Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters.

Homecoming

The hospital vanished around them and they arrived at the first of several destinations that Gohan knew he needed to visit. They were on a circular platform with a stone floor. Ornate pillars were spaced evenly around them and a low railing guarded the edge. Beyond that, all that was visible was clear, blue sky and puffy clouds. A frigid breeze blew past them, biting at any the exposed skin.

"Gohan…" Videl said, dragging out his name questioningly. "Where are we?"

"Korin's Tower," he said, looking somewhat out of place lying on the hard, gray floor in his bright blue hospital gown.

"And how did we get here, exactly?"

"Instant Transmission."

"Right...Instant Transmission. Of course."

Gohan chuckled weakly as Videl looked around with a look of utter shock on her face. He had told her about Instant Transmission when he told her about the Cell Games, but hearing was not the same as experiencing it firsthand.

"Well isn't this a surprise?" a gravelly voice said. Gohan turned his head and smiled.

"Korin."

"Gohan," the old cat said jovially. Appraising eyes looked over his body. "It looks like you've seen better days."

"That I have," he agreed. "Do you think you could help me out with a senzu bean?"

"Sure thing kid, but aren't you going to introduce me to your friend there?" Korin said, gesturing with his staff to where Videl sat gaping at him.

"Y-You're a cat," she stated the obvious.

"Correct," he said with a nod.

"And you can…talk."

"Correct again. The name's Korin. It's a pleasure to meet you…."

"Videl. My name's Videl," she said, still trying to come to grips with the fact that she was having a conversation with a cat.

"Videl. Excellent." He waddled away and jumped inside a large clay pot a few feet away. When he came back out, he was holding a small, brown leather pouch. "Here you go, kid," he said and handed Gohan the miracle bean he had requested.

"Thanks," he said, popping it in his mouth. Right away, he felt the pain in his chest vanish and the familiar feeling of exhilaration surge through his body. He jumped up, letting go of Videl's hand in the process. He heard her give a slight gasp as he bent and did a few stretches, enjoying his return to mobility.

"Gohan, what is going on?" Videl demanded. "How are you doing that? And what was the thing you ate?"

"That," he said, "was a senzu bean."

"A senzu bean?"

"It can heal any physical injury instantly," he explained, happy that after all this time, he could finally be completely honest with her.

"That's incredible," she said. "With those, I could have…" she trailed off and looked down darkly. With those she could have saved her mom, Gohan knew she was thinking. He reached out and grabbed her hand. It wasn't much, but he wanted to let her know that he was there, that she wasn't alone. When she looked up again, the sullen look on her face had all but vanished. She flashed him a thankful smile.

"Shall we go?" he said, putting his fingers back to his forehead.

"Ahem," Korin interjected. Gohan felt bad; he had completely forgotten about the cat who had just given him one of his precious senzu beans. He started to apologize, but Korin cut him off. "Not to rain on you two lovebirds' parade or anything, but don't you think you should change your clothes first?"

Gohan blinked. The next second, his face flushed deep crimson, both at Korin addressing them as "lovebirds" as well as the fact that he now realized he was still wearing his hospital gown. The flimsy garment was completely open in the back. Unlike Goten, he had not inherited his father's complete lack of modesty. Luckily, the problem was easily fixed. Letting go of Videl's hand, he pressed both his hands together. Thank you, Piccolo, he thought to himself as he used the technique the Namekian had taught him to materialize a purple gi in the style of his master to replace his indecent attire.

Videl's eyes bulged slightly. "How did you…" She shook her head. "Nevermind. Let's just go to…wherever it is we're going."

"Right," he said, taking hold of her hand again. "Bye Korin! Thanks for the senzu bean." Korin raised a paw in farewell and they were off to their next destination.

The familiar sound of power drills and welding torches surrounded them. Capsule Corp's Research and Development division. How many hours had he spent in this very room, losing himself in the pleasant monotony as he built the latest invention concocted by the blue-haired genius in front of them? Now, the very same woman sat on a cluttered work bench, mask covering her face as she welded a piece of metal onto the oddly shaped object in front of her. He waited for her to finish the joint before he reached over and tapped on her shoulder. Bulma jolted up and lifted her mask.

