Discmalimer:
Another day passes, and another night of being wide…frickin…awake.
Gohan, known as Boss, laid down on his bed, and the only bed he wanted right now was his water bed. You would think with today's adventures he would be exhausted, but his mind, and body, were wide awake. For the first hour, Gohan sat at the desk and did homework. It was sad scene really. After Gohan read some of the formulas his past self took over. He was able to answer all the questions, and found mistakes along the way. He completely a set of trigonometry questions, and then figured out some science formulas.
Instead of putting his mind to sleep, which he hoped, his mind was more awake than ever.
For the next two hours, Gohan decided to read a book. As he was reading he got hungry, and he managed to create a sandwich while fixated on the book at hand. He stayed in the kitchen as he ate and read. A warm glass of milk, some hot tea, and a glass of water clenched his thirst, but it wasn't helping him sleep. Gohan did, however, have to pee like a mad man.
Hands washed and dried, Gohan exited the bathroom and stood in the living room. He could always go for a brisk walk in the snow. It was only what…fifteen degrees outside? He could walk around the house and get frostbite. Maybe his brain could get frostbite, and let him sleep until it warms up. Worse case he would wake up dead.
But he would be asleep!
Gohan sat on the piano bench. His mother bought the piano for him for his birthday right before the Cell Games. Gohan always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. The piano was hard, but Gohan always loved a challenge. Mu-Ma taught him how to play. She always said to let his fingers do all the work, and let your feelings from your heart flow to your fingertips. That's how a true pianist plays.
Gohan opened up the lid and saw the ivory and black keys. It's been a while since he's played on a real piano. He had his keyboard at home, but it wasn't the same. His fingers glided on the keys, and gently pressed down on a few. The piano was out of tune. It's been years since the last time it was played. As much as a neat freak Chi-Chi was, the keys on the piano had a thin covering of dirt.
Gohan noticed a few pictures sitting on top of the piano. Most…correction…all the pictures had him in them. One was an old photo from when he was four. His father was holding him, his mother by his side, and they all were smiling. The one next to it was of himself. He was sitting at his desk doing homework.
What a boring photo.
There was a picture of Goku and himself, smiling as they took a bath in the metal tube. The last photo was his last birthday home. His mother and father were covered in icing, and he had a sheepish smile on his face.
It was odd seeing the photos in a row. Ever since he was four his whole world was turned upside down. From being kidnapped to saving the world, his life was different from any other child. How many six year olds can say they traveled to another planet to fight an evil alien? Or how about training in a place where one day equals one year in another dimension?
Then again, how many twelve year olds took their older brother, who had a fear of heights, out flying when they were almost caught shoplifting? In all fairness he didn't want to steal anything, but TJ said that no one was going to miss a candy bar, or a bag of chips, and they went to the store before dinner.
As memories filled Gohan's mind, his fingers began playing on the piano. Mu-Ma would often sing as he played, and once he found his voice they began to sing together. Let it Be, the song he was playing now, by The Beatles was her favorite. It was also his song of choice when he was down in the dumps. He would blast it on his ipod, car, and his house when he needed a pick me up. When Mu-Ma wasn't having a good day health wise, he would go over and they would sing together.
Gohan stopped playing on the piano. He needed a distraction, another song to play, a song he could sing without bringing up memories. As he looked at the photo of his last birthday home, Gohan studied the picture of him and his father. Both were super saiyans, and they both had a heck of a time obtaining that. One through death while the other pushing for the strength.
Gohan remembered the time in the hyperbolical time chamber. Yelling at his father to stop treating him like his son. He wanted to be treated as an equal, and hated that his father was holding back.
His father had trouble accepting Gohan as an equal, but Goku had no problem throwing Gohan into the fight with Cell. We all know how that ended.
The piano began to play once more, and Gohan closed his eyes as his fingers took control of the piano keys. Focusing on his past, good times and bad, and the house he was in wasn't helping much either. So many memories, so many fights, so many deaths…his father's haunting voice
Yamcha…Tien…you killed my friends!
His fingers continued to play.
Krillin! No!
He hit the keys harder.
I'm proud of you…my son…
"You hid your skeletons when I had shown you mine. You woke the devil that I thought you left behind," Gohan sang. "I saw the evidence the chrisom soaking through. Ten thousands promises, ten thousand ways to lose."
