Together Again

by Lady-Ravenhawk

Feared by the Gods themselves, the first humans to walk the earth were torn into two bodies, each one half of one soul. Destined to search for each other through their many lives lived upon the earth, neither remembers who they once were. That is until a fateful meeting reunites them as they work to save an innocent child from the years of abuse no one else was able to see.

40. What's Best for Goten

Rose withdrew the disc from her file and crossed the courtroom to the television screen that had been set up. She was nervous. Goku had already expressed his anger several times about the fact that his wife had hurt their son. But now, for the first time ever, he was about to see it for himself. She hoped he just wouldn't watch.

She started the video and walked back across the courtroom to take her seat. She had a clear view of everyone in the courtroom. Goku looked a bit ill. Chichi looked confused and worried. The video flickered to life on the large screen, showing the living room of Chichi's house.

Little Goten walked in, carrying a cup of grape juice. He went to set it on the edge of an end table, but the glass slipped and spilled the dark liquid all over the white carpet. Goten looked terrified, glancing around as though to find a way to cover up his mess.

Chichi walked in and scowled as she saw the pool of juice staining her carpet. "GOTEN!" she screeched, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE NOW?! I WILL NEVER GET THAT STAIN OUT OF THE CARPET!"

Goten cowered, "I'm sorry, momma! I'll clean it up!" She shook her head and disappeared out of shot. The sound of her banging around in another room could be heard and within a few moments, she returned, a long, rounded stick of wood in her hand. "All you ever do is make messes and break things!" she screamed, "I am so sick of cleaning up after you! Can't you do anything right?!"

"Momma, I'm sorry!" Goten bawled, cringing away from her.

Chichi suddenly took on a very calm demeanor. "Lower your energy, Goten."

Goten turned towards the tiny camera that he didn't know was there. Huge tears were streaming down his face as he trembled and lifted the back of his shirt. He closed his eyes and screwed up his little face.

Chichi reared back and swung the switch with all her strength. It cracked across his back with a sound like a bullwhip. Goten cried out but Chichi sneered, "Oh shut up. Don't be such a baby. This is YOUR FAULT! If you weren't such a horrid little monster all the time." She pulled back, preparing to strike again, but the front door burst open and Rose ran in, police officers hot on her heels.

Chichi spun on the spot, the switch falling from her hand as the officers grabbed her, forcing her to the floor.

Rose had grabbed up Goten, hugging him carefully, pressing his face against her shoulder so he wouldn't see his mother in handcuffs. With a grim expression on her face, Rose grabbed the little camera and the screen went dark.

Goku was horrified. He knew what Chichi had been doing and he had been horrified then. But to see her actually doing it... Goku trembled with all of his willpower to stay seated. He was furious. To see it happen, his son ORDERED to lower his power level. It made him sick. He was breathing hard, trying to calm himself. He wanted to cry. To scream. He really, really wanted to hurt Chichi. He looked away as the video showed a close up of the fresh wound. Angry and red, blood starting to seep from it. He closed his eyes tight and reached his hand up to his neck, covering his mating mark, drawing from it Tien's calm. He needed calm or he would lose it. He could feel Vegeta's energy growing, slow boiling anger. He couldn't even bring himself to look at Chichi. He couldn't bear to see what would be on her face. A smirk at her handy work, saying he deserved it? Crying to say that they faked the whole thing and took it out of context? He was so tired of all the lies. He was tired of her. He didn't know if he could control his temper, even with his efforts to stay calm. His will was slipping…

The whole courtroom went silent as Rose turned off the screen and the lights came back up. Sabriena looked like she wanted to strangle Chichi right then and there. Tien had his arm around her shoulders, holding her in place and keeping his own emotions in check. Lindsey pulled Phoenix against her chest and snuggled into Gohan's embrace. Vegeta looked murderous. He clenched his fists over and over, a muscle working in his jaw. He bounced his knee rapidly and Bulma laid her hand gently on his forearm, trying to silently comfort him. This was an outrage. If this had been his home planet, he'd have drug that bitch out into the street by her hair.

But it was Goku who broke the silence.

Goku was on his feet in a second, the sound of the whip still ringing in his ears, his son's face covered in tears. "How could you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper as he looked at Chichi and the fake tears in his eyes welling up. He felt stupid. So fucking STUPID. It had been her the entire time, she had been doing this; he knew that, but seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different matter. It awakened a rage inside him that he never even knew existed. "How long? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BEATING MY SON?!" He barely heard the judge banging his gavel, yelling for order in the court. He started towards Chichi; he wanted ANSWERS, "WHY!?"

