A/N: Hey hey! I'm alive! Yes, contrary to popular belief, I have not fallen off of the face of the Earth and am indeed still on this planet. I do have an explanation for my extended absence on my profile, but the abridged version is just that I basically was murdered by school and it took a long time for people to gather the dragon balls and wish me back to life.

Anywho, I'm back now and I'm better than ever! In fact, I even extended this story to a four shot since I ended up writing so much for this chapter. Expect the next chapter in two weeks as I try and get back into writing.

I also encourage everyone that is interested to look at my profile and take a gander at my new extended project that I plan on writing. This project will take up all of my writing time for the next few years so don't expect much from me after this story is finished for a long time.

Now lets get onto the story!

"dialogue"

thoughts/mindscape

"telepathic communication"

~change in setting~

*action*

flashback

Chapter 3: Life Moving On

~Mount Paoz, 439 Mountain District, Age 795~

Ten years have passed since Dad left and he still hasn't come back.

I am currently sitting on the porch at my house, relaxing on my first day off in two weeks. After going through high school and the first year of undergraduate college, I decided that I wanted to do pharmacy as a career and pursued a PharmD degree. I was able to get into the program at Orange Star University after my second year of undergrad and graduated from the university just under two years ago. Now I am currently undergoing my PGY-2 residency with my specialty in cardiology, and I have been swamped at the hospital, working an average of 80 hours a week (1).

I also found the girl of my dreams and got married last year. I couldn't believe that I spent all of that time trying to find the one when she was right under my nose the whole time. I ended up marrying Krillin's daughter Marron, and let me tell you that I couldn't be happier with my life right now. I only got together with her because of Pan. She pushed me into asking her out, saying that best friends make the best couples. I was reluctant at first, but after a while realized that she was right and went for it. I'm so glad that I did too because now I'm married to the love of my life and my best friend.

Speaking of Pan, she is now fourteen, and an incredibly spunky, cheerful teenager. My niece is just finishing up her junior high school career and is will start high school next year. She has a tendency to give off an arrogant aura around the random stranger, something I know she got from her mother, but also like her mother she is incredibly nice and sweet once you get to know her. She also likes spending time at my house with Marron and me since she is really close to us. I think out of everyone, she was the most excited when she found out Marron and I were getting married.

She also took over her family business as a crime fighter in the city where she goes to school. I almost laughed when she came over one day and was wearing Videl's old Saiyagirl outfit. She was grinning up at me proudly and telling me all about how she was a super hero just like her mom and dad. I couldn't help but smile at the girl as I had done the same thing in high school, using my brother's Saiyaman outfit. I also knew that she would be a gigantic help to the police, as she has continued to train over the years as well.

And like my brother before me, I decided to stay close to home and live in the 439 Mountain District. I don't think I could ever live in the bustling city like Trunks, as I just love the atmosphere that this area brings. It took a lot of convincing on my part, but I was also able get Marron to agree to move out here, although I know that she misses the tropical setting of Kame Island. Still, I think that she's glad that she was able to get away from her parents and Master Roshi.

I also had an alternative motivation to stay here, and that was for Pan. After what Goku did to her ten years ago, I just couldn't find it in myself to leave her as well. I know that it's not the same thing if I were to move somewhere else, and I know I would have made an effort to at least talk to her every day, but I would have felt guilty. Ever since my father left, she has become rather 'attached' to my brother and me, even more than she was before. I think she was afraid that we would leave her like her grandfather did, and I didn't want to potentiate that belief if I could help it.

For the first year after he left, she was extremely hopeful, trusting her grandfather to come and visit her many times. After he never came that year, she became less hopeful until eventually she just gave up on the saiyan and decided that he wasn't going to come back. It was incredibly hard to see her like that, hurt so much by the absence of someone she loved dearly. But as hard as that was, it was even harder to see her give up on him. After she confessed to me that she believed he was never going to come back, the look in her eye filled with great pain, I thought my heart was going to break right then and there. She would probably deny it now, but I know for a fact that Goku's absence still affects her today. It's probably one of the reasons she is now Saiyagirl.

