Chapter four – Friendly obligations

Uub tried to stretch his legs on one of the uncomfortable seats of the Capsule Corporation plane belonging to Marron's parents. Fortunately things were getting better at the moment, in the little hour that passed Uub managed to make Marron smile and discovered the names of the two boys that kept calling him 'daddy'.

Just when he had finished getting dressed he noted the tiny bookcase in Marron's bedroom, -well their bedroom-. And there, just in plain sight stood the baby books of both the boys.

The eldest, who was now six years old, was named Rishou. Uub was slightly relieved that the boy's name wasn't Rice at all; it was a nickname that only Marron used for the boy. He couldn't figure out why. And then there was the youngest, age three named Goushi.

In the end both boys were stuck on him like bee's on honey and Uub was relieved to find out that Marron still had some fear of heights and was there for very strict with every one wearing their seatbelts in the proper way while in flight. Both boys were tied tightly in their seats and sat far away from Uub.

Everything was getting a little better, he had even managed to assure his mother in law that he wasn't going to run off and leave her daughter and grandchildren and that he just needed to train. Only had forgotten about the annual picnic. Thankfully that was convincing enough for her.

Now to face the rest of the infamous 'Z gang'.

He sighed; it had been years since he last seen one of the Briefs family members. Quite some time since he had last seen Goten and he had never went to the picnics Bulma always threw. True, he had got invited on many times but never went. Always found good enough reasons to decline.

In all honesty he did not know why he never went, he never truly was a member of this group and since everything around Earth had calmed down he never saw either one of them. He had no desire in to pretending that they were close and good friends, since they weren't. Staying just where he was and not participating in any gatherings was good enough for him.

However Marron and her parents loved it, at least she and Krillen did.

----

"Uub, Marron! Over here!" the voice belonging to Trunks Briefs called and Marron couldn't help but to squeal and take Uub's hand in hers. Dragging him to the table near a huge pond that stood in the back garden of the Briefs's Home. There stood Trunks with his wife Raiku, joined by Son Goten and his wife Pareshu.

"Trunks!" Marron happily exclaimed and hugged her long time friend, soon turning to the awaiting arms of Goten who flashed the famous Son family grin. Uub however stayed put and looked around, feeling extremely out of place in this new company.

"Hey, what are you waiting for?" Goten walked up to him and slammed his arm around Uub's shoulder, "Is that your way of greeting old friends ey?!"

Uub smiled uneasy, "Oh I just-"

"Cat caught your tongue again ey?" Trunks soon joined in with a huge grin plastered on his face, Uub laughed -what he hoped sounded like- an easy going laugh. Eyeing Marron who was now happily talking with the wives of the two half Saiyajins.

At least that stayed the same, Trunks and Goten were still the best friends as they always were teasing every person they could get close enough with. Even in this illusion they were married to the same women and as he noticed, they had their own set of children that were now running around wildly with… well his two sons.

"Ah just sit down already!" Goten pushed Uub forward and forced him to sit down next to a happy chattering Pareshu. Apparently Uub had yet again missed parts of a conversation Trunks was having, coming to the conclusion after Trunks asked the next question.

"So do you think that would be a good trick?"

Uub gulped and happily took what ever drink Goten set down in front of him, gulping it all down in one throw.

Looking at the two other males across him he smiled uneasy, "S-sorry… I missed your question."

Trunks and Goten both stared at him for a while and then paused exchanged looks and laughed. "Man I missed that guy." Goten said.

Uub soon joined in with the laughter, although he had no idea what was supposed to be so funny he figured that laughing would be a lot better instead of starring at them with wide eyes.

--

The day was going on just fine, people talking, eating, laughing, and running, dancing and eating some more the whole day through.

Uub found it extremely easy to blend in with the crowd, staying away from his young family as much as he could. He still had no idea how to act around them; it didn't matter though for no one seemed to notice.

He watched both Trunks and Goten interact with the children, holding them up and tickling them or joined them in a game of tag.

Yup, Uub was perfectly content with how things were going at the moment. He might just pull through this day perfectly fine.

He sighed with relief and leaned back completely relaxed.

It wasn't until the youngest son rushed up to him and grabbed his arm that his relaxed mind setting completely disappeared, "Daddy, you play with us too!" the boy insisted and started to pull on his arm.

Uub complained inwardly and hoped with all his might that his face wasn't wearing a sign of his panicked state of mind.

