A/N: Well, now, here we are again. True to my promise, I've got a sadistic Gohan-free chapter ready for you guys… it's on a happier note than many of my chapters have been, and there are going to be many more happy chapters after it, maybe even without things like death and tears in them!

I do not own DBZ.

A New Home

"Mommy! Goten pulled my hair!"

"I was just playing! I wasn't trying to hurt you, you're just a baby!"

"Mommy! Goten called me a baby!"

Bulma put a shaking hand to her forehead. She needed to be out there… those two required almost constant supervision, but she also knew she had to finish this before it was too late. Goten and Pel would have already been exposed to the deadly heart virus she now carried… she had to find an antidote, and fast. She couldn't bear for her children to die the same way Goku and Chichi had… the way she was going to…

Bulma had purposely not let on to the kids that she was sick. She had wanted them to be happy, and they were almost at their destination. Bulma hoped against hope that this planet Namek was peaceful… they had come across so many dangerous planets in their travels. They had nearly been killed at one planet… Goten's tail had given the people there the impression that they were a part of Frieza's army. Something about Saiyan children being sent to planets to kill the residents… just like Goku had been, Bulma remembered. After that encounter she had cut off Goten's tail.

But Kami had been peaceful, and even though his counterpart Piccollo hadn't, she hoped that he was the exception to the rule. Peaceful or not, Namek was where they were going; she could take them no further.

She was so close to finding the antidote she could feel it. She was tired, so tired, but she couldn't stop, not if she wanted her children to be safe. Not long ago she had found a mix that would stave off the effects of the disease for short periods of time. Ever since that day she had practically locked herself in the tiny room off side of the ship, working like mad to find a permanent solution. Occasionally she would come out to check on Goten and Pel, and make them something to eat, but they found themselves more and more dependent on themselves for entertainment, which explained the ruckus going on in the other room.

"Goten, stop it! Mommy said you can't touch the buttons!"

Buttons? Quickly, Bulma opened the door and stormed into the room, just as she felt the ship lurch beneath her. Barely holding herself up, she made her way to the navigational console, where Goten and Pel were cowering guiltily. Punching in the adjustments that would right the ship, Bulma turned to glower at the two children when the navigation readings sunk in. "We're here," she said in surprise, glancing back at the readings. They had finally made it to Namek. "In the force field," she said to Goten and Pel, who both frowned.

"Do we have to?" Goten asked plaintively, but Bulma merely nodded. Dejectedly, the two kids made their way to the spot where their crib used to be, where their bed was now. They both sat down, and Bulma activated the force field and entered the coordinates for what she hoped would be a smooth landing. She sat down in the chair in the center of the room, smiling at the two frowning children.

"Hey, kids, cheer up! We're about to land on Namek, and after that, no more space travel!" she said optimistically, hoping her words would cheer her up, too. Over the years she had tried so hard to always look at the bright side, to be optimistic like Goku had been. Children needed that, she knew, and always tried to hide her own pain so the children would feel safe. And it had worked... now the kids had resorted to playing a game of rock-paper-scissors while they waited for the ship to land. Bulma was reminded of two little boys who used to play the same game…

As the ship began to land, Bulma felt herself start to slip. No… she needed more time. She couldn't go out this way… she had to be sure Goten and Pel would never get the virus. Despite her most fervent wishes, however, the edges of her vision began to go black, and time began to lose its focus. Her children were yelling at her… what were they saying? They wanted out… had they landed? She looked at the view port and could see light and blue trees… they were here…

Bulma struggled to stand, but ended up on the floor. She had to get that force field down…her kids would starve to death if they couldn't get out, she knew. Pushing herself harder than ever before, Bulma made her way to the navigational console and, with a shaky hand, pressed the button that would shut down the force field.

In no time tiny hands were all over her, on her face, and her children wanted to know if she was okay. She had to stay conscious, just a little while longer, she promised herself. Her eyes refused to focus, and so she talked to her blurry kids with slurred speech.

"Find… help," she got out, and soon the kids were gone. She had to stay awake… she had to get to the lab…

Goten and Pel ran out of the ship. "Where do we go?" Pel asked breathily. Goten shrugged.

"Let's just go straight. We'll find someone somewhere… but we gotta hurry," Goten said, and the two took off, running as fast as they possibly could.

