Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! I have a bit to say at the end of this chapter this time so I'll keep things short and sweet up front. Thank you all so much for the kind words and support every week! I really appreciate it so much! But for now, I'll let you get right into the chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter XXIII – Happy Birthday, Angel
"Hey Buu, can you pass me that bowl over there?"
If someone had asked Videl several months ago if she could envision herself making chocolate by hand with Majin Buu at her side, her answer would have been a resounding 'are you out of your mind?' And yet, that's exactly what she was doing the night before Valentine's Day. Papa was on a business call upstairs and that had left Buu bored and alone. Though he usually hated any kind of work when it came to cooking, he had been surprisingly willing to help when Videl had asked him to join her.
"This bowl? Here go!" His large, gloved hands extended a stainless-steel bowl towards her and she grabbed it, thanking him. She was finally to the point of mixing the chocolate and afterwards she would pour it into the molds she had set up.
"What Videl making chocolate for?" Buu's high voice was tinged with curiosity…and a hint of longing. She laughed lightly before grinning at him.
"Valentine's Day! And don't worry, I'm making some extra for you as a thank you for your help too."
"Yay! But what Valentine's Day?"
"It's a day where you give chocolate to someone you like."
"Do people like Buu? Will Buu get more chocolate tomorrow?" She laughed at his innocence.
"I should probably specify – you give chocolate to someone you like romantically. Usually, at least."
"Ohh, like Videl and Gohan!"
"Exactly!" Buu scratched his head.
"Where Gohan anyway? Why Videl cook alone? Usually both make dinner for Buu!"
"See, this is a surprise for him! Well…not really; he knows he'll be getting chocolate from me for Valentine's Day. But he doesn't know that I'm making it by hand and he can't help me make his own surprise!" Buu nodded firmly.
"Buu understand. Then Buu keep helping Videl!" She raised an eyebrow and smirked up at him.
"The promise of some extra chocolate of your own certainly helps though, doesn't it?" The pink giant laughed sheepishly and grinned.
"Buu always happy to help for chocolate!" The two laughed together, something that would have felt so strange eight or nine months ago but now felt warm and comfortable.
Videl still marveled at how different her home life was these days. She had gone from rarely spending time at home and only seeing Papa at dinner to seeing him and the newest member of their family quite a bit every single day. The fact that Buu had gone from someone she resented and feared to a type of younger brother was something else that sent her reeling if she thought about it for too long but, then again, she was dating someone whose father was an alien. And she'd met a few different species of alien at this point too. Was it really that strange that Buu was just another part of the group at this point?
She was very glad for the fact that, even once she started college, Papa would still have Buu to lean on and spend time with. Of course, she'd come home and visit often but, like they had discussed a few weeks back, it would be different. She wouldn't wake up, come downstairs, and share breakfast with Papa and Buu anymore. They wouldn't sit down on the couch and watch aimless television on slow nights where nobody was busy. But even with all the changes that would come with it, she was still excited for her future. And she found herself extremely grateful that Buu had decided to stay with them.
"Thank you, Buu," she said suddenly. The creature puffed himself up proudly.
"You welcome! Buu good helper!" She giggled before turning towards him, continuing to stir her chocolate in the bowl.
"You are! But that's not exactly why I was thanking you."
"Hoh?"
"Thank you for being Papa's friend. I'm really glad he'll have you here with him once I go off to college in April. I was really worried about how thing would be for him but, since you've joined our little family, I'm a lot less concerned now."
"Videl no have to thank Buu. Buu happy to be friends with Mr. Satan. Mr. Satan Buu's best friend!"
"I can tell! The two of you get along so well!"
"Videl one of Buu's best friends too though!" She was a bit caught off guard by the assertion and felt her mind go blank for a moment.
"W-wow, thanks Buu. That's very sweet of you! I've wondered a bit how you thought of me after I was so mean to you in the very beginning…" Buu smiled at her and shook his head.
"Buu never upset by things Videl said before. Videl had lots of reasons to not like Buu. But Buu glad you like him now!" She felt her lingering guilt disappear at his unfazed positivity and smiled again.
"You're right; I do like you! You're like the kid brother I never had!"
"Brother?"
"You know, like Gohan and his little brother, Goten."
"Oh! Little kid that looks like Goku!"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"But Buu features too exotic to pass for Videl's brother."
"…where did you learn that?" Buu grinned.
"Buu hear lots of comments and compliments when he goes out into the city! One lady even said Buu was handsome and that she wanted to play catch with me."
"'Play catch with you?'" Videl raised an eyebrow in confusion but her assistant just nodded.
"Yeah. She say Buu handsome and wanted to catch Buu."
"Are you sure she didn't say you were a catch?" Buu's eyes widened.
"That's it! That's what she say! Buu pretty big though, not sure if she could ever throw Buu."
Videl dissolved into a fit of laughter for several moments before managing to collect herself and meeting his confused gaze. "I think you've got the wrong idea – she didn't want to catch you or throw you."
"Hoh?"
"Saying someone is 'a catch' is basically saying they're worth pursuing. She was complimenting your looks twice."
"Ooh. So Buu that handsome?" Videl laughed lightly as she began pouring the chocolate into the moldings she had set out beforehand.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"But she want to catch Buu, not hold."
"You know, there's never a dull moment with you, Buu."
"Buu take that as a compliment!"
