her daughter and the wild haired boy walk away.
"Hey kid, glad you could make it!" Bulma greeted her young friend with a smile.
"This seems a bit less life or death than Piccolo made it out to be." Gohan mumbled to himself observing the relaxed mood around the building, but he was also definitely glad that was the case.
"Come on and follow me, I'll take you back." The blue haired woman gestured for the young boy to follow her. They made their way to the wing of the compound which Gohan recalled was their hospital section. It usually didn't get used much besides for minor cuts and bruises, and the occasional broken bone after the more extreme spar between the many warriors Capsule Corp. called friends.
"You sure are dressed up, what's with the get up?" Bulma asked ever blunt and inquisitive eyeing her young friend's outfit.
"It's my school uniform, I was in a meeting with my Professor when Piccolo showed up." Gohan admitted, there was a lot about the interaction between Professor Longbottom and Piccolo Gohan wished he could forget.
"Wild, I would never have been caught dead in that kind of outfit at your age." Bulma laughed to herself. "Anyway your mom's in here," Bulma peaked her head to look inside the small glass window of the door. "Go on in, I've gotta go make sure Vegeta hasn't left Trunks wandering around the halls outside the Gravity Chamber again." Bulma said with a roll of her eyes, her expression revealing that it was something that had actually happened before.
Gohan made his way to the doorway where he saw his dark-haired mother holding a bundle of tan blankets, his Grandpa looked to be snoring in the chair next to the bed his mom was sitting in. Smiling at the scene, feeling the excitement and a little bit of nervousness start to spread through his body, the young boy slowly opened the door and stepped inside. At that same moment his mom looked up from the bundle with a tired but content smile on her face, a moment later as if only then realizing it was her oldest child, Chi Chi suddenly exclaimed.
"Gohan, my baby, come here and meet your new brother!" At the sudden change of tone in the room, the bundle of blankets the Son family matriarch was holding started to fuss and a small but loud wail carried across the room to the young half-saiyan's sensitive ears.
"Oh I'm sorry, my little one, there, there, it's just your big brother." Chi Chi gently cooed to the bundle while rocking it. Gohan quickly made his way to the side of the bed and peeked down to look at the bundle which had slowed it's crying.
"Gohan, meet your brother, Goten." Chi Chi smiled, Gohan wiggled his finger in front of the baby's small face not quite sure yet what to do. A wide grin had formed on the pre-teen's face in response to the confused yawning of the newborn. Despite being ruddy and wrinkly, what stood out the most to Gohan was the little guy's hair.
"Wow, Goten, you look just like Dad." Gohan breathed a whisper to himself and the baby.
"He's our little gift from heaven, isn't that right. Oh yes you are Goten, yes you are." Chi Chi cooed again to the gently squirming bundle while Gohan watched.
"Do you want to hold him Gohan?" Chi Chi softly asked her young son. Gohan nodded and Chi Chi gently placed the bundle into the half-saiyans arms. It was the first time the young boy had ever held a baby this young, he had played around with Trunks, but when he had first met him he wasn't a newborn at all. Gohan carefully held the baby steady in his arms remembering to support his head, the blanket had shifted a little to cover a small part of the baby's face and Gohan gently used a finger to pull down the fabric. Before he could move his hand away a little arm made its way loose from inside the slightly unraveling blanket. The tiny hand then wrapped around the young saiyan's finger much to the surprise and delight of the boy.
"Oh wow, you're a strong little guy aren't you Goten." Gohan realized when the grip the baby had on his finger held like a vice. Gohan heard a chuckle from behind his back, his Grandpa must have just woken up.
"You Saiyan's are such strong little babies." The Ox King exclaimed. After a few more minutes of holding Goten, Gohan gently handed the bundle back to his mother. Goten seemed to have used up all his fussy time with Gohan and swiftly went back to sleep in his mother's arms.
