Chapter 87: Clubs

After how my parents acted yesterday, I didn't want to be anywhere near home. But whatever I wanted to do was change when dad said today, I was spending time with him. He didn't even bring Goten. I was both excited and nervous. As we flew, I kept wondering what dad was planning. Maybe he wants to train; that wouldn't surprise me. When we landed, we were in the place I remembered having my first picnic. The same one looking over a river, that lead to a waterfall, and the view was still as breathtaking as it was when I was a child. I looked to dad, and he was smiling. "Do you remember that wish you made all those years ago?" He looked at me. "Did it come true?"

"I wish I grow up to be as strong as mommy and daddy."

I do remember, and I felt tears sliding down my face. "Is something wrong, Gohan?" I looked at dad and shook my head. I told him I do remember. "Did it come true?" I smiled as I nodded my head. He then ruffled my hair. "Is there anything else you wish? Anything else?" He was smiling at me, and somehow, I felt like a kid again. I couldn't help myself, and just hugged him. He was rubbing my back, and it just made me cry.

"Daddy." He held me tighter, and tried to calm me down. Even though I'm taller and bigger now, I just couldn't stop feeling like I was a kid again. Memories of that day came back, and it made me cry harder. "Daddy! It's all my fault! I'm sorry! Could you ever forgive me? I failed, and I lost you. I failed. It's all my fault."

"Gohan that's nonsense. You didn't fail me. You could never fail me. I failed you. It's you I should be asking for forgiveness. I wasn't strong enough to keep you safe. I was so blind, that I failed you." I still felt it was all my fault. "You're my little guy. I will always, and forever, be proud of you. You could never fail me. Could you ever forgive me?"

"Of course, I forgive you, daddy. You and mommy were and always be my everything. I was so angry with myself." He made me look at him, and he kept telling me how I shouldn't be angry at myself. "You sure daddy?" He nodded, and I just hugged him again.

"Did you get to study as much as you wanted, afterwards?" I nodded. "Do you still want to be that… What was it again? Some type of doctor?"

I started to giggle at that. "An orthopedics, dad." And I shook my head. "I don't want to be that anymore. I actually don't know what I want to do."

He ruffled my hair again. "Whatever you choose you'll be amazing at it. After all." He then gave me that smile that shrine so bright. "You're my son, you're Gohan. Anything you do, you'll put your all into it." That made me smile. I then asked dad if he would spar with me. "You sure about that?" I nodded. "Ok."

…

It's so not fair! Why couldn't I go with Gohan and dad? They been gone since breakfast, and it was almost lunch. I was getting bored, and mom said I couldn't go see Trunks today. I didn't want to watch cartoons or play with toys. I didn't even want to read. I asked mom if she would spar with me, but she was still tired. Today just suck. When Gohan and dad came for lunch, they were all smiles. I didn't feel hungry anymore, and excused myself from the table.

I went to my room, and just looked at my bug book. I'm not mad. I'm just upset that no one wants to play with me. I kind of feel ignore, and I know I shouldn't. Dad does spend a lot of time with me, since he came back. So, why do I feel bother that he wants to spend alone time with big brother? I shouldn't let it bug me, but it does. That's when I felt tears falling. No! I shouldn't cry! I'll just ask mom if I could play outside. Then again, would she even say yes? She never does. She only allows me to go outside if Gohan was with me. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

As I turned around, to leave my room, I saw dad was at the door. Even Gohan was there. "Go finish eating."

"I'm not hungry." Dad then picked me up, and took me to the table. "I said I wasn't hungry."

"Yes, you are. You can't move till you eat." Dad had his folded, as he sat across from me. That's when I notice nothing changed since I've left the table. Did nobody eat while I was gone? I didn't move a muscle, but I did notice dad tapping his arm. "Goten. Eat." He sounded serious. After what felt likes minutes, I finally started eating again. That's when I saw Gohan begin to eat, and then mom. But dad didn't touch anything.

When I finally finished, did dad started eating his half. Gohan was on the couch, reading a book, and mom had started on the dishes. I tried to leave the table, but dad said I couldn't. What is going on? Mom never did this, if I left from the table upset. She usually put my food away, for when I felt hungry. But dad made me stay and eat. And now he wouldn't let me leave the table. When he finished eating, is when I was allowed to leave the table. But I wasn't allowed to go to my room. I just sat on the couch, next to Gohan. I tried ask Gohan what just happened, and he just said he doesn't know.

The rest of the afternoon, I stood on the couch. I ended up reading one of mom's old books. Some was super hard to follow, but at least Gohan helped me understand some stuff. When it was dinner time, I was feeling a bit better, but still confused on what happened. After dinner, I was still not allowed to go to my room. At least this time, Gohan let me read one of his old books. Those were a bit easier to follow. When it was time for bed, dad was going to tuck me in. When we finally got into my room, dad ruffled my hair. "If you're upset speak up. Don't do what you did again." I looked up at him. "Do you understand?" I nodded my head. "Now tell me what happened?"