And indeed it was. As she finished placing the chocolate into the moldings, she caught a thought passing through her head that she never would have believed several months ago. Though she was overwhelmingly excited to experience college with Gohan, she was also going to miss being home, of course. But she was also going to miss Buu. Strange a thought as it was compared to where she started, she had legitimately come to have a lot of fun chatting and hanging out with the pink giant. Ever since he'd joined their little family, he had opened up and grown a lot. She really did see him as a brother, in a way. And little moments like this were the kinds that she'd miss the most.
"You should! Now gimme a hand here; we're almost done and then you can have the extra!"
"Yay! Buu help!"
Gohan wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Valentine's Day itself. He had never even seen it celebrated before. Since he had grown up homeschooled, he had no concept for what the actual traditions of the event were. Erasa had told him that girls usually gave chocolates to guys on that day. Sometimes it was just to show appreciation to their friends, but if they were really fancy or had a lot of effort put into them then usually that was a sign that there was a romantic interest there.
Of course, Gohan wasn't worried about Videl hinting at a romantic interest in him; that ship had sailed nine months ago on the Lookout when they'd nervously confessed to one another. But he found himself quite curious if she was planning to do anything for the day. So when Videl had asked yesterday that he give her the evening to herself so she could work on a surprise, he happily accepted and headed home to further his research before college began. The whole flight home, though, he wore a big, goofy grin on his face.
On the day in question, class proceeded like normal. With entrance exams over and done with, their finals in March were the last things to worry about in high school. Not that he was worried about those exams. Their time spent studying for the college exams had covered almost everything they could have hoped to learn going into finals and he felt very confident. Videl did too, of course, and even Sharpner and Erasa were quite sure of themselves going into the last tests. They had both studied hard right alongside them and, even though only Erasa had taken the exam, he was proud that his friends were so confident in their abilities and preparation.
Erasa had really surprised him with her dedication, especially given her penchant to detest everything about schoolwork. In fact, the Monday after he and Videl had received their exam results, Erasa had excitedly showed them the results of her hard work. She had been accepted to her school of choice as well, right here in Satan City. She was ecstatic at the prospect of studying something that really interested her and was glad that she wouldn't have to worry about the commute from home to school.
Sharpner, meanwhile, was starting to look into ways to seriously break into the boxing scene. He had doubled his training efforts lately and it showed – he had already been undefeatable in the boxing club but these days he was untouchable. There was such a rift between he and his teammates that Gohan almost wanted to offer himself as a sparring partner. But he didn't know anything about boxing, and he knew training with someone who actually understood the sport would still be more beneficial in the long run even if they weren't on the same level as Sharpner. All Gohan would accomplish was to throw off his friend's form and technique.
Gohan snapped back to reality as, finally, the lunch bell sounded and brought an end to the boring lecture they were all enduring. Videl's hand had held his warmly the whole class, her thumb brushing against the back of his hand here and there. Since New Year's Eve, it felt as if they had become much more physically comfortable with one another. Though they still tried to keep things subtle around mixed company, he found that he never balked or batted an eye anymore if she suddenly took his hand or kissed him on the cheek in front of people. In fact, it felt as if he were missing a part of himself when she wasn't holding his hand or otherwise standing right next to him. It was a pretty amazing feeling, especially when he compared it to how they'd started their relationship – skittish and hesitant all the time.
"Finally, I thought that would never end," Erasa grumped as the cacophony of students beginning to leave the room echoed off the walls.
"Hey, after how well you did on the entrance exams, I think you're entitled to complain some," Sharpner joked, winking at her. She gave him a sly grin before seizing his arm.
"Was that a compliment? I think it was! Compliment me more!" The blond blushed a bit and halfheartedly tried to take his arm back.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he likes complimenting you, 'Rase," Videl called out, leaning around Gohan and smirking.
"Ah what can I say," Sharpner conceded, "we can't all be as stoic as you, Videl." A satisfied grin crossed his lips and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Hey, I'll have you know I'm as warm and cuddly as a teddy bear!"
"Uh huh, I think I still have the bruises and battle scars from growing up with you to prove that's not true!"
"It's totally true! Watch!"
Videl scooted closer to Gohan and wrapped herself up around his arm the way she did so often these days, leaning her head against his shoulder and nestling in. There was a time he'd have blushed but that newfound comfort with her only made him smile and rest his hand atop hers.
"Gohan doesn't count; you've always been warm and cuddly with him."
"Doesn't something seem different now, though?" Erasa added, eyeing them closely.
"What do you mean, E?"
"Wouldn't one of them normally start blushing real hard by now? They seem so…confident? Maybe sure of themselves is a better way to say it." Gohan actually did have to fight down a blush at that comment. She probably knew more than she let on. This was Erasa, after all.
"Now that you mention it, you've got a point. Look E, our little honors students are growing up!"
Videl huffed and scowled at them both. "Yeah, yeah, have your fun judging us for being a bit skittish in the past. You two are just made for each other."
"You really think so Vi?" As if to prove her point, Erasa moved closer to Sharpner. But, much as it usually did, Erasa's idea of casually close with her boyfriend involved a different approach than Videl's. She leapt into the air and landed happily in Sharpner's lap, leaning to her left and resting her head against his chest. Immediately, the boxer's cheeks began to glow red. Gohan suppressed a laugh but Videl sat up a little straighter, staring hard at them.
"I do! And would you look at that! Even smooth, confident Sharpner has a point where he gets embarrassed too!"
Erasa turned and saw his face at last, the heat on his cheeks quite noticeable. "Aw, Sharpie! Did I embarrass you?"
"N-no, of course not. Just…will you get down, please?" He was averting his eyes quite pointedly. Instead, Erasa wrapped her arms around his neck and settled in again, even closer this time.
"Nope! I'm so warm and comfy like this!"
