They both stared at the remains of the time machine in shock. Billows of black smoke rose into the air from the flaming machinery, and Trunks fell to his knees.

"That... That couldn't have happened accidentally." Trunks balled up his fists tightly, trying to keep a certain amount of calm.

"You're right. Your mom would have had to do that on purpose. We're stuck here." It was a numbing feeling for Gohan. There was really nothing he would miss about his world besides Bulma. He really hadn't had anything left. But he'd still thought he would be going back there, to try to pick up the pieces once they finally beat the androids. He had no idea what he would do here after the androids.

"WHY? Why would she strand us here!?" Trunks screamed, and his ki was starting to rise.

"She must have decided you could have a better life here Trunks. Our world was almost completely totaled... There was nothing left. The humans could have all been dead by the time we managed to defeat Seventeen and Eighteen." Gohan knelt by his young friend, and put his hand on Trunks' shoulder, hoping he would calm down before too many people noticed him.

"I had her!" Trunks punched the ground, his hand making a hole in the soft dirt. "If she gave up on our world she should have at least come with us! Why would she want to die there alone?!"

"I can't really speak for her Trunks. I'm sorry. I really am. But you have to calm down or everyone will come here when they sense your energy. They don't know you, and they'll think you're a new enemy. We didn't want that kind of attention right away, remember? And since we'll have to say... we'll want a good first impression."

"I don't care about that!" Trunks screamed, pulling his shoulder from Gohan's hand.

"Care about what?"

Gohan looked up, and there was his father, just more than ten feet above them in the air, watching them as his fingers left his forehead. He had to of used instant transmission.

"My friend is just upset, we've lost our way home." Gohan stood as his father let himself land. It was a little startling to realize he was actually a bit taller than his father.

"Oh, maybe I can help..." Goku tilted his head. "You know, your energy is really familiar... and, uh, we kinda match."

Gohan smiled. He'd worn his father's styled gi's since he was twelve. It had been one of the few things that he could remember his mother smiling about. Partly, he knew she was just glad he wasn't wearing the purple gi designed to look like Mr. Piccolo's.

"I know. That was on purpose. I'm from the future, that was our time machine. It blew up when Trunks tried to capsulize it. We think Bulma did it on purpose, because things in our time were so bad... We came here to warn you, so you could change your future." Gohan tried to smile. "We came here so you could live when the next big fight comes."

"Why wouldn't I be here before the next fight?" Goku tilted his head. He usually did when he tried to think to much.

"In our time, you got sick. You died from a heart virus. Six months later, the androids attacked. Nearly everyone died in the first attack. Krillen, Yamcha, Tien, Chioutzu... Even Vegeta died fighting them."

"That's terrible. But what can you do about me getting sick?"

"We brought a cure. There wasn't one in this time." You'll be there this time. You'll fight."

"That sounds great, I can't wait for another good fight."

"I'm not surprised you'd say that." Gohan smiled. It was really, really good to see his dad healthy and smiling.

His head was still tilted though, thinking. "Tell me about the bad guy."

"There's two. Androids, built by Dr. Gero. They are incredibly strong. Stronger than a Super Saiyan."

"How are you sure of that? I didn't fight them. Did Vegeta ascend?"

"I know because they're stronger than I am. I'm a Super Saiyan."

"You are!" Goku smiled, excited, then his head straightened. "Gohan?"

"Yeah Dad, it's me."

It was quiet then. Trunks was finally calm, and Goku just stared at his son, taking in the sight of him.

Then Goku hugged him.

Gohan used his arm to hug his father back and relaxed. "I really missed you Dad. It's so good to see you. And now it looks like I can see you for a pretty long while. We can train together even."

"Hey, that sounds great." Goku stood back a little, but he looked uncomfortable. Gohan was used to some awkward looks.

"I know the arm takes getting used to."

"Oh! Uh, sorry... I am a little thrown. It was the androids that did that?"

"It was me." Trunks said it quietly as he stood.

"Trunks, you did not."

"I joined the fight when you said I wasn't ready. You were hit because you saved me front their attack and it didn't heal because you gave me your only sensu. We both know it was my fault."