Rose ran in front of him, holding her hands up, not protecting Chichi, but she didn't want Goku's outburst to hurt their case. "Goku, stop," she pleaded.

Chichi looked outraged. "THEY STAGED THAT!" she screamed.

Vegeta was on his feet as well, his temper boiling over. Bulma grabbed his arm, trying to tug him back into his seat, but he snatched his arm away from her. "Get your hands off me, woman," he growled. He wanted blood for what he'd witnessed on that screen.

"I will clear this courtroom!" the judge threatened as Goku stepped closer to Chichi, looking murderous.

"Goku, PLEASE," Rose begged softly.

"That WASN'T fucking STAGED. You'll never put another hand on him again!" Goku swallowed hard, his jaw trembling, every muscle in his body tensed. He breathed heavily through his nose, gritting his teeth. That wasn't staged. Tthe hell it was. He felt Rose's hands on him pushing him back. 'Goten. Calm down for Goten,' he told himself. He nodded and turned away from Chichi, shaking his head at Vegeta. Not here. Oh they would have words with her, but not here. He sat down, staring straight ahead, his mind replaying the video over and over and over. His son. How could have not seen it? How many years had his son suffered, looking for help from his father and finding none? He buried his face in his hands, shudders wracking his frame. 'I'm a terrible father.'

Vegeta was shaking. How dare that woman. How DARE she inflict harm on a child. Especially a child with Saiyan blood, one of the last of their kind. He realized Goku had sat back down, hiding his face, trying to calm himself. Vegeta met Chichi's eyes with a dangerous stare. He pressed his lips together and forced himself to sit next to Bulma. He would kill that wretched woman.

Tien sat stiffly in his seat, his every muscle tensed. That was one of the most gut-wrenching things he'd ever witnessed, and that was saying a lot, considering all the things they'd been through in the past year. He wrapped his arm around Sabriena's shoulders as she cried silently into his shirt.

She wanted to go to Goku, to comfort him, calm his temper. She wanted to hack Chichi into pieces and boil her in acid. And all she could do was sit there, completely useless. But above all, her heart was aching for poor Goten. None of them had seen it as soon as they should have. This wasn't just Goku's mistake. It was on all of them.

Goku swallowed his anger, looking back up, over at Rose. Nothing she said could have prepared him for this. His hands flexed. He wanted to hurt that woman over there for what had she done to them all. Twenty years with her and he hadn't even known any better, thinking everything was fine. Then she divorced him. And now this. How had he ever loved her? He'd never been violent towards friends and family, not really, not like this. That video had taken him to a dark place and all he wanted to do was to break her and then go home to his son and make sure no one ever abused him again. Sabriena had been a blessing, his wonderful mate, seeing first what no one else had.

Rose stood in the middle of the courtroom, watching Goku warily, trying to calm her breathing. This wasn't the first time she'd had an outburst from a parent in the courtroom and it wasn't a first for the judge, either.

Chichi was sobbing at the table, whimpering that it was all a misunderstanding, that wasn't her, they set it up.

"Control yourself or I'll hold you in contempt of court," the judge warned and Chichi suddenly went silent. The judge cast a warning glare at Goku for a moment, meeting the dark, angry eyes. The judge didn't shy away, but stared right back for a moment before he turned his attention to the young caseworker again. "Miss Delacour, I've read your report. And I must say, this is the most... unusual... case I have ever seen."

"I'm aware of that, your honor," Rose answered. "It was unusual to me, as well. But after a thorough investigation, I feel strongly about my recommendation. Mr. Son and his family are very different than most. But being different doesn't mean wrong or dangerous. Goten is a very special child and it is my belief that he should be raised by people who understand him and can help him."

The judge looked through the papers before him. "I understand that the foster family he is with is willing to adopt him?"

