Secret Heart

Chapter 24

Gohan heaved a deep sigh. It was only the second day that Videl wasn't coming and already he missed her terribly. Her beautiful blue eyes, her smile, her death glares even; he missed everything about her. Of course, he could always go to her place to see her, but he didn't dare to; he still didn't feel ready to confront her after what he did to her.

The young man finally turned his attention towards the History lesson, trying somehow or other to dispel Videl from his mind. The lesson could be given credit for averting his thoughts from Videl a little; although, from time to time, Gohan couldn't help locating her Ki. He could sense her training, at her home. He could imagine her, persisting to go on, determined to make progress, and it made him smile. Videl really was an uncommon girl.

He then sensed that the young girl was quickly moving away from her home and frowned; he had a feeling that he knew what she was about to do out of the manor. After a few minutes his doubts were confirmed: Videl was fighting crime in the city.

Videl's safety being more important to him than anything else, Gohan asked to go out of the classroom, saying that he wanted to go to the restroom as an excuse. His teacher allowed him to go with a sigh; this student may be the best in the whole school, but he had serious bladder issues.

///

When she arrived, two robbers were loading their jeep with bags full of money they'd just robbed from the bank while two others were strafing the policemen, who were hiding behind their cars. Videl had landed her Jet Copter some distance away and the robbers hadn't noticed her yet, too busy doing what they were doing. It was time to take action.

She discreetly came behind those who were strafing the policemen, deciding to start with them. A quick hit on the neck and the first robber was out cold; this attracted the second one's attention but he didn't have time to react, so he received a punch in the stomach. He collapsed as well.

Two down, two more to go.

The two in question then went towards her. There was a buff-looking man and a skinny guy. The giant-looking man seemed to want a fight with her.

"You're Satan's daughter, right? I bet I can beat you!" He stated arrogantly.

Videl rolled her eyes; it wasn't the first time that a brainless idiot wanted to pit their strength against her, and it always ended in the same way.

"Are you sure you want to fight with her? She knocked Jo and Roy out in just one blow!"

"Pfft, don't compare me with those two weaklings. I know I can beat her; I could even beat her dad!"

"Well are you going to fight or are you going to keep chatting with your boyfriend?" Videl said, already in her fighting stance.

"Don't laugh at me!" The giant-looking man yelled, rushing to the crime fighter. Videl dodged his punch easily and countered with an uppercut to his chin. Her opponent took a few steps back, holding his aching chin. All of his following attacks only met empty air, and he felt groggier and groggier from all the blows he was receiving without being able to do anything to dodge or parry them.

His accomplice, seeing that he was losing, got his gun out. But he barely had time to get it out that he received a hit on his wrist, forcing him to let go of his weapon with a cry of pain.

His cry attracted the attention of the two opponents, and Videl froze when she saw the Great Saiyaman knocking the skinny guy out, knowing perfectly who was hiding behind the superhero disguise. The bulky man, although he was already in a bad state, took advantage of her lack of attention in the fight to attack the girl, giving a powerful punch to her face that threw her a short distance away.

"Videl! You bastard!" Gohan said rushing to the giant-looking man, knocking him out with a punch in his stomach. He then ran to Videl who was getting up and holding her aching cheek, but he stopped dead on his track when he saw the death glare she was throwing at him.

"You're such a pain; I didn't need your help!" She said, getting pissed off. "I was doing perfectly well until you showed up and distracted me!"

"But Videl, he was going to shoot you!" The superhero justified himself.

"So what, you think I'm not used to that sort of situation? I could get by very well without your intervention!"

Gohan frowned. "That's a lie, and you know it. If I hadn't intervened, you would have been killed."

"Oh thank you, my savior." She said sarcastically. "Do you want me to kiss you as well?"

"Well maybe you should, seeing that I just saved your life!"

The two of them realized what they just said and blushed, looking away.

"I… I'm sorry. I'm talking nonsense." Gohan said. He sighed. "I'll get going."

Videl kept looking away as he flew off, probably going back to school. She clenched her fists, feeling her eyes sting.

You idiot. Why do I love you so much?

///

A week went by, and Chichi could only watch worryingly and helplessly as Gohan's condition was wearing away. He barely spoke anymore, he didn't smile, he ate only the bare necessities. He had lost his joy of living, even refusing to play with his little brother like he was used to. Nothing seemed to be able to cheer him up, and Chichi despaired to see him like this.

An afternoon, while Gohan was still at school and Goten was playing outside, the mother of two sat before a warm tea, thinking of a way to get Gohan out of his depression.

She didn't want to meddle in her son's love life, but maybe if she went to see Videl and explained to her without saying too much why Gohan left the other night, the girl would understand and would go back to school…

Chichi sighed. Why was Gohan so afraid to tell Videl everything? Did she reject Goku when she knew that he was an alien? She didn't! And his friends didn't either! Why did he think that Videl would reject him? It was ridiculous! It was obvious that she loved him, and when you love, that sort of thing doesn't matter!

"You're racking your brain, hon."

Chichi held her breath when she heard that voice she would recognize everywhere. Her heart racing, her eyes filling with tears, she tried, barely believing it:

"Go… Goku?"

