Tales of Parenthood
Author's Note
Sequel to Coming of Age. Everyone except Goku and Doctor Briefs are alive, but Goku visits. Grand Tour happened and the dragon balls are gone. Ignores Dragon Ball Super.
Pan is 35
Bra is 37
Goten is 48
Trunks is 49
Henry is 18
Cora is 14/15
Maddox is 16
Litta is 12
Cami is 12
Bardock is 8
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any characters or variations of DBZ. I only own my OCs.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Extracurriculars
Cora straightened her black skirt and white blouse. Her hair dark wavy hair was pinned into a tight bun.
"You look perfect," Chi-Chi fussed over her great granddaughter. Cora was preparing for her orchestra concert. She played the violin beautifully.
A horn beeped outside. "Maddox is driving me," she hugged Chi-Chi before rushing out to his car.
Cami and Litta wandered in slightly nice clothes. "You two ready?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Yeah, I wish I could play an instrument," mumbled Cami her excitement deflating at the thought.
"Like you wanted to play soccer, dance, and gymnastics?" asked Trunks with a chuckle.
"Daddy, dance wasn't my fault," whined Cami.
"I know, but you and Litta have trouble sticking to anything," he gave his daughter a side hug. The two girls grumbled.
xxXXxx
After the concert, Pan hugged her older daughter. Trunks handed her a bouquet of roses.
"Thank you Daddy," Cora hugged his neck. Maddox was with her friends.
"Cora is so talented," gushed Chi-Chi.
Cami pouted ever so slightly. Cora excelled at everything she took part in softball, orchstra, and sparring were just a few examples.
"We should do something," suggested Cami.
"Like what?" Litta asked not following her friend's train of thought.
"Like an extracurricular," Cami elaborated.
"Sure," shrugged Litta. The two did everything together.
xxXXxx
Litta grinned pulling down a flyer. She rushed off to find Cami. On the way she ran into someone. "Sorry," she apologized trying to slip around them.
"It's okay, you're Litta, right?" the teenager asked.
"Yeah, and you are?" she smiled awkwardly at the guy.
"Kaleb with a K," he smiled back pulling the flyer from her hand.
"Hey," she yelped.
"Cheerleader tryouts. Nice, you're trying out?" he dangled the flyer above her head.
"Maybe," she replied hopping up to steal the flyer. She started back off on her way to find Cami.
"You should, you'd be a hot cheerleader," he called after her.
xxXXxx
Cami and Litta had moved the furniture in the living room so they had more room to practice.
Goten came in to find Rini and Bar watching the girls. "What's going on?" he asked confused.
"Litta thinks she's a cheerleader," snickered Bar.
"Be nice they aren't that bad," Rini swatted her son's arm.
"Girls are you sure you should be trying out," called Goten.
"Dad, it's an extra curricular," smiled Litta still working on the routine.
"Then I'm sure you two shouldn't try out," laughed Goten.
"Oh come on," whined Litta.
"If you two try out, you have to promise no quitting and no getting kicked off the team if you make it," ordered Goten face going a little stern.
"Promise!" both Litta and Cami yelled.
"Dad, there's no way they'll make the team, so don't worry," snickered Bar. Rini gave her son a disapproving look.
xxXXxx
"Gampa Gohan why can't I do this," whined Cami getting frustrated. Cami and Litta were over at Gohan and Videl's house.
"Are you having trouble with remembering the routine or what's giving you trouble?" asked Gohan trying to help out his granddaughter. Videl smiled taking a seat to watch her husband help with cheer tryouts.
"We know the routine. We just trip a lot," grumbled Litta lying out on the ground.
"Yeah, all the other girls look so graceful," Cami continued to whine.
"You two are such graceful fliers and fighters. Why don't you try treating it like when you fight?" suggested Videl. Cami's eyes lit up at the suggestion.
xxXXxx
"Wow you two are getting good," Bra complimented watching Litta and Cami practice. Veggie was on her hip grinning and pointing at his cousin.
