"You really should be resting, Goten"
He glanced up as his mother entered the room. Though her voice was stern, a smile graced her features. Slowly, she sat down the tray she had been carrying and made her way over to her youngest son. Since Vegeta's rampage she had been strict, forcing him to stay in bed and keeping everyone away.
"Mom...it has been a week. Don't you think I could get out of bed for a bit?" Goten pleaded, voice whining ever so slightly at the hopeless idea.
Her bright eyes narrowed, her brows coming together, "Goten...you have broken ribs."
He shrugged, looking away. He sighed heavily, avoiding her eyes. Since the attack she had done nothing but help him, but all he wanted right now was Bulla. Since learning about her condition he had been to see her secretly almost every night and the time away from the girl carrying his child was maddening.
"I talked to Bulma today." His mother stated plainly.
He whipped his head around, searching his mom's face for even the slightest sign or shadow that she had come bearing bad news. She held nothing on her face but a slight, sweet smile. After a moment Goten cleared his throat, waiting. When his mom failed to speak, he pushed her.
"What did she say?" Goten prodded, trying not to sound too eager.
ChiChi's smile widened and she grabbed her son's hand, "Bulla is fine. The baby is fine." She leaned in towards her son slightly before continuing in a slightly hushed voice. "She also told me that when Trunks found out what happened, he was not happy."
Goten smiled. One shred of hope in a world that seemed so bleak.
Trunks had come around, just as Goten had hoped. He still had his best friend and for that he was glad. His mind returned to Bulla and the baby she held inside of her. As he stared out into space without realizing, he felt his mother's arms wrap gently around him, careful not to touch or bump any wounds. Snapping to, he turned to look at her, trying to put on a smile. She watched him closely and after a moment she backed away. Though he felt his mother's love every day he was grateful for the little things, the little ways she showed him her love. Since the day of heat with Bulla, his father and brother had seemed to avoid him. His mother, though still oblivious, noticed it to.
"Everything is gonna be fine, Goten."
This time, when the demi saiyan smiled, it was genuine. The first genuine spark of happiness he had shown in days.
He nodded, and his smile only grew. Despite everything, despite his pain, the tears, everything that had happened to break him, he was ecstatic. He was going to be a father and whether Vegeta accepted it or not, he was going to be there.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and ChiChi stood, still looking lovingly down at her son. Almost as if it was an afterthought she leaned down, checking and rechecking the bandage wrapped tightly across his chest and right shoulder. From over his mother's shoulder, he saw his father approaching silently.
"Uhm, ChiChi?" Goku's voice was soft, almost as if he was afraid to be discovered.
His mother smoothed the blanket draped across his waist and when satisfied, finally turned towards her husband.
"Yes?"
Reaching to the back of his head, Goku looked nervous, "Can I talk to Goten...alone...for a minute?"
To both of the saiyans' surprise, she lit up, practically jumping for joy, "Oh yes! Please, Goku! You need some father son bonding time."
Goten chuckled as she rushed from the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
After she had gone, Goku stepped towards his son. Goten saw a shadow in his father's eyes. Goten recognized it immediately.
Guilt.
Goku sighed lowering himself gently to the bed beside Goten, careful not to bump him or put pressure on a sore area.
"Goten..."
"Yeah, dad?"
Still looking nervous, Goku ran a hand through his unkempt black hair, looking lost and hopeless. It wasn't often Goten saw his father think before he spoke. Goten watched him, but made not a sound.
"I'm sorry son."
Still, Goten was quiet, and Goku stammered on.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't mean for you to get involved with Bulla. I didn't mean for-"
Goten shook his head, and Goku stopped, looking up at Goten.
"Don't even say it dad. Don't say that. I don't regret what happened between her and I."
Goku looked confused, but stayed silent. He watched his son and Goten plowed forward, suddenly feeling empowered.
"I am not embarrassed, dad. I'm happy. I'm gonna be a father. Since what happened, I have learned about myself. I've learned about Bulla, and I've learned about life. Yes I got the hell beat out of me, but it was worth it...for her."
"For Bulla?"
"Yes." Goten replied simply, absolutely convinced of the idea.
"Do you love her?"
Goten glanced away, refusing to look into his father's face. This was a question he had asked himself many times lately and he wasn't afraid to admit that he was unsure of the answer. A moment passed, and the silenced stretched on between them. Goten felt a nagging, gnawing sensation inside of his chest and finally, he turned back towards his father.
"How many times, dad?"
"What?"
"You and Gohan...how many times?"
Goku looked away, watching the door. He watched his father's adams apple bob as he swallowed. Goten watched him, his gaze intent and unmoving. Since the day it had happened, he had wanted this answer, and he refused to back down now.
Goku's voice was barely a whisper, "A few..."
Goten looked away, facing the wall. A sickening, nauseated feeling rose within him, and he choked back his anger. His mind was everywhere and nowhere all at once. Not only did he feel his anger, but he also felt sorrow, guilt, disgust, and the deep throb of an inner pain.
"What about mom?"
"Goten, it's not-"
"What about Videl?!"
"Gohan didn't-"
"What about Bulla?!"
Goku choked back his words, and Goten watched him swallow them back. Whatever he had been about to say, he had thought better of it. Goten felt a burning ball of emotions in his throat, and he gulped it down.
"You used her. You took advantage of her. Dad, she's 15."
Goku was quiet, though Goten didn't even give him a chance to speak. He felt as if he had been provoked, he had been pushed, and he could no longer contain his agony. He couldn't hold back his emotions, and they came in a flood like an uncontrollable explosion.
"I will never forgive you for that. Most of my life, I never knew you. You weren't there. Now, you are and I find out that you do this?"
Goku stood up, taking a step towards the door. Goten jumped from the bed, barely feeling the pain as he pushed his body beyond what he should have at that moment. He could no longer be contained.
"I kept your secret, dad. I covered your ass." Goten pushed a single finger into his father's chest. "Even when Vegeta came here to kill me, I lied for you. I protected you. Gohan stood by and watched. You only stepped in because mom made you." Goten removed his finger to point towards the door which his mother had left through only a few minutes earlier.
Goku finally made it to the door and before he turned the knob, he glanced over his shoulder at Goten, "Remember son...You were there that day, too."
"That's different!"
"How?" Goku quizzed his son, puzzled.
Goku turned, hand still on the door, his face showed a hint of rage that Goten had never seen, but he pushed, "Because I love her!"
Goku yanked the door open, disappearing into the hallway as it slammed shut behind him.
The pain hit him, and Goten collapsed in a heap on the floor. Finally, he released, and his emotions rushed from him until he couldn't breathe and he wept.
