A/N: DB/Z is owned by Akira Toriyama only!

Do I Have To?

Chapter 3 – Speechless

It had been two long weeks since their little argument, but the whole no sex rule was really starting to play on them both. It was frustrating, let alone annoying, especially for Goku. He growled at the thought of it; his eyes scanning the stream before him. He was supposed to be having a good time fishing with his sons and Trunks, but he just couldn't keep his mind off her.

"Hey, daddy?" Goten suddenly called him.

"Hmm" His father mumbled blankly looking at him, awaiting his son's response.

"I just wondered dad, how come you're so sad today?" he asked in his young innocent voice, scooting closer to his dad; his eyes watching him carefully. Goku couldn't help but make a little smile. He ruffled Goten's hair gently making Goten smile a little.

"Nothing son, daddy's just a little tired that's all" he told the boy. Goten wasn't completely satisfied with that answer but he decided to leave it at that and continue to fish.

By early afternoon the four of them had caught a range of good tasty fish, two of which they were going to carry back to the Son house for dinner. Goten and Trunks giggled as they ran ahead with one of the large fish; the two of them trying to balance it on their heads making the journey more fun. Gohan chuckled as he watched them sprint on ahead, the other fish in his grasp, dragging behind him. His smile soon faded however, when he looked at his father. He seemed to be completely out of it, like he was out in space or something. Gohan wondered what was up.

"Hey dad, are you ok? I know you told Goten you were tired earlier, but I don't think that was entirely true was it?"

"Son, it's nothing to worry about really"

"Come on dad, I know you better than that" Goku rolled his eyes. Gohan always seemed to see right through him, no matter how much Goku tried to cover it up.

"Just had a bit of a disagreement with your mom, that's all"

"Oh. Well, is there anything I can help with?"

"Nah, don't get worrying about me or your mom, sometimes it takes a while to agree on things, we'll be alright" he told his son positively, though not so sure he believed it himself.

Moments later Goten and Trunks bounded into the Son house with a large fish on top of their heads.

"Mommy!"

"Mrs. Son!" Chichi poked her head round into the porch area and couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"Goodness you two, what are you doing?"

"We come all the way home with the fish on our heads, mom!" Goten said laughing at the same time.

"Yeah! We should be in the circus Goten" Trunks said laughing also.

"Ooh ooh! We could be magical magicians!"

"What's that gotta do with carrying fish on our head's?" Trunks asked him curiously.

"Hmm…I don't know, but wouldn't it be cool!" he said with his huge cheesy smile.

"Ok you two, drop the fish down and go and get cleaned up and I'll get started on cooking it" Chichi told them brightly. The two boys cheered and charged towards the stairs, "But no running in the house!" she reminded them.

"Sorry" they both replied before carefully walking up the stairs. Chichi shook her head, those boys were wild at times and even she couldn't help but chuckle at their antics. She heaved the fish up and over her shoulder and dumped it on the kitchen table. This sure was a huge fish, but she was expecting another one since Gohan and Goku had gone fishing also.

"Hey, mom!" Gohan called, dragging another fish into the kitchen.

"Gosh, the fish keep getting bigger" she thought aloud staring at Gohan's fish. Gohan grinned and let the fish go.

"Yeah, they are pretty big, sorry" he said sheepishly. Chichi smiled.

"Don't worry Gohan; you have to have the biggest and the best to fill your stomachs up"

"Ha, that's true mom" Gohan agreed before taking off his shoes.

"Where's your father?" Chichi asked; her hands rummaging for a suitable knife in the draw.

"Right here" Goku answered, standing the fishing rods up against the wall, "Sorry we're a little late, we wanted to catch big fish" Goku told her with no expression as he removed his trainers.

"It's alright, and don't leave those rods there, put them in the storage cupboard please" Chichi told him. He did as he was told and took the rods and left the room. Gohan's once happy face vanished, the happiness between his parents was gone. Just what was wrong? What was it they didn't agree on? He remembered back the other week from what Goten told him that his parents had an argument about something, but he wasn't entirely sure what. It wasn't his business to go about asking because it was their relationship and only they could sort it out, but he did like to be able to help.

Dinner was eaten rather noisily as usual; the two youngsters were delving into the food like their lives depended on it, Gohan not too far behind. The two adults, however, ate silently. A few hours later Gohan escorted Trunks home whilst Goten helped his mother in the kitchen by clearing the table and handing Chichi the dirty plates. It was a chore Goten enjoyed doing because he loved to help his mother out around the house.

"That's all of them, mommy" he chirped, handing her the last of the plates.

"Thank you sweetie" she gently said; taking the dinner ware from him.

