Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home
Gohan groggily opened up his eyes, awakened by the song playing on the radio, which he and Erasa forgot to turn off in the midst of their…romp. Sitting up, he felt the warmth of the fireplace on his side, and saw the mess of clothes he had made while him and Erasa unwrapped the present they gave to each other last night: themselves.
He chuckled. It was amazing how less than 24 hours ago, he was trying to get away from this house because he couldn't stand the thought of being alone with the most popular girl in school—and the most wonderful woman he had ever known in his life. And for the most superficial, childish reason ever: fear of what others would think of him.
He looked over at his blonde partner, her beautiful, sleeping face illuminated by the fire's glow. He smiled, and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Then, getting up, he gathered his clothes that were thrown unceremoniously on the floor, picking them up one by one. First he put on his boxers and jeans, then his t-shirt, then the wool sweater he had worn over it. Fully clothed, he made his way to the kitchen, where he saw the two glasses of eggnog that were poured for him and Erasa the previous night.
He grabbed the glasses and gulped both of them down thirstily.
"Mmm…good stuff!" He smacked his lips in satisfaction, and wiped off his mouth with his sleeve. His thirst quenched, he walked over to the radio and turned it off, then checked the time.
7:45 A.M.
Gohan frowned. Living in the mountains, he was always encouraged to get up as early as possible, at sunrise. But judging by the clock he was over an hour late. Oh well, he thought, shrugging.
Deciding he needed some fresh air, he exited the house onto the front porch, giving his limbs a stretch. Letting the cool air fill his lungs, he smiled, eyes closed, loving the brisk feeling of winter. Another aspect of mountain life was how one got used to cold weather, not only tolerating it, but enjoying it. And Gohan had much in his life to enjoy right now.
He looked up to the cloudy sky where the snow was softly falling… and frowned. It seemed like an eternity ago he was spending Christmas as a child with his family—his whole family. His mother and father, unbalanced though their relationship could be, always made it clear to Gohan how much they loved him as well as each other. On Christmas Eve, his father would bring back a fresh stack of firewood that would heat up the entire house for days on end, and his mother would make plate after plate of delicious food for the family, and sometimes friends when Krillin, Bulma and the others would join. It was a pleasant escape from all the monsters Gohan had to face in his life.
And God knows I've faced a lot of monsters. He thought, thinking back to the Saiyans, to Frieza, to Cell…
Saiyans. The word stuck in Gohan's mind, and he grimaced. Should I tell her about…?
"Gohan?" A soft, sweet voice chimed from behind him. He looked around to see Erasa standing in front of him, dressed in a bathrobe and with a cutely inquisitive look on her face. Suddenly, his face broke out in a wide grin, and all thoughts of Saiyans melted away. "Why are you up so early? It's Saturday morning."
"I guess I just needed some fresh air after last night." Said Gohan lightly. He walked over to Erasa and kissed her. Pulling his lips away, he added, "You should get more sleep, you need it more than I do."
"I do not!" Erasa stuck her tongue out playfully, grinning. "If anything, you need more sleep, mister! You spent all that energy worrying last night while I was just trying to show you some holiday hospitality!"
Gohan remained silent for a few moments, turning his face toward the clouds again. Erasa's playful expression turned back to inquisitive. "Something on your mind, Gohan?" She tilted her head to the left, trying to catch his eye.
"Huh?" Gohan jolted a little, snapped back to reality. "Oh...it's nothing…just remembered I forgot to do some Christmas shopping, that's all." He flashed a grin, but Erasa wasn't convinced.
"Have I ever told you how terrible a liar you are?" She said, shaking her head. "Go on, tell me what's on your mind, I won't judge."
The Saiyan hybrid sighed. "It's just….I remember when Christmas used to be so much fun, spending time with family, unwrapping presents, and…I miss my Dad." He looked down from the sky, his expression turning forlorn. He wasn't lying – not entirely. It wasn't the only thing weighing on his mind, but it was definitely something he was thinking about.
Erasa frowned. She had heard a lot about Son Goku from her friend (now boyfriends) eager retellings of what he was like, of how loving and protective he was of his family. She placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder, causing him to turn around and when he did, Erasa looked into his dark onyx eyes with her bright, ocean-blue ones. "I'm sorry that he had to die, Gohan. Your dad sounded like a great man from what you've told me."
"He really was." Gohan smiled, a reminiscent gleam in his eye. "He was a great father and the strongest person I ever knew. He couldn't always be there for us but when he was, you could tell that he cared."
Erasa smiled with Gohan, sharing in his happiness at reminiscing about his father. "I'm glad you have such great memories of him, Gohan."
"So am I." Gohan placed his hands on Erasa's waist, pulling her closer to him. "You would've loved him, Erasa. He was such a great man to be around, everyone who became his friend was better off because of it."
"I believe you." Erasa said. "After all, he raised you, didn't he? That alone makes him one of the best people on Earth!"
Gohan chuckled. "You really think so?"
"I know so!" Erasa affirmed, nodding her head. "Anyone who had a hand in raising you has got to be one amazing dad. You're kind, funny, and genuine, so anyone who raised you must be kind, funny and genuine!"
Gohan could feel himself starting to blush, but still smiled. Now that him and Erasa had finally started something more than a friendship, he was getting used to all of her compliments. Feeling himself shiver at the cold air, he suggested, "Let's go back inside. It's getting cold out and besides, we haven't had breakfast yet."
Erasa nodded, and without another word the couple retreated back into her house.
"Mmmmm…" Erasa smacked her lips in satisfaction as she munched on her wonderful omelet. "This tastes great, Gohan! Where did you learn to cook so good?"
Sitting beside her at the kitchen table, Gohan smiled, blushing again at Erasa's compliments. "Honestly, I taught myself how to cook at a young age. Mostly I just watched my mother cook and then read her cookbooks, I found it pretty easy."
"Well then, you're a fantastic cook and self-teacher!" Erasa beamed at him, her glowing compliments making the young lad blush even more. Gohan looked a little sheepishly down at his own plate; he never was one for receiving praise. More often than not he was on the giving end of it.
When him and Erasa had entered back into the house, Gohan had opted to make breakfast for both of them, more than happy to provide food for himself and his new significant other. Erasa at first had insisted that she be the one to cook (she felt it was the least she could do to repay Gohan just for being there) but her Saiyan lover insisted otherwise. Next thing both of them knew, the whole kitchen was filled with the smell of Gohan cooking the best tomato and cheese omelets Erasa had ever eaten, as well as some hearty ham and bacon to go along with it.
Looking up at his beloved blonde, Gohan couldn't help but smile even more widely as he observed Erasa eating. When they were just friends, the pair had spent plenty time eating with each other at fast food restaurants, parks, and other places. Oftentimes Sharpener was there with them, and he brought his girlfriend of the week to enjoy the ride. But this was the first meal Gohan and Erasa had shared with each other ever since confessing their true feelings, and it was this more than anything that made it special. They were no longer sitting at a table as just friends; they were truly, deeply in love with each other, and the events of the previous night had cemented that more firmly in their minds than they could ever hope to forget.
