Chapter 84: Fathers

As I got up, I was careful on not waking Goten. Since that night, all he wanted was to be near me. Even Gohan didn't leave my side for every long. On top of that, my boys took every chance they had to spend time with me. It felt so great to share moments with them. Being with my boys was a great joy. But something did bug me, then again, I shouldn't put mind to it. It's rare for sayian men to even care about their children. Even more, if they're caring for them past their fighting powers. Those words that my mother said felt off to me. Even calling her that word felt weird. On top of that, meeting my so-called father felt weird.

The man looked ever intimidating; even making Raditz seem like nothing. After that visit with King Kai, I went back on my own. I had more questions, and I didn't know where to go. For once, in a long time, I was completely lost. When I came to that place again, I felt small. I don't know what happened, but everything seemed bigger. Even I felt like my tail was back, and to my surprise it was. When I knocked on that, larger than I remembered, door he answered. For once in my life I looked down as if I was afraid. Then I felt my hair being ruffled, and somehow it made me feel ok. I was let inside, and there stood that female, and the kid version of Raditz. Welcome home, Kakarot. Hearing that made me feel peaceful. For what felt like forever I was in a peaceful state, forgotten was my pain and worries. Then King Kai found me, and I retuned to my normal self. He said I shouldn't have done that.

Now that I'm alive, and see my boys. It makes me wonder; do I give them that type of peace? Do I intimidate them? I know I do everything I can to make them happy. I also know Chichi does everything she can. But was I experiencing what me and Chichi make our boys feel? I hope so. "Since it's the last day of our trip, who wants to do a quick lap around the earth?" Everyone rose their hands. We all got ready, and were off.

After lunch is when we started to head back, and Vegeta commented that our females were with my harpy. I told the boys to fly ahead, as I spoke with Vegeta. "What do you want, Kakarot?"

"I'm sorry." Why? "Just am. Would you still be interested in another camping trip? Maybe with the girls too." He raised an eyebrow. "Like a whole family thing." He was now tapping his arm. "It does have to be night away, just before the boys summer vacation ends."

"I'll think about it. But why even our females?"

"It's something I always did, before Raditz came along. I would do a camping trip with just Gohan, and then another as a family. And since, we're almost like a family." He pulled me by the collar. "Calm down. I didn't mean family by blood." He let me go. "It just feels like we're family. Well, since…" I looked away from him. "Know what. Never mind. Just know, I hope you would join us on that camping trip."

"Kakarot! Spill it!" I just shook my head and just flew home. There's no way he'll see it the way I do. There's no point in trying to explain.

…

As we flew home, I started having this weird feeling. Like I was finally getting comfortable around my dad. I felt like I knew him a bit more. Even though I knew he was nice, and I knew I could trust him. But now I know for sure that I could. I don't feel so left out anymore. I finally was able to talk to Trunks about dad stuff, and not feel weird about. Or him giving me a face, and telling me nevermind. Maybe now I could share with dad all those weird things I felt while he was dead.

Like how I didn't understand why mom always kissed his picture. I didn't understand why mom would start tearing when I did certain things. How Gohan went quiet whenever I did certain things. How surprised everyone was when I brought dad's picture to join us at the table for our meals, after I learned about him. The weird smiles everyone got when something about him was done. Like the smile mom had when she helped me with my first gi. The fact that after I saw myself in the mirror, I thought I saw him next to mom smiling down at me. Or the time me and Gohan gave mom his top, and she hugged up and I felt an extra part of arms holding us. Also when I was all alone, and I couldn't sleep, how I would hug his picture and somehow I felt better. Or the time when mom and big brother got really sad during a certain day, and I was left all alone, I would talk to his picture. I thought I was being silly, asking it why mommy and Gohan was so sad, and wishing I knew how to make them happy.

When we got home, mom was talking with aunty Bulma and Videl. When everyone else finally got to the house everyone was talking. Even Trunks joined in. Not that I was feeling left out, but I wanted to be left alone. I hope nobody noticed that I walked away to my room. When inside, I looked for the picture under my bed. The picture Gohan made a copy of, so I could stop talking the one in the living room. Somehow I wanted to cry. I got a dad now, my family is complete. But why do I somehow feel alone in my own feelings. Gohan says mom is over protective, and so was dad. But now something just changed. Mom is smiling a lot, even her eyes are smiling. I always thought we were happy family. Was we really? I don't know when but I started to cry. I put the picture back, and left out my window. I want to be left alone.

I flew all the way to a nearby river. People always gave me a weird look. Sometimes it made me wonder why. The only ones who didn't were Trunks and Marron. They're my friends. They also didn't know my dad. A stranger I been told all my life about finally shows up. I spend as much time as possible to get to know him and get use to him around. But some how, I don't know what's really going on. During this trip I did stuff with him and big brother and even my best friend and his dad. But somehow it felt off to me. Why do I feel uncertain? "Don't, but same time nobody could blame you." That's when I finally looked up, and saw dad was sitting next to me. I just looked away. I could feel the tears starting to fall. "Is it ok if I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Did anyone tell you you're so like your mom?"

"No. Everyone says I'm like you."

"How? I don't got that smile, I'm nowhere near as energetic, and I'm not that smart."

"Everyone says how I look just like you. How I'm always being silly, and making people laugh. Also, how I eat like you. But most of all, I look like you."