"C-come on, E…"
Videl leaned in close to Gohan and whispered to him while her best friend continued to be a tease nearby. "I'll probably never manage to embarrass 'Rase too so this is as good as I'll get."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"Hey, I want you to come with me for a few minutes after we leave the room, okay?"
"Sure, of course I will."
And, once the excitement had calmed down again, the four rose to their feet and began to leave the room. Videl spoke up as they crossed the threshold out into the hallway at last. "I'm gonna take Gohan for a few minutes; we'll meet you our at the usual spot after that, okay?"
"Sure thing, Vi! See you soon!"
Gohan had his suspicions that Videl wanted to take him someplace to give him her Valentine's chocolate. If Erasa or Sharpner were aware of that fact, they certainly hadn't shown it, happily setting off for the back field. Videl, meanwhile, took his hand and began to lead him up towards the roof.
"Uh, we're not really supposed to go up to the rooftop during school, right?" Gohan offered lamely. She giggled and looked up at him.
"Ah, it's fine! We'll be graduating in about a month anyway; we may as well have a little fun while we're still here!" And with that, she tugged him by the arm all the way to the door at the top of the stairs.
The rooftop was plain but gave a nice view of the back field and the city itself. Videl, smiling the whole time, pulled him towards the middle and spun on her heel. "We're here!"
"I haven't been up here in a long time."
"You used to take off from up here, didn't you? When you were playing Saiyaman during the school days." Gohan laughed a bit.
"I only really kept it going long term to help you out. I didn't realize just how little you needed it, especially back then."
"I couldn't be happier to have it now, though."
"Me too. I'm glad you decided to adopt the whole superhero thing with me!"
"How could I watch my boyfriend having that much fun and not join him?"
A brisk gust of wind blew across the rooftop causing the two to shiver lightly despite their warm attire. Videl started rummaging through her bag the next moment. "All right, that's probably my sign to get on with it, huh? We'll freeze if we stay up here for all of lunch!"
Videl produced a lovely little tin from her bag, this one smaller than the one she'd used for the cookies she'd baked back on his birthday last year. Feeling an overwhelming sensation of joy, Gohan watched as she stepped forward and pressed the tin into his hands.
"They're not perfect, but I worked really hard on them. I hope you like them."
Gohan slowly removed the top of the tin and saw eight small pieces of chocolate, handmade and decorated, staring up at him. The feeling of warmth that enveloped him could have protected him from the cold air on the rooftop completely, far better than a ki shield ever would.
"These are so wonderful, 'Del! Thank you."
"Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart."
She rose up onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down towards her gently. That gentle tingle of anticipation skittered down his body as her lips finally pressed against his, a warm, loving sensation replacing it instantaneously. No matter how comfortable they were physically now, Gohan always found himself overwhelmed in the best way when she kissed him. A few moments later, she pulled back, her face glowing with that bright smile he loved so much.
"That's part of why I wanted to bring you up here," she admitted.
"So you could kiss me?"
"So I could really kiss you. I didn't want to just peck you on the cheek, not for our first Valentine's Day together."
"Well I think between these amazing chocolates and my amazing girlfriend, I couldn't possibly wish for a better first Valentine's Day."
Videl wrapped her arm around his again and drew close, gazing up at him. "You're so sweet."
"Always for you, Angel."
"Hey, speaking of sweet," she began, reaching into the tin and fishing a chocolate out, "do you wanna try one?"
"Sure!"
"Okay, here you go!" She raised the piece towards his mouth and, though he was a bit surprised by her offer, he felt his lips part and the sweetness of chocolate hit them a moment later.
"Wow, this is so good!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Wanna have one with me?"
"I seem to recall this exact thing happening with the cookies too," she teased, grinning. "I'd love to split one with you."
So this was what he'd been missing out on all those years. When he was a kid, he wouldn't have cared about something like Valentine's Day. And to be honest, the actual rituals of the day didn't matter that much to him either. But the fact that Videl had been so excited to make him chocolates for a special day was more than enough to make it something that would stick in his memory for a long time. Anything that involved Videl seemed to follow that same trend, after all.
"You're the best, Love," he told her suddenly. Videl lit up, her cheeks flushing just a bit.
"Only for my Gohan. But…I'll always be the best version of myself I can possibly be if I get to stay right next to you."
"I don't ever want you to be anywhere else."
"Then it looks like I'll be," she paused just long enough to seize his arm again, "right here!"
"Good! This spot is yours and no one else's, ever!"
"I certainly hope so! Um, so hey…"
"What's up?" She blushed a bit and hesitated but decided to throw caution to the wind. It was too good an opportunity to pass up.
"Papa's gonna be gone till really late again tonight. If we could find a way to get rid of Buu for a while…then maybe we could celebrate another way too, don't you think?"
It took Gohan a few seconds to put her insinuations together before finally blushing deeply. He gave her a sheepish smile though and rubbed the back of his head. "Uh…I'm sure we could think of something. All we'd really have to do is promise him food." She grinned up at him, pleased with herself, despite the heat she still felt in her cheeks.
"I like the way you think. It's a date then."
The next month passed by more quickly than Videl might have imagined. Her anticipation for college grew each and every day and she could hardly keep still at night when she thought about falling asleep next to Gohan starting in April. Of course, there were other things she was excited about too, but she'd be lying if she said living with her Darling wasn't a big one.