Gohan opened his eyes. The photo of his father, a happy super saiyan, staring right back at him.
"And you held it all, but you were careless to let it fall. You held it all, and I was by your side…powerless."
Images of Frezia flashed through his head. His peaceful, happy father was engrossed in a yellow light, and at that moment Goku was filled with anger.
"I watched you fall apart, and chased you to the end. I'm left with emptiness that words could not defend. You'll know what I've became because of you. Ten thousands promises, ten thousands ways to lose.
"And you held it all, but you were careless to let it fall. You held it all, and I was by your side…powerless."
Gohan pressed on the keys as the song in his head came to life on the piano. He closed his eyes once more as his fight with Cell flashed through his head.
"And you held it all, but you were careless to let it fall. You held it all, and I was by your side…powerless!"
Music filled the living room.
"Powerless!"
His fingers flowed like a river on the piano keys.
"Powerless…"
Gohan was more careful now, gently fingering the keys as if playing for a sleepy baby. Once the last note was hit, Gohan leaned back slightly. He felt a lot better.
"That was awesome," Goten cried as he clapped his hands. Gohan noticed Goku, in a pair of sweatpants, and Chi-Chi, wrapped in a pink robe, standing at the end of the staircase. "Can you play another?"
Gohan had absolutely forgotten, once again, where he was. It was nearly three in the morning, and he had just awoken three people.
"I'm so sorry," Gohan said. He could feel his face getting warm. "I just…sometimes I get so deep in a song that I…I'm so sorry!"
Gohan felt like an ass.
"I don't mind hearing music," Chi-Chi said, "I just mind when it's playing loudly in the middle of the night."
"I'm so sorry!"
"Go back to sleep Goten."
"But I wanna hear more," Goten whined. Chi-Chi picked up Goten and carried him to his room. Gohan closed the lid, and patted on it.
"Did you write that song," Goku asked. Gohan shook his head. Even if he told Goku who sang it, Goku wouldn't know who they were anyway.
"I got caught in the moment," Gohan said. "I start thinking about things, and then I start thinking about a song that reminds me of that thing."
Goku nodded his head. He started off into the distance, distracted.
"What were you thinking about," Goku asked.
"Uh…" Oh you know, people exploding and killer bugs draining energy from people. "Stuff."
Good answer!
"You seem to have a song for everything, huh?"
"I can usually think of a song that fits my mood."
"I always think about Gohan a lot," here we go, "but the holidays are the worst. It's probably worse for you, since you lost family around the holidays."
Gohan nodded.
"First year is the worst, but over time it gets better. I got you guys this year, and next year I'll have…" Gohan bit the inside of his lip. "The band is planning a giant Christmas dinner, all families invited. I know it's a year in advance, but you guys are welcomed to come."
"That sounds like fun," Goku said, cheering up. "When you're with your friends you always seem to be having fun. Heh, even Vegeta smiles a bit more. There's something about you Boss. You always bring out the fun in people."
"It's my good looks and sense of humor." Gohan smiled as Goku chuckled. Chi-Chi walked back towards the two, a sleepy smile on her face. "I guess it's a good time to go to bed."
"And enough playing on the piano for the night," Chi-Chi said as she pointed her finger towards Gohan. He rose up his arms in defense. Goku headed upstairs, but Chi-Chi hesitated. "You know, I think I may have something to help you sleep."
Gohan watched as Chi-Chi unlocked a cabinet. He remembered that cabinet always being lock, but he never knew why. He also never asked, and just assumed it wasn't his business. It wasn't like he was home all the time to know.
Chi-Chi opened the cabinet doors, and Gohan saw a collection of wine.
Bingo!
"Sometimes a little night cap helps," Chi-Chi said as she grabbed a bottle of red wine. "Would you like some ice?"
"No thank you, but if you could fill it close to the top I won't play my music at odd hours in the morning," Gohan said as he made his way into the kitchen. Chi-Chi grabbed a wine glass on the top shelf above the stove. She grabbed a second one as well, and filled both glasses near the top.
"I'm having trouble sleeping as well," she admitted. Her hair was down, and in a small mess. Gohan sat down at the kitchen table, and moved the book he was reading. He also pulled out a chair for Chi-Chi. She carefully carried the glasses, and placed them on the table. She turned around, and grabbed the bottle as well. "Might as well finish the darn thing."
