Chapter 5: Aftermath

A/N: Another Quick update, another dose of G/CC.

Goku returned to the small hovel, it was little more than a shed, only slightly bigger than the house he had with Grandpa. The small structure was the only thing he could readily find to put Chi-Chi in. The battle had left him so drained he could barely walk straight. He was holding Gohan now, surprisingly Chi-Chi and his son. He had no idea how but he wouldn't ever call Chi-Chi a liar. She told him it was his son, so he believed her. Not that the tail wasn't a clear enough indicator for even him.

The moment of celebrating though wasn't now. He'd barely survived the hardest fight of his life and had barely managed to kill the creature that had killed Grandpa and all of Chi-Chi's village. At best he'd been a distraction. But I can train, I'll get stronger. He told himself, still dragging his leg along as he cradled Gohan against his shoulder.

His mind was still recalling that hellish battle with the moon monster, he was still woefully lacking. It made more sense how Grandpa couldn't handle it. Speed, strength, and cunning. It made Piccolo look like nothing, even Chi-Chi was almost killed by it…

I should've come back sooner. He was harping on himself over that point. Yet he didn't try and focus on what could've been. His eyes looking ahead towards the small building. "It's not Grandpa's but it'll do." Goku grunted.

"Is Momma in there?" Gohan whimpered.

"Yep, she's… she's asleep." Not wanting to say unconscious or hurt, that would probably spark his son to start crying and he wouldn't even know where to begin. Pushing open the hinge wooden door Goku tapped his son to look. "See?"

Gohan looked and his tears bubbled up but he didn't cry.

Chi-Chi was laid out a mound of hay, a thin blanket under her body and another one covered her bare form. Her clothes were practically non-existent. Her face still had dried blood on it, but compared to how he had found her she looked three times better. "She's still asleep so you'll have to be quiet and not wake her alright?" Goku told him, setting him down beside her. The hay, while not as soft as a bed, was comfortable enough for Gohan to lean up and hug his mother.

With little left for now Goku just leaned back against the wall and slumped down. Pushing himself just that little bit more and bringing even a child here had drained him considerably more than he would've imagined.

His head leaned back and his vision dimmed.

The battle…

Goku had made sure Chi-Chi was taken away by Nimbus and had done the only thing he could do and that was to stand and fight. Pointing his finger at the giant beast Goku felt something foreign to him, a hunger for this monster's blood. He wanted to see it die and suffer for what it had done to Grandpa!

"Tonight you will pay monster!" He challenged, dropping into his low fighting stance. He watched as the beast was already slightly injured strode forwards slowly on all four of its limbs. Each one as thick as a redwood tree and were five times taller than him.

Goku charged first zipping past the creature's hands and driving a punch straight into its chest, before snapping a kick into its neck. He managed to turn his opponent enough to flip upwards and kick land knee square at what he would assume was the thing's neck. Riding down the back hair and ignoring the bloody trail to his side, he dropped right down and slammed both feet into its back ankle while it was disorientated.

The monster flopped right onto its back, its body shaking the ground with the impact as Goku couldn't let up. Going airborne again, Goku went for another strike to the head but was backhanded. At the last moment, however, he was able to throw up a guard and prevent himself from being bashed. Yet that one hit told him so much.

Even if it was big, it wasn't slow or weak. Goku kept himself from falling, skidding along the ground until his boots finally slowed him enough to let him throw himself right back into the fight. His arms were rocking with him as he built up a burst of speed. He went into the after image technique as the next attack smashed into the image left behind. "You missed!" Goku called out as the creature gave a confused look before feeling an elbow crash into the side of its head.

Attempting to repeat the same maneuver, it was Goku this time who had to dodge in the air as a brown tail swiped at him, he phased just far enough away to avoid another counterattack but was met with a huge open mouth now turning red.

He cried out in pain as a full blast of red firey ki slammed into his guard, burning away his clothes and sending him back into the forest smoking. "Not working…" Goku grunted, pulling himself up from the dirt. Thinking quickly, he could see the tops of trees being battered aside along with the thunder of the monsters limbs rushing along the ground Goku knew he had to distract it again and come up with another strategy.

Rushing back to use the after image technique he threw a blast of ki towards its side, not a real attempt to hurt it, but to get its attention. "No over here!" Goku called out taunting it, the huge body swirled around seeing Goku dart into the forests it gave chase. But Goku shot off an after image letting it run after that instead of him.