Rose drew a deep breath, "Yes, they are. But it is our goal to reunite families. Goten cannot go back to live with Mrs. Son, but neither can he live with Mr. Son due to guidelines set by the government. That's why it's my recommendation that custody of Goten be given to Son Gohan, Goten's older brother. Gohan's home is sanitary and safe, I have thoroughly interviewed both him and his wife, and I believe it is the safest place for Goten." She paused to give Goku an apologetic stare. Giving custody to Gohan was the only option they had if Goku wanted to see his son. "Your honor, all the facts of this case have been presented to you in the most cohesive, rational explanation that I could write. I know that the circumstances of this case are extraordinary. The people involved in this case, including the child, are not of this world, yet they obey our laws and have tried to integrate themselves into our society in the most peaceable manner possible. Young Goten is an exceptional boy with exceptional talents and strength. If he is not given the guidance he needs, his health and wellbeing will suffer. He needs to be with someone of his own kind and who better suited than his own brother? A man who has proven to be an intelligent, productive member of our society with a home that is more than suitable for raising Goten. It is my recommendation that Goten be placed in the custody of Son Gohan. I recommend that his father's visitation be at Gohan's discretion, with no call for supervision. I also recommend that his mother's rights be terminated by the court."

Goku felt his heart drop at that. He had been looking forward to having Goten with him at the cabin, building in the barn and they had been talking about plans to add on to the little cabin as well. However, distance was nothing to him and if Gohan was the best choice for Goten, then so be it. They had already discussed it and he knew that this would be the outcome, but it was still a little disappointing. But as long as Chichi never got to see their son again, he would be happy with that. He couldn't even look over at her for fear that he would erupt again. He got a good feeling from the judge, almost like he knew exactly what Goku was feeling, thinking, that he understood the hurt that he was going through. He wiped again at his eyes. Goten, his little boy, who always had a smile on his face, always so adorable. He owed his son a big apology. He didn't know what he was going to do. The marks on Goten's back, the last time he had seen them, they had faded, but there were scars. There would always be those ugly reminders of his inadequacy as a father to recognize what was happening under his nose this entire time.

The judge was quiet for a minute, considering Rose's words. She stood still as a statue before him, silently praying that the judge wouldn't decide to let the foster family adopt Goten. That would kill Goku, absolutely kill him.

"I would have to say that I agree with you, Miss Delacour, in most of your recommendation" the judge finally said.

Rose felt the weight lift off her shoulders.

"Full custody of the child will go to Son Gohan. Father's visitations will be at Gohan's discretion. Mother ordered to take six months of court-approved, documented parenting classes and anger management courses three hours twice a week. Limited supervised visitation once a month after that. I trust you will be overseeing the visits?" he asked Rose and she nodded. "Very well. Court is adjourned." And with that, he turned in his seat and shook his head, looking very tired.

Rose cast a nervous eye at Chichi, who looked absolutely livid, and hurried over to Goku, waiting to see what he had to say.

Goku felt his blood boil at the judge's words and he looked to Rose for an explanation as he stood up, "He's got to be joking. There's no way in hell I am letting her near him ever again." He was happy, beyond happy that Gohan would be taking care of his little brother, he knew that he and Lindsey would raise him properly and of course, he'd be able to visit whenever he could. But the fact that Chichi would still be allowed to see Goten absolutely made his blood boil. Gods, all he wanted to do now was to go out in the main part of the courthouse and hold his son until time stopped. "Explain this, Rose," he demanded through clenched teeth. "Explain this now."

"She won't be able to see him until after she's done the six months of classes," Rose said quietly. "And then after that, it will just be for a couple hours once a month. SUPERVISED. I'll be there with Goten the whole time. I'll make sure they assign me to it, okay? He's safe now. He can go home with Gohan today." She was desperate to calm his temper. He'd sort of scared her when he'd jumped up like that, looking ready to kill his ex-wife. She leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "Besides. She still has the child abuse charge pending against her. We don't know what's going to happen with that yet, either. We might get lucky and she could have all of her rights taken away."

Goku breathed deeply and exhaled, nodding. He finally felt a huge weight lifted from his chest. His son was finally safe. Never again would he have to worry about his wellbeing. He closed his eyes feeling more tears of sheer happiness well up. He gave Rose his first smile of the day, drawing her into his arms and leaning down to her ear, "Thank you for everything you've done for him. And me. It wouldn't have been possible without you. I owe you everything. Thank you, Rose." He pulled back and kissed her forehead, then leaned back and smiled down at her for a moment. He glanced over his shoulder at his mates, before he looked back at her, "I'd like to go see my son now." He looked back at everyone in the courtroom, Vegeta still looked like he was about to kill something, the vein in his forehead prominent, Bulma had tears in her eyes, as did Lindsey and Sabriena.

He looked back at Rose, "Come on. We're having a party and you are coming with us."