"I like your style," Gohan said as he took a sip of his glass. It was dry, but it was delicious. It's been days since his last drink, and there was nothing in walking distance. He didn't want to drink it too fast, but his first sip was a big one. "So why can't you sleep?"
Chi-Chi brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"You mean besides the loud music early in the morning?" Gohan let out an embarrassed laugh. Some guest he was! "Tomorrow night I'll have to take the gifts out of the attic and place them around the tree."
Gohan looked around the house. Every Christmas Eve they went out to get a tree. It was their own little party. It took an hour or two to find the perfect tree. Once they found it Goku would carry it home, and they would put it near the door. Goku would then put lights on the tree, and Chi-Chi would get the ornaments ready. Once the tree was lite, and garland was wrapped around the tree, the ornaments were soon placed on the branches.
After the tree was decorated, Chi-Chi would bake some cookies. Once the cookies were done, along with a glass of egg nog, Gohan, being the only child, put the star on top of the tree. Gohan would have to go to bed soon after, and the next day presents were around the tree.
"Are there a lot up there," Gohan asked. "I can help bring them down."
"It's not that." Chi-Chi looked at her glass. She sighed. "I still have Gohan's gifts upstairs from previous holidays. Every year they collect dust, and every year is another year without Gohan. When I watch Goten open his presents I can't help but see Gohan. He was the only boy his age who enjoyed getting books for Christmas."
Chi-Chi noticed the book on the table. She noted the napkin being used as a bookmark.
"The Canaberry Tales. Gohan's favorite book."
Gohan looked over at the book.
"I never read it," Gohan lied. When he went to go look for a book he saw that one, danced a little, and pulled it out for his reading enjoyment. His excitement gave him a rush of energy, even though he was just starting to get tired. "How about Goku and I bring down the presents? You won't have to see them, and you won't feel depressed."
"We got Goten a lot of gifts this year. I don't think you can handle the trip up and down the attic stairs."
"I work out," Gohan said as he looked at his arms. He could bench press buses, juggle tractor trailers, and even blow up the planet if he wanted to.
"You might get winded."
"Pssh, yeah right. I may not be the healthiest one here, but I can carry my own weight. What happened earlier didn't stop me from doing things."
"It didn't stop you from singing with the wooden spoon," Chi-Chi smirked. She took a sip of her wine.
"I'm telling you Chi, you can do a lot of things better and fast if you have music to help you through it," Gohan said swirling the wine in his glass. "Like I told Goku, there's a song out there for every mood."
"We don't play music around here. We barely watch any television!"
"Maybe you should." Gohan took a sip out of his glass. "There's nothing like sitting on the couch with your family and watching game shows. Mu-Ma was always good at Wheel of Fortune, and TJ did extremely well at the Price is Right."
"And what game show were you good in?"
"Jeopardy."
Chi-Chi blinked. She held back a laugh, but it slipped out anyway. Gohan lifted up his pointer finger, and got up from his seat. He quietly went into the bedroom, and grabbed the math book. He reappeared in the kitchen, placed the book on the table, opened the page he was working on, and showed Chi-Chi his work.
The laughing stopped.
"You did this," she exclaimed. Gohan poured some more wine for his and Chi-Chi. She noticed the science formulas as well. "How do you know all of this?"
"I studied," Gohan answered. He couldn't help but smile. "I do a lot of stupid thing that I know are wrong, but I am very intelligent. I could have graduated high school early if I wanted to."
Chi-Chi placed the papers down on the table. She took a long sip of her wine.
"This work is beyond high school. When Gohan was five he was doing eighth grade math!" Chi-Chi looked at the papers once more. "They teach this in the most prestige colleges. You would have to be Einstein to figure out these math equations."
"Behind the attitude and tattoos is an intelligent guy who knows how to create an atom bomb to destroy the world. I chose not to do so, since the supplies I need are not sold on the internet."
Chi-Chi shook her head, and smiled.
"Your mother taught you well," Chi-Chi said as she lifted up her wine glass.
"My mother is a very smart woman," Gohan said as they tapped each others glass. "And I hope she knows that I miss her as well."
"She was lucky to have you."
Later that same evening…
Goten asleep?
Check.
Christmas tree decorated?
Check.