It seemed hours passed while he played with the children, not sure how easy going he should be with the children. Knowing very well that they all had blood of warriors running through their veins and weren't as vulnerable as the children at his tribe once were.

He swirled them around, chased after them and even let a few tackle him. At some point he had to jump up and catch one of the children out of the air once Bulma yelled, "NO FLYING!"

At some point, finally the children grew tired of playing with him and they settled for harassing Daina and Genta's grandfather, the proud Saiyajin Prince Vegeta.

Uub sighed and went back to his previous spot, sitting down and sighed in relief. Hardly any one was paying attention to him; it seemed he was fitting in quite nicely. He took a cup of cooled lemon drink and after releasing a content smile he let the cold liquid caress his dry throat.

"Glad to see you back to normal again." He heard Marron's voice pop up from behind him, he flinched slightly dropping the cup that crashed with a loud thud.

He hoped she hadn't seen that.

"It's just me Uub." Marron scolded.

Damnit.

She sat down next to him on the bench and sighed happily. "It's always lovely to see everyone back together now. Don't you agree?" Marron asked and moved closer up against him. Uub froze and held back his breath, she moved closer until she was practically up against him.

Then to top things of, she placed her head on his shoulder.

Great, just great, right at the end of the day she has to go and do –that-. Ruining all of his hard work for today! What should he do now?! He stiffened at the thought of what he should be doing; act all content and happy with his wife snuggling up close to him. Pretend to be deeply in love and all of that mumbo jumbo….

Perfect, just perfect.

Swallowing hard he noticed Marron was starting to push now, nudging her shoulder under his arm pit.

With a nervous sigh he looked around, what was he supposed to do now? They weren't newly weds, so hugging her with a little too much enthusiasm would surprise his wife and there for the rest of the party goers.

A to hell with it all!

He was after all quite inexperienced in the whole marriage-couple… thing field…

Taking a quick look at other married couples. There was Son Gohan laughing with Krillen, his wife no where to be found. And as for his, 'parents in law' he knew for sure Juuhachi-gou would be the last person to act like a loving couple out in public.

Vegeta was still being harassed by the children and was no where near his wife either. He sighed when he saw Bura with her boyfriend; she was not exactly the perfect example for him since the man was terrified with just being there and dared not to make a single move towards the Saiyajin Princess.

So he was pretty much forced to come up with something and what ever it was he had to do it quickly or else Marron might notice…

He coughed slightly, then moved his right arm up and as casually as possible placed it around her shoulders.

Marron let out a sigh of content, "Finally." She sighed, Uub panicked, "Mom is just about ready to leave now, as soon as she gets her hands on dad we'll be leaving." She yawned and settled her head down.

He sighed in relief.

Uub said nothing as he was focusing as hard as he could to appear absolutely relaxed. Trying to put his mind on something else other then the thought of feeling absolutely out of place with the woman who was practically falling a sleep against him.

Sure enough he found Juuhachi-gou walking up to Krillen and by noticing the look on her face, Uub couldn't help but to grin.

Krillen was in trouble.

There was a humoristic spectacle. Krillen smiling uneasy as he tried to get away from his wife as quickly yet cool as possible, heading towards him and Marron with a wide yet nervous grin. "So, you ready to leave?" he asked.

----

"Alright kids, time to head to bed!" Marron exclaimed the moment they opened the door to their home and the kids immediately rushed up the stairs. Marron turned to Uub and her parents, "I'll be down shortly, I promised to read them a story earlier." She said and headed up the stairs.

"Goodnight daddy, grampa and grandma!" the children squealed from up the stairs.

"Goodnight kiddo's!" Krillen yelled in after them. Uub only waved absent minded and headed for the first room to the right. He needed something good, a good drink of some sort any thing to get him to relax. He rushed in to the room only to find himself stand in the middle of what appeared the living room.

He blinked; this was actually the living room… -his- living room.

Taking a good look around, he saw a beautiful fire place in the middle of the room. Decorated by cream coloured tiles, right on the mantle stood what appeared to be tiny dark wooden replicas of the Dragonballs. On the floor in front of the fireplace laid the same kind of fluffy carpet that was in the bedroom and on top of it stood an oval shaped coffee table; two large red coloured sofas surrounded the carpet.

Hearing the door close shut behind he abruptly turned around to find Krillen stand in front of it.