"Gohan! Videl! What brings you here?"

"I need the remote."

Bulma's shoulders stiffened. Her eyes flickered from his face to his and Videl's clasped hands and back. A knowing smile spread across her lips. "Well what are you doing standing there? Let's go get it, shall we?" she said, abandoning her torch and mask on the bench as she led the way. Gohan and Videl followed, no longer hand in hand, but still closer to each other than would be considered normal. The three of them made there way deep into Capsule Corp and through the Brief's private living quarters to Bulma's safe.

"You know, you didn't have to ask me to get it for you," Bulma said as she placed her hand in a recess in the safe that shielded the keypad from view and punched in the twenty digit code he had learned by heart. She leaned down and placed her eye in front of the retinal scanner.

"I know, but I thought you'd want to do the honors," he told his godmother who had always been there for him.

Bulma withdrew from the retinal scanner and looked at him. He thought he could see a tear in those no longer so youthful eyes. "You're a good kid, Gohan." He looked back at her softly, but said nothing. Nothing else needed to be said.

Turning back to the safe, Bulma grabbed the large metal handle on the front of the safe a half turn clockwise and a full turn counterclockwise. The lock released with a solid clunk. Gohan watched, feeling a sense of import as the heavy metal door swung open. Bulma grabbed the remote from within the safe. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Videl interrupted before he could respond. "Gohan, what's going on? What does that remote do?"

He looked at her. She had her hands on her hips boldly on her hips in a posture that said she wouldn't take no for an answer. He grinned. "I'm sure you've wondered why I said I was no stronger than you." She nodded. "I asked Bulma to build a device that would suppress my ki and prevent me from using my full strength

"Which was not an easy task, I might add," Bulma interjected enthusiastically. Videl chuckled at her feigned dramatics.

"Anyway," Gohan finished, "That remote controls the device inside me suppressing my ki."

"But I don't get it," Videl said, "Why did you put that thing in you? Why would you want to make yourself weaker?" Her question caused a twinge of pain in his heart. He glanced downward. The lighthearted smile he had been wearing for some time disappeared as he was reminded of the years he had spent lost in the guilt of his failure.

"The nightmares," he said gravely. "I wanted the nightmares to stop, so I ran away. From everything."

"Gohan, I'm sorry, I—"

"It's alright," he said, raising his gaze to look her in the eyes. "I'm not going to run away anymore." He turned towards where Bulma stood ready with the remote. His hands were trembling ever so slightly, but whether it was from excitement or fear he didn't know. This was it. "Do it."

"Alright. Videl, you may want to take a step back from Gohan, just in case." She flipped a switch on the remote and several LED lights began flashing as it powered up. Her finger hovered over the remote, ready to press the button. She glanced at Gohan one more time, eyes asking for confirmation. He nodded. "Here goes!" she shouted and lowered her finger.

Nothing happened. Was something wrong? He did a few hops, but he didn't feel different at all.

"Did it work?" Videl asked.

"I don't think so. I don't feel any—" Like a geyser had opened up somewhere inside him, power surged through his body. After an entire year of relying on Bulma's invention to control his power, he was overwhelmed by its intensity. Wind whipped up around him as he struggled to contain the rushing energy inside swirling inside him. A heavy gust knocked Bulma and Videl from their feet. Gohan's eyes locked onto Videl. This had to stop. Recalling all this training with Piccolo, he forced back the rising tide of energy and firmly dammed its flow. The gale force winds gradually died off, leaving him standing in the middle of the wreckage.

He rushed to Videl's side. "Are you okay?" She took his proffered hand and he lifted her to her feet.

"You're so strong I…I can't believe it."

The awe in her voice made Gohan feel uneasy. She sounded so distant"Is that okay?" Gohan asked.