The rest of February had played host to several fun little events – Gohan had even set up another sparring session with Krillin. This time they went out to their place and even brought Goten along to play with Marron. Krillin had complimented her throughout the day, praising how much stronger she'd become and how much more comfortable she clearly was using her ki in battle. She still found it aggravating that she struggled to expel more than a pathetic drop or two of energy from her palm whenever she tried firing a ki blast, though. Even Gohan's dedicated training sessions hadn't helped her overcome that barrier just yet. She still hadn't lost hope though and kept up her image training each night before she slept, just the way Piccolo had taught her.
Early March had seen the return of some study sessions for finals with Erasa and Sharpner, though they were much more laid back than they usually were. Everyone was feeling quite confident for the end of their last trimester at Orange Star and not even finals could put a damper on their excitement. Sharpner had managed to secure a place with an amateur boxing organization – following his graduation – that would serve to set up some fights for him and hopefully get his name out into the professional world. And Erasa had all but thrown herself into learning everything she could about becoming a stylist or designer. She hadn't fully decided yet, but the program she was joining would definitely help her decide which path she really wanted to commit to.
And so, March continued along until the 14th – Videl's birthday. Her nineteenth birthday to be exact but the very first she'd get to spend with Gohan. It was funny how little he'd missed it by last year. If they had met even a month earlier, he'd at least have told her happy birthday, probably. But she liked things better this way. Now the first time they got to celebrate together would be as lovers instead of just acquaintances. Yes, that was much better.
Gohan had been quite secretive about what was going on for her birthday. What she did know was that they were spending the evening with Papa and Buu and having dinner together. A pretty selfish little part of her wished she and Gohan could have some time alone together like they'd stolen on his birthday, but the fact that they would have an unbelievable amount of time alone together in a few short weeks made it all okay. Besides, it was a memory that she and Papa would be able to hang onto fondly as she left the house for the first time in her life.
Throughout the school day, Erasa kept shooting excited little glances at her; clearly she knew something Videl didn't. When she asked Gohan about it at one point, her boyfriend just smiled serenely and promised she'd find out what was going on after school. She didn't mind – she had long since come to adore Gohan's surprises for her and they were never once off the mark.
And when, finally, school did end, Videl was excited to find out that her first surprise for the day was a trip to the amusement park in town with Erasa and Sharpner. She hadn't been to this place in a long time, easily since middle school. But she was thrilled to be able to go with her boyfriend and best friends now. The excitement she felt almost made her feel like a little kid again.
The four walked across town together, laughing and chatting all the way, before finally arriving at the front gates. Gohan had reserved tickets for everyone weeks ago and they all made their way inside together, intent on enjoying several hours together before they had to break for dinner.
"Vi, we haven't come here in years!" Erasa squealed in excitement, grabbing onto her best friend's arm. Videl giggled; it was something Erasa had always done when they were younger but had stopped once they started high school. Perhaps her change in demeanor had been mostly responsible for that. But now she could more than make up for it by letting loose and having fun with Erasa like she hadn't in a long time now.
Videl linked her arm closely with the blonde's and watched as a small look of surprise stole her face. "You're right, it's been a while! Let's have some fun!" She was sure Erasa had to be surprised by her outward display of closeness, especially in mixed company, but she found she didn't really care much these days.
"Y-yeah!"
The four set off through the park, grabbing some snacks and munching on them together as they tried to figure out what to do. As usual, she and Sharpner got competitive real quick and they dragged Gohan and Erasa along to a ride where they could go challenge one another directly – an on-rails laser gun game where each person got their own score at the end based on how many targets they hit during the ride.
"You gonna give me a real challenge this time?" Sharpner shot at her as they waited at the front of the line for the cars to arrive. Videl smirked at him, her eyes narrowing.
"If by real challenge you 'are you gonna beat me so bad it would've been less embarrassing if I'd just chickened out,' then yes."
"Ooh that's some big talk, birthday girl! Let's see if you can back it up!"
"Easy, you two. Don't scare anyone behind us away from the ride," Erasa chided, rolling her eyes. Gohan laughed lightly at her comment.
The cars arrived and they paired off, Videl going with Gohan and Erasa with Sharpner. She had considered going with Sharpner to really go head-to-head with him, but she didn't want to cause that much of a scene. Besides, she'd never been on rides like these with Gohan before.
"Darling am I being too competitive?" she asked as she lifted the toy blaster from the holster in front of them. Gohan laughed and met her gaze.
"Not at all! Besides, it's your birthday; you can be as competitive as you want! And I want you to win, so go for it!"
"Yeah, you're right! I'm gonna do it then!"
The ride itself was delightful. Gohan had a good time learning the way it all worked and Videl blasted every target that she could possibly hit. After the ride finished, Videl felt quite pleased with her performance. Given that Gohan had never done something like this before, he did surprisingly well himself. As Sharpner told her his score, Videl puffed herself up and put on a haughty smirk. She had won fairly convincingly.
"Guess that's what you get for challenging me! I'm just too good to beat that easily."
"Now hang on, Vi," came Erasa's sly voice, "just because you beat Sharpie doesn't mean you won!"
"What?"
"Check this out!"
Erasa had managed to beat everyone's score. And for the first time in her life, Videl was thrilled to have lost. She even played it up just a bit so her best friend could have some more fun. It really was like they were kids again. And she was loving every minute of it.
"Hey, why don't we go on a roller coaster?" Erasa proposed as they walked. Videl felt herself tense up and squeezed Gohan's hand tightly. She hated roller coasters.
"I'm game," Sharpner answered easily, "but didn't Videl use to avoid those? Should we maybe do something else?"
"N-no! It's fine! I fly around all the time anyway, why should I be scared of a little roller coaster anymore?" She hoped that was convincing enough to deflect attention away from her. Luckily, as she usually did, Erasa hurried the conversation along.