Almost without thinking, Gohan placed a hand underneath Erasa's chin as she absently chewed on her last piece of omelet. Tilting her head closer to him, he watched as a confused expression started to show on her face, and then (with a passing thought that she looked extra cute when her cheeks were stuffed with food) pulled her in for a deep kiss.
He relished the feel of her lips onto his, tasting a little bit of egg and also a certain taste that was so uniquely Erasa. She giggled in his mouth at the display of affection and then, when their mouths parted, looked at him with a sly expression.
"What was that for, tiger?" Erasa asked coyly.
"Just felt like showing you some love." Gohan grinned. "Merry Christmas, Erasa."
"Merry Christmas to you, too." Erasa replied, smiling. Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on Gohan's cheek. "And a Happy New Year, too."
Gohan felt his cheek warm up at the touch of Erasa's lips, but it wasn't something that made him feel embarrassed; on the contrary, it was a warmth that made his heart swell with joy and his grin break into a wide smile. Wiping his cheek, he looked around Erasa's richly decorated house, appreciating the tinsel hung everywhere, the table they were sitting with the Santa hat painted on it, and finally, the richly decorated Christmas tree in the living room.
"I can't remember the last time I was this much into the holiday spirit." Gohan mused. "Certainly better than last year's, that's for sure…" His smile fading somewhat, he remembered the events of the previous December…and what had caused it to be the worst Christmas of his life. He frowned as the events played more vividly in his head the more he thought about it.
Sensing his discomfort, Erasa placed a delicate hand on Gohan's larger one, causing him to look up and meet her straight in the eye. When he did, her pensive expression told him that the same thing was on both of their minds.
"I know it was a rough time for you, Gohan. But I hope now that you've found it in you to move on from that."
"Of course I have." Said Gohan, flashing a smile—although this one was more forced. "Now that I have you, it's easy to move on from it. It's just…the memory sometimes gets to me, you know?"
"I understand." Erasa smiled. The pair sat in silence for a few moments, the memory of last December resting heavily on Gohan's mind.
Gohan looked up from his cup of hot chocolate at the winter weather outside the Satan café. It was a usual winter day in Satan City—cold, blustering, snowy and with temperatures dangerously reaching below zero. He was sitting by himself, and immensely enjoyed the warm indoor air combined with the cozy atmosphere. Being tucked away in a pleasant corner of town allowed him to appreciate the beauty of winter weather, the white blanket wrapping itself around the city, although when he would eventually exit the premises, his appreciation would lessen significantly…
"Hey, Gohan." Looking up from his seat, Gohan smiled at the sight of the owner of the voice calling his name—Videl Satan, his girlfriend. She was dressed in black boots and cargo pants, and a red parka with an orange and white scarf covering her neck. As usual, Gohan thought, she looked stunning, especially with the snowflakes covering her lovely white skin and dark hair.
Gohan got up from his seat and pulled Videl in close for a hug, giving her a peck on the lips. For a brief second, he thought he felt her shake lightly at his touch, but he dismissed the thought as his own imagination.
"Hi, Videl." Gohan pulled open the chair opposite of him for Videl to sit in, being the gentleman that he was. Videl smiled thankfully at him and sat down, taking off her parka and showing that she had a white sweater on underneath to contrast with her pants. Wordlessly, Videl picked up a menu, looking over the items until a waiter stopped by and took her order—a cappuccino.
The waiter took her menu, and Gohan started chatting with Videl. "So, how've you been, babe? You got any plans for Christmas this year?"
"Not really." Videl replied simply. "Just the usual. Staying at home with dad."
"Oh," said Gohan, noting with curiosity how Videl was staring at the table and avoiding eye contact with him. "Well, did you want to go to Bulma's Capsule Corp party this weekend? The Briefs are having it at their winter retreat this year."
"I…" Videl gazed outside the window. "Maybe." She answered vaguely.
Gohan raised an eyebrow at Videl's odd, distant behavior. While Videl wasn't one to open up to anyone off the street, she was always willing to chat and have a pleasant conversation with close friends—especially her boyfriend. But now, it seemed, she had chosen to close herself off a little; and what an odd time to do so, when she had been the one to arrange her and Gohan meeting together at the Satan café.
Deciding to prod a little further, he asked, "Is everything alright?"
Videl's reaction was quite odd indeed. She looked up from her table at Gohan, as if truly noticing him for the first time, and then, after staring blankly at him for a few moments, muttered, "Of course."
Gohan looked at her intently, studying his girlfriends with a quirked eyebrow and a small frown tugging at his lips. "Are you sure? You seem a little…off." He didn't know how else to put it.
At that, Videl bit her lower lip, looking down at her feet underneath the table and hunching her shoulders together. Gohan watched as she took in a few deep, steadying breaths and then, apparently gathering the courage to speak her mind, looked back up at her boyfriend. "Gohan…" Slowly, she reached out her delicate hand on the table, which Gohan took in his rougher one.
"What's wrong, Videl?" Gohan asked. "You haven't been yourself this entire evening. What is this all about?"
"Gohan, I…" Videl took in one last, deep, breath, and then looked dead into her significant other's eyes, her light, cerulean orbs meeting Gohan's onyx ones. "I've been thinking lately, about you, about me, about us. About our whole relationship and how it's worked out."
Gohan nodded his head, his expression impassive, but silently urging Videl to continue.
"Lately, I just feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I have to study hard and look after my dad, and on top of that I'm still on duty fighting crime alongside the Satan City police, whenever you can't help as the Great Saiyaman. It just feels like in all of these aspects of our lives, we're kind of growing separate: our studies, our familes, everything. And considering college isn't too far away, I think its time for me to make a decision that both of us won't like." Videl paused. "Gohan…I'm breaking up with you."
"What!?" was Gohan's instantaneous reaction. Letting go of Videl's hand, he stood up and slammed his on the table. "Do you realize what you're saying!?"
"Gohan…" Videl shrunk b a little, braced for his reaction but still taken aback. "Please…it's for the best…"
"What do you mean, 'for the best'!?" Gohan shouted. His raised voice had now gotten the attention of everyone in the café, and the waitress, who had just exited the kitchen with Videl's cappuccino, had set the beverage down on a nearby counter and was giving the couple a very wide berth. "How is choosing to rip apart our relationship 'for the best'!?"
"Because its extra baggage we both can't handle." Videl said evenly. Or as evenly as she could, anyway, with the added weight of having all eyes in the café on her and Gohan. "You've sensed it too, haven't you? Our relationship's been drifting apart for months now…"
"Since when?" Gohan interrupted, his voice lowering but still noticeably mad. "We've sorted out problems before, Videl. We can make it work out, in high school, in college, wherever. Please…"
"I'm sorry." Videl replied sincerely. She stood up from her seat, meeting Gohan eye-to-eye. "I know that this is best, for both of us. You can't see it, but I can. And deep down, I think you know this too."