He needed to strategize, just like how he had done with mercenary Tao. But he also had to follow up with Nimbus and more importantly Chi-Chi.

Speeding off and keeping himself low to the ground, Goku broke away from the creature and heard it bellow as it lost track of where Goku had gone. He could even hear it smell the ground and attempt to locate him but Goku had been all over the place already and there wasn't anyway that thing could follow just one scent path.

Giving himself about a five minute lead on the creature, he found Chi-Chi. Nimbus was still with her as she remained unconscious. It was also the first time he got to see just how bad she was, for all the strength she had shown him in their fight she had been rendered completely helpless. "Thanks Nimbus." He told his cloud before picking her up hearing her groan as he did so. Clearly even pain was enough to permeate her current state.

The blood loss was the first thing Goku took to remedying. Ripping off a patch of his shirt he tied off a tourniquet for her arm. Using a stick to wind the cloth to slow the flow of blood. He'd learned a few things from his teachers and Mr. Popo had given him some basic lessons in how to care for himself. When he spent that month in the Room of Spirit and Time he would have no one else to look after him.

So Popo had been kind enough to sit down and show Goku all the ways to treat injuries, breaks, sprains, cuts, gashs, burns, and the like.

He never really used it but he had practiced for a week straight before Kami and Popo would let him go inside. As a result, Goku could do it by memory alone.

Treating her arm first, Goku went about doing the rest of the dirty work as fast and painlessly as he could. Using her thin shirt Goku ripped it off her body and made a basic sling for her arm. Her state of dress was not even considered. Her arm was tied off and secured against her chest. It was crude but would do for now.

"Next here," Goku could see her other arm was out of its socket with the bone pushing up against her skin. Holding onto her arm he pulled back just easy enough to- POP- Chi-Chi's entire body jerked but settled after he reset her joint. Next he found a few longer branches and using some basic shrubbery vines tied of a splint for her leg and then set her ankle.

Tears were forming in her eyes as he worked and Goku looked up as the smell of their salt wafted into his nose. His thumb brushed them away, "It's alright Chi-Chi, I'm going to get you someplace safe." He told her, whatever had transpired previously was all but a moot point. She needed help and he was going to do just that. Not like she would mind anyway, she can't do anything.

Heading to the nearest shelter he could find had been simple enough, a stray building, perhaps used for animals or storage, it was just a few windows a door, a roof, and a pile of hay. Good enough.

Fixing the hay pile to not allow her to roll down had taken just a little bit of tapping his foot and there was a small groove for her body to lay in. Setting her down as gently as he could Goku then turned towards the door but stopped to look back at her and smile. "Don't worry Chi-Chi. I promise I'll beat that monster. Just wait here."

Once he closed the door behind him his face turned serious, he had to be ready for this. "Nimbus!" The cloud reappeared and he jumped on. "Let's go fight that monster!" With nothing else the cloud took off and Goku decided to draw this fight out. Something that big couldn't go on forever.

At least that was his theory, the bigger the warriors he fought the less time they could manage themselves. Piccolo was an example of one from the 23rd tournament. Cresting the trees he saw the creature smashing apart the village, having probably returned to where the fire and smoke was still coming from.

"Alright Nimbus I'll take it from here." Leaping off from the cloud Goku began drawing the creature's attention. He would stall and exhaust it. Then he'd get his chance.

But that moment never came Goku had greatly underestimated his opponent. It didn't tire, it didn't even slow down blasting and chasing after him the entire night. Smacking him around and kicking him until the sun crested the morning sky.

Beyond that, Goku didn't see where it went or what happened, he had been beaten so badly that staying awake was impossible. Until he heard the screams of a terrified child, his son, could he then even make it off the ground.

That's how it all ended, I'm sorry, Gramps. Goku thought as he had dozed off. Looking up he saw that Chi-Chi was still out and Gohan was sleeping against her. His small head laying across her shoulder, they looked peaceful were it not for their injuries. "Well enough," he strained as he pulled himself back to his feet, the short reprieve needed. "Resting, I have to get some food and water for us."

Knowing that they would be alright for now he had to go and get started on some provisions. He was starving and the village wasn't too far away. Hoping that the food was still good, Goku directed himself in that way mildly limping as his leg had recovered a bit so that he could manage a walking pace.