"What? Of course it is, it's just…" she paused and Gohan's heart paused as well. "I have such much further to go," she finished. Gohan released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. That was Videl for you. Put the most powerful being on the planet in front of her and all she cared about was somehow getting stronger.

"I'm fine, just in case you were wondering," Bulma huffed as she got up off the ground. There was an awkward silence. Videl began to giggle, followed by Bulma, and soon all three were laughing boisterously together. They laughed until their eyes brimmed with tears and their sides split for lack of oxygen.

When their tears had dried and their lungs recovered, it was time to say their goodbyes. Gohan hurriedly cleaned up the room with his inhuman speed. He was sure that that spike in his ki would soon draw Vegeta looking for a spar, and he didn't want to deal with him just yet. When he was done, he embraced his old friend.

"Thank you, for everything," he said.

"You're welcome," she said, patting him on the back. The little boy she had known all those years ago had grown up, in more ways than one. He was a man now. As Gohan made his way back to Videl's side, she said, "You know, we really should take out the ki suppressor entirely."

"I know, but…" He looked at Videl and back at Bulma. She nodded understandingly. He had more important things to do.

"Go," she told him.

He smiled. "Thanks," he told her again. Bulma watched as he grabbed Videl's hand and the two disappeared.

In the silence that remained, Bulma looked upwards and whispered a prayer to whatever god may be listening. "Thank you." Two simple words, but she meant them with all her heart.

Gohan stood before the door of his house near Mt. Paozu with Videl just a step behind him. The sun was just beginning to set, bathing the frame in twilight. Even though it was his own house, he felt compelled to knock. As he lifted his hand, however, his body froze. It had been over a year since he last stood in this spot, a year since he had abandoned his family and left them to fend for themselves. He found himself doubting, questioning…would they take him back?

The sensation of Videl's hand on his shoulder brought him back from his cycle of worry. He looked back at the girl who had come to mean so much to him. Even though he had offered to take her home, she had stayed with him. She was right there by his side, silently encouraging him. He would not let her down. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. The sound of pots and pans clanging together was followed by footsteps. His breath stopped as they grew closer. The door swung inward with a whine to reveal his mother in the doorway. For what seemed like an eternity, she stared at him without uttering a word. Finally, she opened her mouth.

"Gohan?" she whispered.

"Hi Mom," he said cautiously.

"Gohan!" His mother threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "You're home. I can't believe you're home." Her voice began to hitch upwards as tears rolled down her cheeks. Without letting go, she looked up at him, joy mixing with a trace of uncertainty. "You are home, right?"

"I'm never leaving again," he said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. With his mother in his arms, his clenched muscles began to relax. He could feel wetness in his eyes. He felt like a little boy crying as he came home to his mommy, but he didn't care. Cry and cry he did, both tears of sadness and tears of joy.

Eventually, when both had cried their fill, his mother finally took notice of Videl. "And you must be Videl. I've heard a lot about you." To Gohan's horror, her voice was stern and disapproving. Chi-chi stepped around Gohan and advanced slowly towards Videl. "And don't you think for a second that I'm going to let my son be corrupted by some city hussy with a bad attitude!" With each step his mother jabbed an accusative finger towards Videl's chest while Videl stared wide eyed as she insulted her. Finally, Videl had had enough.

"What are you talking about lady?! I'm not a—" Suddenly, Chi-Chi grabbed both of Videl's hands enveloped them in her own.

"So make sure you get him first, okay?" She said with motherly affection in her eyes. She pulled Videl into her arms. "Thank you for bringing my son back," she said so quietly it was almost a whisper. Videl, not knowing what to say, returned the embrace awkwardly.

"Alright," Chi-chi said, letting go of Videl and rushing back to her unattended kitchen. "Time for dinner. Gohan, be a dear and call Goten for me, would you?"

"Sure, mom." Only now did Gohan notice the symphony of pleasant aromas filling the small house. His stomach growled. He hadn't had a home cooked meal in ages. Excited to eat, he walked outside to call in his brother. "Goten, dinner!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the mountains. Within five seconds, the energetic child was at the door.