So here I am, drinking a glass of iced tea while looking at the clouds. I lean back in my lawn chair as I take in the peaceful atmosphere of the nice, warm spring afternoon. I am currently home alone at the moment. Marron is off at work, teaching unmotivated teenagers at the high school in Satan City. I have always told her that even though my job requires more memorization and schooling that her job is probably twice as hard as mine. I have always respected her for attempting to enlighten the teenagers of Satan City about the wonders of literature. I grin at that. At least she'll have Pan next year to help her out a bit.

My mom is also out of the house right next door to mine. She and Bulma went on a shopping trip in West City today, something I know she loves. After her husband left her, mom was depressed for a while, and Gohan had decided to move back in with mom and me for a few months to help out. Of course Videl and Pan did as well, and with the help of us all, we were able to get Mom out of her slump. During that time, Bulma also made a concerted effort to come and visit us, and now every month, she picks up my mom and they both go on a shopping spree. Eventually, things went back to normal like they were before Goku even came back from the dead.

Both Videl and Gohan are currently gone as well. Both are at work at the moment as it is the middle of the afternoon. Videl is working as a martial arts instructor at her father's dojo and is teaching her students all about ki control and the long forgotten arts of martial arts… or at least is attempting to. Don't get me wrong, my sister is an excellent sensei. It's her students that are the problem. Even with the best teaching there is, the students have to have the mental discipline and physical ability to learn the art of ki control, something that she is just now figuring out. I don't think she realized how special she was to be able to pick up ki control as quickly as she did. She was always comparing herself to me, thinking that she was no big deal since I was seven and learning everything she was, but that was also before she found out Gohan and I were saiyans. Still, I think now she knows why Master Roshi only trained five students in his lifetime.

Gohan is teaching as well, but he teaches upper level mathematics at Orange Star University. He teaches probably the most difficult material at the school, and he puts so much effort into his job, always trying to find ways to make his classes interesting. All of his efforts are paying off though. He students were all scoring within the top 10 percent in mathematics in all of the standardized tests, and many have gone on to become big time actuaries at major insurance companies. The school board recognized this, and he became the director of the mathematics department of the school five years ago. I think Mom cried with pride when he told her that, and she and Videl threw him a huge party to celebrate. So things have been going quite well in life for my brother.

And yes, over these last ten years, I have been training consistently. I do it whenever I can, but I am able to get a least 2-3 hours of training every day. And as promised, Gohan has been with me every step of the way. At first he was confused as to why I had such a strong motivation to train. After all, I had only shown that much determination to train when Buu was terrorizing the Earth, and Gohan wasn't even around for that, doing his own special training with the Supreme Kai, so he was suspicious I had some ulterior motive. Since I have never been good at lying to begin with, and have probably never lied to my brother, I conceded at the beginning of our second training session and told him about trying to protect Pan from Goku. I really didn't want to say it because I knew it'd hurt him and he'd refuse to train with me, but I had no other choice.

However, I was incredibly shocked when instead of refusing to go on with the training, he had actually had pushed me harder. That training session, I saw a fire in his eyes that I hadn't seen for a long time, not since Buu had threatened to kill Trunks and me twenty years ago. He had a protective glint in his eyes, the same glint I had in mine, and from that moment on, we trained harder than we ever did. We may have only had two or three hours every day, with him being a college professor and me being a full time student and now pharmacy resident not to mention everything else we have going on, but we definitely got the most out of those training sessions.

And now I'm positive I could give my father a run for his money.

I admit, sometimes I wonder what my father is doing. I'm somewhat curious at how Uub's family reacted to their son coming home with a strange man that they never met before. That must have been a shock. Of course they probably welcomed him with open arms since my father is incredibly likeable and charismatic. I also wonder if he eats as much there. According to the tournament announcer ten years ago, Uub's village was in the middle of a famine and he was fighting for the money to feed his village. Dad did promise money, and Hercule had no choice but to give him it since Goku announced it in public at the tournament, but Goku eats more in one day than that whole village probably eats in a week.

But mostly, I wonder if he even remembers us at all. It seems as though he has completely forgotten about us since he found what he was looking for: the next big challenge. I scowl subconsciously as I continue to think about my father. I still don't understand how he could leave everyone that cares about him behind without a care in the world. And not only that, but he hasn't even visited once! Did he even care for us at all, or was he just too naïve to realize how his absence affects all of us, especially his family!?