The quietness created an uneasiness in the air as Chi-Chi felt her entire body feel like it had been put through a trash compactor. Groaning in pain, she couldn't even shift without a jolt of pain streaking up her spine. Am… I alive?

Last night hadn't left her, the bone crushing pain was key enough for her to realize that it wasn't some dream. But unfortunately she hadn't died either. I just want to be with my family… why do I have to keep living without them.

Kenyo's broken body, her father's blood spurting up from the ground. So many… many dead bodies. Chi-Chi didn't want to cry… but. "Gohan…" She whimpered, recalling the image so vividly.

Tattered clothes, scorched bones, so much blood… She wanted to vomit, but she swallowed forcing the rising bile back down for a moment and breathed in.

"Mommy?"

"Go..han?" She managed, then she felt a pair of small hands grasp at her face. "Mommy?!" The voice called out again, forcing herself to raise one eyebrow required all of her efforts and slowly it did. There was nothing at first but glassy fog. Then… she saw a face, "Gohan?!" She cried as he pulled himself into a hug, she didn't care about the pain. So long as she had her baby boy she would suffer as long as she was required.

"Are… are you okay?" She said weakly as he cried against her cheek. Feeling his tears confirmed that this wasn't some dream or perhaps death.

"I was so scared, mommy I… I woke up without you, dad, or grandpa and I got cuts and scrapes all over!" He told her, happy to hear her voice he didn't understand why she wasn't holding him tightly but he would never let go of her again.

Twisting her head she placed a weak kiss against his ear. Whispering softly into his ear, "I know sweetie but you're alive." He continued to cry and she desperately wanted to lift up her arms and hold him tightly against her but her body absolutely refused to cooperate with anything other than just laying there like a log.

Several minutes passed between them, Chi-Chi slowly calming down her son with gentle kisses and soft whispers. Telling him that everything was okay right now that she was just happy to have him with her.

Her mind however was unable to process how Gohan had survived, though she was thankful to the stars that he was alive and mostly unharmed she knew she had looked all over the village for several minutes for any shred of him. Calling out his name, flipping over anything and everything. Even when feeling out for his ki she couldn't sense it anywhere. The massive beast was dwarfing her ability to locate her son. It had frustrated her so much, she at least tried to save her father only to watch him die in vain.

Letting both of her eyes open she looked around and observed her surroundings, she was in a shack. No real amenities anywhere, just a window, a tool bench with old rusty hand tools and a bag of something along with a lamp. This place looked dated but well kept, obviously someone found me and Gohan and brought us here. But who could've?

Had someone in the village actually survived? Possible but who would've gone back looking for anyone-! Oh god where is that monster? What if it comes right now, me and Gohan will be dead, I can't do anything much less protect him. Even if she would willingly and wholeheartedly sacrifice herself for her baby what could she possibly do when she could barely move her head.

Shifting herself she noted that her arm was bandaged… Orange… was it? She took in a small waft of air, her extra sensitive nose picked up what she could already tell. Who else wore orange clothing especially training clothes.

Goku… Goku saved us? Despite her disbelief it made sense… and he was right about that monster and he tried to warn me. Oh Kami, of all the times he actually had something meaningful to say and I dismiss it outright?!

How was she to know the beast that killed his grandfather would appear in their midst without warning. Releasing a sigh at least… they would be alright.

Time passed slowly as Gohan spoke about what he saw and Chi-Chi wanted to cry for her son but couldn't, she never wanted him to ever grow up and see that. He was a little boy, there was no reason for anything like this.

The only real blessing was that he wasn't there when his father or grandfather had died. That would've no doubt beyond traumatized him. It still hurt her and then having to explain to him that they were dead. That was going to be a hurdle on top of her being unable to care for him properly.

I have no home, no family left, my village is in shambles. What am I going to do? I've dedicated my past three years to getting back at Goku and he's the one who has to show up and save me and my son. Kami, what did I do? I just wanted-

The door pulled open and Chi-Chi turned her head to see the new arrival. "Oh, hey…" Goku said with a none too cheerful disposition. She saw that he had indeed been in his own fight for his life. The injuries didn't look as bad as hers but she could see that even someone like Goku couldn't mask all of their pain.

He had a large bag in his hand, another one was hanging limp at his side. There was some minor bandaging around his body, it look self applied from Chi-Chi's view. No one else had done that for him clearly.