The teenage vigilante walked out of the café, but not before sparing Gohan one last parting glance. Her look was one of both sympathy and resolve, and Gohan matched it, trying and failing to contain the anger and sadness he felt from showing up on his expression.
Videl was about to walk out of the café into the cold, snowing atmosphere of downtown Satan City, when…
"It's about me being half-Saiyan, isn't it?"
She gasped. Frantically turning around, her shocked expression matched Gohan's angered one, and the young man rose from his seat, walking over to Videl as his form towered over his. She could barely notice the eyes of everyone in the café set on her.
"I've known for a long time how you've felt about my family. How we weren't 'normal' enough, the conversations you'd have with friends outside school, I could listen in on it from miles away –"
"Gohan!" Videl said, panicked, "We're in public, don't say you're a Saiyan here-"
"I don't care." He replied. "I've known, Videl. Especially these past few months. I've known how you talk about my family behind my back. I was willing to let it go, but now…"
"Shut up!" Videl screamed, running out of the café without looking back.
For a few incredibly painful minutes, the café stood in complete silence, Gohan staring at Videl's retreating form from the glass door, and the reactions from employees and patrons ranging from shock, to sympathy, to outright disgust. Gohan looked around to see how all eyes were on him. Even the waitresses, with their trays still carrying hot beverages, stood stock still.
He cast everyone a venomous look. "What are you staring at?" He said. "Show's over."
"That was probably the most difficult Christmas of my life." Gohan remembered, frowning deeply. "I never spoke to Videl again after that. Nor do I want to."
"Everything happens for a reason, Gohan." Erasa said wisely. "Look at it this way—if you and Videl hadn't broken up, we would never have been able to be together like this!" She looked into Gohan's dark eyes, and the Saiyan hybrid couldn't help but smile, feeling his heart grow warm at the kind glance Erasa was giving him. All he needed to wake up from his bad memory was the knowledge that the hole in Videl's absence had now been filled, and by someone much, much better.
"That's true." He conceded. "But…I'm not sure how well I handled it. Looking back now, I think I might have been too harsh. Overreacted, you know."
Erasa chuckled. "Yeah, it's easy for you to say that now—cuz you don't want to be with her anymore!"
Gohan chuckled back. "I guess you're right."
The two sat in silence for a little while, hearing the fire crackling in the living room, as well as the rushing sounds of wind as it whipped snowflakes to and fro outside the house. That, combined with the soft lighting, made the early morning atmosphere feel all the more home like to Gohan and Erasa.
Light slowly began shining through the windows, showing that the sun had managed to crack its way through the gray clouds resting above the skies. The light shone briefly on the couple, and Gohan sat there mesmerized at how angelic Erasa looked when illuminated by the soft glow of the suns rays, her bright blue eyes and golden hair seemingly enunciated by the warm, yellow outline.
Without hesitation, he kissed her again, Erasa reciprocating eagerly. When he pulled away, he smiled. "Kami…you're a vision."
Erasa giggled. "You just can't get enough of me, can you?"
"No…I really can't." Gohan pulled her petite form close to his firm, muscular one, and Erasa purred, nuzzling her head against his chest. "I really can't believe how stupid I was to almost leave you last night."
"It's okay, Gohan," Erasa assured him, giggling a little more—he really needs to stop beating himself up over that, she thought—"You were caught in a situation you weren't used to. And for how you were raised up, I think you handled it really well."
"Yeah…" Gohan smiled, stroking Erasa's hair gently. "I just think about what would have happened if I left you here all by yourself…"
"No need to think about that," the blonde replied, "You're here now. That's all that matters."
Gohan reclined in his chair, Erasa on his lap, and for a while they both just sat there, basking in each other's presence. It was quite a wonderful thing when a couple could just sit back and enjoy each other, no words being shared, for everything that needed to be communicated was already said through the little gestures and the way they could just enjoy each other's company without the slightest bit of tension.
Gohan held Erasa's head closer to his chest, looking around the house once more. It was a nice house, to be sure—even examining it the third time around Gohan was impressed with how richly decorated it was. The tinsel, the lights strung around everywhere, even the rail for the staircase, the chandelier which shone a lovely mixture of red and green lights, and finally…
…the unwrapped presents underneath the large, richly decorated and very real Christmas tree.
Gohan frowned, remembering the conversation he had with Erasa the previous night about her parents and how they were away on a business trip which they left for only a few days after Thanksgiving. While Christmas still wasn't for another week, it did make him uneasy to think that a mother and father would leave their child anytime during the holidays, and after what he'd been through with Erasa, the last thing he wanted was for her to be alone at Christmastime.
And that's when it hit him.
The Great Idea.
"Erasa…" said Gohan slowly, his eyes starting to light up, "…are you going anywhere for Christmas?"
"Huh?" the blonde asked, looking up with a confused expression. "No, I don't have the money to go anywhere even if I wanted to. Why, though?"
Gohan's face broke out into a broad smile, looking at Erasa's pretty blue eyes with a fervent expression. "Because I think I might know the perfect place for you to spend the holidays…"
It's Christmastime again, but you're not home
Your family is here, but you are somewhere left alone
So tonight I pray, that God will come, and hold you in His arms
And I'll tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas music could be heard playing loudly from the Son house on Mount Paozu as snow fell softly over it, and combined with the light flowing from the windows and smoke from the chimney, it made for a nice, homely atmosphere. It was a nice place, Erasa thought as she walked along the snowy terrain of Paozu, Gohan holding her firmly at his side. It featured a white hut at the very front of it, as well as an addition in the back that looked more like a regular house, giving it a more "normal" feel. Interestingly, a few steps to the right of the house was a smaller hut that had a traditional Oriental design, indicating that it had been there for much longer.
Gohan had opted to call a cab to take him and Erasa back to his house. While it was a hike, and quite expensive, the trip was more than worth it. The two were dressed in their regular street clothes, over much warmer clothing for the cold weather.
Erasa looked nervously at the front door as Gohan grinned cheerfully.
"Are…you sure about this, honey?"
"Absolutely." Gohan replied. "You're going to be part of our family this Christmas, Erasa – just you watch!"
"O-okay…" Erasa forced a smile, not entirely convinced.
Gohan let go of his girlfriend and, without a moment's hesitation, knocked on the front door of his home, his grin only widening. Erasa, on the other hand, was breathing a little shallowly, and shivered—not entirely from the cold.
After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a tall, slender brunette woman who was wearing a purple dress and shoes, and had a piece of holly attached to her hair showing that she was in the Christmas spirit. Although her face looked youthful for the mother of a high schooler—especially since she had her hair down-there were slight bags under her eyes. When she saw Gohan, she bore an expression of surprise and then a little anger.
