Disclaimer – I don't own Dragonball Z … but I do own your mom.

AN: Incase any of you actually read author's notes, I'm sorry that this chapter took so long. Between getting accepted to college and relatives dying, I've been slow. Sorry. So here it is: chapter three. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.

Chapter 3

"You're going to be late!" she yelled, helping her seven year old son into his jacket. Goten was fighting her. He obviously didn't want to wear it. Chichi frowned and looked down the hall to her oldest son's bedroom.

"Promise me you'll never be a pain in the butt," Chichi murmured in Goten's direction. He smiled and shook his head.

"Never." He said, full of confidence.

"Gohan!" she cried again, hands on her hips. The 13 year old walked of his room with a large yawn. His hair was a complete mess, but it always was. She thought that sometimes he tried to make it worse, just to seem cool. He smirked at her.

"I knew exactly what time it was."

She returned the smirk. "Sure you did." She watched Gohan as he took a drink of the orange juice she left on the table for him. She turned her gaze to Goten who was struggling with the straps of his backpack. Her heart was suddenly filled with warmth. Perhaps they had been mistakes, but they were amazing mistakes. Her favorite mistakes.

A stray thought wormed itself into her daydreams. They needed to see their father. She knew that it wouldn't be the best experience in the world, but they needed to see him. Goten has never met his father. He had left time right after conception. Goten was his momentary second of weakness. He had shown up at her door, wet. It was raining that day, she remembered. He told her that he needed her. If only for one night, he needed her. And she needed him to need her. She let him need her. And out of his need, came Goten. She doubted that he knew of Goten.

"Hey, what are you doing after school today?" she asked Gohan. He shrugged.

"What do you want me to do?"

She bit her lip. "He's awake. And I want you to go and see him."

Gohan froze. There was only one 'him' in their lives. Gohan refused to call him Dad, but more importantly refused to mention him. There had been too many missed opportunities for Gohan to really love his father. There had been too many birthdays and Christmases without a card of phone call, for Gohan to even respect his father. Gohan's features hardened and he stared into his mother's eyes. "I can't believe you just asked me that."

"Gohan-"

"I wish he were dead. I'm not going to go tell him I'm glad that he isn't."

"Gohan,"

He opened the door. As if he had summoned it, the yellow school bus pulled up. He turned to look at his mother. "He doesn't deserve my sympathy. I won't do it for him."

"Do it for me."

Gohan stared at her for a moment, then slamming the door, walked out.

Goku awoke that day to his arm being ferociously grabbed from its spot on the bed.

"Hey!" he tried to swat the perpetrator with his free hand. This was getting annoying.

"Honey, the more you move, the longer this gonna take."

Goku immediately opened his eyes. That wasn't Chichi. This wasn't his bed. This wasn't his room. He didn't recognize any of it. In a fit of blind panic, Goku wrestled away from the nurse and jumped to his feet. The blond burse stared in panic at him.

"Where am I?" He was standing to the left of the bed. He was wearing unfamiliar clothes, some sort of white dress.

"Honey, you're at St. Marks Memorial… It's a hospital."

Goku looked at the floor. It was suddenly coming back to him. As if it were a dream. Or perhaps, a dream of a dream. He looked at the nurse again. Like a child discovering the answer to a difficult question, he responded, "I'm Goku."

She nodded and breathed a sigh relief. "You gave me quite a scare, Mr. Son." She gathered up her supplies from the table next to his bed. "Here I thought I would just wake you up and give you a nice little shot." She looked up. He was staring at the window. "You know, you might want to try layin down. Might be a tick more comfortable."

He shrugged. He didn't feel like doing much anything at this point. He looked out the window again. A tall building caught his eye. He watched it for a minute longer. Somehow, he remembered being inside that building. He didn't know where he went in that building, but he could remember the smell of the elevator and the shining brass plates that showed the floor numbers. He remembered the button for 23 was more worn than all the others. He didn't know how he remembered any of this. Looking out the window more, he stared at the streets. Cars passed, pedestrians walked. He watched a car make a right on to the street and drive out of sight. A name suddenly came to him.

Henry Road.

What was so special about that? He watched a boy stand on the corner of Henry road. He looked bored. A young girl hopped out of a store and grabbed his arm. They turned the corner and went out of sight.

There was suddenly a searing pain in Goku's temples. He fell to his knees and grabbed his head.

"Come on!" she cried, grabbing his arm. She stood by a street sign that was marked in fading white letters that exclaimed Henry Road. "We're going to be late!" She was in front of him and looked back every so often to flash him a glorious smile.

"I'm coming." He replied smiling back at her.

She turned around and stopped. "You are not. You're being terribly slow. We're going to be late, you know."

He smiled. "You know, you weren't too concerned about being late a few minutes ago, Chichi. Remember? I believe you're the one who tackled me on to the bed…"

Even by the streetlight, he could tell she had turned a brilliant red. "Shut up. You're the one who started it."

He walked up to her and put his arms around her waist. "I just can't get enough of you." He whispered into her ear. He felt her shiver. She stayed for a moment in his arms.

"We should get moving." She whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. "Dance with me."