*crash*

I blink in surprise as I look down and realize that my angering thoughts made me squeeze the glass that my tea was in so hard to make it shatter. I sigh as I get up to get a broom and clean up the broken shards of glass. I am on my way to the kitchen when I feel something peculiar…

Something I haven't felt in a long time.

Ten years to be exact.

I quickly abandon my search for a broom and sprint to my bedroom. I quickly change into a fighting gi in preparation for what is going to happen. I quickly make my way outside of my house and wait in the middle of the field behind all three houses. I have been waiting for this day for a long time.

The day I confront my father.

It doesn't take that long for him to arrive in front of me. I subconsciously clench my fists as I see him. He doesn't look a day older than he left, and by looking at him one wouldn't know that it's been ten years since he's been around. He still has the same classic hairstyle and the same innocent expression on his face. And of course, he still has that same grin that he's known for. Seeing me waiting for him, he waves enthusiastically.

"Hey Goten!" he greets me as if he hasn't been gone for the last ten years. "You look good! I can tell you've been keeping up with your training. You're ki is much stronger than last time!"

"Hello Goku," I respond, not an ounce of warmth in my voice. In all honesty I'm trying my hardest to try and stop myself from punching his face in here and now. He acts like he hasn't been gone for years! And I can't help but notice that the first thing that he mentioned to me since he left ten years ago was that I was keeping up with my training. Is that seriously all he really cares about!? It's been ten years and I was seventeen when I left, yet the first thing he thinks about is if I was training. No 'how's life been treating you?' or 'what are you up to these days?' or even 'how are your mother and brother doing?'

Nope. Just an 'I can tell you've been keeping up with your training.'

Why am I surprised?

"And yes I've kept up with my training," I continue with a scowl, but my father seems oblivious to my obvious to my annoyance, probably too focused on the fact that I've been training this intensely over the past ten years to notice. "I train about 2-3 hours a day."

To be honest I can't say that I blame him for being so surprised about hearing that I'm actually training. The whole time he was actually here I showed very little motivation to train, only occasionally doing some light training and friendly sparring with Gohan or Trunks (and later Pan). After going through Buu, I honestly didn't want to do martial arts at all, and I finally found out why my mother was so against us fighting. It was incredibly dangerous and terrifying, and even though everything ended up alright in the end, I was so frightened by what happened that I never wanted to go near the sport again, even after Dad had come back and insisted that I continue with it. Could you blame me though? I was only seven years old at the time and had already died once fighting a terrifying monster.

However, after a while I had started to miss it. I missed the excitement that martial arts gave me. I missed the challenge of having to outsmart your opponent. I missed the physical training that came with sparring and the ability it gave me to learn something new. But what I missed the most was when Gohan would train me. He always said that he hated fighting, but loved martial arts because of the mental aspect of it. He always told me that one had to be incredibly disciplined to learn martial arts and that this practice was good not only for the physical exercise, but the mental, something he told me he learned from Piccolo.

When Gohan and I would train, he was surprisingly strict and a very demanding sensei. Even when I was little he would correct me constantly for even the tiniest flaw in form or for the lack of attention. Big Brother always said that it was because he expected great things from me and that I had so much potential. But he also was so happy when I finally got it right and was always quick to praise me. When we would spar, he always pushed me to my limit, while not being too difficult where I gave up, and he would make sure that neither of us got too banged up. Looking back on it, he was an amazing sensei, even though he told me he had never taught anyone before.

So one day, about a half a year after Buu, I decided to ask my dad to train me again. I would have asked Gohan, but he was hanging out with Videl more often since they had recently started dating. I know that he probably would have trained me (as I later found out), but I didn't want to be a burden on him. Besides, I wanted to hang out with my dad! He had just come back to life not even six months prior and I really liked him. He was super funny, incredibly friendly, and an all-around great guy to be with, but he was constantly gone training, only really coming home for meals, so I never really got a chance to see him. This seemed to be a good way to be able to spend some more time with him.

Of course Goku had accepted my offer to train with him without hesitation. I have to admit, I was impressed with what he could do. His technique was flawless and he had a natural talent for learning different forms and moves that was second to none. And during battle (I couldn't call what he did a simple spar), he was incredibly innovative, showing that he isn't as dimwitted as Vegeta says he is. At first I was having a blast learning from my father. He wasn't as strict as Gohan when it came to form, although he was still critical, and he was always so much fun to play with when we took a break. I also learned so much from just watching him train.