"Gohan, you shouldn't be here, but I'm glad you came...me and my boys." Chi Chi smiled to herself with a yawn, her eyes drooping much like the sleeping baby in her arms. "And look at you, you look so scholarly and grownup I'm so proud of you..." Chi Chi smiled and quickly dozed off much like her baby. The Ox King gently grabbed the bundle from his daughter's arms and deposited him in the small bassinet next to the bed, pulling a little knit hat to cover the baby's head already covered in wild dark hair. Sensing a new presence in the entryway to the room, Gohan turned to see the blue haired genius with a tiny half-saiyan of her own balanced on her hip.
"Huh, looks like she's out. I don't blame her, you Saiyans are a lot of work to get out of there," Gohan blushed at Bulma's brash gesture and statement. "Come on out here Gohan and let your Mom get some rest." Bulma motioned with her arm which was not holding onto her lavender haired child towards the hallway. The Ox King nodded to his oldest grandson to go and resumed his seat next to his daughter and closed his eyes again, obviously just as tired as the sleeping mother. Gohan smiled at the picture of his small family before following Bulma outside.
"It's a wonder your Grandpa is conscious at all, he basically had to drag Chi Chi here when she started having contractions. Your mom's one stubborn lady." Bulma chuckled with a roll of her eyes as they made their way down the long hall towards the living quarters.
"I obviously missed a lot of the excitement, Piccolo looked beat when he picked me up as well." Gohan said thinking about the state everyone was in.
"You could say that kid, I think your mom woke up half of West City yelling at your Grandpa and Piccolo on the hover car ride here." Bulma explained.
"Piccolo rode in the car with my Mom?" Gohan exclaimed incredulously, shocked to hear that his anti-social mentor would submit himself to that. No wonder Piccolo was in such a mood when he got me today. Gohan immediately was forgiving his mentor for any embarrassment he had caused earlier during his meeting with Professor Longbottom.
"She refused to be flown here, so apparently he was the one who drove, because your Grandpa was keeping Chi Chi calm in the backseat." Gohan gaped at the image his mind produced unable to form words at this new information. "Must be some of your magic powers kid, cause I definitely don't see Piccolo doing that for anyone else." Bulma shook her head fondly at the pre-teen depositing her fidgeting one year old on the floor to play with some wood blocks. The blue haired mother then made her way to the kitchen to grab some snacks for the black haired half-saiyan who gratefully accepted.
"So Gohan, what's up kid? I heard a rumor you had a run in with your tail awhile back." The scientist ever the curious one asked the young half-saiyan.
"Um yeah, that was, well eventful, but it's been taken care of." Gohan said happily, he actually had no regrets about having his tail removed again. It was nice getting to go to Astronomy class this month during the full moon without turning into the rampaging giant monkey. Suddenly a new thought appeared in the young saiyans head. "Hey, I didn't notice but does Goten have a tail?" Gohan asked genuinely curious.
"That's the funny thing kid, neither Goten nor Trunks were born with the tail. I'm planning on doing more research on it, but at the moment, I guess you're the only lucky one." Bulma laughed ruffling the boy's hair.
"Lucky me." Gohan mumbled in response to Bulma's laughter.
"Gosh, I remember when you and your dad first came to Kame House, how much you looked like him with your little tail. Then Goten pops out and I swear I was looking at Goku's clone." Bulma laughed with a fond smile. "You saiyan's are really something else." Bulma's fond gaze looking off towards the exit where Gohan knew the Gravity Room was located. Gohan realized that Vegeta must be holed up inside training, probably mostly to avoid all the activity going on inside of the compound that day.
"So, you're staying for dinner right?" Bulma interrupted Gohan's own thoughts which had quickly strayed towards his father, it really was weird how much Goten looked like him, but it also made the young boy smile knowing that a small part of his father was still here on Earth with them.
"Um I guess, but I can't stay too late, I think I'm sort of in trouble with my Professor for sneaking off so much so I better not get back too late." Gohan admitted thinking about his interrupted meeting this morning.