It wasn't long before they found a small village. When they got there, they cried out to anyone who could hear, not bothering to check first if the aliens were dangerous. They only knew they needed to get help, and fast.

"Help! Help us!" Pel cried out, and soon green men with antennae came out of the small huts, watching them curiously. "Please help us, our mom is sick!" she said plaintively.

One young man came to them. "Show me where she is," he said softly to the two children.

Goten nodded at Pel, and the two of them began to run again. The young green man followed them, until they reached the ship. "Stay here," the man said, and Goten and Pel obeyed without question. They didn't like seeing their mom sick…

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Pel asked Goten.

Goten stuck out his lip. "I hope so. Don't worry, Pel… it will work out. You'll see," he said, until his sister seemed to be consoled.

Dende looked around. He could sense someone, very faintly, in the small room to the side of the ship. He had been amazed to find that this was one of the old Namekian ships, though it had been changed on the inside of it. When he found the woman, she was on the floor, reaching for something. She was definitely sick…her face was sweating, and her every movement was slow and sluggish. Wasting no time, Dende reached out his hands and tried to heal the woman. He was shocked to find out that he could not.

Bulma was vaguely aware that someone was there. "Please," she said, pointing to the syringe on the floor. Whoever was there took the hint and soon it was in her hand. Doing her best to keep her hand steady, she aimed the needle for the vein in her arm, but lacked the strength to put it in. It fell to the floor beside her arm.

Dende watched this with fascination, but knew he had to act quickly. The woman was trying to put that needle into her arm! As barbaric as it sounded, though, Dende could tell the woman was acting out of survival. Carefully he picked up the needle, and the woman looked up to him. She held out her arm, and pointed to a blue vein he could see through her pale skin. "Insert the needle in the vein," she said slowly, slurring some of the words. "Then push the top of the syringe until all but a little liquid is in the vein," she said, hoping that had come out right. She didn't want him to accidentally kill her.

Dende nodded, then did as he was told. It was a little jarring sticking the needle into her, but not long after he was finished, her energy started to improve. She smiled up at him.

"Hi, my name is Bulma," she said, shakily. "I hope you don't mind our arrival… we've been looking for your planet for a long time."

Dende smiled. "I'm Dende. You are welcome here. If you don't mind my asking, how do you have an old Namekian ship?"

"Kami," she said, resting her head against the wall. "We're from a planet called Earth. We had a Guardian… his name was Kami. He was from here. This was his ship," she said, looking around at the mess the lab was in. "Our planet has been destroyed. We're… the last…"

Dende nodded, understanding. "You can stay here as long as you need. I… I tried to heal you, but I couldn't. Do you know what's wrong with you?" he asked. He could still sense the sickness within her… the medicine in the needle was only a temporary fix.

Bulma nodded. "It's a heart virus. Two of my friends died of it… the little boy, his parents. Now I have it… I'm trying to find a cure, so that Goten and Pel won't get it… but I have so little time left…" Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Oh, no, I've infected you!" she said in alarm.

Dende closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Whatever you're sick with, I don't have it," he said. "I would be able to tell," he explained at her confused look.

Bulma smiled, relieved. "The kids… are they okay?" she asked.

Dende nodded. "They're outside. They were hitting each other's hands last time I checked…" he said, a little confused at that last.

"Rock-paper-scissors," Bulma explained, getting up. "It's a game, don't worry. They're fine if they're playing games." Suddenly, pain lanced through Bulma's chest, and she gasped. "I don't have much time. I have to find the antidote… at least a vaccine…" She turned back to Dende. "I can't take care of them while I work. I know this is a lot to ask, but… I need someone to take care of them, while I try to find the antidote, and… afterward…"

"Of course," Dende said, smiling. "They'll be safe with us." Suddenly it dawned on Dende. "You don't think you'll be able to cure yourself?" he asked.

Bulma smiled sadly. "The medicine I've been using to hold off the effects of the virus have raised my resistance to the chemicals that would work," she said, then nearly laughed at Dende's confused look. "Because of the medicine I'm taking now, I won't be able to take the medicine that would cure it. My body is too used to the chemicals in the medicine," she explained. "I just have to finish it, so that I can give the cure to my children, and everyone here who gets infected." She looked Dende over. "You'd better let me take some of your DNA… just in case you do have it, or get infected later, and I can make an antidote for you, too."

