Hello readers, sorry for the late update it was my birthday, and my boyfriend's birthday, and my dad's birthday. Needless to say it's been busy. I'm really pleased by the positive response to the one shots so far. Again feel free to send a challenge my way. On with the stories!
No Matter What
Seven years without Goku was difficult for the Son family. However for the youngest member it was something that had not terribly disturbed him. After all Goten always had his mom, his best friend Trunks and all the animals in the forest. Most of all though he had his big brother Gohan. Goten was never denied a moment of attention with his older brother around.
Gohan had been the one to teach Goten how to walk and talk. He had been the first to teach him how to fight before even his mother had thought to begin training him. The older saiyan became the maker of blanket forts, the teller of larger then life tales, and the protector from the monsters in their room. Long story short Goten thought his big brother was nothing short of amazing.
When Goten was seven years old he finally met his daddy. He adored every second that Goku spent making up for lost times with his youngest son. Goten noticed though that after Goku came home, Gohan started acting funny.
It wasn't easy to spot right away but when he did it was little things that changed first. It started with Goku taking over bringing home food for dinner and taking baths with Goten afterwards. Then suddenly Gohan was no longer there to tuck the little boy in at night and read him stories. He no longer had time for playing or training anymore.
Needless to say it was enough to make a little brother feel a little like he was being avoided. The little boy thought desperately of why Gohan was suddenly not doing everything he was supposed to do.
When he couldn't come up with a reason Goten decided that maybe it was something he had done.
...
It was a normal Saturday morning when the Brief's family came over to the Son's house to spend the day together. Vegeta had started coming over with his family after Goku's death. The warrior's sacrifice meant a better future for not only for his sons but for Vegeta's son as well and he swore to honor that sacrifice by continuing Gohan's training to control his saiyan strength, especially in his super saiyan form.
Trunks and Goten were sparing not to far away. Trunks quickly noticed that his best friend seemed distracted, his moves were weak and sloppy like an amateur compared to how he usually fought with his head in the game.
With a growl the lavender haired boy shot an energy blast at Goten sending the boy flying into a bush nearby. Goten was shocked at first that he was attacked so aggressively but quickly became mad. He climbed out of the bushes and glared at Trunks who was giving him a glare of his own with his arms crossed looking very unimpressed.
"What gives Trunks? That hurt!" Goten whined.
"I should be asking you that Goten. Last I checked I was training with a saiyan but you're fighting like it's your first spar with that slop," Trunks scolded reminding Goten very much of Vegeta.
Goten stared at the ground as he rubbed the bump on the back of his head, he knew Trunks was right.
"Sorry Trunks," the boy grumbled sadly.
The lavender haired boy glared at his friend for a moment before he replied, "Alright spill. What's your problem?"
The younger saiyan looked up at Trunks in surprise before he looked over at Gohan training with Vegeta and Goku. Trunks followed his gaze before he let out a sigh before he said, "Geez Goten...they said our turn is next to train with them."
"That's not the problem Trunks!...It's Gohan," Goten explained.
Trunks glanced over at the teen before he asked, "What's the problem? Is he sick?"
"No he's fine but...I think he's mad at me," the boy explained.
Goten saw the look of confusion on his friend's face before he explained, "Gohan usually does stuff with me...you know train, play, read stories, tuck me in, chase away monsters. Lately though he hasn't been doing any of that stuff."
'Gohan sounds more like a dad then a brother' Trunks thought as he listened to his best friend.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Trunks and he looked over at Gohan sparing with Goku as Vegeta supervised intensely.
"Goten has it ever occurred to you that maybe all this time your brother has been doing more dad stuff then brother stuff?" Trunks commented.
"What do you mean?" the boy asked.
Trunks rolled his eyes before he explained, "Think about it Goten. You guys didn't have a dad so Gohan became your dad. Now your dad is back so Gohan gets to go back to being a teenager."
Goten thought about what his friend was saying and it made him a little bit sad. He didn't want his daddy to take over all the stuff that Gohan does for him even if it was dad stuff. He liked the way his big brother did it and he wouldn't accept anything else.
...
Chi Chi and Bulma were chatting in the living room when Videl walked into the house carrying three containers of cupcakes in her hands. Both Bulma and Chi Chi jumped off the couch to help the girl carry the containers.
