This was it. The final day.

Gohan laid in his mat, resting only a few feet away from his father. Both had been training for the last few hours and now, with full stomachs, were ready for a good long rest...Or perhaps, only one of them was.

After nightfall, when he was sure Goku was asleep, Gohan silently got up and slid open the dresser. He retrieved his satchel and the four-star dragon ball, which his father put in there a few months ago after nearly losing it during a sparring match, and promptly slid the dresser's drawer back in.

Tip-toeing silently across the stone floor, he made his way over to his father and crouched beside him.

Gohan was thankful he decided to leave at night, saying goodbye would be impossible if his father was awake. He thought back on the entirety of the year they spent together and, although he tried, he couldn't think of a single day where he was unhappy being there. For the first few months, he was always on guard, anticipating an android attack at any time of day, he even stayed up way later at night than he usually would just to keep an eye out, but as time flew by he became less worried. He didn't care why Gero never attacked him but he was grateful for his absence.

The walks, the sparring, the fishing, the swimming, the eating, and most importantly, the talking, it was almost everything Gohan had ever wanted. As he knelt beside Goku, he realized that leaving felt like losing him all over again, but, deep down, somewhere, he knew this was all just a fantasy and it couldn't last forever.

He dreaded the moment of his return, he wondered what he really had to look forward to. Of course, there would be his new brother to raise, but what would be the point? There's no way it could love him after he killed their father. He thought of school, he knew he had a bright future ahead of him in that regard, but how would he balance that out with his new sibling? How would he find the time to support his mother, help raise the baby, and stay at the top of his classes all by himself? He sniffled as he tried to keep his composure. It felt like the weight of the world on his shoulders.

How can I do it, Daddy? How can I do it all by myself? Because it feels like I can't. Because I know I'm not like you, I can't balance it all on my own, I'm not strong enough.

He backed away as Goku shifted around on his mat. Not wanting to risk waking him up, Gohan collected the radar and crept out of the hut.

The next few hours were dedicated to finding the remaining six dragon balls and, without the restrictions of the nimbus or being with his father, it was considerably easier. He found the first two in the north, both in empty fields of mushy soil; the third, stuck in between the exposed roots of a tree and a fox den; the fourth, sitting on the roof of an old, mossy shack somewhere north of East City; the fifth nestled in gravel near the northern mountains; and the sixth was just outside of West City, near a billboard advertising capsule corp. products.

With a satchel full of dragon balls, some spare Zeni, and a now wrinkly file on Gebo, Gohan flew back near Mount Pouzu, but far enough away so that the dragon's voice wouldn't be heard by Goku. He placed the seven out onto the ground in no particular manner and stood back. Before he called out Shenron it occurred to him that he really had never summoned him before, this was the first time he had ever gotten the chance to really make a wish.

"Shenron, I have a wish!" he said as loudly and authoritatively as he could.

Hearing the call, the seven orbs raised themselves into the air and glowed with a light so intense in the darkness of the night, that Gohan had to shield his eyes. Once the light began to dim, he peeked through his hands and saw Shenron's face only feet away from him. He'd never seen the dragon get this close to anyone before. His gaze was intimidating but, thankfully, he backed away after making a low grumbling noise.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU HAVE COME BEFORE ME

"Y-you know me?" Gohan asked.

I DO, SON GOHAN.

"How?"

TIME IS A MORTAL CONCEPT. I TRANSCEND TIME.

"Then you can help me, can't you? You can send me to the present?"

I COULD.

"Then-"

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A REALITY YOU WOULD WANT TO RETURN TO.

"W-what do you mean?" Gohan asked anxiously.

THE REALITY I WOULD SEND YOU TO IS ONE WITH NO DRAGON BALLS. I WOULD CEASE TO BE AND THE WORLD AS YOU KNEW IT WOULD AS WELL.

"As I knew it?! What do you mean?!"

BRINGING BOTH YOU AND GERO BACK IS NOT ENOUGH TO STOP THE EVENTS OF THE PAST FROM CHANGING. HE HAS HAD FAR TOO MUCH OF AN IMPACT.

"Y-you're saying that it doesn't even matter if I bring him back to the present with me?! Then what am I supposed to do!"