"Gohan!" She shouted. "For heaven's sake…where have you been!? I was searching for you last night, I thought you went to Capsule Corp to see Trunks, but Bulma said she didn't see you!"
"Oh…ah….well…" Gohan grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, to tell you the truth, Mom, it's kind of a long story…"
The woman sighed deeply. "It's always a long story…"
"Hey, Mom!" A younger voice chimed in from the house. "Is that Gohan? Is he back?"
Faster than anyone could keep up with, a small child ran up to the front door, bright-eyed and wearing an even brighter expression. When he saw Gohan, he just about leapt for joy. "Yay! It's Gohan! He's back!" The young lad shouted, running up to his brother to give him a hug. "I missed you, bro!"
Poor Gohan almost got knocked down by the sheer force of his brother running up to him to give him a hug, but he was smiling, and embraced him, rubbing his brother's hair. Chi Chi's expression softened, and Erasa giggled at the display of brotherly affection.
"I missed you too, Goten." Gohan answered. "I'm sorry I didn't let you and Mom know in advance I was going to be away for the night."
"We certainly were worried." Chi-Chi said, although she was smiling as well. "But anyway…who is this girl you have with you?"
"Oh! Uhh…." Erasa stammered.
All eyes were on the blonde high schooler as she tried to find the right words to answer the simple question. It should have been easy for Erasa to answer…but it wasn't. She let out a few "ums" and "uhs", her eyes boring into the ground below her, hoping everyone would look away, when—
"This is my friend, Mom!" Gohan answered cheerily, grabbing Erasa by the side and pulling her close to him.
"Oh…friend?" Chi Chi placed a finger on her chin, but Goten just smiled all the more.
"Hey, that's awesome Gohan!," he cheered, "Why is she here?"
"Well….yeah, about that…" Gohan looked at his mother, a more serious expression forming on his face, as Erasa huddled herself closer to him to avoid Chi Chi's gaze.
"Yes?" The Son mother asked, eyes narrowing.
"Well…" Gohan held Erasa a little closer to him. "See, Erasa doesn't really have any place to stay for the holidays. Her family isn't going to be home for Christmas, and her house is just going to be empty except for her if she stays there. So I was wondering…would it be okay if she could spend the next few days, including Christmas, with us?...please?"
"WHAT!?"
The sheer force of Chi-Chi's booming voice made everyone, even Gohan, shrink back. To Erasa's horror, and Goten's confusion, the Son wife marched up to Gohan so she was nose-to-nose with the boy, looking nothing short of livid.
"You mean to tell me, that not only do you go off to Kami knows where leaving me and your brother worried like hell, but then when you come back, you have the audacity to bring this strange girl with you and say we should take her in for the entire Christmas season!? Are you crazy, young man!? Do you know how often I –"
"Calm down, Mom!" Gohan said desperately, raising his hands in defense. "It'll only be for a few days…"
"CALM DOWN!?" Chi-Chi screamed, "No I will not calm down! I was having enough trouble already without some hussy getting in the way of things!"
"Mom!" Gohan shot back, "Don't say things like that! I'm just trying to help out a friend of mine, that's all! Do you have any idea how much she needs this!?"
The mother and son were arguing back and forth for a good several minutes, and Goten was starting to get nervous.
"I, uh….I better go," he said, running into the house with unnatural speed.
Gohan and Chi-Chi continued their bickering, neither one allowing the other a word in edge wise, their voices raising higher and higher until –
"STOP!"
The mother and son duo froze instantly, each one turning their heads to see Erasa, her face red and defiant after her outburst. To Gohan's shock, the blonde girl walked up to Chi-Chi, hands on her hips.
"You need to calm down!" She said, "Gohan may not be the best at planning things like this – but he doesn't deserve to be yelled at like that! And I certainly don't deserve to be called a 'hussy'!"
Chi-Chi just stood there in openmouthed shock, while Gohan took a couple steps back.
Oh Kami, please don't let this get any worse…
"I won't let you just stand there and keep ranting while your own children have to sit back and watch!" Erasa continued, "Gohan may have made a big mistake in not telling you where he was last night, and he shouldn't have kept you worrying, but…but the way you're talking to him is just plain wrong!"
Erasa walked over to Gohan, tugging briefly at his arm. "Come on, Gohan – I can go back home. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I don't want to start any kind of mess like this."
Gohan's shoulders slumped, and he cast a defeated look at his mother before joining Erasa and walking away from the Son household.
"Wait."
Gohan and Erasa stopped dead in their tracks, and turned around. Chi-Chi's expression softened, and when she spoke, her tone was lower.
"I'm sorry, you two," she apologized, "I shouldn't have lashed out like that. And…Erasa, was it? I'm sorry for calling you a hussy. That was wrong and completely unwarranted."
Gohan was shocked to hear his normally short-tempered mother admit that she was wrong, but Erasa smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay. I just didn't want to be a burden to you, especially on Christmas."
"You don't need to worry about that at all," Chi-Chi replied, smiling back, "It's honestly a pleasure to have guests over. Why don't you come on in?"
The trio walked inside the house, Chi-Chi and Erasa chatting happily and Gohan still mildly confused but relieved that things were peaceful now.
The Son household was a pleasant, homely atmosphere to say the least—the front entrance led to a kitchen area where the first thing Erasa could notice was the smell of a delicious meal being cooked, meats and other dishes sizzling on the stove as the smell wafted its way through the room and into every area of the house. Apart from that, the kitchen itself looked wonderful—large and spacious, dimly lit by a gas lamp on a corner desk, and Christmas decorations and ornaments hanging all over it. A radio was also playing Christmas music, more softly now that Chi Chi turned down the volume in consideration of their guest.
In the living room Erasa could see very old-fashioned looking, Oriental furniture coupled with more modern looking couches and sofas, as well as a large TV at the center. But apart from that, she also noted the very large and richly decorated Christmas tree that didn't look too far off from the one at her parents house—only this one was clearly a real tree and not store brought, which made sense, given the location of the house in the mountains.
The blonde girl sat herself down on the sofa in the living room, smiling, relieved to be welcomed into the house of the man who had shown such great love toward her. Gohan sat himself down next to Erasa, smiling as well, and wrapped his arm around her to pull her close.
"See?", he whispered in her ear, "I told you everything would be fine."
Chi Chi was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen, and meanwhile Goten decided to plop himself on the sofa as well, eager to catch up with his older brother.
"Who's your friend, Gohan?", asked Goten, peering over at Erasa, "She sure is pretty!"
Erasa blushed a little, but smiled. Gohan chuckled.
"Goten, this is Erasa. She's a friend of mine from school. She lives all the way out in the city so she doesn't get to visit this area as often as she'd like to…(Or as often as YOU'D like me to…Erasa thought slyly)…but she's a very nice person and I'm sure you and her will get along just fine!"
"Cool!" Goten got up from the couch and walked up to Erasa to hug her around the waist. "Hi Erasa! I'm Goten, and I hope we can be friends!"