In the Other World, his hand placed on King Kai's back, Goku smiled: "Yes, it's me, Chichi."

"Oh Goku… I miss you so much…" Chichi said as a few tears escaped her eyes.

"I miss you too, Chichi. I miss you all." Goku replied sadly. "Even though I can see you all from up there, it's just not the same."

The dark-haired woman wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled slightly. "Is it true, Goku? You were watching us?"

"Always. And I know that Gohan isn't doing well right now."

"Yes… I don't know what to do anymore, Goku."

The Saiya-jin smiled. "I have an idea…"

///

It was during dinner that Chichi announced the big news. Gohan spat the water he was drinking, while little Goten's eyes were shining with hope.

"I'm going to see my daddy?" He asked.

"Are you serious, Mom? Dad is really coming to see us?" Gohan asked in turn, barely daring to believe it.

"If I tell you so." Chichi replied. "I talked to him today, and he told me that he would come tomorrow and would spend twenty-four hours with us."

"To-Tomorrow? Really?" The Son eldest said, still not believing it. His father was going to come. His father, who he hadn't seen in more than seven years, was paying them a visit. It was so unexpected.

"Yes, tomorrow." Chichi confirmed. "Since it's a Saturday, you won't have to miss school to spend the day with him. Oh, I'm so happy! I'll finally see him after all those years! And Goten will finally be able to meet him! Aren't you happy, honey?" She then asked her youngest son. "You're going to meet your daddy!"

Goten nodded his head briskly, a big grin plastered on his face. He was looking forward to meeting his father whom he was told so much about.

///

Videl soared around the training room, laughing as she did so. Finally, finally she could fly. After all those days spent in this training room, she could finally fly properly.

Wanting to make the most of it, the girl got out of the room through a window and flew off in the night. It was so much better than flying inside! She felt revived!

The night was hers!

///

The sun was just rising, but Gohan was already awake. He'd spent the night thinking and, in the end, he didn't get much sleep. The Son boy was happy to see his father again, of course, but he didn't really understand why he was coming to see them after all those years. Could it be for him? Could it be that Goku knew what he was going through now and so decided to come and cheer him up? If that was the case, Gohan hoped that he wouldn't ask him to talk about Videl; he really didn't have the heart for it.

And yet, he just couldn't get that girl out of his mind, and he missed her terribly. He would do anything just to see her smile again, to hear her laugh once again, to be able to hold her in his arms, to kiss her…

Gohan sighed. It wasn't going to happen anytime soon…

///

"When's my daddy coming?" Goten asked excitedly, while his mother was making breakfast.

"It shouldn't be long now." Chichi replied stiffening a yawn. She had been so excited that night to see her husband again after all those years that she hadn't slept much. And of course, her youngest son had come to wake her up at dawn, as if it was Christmas morning.

As for Gohan, he was able to escape the Goten alarm clock seeing that he'd already been up when his little brother had wanted to wake him up. Goten, at first disappointed to find his big brother's bed empty, wasn't discouraged for all that and rushed to his mother's bedroom. Although she didn't particularly appreciate her alarm clock, Chichi didn't have the heart for scolding her son. Not today.

Because today was a very special day for the small family: Son Goku, the greatest hero Earth never came across, but also the father and husband, was coming back for twenty four hours which he would spend with his family.

Chichi had, of course, let the whole gang know about Goku's arrival, but she had asked them not to come as soon as he would arrive to allow them some family time. They had all understood and agreed – except Vegeta who absolutely wanted to fight his great rival; thankfully, Bulma could be very persuasive.

The table was now filled with a real feast; the Son family was anxiously waiting, before this full table, the arrival of their missing member.

"How come my daddy's not here yet?" Goten asked in a small voice. "Is he really coming?"

"Of course he's coming honey." His mother replied confidently. Goku told her he would be here for breakfast and her husband was always true to his word.

It was then that the two boys sensed a powerful and familiar energy; although Goten never sensed it until now, he felt as if he knew this energy. As for Gohan, he had recognized it right away: it was his father's.

The front door opened and, for the first time in seven years, he heard that happy, warm voice.

"Ah! It's so good to be home!"

"Goku!" Chichi exclaimed rushing to the living room. She stopped when she saw him, tearing up. He hadn't changed; he was still just as handsome, with the same innocent, honest smile.

He approached her and held her in his arms, burying his face in her neck. God he'd missed her so much…

The brothers were standing at the door; the eldest was smiling at the scene, glad to see his parents finally reunited, while the youngest was hiding behind his brother's leg, feeling shy all of sudden.

Goku pulled back from his wife and smiled at her, wiping her tears with his thumb. Then he turned his gaze towards the young man and the little boy at the door of the living room. His sons.

"Are you my daddy?" The little boy asked shyly.

The man smiled. "Yes, I'm your daddy, Goten."

The Son youngest then grinned widely and jumped in his father's arms while exclaiming: "Daddy!"

Goku laughed, throwing his son in the air and catching him. Then he placed him on his shoulder and turned his attention towards his eldest son. He smiled.

"You grew up so much, Gohan; I wouldn't have recognized you."

Gohan grinned. "You, however, you haven't changed at all, Dad."

To Be Continued…