Setting the small bag down Goku moved over and sat down beside her, a hiss escaping his lips as he put pressure on his limp hand. "Awake… well that's good." Sitting next to her he looked to her and then to Gohan who seemed concerned about their host returning. "How are you feeling?"

"I can't move much more than my neck and head. Maybe a finger or a toe but I'm not going to be able to do anything for awhile." Chi-Chi admitted, despite how much she wanted to hate him, right now that was impossible. "Did you bring me here?"

He nodded, "I found it last night. I didn't have time to start scouring for places, this was just out of the way for the time being. I looked around to find another house or something but I didn't see anything."

Pulling the bag he had brought with him closer he opened up the contents, the edges of the bag already having holes sprouting from the sheer quantity inside. "I got some food, a few more bandages for you, and water just for right now."

He pulled out a large first aid kit, the sticker tag still showing from where he had found it in the street as he set that next to her.

Gohan sensed something, he wasn't exactly sure what, but this Goku guy and his mom were looking at each other differently. "Mom?" His small voice drawing her gaze to him.

"Yes, sweetie?" She said, watching his eyes flicker back and forth to him and her. I don't want this conversation now. Please not now, I can't do this right now.

"Who is this guy? Do you know him?"

"Gohan, well this is-"

"I'm your mom's friend. I'm Son Goku, but you can call me Goku." he chimed right in offering his hand to the smaller boy. "Nice to meet you Gohan, which is a great name by the way."

Goku's quick smile and friendly demeanour made Gohan's concern quickly dry up. Taking Goku's two fingers with his smaller one and gently shook it. "Strong grip, you really are just like your mom." Goku said, making Gohan smile just a bit. "How about I clean you up and get some fresh clothes, Gohan."

Gohan nodded and slipped down and Goku helped him into his lap all the way Chi-Chi watched. Gods… Gohan took to him instantly and he isn't telling him that he's his father. Oh what am I going to tell him? There's just so many things-!

"Hey Chi-Chi, I know we have things we need to talk about, but we can late till we're better." He smiled at her as best as he could, "That okay?"

She nodded, "Yes… yes, that will be fine Goku." She told him as Goku popped open the medical kit and began cleaning up Gohan. First with a little bit of water he wiped him down with a white towel that quickly became covered in blood and dirt. Her son took the iodine and alcohol pads like a little man, but watching as Goku warned him that it was probably going to sting and that he needed to be tough like his mom. His small features winced as he dabbed the long cut on his back, the child's eyes clenched shut as he felt the burning sensation roll down him slowly.

"Strong guy, I know I cried the first time my Grandpa did that to me." Goku said smiling as he finished up and then applied the white foam to clean up any other things. It helped that he had a guide written on the box with what to do for each thing. His eyes flicking towards it each time to keep up the steps and as he watched the foam sizzle out he grabbed some fresh bandages and then patted them down over the wound.

It was hard, but heartwarming to watch as Gohan was slowly fixed up before her eyes, the cuts and bruises were covered up. Only the long gash on his back was the only real injury he had sustained. Which wasn't too deep and missed his spine, much to Chi-Chi's relief.

But then it came down for her 'turn'. "Gohan would you like to help me take care of your mom, I could really use some help?" Goku asked him, he had done a basic patch job she was going to need at least some medical care.

He nodded back at Goku, "That's the spirit." Goku then patted him on his head, "Okay Chi-Chi, now I know that-"

"It's fine." She said, "Just do what you have to, I can't do anything without your help right now." Trying to remain neutral about the entire situation, yet that wasn't easy. She still had no love gained for him, but she at least appreciated the effort. If he wasn't there she would probably be dead and her son would've lost everything. She wasn't going to forgive him, but she could at least act civil with him for now.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure just do what you have to, it's not like you haven't seen anything before. Though you act like don't remember." Chi-Chi said bitterly and closed her eyes.

I still don't, Goku told himself. He knew that Chi-Chi might be referring to that night, but he couldn't recall anything about it. The gaps in his memory were still there. Yet he didn't want to start a fight about it. He'd had enough for a day. Pulling back the thin sheet he could see some of the injuries, but he would let Gohan clean her up while he looked at what else he'd have to do.

"Go ahead and wash your mom's face with this." Handing Gohan a field wipe.

"Okay," Gohan took it finding himself somehow comfortable in this situation despite everything. "Mr. Goku?" he said, making the other man laugh.

