Chapter Eleven: Break Time

The term ended, and Gohan was heading home, happily flying just below the clouds, taking in the scenery below. "Yeah! I've missed this!"

Piccolo glanced at his former student with a small grin. "And here I thought you were just dying to get home to your mother's cooking."

"Heh heh."

Less than an hour later, they shot down through the tree line and landed neatly, completely soundless. "Gohan," Piccolo said. "Maybe your mother would appreciate it if you got a fish."

"Hey, great idea, Piccolo!" Gohan said as he trotted toward the lake. Piccolo began counting. He reached one hundred fifty-six when a large, blue mass came into view. Gohan held it above his head with one hand. Reaching Piccolo, he dropped the fish on the ground, which landed with a resounding thud. He turned his face toward the modest house. "Mommy! I'm home!" He called.

Seconds later, the door swung open violently and fell off its hinges as a woman rushed across the yard and tackled Gohan with a hug. "Gohan! My baby! I've missed you so much!" She released him, drinking him in with her eyes. "My! You've grown a bit!"

Gohan scratched his head. "Heh. Hey, Mommy! Look what I brought!"

Chi-Chi looked where her son was pointing. She smiled. "I see it's gonna be fish tonight."

"It was Piccolo's idea." Chi-Chi glanced over at her son's tall companion. Piccolo stiffened.

Chi-Chi walked over and patted his shoulder. "That was good thinking, Piccolo. Joining us for dinner?"

Blushing at her touch, Piccolo looked at the ground. "Perhaps I shouldn't."

"Oh, come on!" Gohan pleaded.

Chi-Chi nodded. "It would make Gohan really happy. Besides, I'm going to be a little busy," she added with a wry smile. As if on cue, a loud wail came from inside the house.

Piccolo started from the noise, and Gohan pointed toward the house. "Mom, what's that sound?"

"Oh, your brother probably wants his diaper changed."

Piccolo gasped loudly, and Gohan stepped back. "Ahhhhhh! I have a brother?"

Chi-Chi chuckled. "Of course you do, silly. Don't you remember when I started gaining weight? Didn't you find that a bit odd?"

Gohan scratched his head, blushing. "I thought maybe it was just a phase."

Chi-Chi laughed heartily. "You're so like your father. Come on, some little guy would like to meet his older brother."

Goten was an energetic, precocious baby. Gohan marveled at how Chi-Chi managed to keep him from destroying the entire house. The baby crawled through the house at an amazing pace; Gohan chased after him while his mother cooked dinner. The child appeared enthralled at the sport, flabbergasting Gohan with his incredible speed.

"Piccolo," he panted as he crashed his head through the hallway wall for the third time, "Could you give me a hand?"

Piccolo smirked. "Heh. Haven't heard that one in a while."

Gohan didn't convince his mother to allow him to return early, but he did manage to get her permission to visit the school on Christmas morning. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were happy to see him.

"Hey, Gohan. Good thing you're here…We can give you your presents on time…because it would probably have exhausted our owls to go all the way to your house, we were going to wait until you came back," Hermione explained.

Gohan smiled, and gave them three small identical boxes. Ron eyed them suspiciously. "These aren't engagement rings, are they?" Gohan laughed heartily, painfully clutching his sides.

"Just open them," he said, eyes streaming.

Hermione gasped. She had managed to open hers first. "Gohan! You really…I can't…these are expensive, aren't they?" She held up two small objects that resembled large pills with push buttons.

"Aw…don't worry. Bulma gave me an entire boxful when I started school."

Hermione started."Bulma…Bulma Briefs? Of Capsule Corporation?"

"Ha! Yes!" Ron exalted victoriously.

Hermione stared. "Huh?"

"I finally know something that you don't! Gohan's father is a friend of Bulma's!" Ron grinned.

Hermione smiled, amusedly shaking her head. "So I guess it's safe to assume what's in the other boxes?"

Gohan grinned. "Yep. The pink one is a storage trunk, and the blue one stores some food and water."