"I'm not saying you weren't wrong when you didn't listen to me, but we all make mistakes. And we all make choices. I chose to give you the bean, and you don't get to feel bad about my choice." Gohan grabbed Trunks and made him turn to face them. "Understand?"

"I guess..." Trunks sighed. He knew arguing wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Good. Now that that's settled... I guess we go see Mom. Avoiding her won't really work since we're here for good." Gohan smiled a little, and faced his father again. "Once she sees me, getting her to let you train the younger Gohan will probably get a lot harder."

"You're right." Goku tilted his head again, then put it straight as his fist tapped his palm as an idea occurred to him. "Or we can say the best thing he can do is train so the androids won't be able to hurt him."

"She would prefer he hid in the house and did homework." Gohan sighed. "Nothing will convince her it's a good idea Dad."

"Heh, you're probably right. But she has to meet you. If she found out about you later she would hate me for keeping you a secret. Hey, by the way... just who is your friend?"

"This is Trunks. He hasn't been born yet, so it's best not to talk about his story. If his parents knew, they might stay away from each other."

"Gotcha. Well, lets go to the house. We can fly, or I can just instant transmit us there." Goku tapped his forehead. He was not tired of showing off his new trick yet.

"I don't think Mom would want you to appear in the house with two strangers. We should probably fly."

"Good point."

Goku stepped into his home alone. They'd all agreed it was better for him tell Chichi what was going on, and warn her what Gohan looked like. She was not going to be calm when she saw her son with one arm.

Oh, he could smell lunch from the doorway... He should probably ask her to put on another big pot of rice and noodles so Big Gohan and Trunks could join them.

He walked into the kitchen and put on his big smile. "Everything smells amazing Chichi. I can't wait to eat it!"

She didn't turn from the stove, but she did laugh a little. "That's what you say at every meal Goku."

"Well I always mean it."g

"So you were gone for a while, and now you don't seem to want to talk about why you left. What happened?"

"Well, there are these two guys who are kinda permanent guests here now, cause their time machine broke so they can't go back to the future. They came here to give me medicine and tell me that in three years two androids will attack the earth and I need to stop them, or they'll kill all our friends and most of the world." He sighed as he finished getting that all out in one breathe.

Now she turned around, a blank look on her face. "Goku... You're not serious?"

"Uh, yeah... We actually know one of them. Chichi, you need to try to stay calm, okay?"

"Goku..."

"At least wait to go outside and see him until I finish, okay? Please?"

"Alright, I promise."

"One of the men is Gohan. He's been fighting the androids alone since everyone else died. He said he's from sixteen years in our future."

"You mean there's a twenty-three year old Gohan outside! Goku, that's amazing!" She moved for the door, but he stopped her.

"Hold on. I'm not done Chi... Remember, he's been fighting two monsters for the last ten years of his life. He's not going to be the way you want Gohan to grow up to be. He's still a good man, and a great warrior. But he's had a really hard life, been in a lot of battles. He's been hurt really bad Chi. Before you see him you need to know he has some scars... And his left arm is gone."

"What?!" She moved to the door again, and this time Goku stopped her with a hug.

"He's going to be okay here Chichi. We know about the androids and we have three years to get ready. We'll beat them, and he'll stay here when it's peaceful. But you need to calm down a little before you see him. Seeing you cry for him will make him sad. Just... take a minute to let everything sink in."

She did stop, and she held onto him tightly.

"These androids, they killed you Goku?"

"Oh, no. I never got to fight them because I got sick and died. That's why they brought medicine. It' a cure. Between me and everyone else and a three year warning I have no doubts we'll win this fight. We just have to work hard, so things won't turn out the way the did for the older Gohan."

She nodded a little. "I'm okay now Goku." She pulled from his embrace and handed him a big wooden spoon. "Keep stirring the soup until I come in. I need to see our son."

Chichi walked past him, out the door, and straight up to the older Gohan outside. Goku watched from the window as they seemed to speak softly to each other, and his wife pulled their son into a very tight hug, pulling him down so she could reach around his neck. Goku smiled to himself. It would be okay.

A/N: I want to thank all my reviewers for their comments. Just remember, the more comments I get the more eager I am to write!

I went to the DBZ wikia to check Goku and Gohan's heights. Gohan is actually one full inch taller than Goku.