Rose blinked at him. "I... I am?" she asked as he pulled her along with him.

Sabriena rushed forward and threw herself against Goku's chest, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so happy Goten's going to be okay," she whispered. "Gohan promised he'd bring him out all the time. We won, baby."

Tien didn't feel like he could manage a smile, but he threw an arm around Goku's shoulders and gave him a quick squeeze. "You okay?" he asked quietly.

Goku swallowed hard, letting go of Rose and wrapping his arms around Sabriena and Tien to press kisses to their faces. "No. No, I'm not okay, but I'll make it. I just want to see Goten." He looked over at Gohan and Lindsey with Phoenix and went to them. He hugged them close, "Thank you for taking care of your brother," he murmured. He kissed them both and little Phoenix on the cheek, sighing happily. "Let's go get Goten." He forced his feet to move; he could see Chichi's grating her teeth as if she was about to shout at them and he just wanted out of there. Pushing out of the courtroom doors, he immediately looked for Goten, a smile, a real smile breaking out over his face, "Goten! We won!"

"DADDY!" Goten cried and ran forward, jumping into his dad's arms. "Does this mean I get to come live with you?"

Sabriena cringed. She placed a hand on Goku's back, trying to comfort him. They'd talked about bringing Goten out to live with them, Tien had agreed to adding onto the cabin, but in the end, Rose had felt that the judge was more likely to agree to let Goten go to Gohan. But still, Sabriena knew Goku had his hopes up that maybe, just maybe, Goten could come live with them. She had to admit, she'd hoped for it too.

Goku didn't let his disappointment show and he smiled at his son, cradling him in his arms, "Actually, you're going to go live with your brother, you can have your own room and I can come visit you at any time. And I'm sure Sabriena and Tien will let you come over and spend the night any time you like. What do you say to that?" He pressed a kiss to Goten's cheek, nuzzling his nose into his hair, he smiled and said quietly, "She won't hurt you ever again. I'm so sorry I didn't see it before."

"Staying with Gohan sounds like fun!" Goten grinned. He hugged his dad's neck. "Don't be sorry, Daddy. I love you." He pressed his face against his dad's neck, swallowing hard. All he'd wanted for these long months was to be with his dad. Bad things didn't happen when his dad was around. His mom didn't hurt him when he was with his dad. But the time away from his mother made him feel a little braver and he whispered in his dad's ear, "I don't want to go home with Momma anymore."

Goku felt his heart go out to his son and he wrapped both arms around him, closing his eyes as he held his son tightly, ignoring the tears that gathered at the corners of his eyes. "You'll never have to go home with her ever again, Goten. Never again." He looked around at his friends and family that had come with him that day for support and other options for Goten to live with had Gohan's home been denied. He saw Chichi coming out of the court room and he turned towards the exit, "Let's go guys." He smiled at Goten, "There's a party for you back at Capsule Corp, sound like fun?"

"Yeah!" he cried happily and leaned his head on his dad's shoulder as they stepped out into the afternoon sunlight. Despite their somewhat-victory, everyone was rather quiet as they left the courthouse. Even though they knew Goten was safe now, it had been at what cost? What horror had that little boy endured over the years?

Rose felt a little uncomfortable walking with them. She felt as though they were disappointed in her and she stared quietly at the ground as they walked out onto the sidewalk.

"YOU RIGGED THAT VIDEO! YOU STAGED THE WHOLE THING!" Chichi accused, pointing a finger at Rose as she stormed down the courthouse steps. The street was strangely empty, save for Goku and his friends.

Rose spun around, blinking in shock as the shorter woman marched towards her. "Me?" she asked in disbelief.

"YES, YOU! You set me up!" Chichi marched right up to Rose, glowering up at her, her hands on her hips. She pointed a finger in the younger woman's face as everyone else stood frozen to the spot, staring. "You're in on it with that good-for-nothing ex of mine! You helped him take my baby from me!"

Goku turned around tightening his hold on Goten, glaring at her, "Chichi, you are NOT fooling anyone. That wasn't staged. How? How COULD YOU DO THAT to our son?!" He suddenly saw that Chichi wasn't really in the mood for talking, the way she walked, the stance. He knew that one too well. "Chichi, STOP IT. You have only yourself to blame!" He turned and handed Goten to Gohan, "Go on to Capsule Corp, I'll be right behind you." He ruffled Goten's hair a moment before he turned back around, hurrying over to Rose.