MAKE IT SO THAT HE HAS NO IMPACT ON THE PAST NOR THE PRESENT.

Getting rather irritated with the dragon's vague instructions, Gohan spoke angrily, "Well if bringing him back to the present isn't enough to limit his impact, tell me what is!"

YOU MUST FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF. I CAN SAY NO MORE.

He gritted his teeth in frustration. "That's not fair! Don't you know how difficult this is for me?! And don't you care about the timeline at all?!"

I HAVE FINISHED SPEAKING. REQUEST A WISH.

"What do you mean you've finished speaking!" Gohan said, with frustrated angry tears welling up in his eyes. "Tell me what to do!" He screamed. "Please!"

With vision blurred by tears, Gohan could barely make out the form of the dragon, but he could tell that Shenron wasn't pleased. He placed himself on the ground and tried to clear his eyes. "Please Shenron, I'm sorry I yelled. I-I just feel so lost." he said.

HMM... THIS I KNOW.

"Then you know I don't want to go home. I don't want to go back to the present but I have to. It doesn't matter that no one wants me there, I have a responsibility to them...to my little brother. Don't I?"

The dragon let out a long growl-like exhale.

YOU DO.

"Then please Shenron, won't you help me keep them safe?"

There was a silence between the two.

Shenron was deciding.

IT IS SIMPLE: YOU MUST RID HIM FROM THIS TIME AND DESTROY HIS NEW LABORATORY. EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE CORRECTED LATER.

A small smile formed on Gohan's face but it quickly disappeared. "Corrected? What do you mean?"

ONCE HE AND HIS LABORATORY ARE REMOVED, THE IMPACTS HE HAS MADE ARE MINOR ENOUGH TO BE ERASED. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS THAT YOU INCLUDE THAT IN YOUR WISH.

"Then the same goes for me too right? You'll have to remove my impacts too won't you?"

YES.

"So...dad won't remember me? He won't remember any of this?"

NO.

Although he knew it was for the best, the fact that his father wouldn't remember any of this when he got back home was devastating. It felt like a hot knife cutting and burning through his fragile heart.

NOW, PLEASE REQUEST A WISH. I WILL ALLOW IT TO BE AS MUNDANE AS YOU'D LIKE.

I wish he wouldn't have to forget.

Even if he never knows who I really am, I just want him to remember how much he loved me. I don't want to always be remembered as the failure I am.

I AM WAITING...

The dragon's voice emptied Gohan's mind, he hardly thought about anything before he made his wish. "I-I wish for a four-star ball replica." He regretted his choice almost immediately "Wai-"

VERY WELL.

Shenron's eye's glowed so brightly that the whole forest was illuminated by his crimson light and when the glow died down, a four-star ball laid at Gohan's feet.

YOUR WISH FOR A FOUR-STAR BALL REPLICA HAS BEEN GRANTED. FAREWELL SON GOHAN.

"No, wait! I- I didn't!"

Quickly, Shenron's tail slid back into the seven orbs that summoned him. Once he had completely disappeared they began to float into the sky. They spun together in beautiful synchrony of light and just before they were scattered Gohan impulsively jumped up and caught the real four-star ball.

Once he was firmly back on the ground he stuffed the white stone into his gi and held the replica in his hand. He was so angry he nearly crushed it in his palm.

I'm so stupid...I could have wished for anything but instead, I just wished for a four-star ball. I could have wished for Gero to be brought here so we could end this here and now! I could have wished for the location of his base! I could have wished for anything! Instead...instead I wished for a four-star ball just so I could go back to dad and look less suspicious! Why did I do that?! Why am I so weak?! Why can't I leave him?! Leave him like he left me!

No...

No, that's not fair.

He left because I let him down over and over and over again...it was justified. Me leaving him now would just be wrong, he hasn't ever done anything to deserve that. I can't hold his decision to leave against him, I can only blame myself.

Gohan stuffed the replica back into his gi before taking a look at the horizon. The sun's light had just begun to shine over Mount Pouzu.

Morning already? That leaves me with so little time to get back...I better hurry.

"Jack, Jack wake up, you were talking about that Piccolo guy again."