She looked up at him. "What? Are you kidding? Goku, we're late as it is, and you want me to dance with you in the middle of the street?"

"We're on the sidewalk."

She frowned. "Don't be a smartass."

"All right."

"Goku …" she sighed, "Not only did you take that line from a movie, we don't have music."

He held on to her waist. "We can make our own music."

The streets were surprisingly empty for 8 o'clock at night. A few people passed by them. He held her in his arms, and she rested her head on his chest.

"You know, it could be like this. Forever." She whispered.

"Oh Jesus! Mr. Son!" the nurse was shaking him.

Goku looked up, eyes out of focus.

The nurse took out her light and shined it in his eyes. "Pupils are reactive," she pressed her two fingers to his neck. "Pulse is normal…" she trailed off and went to Goku's bed. She took out the chart and looked at Goku. Through a series of frowns, pages flashing and a long drawn out sigh, she put the chart back by the bed, and walked up to Goku, who was still sitting on the floor.

"What was that?" he murmured, gazing up at the nurse.

"You started to remember." She replied. She offered him her hand, and he took it. She helped him back into bed. Goku sat in the bed and watched her busy herself around the room.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Mr. Son, you have a form of amnesia."

"What's that?"

The nurse bit her lip. Putting things in layman's terms was harder than it looked. "You can't remember things." She replied at last.

"I remember plenty." He retorted. "I had a wife and a family. A few years ago, Cell came to Earth. I tried to fight him, but I died. Luckily my family found the Dragonballs, but I didn't want to come home right away. See, I had to- "

"Mr. Son… that wasn't your life."

Her interruption caught him off guard. He looked to the window again. "Then who's life was it? It had to have been mine."

She sighed. "I don't know why you remember all of that. None of it happened. I'm sorry Mr. Son. Cases like these are the hardest. The pain you just felt was you remembering something," he started to interject, but she put a hand up. " from your actual life. You just remembered … well, a memory."

"Will that always happen when I remember?"

"What? The headache?"

"Yes."

The nurse shrugged. "More than likely. Until your head can wrap itself around this new reality."

She hated movement sensing doors.

If Goten hadn't been standing next to her, she would have stood outside of that hospital all day. However, Goten ran ahead of her. The doors opened for him. Gohan watched him walk through the doors. He looked at his mother.

"You do realize that I don't want to do this, right?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Just so you know."

They walked to the front desk as a family; Goten was standing to the right of Chichi and Gohan on the left.

"Hello." The lady at the front desk was polite and inquisitive.

"I'm here to see someone."

"Who?"

"Well, his name is … Goku."

The woman typed in her computer, clicked a few times, scowled and then finally looked up. "He's on the second floor, room two thirteen."

"Thank you."

Goten pulled at her hand. "Does that mean we get to take the elevator?"

She smiled. "Yes. We can take the elevator." Gohan stayed at her side, but with none of the child-like features of his brother. His face stayed stoic. Every so often he would glance over at his mother. The elevator ride wasn't slow enough to suit Chichi. Before she had time to wish the elevator had broken down, they were standing in front of room two thirteen. The door was closed. Suddenly, she didn't want to go in.

Hesitantly, she knocked. Once she did, she realized it was probably a stupid thing to do, if he were really sick, how would he get up from the bed to answer? While she was mentally berating herself for her stupid actions, the door opened. Chichi's breath caught in her throat.

Bulma stood at the door. A smile worked its way into her tired face. "Hello!" she cried, throwing her arms around Chichi. Chichi stood in the hallway, vacant expression on her face as Bulma continued to her hug her. "I'm so glad you came!"

"Me too," she replied quietly. Bulma released her and smiled brightly.

"He's asleep right now. But please – come in!"

Bulma ushered Chichi, Gohan and Goten into the room. Chichi's eyes stayed on the sleeping form on the bed. He was thinner than she remembered. He had a peaceful look on his face, as if he was dreaming of something good. The light green sheets were pulled up to his torso and the steady beat of heart rate monitor was the only sound in the room. Gohan took a look at his father and promptly moved himself to the window. Goten's eyes were wide and fixed on his father, a man he had never actually seen. Bulma let the family take it all in.

"How long has been awake?" Chichi asked softly. A stray lock of hair had fallen on hi face and she bit her lip to keep herself from brushing it away.

"A day or two. Not very long. He was asking for you."

"Yeah. You mentioned that."

"Chichi, there might have been something I didn't mention." Bulma's voice was full of anxiety.

Chichi tore her gaze from Goku and looked at Bulma.

"Well, see… " Bulma swallowed hard. "He doesn't really remember anything. I mean, he's dreamed up this world … and he thinks that's real. He thinks like, oh … what was it? I think that you and he were married and lived in the mountains." Bulma paused to think and Chichi heard Gohan scoff loudly. "Oh yes, and he could fly. He saved the world like a million times or something. I don't know. To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention. He was talking crazy. But … it's sad, Chichi. He doesn't remember anything about his life. He thinks he was living in some crazy world."

Chichi stared at Bulma. "He doesn't remember me?"

