A/N: You ever have those days where you've been itching all day long to get back home to write and then you finally get home and just stare at the keyboard all night?

Welp. Yeah. En-joi.

"That demon is not going this weekend Son Goten and that is final!"

"Well if Mister Piccolo isn't going, then I don't wanna have my party at all!"

Gohan's face scrunched up into a grimace as he listened to his mother scold his younger brother, causing said brother to run away, likely in search of their oaf-like father. He was in for it now after Goten's comment about his mentor and long-time friend. His mother only ever saw him as her son's problem rather than his companion.

"His sudden bond with that thing is all because you couldn't just be a good boy and listen to your mother!" Chi Chi turned her heel to yell out furiously at her eldest son, her eyes accusing.

"Why is it such a bad thing Mom? I mean, when is the last time that Piccolo-sama went out of his way to hurt anyone? I told you, he's changed," The demi saiyan tried to reason with his mother. It wasn't fair that Goten didn't get to have his new sensei at his eighth birthday party, granted they hadn't even approached the namek on the subject yet, but Gohan knew that Piccolo would eventually break to the little saiyan's request. His mentor had been growing soft lately, not that he would ever point it out or complain about it.

Chi Chi's eyes squinted into a harsh glare, her top lip twitching as she opened her mouth, likely to reprimand her scholarly son. Before she could get a single tight-lipped, angry word out, a man reaching close to six feet tall walked into the kitchen and looked to each of them as if he were lost.

"Hey guys, what's going on? Chi Chi? Are you alright? I'm actually staying home for the weekend, I thought you'd be happy?" Goku rambled all at once, his face looking like he had no idea what was happening and as if he didn't even know who these people were.

The angry woman instantly put her nose up into the air and crossed her arms, facing her confused husband. "Your son thinks that it's alright for him to disrespect his mother who has done nothing but what's best for-"

"Otousan, Goten wants to invite Piccolo-sama to his birthday party at Kame House this weekend and Okaasan

Goku promptly raised his hand and placed it behind his head, scratching at the hair that existed there, wearing a quizzical look. "What's so wrong with Piccolo going to Goten's party? It'll be a hoot!" The eldest Son shouted out, looking into his wife's angry eyes with excitement glowing in his own.

Chi Chi's eyes only widened with shock as her fury raged on. She grabbed Goku by the ear and dragged him to the empty living area, "Don't you remember Goku? He tried to kill you! He did kill you! He kidnapped our precious Gohan and forced him to fight! Not only that, but now he's forced himself into both of our poor son's lives by tricking them into believing that they can be.. friends!" At this point, smoke could practically be seen leaving Chi Chi's ears like a chimney in winter.

"Oh, come on Chi Chi, you know Piccolo had to do that to save the Earth. I'm sure if our places had been switched, he would have taken the same sacrifice. Besides, Piccolo's completely changed. Hes one of the good guys now! And has been for quite a while. You should give him a chance hon, the kids really are close to him now whether we like it or not," Goku finished with a gentle smile and a relaxed face.

"But Goku-"

"Chi Chi," the full blooded saiyan suddenly reached out to place his hand on his wife's dainty shoulder, his face serious. "Do you remember when you used to tell Gohan that he was strictly not allowed to see Piccolo? You told me that he would just go behind your back and sneak out of the window to go see him. That he would do anything to go see him, even lie to you, and even risk the danger of the wilderness.. alone."

Chi Chi looked into her husband's eyes and her tense features finally softened as her brows knitted together slightly in what looked like genuine worry. 'I.. I've been the one pushing Gohan into that monster's arms, not that thing..'

Chi Chi wrapped her arms around the saiyan's neck and pulled him into a gentle hug, breathing in his hearty musk and finally calming down completely. "You're right Goku.." the small woman said softly. "I can't put Goten in danger like I did with Gohan. I never meant to do that to our boys. From now on, they're free to make they're own decisions. Well, as long as they tell their Mother first!"

Goku laughed heartily while he gently squeezed back at her waist, resting his head on top of her head. "Deal, babe."

Chi Chi stayed in his hold for as long as the impatient Son could stand still, nuzzling her nose into his sinewy neck, kissing the bitten skin that existed there. Her husband's heart fluttered into his throat at the action, as his mouth made way to her neck to reciprocate the kiss on his saiyan brand. Chi Chi leaned her neck back to give room for his ministrations, while her eyes rolled back in a feeling she could only describe as overwhelming love, his mark extracting a greater effect from her because of his pure saiyan blood.