Gifts around the tree?
…can I get back to you on that?
"Holy balls," Gohan said as he reached the attack. He stood next to Goku as he saw gifts all over the attack. They were all wrapped with bows and name tags. "This is all Goten's?!"
"Not all of it," Goku said as he walked towards a pile. "This is for Gohan when he comes home. We even put his birthday presents in there."
"Are they all toys," Gohan wondered out loud. He walked over and shook up a box. "This is a book." He shook another. "Clothes." Then another. "More clothes." And one more for good luck. "More books."
"There sure are a lot of books in that pile!"
"Clothes too." Gohan saw a bigger box. "What's that?"
"A bookshelf. Chi-Chi always bought books, and realized that he had too any books and not enough shelves."
"Are there any toys in this pile?"
"There are a lot of brain game toys. Gohan didn't play with a lot of toys growing up."
"Right, cause he had plenty of time to play with them when he was saving the world," Gohan mumbled. He shook up a few more boxes, and there was one he could figure out. It was a square box, and it sounded fragile. "What's in here?"
Goku took the box and examined it.
"I'm not sure," Goku answered. He handed it back to Gohan.
"Maybe we should open it."
"Uh, I wouldn't do that. Chi-Chi won't-"
"Too late. Already opened the one end." Goku noticed the one side of the wrapping paper was opened. He panicked as he watched the gift be carefully pulled out. Gohan put aside the wrapping paper, hoping that he could put it in as easily as he pulled out.
The box was white, and Gohan gave it another shake. It rattles, and as Gohan's curiosity increased, Goku's fear increased as well. If Chi-Chi knew someone was opening one of Gohan's gifts she would freak out. Gohan opened the top, and pulled out a square Styrofoam box. It was cut in two, but clear masking tape were keeping them together. Gohan pulled out his handy pocket knife, and carefully cut open the tape.
He pulled the Styrofoam pieces apart.
Gohan pulled out a wooden box, with his named written in kanji in front of the box. The lid was an engraftment of Shenron, and around the box were the seven dragonballs. Gohan opened the box, and music began to play. Gohan remembered the tune very well. Nights where he couldn't fall asleep, his mother, and father, used to hum it to him. It was an old tune from long ago, but when his parents hummed the song, it put him at ease.
Inside the box was a replica four star dragonball. Gohan lifted the glass ball, and noticed the different colors. The ball was more of a darker orange, and the stars were maroon instead of red.
"Wow," Gohan said as turned the ball in his hand. "Where did you get this?"
"I made it," Goku replied. Gohan looked at the ball, and then at Goku.
"The dragonball?"
"The whole thing." Goku sat next to Gohan. "The music I found at a store. I was supposed to give it to him for his birthday, but I forgot."
"How could you forget something this cool," Gohan exclaimed.
"I was having too much fun with my family. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with them."
Gohan put the ball back in the box.
"Were you afraid you were going to die?" Gohan closed the lid on the box. Did his father think that no one could defeat Cell?
"No one ever plans on dying," Goku answered. He grabbed the box from Gohan's hands, and put it back in its Styrofoam bed. "I knew I wasn't able to defeat Cell, but Gohan was, although Gohan needed the right buttons to be push. I knew Cell would push the right ones, but I forgot that Gohan was just a kid. He didn't want to fight, and he didn't enjoy fighting as much as I did."
Goku used the music box to hit his hand a few times. He looked over at Gohan, and weakly smile.
"Does that make me a bad father?"
This was the moment Gohan was waiting for. He could express how he felt without Goku knowing who he was. He could rip Goku a new one, and tell him how badly he messed up.
"I wonder what Gohan thinks us now. What did Chi-Chi and I do wrong?"
Gohan sat there and stared at the pile of gifts. It was a rather large pile, and every year new gifts were added.
"Gohan is selfish," he answered, "maybe afraid as well. Maybe…he was afraid to come home without his father. He saved the world, and lost his father. If you were him how would you feel?"
Goku pondered for a moment before he answered.
"We spent a lot of time together before the Cell Games," Goku said. He put the Styrofoam back in the box. "I think I know how Gohan feels. I didn't get wished back, and now Gohan won't come home. He didn't even try to help out when Majin Buu terrorized the planet."
"I'm sure he has his reasons."