"No, he remembers you. He just thinks you guys got married."

That stung more than Chichi wanted it to. How dare he think that? He was the one who didn't want to marry her. Not even after two children.

Bulma looked at Chichi. "I think I'm going to for a walk or something. Maybe you guys could talk?" she walked out of the room without waiting for Chichi to answer.

Chichi took the chair next to Goku's bed. Gohan watched, looking quite uninterested. Goten stood next to his mother, looking worried.

"Is he dead?" Goten whispered.

Chichi shook her head. "He's sleeping."

As if on cue, Goku delivered a giant yawn and his eyelids started to flicker. Chichi's heart jumped into her throat and Gohan gripped the window curtain. Goku's eyes opened and he blinked a few times. He finally sat up and surveyed the room.

His eyes locked onto hers. "Hey," she whimpered weakly.

He didn't quite know what to say. "Hey," he repeated.

"We, um, came to see you."

At the word "we", Goku looked around the room. He looked from Gohan to Goten several times. "Gohan and Goten!" he cried. Goten smiled and nodded.

"I wasn't sure you'd remember them." Chichi whispered, confused.

"They're my children. How could I forget them?"

She heard Gohan scoff. Goku didn't. Gohan left his place at the window and went to his mother. "I've seen him. Can I go now?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Chichi could tell that comment had hurt and confused Goku. Chichi gave Gohan a disappointed look, and then nodded. Gohan took his brother's hand and led him out of the room.

Chichi stood next to the bed. Goku stared at her.

"You can sit down, if you'd like." His voice cracked as he said it. She smiled. He felt less awkward and more at home. She sat and looked straight ahead. "It's nice to see you." He said, hoping to illicit a response.

"Yes. It's nice to see you too."

"How are the boys?"

"They're fine." She looked at him briefly and then looked away again. "Gohan started high school. Goten turned seven a month ago."

"How are you?"

Chichi couldn't look at him. His tone was sincere. It wasn't a flippant question that people ask everyday, it was Goku asking her how she was. His stare cut a hole through her and she almost couldn't answer. "Fine." She whispered, trying not to cry.

"I've missed you."

"Please don't say that." She murmured, hiding her face from him.

"Why not? It's the truth. I missed you, Chichi."

He didn't get answer. She stood up, looked everywhere but his face and started cleaning up his bedside table.

"Chichi?"

She didn't answer. She tucked in the corners of his sheets, rearranged the magazines next to him in alphabetical order and made the Kleenex horizontal to him, instead of vertical. He grabbed her wrist. She wouldn't look at him.

"I missed you." He repeated.

"Don't."

"Why not? Why can't I say that? I love you."

"Don't. Please don't."

"I love you, Chichi."

"Stop!" she cried, yanking her wrist away from him. She finally looked at him. Tears were welled up in her eyes and streaming steadily down her face. "You can't just say things like that!" She bit her lip as the tears fell freely.

There was another blast of pain and Goku brought his hands to his head.

She was playing with her necklace. She was nervous. He was tying a tie in the mirror… or at least trying to. She switched positions more than seven times in one minute, trying to get comfortable.

"Damn tie." He murmured.

Thankful for something to occupy her time, she got up off the bed and stood in front of him. She took the tie out of his hands and tied it for him.

"Thanks." He finished buttoning his cuffs. "Why are you so nervous?"

"You're meeting my father… why aren't you nervous?"

"Cause people usually like me."

"Well, you haven't met my father."

"Not yet. I'm hoping to tonight, though."

She sat back down on the bed, wringing her hands. "I don't know if he'll like you."

"What's not to like?"

"Well, how about I'm going to have a baby out of wedlock?" She poked his chest. "Your baby."

"He's not going to like me because I got you pregnant?"

"Well, I wouldn't like you if you got my daughter pregnant."

"Thankfully, I'm not dating your daughter."

She smiled. "Come on, Goku, that's not funny. What are you going to say to him?"

Goku straightened himself up and started to mock her, "Hello sir! Lovely evening, isn't it? I just wanted to meet you and make sure you were one of those annoying in-laws before your daughter gives birth to my son. Out of wedlock."


Chichi smiled. "You can't just say things like that."

"Goku? Goku, are you all right?"

She was at his side, as his head was in his hands. She had forgotten all about what he had said once he had screamed in pain and curled into a ball. He looked up at her.

"Sorry," he said, winded as if he had just finished a race.

"What was that?"

"A memory."

She looked confused. "A memory?"

"When I remember things again … it hurts. Or at least, that's what the doctor said."

"Oh." She looked up at him. "What were you thinking of?"

"Something about telling your father you were pregnant."

Chichi smiled nostalgically . "That was in our old apartment." She looked at the clock. "I've got to go."

He looked at her. "I don't want this to be the last time I see you." He took her wrist again. This time she didn't pull away.

"It won't be."

"Promise?"

She smiled softly. "I promise."

"I'm going to come see you, and the boys. You know, when I leave the hospital."

"All right." She smiled at him.

He watched her walk out of his room. He leaned back into his bed. He couldn't help but smile. No matter how he did it, he was going to get her back into his life.