He was the ideal martial artist.

No, the ideal warrior.

The reason I stopped training with my father was the 'sparring.' He was always so intense when we would face each other, and he always made sure I left the training session worse for wear. Most of the time it was like he forgot he was fighting an eight year old–that was his son nonetheless–and would go at it incredibly hard. I've never had a spar with Dad that I've not had to go super saiyan in, and he still would clobber me! Unlike Gohan who knew when to stop and knew what my limits were, my father didn't. He would keep going until I couldn't move anymore. It felt like I was battling Buu again, fighting for my life, and even though I know that my father would never take it quite that far, I couldn't help but think of it that way.

One day I had told Gohan about this and he had been furious. Sure, he didn't show it around me, but I could definitely tell. I have no idea what he said to Goku, but after that, Dad wasn't nearly as unforgiving on me. He also didn't train me nearly as much either, and eventually I stopped training with him altogether. Thankfully, Trunks felt the same way about training with Vegeta, so both of us eventually worked up the resolve to ask Gohan. It wasn't like we were scared of asking him or anything, but we really didn't want to burden him with our troubles as he was already so busy with school and Videl. But Trunks and I were only nine and eight years old respectively. We couldn't teach ourselves… at least not well.

It turned out though that we shouldn't have been that worried about it. Gohan was more than happy to teach us. He just taught us during the time he usually allotted to hanging out with me. In fact, on more than one occasion, Videl would join him and help him. Those training sessions with Gohan are some of my fondest memories…

I am knocked out of my deep reminiscing by my father's incredulous voice. "You got that strong from only training 2-3 hours a day?" he says, stunned at my progress. "How'd you do that with that little training?"

I look at my father, a deep frown on my face. Only he and Vegeta would classify 2-3 hours of intense training a day as 'very little.' Well perhaps Piccolo would too now that I think about it, but he lives by himself; training is how he passes time in times of peace so I don't really count him. Getting back on topic, I explain to my father the nature of my training. "I trained with Gohan every time. We both pushed each other to the limit."

As I tell this to my father, his eyes widen even more if possible, further surprised. He probably expected that the least out of anyone, knowing how Gohan feels about training in that fashion. I admit, I kind of feel guilty for making Gohan train me since I too know how he feels about this, but he was the only one who I could fully trust to train me to my limit, yet not take it too far. And it turned out that he felt the same way that I did about Dad, making him the perfect sensei/training partner.

That last thought makes my anger return to me. This training wouldn't have been necessary if Dad had just stayed home! If he had, I wouldn't have felt the need to protect Pan from him. I wouldn't have felt the need to ask my brother to train me like there was another monster on the loose.

Dad however apparently took this news completely differently, like I actually wanted to train with Gohan this way. The classic grin that he's known for now adorns his face, only making me want to wipe it clean off. "Wow, Gohan trained you?" he asks, still not believing what I said. "That's fantastic! He must be much stronger too!"

"As a matter of fact, I am!"

My eyes widen as I turn to see none other than Gohan land right next to me. He wears a neutral expression as he looks at our father, but I can tell that he's pissed. I guess this is what we trained for after all. I quickly snap out of my revere however and address my brother. "Gohan! What are you doing here?" I ask him. "I thought you had class right now."

My big brother stares at Goku for another moment before looking at me. His face morphs into a warm, concerned expression. "I felt your ki spike ten minutes ago. I know that you normally have great control of your ki, so I decided to check it out knowing that you were the only one home. Don't worry though. I think I'm the only one who felt it."

It's my turn to stare at my brother. My ki spiked? I was so lost in my thoughts about Goku that I didn't even notice. That certainly explains why Gohan ditched his class to come here though. I sigh in frustration at my lack of control. Knowing my brother like I do, he probably was worried about me since I was supposed to be by myself at home and he didn't know what was going on. But even if I lost control for a moment, it couldn't have spiked that high. Only Gohan would be able to feel a spike in my ki so minor, and only he would drop everything he's doing to check on me because of it too, even if I am 28 years old now. He has always been extra protective of me, something I figure will never change no matter how old I get. I wouldn't want it to change either. It's nice to know that Gohan is always looking out for me.

It seems as if our father finally registered Gohan's presence here as he starts greeting him now. "Gohan!" He shouts cheerfully. "It's good to see you! Yeah, I can tell you're much stronger too. You guys must have really gone all out during your training."