Henry rushed by stopping for a moment to snicker. "You two need to touch the ground more. I can tell you're flying," chuckled Henry.
Litta stuck her tongue out at him. He grinned back before heading out.
Veggie clapped excitedly as the practice their cheers. Bulma smiled coming outside to watch ruffling Veggie's hair.
"You think they'll make the team?" Bra asked her mother.
"Of course they will… whether or not they make it though the season is a totally different question," grinned Bulma.
xxXXxx
"Tryout results are posted," Cami wore a big smile as she pulled Litta to check the bulletin board.
"So are you a cheerleader?" Kaleb asked Litta. Cami was busy reading the results.
"Maybe," Litta shrugged feeling a little shy.
"We made the team!" yelled Cami tackling Litta. Kaleb laughed at the girls.
xxXXxx
"Come on you two!" called Rini. Goten and Bar followed her to the car.
"Mom why do we have to go watch Litta watch a sport… It seems kind of lame," grumbled Bardock from his spot in the back seat.
"Because we're being supportive, you'll want Litta to be supportive of you when you do things," Rini scolded as she drove them to the middle school.
Once at the game, they met up with Trunks and Pan. "Just the two of you?" asked Goten a little surprised to not see Cora.
"Cora had orchestra and softball practice today," explained Pan while they all found seats.
All in all it was pretty boring even the cheerleaders weren't really paying attention. Rini and Pan started laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Trunks curiously.
"Just Litta's way of holding her pompoms," laughed Rini.
"Her hands are empty?" Goten stated confused until he realized she had them stuffed in the small amount of cleavage the uniform showed. "Nope," groaned Goten hopping up.
"Goten," Rini called after her husband, but there was no getting him to turn back. Goten was quickly down from the bleachers and yanking the pompoms from his daughters shirt. "And now their arguing," laughed Rini watching Goten and Litta argue. Goten still had the pompoms in his hands as he made his hand gestures.
"Uncle Goten might be a better cheerleader than the girls," snickered Pan happy Trunks wasn't the one causing a scene for once.
xxXXxx
"After Dad's little stunt, I'll be lucky if they don't kick me off the team!" cried Litta throwing her pompoms to the side as she did a face plant into the couch.
"Well you're the one who put your pompom in your shirt," Rini giggled while Goten rolled his eyes.
"It got boring and I didn't want to hold them anymore," grumbled Litta.
"If it was boring why do you care if they kick you off the team?" asked Bar poking his sister's hair that was still in a high ponytail.
"Cause I can't quit or get kicked off Dad said I couldn't do any more activities if I did," she cried into couch cushion.
"If you get kicked off because of me, it won't count," Goten told her leaning on the back of the couch.
"Really?" she sat up.
"Yeah," he gave her a sheepish smile. Litta hopped up and hugged him tight.
xxXXxx
"Anything new with you two?" Henry asked in passing not paying much attention to Cami or Litta.
"Litta got a boyfriend," teased Cami giving Litta a friendly push.
Henry froze before turning back to hear this new topic through. "A boyfriend?" he gave her a goofy grin, waiting to hear an explanation.
"He's not my boyfriend," grumbled Litta her face going red.
"His name is Kaleb, and he really likes Litta," giggled Cami.
"Shut up," whined Litta putting her head on the table. Henry ruffled Litta hair before leaving the kitchen. On the way out her heard her mutter, "He probably doesn't even like me."
Henry shook his head with a chuckle.
xxXXxx
Litta and Cami were packing up after cheer practice. One of the girls pushed past them shoulder checking Litta.
"You have a problem?" Litta growled at one of her teammates.
"The only reason you both are on this team is because of your fathers" the girl got in Litta's face. Cami was slightly confused.
"We practice and earned our spots," Cami stated not seeing what either Goten or her father had to do with anything.
"Sure you did," laughed the girls leaving.