"Oh wow Videl these look great. Did you make these?" Bulma asked admiring the dessert.
Videl laughed before she said, "oh Kami no. There is no way that I could make this many cupcakes. I ordered them from a bakery my dad and I are obsessed with and I have another couple of boxes in my car."
"Smart girl. Pay somebody else to feed the gluttons," Chi Chi joked as she placed a box on the table.
After grabbing the rest of the cupcakes out of Videl's car, the three women went to see what the guys were up to. They weren't surprised to see that all of them were sparing.
Videl smirked when she saw Gohan sparing before she shouted, "GOHAN YOUR FLY IS DOWN!"
The teen stopped and looked down before Goku tackled his oldest son to the ground. Gohan coughed as the weight of his father knocked the wind out of him before looking up at his girlfriend laughing at him.
"Thanks a lot," he grumbled up at her.
"It's your own fault for not paying attention son," Goku replied pinching his son's cheeks.
"Alright dog pile!" Goten said before jumping on top of his dad adding to the weight on top of his poor brother's chest. Trunks giggled as he followed after jumping on top of the other saiyans.
"I'm the king of the saiyan pile!" Trunks sang.
Suddenly a large weight landed on top of him before his father's voice said, "Guess again boy."
The three women had their arms crossed as Bulma looked over at Videl and said, "Do you see what you've started now?"
The teenage girl gave the woman an apologetic smile before she turned to the saiyan pile and said, "alright you overgrown brats. Get off my boyfriend or else you won't get a single cupcake from me after dinner."
In an instant all of the warriors climbed off poor Gohan allowing the boy to actually breath properly. Goku was still laughing as he helped his oldest son to his feet who was glaring back at him. The saiyans quickly made their way into the house when the subject of food was mentioned leaving Videl and Gohan standing outside the house.
"So have you told them yet?" Videl asked.
"I wanted to surprise them after dinner," Gohan answered with a big smile on his face.
"Well let's go then big guy," Videl teased before the couple walked into the house.
...
The Son and the Brief family enjoyed their meal that could feed a small village. They were enjoying the cupcakes Videl brought over when Vegeta of all people noticed Gohan looking nervous. His curiosity only grew when he noticed the boy's mate place her hand on his thigh and gently squeeze it comfortingly.
"Boy, your hiding something and I demand to know what it is," Vegeta said making everyone look at him and Gohan.
"Uhh," Gohan replied as he stared at Vegeta in surprise.
Everyone stared at Gohan curiously before Goku asked, "Do you have something to tell us son?"
"No time like the present," Videl whispered.
Gohan smiled at his girlfriend before he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Nervously he stood up and unfolded the piece of paper he had in his hands before he looked at his family and friends with a sigh.
"So umm...I got a letter yesterday and I kind of wanted to surprise all of you," Gohan mumbled nervously making everyone included Trunks and Goten sit up a little straighter.
"Well what is it honey?" Chi Chi asked sounding excited.
The teen smiled before he replied, "I applied to several schools and I got into Central City University with a full scholarship."
Everyone at the table sat in shock for a few minutes before all at once the adults were on their feet and yelling in excitement. Goku was the first to pull his oldest son into a bone crushing hug.
"I am so proud of you Gohan. I knew you could do it," Goku said overwhelmed with happiness for the teen.
As soon as Goku let go, Chi Chi pulled the boy into a hug of her own. The woman was beside herself with emotions as she cried into her son's shoulder. After all his hard work her son was going to the finest University on a full scholarship.
Bulma was next to pull the young man into a proud hug. Gohan looked over the woman's shoulder to see Vegeta smirking at him from across room.
"Well done boy. You have proven that our race is both the strongest and most intelligent. You have pleased your king," Vegeta commented before nodding his head in approval.
Everyone in the room stopped and stared at Vegeta before Gohan smiled and replied, "Thanks Vegeta...that is literally the nicest thing you have ever said to anybody that isn't Bulma."
Vegeta shrugged his shoulders before he said, "the moment called for it...now it's over and I demand to go home at once."
...
While everyone else was excited for the teen, Goten sat quietly. Trunks sat quietly beside his best friend knowing that on the inside Goten was imploding. Reluctantly the lavender haired boy looked over to see tears running down his friend's face.