"Then let's do it!" the blonde sang, ushering them towards the largest one in the middle of the park.
As they walked, Gohan leaned in close and spoke softly into her ear. "You sure, Love? You seemed a bit nervous just then." She sighed and met his gaze with a resigned smile.
"You're so aware of me, just like always. Yeah, I'm sure. Honestly, I despise roller coasters…but 'Rase is so excited and I really do fly with you all the time these days. I'm sure I'll do better with it now than I used to." Gohan squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"I'm sure you will, too. And besides, I'll be right next to you holding your hand the whole time if you need me to."
"Yes please."
"How come you don't like roller coasters anyway, Doll?"
"I dunno, really. I just have always had a thing about being out of control of my own movement, I guess. It makes me nervous…"
"I kinda noticed that the few times I've flown with you in my arms or like when I jumped during our dance at the party. Sorry about all that, by the way."
"Don't be," she assured him, a warm smile stealing her face. "I never feel nervous or unsafe when I'm in your arms, Sweetheart." Gohan blushed adorably but gave her a grin as well.
"They'll always be around you when you need them."
"You're just the best. Thank you for my birthday surprise."
"You're welcome, Angel."
"Hey, you two coming?" Sharpner's voice called out. She hadn't even realized they'd stopped moving a few sentences ago. Laughing together, the two hurried towards their friends, joining the line and chatting again.
"You know, Vi, I'm really glad we got to come do this today," Erasa told her after a little while. They had hit a lull in the games they were playing to pass the time and the blonde spoke suddenly, as if it had been on her mind the whole time.
"Me too, 'Rase. Thank you all for bringing me here to celebrate!"
"Do you think…we'll get to celebrate together again someday…?"
Videl was a little surprised by her friend's words. She hadn't expected Erasa to get emotional like this, especially over something she figured the girl already knew the answer to. "Of course we will!"
"You mean it?" Her eyes were a little glassy now. "I just…I get worried that we'll never be together like this again after we graduate…"
"Hey," she began, stepping closer to her friend and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Just because we aren't at the same school anymore doesn't mean you'll ever stop being my best friend." She hugged Videl suddenly and sniffed.
"You mean that?"
"Of course I do. You've been my best friend since we were little kids. You, Sharpner, Gohan – I'm never letting any of you go. You're my best friends and my second family."
"Remember what you told me, 'Rase?" Gohan began from nearby. "When I was worried about Videl and I staying together in college, you told me that just because things were different for school didn't mean anything else had to change. And that's true of all of us too. Just because Videl and I are going up north in April doesn't mean we won't all spend time together anymore."
"He's right," Videl reassured her. "We're not even technically that far away – we can always fly down for a weekend and spend it with you whenever you want!" There was silence for a few moments before Erasa pulled back, sniffing and blinking several times, her eyes still shimmering lightly.
"You mean it?"
"I swear it."
"…thanks Vi. I'm sorry I doubted you."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. This is a pretty scary time for all of us. It's exciting but it's intimidating too."
"She's right, E," Sharpner finally interjected, a gentle smile on his face. "I'm not even starting college yet and I feel the same uncertainty you do. But I know we'll all be okay. After everything the four of us have been though? The world would have to end again to tear us apart!"
"…yeah," Erasa finally conceded, a tiny smile appearing on her face. "Thanks, guys."
"I should be the one thanking you for an amazing birthday!" Videl sang, grinning at her best friend. Finally, the somber feeling that seemed to have taken hold of Erasa vanished as she lit up again at long last.
"I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself, Vi! We'll have to do things like this every time we get the chance!"
"We will, 'Rase. I promise."
And it started right now. Videl was so happy to be celebrating her birthday with some of the most important people in the world that she hadn't even thought about leaving in a few weeks. But it made sense that everyone was dealing with the same hesitations and fears that she was. She knew they'd all be just fine though. She and Gohan were faster than the jet copters she used to rely on, after all. They would never be separated for that long and their friendships would remain as strong as ever.
That was something that Videl was very happy to know and trust.
…
But there was one other thing she knew because of that day, too – she still hated roller coasters. A lot.
With the sun starting to set, Videl and Gohan said goodbye to Sharpner and Erasa and began their flight back to the Satan Mansion. Having found a secluded place to take to the skies from, the young couple made their way home hand in hand, a warm, fuzzy feeling wrapping around Videl like a blanket.
"Thank you for planning all that, my love. I haven't been there in years and I forgot how much fun I used to have. It was even better that you were next to me this time, too!" Gohan shot her a gentle smile.
"I'm so glad you enjoyed it! When I was brainstorming with 'Rase a few weeks ago, she mentioned the three of you used to go there in elementary and middle school. I thought it might be nice to do again before we graduated, especially for your birthday."
"It really was. You know, it's funny; I got caught up with this idea when I started high school that I shouldn't 'act like a kid' anymore. And I guess I convinced myself that meant not enjoying the things I used to. Playing in amusement parks, goofing off after school, sleeping in on days off – those were all things kids did. But since I was supposed to be older and more mature now, I needed to do more responsible things – studying on my days off, helping the police the way I started doing, going home right after class otherwise. I think it really caused a bit of a rift between 'Rase, Sharpner, and me."
"Hey, you shouldn't beat yourself up for things that happened in the past, 'Del. Everyone grows and changes at their own pace." She met his onyx eyes and saw comfort and compassion sparkling in them, drawing a smile from her.
