Gohan sat on the steps of the porch, exactly where his mother had been not even eight hours earlier. He was dressed and ready to go, whenever his dad decided to show up. Goku hadn't exactly said they were going to leave first thing in the morning, but Gohan didn't have anything planned that day and was determined to be ready to go as soon as Goku showed. Lindsey wandered out onto the porch and leaned down to hug him. "You sure you don't wanna go?" Gohan asked.

"I promised the twins we'd all go to the city today. Jenny and Catie and their kids are supposed to meet us," she answered. "Just tell Gramma hi for me. Besides, I'd be trying to put my two-cents in and I'd screw everything up."

Gohan chuckled and turned his head to kiss her. He sighed as he broke the kiss and stared out at the lawn. "Come on, Dad. Sometime today would be nice," he muttered.

Goku popped in just to hear Gohan say his last sentence and he chuckled, "Sorry about that kiddo, I'd have been here sooner, but the chickens were putting up a fuss this morning. The rooster wanted to hear a story before he would behave. I like this one, I really, really don't want Sabriena to turn him into fried chicken." He smiled at Lindsey and went to hug her close, "Hey there stranger. Feels like forever." He kissed the top of her forehead and looked down at her, "I'll make sure he behaves at Gramma's." He gave her a wink before holding out a hand for Gohan to grab onto and he pulled his son to his feet. "We will see you later! Bye!" And not even a moment later, they were standing in the late afternoon sunlight, smelling the ocean's breeze.

Gramma looked through her kitchen window, smiling at the two men who had appeared in her yard. She wiped her hands on a dishcloth and shooed the cat from the counter with it before she went out to greet them. "There's two of my favorite men," she smiled warmly at them as she grabbed Gohan up in a big hug.

"Hi, Gramma," he smiled at her and hugged her back. He had so many questions he wanted to ask, so many conflicted feelings about what had happened to his mother.

She turned to Goku and pulled him into a warm embrace. "How's Goten doing?" she asked him, taking both of their hands in hers and walking towards her little table that overlooked the yard. "It's been a long time since I've seen him."

Goku smiled at the older woman, feeling happy and carefree again, everything was right in the world here. "He's doing really well, he is over at the cabin at least once a week, I still see him every time I can pull myself away from the cabin. He's happy, going to college, working. He has just about surpassed Sabriena with his ability to cook. Sometimes he goes out on his own in the woods and camps. Comes back with tales of all the gourmet meals he ate while he was out. Tien taught him how to survive out there too well! I'd still get lost if I didn't have the ability to sense energy!" He smiled at her as they sat down at her little table, he faced her with his hands on his knees, looking at her seriously, "Chichi showed up at Gohan's last night, drunk out of her mind."

"Oh for heaven's sake," Gramma muttered. She rubbed at her forehead and reached for her cigarettes. She was going to need them for this conversation, she was sure. She searched Goku's eyes for a moment. She could feel his emotions, his fear of becoming something he didn't want to be, of becoming bitter and calloused towards others. And Gohan, his worry about his mother, his fear for her safety. Gramma sighed and lit her cigarette, going quiet for a moment as she chose her words carefully. "The spell wasn't supposed to affect either one of you," she finally said. "But if you continue to remain in close contact with her, it's going to. I thought she would learn her lesson. She's more ignorant and stubborn than I thought."

Goku shook his head and let it drop to look at the ground. "She visits Goten every... uh... what is it again Gohan? Once every two weeks? Or once a month?" If this was bad, he didn't want his son to have the spell affect him. "Everything that's happening to her is what she brought on herself. What she did to me. I can't stand it. I don't know what to do. If it were anyone else, I would say something to her new husband, but I don't want to. Part of me wants to see her go through this, the other part, though. It makes me sick to just think about it." He looked over at his eldest son. "Sorry," he apologized.

Gohan shrugged. He didn't blame his dad and deep down, he knew his mother deserved everything she got. "I know why you feel that way, Dad. I do, too. But it's hard to see it happening. I... I still love Mom," he said quietly.

Gramma fixed him with a hard stare. "And there's nothing wrong with that. Just because she and your dad don't love each other anymore doesn't mean you have to stop loving her. She's your mother, like it or not. You don't have to feel guilty for loving her. But darlin', don't expect anything in return from her. She hates herself so much, it's not possible for her to truly love anyone." Gramma turned a stern eye on Goku. "And YOU. Stay the hell away from her. You don't go saying anything to her husband. You don't interfere. You do nothing. You go meddling around with all this mess and you're going to end up getting hurt again. You're already hurting again and for no damn reason at all. I know it's your nature to fix everything for everyone. But not this time. It's not your business." She hated to be sharp with him, especially when she knew he was warring with himself about whether or not he should help the woman he once loved, who never loved him in return, but who had given him the children he loved so dearly. "It's NOT your place."

Goku found himself shrinking back from her, feeling a jolt of fear for the first time since he met her. He nodded quickly, not wanting to disobey her. It made it easier, for the most part, and he smiled a little at that, looking up at her sheepishly. "Yes ma'am," he said respectfully. He was glad they came to see her. It gave him clarity when he was so confused. This was not his place and he certainly didn't want to be hurt again. Not after coming so far. Not when he had a life worth living, with mates he would die for and he knew would die for him. Who included him in everything, let him help around the house, had hot meals for him, and a warm bed at night. He peeked over at Gohan, seeing the look in his eyes. He didn't want him getting hurt either. "It is hard," he admitted.