"Goten..." Trunks mumbled trying to get his friend's attention.
The other boy only clenched his fists and tried desperately to stop the tears from running down his face. Suddenly Goten looked up to see Videl holding his brother's hand and another thought crossed his mind.
'It's not my fault Gohan hasn't been around lately...it's her's' Goten thought to himself.
Suddenly the boy got out of his seat and walked over to Videl before he kicked her as hard as he could in her leg. The girl screamed in surprise before she dropped to the ground.
"Oh my goodness Videl!" Chi Chi shouted as she dropped to the girl's side to check her over.
Gohan looked over at his little brother in horror before he demanded, "Goten what the hell is wrong with you?"
The little boy looked up at his older brother with tears in his eyes before he screamed, "IT'S HER FAULT!"
"What are you talking about?" Gohan hissed.
"All the times you haven't been here to play with me or train with me or take care of me, you've been with her. It's her fault you haven't been home and now you're gonna go far away and I won't see you at all! IT'S HER FAULT" the little boy cried out in anger.
"Goten that is enough. You need to apologize to Videl right now," Gohan demanded.
"NO! I HATE HER AND I HATE YOU TO!" the boy screamed before he took off to their shared bedroom leaving everyone else in shock behind him.
...
Goten hid in his bed under a blanket listening as his friend and his parents left for the night. Nobody dared to disturb the angry little boy brewing upstairs until Goku decided to be the brave soul to tread into the dangerous territory. The warrior gently knocked before he entered the boys' sanctuary to find his son hiding from everyone under his blanket.
Goku sighed before he walked over and quietly sat down on Gohan's bed. He waited patiently until at last the little boy came out from under the blanket looking a little sheepish.
"I'm in a lot of trouble aren't I?" Goten mumbled.
Goku reached over and playfully ruffled his son's hair before he replied, "Ya I wouldn't make any plans for the next ten years if I were you."
The little boy cringed as he thought about just how mad his mom was about how how he acted at dinner. It was a well known face that his mom was more terrifying then any other creature in the universe when she was mad. When Goten heard giggling, the little boy looked over and glared at his father for laughing at his misfortune.
"Hey don't look at me like that. I wasn't the one who ruined Gohan's big announcement," Goku teased but immediately regretted when his saw his son's face drop with a mixture of anger, sadness and what distinctly looked like guilt.
"He's mad at me to isn't he?" Goten asked reluctantly.
Goku took a few minutes to think about how to answer his son's question before he replied, "I wouldn't go that far but for a guy who just found out he gets to go to school for free he sure isn't happy."
The little boy gave his father a sad puppy dog look before he pulled the blanket back over his head. The warrior couldn't help smirking at the fact that his little boy would rather face his angry mother then see his brother looking upset because of something he did. Gently Goku moved so that he was sitting on Goten's bed before he gently pulled the blanket back down from his son's head.
"Wanna tell me what happened down there?" Goku asked gently.
The saiyan saw the little boy's lip start quivering and instinctively wrapped his son up into his arms before tears started to fall down his face.
"I don't want him to go...I dunno how to not have Gohan," the boy cried.
Goku felt his heart break and squeezed his son tighter before he replied, "I know...me to."
The little boy looked at his father confused before he said, "what about the two times you died and the time you got stuck on another planet?"
The saiyan chuckled before he explained, "you're right son I have been separated from your mom and brother on more then one occasion...this time though is the first time Gohan is going on an adventure where I can't follow."
Both father and son were quiet for a long time while Goten calmed himself down. Finally after a while the little boy had exhausted himself and Goku thought it was a good time to tuck the little boy into his bed.
"I know I'm not gonna be able to do a lot of things just like Gohan can but I promise I'll always do my best," Goku whispered as Goten started to fall asleep.
Goten smiled before he mumbled with a smile, "I know. Gohan told me stories...I have high expectations."
The saiyan warrior couldn't help bursting out laughing before he kissed his son on the head and bid him goodnight.
...
A loud thundering boom woke the seven year old from his deep sleep. Goten looked over at his brother's alarm clock to see that it was 3:00am in big red neon lights. He then looked over to see Gohan completely unfazed by the storm and snoring away. Instincts told him to go climb into the teen's bed so that Gohan could wrap his arms around him and tell him that it was just a storm and everything would be okay. However he didn't have the heart to even think about going to his brother after what he said to him earlier.