"Mister? Just call me Goku, alright?" He chuckled. Looking at a few of the open cuts along her waist and very carefully looking for which of Chi-Chi's ribs were broken alongside her chest as Gohan sat beside Chi-Chi on the hay bail, wiping down her hair and blood from her face.

The fact that Chi-Chi was nearly nude save for the small scrap of underwear didn't bother him while helping her. He knew boys and girls were different and Chi-Chi told him it was okay. As he moved his fingers he found a slightly indented rib. "Hmm."

"Goku, how do you know my mom?"

Chi-Chi decided to step in at this point not wanting Goku to say something she would have to explain later. "We knew each other when we were younger. Goku came to this castle when he was around twelve years old. He and I chatted a few times and fought against each other in a tournament." Skimming over the more important details but Chi-Chi figured it was better to give her son some information than others. It didn't matter if Goku was his biological father, the man who helped raise him was dead and up until a few days ago Gohan didn't even exist to Goku.

"Really Mom? Was he as strong as you?"

"Nope," Chi-Chi replied smirking as she heard Goku snort softly.

"I need to move your broken rib Chi-Chi, grit your teeth and I'll do it on three." Goku told her as he pushed two hands just alongside her breast and lined up his thumbs.

"Just do it." She said.

"Alright one-!" He pulled it up and popped it right back in making Chi-Chi 's entire body jerk. "There you go, I think there's a few more on the other side." He said, seeing that her eyes were screwed tightly shut. He guessed that hurt more than he expected.

"Hurry… My lungs…" She gasped, as Goku had popped one set of lungs to fully inflate the other side was now trying to dig itself into those same bones. But the main problem was that it hurt like hell.

Seeing her distress, Goku moved his hands to the other side and repeated the process making Chi-Chi scream. Yet he quickly repeated the process bracing her with his elbows so she wouldn't thrash about.

Kami did it hurt, Chi-Chi could feel the bones digging into her lungs as she tried to breath in a full breath of air as up to that point taking anymore would cause her a great deal of discomfort. But once it was done her body recovered and she began to breathe normally. "Damnit… Goku that really hurt." She cursed, her facial features shifting as she conveyed her great discomfort.

"Sorry, popping your ribs out and back into place is not the gentlest of tasks. I know I've had to do it a few times, especially when it was me and Piccolo trapped in that other realm." He pulled back from her and noted that her body seemed to have relaxed. "He actually can regenerate pieces of himself. If he lost an arm he could grow it back with some energy, and just pow he has another arm. But I guess that's what you get when your a demon king's son, you know."

"You are friends with the demon king?" Gohan asked, bringing one finger to his lips as he sat near his mother's head. "Isn't he some scary green monster?" His mother told him of a monster called Piccolo.

Goku cocked his head at him confused, so Gohan continued. "You know green, he has horns on his head and spits lasers and stuff into people's chests?" The older man laughed and the boy looked to his mother.

"That's right Gohan, thank you for remembering." Chi-Chi praised him but he looked to Goku who quit laughing.

"Well I could see that being how Piccolo used to be, not so much anymore, although he's not hostile towards me on sight Junior isn't exactly going to shake my hand after everything we've been through." But as he still needed to finish cleaning up Chi-Chi's injuries, "But that's a story for later. I'll finish up with your leg Chi-Chi then we can probably have something to eat."

It took another ten minutes and after Goku had checked her over thoroughly she was all right for now. At least she felt better, she still could barely move, the only highlight was that from here on, she would probably start to improve. It was just going to take awhile.

Chi-Chi however watched Goku as the day continued, and she felt the need to say something that she really didn't want to. He was the man who had hurt her and left her, why did she feel any reason to say kind words to him. The day however, was dragging on as Goku set out trying to figure out how to handle setting up cooking some of the ready made food inside. He propped the door open and dug a small fire pit into the ground. Having dressed Gohan in a large oversized t-shirt and given her a shirt to lay overtop of her body as she didn't quite want to have her limbs moved at all for the time being.

Would it be forgiveness or even weakness for her to utter two simple words? As she lay atop her bed of straw she saw how Goku so easily got along with his son. Though they were total strangers, Goku had him following him quickly. Despite the injuries he didn't complain about having to take care of him.

But maybe he's doing it because he knows that's his son. Goku would never stop to care for anyone's child.

Yet there was a contradiction sitting right in front of her. "See, now when starting a fire watch this Gohan." His finger formed a tiny spark of ki as he set alight a tepee of sticks.

