A/N: I'd like to thank all those who reviewed and/or sent PMs for your encouragement and kind response to this story. I really, really appreciate the feedback!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z or any of its associated characters or intellectual properties.
Chi-Chi left the table and started making a pot of tea. The ritual was deeply ingrained in her after so many years of dining with Saiyans. A cup of tea was a way for her to rest a bit before a daunting task of washing dishes after a meal. Maybe if the amount of them wasn't always so large, she wouldn't develop her habit, but it was moot to think about that now.
When the tea had brewed properly, she poured a cup for herself and sat down at the table again. Gohan was finishing his meal by now and she suddenly felt very nervous. She had made the right decision, she was certain, but she wasn't sure if her son would agree with her.
She wondered how many mothers had to tell their sons things that revealed to them how imperfect their parents truly are.
Clinking of dishes slowed and than stopped. Chi-Chi knew that her rest came to an end. It was time for the talk.
"Gohan, I need to tell you something important" Chi Chi declared after her son set the final plate on a pile. "And I want you to listen carefully to what I have to say."
Gohan looked up at his mother and nodded. "Alright, mom."
Chi Chi looked up to see the intense gaze of her son and took a deep breath. She suddenly felt overwhelmed. He looked so much like an adult that she felt a moment of panic. She set her little speech for child's ears, full of soft spoken words and calming excuses. Looking at Gohan now, she realized that wouldn't work at all, though.
She looked down at the untouched tea in the cup she was holding and pressed her lips briefly. She wanted to cry out loud at the injustice that her family was facing. Little boys shouldn't be able to look like her son looked. They should have such guarded eyes, like they were preparing for the worst.
Chi-chi moved to the chair beside Gohan and took his hands in hers. Gohan's hands weren't much smaller than hers anymore. She knew it wasn't long before he outgrows her rather petite statue. He took after his father so much, she wouldn't be surprised if he would be as tall as him one of these days.
But now... he was still her little boy. Her son, she failed to protect so many times from the monsters that wreaked havoc upon the world and her family. She wasn't even aware what was happening to him most of the time. She made so many mistakes, failed as a mother so many times. She wasn't able to protect her Gohan's innocence.
"You are extremely smart young man so I won't mince words with you" Chi Chi stated looking straight in Gohan's eyes and he nodded again.
Best to just say it, she thought. "We are moving to West City."
Gohan tilted his head to the side and looked intently at his mother. He wasn't looking terribly surprised nor confused.
"Leave home? Is that because you're pregnant?" asked Gohan.
Chi-Ci blushed deep red and dropped Gohan's.
"H how do you know I'm pregnant?" Chi Chi asked flustered. This was not the talk she planned to have. She felt her cheeks burn. She was not prepared for this.
"You're ki feels like Bulma's when she was pregnant with Trunks" answered Gohan matter of factly.
Chi Chi took a deep breath mentally willing her cheeks to return to their normal color.
"Oh" she said. "I didn't know you could do that. Well, it certainly simplifies things. Now I don't have to go to a doctor for confirmation."
Gohan nodded and smiled a little.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of things, we don't really have to move if I help around the house, do we?"
Chi Chi's eyes teared up at the heartfelt offer from her son. She was so proud of him she could hardly express it.
"I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough, Gohan" Chi Chi said quietly. "You see, almost all the money your father won in the tournaments are gone now and I'm afraid that we won't be able to support ourselves, especially when the baby is born."
A crease appeared between Gohan's eyebrows as he thought carefully about their situation. It wasn't any news for him that they didn't have much money, but in the last few years the worry about their financial stability wasn't exactly the top priority. Now, the treat of androids and Cell was no more and nothing dangerous was happening so it became obvious that his family would have to reorganize their lifestyle in more ways than one.
"I probably could get a job..." Gohan mused aloud.
"You won't do any such thing" Chi Chi cut him off firmly. "You are 10 years old "
"11, mom" Gohan interjected.