I sat on my bed, as I told him how I was feeling left out. I told him how nobody wanted to play with me. It's not that I never played by myself before, I was just feeling left out. Not even mom wanted to play. I was going to ask after lunch, if I could play outside. But mom always said no before, because I could only go outside if someone was with me. But when I saw how happy him and Gohan was, it just made me feel sad. So, I wasn't feeling hungry anymore. I also said how I was confused on what he did. "That never happened before. If I felt sad, and left the table, mom usually had put my food away for later. But you, made me come back, and made sure I ate. And it was confusing how I couldn't leave the table when I was done."

He was telling me how, no matter how upset I am, I should speak up. Even if nobody seems to be listening, I should still speak up. On top of that, I shouldn't miss a meal. That it worries mom, and she was very upset when I left. That everyone was upset when I got up and left. Dad doesn't like it when anyone is upset. And since I upset, I wasn't allowed to go to my room. That he was waiting for me to say why I was upset. After he told me that, I hugged him. I then felt him hugging me. "Are you feeling better?" I nod my head. "Do you want to sleep in your room?" At that I didn't know the answer. After a moment I finally said no. He then carried me, and we made our way upstairs. He then knocked on Gohan's door. Big brother look like he was in the middle of studying. Dad said to stop, and to come to his room for bed. Uh? Did dad actually mean, what I think he meant? He did! We were sleeping like a family. Mom was surprised that dad brought me and also had Gohan. As we snuggled up together, I felt so warm and happy. This felt so awesome.

…

When Goten left the table, I wonder what was wrong with him. He was ok this morning. Now Chichi looks sad, and Gohan looks confused. I got up from the table and went to check on the little guy. He looks so upset, and he's doing that thing Chichi does with the book. I was going to say something till Gohan showed up next to me. I'll give Goten another moment before I speak up. That's when he turned to the door, and he had tears in his eyes. That won't do. He didn't look like he wanted to talk, so, I won't push it for now, but he does have to eat. "Go finish eating."

He claim he wasn't hungry, but I wasn't hearing it. He's just as stubborn as Chichi when she's upset, and I will not stand for it. I brought him back to the table, and told him to eat. I looked to the other two, and the seemed to be waiting. Second ticked by and Goten still wasn't eating. "Goten." He looked up at me. "Eat." He finally started eating, and then everyone else. I didn't eat, I want to make sure Goten ate every last bite. When everyone was done, did I finally started eating. Goten tried to leave the table, but I told him to stay. He still wouldn't say why he's upset, and that's upsetting me. I didn't even allow him to go to his room. It was already past dinner, and he still didn't speak up.

As I got him into his room, I finally demanded he told me what was wrong. After he let it all out, we shared a hug. Then I got an idea. I asked if he wanted to sleep in his room, and he said no. So, I carried him upstairs, and went and got Gohan. We're sleeping as a family tonight. As we all snuggled together, everyone had a smile on their faces. That made me so happy. I held my family close as we slept.

The next morning, the boys were still sleeping, and Chichi had already gotten up. I watched my boys sleep, till Goten finally woke up. Gohan didn't seem ready to get up yet. It was so silly how Goten tried to wake Gohan, and Gohan threated to blast him. None of that. I got Goten off Gohan, and told them that they need to start getting up. Gohan groan one more time, before getting up and leaving the room. After a moment, Goten finally left the room to get ready. There goes my boys.

…

I was finally time to go back to school, and I didn't feel ready. But it did make me happy when I saw Videl waiting for me. As we flew to school, we were holding hands. At school, we all looked over our new schedules, and it was once again we got the same schedule. "Looks like you're suck with us for life nerd boy." Sharpner punched my shoulders, as we walked the halls. "So, what club are you going to choose?"

"Uh?"

"Yeah. This is your last year, and you haven't done any clubs, you have to chose one now. Have no one told you?" I gave him a confused look. "You need to at least join a club to graduate." I almost tripped over my feet on that one. "Don't worry, you get the end of the month to pick something."

The rest of the day, I tried to focus on class, I couldn't stop thinking about the club thing. After class, Videl invited me to her place, to work on homework. As we was reaching the end, she handed me a sheet, of all the clubs the school offered. As we looked through the list some stood out to me. "A debate club? What's that about?" She told me how its like's a fight, but using your mind. She even said I might like it, and should try out. And so, I did, and turns out to be pretty fun, and I was accepted.

…

My Gohan in the debate club, so exciting. On top of that, Goten even made more friends at school. This is going to be an exciting year for the boys. After Goku saw to that the boys were in bed, he finally came into our room. After he got ready for bed, and laid in bed, did he give me a look. "What?"

"Book." I looked at the book at my hands, and back at him. I smiled, and set the book down on my nightstand. I then snuggled into his embrace. He kissed my forehead, and said good night.