Gohan puts on his neutral expression once again and turns towards our father. "Hello Goku," he answers in a mirror of how I first greeted him. I can see through his mask though. I can see the hurt that he is feeling at seeing his father again, old wounds reopening. The fact that Goku has yet to talk about anything other than training probably magnifies the feelings to him.

I know it magnifies my anger.

"I see you haven't changed at all in your time away," he continues while I try to get myself back in control of my increasingly unstable anger. Dad just looks on at him confused, tilting his head to the side, although he still has the maddening grin on his face. I know what my brother is referring to though. While Goku looks exactly the same as he did when he left, he's talking about the fact that Dad puts his training before everything else.

I internally groan at that, shaking my head subconsciously. This line of thinking is doing absolutely nothing other than fueling my anger at my father. If the subject doesn't change soon I'm not going to be able to hold myself back from viciously attacking my own father. It's sad that thinking about my father only makes me want to attack him. I can't help it though! He is completely maddening with his naivety.

The subject of these thoughts is what brings me out of these musings. "What do you mean by that Gohan?" I hear him say, and I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. Typical Goku. He doesn't even realize that Gohan is trying to make a point.

Big Brother just sighs and shakes his head at our father's response. He's probably as frustrated as I am at the moment. "Never mind Dad," He replies, dropping the subject. I guess he thought it wasn't going to go anywhere. With Goku's naivety I would have to agree with that assessment. "So what are you doing back here anyways? I thought you left to go train that kid Uub."

Ah, the almighty question. I've been wondering the same thing. What is Dad doing back here? He obviously doesn't care much about us if he never even took the time to visit us over this ten year period, so what motive would he have to finally show up after all of this time? Does he need more money from Hercule? That wouldn't surprise me since he eats so much, but then again, if that were the case why would he come here? He would just go to the world famous man himself. Is it possible that he actually came back to see us? Could it be true that he actually thought of his family after all of this time?

Even if that's the case though it wouldn't change anything. I still wouldn't forgive him for leaving yet again. For leaving Mom, Gohan, and especially Pan behind with little more than a quick goodbye to train a complete stranger. No, he doesn't deserve the luxury of forgiveness.

I go through all of this in my head in a matter of moments as I wait for my father to reply to Gohan's inquiry. Finally though, he answers. "I finished my training with Uub. Now he's more than ready to take on any threat that comes here alongside of us, so I decided to come home. I told you I'd be back!"

After hearing that, I could only imagine what my face would have looked like. I was shocked that he actually said that he was done training Uub. Perhaps Uub finally reached his potential and my father got bored fighting him, so he decided to leave and come back here. It only took him ten years, I think sarcastically. I look at my brother to gaze his expression, and I am further shocked. He looks just as suprised as I feel, but his eyes tell a different story. I look into my brother's eyes and I see anger, probably at dad for taking so long to come back, but I also see a tinge of hope. I know my brother better than anyone else in the universe, and I instantly know what that's for…

And the thought of it makes my blood boil over the top.

"No."

The sound of my voice is but a mere whisper, but it still draws the attention of my father and Gohan. "NO!" I shout it out this time, wanting to put a stop to this at once.

Gohan's hopeful that things will go back to the way they were before Goku left. He's hopeful that he will get his father back. But what makes me so furious is the fact that I know that that little tinge of hope in my big brother's eyes is because he's hopeful that Dad will stick around for good this time. I can't stand that thought because I know that it's not going to transpire. Just look at his track record! As soon as he finds a new adventure, Goku will leave again without a second thought, and who knows how long it will be next time? It will only be a matter of time before something else piques our father's interest. He's giving Gohan, one of three people that I love the most, false hope, only to crush that again.

I carry no such hope because I never was close to Goku to begin with. Gohan however, despite all of our father's flaws and past actions, loves our father deeply, as much as he loves Mom, Videl, even Pan and me. If there is even the slightest hope that he will come back and stay, he will latch onto that hope and feed on it as if a starving child.

So I must crush that seed of hope; crush it so that Goku won't hurt the ones I love anymore.

1. I couldn't resist. The cannon never goes into what Goten does for a living after Goku leaves so I decided to add my own personal twist. This is actually my career path (at least what I hope will happen).