Disclaimer: the usual blah blah blah…

Thank you, GhanimaGirl16, chibi dendeand Ima

Angel Wings-008: Yes, Goku is in the other world, busy with his training and tournaments.

I am sorry, Goku fans, but he is actively not present in my fic. When he comes back (after the Buu saga), the saviour of the earth invests great energy and time to protect birds' eggs, but he was definitely not there when his wife and sons needed him the most.

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Gohan's impeccable table manners were a stark contrast to Radditz', who ate as if the food will evaporate if he stopped for a moment, even to breathe.

"da foof ish aweshum, ChiChi" (the food is awesome, ChiChi), Bardock complemented, and stuffed some more food into his already overstuffed mouth. Bits of morsel flew everywhere as Goten got hyper.

At CC, the king relished the variety of delicacies and thought about his own planet - the food there, his rule…well, at least, from the looks of it, his son had managed to find a place where they served food of royal quality, not to mention the palatial complex of CC.

Nappa could recall no memory whatsoever of being treated with so much respect as to sit with the ruler/host. He hiccupped and laughed nervously, a shadow of lunacy [*1] hanging over his clumsy attempts to adjust.

Vegeta (though he would never express it) felt relieved that no one betrayed any sign of noticing Nappa's behaviour. Indeed, the Briefs household was one where all the misfits of the universe could fit in – be it wild animals or exotic experimental products, or a serial mass murderer like him, or a backyard full of green tentacled Nameks, or, a couple of dead aliens.

He knew he was lucky for that. Simultaneously, he realized things may not be going so smoothly with the others. After all, even the 'clueless clown' had said something like that…

Bulma sensed her husband zoning out and without even looking up from her plate asked him to "spit it out."

The tone of his "nothing, Woman" convinced no one at the table. His father's face shone with appreciation for Bulma's receptiveness. Outrageous!

"It's just that I am a bit…concerned about Gohan" (everyone knew that Gohan was the first earthling to strike a positive note in Vegeta's heart)

"Don't worry, dad, he is Goten's Big Bro" to Trunks, that status was enough immunity against any danger. He was seated between his grand fathers, both of whom he liked, somewhat inexplicably.

Just as lunch came to an end, Vegeta exclaimed "why are they coming here!"

Bulma asked, "Who?" he did not have to reply. They, that is, Yamcha, Krillin and 18 with baby Marron touched down.

"What are you guys doing here? I told you to check at ChiChi's" Bulma screeched.

"We thought we needed some moral support before facing 'her'" Krillin explained, tugging at his newly growing hair.

"For once, I agree with ex-Cue ball. Kakkarott might have fought Frieza and his brat might have killed Cell, but the MONSTER that dwells in their house is far more EVIL" the prince crossed his hands over his chest.

"All right then," Bulma's eyes shone as she came up with a plan, "why don't we all go there and see! Four of them (Bardock, Radditz, Gohan and Goten) might need rescuing!" God, could she ever resist the opportunity of an adventure?

Bulma decapsulated her copter. She got in as the others took flight, 18 carrying Marron and King Vegeta his precious grandson. Vegeta looked pointedly away.

As they flew, Tien and ChiaoTzu joined them "We sensed all of you heading together. So we thought there might be some problem and came to help."

They, along with Yamcha, kept a safe distance from Nappa, Bulma noticed.

When they reached their destination, they were greeted by Piccolo, "Dende thought these may be required" and held out a pouch of sensu beans. This was a bit too much, Vegeta mused.

As they approached the 'war zone', a shrill voice assaulted their ears:

"Now is that the way to talk to your mother, young man? I thought I had brought you up better than that…oww, what have I done to deserve this?"

"Mother, can't I spar with them for just an hour? I promise to catch up with my studies…"

"Go to your room, Gohan, you have already wasted A WHOLE AFTERNOON OF EDUCATION!!!"

From the collective sigh around him, the King realized what 'monster' his son was talking about.

Hearing Gohan tell Chichi "mother, I believe we have some guests waiting outside", Bulma stepped forward to knock at the door. as Chichi answered it, the 'guests' saw a fuming Chichi and behind her an embarrassed Gohan; Bardock was seated at the table, with a miniature of himself on his shoulder, both of them sporting similar looks of bewildered alarm on their faces; and in the farthest corner, an anguished Radditz, his memories of Frieza's tyrrany threatening to resurface.

"Let us all go out, sit on the grass, calm down, and speak sensibly." Bulma's rational suggestion found no protest, and everybody settled outside. Radditz felt better in Vegeta's presence at the moment of his psychological crisis while Nappa felt happier at their infamous tio's reunion.

Trunks and Goten had started playing already, when they saw the cuddly bundle that was Marron (during the Buu saga, she was really small, so she cannot be any bigger at this point of time). That gave Chichi ample scope to vent out her pent up frustration:

"how 'mechanical' and 'inhuman' does a mother have to be to expose her tiny daughter to such dangerous beings as these?"

Android 18 was unfazed, "I did not want to leave my infant daughter with that old pervert and that Oolong pig. Besides, I am personally more than capable of defending both of us." she coolly replied.

Krillin sprung to her aid and Chichi decided it was time to sheathe her claws.

Bardock now knew why she was a perfect match for a full blooded Saiyan - all that spirit and that S U P E B cooking! Man, his mouth started watering at the memory of the lunch.

Vegeta, out of habit (developed during 'those three years'), looked out for Yamcha, and following his gaze Chichi got the perfect weapon to make her comeback.

"Yes, Vegeta, poor Yamcha isfeeling out of place. afterall, it was you who killed him, and his girlfriend Bulmawent to Namek to ressurect him with the Dragon Balls and came back with you, had your child, and married you!"

Everyone was shocked, not at her story (they knew it already), but at her venom. bulma seethed with uncontrollable wrath. it was now her turn to shout.

"oh, but you can hardly complain, Chichi, when Yamcha told us via King Kai that Goku could not be revived successfully, it was Vegeta who suggested an alternate plausible idea after Namek!"

She could never understand why everybody failed to notice what a great catalyst her Vegeta had been to Goku's strength. Had it not been for the terror of the Saiyan invasion, Goku would not have trained at King Kai's, the whole concept of the Gravity Training would not have been there, possibly they would all be dead at the hands of one monster or the other, and Trunks, her beautiful, adorable Trunks, would not have existed.

Who would then have come from the Future with Goku's medicine and warn them? it was Goku's choice to remain dead, not Vegeta's fault.

Back at the Kame Island, Roshi was watching this scene through Baba's Crystal Ball.
"Ooh! i luuuuuv watching cat fights", the Turtle Sage told his sister.