"What is she talking about?" Cami asked Litta. She shrugged pulling her best friend along.
xxXXxx
Trunks and Pan were snuggled up on the couch watching a movie. Cami was sitting on the living room floor being oddly quiet.
"Angel you okay?" Trunks asked feeling a little worried.
"I'm fine," she answered softly.
Pan paused the movie. "Cami, you don't sound fine. What's wrong?" she asked sitting up out of Trunks' arms.
Cami sighed and explained, "a girl on the cheer team said Litta and I only made the team because of our fathers, and I don't see what Daddy and Uncle Goten have to do with cheerleading."
"Well you saw your Uncle Goten. He's a natural with pompoms," snickered Trunks. Pan laughed lightly, but Cami still seemed bothered.
"Angel, Uncle Goten and I are important and respected men in the community, so they think people will give you things you didn't earn just because your our daughters," Trunks tried to clarify what the girls had meant.
"But Litta and I did earn our spots… didn't we?" Cami looked to her mother.
"Of course you did. Some people are mean and like to assume others take the easy way out," Pan assured her moving to stoke her daughter's hair.
"Did anyone ever say that about you?" Cami asked leaning toward Pan's hand.
"Yeah, I always was treated different because of Gramps," Pan replied still stroking her hair.
"Kind of like how they are always extra nice to us at the tournaments," Cami recalled thinking back to how people act around Hercule.
"Yes, but people were also mean to me like they were to you today. Most of the time people didn't even want to get to know me. That's part of the reason I married your Dad," Pan gave Trunks a smile.
"Really?" she smiled at her parents.
"He treated me like a real person," Pan stared at Trunks her eyes going slightly dreamy.
"That's what you should always look for in friends and in a significant other. I fell in love with your mom because she is an amazing person," Trunks slipped his hand into the hand Pan wasn't using to stroke her daughter's hair.
xxXXxx
"Cora is the worst," whined a girl walking down the hall.
"She has to be the best at everything," the other spat.
Maddox wrapped an arm around Cora. "You okay?" he asked just above a whisper.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be," she answered quietly.
"If I can hear them, I know you can," he replied.
"It's no big deal. Why should I be insulted that I'm the best," she gave him a smirk similar to Vegeta's.
"Whatever you say, but I agree you are the best," he said with a sigh.
xxXXxx
"Bye Kaleb, thanks for walking us," Litta lingered at the door of Capsule Corp saying goodbye.
Cami was inside waiting for Litta. Henry walked by giving the couple a glare.
"That Caleb?" he asked.
"Yep, Caleb with a K," she laughed a little at her own statement. Litta strolled in looking slightly dreamy eyed.
"That guy spells his name with a K?" Henry asked.
"Yeah why?" Litta snapped back to reality.
"Just it a weird way to spell it," he huffed before leaving the girls to whatever they were up to. Henry wasn't really bothered by how Kaleb spelled his name. He was more bothered by Kaleb's existence entirely, but he wasn't sure why.
xxXXxx
"Today in class we will be practicing fencing," explained the gym teacher. "You will each get a turn to try your hand at it. Who knows if enough of you are good, we could have a team this year," the teacher continued showing how the positions and techniques worked.
"Maybe Cora won't be good at this," sneered one of the girls in the class.
xxXXxx
Gym was Cora's last class of the day. Maddox went to find her when she didn't meet him in the hall like usual.
"The only reason you are the best is because you don't go up against men," an older boy laughed pushing Cora back towards the wall of the gym.
Maddox held back a growl as he headed for Cora and the boy's group of friends. He knew Cora could stand up for herself, but she still looked over powered since she only stood about five feet three inches.
"I am better than you. Name the sport, and I'll prove it," Cora stated firmly.
"Fencing challenge," the boy smirked. "That won't be a problem, will it? I know you only got your first lesson today," he laughed.
"Friday, after school," she replied coolly.
"You don't know who you're dealing with. Giles is the best at fencing in the whole school," scoffed one of the others in the group.