"H-hey, now!" Gohan interjected, standing up, "Don't you think that's a bit much…?"
"Not at all, silly!" Erasa replied, eagerly hugging Goten back. "Of course we can be friends, hon. You're real sweet."
Gohan blinked a couple times, but then smiled, glad to see his little brother and girlfriend getting along. While Goten could be overly affectionate at times, there was no doubt that he had an aura around him that made him very likeable.
The three stayed in the living room for a little while, talking about Gohan and Erasa's history with each other and life on Mount Paozu. Goten was very quick to inquire where and when Gohan and Erasa had first met, and they told the story of Gohan's first day at school, how shy he was and how Erasa had welcomed him to sit right next to her in class. The pair then talked about how frequently they saw each other after that, going downtown, seeing movies and just in general enjoying each other's company.
"Gee, that's a lot of time you guys are hanging out with each other!" Goten exclaimed, "It sounds like you spend more time with Erasa than you did with Videl!"
Gohan grimaced at the mention of his ex-girlfriend, and Erasa looked at him, concerned—but before either of them could reply, Chi Chi's voice called from the kitchen,
"Dinner's ready, everyone!"
"Coming, Mom!" Gohan and Goten answered simultaneously. They both rushed to the table, clearly eager to eat, Erasa following behind them.
Dinner was an old Son favorite; crab and egg fried rice with pork buns, and some miso soup on the side. The four quickly said grace, Gohan and Goten rushing into their meals without a second thought, gobbling down as much rice and buns as possible (thankfully, since Chi Chi was more than acquainted with the Saiyan appetite at this point in her life, she had made sure to cook enough food for ten ordinary men).
Erasa, who was eating much more slowly, giggled at the sight of her boyfriend chowing down. She was used to it already, having gone out to eat with Gohan multiple times before, but she always found it funny seeing such an innocent, polite young lad stuffing his face like nobody's business.
"So, Erasa," Chi-Chi's voice interrupted the blonde from her reverie, "I'm sorry for acting the way I did when Gohan told me about you wanting to stay here. I shouldn't have called you a hussy."
"It's okay," replied Erasa, who was eager to get that memory out of her head.
Apparently Chi-Chi sensed it, because she instantly changed the subject. "Anyway, how long have you and Gohan known each other?"
"Two and a half years now, almost." Erasa smiled brightly as she bit into a pork bun, reflecting fondly on times with Gohan, and grateful for the change of subject. "It feels like yesterday I invited him to sit next to me when he was a new student in class."
Chi Chi smiled back. "That was nice of you. I'm sure he appreciated that."
"Well, he was a little shy about it at first," Erasa replied, "but over time he's gotten more open."
"That's good to hear." Chi Chi replied.
The two ladies continued chatting, talking about life in high school, in the Son household, Christmas and a whole range of other topics in between bites of food. Gohan and Goten didn't join the conversation as they were two busy stuffing their faces, but it gave Chi Chi and Erasa a good enough time to know each other and for Erasa to feel more comfortable around her boyfriends family.
"It sounds like you two've gotten along real well," Chi Chi said, after listening to Erasa telling her countless stories of good times shared between her and Gohan, "I'm glad Gohan has someone like you in his life, you seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders."
"Hehe…" Erasa blushed, "Thanks, appreciate it."
Chi Chi turned to Gohan, who had just finished downing his fifth bowl of rice, and asked, "So Gohan, when are you going to marry this girl?"
PFFFFFFT!
Gohan spat out his rice all over the table as Erasa's blush darkened, and the poor boy could only get strings of unrelated words out of his mouth.
"Wha….I….I don't….huh….?"
"You two make such a lovely couple! I'm sure you'll give me some great grandchildren." Chi Chi beamed, ignoring the embarrassment of the two teenagers.
"So does this mean Erasa's gonna be my new sister?" Goten chimed in
"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
After a very awkward end to an otherwise pleasant dinner, Goten headed to bed, and Gohan, Erasa and Chi Chi sat down in the living room for a chat about the former two's relationship. Chi Chi sat on her old rocking chair while Gohan and Erasa sat on the sofa across from the fireplace, both enjoying the warming glow.
Chi Chi looked at the couple across from her with an amused expression, her eyes twinkling somewhat. "Okay, you two…" She began, "There's no use hiding it now. I know you two are more than just friends."
"Erm…." Gohan squirmed a little, scratching the back of his head, while Erasa slumped her shoulders a little. "Yeah….you could say that…"
"It's okay, Gohan." Chi Chi assured him, "If anything, I'm glad to see you with someone else since what happened with—" She stopped herself, "Anyway, I'm not faulting you for going out with another girl now that I've seen you go through it before. It's normal."
Gohan and Erasa breathed a sigh of relief, glad to hear Chi Chi opening up with a positive statement like that.
"That being said…" She narrowed her eyes a little, "If we are going to have another guest in the house for Christmas, I think a few ground rules should be laid down." She pointed a finger to Gohan and Erasa. "You two. Separate. Bedrooms. Understand? I want grandchildren, but I don't want them out of wedlock."
"Of course, mom." Gohan agreed and Erasa nodded with him.
"Secondly…Erasa, I'd like you to help me with some things around the house on Christmas Eve. We have guests coming over that night and I always prepare a big dinner, and I would like some extra help with that, okay? I'll give you pointers if you need any."
"Oh!" Erasa shot up, surprised by the request. She placed a finger to her chin, thinking about it. Well, it's not like I haven't cooked a million meals for myself while I was at home….
"Uh, Mom…" Gohan interjected, "I think you're asking a bit much…"
"No, it's fine." Erasa conceded, smiling at the thought. "I kinda like that, I can't remember the last time I've cooked for anyone other than myself. I think I'll actually enjoy it."
Chi Chi smiled back. "That's great to hear, Erasa! Now, for the third and final rule…"
Gohan and Erasa inhaled sharply.
"…I'd just like to know, Erasa, what on Earth happened to your family to where you don't even want to stay home on Christmas of all times?" There was a hint of concern in Chi Chi's tone, as this was a very abnormal thing indeed. "I don't mean to pry, but I think I'm owed a better understanding of the situation."
"Oh…well…" Erasa looked down towards her feet, refusing to meet Chi Chi's gaze. "They're on a business trip. They're travelling to South City for a conference that runs until the end of next week, and they've been doing that for the past couple of years…"
"What!?" Chi Chi exclaimed, "You mean your parents haven't been home for Christmas in the past two years?"
Erasa nodded.
"But…who stays with you while they were gone?"
Erasa trembled, and answered, "No one. I stay by myself."