"Well, it appears that we're going to stay for the night! Juu just headed up the stairs." Krillen said and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Uub only nodded in response, his eyes were caught by a huge book case that stood next to the door. However it wasn't completely filled with books, safe for a few. Instead it was filled with many picture frames, a few DVD boxes and little accessories. Momentarily forgetting the short man he walked up to the closet and took a good look at few of the photo's, pausing the moment he saw Marron in a beautiful white wedding dress a beautiful smile on her face. Her eyes shining brightly back at him and next to her-.

He stood there his hand in hers and a very happy smile on his face. But the Uub on the picture didn't look back at him like Marron did; instead, his eyes were fixated on the woman next to him. He seemed to be looking at her lovingly; a shiver ran down his spine the moment he realized that.

"So Uub, how about it, want to have a drink?" Krillen's voice popped out of nowhere. Uub turned around shaken, "I am sorry what?"

Krillen shook his head and laughed, "I think you should have those ears of yours checked."

Uub chuckled, "Now how about that drink huh?" Krillen asked yet didn't wait for Uub to reply. He walked out of the living room and returned shortly after with a bottle of –something- in one hand and two small glasses in the other.

"Now I know you don't usually drink, but, every now and then you can make an exception for your father in law now can you?" Krillen asked as he sat down on one of the sofas.

Uub gulped the moment he heard the words 'Father in law' and decided that in deed, he did need something that might help him relax.

"Sure." He finally said and sat down opposite of Krillen. Pleasantly surprised to find the sofa very soft, he practically sank straight in to it.

"Here ya go Uub!" Krillen grinned and held up Uub's glass.

It didn't take long after that for the two men to be completely drowsed and both lay sprawled out on their own sofa.

With Krillen throwing around words about how the life of a monk was not an easy one and he was more then happy that he had given that part up. Exclamations about his love for his wife and daughter and how he loved those little kidsters that seemed to have energy coming out of no where. And-…

Uub couldn't keep track any more. Yet oddly enough, he kept on looking at the man, watching him talk in a blurry haze.

It wasn't until Marron came down the stairs when both of the drunken men shot up straight on the sofas.

"Marron my little PRINCESS!" Krillen exclaimed and held up his glass of drink.

Marron raised an eyebrow, "Dad, not so loud… what is that you're drinking?" she asked him eyeing the bottle on the table suspiciously. "Oh some new drink Yamucha bought me- nice guy that Yamucha. Had been a long while since Iv zeen him." He hiccupped and raised his glass at Uub.

"To the fine men in this world!"

"Here, here!" Uub exclaimed and held up his own glass, tried to put it against his lips but oddly enough nothing came in his mouth. Puzzled Uub studied his glass; he thought he had just filled it up. Pleased to still find something in it he once again aimed the glass to land on his lips, but again nothing came out of it.

What the hell was wrong with this glass?

"Uub!" Marron's voice popped in. Uub growled, again with the popping!

She soon was by his side and removed the glass out of his hands, then started to pull of his shirt.

"M-Marron what are you doing?" Uub asked startled, "We-"

"Oh hush, I am not going to bite you Uub now stop moving around, you've got this shirt soaked!" Marron scolded and finally managed to pull the shirt over his head.

"H-how did that happen?" he asked puzzled and looked up at Marron who had by now thrown his shirt in a corner of the room. She looked down at him with her hands placed on her hips and a little frown covering her beautiful face.

"Ah…" Uub said as a goofy smile covered his lips, "You always did look so beautiful…" he said in a daze. Marron raised an eyebrow and quickly turned to her father, "Dad?! What in the world is in this drink, you've got him all… well… drunk!"

Her father gave his daughter an odd croaked smile, "Just… drunken stuff or something." Her father mumbled and hiccupped.

Uub looked at Marron again and smiled at her, yup, although it had been years since he had last seen her. She still looked exactly the same as she did back then. Her hair still as long and this time loose, her eyes the exact same shade of blue and her cheeks always slightly flushed.

"Beautiful." He whispered and felt his eyes growing heavier with the second that passed. "Uub?" he could hear her call for him and he tried to say 'Yes' but… nothing came out and all that followed was darkness after that.

To Be Continued…

A/N : I always wondered what Uub would be like if he was drunk. We didn't get to see much of his as a character, so it was a total wild guess….

This is for you Alex!