Gohan put one arm around Lindsey, holding Goten with the other. "Hurry," he said, walking quickly away. It looked like things were finally about to get ugly between his parents and he didn't want Goten to see it. They quickly rounded the corner and disappeared down the block, heading for Capsule Corp.

Rose backed up, her hands held up in front of her. "Mrs. Son, I was just trying to do my job," she said as calmly as she could.

"Your job of stealing children away from loving parents?!" Chichi shrieked. "I am so sick of people like you, coming in and tearing my family apart, taking my son from me! I have done nothing but be a loving mother! Do you have any idea how hard it is being a single mother?! Just because I tried to give my son a little bit of discipline..."

"DISCIPLINE?!" Rose suddenly shouted, her voice surprisingly strong. She looked madder than any of them had ever seen her. "YOU CALL THAT DISCIPLINE?! You did nothing but torture that boy! For how many years, Mrs. Son? How many years did he suffer under your hand?!" Rose gave Chichi a scathing look. "You dare call yourself a mother."

"I AM A WONDERFUL MOTHER!" Chichi screamed. "I think it's about time someone taught you a lesson about breaking up families!" Without warning, she jumped in the air and spun, swinging her fist with as much force as she could muster. It was easy to forget that Chichi had once been a fighter herself, with the way she had constantly nagged Goku about it over the years. With surprising speed and agility, Chichi slammed her fist into Rose's face with a sickening crunch.

Rose felt her head snap backwards, a searing pain in her right eye. Her glasses snapped and she was knocked backwards onto the cement. She fell back hard against the pavement with a cry.

" BITCH," Chichi spat. She pulled her fist back again, preparing to strike once more.

Goku was standing between her and Rose the next second, seething with anger. "BACK OFF." glared at Chichi, his eyes cold and calculating. It was almost scary that he could be that way. "No, Chichi." His voice was cold and bitter, "You are not a wonderful mother. You are horrible. It pains me to say it, but you are a terrible, horrible mother. No child should be beaten like that by their parents. Least of all their mothers. How dare you do that to Goten? How dare you touch Rose after all she's done to protect him? You brought this on yourself and you know it. Stop lying to yourself and to me."

He turned and leaned down, helping Rose to her feet. He picked up her broken glasses and placed them in her hands as he turned back around, keeping himself between his ex and her. "You make me SICK, Chichi. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO GOTEN? You want the reason why our family is broken up, you have only to look in a mirror. How DARE you call my son a monster?! You're the monster. You ever put another finger on him again, I'll kill you. You touch or threaten Rose again, you will regret it." He looked like he wanted to say more, but he just shook his head.

Chichi narrowed her eyes, her voice dangerously low. "If this family meant as much to you as you claim it does, how come you never noticed? Oh, that's right. You were far too busy training to be concerned about the health and wellbeing of your family. Don't pretend like we ever meant anything to you, Goku, because you know it's a lie. Otherwise, you would have been home and you would've noticed."

Sabriena's jaw dropped at Chichi's words and she started forward, her hair flashing to a brilliant golden light. "I'll kill her," she snarled.

Tien wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her back. "Not here," he growled in her ear, casting a nervous glance up at Goku as their wife struggled to free herself.

Goku glowered at her, the wind picking up around him as he struggled to contain his own energy. "No, I wasn't there. You never gave me a reason to be home. That does NOT excuse ANYTHING THAT YOU DID TO OUR SON! I SHOULDNT HAVE HAD TO BE HOME TO PROTECT MY SON FROM HIS MOTHER." Goku turned away from her and wrapped a protective arm around Rose, speaking over his shoulder, "Stay away from MY family and MY friends, Chichi. I promise you, you will regret it if you dare hurt any one of them again." He turned back swallowing hard as he walked past Vegeta and Bulma, looking at Tien and Sabriena. She looked beautiful, powered up and deadly, "Let's go." He couldn't even say goodbye because it wasn't good and he said bye a long, long time ago.

Sabriena glared daggers at Chichi, who looked like she wanted to scream or attack but was thinking better of it. "You're lucky!" Sabriena spat. "If I ever get the chance, I will kill you for what you did to that little boy! And for what you put my husband through! You hear me?!"

Tien pulled at her, trying to get her to walk with them. "Dammit, Sabriena," he growled and finally hauled her over his shoulder and fell into step next to Goku.