"What reasons? I understand if he doesn't want to come home, but allowing Buu to kill everyone on the planet and do nothing? Gohan never upset me before, but he turned his back when evil arrived. That was the first time I was disappointed in Gohan."
The words stung, and keeping a façade was difficult. Gohan had a real good reason why he couldn't fight Buu. It wasn't because he wasn't strong enough; one hit in the chest and he would have been dead, and it would be painful. Since the dragonballs erased everyone's memory of Buu, besides the Z-Fighters, Gohan couldn't give a real explanation.
It didn't matter anyway. There was nothing Gohan could say or do to ease the ping of guilt in his chest. There was nothing he could tell himself to make him feel better. The worst thing anyone can hear is how disappointed someone can be at you.
They started to gather the gifts, and made their way down the attic. They still had a flight of stairs to go down, and both men carried way to many gifts. Both could see what was ahead of them, and Goku was leading. Once Chi-Chi saw nothing but presents walking down the stairs, she quickly helped by taking a few out of their hands.
It was near the end of the gifts, and Gohan had the gifts slightly unbalanced. Figuring that if he made it down the attic steps he would be perfectly fine going downstairs. He was near the bottom, but the sound of a bedroom door ruptured his balance. He saw Goten's door open, and the gifts in his hand started to fall apart.
Gohan began juggling the gifts. Chi-Chi was too far away to help, and Goku had a stack of presents of his own. Gohan managed to get all the gifts, except for one that was still up in the air. His powers kicked in, and he jumped up in the air to get the one gift. He froze when Goten's door fully opened.
Goten came out of his room, half asleep, and walked past the stairs. Chi-Chi stood frozen when Goten walked by, and Gohan refused to move from his spot. Goten went into the cupboard and grabbed a glass. He then headed towards the fridge, and pulled out the milk carton. Chi-Chi glanced over at Gohan, and noticed he was floating in the air.
Goten finished his cup of milk, and left it on the counter. He yawned, and walked back into his room. Once the door closed Gohan carefully lowered himself to the ground. He looked over at the bedroom door, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was close," Gohan said tossing the box in his hand. Chi-Chi ran over and took the box out of Gohan's hand.
"You can fly," she whispered loudly.
"I can't fly," Gohan whispered loudly back.
"Then what do you call it when you're frozen in mid air?"
"Fear!"
"Wow Boss, you really know how to control your power," Goku said in a normal voice. Both Gohan and Chi-Chi put their fingers up to their lips.
"Shhh!"
"What?"
All the gifts were finally around the tree, and the trio sat together on the couch drinking egg nog.
"So you have no idea how you did that," Chi-Chi asked. Gohan nodded his head.
"I know Vegeta mentioned about controlling your power, and I may have tried to fly before but I didn't think it would work for a normal human being," Gohan said lying through his teeth. "I don't think I could ever pull off something like that again."
"Well if fear gets you to fly maybe we should try it," Goku suggested. Gohan chuckled.
"I'm not afraid of anything Goku, only the fear of being caught." Chi-Chi finished her glass of eggnog.
"Odd, I thought Mu-Ma told me you were terrified of spiders," she said.
Gohan sat there, slightly paralyzed.
"She told you that?"
"She told me that you scream like a girl, and run like a mad man when you see one."
"Why are you afraid of them anyway," Goku asked. Gohan sipped his egg nog.
"I pulled a prank on my brother," Gohan began to say. It wasn't a prank per say, it was more grabbing TJ, who was afraid of heights, and flying around a few thousand feet from the ground. There was the occasional drop, and near death catches that would scare the crap out of anyone. "TJ didn't find it as funny as I did, so he decided to create a fear. He used to dangle spiders above my bed, and when I woke up they were right there in my face. It was a surprise at first, laughed at it, but I didn't know they were real. TJ had a sword, and cut them all free. Spiders were all over my bed, in my clothes, and crawling everywhere. I then noticed my hands and feet were wrapped in ducktape, and I couldn't escape. He then threw crickets on my bed to feed the hungry spiders. TJ closed the door, and left me there. A few spider bites and a trip to the hospital later I developed a fear of spiders."
"That sounds awful," Chi-Chi said.