"And you must have forgotten who you're talking to, because I'm pretty sure Cora's beat you all back in middle school at baseball," Maddox reminded them wrapping an arm around Cora.
"Well she's in softball now where she belongs," spat a different boy.
"Yes or no on Friday?" Cora asked her voice holding an edge to it warning the boys that they were getting close to a line.
"Friday, I'll show you who's the best," Giles laughed leaving with his group of friends.
"You okay?" Maddox asked already knowing Cora wasn't likely to admit if she wasn't.
"Fine, I have four days to become the best at fencing. I will be so good that Giles will have to eat his words," she growled fiercely.
"Cora, come on," Maddox kissed her forehead before leading her out to his car.
xxXXxx
Cora was practicing in the gravity room. She had made Trunks get her a sabre. She repeated moves for hours. Vegeta was tired of watching. "How do you plan to win?" he asked watching her focus falter.
"It's like softball. Strategy is important," she replied going through the motions again.
"Yes, but this is not a power sport," Vegeta reminded her.
"I can win," she snapped at her grandfather.
"I never said you couldn't," Vegeta walked over to the controls in the gravity and turned them on a low setting. He picked up sabre from the pile of gear Trunks had purchased. "An opponent would be better practice," he pointed out coming to face her.
"Hope you're prepared to lose," she smirked before launching her first strike.
xxXXxx
"Did you know Dad knows how to use a sword?" Bra asked walking into the kitchen holding a tablet.
"What are you talking about?" asked Bulma looking up from her own tablet. Bra showed the feed from the gravity room. He wasn't quite fencing, but he seemed to be decent with the sabre. "Vegeta is a man of many talents," Bulma smiled handing Bra back the tablet. "Now where is my grandson?"
"Right here," announced Henry grabbing a cup of coffee.
"Yes you are, but I was talking about Veggie," Bulma ruffled Henry's hair he was still in a suit from work.
"He's playing in the back yard with Ivar," answered Bra. Veggie always stuck close to Ivar whenever he was on Earth.
xxXXxx
"Why is Cora learning to fence?" asked Cami. She was having dinner with her parents. Cora had chosen to stay at Capsule Corp to practice.
"I'm not sure, but knowing your sister, she won't stop till she's the best," Pan replied giving Trunks a smile. Cora was a mixture of stubborn from both sides of the family.
"How is cheerleading going?" asked Trunks.
"It's boring, but we're seeing it through," Cami told them with a smile.
"I'm proud of you," he ruffled her hair.
xxXXxx
"On Saturday, can I go to the movies?" Litta asked eating her dinner.
"Sure, are you going with Cami?" Goten asked not thinking anything of it.
"I bet she's going with Kaleb," teased Bar.
Rini was serving out more food when she raised an eyebrow.
"Who is Kaleb?" Goten asked looking bothered.
"A friend," Litta answered quickly.
"Yeah her boyfriend," laughed Bar. Rini bopped him on the head.
"No, no, no. No boyfriends!" groaned Goten.
"Does Cami also have a friend?" asked Rini giving her daughter a side smile.
"Cami has lots of friends. She's friends with Kaleb too," she answered to turning to Goten for the second statement.
"Is Saturday a date, or who are you going to the movies with?" Goten eyed his daughter knowing she could be sneaky at times.
"Cami and Kaleb are both going," huffed Litta.
"Fine, I have no problem with it as long as it's not a date. How about you Rini?" Goten gave his approval. Rini nodded her agreement.
xxXXxx
"You ready?" asked Maddox. Cora had been a little absent over the week.
"Of course," she smirked getting ready to face Giles. The day was over, and the coach had agreed to let them use the gym as long as they promised to pack up when they were done. Giles and Cora approached one another dropping into en garde position. Giles advanced first attempting to gain the opportunity to strike. He lunged missing due to her retreat. Upon his retreat he regained a proper en garde position. Cora lunges gaining a point.
Maddox watched hearing the clashing of sabres throughout the room. Giles group of friends mouths dropping as the watched Cora defeat Giles. Giles growled throwing his sabre. He pulled off his mask throwing it to the side. Then he lunged at Cora pinning her to the ground.