"You're absolutely right. Don't worry; I'm not getting down on myself. I'm just realizing how silly that kind of thinking was, especially when I compare it to days like today. In thirty years, I won't remember the random criminals I took off the streets during my second year of high school. But I will remember the birthday that my perfect boyfriend brought my best friends and I to the amusement park I had so much fun in growing up just before we graduated."
"I'm just so happy you had such a good time, Angel. Even if we did have to ride the roller coaster in the end." Videl made a face like she'd eaten something sour.
"I can't believe those things still get to me like that. I gotta say, though, having your arm to hold onto made it a lot more bearable than it would've been otherwise!" Gohan squeezed her hand warmly.
"I've always got you."
"I know."
A comfortable silence fell between them for several moments, Videl still lost in thought a bit. Her mind was still dwelling on how she had changed throughout high school, both at the beginning and at the end. At some point, she really had withdrawn into herself. It was probably right around the time Papa had come out of his stupor. For the life of her, she couldn't pinpoint exactly why, though.
"Thank you," she said suddenly. Gohan's eyes widened a bit.
"For what?" he asked her gently.
"You brought back the girl I used to be before I decided it was too childish to enjoy life. Until I met you, I had kinda become a different person than I was growing up." Gohan just smiled at her and shook his head.
"I don't think I did nearly as much as you're giving me credit for. You were the one who decided to come out of your shell with me after we all got back to the Lookout that day."
"You accepted me like that, though. I think I was scared that people wouldn't take me seriously if I didn't come off all intense and driven. But knowing that there was nothing wrong with being myself changed a lot about my life. If it hadn't been for that, my friendship with Sharpner probably would've fallen apart after the Tenkaichi Budōkai. 'Rase and I might've drifted even further apart than we had. I don't like thinking about what might've happened if I stayed stuck in my own stubborn little world."
"Hey, you weren't as different when we first met as you think. I fell for you before we ever even met Buu, remember?" Videl felt her cheeks heat up.
"…yeah, I remember," she conceded, a resigned smile stealing her lips.
"So you had a few years where you were finding yourself; we all do! And you're still best friends with 'Rase and even better friends with Sharpner than when I met you all."
"You're right. I guess I'm just glad I woke up in time to enjoy the end of high school with all of you. I'm not worried about staying friends with them, but 'Rase is right – things will be different from now on. It's a little scary to think about."
Gohan drifted a bit closer to her and nodded. "I know what you mean. I keep worrying what things'll be like when I don't live at home anymore, you know? Goten's always happy to wake me up, Mom always has breakfast made, and now even Dad's back home for the first time in years. It'll be strange not to be there with them for the first time in my life." It was Videl's turn to squeeze his hand comfortingly.
"I feel the same way. Not seeing Papa every morning will be so strange and foreign to me. Even though we had a rough few years after Mama passed away, it was still something that felt 'right' about each day, you know? But even with all that uncertainty, I'm really excited for what's next," she admitted, locking eyes with him and grinning.
"Me too. I may have a bit of a harder time adjusting to it at first, but I'm really happy about where we'll be in a few weeks."
"Don't worry, Sweetheart. If there's anything upsetting or intimidating about it, I'll be right there to support you, just like you're always there for me."
"I know you will be."
"Just think! We'll wake up in each other's arms to start every day, we'll make breakfast together in the mornings, we'll head to school hand-in-hand like always – even though things will be a bit different, we'll have each other to enjoy our new days with!" Gohan's warm smile intensified.
"I really can't wait. I love you, Videl." No matter how much more comfortable they were with each other, those words always caused her to blush badly. Especially when he said them first. And this time was no exception.
"I love you too, Gohan."
When they finally touched down at the Satan Mansion, Videl found that Papa had been hard at work on dinner. He didn't cook very often, but it was always a special occasion when he did. Even though she and Gohan had become quite good at it themselves, he still had a talent for it that he'd cultivated after Mama had passed away. Even at his lowest points, he hadn't wanted her to ever go hungry or rely on takeout food every night. What surprised her most, though, was the fact that Buu was not only helping him cook but doing some cooking himself.
If she had learned one thing about him since accepting him, it was that Majin Buu hated to exert any kind of effort for food. He would sooner gripe and complain for literal hours that he was starving than get up and boil a pot of water himself to cook something with. Perhaps that somewhat explained why he only turned objects into sweets – they were immediately ready to be eaten. So neither she nor Gohan could keep their mouths from falling open when their eyes fell on the pink giant giddily stirring next to his best friend.
"I…Gohan, pinch me. This can't be real."
"…only if you pinch me too…"
"Oh it's real all right!" Papa called from across the room, grinning over at them. "When I told Buu it was for your birthday dinner, he was excited to give me a hand!"
"Buu want to cook for Videl! But…just once."
"Aw, thanks Buu! That's so nice of you! What's for dinner?"
"Buu and Mr. Satan make udon! Buu in charge of stirring sauce." It seemed he was given the easiest job, but he was still perfectly happy to lend a hand.
Soon, dinner was ready and the four sat down at the frankly enormous dining table and ate together. Gohan had been over for meals once in a while but this was the first time Buu had joined them so directly, not to mention the first time Papa had cooked in a long while. Dinner was excellent and Videl enjoyed every bit of it, singing her praises of it to the two chefs, both of whom swelled with pride and lit up. Gohan even asked Buu if he'd teach him the recipe, to which he excitedly agreed. If Gohan was trying to encourage him to keep cooking for himself, it might actually be working.
After dinner, Papa ushered them all into the entrainment room and insisted Videl sit down on the couch with Gohan and unwrap her presents. Gohan interjected quickly though. "Actually Mr. Satan, would you mind if we did her presents from my family first? I figure yours and Buu's should go after that, not before."