"It wasn't the first time he did that to me. One time he put a spider on my shirt, and when I tried to swat it away, the thing gave birth to thousands of little spiders. We went into a haunted house, and threw a fake spider at me. I ended up knocking over a real spider cage on display, and the thing crawled in my pants. Needless to say the decision I made wasn't a pleasant one, and I was in pain for days. We went back and forth, and he even got a real pet spider he kept in front of his door."
They continued with more conversations, but Goku and Chi-Chi were ready for bed. Sadly, Goku was the one to struggle with sleep that night. After some meditation, Goku decided that a midnight snack would help him sleep. Goku carefully made his way out of the bedroom, and quietly crept down the stairs. A light in the kitchen was on, and Goku carefully peeked over to see who was there.
Boss sat at the kitchen table with his laptop. His headphones were plugged in, and Goku could hear the music being played. Boss was typing something, and fixed his reading glasses as he scrunched up his nose. He stopped typing, and sat back in the chair. He placed his fingers over his chin, and looked at his laptop disappointed. He bit his lower lip, titled his head to the sigh, and brushed his hand through his hair as he leaned forward and continued to type.
There were a stacks of papers beside him, one pile on each side of his laptop while another was on the floor. Boss grabbed a paper to his left, and placed it on the laptop keyboard. He rubbed his temples as he looked at the piece of paper. Boss took off his glasses and placed his hands on his face. His hands slid down to his neck as head rested on the tips of his fingers.
"I just can't," he said aloud to no one in particular. He grabbed another piece of paper and looked at it. Boss closed his eyes and threw the piece of paper on the floor.
Goku walked over. Boss was staring at the screen, and moved the paper off his laptop. He began typing, still unaware of Goku's presence. Goku was standing behind Boss, and looked at the computer screen. Nothing but numbers, adding and subtracting, and columns with different names. Some were credit card bills, medical bills, rent, apartment bills, and the music store. It didn't much sense to Goku, so he looked over at the pile of papers on the floor. Boss was still unaware of the shadow behind him.
Goku picked up the few pieces of paper on the floor. One was a picture of an outline of a person. The person was cut open, and a cord was coming out of the person. It was attached to the machine, and near the machine was a picture of a lung. Doctors, Goku assumed, stood around the lung with medical items.
"As the A. I. R.S (Airway Imported Respiratory System) pumps oxygen into the body, medical specialists will do any repairs the patient's lung has inflicted. The patient will remain unconscious through the whole procedure. When the lung is fully repaired, surgeons will medically sew the patient's lung together, and implant medal rods that will be removed later after recovery."
Goku knew Boss had bad lungs, but was this the only way to fix him? Goku flipped through some more papers, and found one that really made his eyes popped out.
"One million zenny," Goku exclaimed. Boss, whose music was still too loud, didn't hear a thing. Goku quickly covered his mouth. There was no noise heard upstairs, and Goten didn't wake up either.
That was a close one.
Goku knew that Boss had some lung issues, but to the extent of an expensive surgery? Just how bad was the accident? It was bad enough that his brother didn't make it. Goku never really pried on Boss' life, but after seeing his collection of medicine, and an attack during his stay, he wondered how Boss was alive.
"Robbing a bank is an option," Boss said marking a piece of paper with a black pen. "I wonder how well that would work. I tell the bank teller to give me all the money, then fill out a deposit sheet to put the money in my account? Lawyer and court fees are not worth the time. Damn lawyers charge you an arm and a leg just so you can be innocent."
"Huh, I guess that means Boss had trouble with the law before," Goku commented.
"If a candy bar fell into your pocket the police would be after you too." Boss put the piece of paper to the pile in the right. "It also happens to be on the same day the cameras are broken in the store, and your ex-girlfriend decided to seek revenge on you. Eye witness my ass."
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out if I can afford the surgery before-" Gohan stopped. He took off his headphones and saw Goku standing behind him. "How long have I've been conversating with you?" (Conversating is not a real word, at least that's what the red squiggles under the word say. Conversating: a conversation between two people)
"Not long," Goku chuckled. "I'm making some food. Do you want some?"
"Only if you have rocky road ice cream."
"We don't usually keep ice cream in the house. Goten turns into a sugar monster when we do."
"Then I'm fine. Thanks." Goku watched as Boss sorted through his papers.
"Do you have to get that surgery that costs one million zenny," Goku asked.
"Why are you reading my stuff," Gohan snapped.