Chi Chi placed a hand to her mouth in shock, hardly able to believe that any parent could ever treat their child with such neglect. While she had to deal with her fair share of Goku leaving on an unexpected trip to go training every now and again (apart from being dead) never, EVER in her entire life, did she ever hear of such blatant disregard for the emotional well-being of one's son or daughter to the point of leaving them all by themselves on a holiday where everyone else was reunited with loved ones…
"My God…" she whispered, "I'm sorry I asked…"
"It's okay," Erasa replied, putting on what anyone could tell was a very forced smile, "I'm just glad I can stay here for the holidays."
"But…" Chi Chi answered, "…when do they come back?"
"On the 30th."
A tense silence followed Erasa's response, the only sounds being the music softly playing in the background and the snow gently blowing outside the house. Then, to Erasa and Gohan's surprise, Chi Chi got up from her chair and joined the couple on the sofa, sitting next to Erasa and taking the blonde's hand in her own.
"Erasa…please stay with us until they come back."
Erasa blinked. "You mean…I can stay until the 30th?"
Chi Chi nodded, and Erasa's heart felt so light it could have floated. Without warning, she grabbed Chi Chi into a big hug. Happy tears began streaming down Erasa's pretty face as she held onto what felt like the first human being to welcome her into a home in years.
Gohan leaned back on the sofa ledge, happy, relieved and surprised at the sight before him. Just a few hours ago he was witnessing Chi-Chi scream objections at the thought of having Erasa spend Christmas with them—but now, the two were hugging after Erasa was not only allowed to spend Christmas at the Son home, but stay until her parents would return from their business trip.
Gazing out the window, Gohan admired the peaceful sight of snow falling gently on the ground, and the moonlight casting a faint, relaxing glow. Turning back to Erasa and his mother, he smiled broadly.
To think….none of this would have happened if she hadn't asked me to stay at her house first.
Later that evening, when the conversation was over and everyone had gone to sleep, Gohan was lying wide awake in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling—not that he could see it since it was completely pitch black. Clad in only his pajama pants, he stretched his body, yawning.
Erasa had gone from being a close friend, to his new girlfriend, and in the best possible season of the year—Christmas. It all began when he was reluctantly convinced to keep her company after a night of holiday shopping, and after a very clever ploy involving two glasses of eggnog, Gohan found himself sharing a night of passionate sex with a woman he never thought it would ever happen with.
The Saiyan teen couldn't help laughing as he remembered how nervous he was at the time—and then stopped, frowning.
Was it right for me to do that?
He knew his mother would disapprove if she ever found out about the encounter between him and Erasa the other night, and the conversation earlier that evening did nothing to calm that concern. Chi Chi was serious about abstaining from sex before marriage, and while Gohan was no longer worried about what she—or anyone—would think of him because he broke that rule, he had another, more legitimate reason for thinking twice about his actions:
Love for his family.
On top of that, there was another, deeper secret he had to share with Erasa. One that he feared could potentially ruin their entire relationship…
Absently, Gohan picked up an old family photo he kept by his nightstand, the moonlight shining from the window allowing him to see his younger self, Chi-Chi and Goku, smiling brightly into the camera.
He thumbed the upper right portion of the photo, where Goku's smiling face was captured, and sighed deeply, "If only you were here…"
Suddenly, Gohan felt a light touch on his shoulder, and a voice whisper, "I'm here, Gohan…"
"WHAT!?" Gohan fell off his bed, tangling himself in blankets and sheets, and when he uncovered himself, saw reflected in the moonlight…
"Erasa!" He gasped, his heart pounding, and hastily sat himself back on his bed, not even fully aware of the fact that he was half-naked. Staring back at his girlfriend (who was clad in an old, modest nightie that Chi Chi kept but never used), he saw her look mildly surprised as his heart beat slowed down.
Erasa giggled. "I didn't scare ya, did I, big guy?" She sat down beside Gohan, playfully punching him in the arm, and Gohan chuckled a little.
"I guess I'm not used to late night visits." Gohan cranked his neck, rubbing it a little. "But anyway, are you sure you should be in my room at night? Mom didn't want us in the same room together."
Erasa sighed. "Gohan, we've had sex already, and now you're worried about us being in the same room at night?"
"Heh…well, that time, I didn't have my mother in the same house as me."
"Yeah, I know." Erasa reached a hand up to Gohan's cheek, the soft, sensitive touch caressing his rougher, calloused skin. "I just really like spending time with you. It doesn't feel right for me to be sleeping in a separate room when my new boyfriend is just a few steps away."
"Yeah…" Gohan's smile slowly vanished as a more contemplative look came onto his face. He took Erasa's arm in his hand, lowering it so that it wasn't touching his face anymore. Then, taking a deep breath, he leaned back onto his mattress, looking outside his window to the snow falling softly.
Erasa's smile also vanished, but she laid down beside Gohan, wrapping an arm around his muscular torso. Sensing his concerns, she asked, "You don't regret that we had sex, do you?"
There was a few moments of silence from Gohan, his chest rising and falling slowly. Then, barely above a whisper, he replied, "No."
Erasa looked up, but the lighting was such that she couldn't see Gohan's expression. "That took a while to say 'no' to."
"Well…what would you rather I do? Say yes quickly?"
"I would rather you be more honest and open about how you feel," said Erasa, and Gohan could sense the same commanding edge to her voice that he sensed when she told him to drink the infamous eggnog last night, "Especially to me."
Gohan heaved a deep sigh. "I just…I mean, it was great. It was amazing, and you couldn't be a better girl to share a night like that with…but…"
"But what?"
"…but I love my family. And…I know my mother would hate if she found out."
Silence fell again between the young couple, the only sound that could be heard being the snow that was softly falling outside the home. Neither Gohan nor Erasa could see the others facial expression—and perhaps for the better, too. Then, slowly but surely, Erasa released her grip on Gohan's torso, sitting up at the foot of the bed.
"So…we're back to square one, huh?" She replied coldly, "Back to where you're worrying about what people think of you…just when I thought you'd gotten over that."
"Erasa…" Gohan sat up next to her, "It's not like that. I just don't want to upset my family…"
"And how's that any different?" Erasa interrupted, her voice still cold, "You're still caring about what others think of you. Only difference now is, you're just making it sound nicer."
Gohan recoiled a little at that, but continued, "I just don't know if it was the best decision to make at the time, that's all. You have to understand, I was raised with a different set of values. Why should it bother you that I'm just thinking twice about it?"
"Why!?" Erasa shot back, her voice reaching at least an octave higher, "Because I would have been left alone, that's why! Because I would have been by myself, in a big house, with no parents, or friends, or…or…."
Her body started to shake, and a muffled sob told Gohan that tears were falling down her face. He frowned, wishing he could lay a comforting hand on Erasa's shoulder but not wanting to risk her reacting even more.
"I don't regret staying with you," Gohan tried to assure his distressed girlfriend, "Even if we didn't wind up having sex…I never would have forgiven myself for leaving you all alone in that big house. I would have stayed."
"But we wouldn't have made love," Erasa replied, still sobbing.
Gohan blinked, and after registering the fact that Erasa didn't even smile at the affirmation that he still would have stayed with her, said bluntly, "So that's all you got out of last night? Just us having sex?"