"Thanks Gohan! Sure, I don't mind at all!" the man roared, grinning. Videl just turned her head and looked curiously at Gohan.
"Your family got me presents? They didn't have to do that."
"There was no way they weren't going to! You're basically a part of our family already." She blushed a bit but didn't protest anymore.
Gohan produced a capsule from his pocket and clicked the button, tossing it nearby. Three presents of varying sizes and quality of wrapping appeared before her eyes. "Gohan, this is so much! Did they each get me something? I feel bad…"
"Don't worry about it! Mom and Dad couldn't agree on one thing to get you, so they each got you something instead. And Goten was insistent that he give you a gift too."
"Well please tell them all thank you for me later tonight. I'll tell them next time I see them too."
"Of course! Why don't you start with Goten's?"
Videl curiously tore the paper off of the little Saiyan's gift and finally found her way to a stuffed frog that fit in the palm of her hand. "Aw, this is so cute!"
"You think so?" he asked, grinning.
"Yeah! Don't you?"
"I mean, I'm fine with it, I just figured Goten's love of frogs may not be the most universally shared thing."
"Don't worry; I think it's adorable! And this little guy will have a cozy new home right next to everyone else upstairs. How did he know to get me something like this, though?" Gohan grinned at her.
"I might've mentioned it'd be a good idea."
"Well surprise, surprise, you were right." She pecked him on the cheek before sitting back and smiling.
"Okay, next is from my mom."
Videl opened the most neatly wrapped present and came across four books within it, a set it seemed. "Ooh, what are these?"
"Mom said they're logic puzzles. She's really excited for you to be a detective so she wanted to help by getting you something that you could actually use to solve mysteries and stuff. She couldn't decide on a single volume though, so she just picked them all." Videl felt herself smile despite the slight guilt she felt.
"Gohan, your family is so sweet to me. This is so great; I'll absolutely use them and I know I'll get a lot out of them."
"Hey, I didn't know they made things like that," Mr. Satan interjected, eyeing the books curiously. As Videl handed him one to get a better look, Gohan chuckled lightly.
"If anyone could find something like this, it's definitely Mom. She's always had a gift for supporting someone's educational dreams."
"So last is your dad's then, right?" she asked, eyeing the last box curiously. He nodded and presented her with the last gift. It was more neatly wrapped than Gohan's previous birthday gift had been. He must've improved with practice in the last year. She wondered what Goku could have possibly decided to give her.
"Anything I should know about this one?" Videl asked, beginning to unwrap it.
"You'll see for yourself."
And indeed she did. Opening the box within revealed three training Gis similar to Gohan's own or her Saiyaman suit – a blue one, a pink one, and an orange one. The orange one in particular caught her eye, though; it matched Goku's own (not to mention Gohan's and Goten's) exactly. Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized it.
"These are…"
"Yep! Dad said since you're already working so hard to fight like we do, he wanted you to be able to dress like we do too! I pointed him in the right direction on the colors but he was pretty insistent on an orange one that matched the three of us."
"That's so thoughtful," she managed at last, still completely stunned. To have her efforts and strength recognized by someone who had been the protector of the Earth for decades was incredibly flattering. The idea of matching Gohan, too, made her quite giddy.
"Please tell him thank you for me. Your whole family. These are such sweet and thoughtful gifts." Gohan smiled at her and squeezed her hand.
"I'll tell them as soon as I'm home, promise."
"Tell 'em thanks for taking care of my little girl, too!" Mr. Satan said, giving a thumbs up across the room. Gohan grinned and nodded.
"I definitely will! Anyway, sorry about interrupting before."
"Ah, you didn't interrupt anything at all! I'm glad we're all spoiling Videl today! Okay Buu, you're up!"
"Yay!" Buu toddled across the room and found his present, fairly sloppily wrapped, and placed it on the table before Videl. "Buu work hard with Mr. Satan on present! Hope you like!"
Videl unwrapped it, completely at a loss for what he might've wrapped for her, and was surprised to find a familiar sight beneath it – the same tin she had used to give Gohan cookies back on his birthday. Did that mean Buu had made her something? What could it possibly be? She opened the lid and felt her throat constrict tightly at the sight.
Buu had made cupcakes for her. But not just any cupcakes; they were the same cupcakes she and Gohan had made for Erasa and Sharpner following the Orange Star attack…the same cupcakes Mama used to make for her birthday. Sensing her emotions well up and remembering the significance, Gohan leaned over and wrapped an arm around her. She sniffed a bit before squeezing his hand and rising to her feet.
"You made these for me Buu?"
"Mostly! Mr. Satan have to help Buu in the end or kitchen might've burnt down. But he tell Buu these cupcakes special for Videl so Buu want to make them!" That look of pride and innocence was just too wholesome and she finally felt her joy overwhelm her.
Crossing the space between them, Videl hugged Buu. She felt him freeze in surprise and even heard a small noise of confusion escape his mouth but after a few moments, she felt him hug her back. It was a strange feeling. She had never hugged Buu before. She had barely ever touched him at all. It was almost like she was hugging dough. While she didn't think of him as a monster who destroyed the world anymore, the feeling of hugging the being that had once rampaged across the planet was still a bit odd to her. But much stronger than that feeling was the one of happiness and gratitude she felt in that moment.
"Thank you, Buu. Mama used to make these for my birthday when I was little…when she was still with us."
"Hoh. Should Buu not have made then?" She shook her head.