"Whoever say those things aren't seeing you. How could you be me when you're you?" That's when I finally looked back at him. He was just looking out into the water. "Do you want to know why I thought it was a good idea to stay away?" I said yes. "I thought that it would give you a chance to have a happy life. Even if it meant I wouldn't be able to hold you, to see you grow, or to be there for you. I thought you, Gohan, and your mom will have the most peaceful happy life ever. With me in the way I would have hurt you. Guess I was more wrong, than I could have imagined." He was looking away. "Everyone deserves to be happy, even if I wasn't."

"Why you say that? What makes you happy?" That's when he faced me.

"Seeing everyone else happy. Knowing that I'm able to keep my family safe." That's when he looked surprised about something. "Oh!" He looked at me. "Do I seem intimidating or scary?" I shook my head. "I'm glad, because when I was dead, I finally got the chance to meet who my parents were. Meeting them was scary. I actually wanted to leave. Why should I care about people I never knew existed? But somehow, it made me want to know them more. So, I snuck away, and went to visit them. Somehow, I became a kid, and being with them felt nice. It made me question if that's how Gohan felt when we were all happily together. Do you feel at peace when everyone is together?" I don't know when but he was holding me. So, dad is like me. So, I told him all the weird stuff that I noticed. All the warm feelings I get when I thought he was there. I told him how now I finally feel like everything is complete. Even now, I have a warm feeling inside. It felt good sharing it with him, and also being in his arms also. When I was finished, I felt better, and gave him a hug. "Want me to carry you home?" I nodded.

…

As I finished cleaning up the living room, I had some guess. It was Bulma and Videl. They were saying how they wanted to know if the boys were back yet. I told them that they should be back soon, and if they wanted to stay till then. It felt nice chatting with them. I even got to know a little bit more about Videl. She's such a wonderful young lady. Almost reminds me of me. Strong minded, knew what she wants in life, and can easily make someone pay if they wronged her. I found that to be funny. Now that I think about it, that's something all three of us share. That's interesting; kind of makes me wonder what a female sayian is like.

I was just about to wash the lunch dishes, when the boys finally came. Trunks ran to Bulma, while Vegeta stood to the side. Gohan told me hi, before Videl took his attention. So cute of them. But I had failed to notice a certain husband of mine, who had found his way behind me. "Did you boys have fun?"

"Yeah." That's when I noticed that Goten was on the couch watching. I wonder what's wrong with him. He then got up and left to his room. I was about to go after him, when Goku said he will do it. I wonder what could be wrong with our baby. Once everyone had left, and Gohan and Videl were studying in his room, I was left on the couch wondering. I hope Goten is alright. I checked his room, and neither boys were there. On top of that, Goku isn't answering me. I hope everything is all right. Just then they walked in through the front door. And in Goku's arms was a sleeping Goten.

Goku sat next to me on the couch. "Is everything ok?" Goku continued rubbing Goten's back. He's alright now. Nothing to worry. "Can I hold him?" Goku shook his head, and looked sad. "Did you talk?" He nod. "Did it go well?" He nodded again. "Go to the room, and take a nap with him." Take a nap with us. "Sure." With that we went to our room, and took a nap. Well, they took a nap, while I watched them snore peacefully.

…

When me and Videl made it to my room, I went in search of our summer assignments. "Wait."

"What's up? Is something the matter, Videl?"

"Aren't you going to tell me about your trip? What did you do? How was it like? I never been camping before. So, I'm curious."

"Oh. Well, it was kind of a training camping trip." I finally sat on the floor, and she got off the chair and joined me. "We did laps around the world, practice controlling our ki, and even sparring."

"That can't be everything. What else?"

"Ok, ok. You got me. But you can't tell anyone at school." She nod her head in agreement. I told her about how go through a similar training routine as dad. On top of that, we had to earn our means. "Like I mean you lose you don't eat. You don't hunt when it's a free for all, you don't eat. We couldn't share our catches on those days. Luckily there was only two." I told her I almost beat my dad's speed when practicing our katas. "It was even funny how Goten knew some of dad's new moves. Like I said, I was just a training camping trip. Nothing special."

"I want to go on one."

"Why?"

She punched my arm. "Why not? It actually sounds fun, and challenging."

That's when I finally thought about asking her, about the idea I had. I couldn't look at her as I asked. "Would you like to go on a camping trip? Like, just you and me?" I couldn't help fidget with my fingers as the room became awkwardly silent. I was ready to take my suggestion back, till she said yes. I finally looked at her, and her face was red. Plus, now she was fidgeting with her fingers.

"You really mean, just us? Nobody else?" I nod my head. She then hugged me. "Cool. And do we get to do all kind of stuff? And even maybe some stuff that you did on your training trip?" I said yes, and her hug became tighter. My face kept getting hotter, due to the fact at how her body was pressed to mine. And the way her scent tickled my nose. It took me a moment to hug her back, and when I did, I finally fell backwards. Not only was her body pressed onto me, now she was literally on top of me. This felt nice, and it took a lot out of me to not my move my hands anywhere. "Can we go next week? I want to buy camping gear, since I noticed you didn't have. Is that ok?"

"Yeah." Why did I sound out of breath? She then kissed me. I don't know how, but I had her pinned under me, as I looked into her eyes. She looks so beautiful. I couldn't help myself as I touched her cheek, before giving her a kiss. He lips are so nice and soft, it made it hard to part from them. When I did, all I could feel was my body burning up, and see Videl was blushing. She looks so beautiful. Makes me want to kiss her more. Before our lips touched, I bit my lips. This isn't right, I shouldn't be doing this. I pulled back, and next to her. "Are you ok?"