GoChi Week, Day 6 – Stress

A/N: This…isn't super shippy, as it deals more with just Chi-Chi and her views of her family as a whole. I'm not sure if it entirely counts, but idk. It was all I could think of for this theme, and it sort of ties into my plans for tomorrow (which will be another video, should all go to plan). Can also be found on ao3 and tumblr.

Peace of Mind

"Mommy? Are you ok?"

Chi-Chi paused in chopping the vegetables for lunch and sucked in a deep breath at the sound of Goten's voice. She let a few seconds tick by before letting the breath out and forcing a sweet smile onto her face. She then turned to face her youngest, who stood in the doorway of the kitchen with a look of concern on his young face. A small frown, his brow furrowed, so much like – stop it!

Chi-Chi quickly put the knife down on the counter and walked over to where Goten stood. "Of course, I'm ok!" she reassured in what she hoped was a convincing happy tone. His face remained unchanged. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Goten looked down at his feet. "Earlier, when I–"

"Goten!" she cut it, perhaps too sharply for he jumped back a bit. Chi-Chi forced on a brighter smile and gently placed a comforting hand on his head. "No, sweetie, I'm not still upset over that. It wasn't your fault." And it wasn't, he had no control over who his father is and the power he had inherited. He was also not to blame for just how similar he looked to his father either, especially when – "Just don't make a habit of transforming like that, ok?"

Goten nodded, though he still looked uncertain as he mumbled a small, "Yes ma'am."

Chi-Chi sighed and resisted the urge to shake her head. "Lunch still has some ways to go before it's done. Why don't you go outside and play for a while?" Goten's face instantly brightened, as the time between training and lunch was typically dedicated to studying. He gave her a tight hug and rushed out the door, laughing as he ran out to the woods. She smiled, the first real one since their training ended, and closed the front door before moving back towards the counter.

Her smile faded once she turned back to cutting the vegetables, images of her youngest son with yellow hair and teal eyes refusing to leave her mind. Goten can turn into a super saiyan... how? He's so...so young! Was Trunks also able to transform? Would this mean that they'll have to fight like Gohan had to all those years ago?

No!

Chi-Chi let out a small yelp as the knife nicked her finger. She quickly moved to the sink and ran the injury under some water, silently cursing at herself all the while. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. This is ridiculous! Things have been peaceful for years now! Neither of her sons would have to fight for their lives anytime soon, or ever again if she was optimistic (which she was truly trying so hard to be).

But her mind refused to focus on anything else. Even as she set out cleaning and bandaging the cut, Chi-Chi's attention was still drawn to the memory of Goten's sudden transformation. Both her sons have always held a strong resemblance to their father, her youngest especially, but in that moment...with the determined glare in his eyes...

Goten looked so much like Goku had that week leading up to the Cell Games, to his...well, to his death.

She had always hated the super saiyan transformation. It made her family look like delinquents, which never settled well with her. It also only ever appeared around the time something awful had befallen her family. Goku was stuck in space for a year thanks to that form; Gohan was forced to grow up even more before his time in order to face off against Cell.

Goku died.

Seeing her son, her precious little Goten, like that nearly broke her. Haven't they suffered enough? Couldn't her children grow up in peace?

"Now stop that," she muttered to herself as she examined the now bandaged finger. "You're getting worked up over nothing."

Seven years. It has been seven years since the last catastrophe had struck. The longest stretch of peace that they've had ever, even longer than her first few years married to Goku. Her husband has refused to be revived to ensure that they kept this peace! There was no reason for it to suddenly crumble away, super saiyans or not.

Although she found herself wishing, not for the first time, that Goku had chosen to come back. Raising two boys on her own was no easy task, but training a tiny super saiyan? Some help from him would certainly have been appreciated. It would thrill Goten to no end, too, especially when he learns Goku could also transform – any connection to his father brought the boy so much joy...

Goku was dead, though. There was no changing that.

Goten's a super saiyan. There was no changing that.

There was no world ending threats looming over them. That could easily change at any moment. But it would be foolish to dwell on it and cause unnecessary stress to herself and her children.

"It's fine." Chi-Chi grabbed the knife and began to chop the vegetables yet again. "Everything will be fine."

She pointedly ignored the painful twisting in her gut.