"What are you doing?" Gohan asked curiously. Goku just smiled at him, "I'm drawing out the very spark of energy that rests inside of us all. It is ki, and you can do all kinds of amazing things with it, like this for example." Dipping his finger into the base it sparked and ignited the sticks in a quick burst of flame.

"Wow…" Gohan said in amazement, "You can do the same things as Mom." He'd never seen anyone else aside from her use energy, ki, or whatever Goku had called it. Except his mother's was more destructive, he never saw her doing anything like this. Setting fires, he'd only seen that kind of stuff on T.V. when his mom wasn't watching him sometimes.

"Yep and even you can use it."

"I can?!" Gohan said excitedly, "Can you-"

"Gohan…" His mother's voice cut in in a warning tone, her eyes flicked to Goku. "You can't learn that now, you're still too young. Do not start teaching him your bad habits Son Goku." Of course she hadn't created any boundaries with him but this was where she was going to draw the line.

"Aww, Chi-Chi I'm not going to teach him how to blow stuff up, it helps-"

"I SAID NO!" Chi-Chi shouted and instantly regretted it, her body protested it and her lungs reminded her that the fractures were still there. She found herself starting to wheeze.

He relented and agreed, not wanting to fight with her at all. "How about some food then? Gohan, you hungry? Cause I know I am."

The boy's eyes shifted between his mom and Goku, Mommy never gets that mad. Noting that most of the time if it were Mom and Dad they'd talk things through, but he never heard his mother shout like that when not training. But the prospect of food… His tail perked up immediately. "Yes, please." Gohan said to Goku who just smiled and set up the small tray that began to cook several ready made meals.

They were the instant kind that Bulma had shown him how to make a few times. They weren't his favorite but he could seriously go for something in his stomach as he hadn't eaten in almost half a day.

As the metal trays heated up and caused the food to begin boiling Goku looked to Chi-Chi. " Want some water first, Chi-Chi?"

Like I can really refuse. "Yes please, it's not like I can start moving yet."

"Gohan here's one." He said tossing the small boy a bottled water which he tore of the cap too and began chugging making Goku laugh as he popped the lid off of his. Shifting around to be next to the haystack, he raised one hand and brought the tip to Chi-Chi's lips.

She parted her lips and Goku slowly poured water down into her mouth. If it wasn't cold it was still nice to have some fluids back in her system again and Goku just kept tipping it slowly letting Chi-Chi drink an entire bottle in half a minute. "Another?" He asked and she nodded, repeating the process several more times until she shook her head, "Oops." He said, noticing that she had dribbled a little water. Bringing his thumb down before Chi-Chi could protest and wiped away the straight trickle.

She then watched him smile at her and lick away the spilled water from his thumb. Her face turned a faint shade of red before it was too late, but she quickly looked away. Goku missed her flustered appearance and sat back down to finish with the meal which didn't need more than a couple minutes to complete.

The evening carried on as Chi-Chi was not only given water by the man she'd sworn to payback but then fed as if she were a child. Using the utensils to cut into her food and then give her small squares so that she could eat. Despite the fact she could eat like a pig she was still a princess, unlike Goku who finished his first tray in ten bites and prepped a second as Gohan ate his like a proper young man.

How could this have happened? Chi-Chi tasted the cheap steak sauce touch her throat as Goku cut pieces off for her to eat waiting for her to swallow before offering another piece of steak, green beans, or mashed potatoes.

She was grateful in some respects to be alive and Gohan mostly unharmed. However, this entire situation was wrong, accepting his help when she had never wanted any after leaving her. Him talking to her son, it didn't matter if he was Gohan's biological father, he wasn't Gohan's real dad. Not once had Gohan's existence mattered to him until today.

So why is he even here now? What does he gain from any of this? He could just take Gohan and leave me behind, yet he's looking after me. Taking care of my injuries and feeding me because I can't do anything myself.

There was something so very wrong inside of her heart right now and she didn't like it. Goku was ignorant, naive and unable to understand people's real feelings. Promises were made and broken without a second thought or concern to whom they mattered. He had broken several promises to her and had not once seemed to think that it was a problem.

A simple 'I'm sorry' doesn't cut what you did to me. I can't forget how you held me down and took my body without my permission… Even if it had been welcomed later. Goku was supposed to wait until they were married, but he didn't listen. Her words were lost on him when his face was buried between her legs or her lips were smothered by his own. There was no amount of punching, kicking, screaming, or begging.