"Mom, when is dinner gonna be ready already- Ew guys, really?" The smallest of the Son home stood in the living room with a scrunched up, disgusted face as he held his stomach dramatically with both hands.

Both parents quickly broke away from each other, Chi Chi's arms crossing in slight disappointment and embarrassment, while Goku simply placed his hand behind his head and laughed goofily. "Gee Goten, don't sneak up on us like that bud!" The full-blooded saiyan reprimanded, a small part of his mind upset by the fact he and his wife were suddenly separated.

Goten turned his little head around all about to scope out the area and wore a perplexed look on his face. "This is the living area Otousan, get a room."

Gohan stood in the kitchen watching the whole exchange through the small window slightly snickering to himself. 'Where did Goten learn that?' It seemed like just yesterday that they were preparing for Majin Buu and Goten was as clueless as his father was at that age, but recently Goten had been acting a lot more mature. Well, at least when it came to anything other than "cooties". 'Maybe eight years is just going to his head.'

The eldest of the demi saiyan couldn't really believe that his ears worked after hearing his parents' exchange, was he even really awake? He had to have been daydreaming after hearing his mom say that she was going to basically change her whole parenting mindset. Gohan couldn't help but feel a bit sour as he realized her sudden leniency with Goten, leniency he had never been shown as a child, not even as a seventeen-year-old. 'At least this year will be smooth sailing, hopefully. At least Goten gets his freedom.'

"Gohan! Family meeting!" Chi Chi commanded with a screechy voice, her vocal cords unforgiving after the years of torment.

Gohan jumped as his heart beat increased rapidly, having let his awareness slip. 'Piccolo-sama would not approve.' Gohan thought with disappointment, as he placed a meditation reminder in the back of his mind. That would also give him an excuse to seek out Piccolo.

The demi saiyan made his way over to the living room, where his mother and father were standing nearby the couch, his mother holding out her hand to the couch, silently asking him to sit. Gohan took a seat right next to his younger brother, who was sitting patiently, but with a slight pout on his face as he remembered being denied of what he wanted earlier.

"Goten," Chi Chi started with a gentle and mothering look. "Your father and I have discussed the current situation with your party and we've made a decision."

Goten looked up as a hopeful look formed on his face, switching back and forth between his mother and father's eyes.

"We've decided that you're both capable of making your own decisions about your social lives. So, from now on, you can both have any friends that you want. As long as I get to meet them first that is." Chi Chi explained, finishing with a stern look as she stated her catch.

The two demi saiyans shared a smile as they listened to their mother, both about to mutter a quick "yes ma'am" before they realized that their father still had something to say.

"And," Goku said, hoping that his wife caught on and actually swallowed her pride.

Chi Chi shot a quick glare at her husband and sighed as she mustered up all of her humility.

"And that means that the demo-"

"Chi Chi."

"That means.. that Piccolo.. is allowed to come to your birthday party this weekend." As Chi Chi breathed out a sigh of relief, she suddenly felt little arms wrapping themselves around her legs, as Goten nuzzled his face into his mother's stomach lovingly, yelling "thank you" over and over again.

Chi Chi smiled as she leaned down to give her youngest son a hug and told him to get washed up for dinner. Goten scurried off to the nearest bathroom as Chi Chi looked to her eldest son.

"Thanks mom." She heard whispered into her ear, as she was suddenly hugged by Gohan, who stood a few inches taller than her. 'He's getting so big..' Chi Chi thought as her eyes watered, memories of when he was as tall as Goten was running through her mind.

Gohan let go of his mother and wiped her tears away, giving her a wide, but gentle smile. He looked over at his father who stood nearby watching them, not wanting to ruin the serious moment. Gohan saw his sudden opportunity.

"Hey dad? I thought that we could talk for a second?"

A/N: No, this is not a Chi Chi bashing fic. Yes, she does play an important role. Even if she wasn't the perfect mother and did many things that weren't the wisest, she was still there and still wanted them safe. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

We will finally be meeting Piccolo in the next one. I so wish I could insert eye emojis right now.