Gohan's eyes slid open and he pushed his torso up off the floor. "I was?"

"Yeah, you were talking about your dad and that lookout again too."

"Oh..." He said. "Sorry Goku, I guess I just have weird dreams."

"That's okay. I just came to get you because I made breakfast."

Gohan smiled as he got to his feet. "Is it boar again?"

"No, no I made eggs!"

The two exited the house and Gohan saw two giant dinosaur eggs cooking on a large stone slab near the fire. Once they were finished cooking Goku flipped both over themselves making an impromptu omelet and, although the smell was inviting, Gohan couldn't stop thinking about the night prior. He hated that, at least for a moment, he blamed his father for leaving him. He had always placed the blame on himself because he believed it was deserved, it was his fault that Goku died and it was his fault that he left. He deserved the punishment of his absence.

It wasn't long before Goku noticed he was acting off. "You all right Jack? Something bothering you?"

Gohan figured he might as well pose the question to his father, granted he would have to change some aspects to cover himself, but he could still ask him. "Goku, if I did something to upset you and you left me, shouldn't I blame myself for upsetting you in the first place? Isn't that the right thing to do?"

It was clear the question disturbed his father who busied himself with the omelets to provide a moment to think.

"Goku?" he asked.

Gohan observed his father pull the hot stone away from the fire to prevent the eggs from overcooking and before he could ask again, he got his answer.

"Well, I wouldn't ever leave you Jack, or anybody really. I don't think I could be that mad at a person."

This answer surprised Gohan. He remembered the moment his father said he wouldn't be coming back. He claimed it was too dangerous and that it seemed like as long as he was around enemies would always appear. Gohan wondered for a moment if that really was the true reason. If he really wouldn't ever leave him unless he had to. He knew his father had never told a lie to him before, but, the massive decision to give up his life on Earth, with his son and his wife, it seemed impossible for the reason to be that simple.

Still not convinced he pushed the question again. "W-well, what if I upset you enough that you did leave. Shouldn't I blame myself for that?"

Goku sat down and rested his head atop his hands. "No jack, I don't think so. I think that if I did leave you alone just because I was mad at you then I'm the bad guy." He smiled warmly. "It's never okay to leave your friends."

Gohan couldn't help but smile after hearing that. All this time he operated under the assumption that his father left because he was disappointed, but maybe, just maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe he really did choose to stay in otherworld only because he had to, because it was what's best for the world.

"But you're not worried I'd leave you, are you Jack?" Goku asked.

Adamantly he responded, "N-no Goku, it was just a question I thought of..."

"Good," he said, closing the conversation of such an awful topic. "Hey, Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to go to the city today?"

"Hm, which one Goku? Depending on where we go it might take us a couple of days to get somewhere."

"The city grampa always used to take trips to is close. We can probably just go there, I'm sure they have some."

Unsure of what Goku was referring to Gohan asked, "Some what, Goku?"

"Ice cream!" He said excitedly. "It's been a couple of months since Bulma visited and we never really go anywhere so I figured today might be good to do something different!"

"Sure Goku." Gohan replied, "That sounds good to me."

Goku shifted the rock slab between the two and, at this point, it had cooled down enough that the two of them could use it as a makeshift table, they ate their breakfast in peaceful silence together.

Afterward, Gohan went inside to grab his satchel. He picked it up and opened it to count the couple hundred Zeni that Bulma had brought over for them. Originally he had tried to get her to take it back, but he knew, once she had made her mind up about anything, it was pointless to try and reason with her. As he was sifting through the bag, he saw the four-star balls replica and quickly took it out, placing it gently into the dresser, careful to leave the real, now stone, one inside the satchel.

"Jack, you ready? I know we've got all day but I can't wait to get going!" Gohan heard from just outside the hut. He swung the satchel over his shoulder and walked outside.

"Sorry, I was just counting our money. Can't get ice cream without buying it, you know?"

"Oh yeah that's right...how much money do we have now? I know those books about reading cost a bit much."

"I think they were worth it though. You really needed to learn to read properly now, otherwise, it would be much harder to learn later." Gohan said as the two began walking up the old dirt trail to the city.