"I don't care if you spent a year in Hyperbolic Time Chamber, young man, I wasn't there!" said Chi-Chi firmly. "It's not your place to support a family. Your only job right now is to get an education that will allow you to have a great career when you're older."
"But, mom..." Gohan tried to argue.
"In the future!" she repeated. "With your intellect you'll be able to do remarkable things, I made sure of that, so don't even think about wasting your time, time you should spend on studying, for a low pay job."
"But, Mom..."
"No, young man" Chi Chi insisted. "I talked with Bulma on the phone and she agrees with me on this. You are to get your education. In order to do that we are going to move to West City and live with her."
"In the Capsule Corp...?" Gohan's eyes grew big with surprise.
"That's the only reasonable solution, Gohan." Chi-Chi insisted. "You will get your education in West City. I will get proper medical care. Are we clear?"
"Y yes, Mom" said Gohan.
"Good!" Chi Chi took a calming breath.
The worst was over. Gohan still looked a bit incredulous, but she knew he would soon see the positive side to this situation. It was painful to even think about leaving home she build with Goku, their family home, but there really wasn't many options left. Moving really was the best choice.
"I know I ask you for much, Gohan, but I really don't see another way." said Chi-Chi sadly.
"It's ok, Mom, I don't mind" Gohan tried to cheer up his mother. "I mean, I could probably learn a lot from Dr Briefs and Bulma, right?
Chi Chi smiled at her son. He was such a good boy! Always trying to see the bright side of things.
"And I probably could train in Gravity Room with Vegeta..." Gohan thought out loud, completely forgetting his mother's presence and not seeing her scowl.
"Train with Vegeta!?" Chi Chi yelled. "Are you out of your mind!? He's a psychopath! He's even worse than that green cradle robbing monster you seem to like so much! No, Gohan! I forbid you!"
"Mom, we had this discussion before" Gohan said much more sternly than any pre teen should be able to do. "Do not call Piccolo a monster! Or a cradle robber! He's my friend!"
Chi Chi bit her lower lip. "He kidnapped you..."
"He died for me, supported me and cared for me!" Gohan cut his mother off. "I won't stand for insulting him, Mom. Ever, by anyone."
Chi Chi took a deep breath. She knew there was no convincing Gohan on the matter. They did had the discussion before, many times. The first time, soon after his return from Namek, Gohan stood up and left home for a week when she insulted his "sensei". She almost turned gray from worry and that was even before she learned he stayed with his "Mr. Piccolo" at a spot near the waterfall in total wilderness.
No amount of her pleas and demands budged him. Even her father and Krillins joined effort wasn't able to convince him to return. He stubbornly asked that she apologize first. She chose a different approach and had stayed at the waterfall with them instead. Gohan returned home three days after that, sulking, just because his "Mr. Piccolo" couldn't stand her yelling and told him to go home with her.
The next big fight took place just after Goku returned from space. Suddenly she had Piccolo forced upon her on a daily basis to train for androids and she just couldn't stand it. Gohan stayed at home then as he obviously learned his lesson.
He went on a hunger strike, instead. She never, ever thought it was possible that her food loving son, demi-Saiyan, would go without nourishment for five days just so she would apologize to a green monster for one harsh word. She was sure her son would continue the strike if she hadn't cracked. After all, Piccolo and Goku were against it, too, but Gohan didn't start eating.
The depth of devotion Gohan had for Piccolo was terrifying. And despite all her complaints, it was blatantly obvious for anyone with eyes that it equally matched with Piccolo's devotion for her son.
"I'm sorry, Gohan" she mumbled grudgingly, knowing full well now that it was the only way to placate her son. "But you still aren't allowed to train with that Vegeta person!"
Gohan looked at his mother incredulously. "Mom, do you really think it's possible to live at the same place that he lives, eat at the same table that he eats and not spar with him? Frankly, I'm surprised he's not here as we speak demanding I 'fess up the way to become ascended Super Saiyan."
Chi Chi opened her lips, ready to deliver another scathing remark when Gohan words truly sunk in.
"Oh." she sighed. "What have I done...?"