Dende had no clue what DNA was, but when Bulma pulled out another needle, this time an empty one, he understood. "You want some of my blood," he said. Bulma nodded, and he rolled up his sleeve. He felt a little pinch as the needle went in, but then in was over, and his blood was inside the needle. His skin regenerated over the hole instantly, and Bulma was amazed. She was about to say something when she got another pain in her chest.

"I have to hurry," she said, and cocked her head at Dende. "Thank you so much for helping us. I don't want my kids to be around me like this… is there some way I can contact you if I find the antidote?" she asked.

"Just call, and we can hear you from here," Dende said. Bulma raised an eyebrow at this, and was about to respond, when the two kids came barreling into the room.

"Mommy, Mommy, are you okay?" they were asking. Bulma smiled down at the two of them as they held her legs. She bent down to eye level with the two.

"I'm okay, guys. Don't worry. But… I'm afraid I'm going to have to say goodbye to you," she said, as softly as she could.

Confusion filled the kids' faces, and she knew they wouldn't understand. "I'm sick, kids, and I can't be your Mommy anymore," she said, knowing she had to make them understand. "You're going to go live with Dende and his people for a while," she said. "You have to be good, and listen to them the same way you listen to me, do you understand?" she asked.

Pel cocked her head. "Are you going to get better?" she asked.

Bulma grimaced. "No, sweetie… I'm afraid not. Listen, you two are going to be okay. Dende's really nice, and he said that he and the other Nameks would take good care of you. I also want you to take care of each other," she said. She looked into Pel's eyes, smoothing out her purple hair. "Pel, I want you to be nice to Goten. He's your family now… take good care of him, and try to keep him out of trouble," she said, smiling. She turned to Goten, and ruffled his hair. "Goten, before your real mother died, she made some final requests. She wanted me to name you Goten, after your father, Goku. I don't know if I've ever told you this, but your father was a great fighter. Your mother wanted you to learn how to fight like he did, so that you could keep yourself and those you care about safe. I want you to keep Pel safe, too… protect her with everything you have. Okay?" Goten nodded, tears in his eyes. Bulma held one of each of their hands in her own, holding them together. "Your mother also wanted you two to stay together, and so do I. You two are the last of our race, the last humans alive. When you get older… you'll understand. Let me just say that, it's important that you two keep each other in your hearts, wherever you go… take each other with you. Keep each other close, and one day… maybe… the future of our race will come from the two of you."

With that, she gave a look to Dende, who took the two kids out of the room. When he came back, she was at the table working again. Before he turned to leave, however, Bulma looked up, remembering something important. "Dende… I've gone over the computer records often on our journey, and there are some major differences between my people and yours. For one thing, the kids will need food to survive… they can't live off of water, which it seems your people can. Am I right?" Dende nodded. "Also, your race only has one… um… gender. You reproduce by laying eggs, right?" Dende blushed a little, but nodded. "Humans have two genders… male and female. Goten is a male, and Pel is a female. When they're older… well, we'll just trust that instinct will take care of that part. But make sure they don't do anything with each other until they're at least 18… it's not good for Pel," she said, suddenly dreading this conversation. She knew she had to tell Dende these things, though, or there would be trouble in the future. "I've raised Goten and Pel so far as brother and sister, and I'm sure they will feel that way here, being the last two of their kind. But… they are not brother and sister, and it's important for them to know that before… well, before they get old enough to care. Do you understand any of this?"

Dende nodded, smiling. "We've met species of more than one gender before," he said, and now it was Bulma's turn to blush. "Don't worry… we'll take good care of them. And I know someone who can teach Goten to fight… he's been looking for a new student. They'll grow up happy here… don't worry."

Bulma smiled, relieved. "I won't. I know they're in good hands. Now, I've got to work on this antidote…" she said, and Dende took that as his cue to leave.

Goten and Pel were outside, both crying softly. Dende smiled down at them. "Come on, I'll bet you two are hungry," he said, and Goten smiled up at him through his tears. Pel sniffed and smiled as well, and the two children followed Dende into the village, off to start their new lives on Namek.

A/N: There, those who hated me because of the last chapter can rest assured that there will definitely be a love interest in the story, if not for Gohan, then at least for his little brother. Read and review!