Rose was whimpering, one hand over her eye. She pulled her hand back and her lip trembled as she saw blood on her fingers. She pressed her hand back to her face again, trying to take comfort in the feel of Goku's strong arm around her shoulders.

Chichi glared after them. "Good move, Tien! I wouldn't want to hurt your little slut, too!" she called. "YEAH! KEEP WALKING, YOU COWARDS!"

Sabriena struggled harder against Tien's shoulder, determined to get at Chichi.

"Bunch of freaks!" Chichi taunted.

Tien paused and looked over his shoulder. Gods, he hated that woman. He looked at Goku, cocking an eyebrow. "Want me to turn her loose?"

Goku shook his head. "No. Chichi isn't worth it."

"Goku! Don't you walk away from me!" Chichi shrieked.

Goku ignored her, his arm around Rose, one hand over her right eye, the other clutching her broken glasses.

"HEY, MISTER! I SAID STOP!" She raised her fist once again and lunged at him, only to find her fist in a crushing grip.

Vegeta had caught her hand as she rushed by him. "Perhaps Kakarot has the restraint not to hurt you, but I don't," he said in a dangerously low voice. He pressed back with his hand, her wrist bending backwards and she gasped in pain. "For too many years have I listened to your incessant screeching. Your bitching about everything on the face of this wretched planet." He was still bending her wrist back as she clawed at his hand, her knees buckling. Vegeta's voice grew steadily louder as he spoke, "For more than twenty years you denied your mate the most basic of needs. You forced your opinions and your will on your oldest son to the point of nearly destroying his eyes. And now, of all things, you force your youngest son to lower his power level, his one defense against you, so that you could LASH HIM?!"

Chichi was on the ground, whimpering against the pain in her wrist, genuine tears leaking from her dark eyes as Vegeta leaned in dangerously close to her.

"How dare you leave a mark upon Saiyan flesh? How dare you abuse one of the last of my kind?! That kind of offense is punishable by death! And nothing would give me greater pleasure right now."

Goku turned and looked over his shoulder, his voice even, still calm as he spoke. There was some amount of pleasure coursing through him. Vegeta could always speak what he dared not. "Vegeta. Don't give her the honor." He turned back and started walking again.

"Vegeta," Bulma said softly, touching his arm. "We're going to be late for the party. That suit was expensive. I don't want to have to take it to the cleaners to get blood out of it." Bulma didn't look at Chichi, nor did she even acknowledge her.

Vegeta was seething. "You ever touch one of us again, and I will have your head for it," he growled, his voice lower than they'd ever heard it, a controlled, primal sound like a predator ready to pounce.

Bulma shivered as she tugged at her husband again. He finally released Chichi and followed the others, none of them looking back as they left.

Goku smiled at Sabriena, his arm still around Rose, holding her close as they walked. Her wound was still bleeding. It just made his blood boil even more; Chichi did deserve worse. The only thing that gave him solace was the fact that Chichi wouldn't be able to see his son for at least six months, maybe even more. The homes were blessed and anyone who meant harm would not be able to enter. He let out a shaky sigh, "Thanks guys, for everything." He smiled at them, looking ahead to Capsule Corp, looking forward to being able to be with his son.

Rose stepped a little closer to Goku as they walked, still shaking from Chichi's attack. She'd never been hit like that before in her life. It stung and ached, it felt like that half of her face was on fire.

"You okay, Rose?" Sabriena asked.

"Yeah," Rose answered, but she didn't sound convincing at all.

Sabriena skipped ahead of them, then turned to walk backwards in front of Rose. "Dammmmn, she clocked you good," she gasped. "You took it like a champ. You're one tough bitch." She winked.

Rose let out a nervous giggle. "You think?"

"Sure," Sabriena said, grinning at Goku, "just hang around us a little bit and you'll be the one dishing out ass-kickings."

"I don't know about that," Rose answered quietly as they finally reached Capsule Corp.

Goku chuckled, "Yeah, I think we'll have to teach you a few things. If you hang out with us, you'll have to know how to take care of yourself." He smiled down at her, "I'm sorry she hurt you. We will find Dende, he can patch you up right as rain." He looked up at Sabriena and smiled at her. She was beautiful, smiling and uppity, like her old self. But something was different about her. She cared for and loved Goten as if he was her own. Goku loved it. He couldn't wait to arrange the first day Goten would be able to spend the night over with them at the cabin, with his new mother.