Step by step, the two made their way through the hills and valleys of Mount Pouzu. Much of the path they traveled on was surrounded by trees, but the portions that weren't were stunningly beautiful. Gohan took a liking to one river they crossed over about halfway through their journey, so much so that when the two were on the apex of the old wooden bridge, he asked to stop. Goku eagerly agreed and the two sat off the edge of the bridge and watched the koi fish swim upriver for a while. For the life of him, Gohan couldn't remember ever seeing this river, he was amazed and ashamed at how little he really knew about his home. He had been flying over these same mountains and rivers for years and somehow he still missed out on its finer details and subtleties. He was grateful for being able to rectify that now.

When the two made it to the city it looked as busy as ever. Hundreds of cars along the streets and plenty of people passing by on the sidewalks. Gohan smiled when he saw the title 'Orange City', he couldn't believe that they were renaming it after that fraud Hercule. If anyone should get a city named after them it should be the one who saved them: his father.

"Jack, have you been here before? I'm not quite sure where to go..."

"I came here a couple times." Gohan said. "Most of the food places are somewhere downtown."

Goku looked around confusedly. "Do you know how to get there?"

"Yeah, we just have to find Main Street which will take us right down the center of the city."

"Main Street..." Goku said while looking around them. "Is that it?" he said, pointing two blocks ahead of them.

Gohan squinted and could just barely read the sign which definitively said Main Street. "Yep that's it, let's go get some ice cream!"

The two began walking, they crossed the first block and got halfway through the second before stopping. The two looked down an alleyway to their right and saw a couple of men handing money between each other. A few moved to the side of the cramped alleyway to clear space for two of the men who proceeded to fight each other. Obviously, it was some low-level fight betting but it still piqued Goku's interest enough for him to watch. Fortunately, the fight didn't last long and the two continued on their way after watching the fighters shake hands.

"That reminds me, Jack, we still have two whole years until the next world tournament."

"Yeah, I guess we do." Gohan replied with little excitement.

"You don't have to fight you know."

Gohan turned his head as they walked. "What do you mean, Goku?"

"Do you like fighting, Jack?"

"Of course I do! We fight every day don't we?"

"Well, we spar but I think that's different from fighting; it's more friendly. Fighting is when the opponent is really trying to hurt you, enough so that you can't fight anymore. Like back at Baba's when I was going up against that mummy, you were scared for me, not excited. You were so worried your knees were shaking. You don't like that kind of fighting, the real fighting, do you?"

The two turned the corner onto Main Street and began walking past the various upscale restaurants and bistros. Gohan was hesitant to answer the question. "I- I guess I don't. I've never really liked hurting anyone, not even if it's someone I don't like."

Something about that statement seemed odd to Goku like it stung just to put into words. "Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Grampa was kind of like that too. He trained mainly because he enjoyed the workout and because it was always handy if he ever got into trouble."

"I know...it's just." He paused. "I want to like it. I've wanted to like fighting ever since- my dad started teaching me. I was always worried that-that maybe if he knew I didn't like it he would feel ashamed of me. I wanted to be what he thought I could be, I wanted to be strong like him."

"You are strong like him, Jack, and from what you've told me about him there's no way he'd ever feel that way about you. And it's not your fault that you don't like fighting, just like it's not Krillin's fault that he's so short." Goku said with a smile as he playfully nudged Gohan's arm with his own.

Gohan smiled, "Thanks Goku...that means more than you could know."

Gohan looked to his left, across the street was a vibrant ice cream parlor, packed to the brim with customers. "Hey, look there's an ice cream place right there. Let's cross and see if we can find our place in line!"

The two walked to the nearest pedestrian crossing and made it over to the parlor. Inside, it was pleasantly, and surprisingly, warm. Each customer was lined up neatly and most had their orders ready once they got to the counter, it made for a very effective system and the two moved up the line quickly.

"What are you getting Jack?" Goku asked.

"I think I might go with vanilla."

"I don't know, isn't vanilla kind of plain?" Goku teased.

"Well, what are you getting then?" Gohan replied.

"I'm getting banana, ooh, and probably some strawberry!"

"Those seem pretty ordinary to me," Gohan said. "So I wouldn't be so quick to judge me on my choice...but, I think I might get some strawberry too."