'I'm a strong warrior. I am capable of becoming a super saiyan. I am not afraid of a storm' Goten said over and over to himself.
Across the room Gohan woke up from his deep sleep from the sound of whimpering. The teen could sleep through just about anything but it was a practiced gift that the smallest sound of stress from his baby brother could wake him from a comma. Gohan rolled over in his bed to see a tiny form curled up into a ball hidden under a blanket.
"Goten?" Gohan whispered gently and instantly the little boy stiffened before he slowly pulled the blanket off of his head.
"You okay over there little brother?" Gohan asked gently.
Before the little boy could answer lighting struck followed by heart thumping thunder making the little boy whimper. Without a second thought Gohan opened up his blanket and waited patiently. Goten looked curiously at the empty space in his brother's bed before he cautiously looked up to see the warm smile on his big brother's face. Slowly the little boy got up and crawled over to Gohan's bed before snuggling into the older boy's chest. He immediately felt safe as Gohan pulled the blanket down and wrapped his arm protectively around his little brother.
"Thanks," Goten mumbled feeling guilty about waking his brother up.
"Don't mention it," Gohan yawned as he started to close his eyes again.
Goten stared at his big brother completely wide awake. The little boy had told Gohan that he hated him and his girlfriend but his big brother was still here protecting him from a stupid storm. Goten decided that we wasn't going to be able to sleep until he made things right with Gohan.
"Hey Gohan..."Goten said.
The teen opened one eye to show the little boy that he had his undivided attention before Goten mumbled, "I didn't mean it."
Gohan gave him a sleepy smile before he replied, "I know kid."
"How?" Goten asked surprised.
"I'm an expert in knowing everything there is to know about my baby brother," Gohan teased as he reached over and ruffled the boy's hair.
Goten smiled before he looked away from his brother and whispered, "Sorry Gohan."
The older saiyan was quiet for a moment before he tilted Goten's chin up forcing the little boy to look at him before he replied,"I forgave you the second you said it kid. We both did."
Goten's heart clenched when he remembered the hurt look on Videl's face before he ran upstairs. He felt so stupid for being angry about the whole thing and hurting everybody's feelings.
"I really am sorry for acting like a little kid," Goten said feeling dumb.
Gohan laughed before he replied, "Goten you are a little kid. You're supposed to be needy, demanding, whiny, and on occasion annoying...I didn't think about how you'd react when I decided to surprise everybody. I'm sorry I didn't tell you first little brother."
The little boy looked at his brother in shock when he saw that Gohan looked guilty.
"I don't want you to go away," Goten admitted.
"I'll only be a phone call away," Gohan assured.
"Even if I get scared of a storm?" the boy asked.
"I don't care if it's the end of the world Goten, you need me you call me. Promise?" Gohan said sternly.
Goten nodded his head before he gave his brother an actual smile. The two brothers laid in a comfortable silence as they listened to the storm rage on outside their home.
It was Gohan who broke the silence and said, "I'm leaving you in good hands Goten. Dad can do everything I do for you ten times better...except homework go to mom for that."
"Thanks for the tip," Goten chuckled along with Gohan.
The older boy's voice suddenly became serious as he added, "If the phone call isn't enough I'll come home Goten. I don't care if I have to fly here in the middle of the night I'll come."
"Promise?" Goten replied.
"No matter what kid," Gohan answered instantly.
Goten smiled as he and Gohan started to fall asleep. Before he drifted off he mumbled, "Hey Gohan?"
"Ya," the teen answered.
"You better take care of Videl or I'll kick your butt," the boy threatened before he drifted off to sleep.
...
Goku stood in the doorway as he watched his children sleep peacefully in Gohan's bed. He had woken up when he heard his youngest son whimpering and quickly made his way to the boys' bedroom. He stopped when he heard his oldest son taking care of things like he usually did and mentally took notes. He knew it was going to be hard to step up as dad to Goten but he be damned if he failed either of his boys again.
Once both boys drifted off to sleep Goku went in and tucked the blanket around his children. He stayed just long enough to enjoy listening to the boys snore in sync before leaving them to back to bed.