"Wow, Gohan sneaking away from his studies, never thought that I would see the day." Bulma laughed giving the blushing boy a wink. "Good thing I'm such a wonderful friend that I won't tell said boys' mother." Bulma laughed again.
"Believe it or not Bulma, Mom actually knows about my training with Piccolo," Gohan defended to a surprised look from the blue haired scientist.
"Wow, Chi Chi really must have had a case of pregnancy brain." Bulma said mostly to herself with a shrug before changing topics. "Ok, so early dinner then! I'll get the bots started, mind watching Trunks for me?" Bulma asked even though she knew she didn't have to, after all she would trust her best friend's son with her life. Gohan had fun playing blocks with the toddler, the dark haired boy would stack up the blocks and a giggling Trunks delighted in knocking all of them down again.
After a nice meal and some catching up with Bulma and a babbling Trunks, Gohan took the plates they had prepared for his mother and grandpa back to their room to see them again and say goodbye.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay Mom?" Gohan asked his mother already feeling guilty that he would be leaving again so soon.
"Of course I am Gohan, besides I already have Bulma holding me hostage here the next few weeks to make sure there are no complications. And just a week after that you're going to be home!" Chi Chi explained between taking giant bites of food. She was eating more like a saiyan than Gohan had ever seen, much to his and his grandpa's amusement. Bulma had told him at dinner about how much more she had eaten before and right after she had Trunks' which seemed to be the case for his mom as well.
"Ok, but I'll miss you guys, I'm sure I can stay longer if you want." Gohan offered downcast, a part of him hoping that his mom would say yes because the idea of leaving his family was getting harder by the minute.
"No Gohan, your schooling comes first, you have exams coming up, and you'll have lots of time with us when you get home." Chi Chi firmly told her son before smiling and offering him a hug.
"Ok mom, I'll see you soon. Bye Grandpa!" Gohan smiled at them both before hunching over the bassinet, "Bye bye Goten, can't wait to see you again soon." Gohan gave a little wave to the tiny baby before leaving the room and heading out towards the exit of Capsule Corp.
"Don't worry kid, we'll keep your Mom and Goten safe and sound." Bulma stated reading the young boy's trepidation.
"Thanks Bulma, for everything." Gohan sincerely said, but the blue haired genius waved him off.
"After everything your dad and you have done for us, it's not even a question Gohan." Bulma smiled reinforcing her statement. "Be sure to visit when you get back home ok kid!" Bulma stated as Gohan began lifting off into the air to head back to school.
"Of course Bulma, see you later!"
Gohan shot into the air away from the large dome of Capsule Corp. The sun was beginning to get real low in the sky so it was good timing for Gohan to get back to school. As he started on his flight back, Gohan soon felt the calm presence of his mentor's energy join him. Gohan turned to look over his shoulder and slowed down his flight to meet up with said Namekian.
"Thanks for getting me Piccolo," Gohan smiled addressing his tall mentor, he was glad that he got to see his brand new baby brother as well as the rest of his family. "And thanks for keeping an eye on Mom." Gohan added knowing that his friend would know what he meant by that. Piccolo often acted like he didn't care about anyone or anything but his soft spot for his very first friend gave him away. The image of Piccolo driving his frantic mother and grandpa in a car popped into his mind again and the half-saiyan barely contained his laugh. Piccolo's expression didn't change but Gohan knew what his stoic mentor had done for him and it warmed the young boy's heart.
"No problem kid, I'll let you make your way back to school by yourself, see you next Saturday." Piccolo stated with a small upturn of his lips before turning towards the direction of the Lookout while Gohan continued on his way back to the castle.
Upon landing in his usual spot in the forest, Gohan made his way back inside of the castle. He had made good time coming back and had realized that it was still dinner time for the school. Shrugging his shoulders Gohan made his way into the Great Hall, hoping to spot his friends, eating some extra food would just be a bonus. Much to his delight, the young saiyan soon caught sight of his blond and black haired friends. They were sat at the end of the Gryffindor table, and to his amazement it looked like the two wizards were also sitting with Albus' cousin which made the Slytherin and Ravenclaw boys' dinner location a bit less curious. Gohan plopped down on the bench beside Rose who was sitting across from the two boys, all three of the students looked up at Gohan in surprise.