Maybe… maybe she believed that it was him taking command and dominating her as some men thought they had to do, or it was how he showed affection in some aggressive manner. But that never seemed to be him, after he abandoned her she knew that she meant nothing to him. That was the only truth and certainty of the entire encounter she had with him.

After eating enough, Chi-Chi said little as Gohan had obviously begun to wear out. He climbed in between the two sheets and laid beside his mother, his head resting against her shoulder as he slipped off into some kind of dreams.

This left the two of them looking at one another, the small fire burning away and keeping the room warm while the smoke escaped through the cracked doorway and small holes in the ceiling.

She decided to break the quiet as she noticed Gohan had gone fully to sleep, knowing that her son could sleep through a thunderstorm she wasn't worried about waking him. "So, what are your plans Goku?"

"Hm?" Goku shifted his gaze and focused on her face. "My plans? What do you mean?"

"Well once I'm back on my feet and am able to take care of my son. What are you planning on doing?"

"I don't really know, I was thinking about finding the ragon balls for you. But we still have another six months until we can use those again to bring everyone back."

"Six months?" Chi-Chi felt her own sorrow deepen, she was going to make it through all of this by herself for half a year and then wait for Goku to locate the dragon balls and undo what the monster had done to them.

"I know it's not great but everything should be fine once Shenron undoes everything that happened." The two fell into silence again for a few moments, the crackle of the fire the only real sounds in the small shed. "What about you?"

"I'll be taking care of Gohan, I'll have to find some type of job to support the two of us if not hope to find some of my father's finances to keep us from remaining outdoors people." Neither prospect was pleasant, as a princess she hadn't ever really worked a real job. Not that she doubted she couldn't, but her skills had been focused on training so hard and now it all had literally blown up in her face.

"Ah, well I'll lend you Nimbus when I go and find another one."

"Another one? What happened to the cloud?"

"It got blown up by the monster, it's not gone gone, but I have to wait before calling it back. Otherwise I would've flown us somewhere to get help."

Oh, I can't believe I didn't think of that. But maybe that makes sense, he could've just gotten us out of here.

"Maybe once I get Nimbus back I'll get some Senzu and you'll be good as new." Goku offered, knowing that if Yajirobe didn't eat them all before hand.

"It's fine, once I'm strong enough to walk, I should be able to take care of the two of us. You don't need to concern yourself."

Goku shook his head, "No it's not a big deal, they might take a week or two but I'm sure I can be back in a day…" But as he said that he felt a crazy idea spark inside of his head, "I actually have a better idea. How about you and Gohan travel with me, we can go get the Senzu and then go talk to Bulma and get the dragon radar." He hit his hand in his fist, "Then once the time is up we can recover all the dragon balls and then look for them together."

"That's not necessary. You can just give me the dragon radar and I'll find them myself."

"You sure? I mean I can find them pretty easy, I've done it a lot. Plus there's a lot of people out there who are always trying to get their hands on them."

"No thanks, it's my fault so I'll take responsibility. I'll just have to find someone to look after Gohan when I go and look for them. Maybe up until that point I could have a job and pay for it and then just find them in my spare time…" Chi-Chi said contemplating her options, all of them that excluded having Goku anywhere near her.

"I could look after him then." he felt her eyes snap to him, she was giving him a death glare.

"Absolutely not."

"Aww, why not, he's my son. I'll take care of him."

"No and for the record he's not your son. He's Kenyo's."

That confused Goku, "But I thought you said he was mine?" Scratching his chin he wondered what Chi-Chi was going on about. "He looks like me and has my tail, unless you had one in secret?"

"Goku you don't know a thing about children and frankly I don't want you near Gohan."

"That's not nice to say Chi-Chi. I would look after him."

"We're not having this discussion, Gohan is my responsibility." Before switching to a low growl, "Not yours, now drop it." Turning herself from him she pressed her lips against her son's forehead and closed her eyes wishing for this cruel twist of fate to be over sooner rather than later.

Goku remained quiet, he thought that he and Chi-Chi were getting better being around each other but she immediately shut him down. He still didn't understand why she was so hostile towards him, he was doing everything right? Or was he?

Whatever it was Goku leaned himself back against the wall and took a moment to close his eyes and rest. He needed it after the past twenty-four hours.

R&R

Kerghan