Ron's mouth fell open. "You mean…I've got two?"

"Sure do."

Ron sat on a bed in a daze.

"What's the matter, Ron?" Gohan asked, but Harry put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head warningly.

"Thanks," Ron mumbled, his ears turning red.

Harry grinned sadly. "Thanks, Gohan. It's sad to say, but these are almost worthless to me right now."

Gohan stiffened. "They…they are?"

Harry nodded sadly. "I can't use them. If the Dursleys ever discovered that I had Dino Caps, they'd take them away."

"Aw! I'm sorry, Harry. I wish I'd known that earlier. I would've gotten you something else."

Harry smiled a funny smile. "Strangely though, I wouldn't take anything else for them. They are a gift from a real friend. I'll keep them safe."

Hermione hugged Gohan fiercely. "Thanks, Gohan. I'm sorry that my gift won't be as great as yours." She handed him a quaffle-sized box.

"Don't be silly," he laughed as he opened the box. Gohan gasped in earnest. "Oh, wow! Chocolate frogs, my favorite! Thank you!" Hermione stared at him as he tore into one enthusiastically and bit off the frog's head. Harry and Ron grinned at each other appreciatively.

"You've got more," Harry said, pointing at Gohan's bed. Gohan walked over and picked up the first package.

Ron turned pink. "Oh, my mum sent you something. I told her a little about you, without going into details."

Gohan smiled. "That's okay." He tore into the package. It contained a blue sweater and a fair-sized bag of fudge. "Oh neat! I can wear it under my gi when it's colder…it even matches my waist tie! I'll have to write her a letter!" Gohan also got a set of enchanted coloring pencils from Harry (Gohan loves to draw).

Gohan giggled. "Aw, Mom. Why did you send me a gift here? I'm coming back anyways." He held up an advanced chemistry book.

Hermione gasped. "Can I see that?" she squealed excitedly as Gohan handed it over.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Can you actually do that stuff?"

"Yeah. My mom's into academics and education. She's hoping I get into Harvard."

Gohan lifted another package and opened it. "Neat! Professor Snape bought me a Dark Arts Defense Book."

Harry jumped. Ron dropped his every flavor beans in shock."That git got you a gift?"

Gohan shrugged."Sure, I got him one."

Ron looked horrified. "What? You actually got him a Christmas present?"

Gohan looked confused. "What's wrong? I got all my teachers gifts." For some reason, Hermione sighed in relief.

Ron rounded on her. "You didn't! Tell me you didn't get that slimy git a gift, too?"

Hermione scoffed in annoyance.

'Did he give you something?"

"Oh, just drop it, Ron," Harry said in agitation. Ron stared at them in disbelief.

Harry shrugged. He knew that Gohan was on decent terms with Snape. As much as he hated Snape, he didn't want to ruin it for Gohan. The truth was, that whenever Gohan was around Snape made half of an effort to be civil toward Harry. He could tell that Gohan had remarkable influence on the potions master. It impressed Harry deeply how Gohan affected people. As much as Snape tried to hide it, Harry could tell that Snape cared deeply for the innocent half Saiyan. Harry looked over at Hermione and could tell she was thinking along the same lines.

As Gohan jumped from the window and took off, the three watched him as he waved at them. He shot forward with a burst of energy. Within seconds, he had completely vanished from the horizon.

"I don't know what's more surprising," Hermione said in wonder. "The fact that he's so incredible…or the fact that he's completely oblivious to the fact that he's so incredible."

Harry nodded. "He's so simple when it comes to things…so black-and-white. It's refreshing…and yet annoying…often at the same time. I hope he never changes."

Hermione chuckled. "He's so amazing! He flies unaided like it's nothing yet he marvels over a box of chocolate frogs…I wish I could enjoy life like that."

Ron scoffed. "Flying's nothing! I'd like to know how he can be so friendly with Snape…as far as I'm concerned, that's far more miraculous than flying!"