"Gohan! There you are!" Scorpius exclaimed first, stealing the words out of the two cousins' mouths.
"Where have you been all day? I thought we were going to work on our Potions assignment." Albus added in, Gohan suddenly felt guilty, he had completely forgotten about his plans with his friend.
"Ah shoot, I'm really sorry Al." Gohan apologized, before breaking into a smile which intrigued the three other students.
"Alright Son spit it out, you look like you're going to explode." Rose laughed to the wild haired boys right.
"I have a little brother!" Gohan blurted out, it was exciting to tell his friends.
"What, that's awesome, congrats Gohan!" The three other kids exclaimed in unison.
"Does he have a name yet?" Albus asked.
"Yep, it's Goten! He's amazing, he's so so small but the crazy part is he looks just like my dad!" Gohan explained thinking about the tiny bundle he had just left less than an hour ago.
"Hold up, you saw him already?" Rose asked clearly confused.
"Uh, yeah, well I got permission from Professor Longbottom to go home." Gohan explained to the suspicious girl, despite odd circumstances their Head of House had technically allowed his absence.
"Makes sense why I couldn't find you in the library, that's really nice of Professor Longbottom to let you go home." Scorpius added in before Rose could question the other boy further. The quartet continued talking, Gohan promising to show them a picture of Goten once he got one. It turned out that Rose was sitting with the boys because they had told the girl all about the movie night they had the night before in the Room of Requirement. Rose was glad that their plan had worked out and was planning on writing her mother all about it. Albus was still in a good mood today which pleased Gohan because their little plan had worked out perfectly. In fact reminiscing about his weekend, Gohan realized it had definitely been his favorite weekend at Hogwarts yet.
Finishing their meal, the kids were getting up to leave when Gohan's gaze caught sight of the Head Table where Professor Longbottom was eating while chatting with the Headmistress. Bidding his friends goodbye with a nod of his head towards the front of the dining hall, Gohan walked towards the head table.
Having a student approach the Professors' table during meal times wasn't unheard of, but it also wasn't common, so the Professor's all looked up when the wild haired first year reached the spot where his Head of House was sitting.
"Ah Mr. Son, everything go well?" Professor Longbottom asked with a smile, Gohan's initial hesitation eased, after all he wasn't sure if his professor would be weird after their odd meeting earlier in the day, but he was acting just as he usually did with the young boy.
"Thanks, yes everything was great, I have a little brother, Goten!" Gohan rambled excitedly, every time he said it made it more real. Gohan quickly added, "Thank you again Professor for letting me go." Gohan smiled with a small ingrained bow at the man, receiving a smile in return. Gohan saw out of the corner of his eye Headmistress McGonagall with her own eyes observing the pair a thoughtful expression on the older woman's face.
"Congratulations Gohan, I'm so glad to hear it, thank you for telling me." Neville thanked his admittedly eccentric student. A few other Professors' added in their compliments having overheard the conversation, Gohan smiled with a polite bow to them all in turn before turning around to head back out of the Great Hall.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gohan caught Professor MutatÃo glaring at the young boy behind a large mug. His stern professor wasn't going to ruin the boy's good mood but it did make the half-saiyan wonder if his Transfiguration professor would ever get over his apparent grudge. Leaving the Great Hall, Gohan suddenly realized that after a weekend full of excitement, he had homework he needed to catch up on and hurried up the stairs back to Gryffindor common room.
And so concludes Part 2 of Gohan's fluffy weekend, kid deserved it after what I put him through a few chapters ago lol. So I just have to say I personally think Goten is one of Toriyama's most clever names in the series. Anyways, excited to move along in the story. Thanks so much for reading, please let me know what you think so far! :)