"I was curious." It was a plain answer. Gohan knew his father lacked common sense, and never understood personal space. There was no point in trying to start a fight. Gohan picked up his stack of papers on the floor. He paper clipped each individual pile.
"It's not a big deal if I don't." Like he was going to ruin Christmas. "It would make things…better if I did."
Gohan took off his glasses and closed his laptop. He pinched the bridge between his nose.
"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat? You seem stressed."
"You can always open the wine cabinet."
"I'm not allowed to touch that."
'Of course not,' Gohan thought. "Can't sleep?"
"I never can on this night," Goku said as he pulled out some items from the fridge. "You've been having trouble sleeping lately haven't you?"
"I'm out of my habit so sleep doesn't come as easy." Gohan sighed. "Let me guess…you can't sleep because you miss your son."
Ugh. He hated talking about himself.
"I guess Chi-Chi and I have been talking about him a lot." You have no idea. "I keep thinking that he'll walk through the door, apologize for being late, and it would be like he never left."
"Listen Goku, I'm going to be a bit mean right now," Gohan said leaning forward. His elbows were on the table as he placed his chin on his folded up hands. "Gohan hasn't returned after Cell, he hasn't returned when you came back, he did even help you fight Majin Buu. He either doesn't want to be part of the family anymore or he's dead. You and Chi-Chi keep weeping for a son who may never come home again, and you beat yourselves up on the 'what-ifs' and 'maybe if I' bull shit. Vegeta and Piccolo have already accepted the fact that Gohan is gone. Why can't you and Chi-Chi let him go?"
Goku stood there frozen.
"And I hate how you compare your son missing to my mother being dead. It's not fair to compare that way. Gohan made his decision to leave and not come back. Mu-Ma didn't have a choice to choose between life and death. She wanted to live as much as the next person, and now…"
Too much in one night. The lack of sleep wasn't helping either, and it was a bad idea to figure out his finances to help him sleep. There was no way he could afford the surgery, and he couldn't afford his own funeral. He had to take Mu-Ma out of his will, and replace her with Seymour. As of right now, Seymour was in control of his stuff. There were a few things Gohan left for his bandmates, and he didn't have a damn thing to leave to Videl. Gohan wanted to leave her his random drawings, and even some artwork that he did, but what use was it? Silly drawings of a dead boyfriend she dated for less than a year.
He hasn't even told her that he loved her.
A cup of warm milk appeared in front of Gohan.
"I guess it's hard to explain when you're not a parent," Goku said as he pulled the seat next to Gohan out. "And Gohan never had a chance to be a kid. Chi-Chi and I feel guilty, and we have no way of telling Gohan that. Even if he doesn't want to come home, we just want to know that he's okay."
"The holidays suck," Gohan whined. Goku laughed.
"If it makes you feel any better, you're my gift to Vegeta this year."
"Do you have a giant bow to put on my head?" Goku's cheeks turned pink.
"I do have a bow, but it's usually wrapped around Chi-Chi's-"
"I do not need to know that information."
"But you and Vegeta talk about that stuff all the time."
"Bulma is hot, and Chi-Chi is…she…she looks like a young Mu-Ma!"
Mu-Ma looked nothing like Chi-Chi in her younger years.
"If you say so," Goku said smirking. "There's this thing she does for me on Christmas, and-"
"I'm going for a walk, and hope to freeze to death," Gohan said as he gathered his papers and laptop.
"I'll come with you. I'll tell you more about how Chi-Chi and I-"
Gohan walked out the door with Goku right behind him.
(PG)
Chi-Chi was surprised to say the least. Her husband did not return to bed last night. Instead, he was sleeping on the couch with Boss resting his head on his shoulder. Goku's head was slanted to the side, his legs on top of the coffee table while Boss used Goku's shoulder as a pillow, and curled up next to him. Both were sharing a blanket and snoring.
"What in the world," Chi-Chi said to herself as she put her hands on her hips. Part of her didn't want to wake them, but a bouncing Goten, who was next to her, wanted to tear open his gifts. He woke her up first, and didn't know about the two sleeping on the couch.
"Wake them up Mommy," Goten said, still bouncing. "Tell them it's Christmas, and I wanna see what Santa brought me!"
