Yeah, it's been a hot minute. Enjoy!

Chi-Chi felt exhausted. She knew this would be a bad day, but she didn't know it would be this bad. Her husband was in pain from a virus. Her son and Piccolo were out fighting fearsome villains. And she was powerless to stop any of it. She wanted to just take all of her loved ones and leave the rest of the world to its fate. But she couldn't. It was completely out of her hands.

Goku had finally stopped screaming, but he was still out cold. If the androids found them, he couldn't defend himself. Neither could she. She was completely alone.

Well... with one exception.

Bulma had been the one to bring Goku back home. She was at her side the entire time, making sure he was cared for. And when they weren't, they were curled up together on the couch. It had started out with a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and some kind words. But as time passed, Chi-Chi found herself needing more and more comfort. Which Bulma seemed more than happy to give her.

Bulma had her arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Chi-Chi's face was buried against her chest, her hands clutching her clothes. She didn't even cry or shake anymore. She just sat there, feeling so numb and hollow.

"It'll be okay, Chi-Chi," Bulma said in a soft voice. "Everything's going to be fine."

"You don't know that. The androids could find us and kill Goku while he's defenseless. Then, everything will be ruin."

She shook her head. "Don't talk like that. You know the guys always pull through. Just you wait - everything's going to work fine. You'll see."

Bulma rubbed her back, while she ran her fingers through her hair. She pushed her bangs back, kissing her forehead, before she continued whispering reassuring words to her. It was strange. Bulma wasn't a fighter. If anything came for them, Chi-Chi would have to be the one to defend them all. Yet, she never felt more safe and secure than she did now.

Chi-Chi sighed, as she leaned against her. "You all must hate me," she thought aloud.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why would you think that?"

"Why not? I-I'm nagging, and selfish, and I'm not even pretty, anymore! I can't even fight like the rest of them can. I'm sorry I'm so useless. "

She shook her head. "You're not any of those things. You can still hold your own, if the fight came down to it. You're more selfless than anyone else I know. You're not nagging - you're just worried, and I don't blame you for it. And for the record - I think you're more than pretty."

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked up at her. "R-really?"

Bulma nodded, as she smiled. "Of course. You're beautiful." She ran her fingers through her hair, before holding her cheek. "You're one of the most breathtaking women I've ever met. And I know Goku feels the same way."

Chi-Chi's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed. No one had ever complimented her so boldly, before. Let alone another woman. Was this what female friends did? Because it made her feel really good.

"Thank you, Bulma. Y-you're beautiful, too."

She giggled. "Don't thank me for saying facts." She pulled her closer. "Now stop thinking all that nonsense about yourself. You hear?"

She nodded, as she put her arms around her shoulders

"Good." She kissed her cheek, as her arms tightened around her.

Her heart skipped a beat, again. She hadn't felt like this since she and Goku first got together. Not that she didn't love him, but after a while, she'd grown used to him. Rarely did he still make her heart skip. But Bulma had done so twice in one minute.

Female friendships sure were intense.