"Anything else I can do, mom?" he asked her. She smiled and rubbed his head.

"No thank you honey, just make sure your room is tidy and then you can watch a bit of television" Goten jumped for joy and hugged Chichi's strong leg.

"Thank you mommy! Will you watch some with me, too?"

"When I finished cleaning up, yes I will" Goten smiled and quickly walked out of the room. Chichi got started on the dishes, a smile hanging on her face from her youngest. He always managed to make her smile no matter what.

"Just like his father" she thought. The front door suddenly opened and then closed again. Chichi turned her head to see Goku walking in. He had been out in the garden doing a few push up's amongst other things like he did most evenings after a good meal.

"Need any help?" he asked quietly.

"No" Chichi said without looking at him as she scrubbed the dishes, "it's all done now" Goku nodded and went to the fridge to pour himself a drink. It was extremely uncomfortable in that room he thought as he poured orange juice into a glass. The tension was crazy, and it was really starting to annoy him now. He put the juice away and picked up his glass. He had to talk to her about this, it was getting stupid now.

"Hon" he called getting her attention. She looked at him in question, "We need to talk about all this, it's getting silly don't you think? I mean, we hardly talk to each other, and I don't know about you, but it's awkward" Chichi dried her hands in the soft hand towel and faced him fully.

"What is there to say, Goku? I've said all that I can say. What more do you want?"

"I know, but Chichi you never give me a choice. You always get right in there and tell me what you want, you never…consider maybe that I don't want that as well" he said calmly.

"I asked for one thing, Goku. When's the last time I asked you for anything?"

"You want me to get a job, you want me to be more helpful round the house, and you want me to be home more! You ask a lot of things Chichi and I just can't give you everything! It's hard"

"It's hard for you? Just how is it hard for you? You go out and have fun doing things you love to do and things you have a passion for all the time! You go on adventures; you go fighting and hang around with your friends, all the time! Alright, I admit you are more helpful and you stay at home more with me since you come back from Other World, but Goku, your life is far from hard! I'm stuck here doing all this for you and I take care of this house for you and our children! Don't you think for one minute that I would rather be doing something else sometimes?"

"Well, yeah I guess sometimes, but you do go shopping and you like that"

"Ugh Goku you are really a pain! I only go shopping because I have to! Where else am I going to get all our groceries from and our clothes and everything else we need? To be quite honest I don't particularly like shopping!"

"Oh. Well you didn't tell me that"

"Oh Goku, I shouldn't have to tell you everything! You should be able to notice these things! Don't you pay any attention to me at all?"

"Of course I do!" he told her straight.

"Well obviously not enough!"

"What has this got to do with anything anyway?"

"It has got a lot to do with everything!" Chichi told him getting a little irritated, "My point is I do things for you and our family which I don't particularly enjoy just so I can keep you happy! So I expect with you being the man of the house, that you can do the same thing! I am happy that you stay with me and help me now and then Goku, and I am happy that you take our boys out for some quality time, but there are things I really need you to do for me Goku because I can't do it all!" Goku remained silent. She did have a point. He couldn't expect her to do everything.

"Now do you understand? I can't keep up with it all; I'm not as strong as you! I can't keep this house tidy, cook you food, do Goten's studies with him, look after my dad, shop, get a job and do other things all at the same time! Goku, there isn't anyone to fight against now so I'd expect you to get yourself in gear and get a job to help with this family! I'm really sick of all this pressure being on me!"

"Ok Chichi, I understand"

"But do you really ,Goku? I'm not joking around now, I'm being serious!"

"I'm not a stupid as you think I am y'know, I understand what you mean"

"I didn't say you were stupid, Goku! I just think that you need to start taking more responsibility!" she told him; the stress starting to rise up again.

"Well, alright, I will! But that doesn't mean I'm gonna change my mind about that operation thing!" Goku reminded her, "There's gotta be something else we can do"

"You know what Goku? Forget it!" Goku raised an eye brow.

"What do you mean?"

"You heard me, forget it! If you can't do it then don't!" she said, turning her back on him and putting some cups away.

"Oh Chichi don't be like that, you know how much I hate things like that!"

"What have we just been talking?"

"Yeah, but Chi-"

"-No buts, Goku! I've had enough of buts and what if's and any other excuses! Just forget it, I will go and have an operation myself! If I can't depend on you for it then I'm going to have to depend on myself aren't I" She said a little louder than before.

"Chichi-"

"It's fine, Goku. It's not like I'm not use to it. You've been gone for 7 years, so may as well carry on as it was" she spat before leaving the room.

Speechless…He was just speechless.