Chi-Chi pondered for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to wake the two. Should she try the gentle approach, or grab the frying pan to hit them both? It was Christmas, and Goten was already hyper. With a sigh, Chi-Chi gently shook Boss' shoulder, and Goku's leg.
"Come on you two. It's time to get up."
Boss was the first to stir.
"It's too early Mom."
Goku was the second.
"But there's no breakfast on the table."
Chi-Chi shook her head, and shook them once more.
"It's Christmas. Goten wants to open his presents, unless you two want to stay cuddled on the couch."
Boss was the first to open his eyes. He lifted his head, and saw just how he was sleeping. Curled up on the couch, snuggling with Goku, sharing the same blanket. He noticed Chi-Chi standing there in her robe, and Goten with a huge smile on his face. The child was still bouncing. Through pure panic, Boss pushed Goku off the couch, waking up the sleeping saiyan, and stood up holding the blanket.
"It's not what it looks like," Boss quickly said. "I'm not that way, I swear! He's married, I have a girlfriend, its morning and the sun is not the only thing that rises."
Chi-Chi's face flushed. Goku rubbed his head as he sat up.
"Is it morning already," Goku yawned.
"Yay they're up! Can we start opening presents now," Goten cried.
"The adults need their tea first," Chi-Chi said as she headed towards the kitchen. Goten stopped bouncing and pouted.
"Aw man."
Goku chuckled as he stood up. Boss sat back down on the couch rubbing his eyes.
Christmas wrapping began flying all over the place. Goten destroyed any box that was in the way while the adults quietly exchanged gifts. Gohan opened a box with a coloring book, and saw a 64 pack of crayons. Being the adult that he was, he quickly flipped opened a page and began to color. He also got a few action figures, clothes, slippers, and a brand new fuzzy robe. The one gift he seemed a bit too excited for was Batman footie pajamas. Gohan quickly stripped down, and put the pajamas on. Not only did it come with a hood, eyes cut out and all, but it also had a cape. Goten got Superman footie pajamas, and both stayed in character as they continued to open the gifts.
Chi-Chi was quite pleased with the gifts Boss gave her. A new pair of slippers, some nice hair clips, some nice lotions, and lavender bubble bath kit. The kit included candles, a bathtub pillow, and bath salt. It was one of Chi-Chi's favorite smells.
Goku enjoyed his gifts as well. Tank tops, training gi, a popcorn container, cookies, and his personal favorite…muffins! Blueberry, apple and cinnamon, strawberry, and a gift certificate to the bakery for more muffins.
With all the presents unwrapped, Gohan and Goten quickly opened up their action figures and began to play. Chi-Chi and Goku began picking up the wrapping paper, and found one more gift under the tree. It was to both Goku and Chi-Chi, and it was from Boss. Puzzled, Chi-Chi picked up the square package. Goku stood behind her as she unwrapped it.
When the wrapping paper was off, Chi-Chi saw the bronze picture frame and the picture in it. It was in charcoal pencil drawing, carefully fitted into the frame with no smudges. The picture itself was the Son family, excluding Gohan, standing in front of their home. Goku and Chi-Chi were standing next to each other smiling, and Goten standing in front of them. Goku had his arm wrapped around Chi-Chi and a smile, while Chi-Chi snuggled her head under Goku's chin. Goten was supporting the Son smile.
There was one more picture frame under the charcoal drawing, and Chi-Chi nearly dropped the frame.
It was one of Gohan, and his many stages. From infant to toddler, the bowl hair cut to untamable hair, and ending in his super saiyan state. It was a painting, one with bright colors with a red and orange background. All the Gohan's were together standing in a row with smiles, frowns, and in a fighter's stance.
Chi-Chi let her fingers brush over the art, and felt each paintbrush embedment. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and as she wanted to cry out to Boss she stopped. He was too busy saving the world from the evil Joker. His power ranger action figure shot a bow, knocking over said Joker. His Batman hood covered his face blocking any sight but the one in front of him. Goten decided that the Joker wasn't dead, and the seven shades of blue crayons brought him back to life, all thanks to the evil picture of a tied dyed kitten.
"It's been so long," Chi-Chi said as she tried to hold back her tears. "Goku, when's Gohan going to come home?"
"When he's ready," Goku said as he rubbed Chi-Chi's arm for comfort.
Sorry for the long update. Moved back in with my mom, cause divorce and what not. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!