"I…" Erasa stopped sobbing for a bit, but no words came out of her mouth.
Gohan let go of her, crossing his arms. "I went Christmas shopping with you, just because I heard you say you could use the help at school," he said, his voice as cold as Erasa's had been a minute earlier, "I stayed at your house last night, against my better judgment – even against everything I was raised to believe in. Then I invited you into my house, introduced you to my family, even though my mother was yelling and screaming at me at first…and now you're telling me, that if we didn't have sex, all of that wouldn't have been enough?"
"I…" Erasa sniffed, and wiped her face with her sleeve. "I'm sorry, Gohan…you're right, that's wrong for me to say that…"
Silence fell upon the couple for a few moments. Erasa trembled—she couldn't see Gohan's expression because he was leaned back from the moonlight, and she didn't want to see it either.
Slowly, nervously, she spoke up. "Y-you're not mad at me, are you…?"
"No," was Gohan's quick reply, "But…you need to understand how this all feels from my perspective. I mean, you just told me I should be open with you about how I feel, and when I am, you react like this…"
"I'm sorry!" Erasa cried and, without warning, threw herself into Gohan's arms, the latter holding onto her tight as her form trembled with sobs.
Gohan was caught by surprise, but he rubbed her back comfortingly, his expression softening under the moonlight.
Erasa continued crying, "I take back what I said, just…please, please don't leave me now…please stay."
Gohan continued rubbing her back, and whispered, "Of course, Erasa. I love you; I'll never leave you. Not now, not ever."
Erasa smiled into Gohan's chest, and after the two spent some time simply enjoying each other's company, the blonde got up, wiping the tears off her face as the catharsis of the event set in. Gohan stood up with her, giving her a peck on the lips.
"I'm glad it all worked out," he said.
"Me too," Erasa replied, "and I don't blame you for thinking about your family. That's only natural for a guy as caring as you."
Gohan was grateful that the moonlight wasn't shining down so Erasa couldn't see him blush. "I'm glad you understand…anyway, we should be getting to bed now. It's getting late."
Erasa giggled, and turned around, Gohan eyeing her form as she sashayed out of the room. She was about to open the door when he remembered something.
"Hey, Erasa…" the blonde stopped, gazing over her shoulder curiously, "…it was good we had that conversation and all, but next time, can you not catch me by surprise like that anymore?"
Erasa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…oh, come on, you know—you touching my shoulder and whispering and stuff. I thought you were a ghost."
"Uhhh…" Erasa replied, looking genuinely confused, "I…didn't do anything like that. I just walked in and saw you on the floor with all those blankets on you."
"What?", said Gohan, "Then, who…never mind. Let's just get to bed. It is getting late."
"Okay, hotshot," Erasa chuckled, "Just make sure you get to bed early tomorrow."
And with that, the blonde left, closing the door behind her and leaving Gohan to his own thoughts. The Saiyan hybrid plopped onto his mattress, all thoughts of whatever had caused that noise that made him panic gone as he pondered the conversation him and Erasa had.
It was…well, unique as far as most talks between the two went. But it ended well, and at the end she respected his uncertainty about what happened between them last night. And, as Gohan gazed outside to the snow softly falling, creating a canvas of white, he thought that that was honestly enough. Especially now that Erasa had a good place to stay for Christmas.
Maybe this will make sharing his other secret with her a little easier.
Gohan yawned, and closed his eyes as his body relaxed and his mind took him into a realm of sweet dreams.
Outside the Son household, a spirit floated above the first story, gazing into the room of his firstborn child.
Son Goku laid a hand on the glass window of Gohan's room – or at least, what could have been a hand if he possessed physical form—and took one last look at his son's sleeping form, feeling the same sense of fatherly protectiveness he felt when training with Gohan as a little kid.
I'm here, Gohan…I'll never leave you.
A few days passed, and after all the shopping, cleaning and decorating the Son family got themselves busy with….Christmas Eve was finally upon them.
And a very lovely Christmas Eve, at that. The full moon hung above the cloudless night sky over Mt. Paozu, with stars decorating the black expanse nicely, and snow softly falling down on a white canvas with trees and frozen lakes. In the center of it all stood the Son household, richly decorated after the efforts of Gohan and Goten.
Christmas lights of all colors – especially red and green – were strung around the house, as well as Christmas wreaths on all the doors and an inflatable Santa Clause on right side of the front lawn. A 2-D nativity scene stood on the left side of the house, the light casting a large, shadowy silhouette on the ground in front of it. Even Grandpa Gohan's old hut, which stood a few feet away from the Son house, had some lights strung across the roof and a wreath on the window.
And inside the house…
"Ah!" Erasa cried as she accidentally cracked an egg and it spilled on the floor.
"I'll get it!" Chi-Chi chimed in, grabbing a paper towel and cleaning up the mess.
Chi-Chi and Erasa were both preparing the enormous meal that was to be served that night. Chi-Chi was working on the turkey, stuffing, potatoes as well as any other entrees that were to be served, and Erasa decided to do the desserts, both clad in a long white apron on top of their normal clothes.
'I'm sorry…" Erasa said sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it," Chi-Chi reassured her, smiling as she got back to basting the turkey. "You've been a big help so far – just make sure to relax your grip on the egg until it's over the bowl."
Erasa smiled back, and got back to baking the cake that was to be served for dessert.
"You know, Erasa," Chi-Chi commented, "I really appreciate what you're doing – it's nice to have someone help out in the kitchen for a change."
"Thanks," Erasa said, smiling at the compliment, "I just wish I wasn't so clumsy sometimes…"
"Don't worry about it!" Chi-Chi insisted, "It happens to the best of us. Now come here, I want to show you how to properly baste a turkey…"
The kitchen was full of the smells, noises and chatter of two busy chefs cooking a delicious meal for the family, and the aroma of delicious food wafted all throughout the house.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Gohan and Goten were playing cards underneath the family's gigantic – and gigantically decorated – Christmas tree. Goten was sitting cross-legged while Gohan was lying on his stomach, Goten dressed in small white-collared shirt, black pants and shoes, and Gohan dressed in his usual school clothes, minus the badge.
"Okay….got any fives?" asked Gohan to his brother
"Nope, go fish," Goten replied. Gohan drew a card.
"Got any ones, twos, threes, fours or fives?" Goten asked, grinning from ear to ear.
Gohan rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Goten, that's not how you play Go Fish. You need to ask for just one type of card."
"Okay, sorry," Goten apologized, "Then, do you have the type of card that's made of paper?"
Gohan couldn't help laughing. "Okay, hotshot, are you gonna make a real move, or not?" He asked, playfully punching his little brother on the shoulder.
"That was my move!" Goten insisted, grinning again.
Gohan sighed. "I can never win with you…"
"Boys!" Chi-Chi's voice rang from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready!"
