The Troubles of Our Time

A year had passed since Bardock went back to his original timeline. He saw the familiar faces that aged in the 6 years he had been gone. He saw new faces like his Uncle Goten's, Bra Briefs', Trunks' wife Minako's, and his daughter Blouse's. He got to be with his family again after being away from them for so long. He had missed everyone deeply, and while he loved being in the other timeline, he began to see why this was his true timeline.

Like Pan, unfortunately, for staying so long in the other timeline, even though he was allowed to go, his punishment was to go to high school. Luckily, he only had to go for a year and a half considering he was already 16 by the time he got back to the timeline.

If he was being honest, it wasn't like he hated school with a burning passion. No, he just wished he had something better to do with his time. In his spare time when he didn't have homework, he trained with his father, grandfather, Vegeta, Piccolo and sometimes Trunks. That gave him something to look forward to at the end of every day. He had to be in top shape if he was going to fight any bad guys coming through. His mother liked to tell him that he scared them away, but he knew. He may not have been getting visions lately, but he knew evil wasn't as far away as everyone thought.

"Breakfast is ready!" Videl's voice sounded through the house. The mother of two shook her head amusedly when she felt a burst of wind at her back.

Pan gave her mother a peck on the cheek, "Morning, Mom." She walked over to the table as she put her hair in a ponytail. She glanced around, "Where are Dad and Bardock?" Usually, they were the first down for breakfast. Hell, the only thing that woke Bardock up was the smell of Videl's cooking.

Videl smiled as she put another plate of pancakes on the table, "Your father took him out for some light sparring before school started. Apparently, Bardock wasn't feeling too well."

"Really?" Pan asked confusedly, her mouth full of eggs. She swallowed her food when her mother narrowed her eyes. She coughed lightly, "He looked fine to me yesterday."

"He was complaining of headaches."

The door burst open a moment later, revealing the two missing male Sons. Both were shirtless and their hair was dripping water on the tile in the kitchen. Videl rolled her eyes as she stood up to grab a towel, "Really, guys. I really don't want to have to mop again."

Bardock grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, Mom. We didn't think we were gonna fall into the river but Dad here doesn't know how to dodge."

Gohan grabbed his son in a headlock and gave him a noogie, "I did dodge. You were the one who came back to push me in the river."

Videl shook her head, sharing a glance with her daughter, "I swear, you boys will never learn." She shoved them towards the table. "Now eat. I didn't cook for hours for nothing."

"Yes, ma'am," Gohan gave Videl a quick kiss before sitting next to Pan. He kissed his daughter's head and began to dig into the delicious meal in front of him. He worked up quite the appetite sparring with Bardock. It was taking a bit more energy just to keep up with the teen. He wondered if it was because he was getting older or that his son was just getting stronger and stronger as the days went by.

Bardock paused in his eating and gazed up at his mother who placed a hand on his forehead worriedly. Videl gave a small smile, "You sure you're okay? You know you don't have to go to school today if you don't feel good."

"I'm fine, Mom," Bardock said reassuringly. "The headaches weren't that bad and I was distracted with the sparring that I had totally forgot about them." He lifted his plate with a wide grin, "This food will definitely cure any illness."

Pan scoffed softly as she shoveled down her food, "Kiss up."

Videl laughed when Bardock stuck his tongue out at his sister before going back to devouring his food. She ruffled her son's hair, "Alright, you two. Just finish up your breakfast and finish getting ready. School starts in an hour and since you both are going, I don't want you to be late. This is your last year. You don't need to be slacking off."

She rolled her eyes when both teens sighed in relief at the thought of this being their last year in high school. Honestly, they acted as if high school was the worst thing to ever happen to them. As if they didn't fight rampaging androids until they were 10 years old.

Half an hour later, she watched as her kids bid her and their father goodbye before they flew off into the sky on their way to school. She sighed lightly, turning to Gohan, "You think they can handle their last year without anything happening?"

Gohan shrugged as he approached her, "Well, we've been at peace for 7 years. Maybe something will pop up but what can be worse than the androids that almost destroyed the planet?"

"I guess you're right," Videl smiled in agreement. She let out a soft sigh, "It's been nice having the both of them back after all these years, but them going to school leaves us with more time on our hands."

"Wanna take advantage of our free time?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

In Orange City, Bardock yawned as he walked the halls of Orange Star High School with Pan. He rubbed his eyes before moving his hands to his forehead, trying to maybe knead the headache to dull it down to just a small throb instead of the constant stabbing sensation.

Pan glanced at her brother with a raised eyebrow, "Are you sure you're okay? You don't usually complain about a sickness to get out of school."

Bardock gave a muffled huff as he continued massaging his temples, "I'm fine. It's just a stupid pain in my head. I think Dad hit me too hard or something."

The two reached their classroom and walked inside. They found their seats and made their way to them just as the bell ring. Bardock toned out, like he usually did in the mornings, the teacher's monotone voice.

He wondered why he was getting these insistent headaches. It made no sense. He was half saiyan; he never got sick or even close to it. The last time he ever ran a fever or even had a splitting headache was before he went to the present timeline 7 years ago. These two occurrences had nothing common about them, so why was he-

"…And for the project, you'll be in groups of four," The teacher's voice reached his ears despite his use of shutting it out.

The male half saiyan glanced at his sister who gave him a thumbs up. He gave her one back and watched as she moved her gaze to the girl who sat in the row below her. He felt his heart fall to his stomach when he saw a familiar head of thick raven hair turn to Pan. The girl smiled widely at Pan and nodded to whatever his sister said. She moved her gaze up to him and her black eyes narrowed.

Ah, crap baskets, he groaned to himself, burying his head in his arms.