Hermione looked over at Ron, clearly impressed. "You know, Ron? That's the most deeply profound thing you have ever said."

Ron blushed.

Gohan had arrived home to a full house. Upon learning Gohan would be returning that afternoon, the entire Z- gang had come over.

"Oh, wow! Hi, everybody," Gohan waved, then bowed under Chi-Chi's stern gaze. "Good afternoon," he added. The entire room filled with soft laughter.

"Hey, Gohan, buddy," Krillin said. "Still polite as ever, huh?"

Gohan chuckled.

Vegeta nudged him roughly, handing him an envelope. "Here. It's from the woman-"

Bulma cut in. "It's a Christmas present from me and Vegeta. I had it wrapped, but Vegeta refused to give it to you like that."

"Oh, that's okay. It's another capsule, right."

"That's right, kiddo. But it's a special one. Your very own personal GR room."

Gohan shook excitedly. "Really? Oh wow! Thanks, Vegeta! Thanks, Bulma!" He hugged Bulma first. When he approached Vegeta, Vegeta harrumphed.

"Don't even think about it, kid." Gohan shrugged and turned away, grinning mischievously. His form vanished and reappeared, hugging Vegeta around the middle(Vegeta gasped loudly from shock) before speeding off. Everyone else laughed.

Vegeta fumed. "Why you…no one makes a mockery of Prince Vegeta!" He shot off after Gohan. "Get back here, spawn of Kakarot!"

Ten minutes later, both returned with scuffs and bruises, both grinning. "Enjoy the spar, Vegeta?" Gohan asked.

"It was adequate."

"Good, because you won't get another til next year. Merry Christmas, Vegeta."

Vegeta started in surprise, then smirked. "I see, my Christmas present. How appropriate. At least you aren't as completely clueless as Kakarot. Last year, that clown actually bought me socks."

Gohan chuckled. Chi-Chi sighed. "Some things will never change." Once more, the mountains echoed with jovial laughter.

Gohan sighed, happily hovering in the starry night skies. He glanced over his shoulder into the night. "Hey, Mr. Piccolo."

"Hmph. Haven't heard that in a while. Enjoying the view?"

Gohan inhaled deeply. "Yeah. I forgot how beautiful it is. I got you something." He reached inside his gi, pulling out a stiff piece of paper. Piccolo took it, examining it.

It was a moving color photograph. It was an enchanted version of the photograph Chi-Chi had taken of Gohan, Goku, and him just before the arrival of the androids. Goku was already standing in the frame, laughing at something off camera. Suddenly, a tailless Gohan had slowly emerged into the frame from the left, walking backwards as he attempted to pull someone else into the frame. That someone stumbled, nearly bowling Gohan over as he fought to regain control of his own feet. Suddenly, all three shrank back as though they were being scolded by someone. Blushing, the reluctant party slowly stood taller, crossing his arms over his chest. Gohan leaned sideways, looking back at the two adults. Goku was characteristically scratching his head and laughing goofily. Gohan said something to the other one, who immediately unfolded his arms and placed his hand on the boy's head.

Piccolo's facial muscles hardened. Unable to speak, he nodded his approval of the gift.

Gohan nodded happily. "Oh, and I found the new outfits on my bed. Thank you."

Piccolo cleared his throat. "Well, I…uh…am heading back to the school. Someone needs to keep an eye on things while you're away."

"Right. I'll see you, Piccolo."

"Later, Gohan."

Days later, Gohan was sitting in the Gryffindor common room, smiling a surprised, enthusiastic smile as Harry and Ron told him what had happened with the Polyjuice potion. "Wow! Awesome! I've never seen a girl with a tail before…when can we visit?"

Ron cackled loudly at Gohan's response. Harry chuckled at his friend. "Gohan, you are something else."

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, I know."

Harry shot him a knowing look. "We weren't talking about that, Gohan."

Gohan looked bewildered. "Oh."

Harry and Ron continued to laugh as Gohan naively scratched his head. "How strange!"

Then, they all laughed.