"Shouldn't you help her?" asked one of Giles friends. Maddox laughed under his breath, like Cora needed help defending herself. Giles was tossed off of Cora. She bounced up with little trouble. Giles tried to tackle her again, but she easily dodged causing him to run into the wall. Cora smiled putting away the last of the equipment before grabbing Maddox to the leave the gymnasium.
xxXXxx
"Pawpa, I won today," Cora told Vegeta grabbing his waist in a hug.
"I expected as much," Vegeta returned the hug.
"AAAAA!" a scream came from the kitchen. They ran in to find Henry with his head down on the table. "Why?" he mumbled face down in the table.
"What is he being so dramatic about?" asked Cora. Bra handed her a magazine. Henry's picture was on the cover with the title, World's Most Eligible Bachelor.
"It's not that big of a deal," Bulma assured him. Henry shot his Grammie a glare.
"I'm kind of with Henry on this… They might as well of put a trophy wife bimbo apply within sign on the front of Capsule Corp," Cora snickered.
"Your father was number one on the list for years," Bulma comforted, but it only seemed to make things worse.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Cami entering the kitchen.
"He's the most eligible bachelor in the world," laughed Bra. Veggie came darting into the kitchen climbing quickly into his mother's arms. He tended to be a little monkey like in his actions, something not uncommon of saiyan children.
"Henry wanna go to the movies with me on Saturday?" Cami asked not seeing the big deal in her aunt's statement.
"Sure, better to make plans with you before the vultures start circling," whined Henry.
"You are being over dramatic," Bulma scolded.
xxXXxx
Henry met Cami and Litta at the movie theater. "Hey Litta, I didn't know you were coming," Henry greeted them. He was wearing a hat and sunglasses in an attempted to hide his identity. As predicted, women and some men had been flocking to him since the release of the article.
"I am and I'm not," Litta smiled before heading over to meet a boy he recognized as Kaleb.
"Is Kaleb seeing the movie with us?" Henry asked his little sister.
"No, but if Uncle Goten asks Litta and Kaleb sat with us. What movie do you want to see?" Cami asked looking over the display of movie titles.
Henry watched as the couple got their tickets and headed into the theater. He held back a growl. "Let's see the same movie as them in case Uncle Goten asks us about it," Henry suggested pulling his little sister after them.
xxXXxx
During the movie, Henry fiddled with his bag of jelly beans glaring at Kaleb. He was seated with Litta about five rows in front of them. Cami was busy watching the movie. Kaleb moved to wrap an arm around Litta. Henry flicked a jelly bean hitting Kaleb in the head causing him to twitch and nearly hit Litta. She glared at Kaleb. Henry held back a snicker.
xxXXxx
After the movie, Kaleb tried to kiss Litta only to be hit with another jelly bean. He twitched again swinging around trying to figure out who was doing it. Litta back away looking annoyed.
"Did you have a fun time with Kaleb?" Henry asked putting extra emphasis on Kaleb's name.
"How is that any of your business?" she spat back.
"Whatever, come on. I'm driving you both home," he announced rolling his eyes. Cami was yawning as the climbed into his car. By the time they made it to Litta's house Cami was fast asleep in the passenger seat. "See ya," he called as Litta climbed out of the back seat. "Hope you had fun with Kaleb," he again put extra emphasis on his name.
Litta stopped on her way into the house stomping back to Henry's car. "You don't like him," she snapped.
"I didn't say that," he countered quickly a little surprised by her anger.
"I have every right to date whoever I want," she growled at him.
"True, but I have every right to think they're not good enough for you," Henry hissed trying to keep his cool. He didn't want Goten or Rini coming outside to see their fight or to wake up his baby sister.
"You should let me figure that out," she turned back towards the house. "I'm not going out with him again by the way… He was too twitchy," she called over her shoulder. Henry smirked at hearing that.
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