"Gohan!" he shouted, leaping to give his big brother a hug. Just before, he reached him, however, he stopped in mid-air and gently floated to the ground. He started poking his two index fingers together. It was Goten's habit when he got nervous or scared, and it didn't take Gohan long to guess what was causing it.

"Come here, bud," he said, scooping him up in his arms. "You can hug me as hard as you want now. I won't break."

"Really?"

"Yep. I'm as strong as an ox."

"Alright!" Goten shouted, throwing his short arms around Gohan in the biggest bear hug a kid his size could manage. Goten's carefree laugh and innocent smile were bittersweet for him. He had failed as his big brother. Even when he was home, he'd never really been there for the little guy. While he loved Goten with all his heart, he was in every way a miniature version of their father, which had made just being with him painful. But now that was going to change. He would be the big brother Goten deserved.

"From now on we're going to play a lot more together, okay Goten?"

"Yeah!"

"Now come on, squirt. It's time for dinner." He set Goten down and he bolted for his place at the dinner table. Gohan was right behind him.

"Gohan?" Videl said. He turned. Videl's voice was the only thing that could distract him from food. "Maybe I should go now…"

"Nonsense!" his mother exclaimed from the kitchen. "We'd love to have you stay for dinner. And don't worry there's plenty of…food," she said with a grunt, lifting up a massive dinner tray and setting it on the table.

Gohan chuckled as Videl gaped at the massive quantity of food that was before her. This was going to be her first experience with a Saiyan dinner. He didn't have quite the appetite he used to anymore, but Goten could easily eat that entire tray. Luckily, his mother had already gone back for more.

To Gohan's delight, Videl accepted their invitation to dinner and soon everyone was gathered around the dinner table. Videl was in the seat next to him, watching in shock as Goten inhaled an entire platter of pasta. His mother was talking about expanding the house so that he could have his own little guest house once he was married. Gohan picked at his food, but mostly just listened and watched. For Gohan, it was like a dream. One that he could never have dared to hope could come true. All this fun and laughter. This was what his dad had sacrificed himself for, and he had almost missed it. He reached under the table and squeezed Videl's hand. She looked at him and smiled that radiant smile that had brought him to this point.

Thank you, he prayed silently, hoping his Dad was listening. I promise I won't let you down anymore. With that he dug into his food, savoring the comfort of its familiar flavors. He was home.

That's it! It is finished. I'm sure the direction I took things these last few chapters was different from what a lot of you were expecting. What did you think?

It's hard to believe that I can finally change the status on this story to complete. It's been a long journey, and I'd just like to tell each and every one of you how thankful I am that you've read my story through to the end. And if there's anyone out there that's been with me since I started two years ago, you have achieved god-level in my mind. Send me your name, address, social security number, and bank info and I will give you $1,000 as a token of my utmost gratitude. In all seriousness, though, I would like to give a special shout-out to Turmanarmo, who unless I'm mistaken has been reading this since at least September 2012, and also to KuramaFTW who gave me some great suggestions and let me bounce ideas off him/her. And of course, thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. I'm sorry I have been so lax in responding to your reviews lately, but I have loved hearing your encouragements, criticisms, questions, rants, and fan girl squeals.

It's been a ride, and for those interested in knowing just how long a ride, here's the final counts:

Page: 187
 Words: 81,486
 Characters: Carpal Tunnel
 Hours spent writing: OH MY GOD! Is that a keyboard? DESTROY IT!

Farewell for now, friends. I will still read all reviews and try my best to respond, but you will not likely see any more writing from me for at least a year. Then again, there's always hope. I still have one more chapter burning in my head ;)

Update: Status is back to complete. I had changed the status back incomplete when I thought I was going to write one last chapter to serve as the epilogue. Unfortunately, it's been too long. My inspiration is gone and I just don't have the drive to finish this. Sorry if I got your hopes up.