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Triple Threat 3: Escape from the Other World
Chapter 4: "Underneath the Tears"
"I thought it was a dream earlier, but-"
"It wasn't. See? Your shopping bags are still over there." She pointed a few feet behind her. The 3 shopping bags were still there, One had fallen over.
All eyes were on Videl, watching her next move.
"It's really you.." Videl said again and suddenly started crying, gripping Kayla's hand tighter. "I've... I've dreamed of both of your voices every night, but never... never saw your actual bodies." Her voice crackled through the tears.
Kayla lifted Videl from her damp shirt and looked into her eyes, holding her body still and spoke firmly. "You say both of us, but you haven't even looked at him yet. He's over there, waiting for you, Videl. Just like he's been doing for the past 16 years." She turned around and nudged Videl off of her, toward Gohan.
Videl stopped herself from going any further, avoiding Gohan's steady gaze. "No." She shut her eyes tight and shook her head, tears still falling slowly down her face. "No."
"No, what, Mom?" Pan asked, oblivious. "It's just a boy."
"He's not just a boy, Pan." Videl managed to say quietly to her daughter, her fists clenched. "He's a 34 year old man in an 18 year old body."
"And that"s exactly why you two need to talk!" Kayla said, getting slightly annoyed at her half sister. "Videl, I know who Pan's father is." She said finally.
Videl spun around in shock, the tears frozen in place. "W-What? W-Who told you?"
"No one. I figured it out on my own. Now he needs to know. From you."
Videl swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to stop the tears from receding anymore. She nodded jerkily after a moment. "OK... Yeah... Let's go. Before I lose my nerve." She couldn't say his name. She just flew off into the air and Gohan silently followed.
Kayla smiled and turned to the others. "Now that I got them alone, we can talk. First of all, how has life been?"
"I don't believe this!" Pan exclaimed suddenly. "You just let Mom go with that boy! In her condition! We - or rather, I - don't even know who he is!"
"She's more than safe in his hands, Pan." Bulma said and smiled. "Trust me. Now, back to you, Kayla." She glanced at Kayla and spoke softly, ignoring the girl's silent anger. "It's been quiet. No enemy has come, no battles for the Earth's future."
"So..." Kayla averted her eyes downward. "He... He hasn't come back. That's good." She kept her voice from cracking.
Bulma hesitated, not sure how to say it. He was her father, after all. "No... Gero hasn't come back."
Kayla looked back up in her eyes, trying to keep herself steady. "When I didn't see him in HFIL and King Yenma told me that he hadn't checked in, I knew he was still alive. I constantly worried that he would come here and kill you all, especially Videl. Even with Goku, Vegeta, Trunks and Goten here..."
"Let's change the subject." Goku broke in, smiling. "How was Other World for you?"
Kayla stopped shuffling her feet suddenly, momentarily suprised at the older man's subtleness. When she regained her posture, she spoke up quietly, trying to smile. "Different. Gohan and I became Other World police, keeping enemies in HFIL from escaping. We trained with King Kai. Gohan even said that I was almost as strong as a Super Saiyan 3. I almost lost myself in there. I mean, I didn't have to worry about staying alive or anything."
"I know what you mean." Goku nodded, remembering his own life in Other World.
Kayla grinned, but it quickly faded. "But there was one thing that kept reminding me of it: Gohan. After the first week, he quit talking about Videl, but I knew he was always thinking about her. It was in his eyes."
"The same goes for Videl." Bulma said quietly. "She saw the moment Gero blasted you-"
Kayla gasped. "No..."
Bulma just nodded. "And that image has stayed with her, I'm sure. For a week after, she wouldn't eat, no matter who gave it to her, and then, for a month, she wouldn't go to school or talk with anybody. During that time, her body broke down and caused what we call EDS, Energy Drop Syndrome."
"Like earlier?" Kayla's gaze stayed intent on Bulma.
"Yes, Like earlier. Her energy got so low during that time, from then on, if her energy dropped to a certain level, she'd faint and somebody would have to give her energy or her heart would stop."
Kayla opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her hands flinched.
"She was in bad shape." Erasa spoke up. "Sharpner and I came with Hercule one time to see what was up. That's when we found out about you and Gohan. We just told the city that Saiyaman had been killed during a mission and Saiyagirl quit because she couldn't go on without Saiyaman. In a way, that was the truth. When Videl finally went back to school, the teachers excused all her absences and the students crowed her with questions."
"So she finished school?"
"Yes. With all A's somehow, but she didn't go to college."
"Why not?"
Bulma smiled and answered. "Because that's when Pan came into the picture."
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They landed, but stayed quiet. Gohan watched Videl as she stood there, thinking of what to say. It was hard for Gohan after 16 years, but he knew it was even harder for her.
Videl looked up and slowly stepped to him. She took in a big breath as she gently touched his face with her right hand. She smiled and shut her eyes, holding back a flood of tears. "I just had to be sure... Gohan." She opened her eyes and no tears came. It was the first time she had said his name in 16 years.
Gohan returned the look with a soft smile. "Yeah, it's me."
Videl pushed herself forward and suddenly pressed her lips against hers softly. They were the same height, so Videl just pulled back and watched Gohan's surprise.
"I'm sorry. I had to do it." Videl averted her eyes downward. "We... We never kissed before, but we told each other how we felt. I've never been with anyone else since, Gohan." Videl looked up at his face mournfully.
Gohan just returned her stare, silently urging her to continue. He didn't know what to say.
"Ever since that day, there was never a moment when I wasn't thinking about you. I just never mentioned you to anyone else. I never spoke my thoughts aloud and, gratefully, no one forced me to. I didn't see Gero kill you, but..." She closed her eyes at the memory, holding back tears. "...I saw him kill Kayla. That image has haunted me every moment of my life. I'll never forget it."
"Oh, Videl..." Gohan wrapped his arms around her and pressed her body against his. "I've never forgotten you, either. But I always thought that you would move on and marry someone else. I mean, time doesn't move in the Other World like it does here."
"So, the offer still stands?" Videl's face smiled.
He smiled knowingly. "Of course. If it's not too awkward."
"Oh, it wouldn't be for me, but..." Videl trailed off.
"But it wouldn't be for Pan, right?"
Videl gasped slightly and stepped back. She didn't expect him to guess her thoughts."Yeah..." It was almost an afterthought. "I-I know you're wondering how she came to be. I'm sure the others are telling their own version. I haven't been with anyone else, Gohan. I promise you." She looked him in the eyes sternly. "I've never been interested in anyone else. The Supreme Kai gave her to me while I was in mourning. I got out of my slump because..." Her eyes started wavering. "... she reminded me of you."
"What? What do you mean?"
She took a deep breath. This is the moment she was dreading, yet looking forward to, trying to think of how to tell him. She clenched her fists and looked to his right, avoiding his curious gaze. "Because, Gohan... She..."
She quickly looked down at the grass. Just spit it out Videl. You've got this far.
"She's your daughter."