Gohan and Goten eagerly got up and headed to the kitchen, and when they saw the food spread before them on the table, their eyes widened and mouths watered in anticipation.
Chi-Chi and Erasa definitely went all out for dinner that night. On the table set before them was all manner of food one would expect at a Christmas Eve dinner – mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, a baked ham, salad and even some cranberry and gravy sauce thrown into the mix. But in the center of it all was perhaps the largest turkey Gohan or Goten had ever seen served anywhere for Christmas, and the smell was enough to make their mouths feel like they were turning into a waterfall of saliva.
Goten reached up to a plate – but Chi-Chi smacked his hand.
"Oh no you don't, young man!" She reproved him, "We are all going to sit down and eat together. It's Christmas!"
"Okay, Mom…" Goten frowned, rubbing his hand.
The four of them sat down together in peace – or at least, Chi-Chi and Erasa did, as Gohan and Goten were too busy stuffing their faces as usual! The Saiyan pair gobbled down with intense vigor the meal set before them, relishing every taste while the two ladies ate their meals normally and chatted with each other, not bothered by Gohan and Goten's behavior in the least.
After dinner, Goten headed to bed, eager to get up next morning to unwrap his presents. Chi-Chi headed to bed too, thinking it best to get to sleep early after all the work she had done that past week. Meanwhile, Gohan and Erasa were lounging on the sofa in the living room, Erasa lying down and resting her head on Gohan's lap while the latter ran his fingers through his girlfriends pretty blonde hair.
He smiled down at Erasa's form, enjoying how comfortable she was in this position. "Merry Christmas, Erasa."
She smiled back. "Merry Christmas to you too, Gohan."
The fire was crackling its last few sparks, but it kept the living room warm enough for the two of them. Aside from the faint glow that it was giving off, the room was completely dark, save for a sliver of moonlight cracking in from the kitchen windows. Absently, Gohan eyed the presents underneath the Christmas tree, looking to them and then to Erasa, when it hit him.
I should tell her now.
"Erasa…" he said, "…I have an early Christmas gift I want to share with you."
Erasa blinked, turning her body so she could look up at Gohan. "Oh? What's that?"
Without warning, Gohan got up, walked to the coat hangar and reached for his coat. "Just put some warm clothes on, we're going outside."
"Um, okay."
Erasa followed Gohan's lead and got up from the sofa, heading back into her room to put on warm clothes and wondering just what on Earth her boyfriend had in mind.
Gohan led Erasa to the backyard of his home – or so he liked to call it. It was really a lower area of Mount Paozu that led to a large, crystal clear lake that was frozen due to the ice cold temperatures, allowing it to reflect the light of the moon and stars that shone onto it. The snow-covered land surrounding the lake was bathed in its heavenly glow, and the few birds that were flying in the distance made it hard to imagine a setting more perfect for Christmas Eve.
Gohan was standing by the edge of the lake with Erasa by his side, both wearing coats, snow pants and boots, with Erasa wearing green ear muffs and mittens to keep her extra warm. Gohan didn't see the need for those, but then again, he was used to extreme mountain temperatures.
"So," Erasa began, looking at her boyfriend expectantly, "What is it? What's my present?"
Gohan shifted a little, rubbing the back of his head in that cute, shy way that Erasa loved so much. "Well…okay. So there's something about me that I've been meaning to tell you for a while…"
Erasa playfully rolled her eyes. "This isn't about our last chat about sex, is it?"
"No!" Gohan insisted sternly, taking Erasa by surprise. "It's something else."
Erasa blinked. "Okay, then. What is it?"
Gohan gulped. It's now or never…
"So, as you can probably tell, I don't exactly come from a 'normal' family. I mean…I'm not like other guys."
"Of course not!" agreed Erasa, "That's why I love you."
"No, I mean I'm different." Gohan held out his right hand, his palm facing upward. "I can only really explain it for you when you see it for yourself…so, just watch."
Erasa did, and she noticed a strange warmth that emanated from Gohan's palm. She felt it grow warmer and warmer and continued watching with great interest – and then shock when a small, blue ball of light appeared on Gohan's palm, levitating just slightly above it.
"So, this is called a ki ball," Gohan stated, "It's what happens when you channel all the energy in your body into somewhere specific like your hands."
"It's incredible!" Erasa said in awe as she observed the ki, "It's like a star if you could see it up close!"
"Yeah, well, it's not all for show," Gohan said as he relinquished the ball's energy, to Erasa's mild disappointment. "It's often used in battles, not just in playful spars either. You'll see a lot of wild ki floating around when battles are being fought that could determine the fate of the Earth."
"Uhh," Erasa stammered, confused. "Okay? Why are you telling me this?"
Gohan took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and counted to three, mustering up the courage to say what he was about to say.
"Erasa, I'm half-human, half-alien. The reason I have these powers is because my father is descended from a line of warrior space pirates named Saiyans."
He kept his eyes shut tight, mentally preparing himself for Erasa to either scream or else run away. Or both. When he got neither of these reactions (he could tell Erasa was still standing in front of him because he could sense her ki), Gohan slowly opened his eyes and saw, to his relief and surprise, that Erasa looked calm despite his admission.
"I…see," she said, and Gohan could sense a nervous edge to her voice, "And, uh…I'm guessing that's how you can create those energy ball things?"
Gohan nodded, without saying a word.
"Oh. Well, okay, then…"
The two stood there in awkward silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the occasional gust of wind and the sound of an owl's hoot over in a tree a few feet down. Finally, Gohan broke the silence
"Look, Erasa, if this sounds too weird for you, you can let me know. I wouldn't blame you if you thought I was the craziest man on Earth…"
"No!" Erasa insisted, "No, Gohan, not at all. I've known you long enough to know you're probably the least craziest guy on the planet."
Gohan blinked. "So you believe me? You don't think I'm weird or anything?"
"How could I?" Erasa said, smiling reassuringly. "You've been probably the least weird thing to ever happen to me in my life. Honestly, Gohan…I'm just glad you've even found it in yourself to share this with me."
Gohan felt elated at hearing those words, and without thinking he scooped Erasa in his arms, pulling her in for a deep kiss. When the two parted, they decided to go back inside the house, deciding it was too chilly for either of them to spend any more time outside, especially as it was getting late.
The two were walking back to the Son household when Erasa thought of something. Turning to Gohan, she asked, "Hey, you think Mr. Satan might have been able to use that ki thing you were talking about? When he fought and defeated Cell?"
Gohan couldn't help but chuckle. "That's a whole 'nother conversation…"
A/N: Hello, friends. I realize this second chapter is a bit overdue, but honestly, I'm just glad to be able to deliver it to you. I know it's been a while, hasn't it?
I've been wanting to publish this chapter for a very long time now. It's only fitting that I publish it now, on Christmas Day, with how long I know everyone who's followed this story has been waiting. I hope it rises to your expectations, and consider it my Christmas present to you! As always, please leave a review