Gramma dragged deeply on her cigarette, studying him for a minute again. She couldn't figure out why on earth he would want to go speak to Chichi's husband. Truth be told, she was amazed the woman had managed to tie another man down at all. She narrowed her eyes. "Why on earth would you even consider speaking to this new husband? Unless you're going to warn him to get away from her so he's not affected by the spell either. Of course, most people will look at you like you're crazy if you try to tell them something like that. I won't stop you from that; she's hurt enough innocents as it is. Tell me what's going on that's got you so concerned."

Goku looked at her, "He's treating her worse than how she treated me. He is having an affair with this young blonde and he is blatant about it. He calls Chichi worthless, like a child, said his marriage to her was just for his business clients. Whatever that means. His look, his reputation. Gohan is sure that guy is going to start beating her soon, actually, it's obvious that he has already. Like she did to Goten," he sighed, thinking over his words. "It's not that I want to talk to him. It's just, I don't know. I'd rather wash my hands of it all and be done with it... but does it make me less of a person if I don't do anything?"

"I see," Gramma said. "So this new husband isn't a victim. Forget what I said about speaking to him to save him from her. I was picturing someone like you again. But that's not the case here. He's part of her curse that she has to deal with." She drew a deep breath through her nose. Perhaps she should have been more careful when casting that spell. She'd invoked powerful dark goddesses in that rite. "Chichi brought this upon herself and it was not your fault. She has made her bed and she has to lay in it. She would not be in this situation if she had not put herself in it. Chichi is responsible for this. She's the only one who can end it. She has to be the one to kill this cycle of misery and violence." She still had that stern, intense look as she stared into Goku's eyes. "It does not make you less of a person for protecting your family. By staying out of it, you are making sure that you are not interfering with that spell. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty in my casting, invoking Lillith and Kali at the same time." She looked away from him then, a frown pulling at her lips. She met his eyes once more, "They are not to be toyed with, Goku. You interfere with what I set in motion, you disrupt their plans..." she trailed off and pressed her lips together as she shook her head.

Goku felt a shudder work its way through his spine. No, he didn't want to make things worse than they already were, definitely not. He looked to Gohan, "Are you alright with me just sitting back on this? I don't want any more harm to come of it, to you, your brother or your wife and kids. I don't. You are always welcome when you don't feel safe or if you need advice." He reached out for Gohan, holding him close, closing his eyes and thinking it all over.

"Yeah, it's okay, Dad," Gohan answered as he leaned into him, taking comfort from his dad's embrace. He sighed deeply, still so confused about what he was supposed to do. "I don't... I don't understand about these names you mentioned," he said to Gramma.

"Lillith and Kali," Gramma answered, "are two of the most vengeful dark goddesses. They delight in destruction and death. You do not want to get in their way. You both know what Zeus did to Rose and Dende. And they were innocent. They did nothing to invoke the gods' wrath. But interfering with their plans?" Gramma shuddered. "And I know that Athena protected you in battle before, but she will not do it again. She said so. Lillith and Kali are not part of her pantheon, she might not even be able to influence them even if she wanted to."

Gohan looked pale and turned to his dad. "Stay away from Mom. I'll handle her. I don't want you to get hurt. I, oh my god, I shouldn't have dragged you into this last night."

Goku shook his head. "No, it's not your fault, you didn't know." He smiled at his son, ruffling his hair, "You did what you thought was right and now that we know, we know to stay out of it." He looked to Gramma, "Thank you, I was confused and losing track. I might have done something really stupid if we hadn't come to see you. I just hope that she sees something in herself, that this curse makes her a better person for it."

"Don't hold your breath, love," Gramma answered. "It sounds to me like she has a long way to go before she learns her lesson. She's stubborn. This is going to get much worse before it gets better." She sighed and shook her head. "Now. Come here." She held her arms out for him and smiled as he moved to sit in the grass at her feet. She ran her fingers through his hair, amused as ever to hear that purr from his throat. She cast a curious look over at Gohan. "You don't purr like a big cat too, do you?"

Gohan laughed and blushed, "Uhhh... well... yeah... but not when someone plays with my hair..." He shifted uncomfortably and looked away from her, hoping she didn't make him explain. Usually the only time he purred was after sex.

Gramma threw her head back and laughed. "I'll leave that one alone." She looked down at Goku's head in her lap, his eyes were growing heavy. "You want me to make you some soup again tonight?" she asked softly. "I'll bless it for you. Chase away the guilt and the worry. It'll make you feel better."

Goku nodded, nuzzling into her leg as she kept threading her fingers through his hair, it felt absolutely wonderful. He found himself nodding in earnest for that wonderful soup he knew she was talking about and the promise of the guilt flowing away. It would be just what he needed to keep himself out of trouble. "Please?" he asked, "I can even help."

Gramma smiled down at him. "I would LOVE your help." She leaned down close to his ear, "I'll teach you how to make it and then you can go home and surprise Tien and Trouble." Gramma looked across the little table at Gohan. "Lindsey's not going to care if you stay for supper, is she?"

Gohan laughed, "Even if she would, she wouldn't dare risk making you mad! But no, she's got plans with her friends and the kids today."

Gramma gave a nod. "Good." She scratched playfully at Goku's scalp, messing up his hair. "Let's go play in the kitchen."