"No, I'm really happy you did. The last time I had these for my birthday was when she made them for me. I think it's really amazing that I get to have them again now that you've joined our family." Buu didn't seem to know what to say.
"It's a perfect gift, Buu," Mr. Satan assured him. She nodded and finally pulled back, smiling at him. She hadn't dissolved into tears, though she'd come close. It was pretty amazing, the way her feelings about Buu had changed so drastically. He really did feel like a brother to her these days.
After she recovered a bit and rejoined Gohan on the couch (his arm snugly around her), Mr. Satan produced his own present, a smaller box that fit in his palm. "And this is from me, Sweetpea. Me and…well, you'll see."
Videl, curious, unwrapped it carefully and found a small box within. Lifting the lid off of it, her eyes fell upon a silver bracelet. The design was sleek, two individual bands snaking up and down, crossing each other again and again with graceful arcs. It was bright and beautiful, if a bit unlike Papa's usual gifts.
"This is so beautiful! Thank you, Papa!"
"You're welcome, Pumpkin. But it's not just from me. I figured since you're leaving for college in a few weeks, I'd give you something a little more special than usual. This is from your mother, too. This bracelet was hers. She was wearing it the first day I met her and she wore it all the time over the years. She put it away after you were born and said she wanted you to have it someday, that she'd keep it safe until then. I figured…it might be a nice reminder that no matter where you are, we always love you."
"Papa…"
That was the last straw for Videl. Tears welled up in her eyes and she jumped up, crashing into him and pulling him into a big hug. He chuckled lightly and hugged her back, though she could sense the emotions welling within him as well.
Videl never struggled to remember Mama. She hadn't been that young when she'd passed away. These days, her memories were all positive and she loved reminiscing about her. But there were very few things that were actually hers that existed. She had been a pretty immaterial woman. The few things she had owned herself were still with them, but she was the kind of mother who would sooner buy mountains of things for her daughter than a single thing for herself. So to see this pristine bracelet, something she had treasured and then kept safe for Videl to inherit, was overwhelming in the best way possible.
"I'm sorry I never gave it to you before, Sweetpea. I'm not sure when exactly she wanted you to have it, but once I knew you were leaving for college, I figured the time was right." Videl sniffed and nodded.
"It's okay, I'm not upset at all. I never knew she had something like that. She was wearing it when you met?"
"She was! That bracelet was the second thing I noticed about her."
"What was the first?"
"Her eyes." Videl giggled lightly, trying to stay her light tears.
"That sounds just like the two of you. Was the third thing that she was too uptight and a stickler for the rules compared to you?"
"Sure was." The two began laughing together and Videl felt her emotions begin to settle back under her control again.
After a few more moments, she sat down next to Gohan again, carefully fastening the bracelet around her wrist. It felt warm and familiar even though she'd never seen it before, as if Mama were helping her put it on right then. She finished and just looked at it for several seconds.
"It's beautiful, Papa. Thank you so much."
She heard a loud sniffing sound before looking over to see Papa blowing his nose. "You're welcome, Sweetpea. It looks perfect on you!"
She felt Gohan squeeze her hand again. "He's right; it looks like it belongs with you."
"Thank you, Darling."
Papa always got her very sweet gifts, but this was in a league of its own. It was the first time she had ever been given something that had been her mother's. And she would treasure that bracelet the same way Mama had for all those years. Maybe she wasn't with them physically still, but Videl could still feel her presence around her every day. And now she'd have her to watch over her as she went off to college too.
It really was such a perfect gift.
It wasn't the last gift of the evening, of course. Papa, never one for subtlety, announced (quite loudly) that he and Buu had to clean up from dinner and that Gohan should probably entertain Videl for a while. Taking that as a sign that Gohan was planning to whisk her away to give her his present, she felt her heart flip in excitement. And sure enough, her handsome boyfriend rose to his feet before offering her his hand and helping her up.
He led her up to the balcony on the third floor, a place they never really went. Papa had clearly had a hand in getting it ready, though. There were a few chairs sitting out on it with some blankets in case they got cold. The weather had been warming up a bit lately with the arrival of spring, but the nights were still quite cool. And so, Videl found herself snuggled up next to Gohan, a blanket wrapped around them as they gazed out at the bright moon and twinkling stars together.
"We've never really sat out here before; this is nice," Videl commented, nestling into Gohan a bit more.
"It really is. Your dad told me about this place the other day and I thought it might be a nice place to give you your birthday present from me."
"I'm so excited to see what my thoughtful sweetheart of a boyfriend chose for me!" Gohan blushed a bit before grinning.
"I just really hope you like it; I've been so nervous about finding the right thing for you."
"Oh Darling, whatever you choose will be perfect, I just know it. Can I have it now?"
"S-sure," he managed, trying to hide his anxiousness. Videl giggled and nuzzled him once more.
"Don't be so nervous, Love. You could never get me a bad gift."
"I'll try not to be," he agreed, clicking the top of another capsule. A small, pristinely wrapped present appeared in his hand and he offered it to her. She sat up straighter and gazed at it. Silver paper glinted under the moonlight, a blue bow and ribbon decorating it.
"It's so nice I almost feel bad ripping the paper."
"You can always open it the way I do!"
"You know what? I'll try it, actually!"
Videl carefully undid the ribbon and unfolded the corners. It was strange how impatient this kind of unwrapping made her. She had never considered herself so excitable that she couldn't take her time with a present. But the process of unwrapping her gift from Gohan this way was slowly making her crazy. At last, she gave up and started to tear the paper away.
"I give up. The wrapping is nice but I'm way too curious what you got me!" Gohan just laughed and watched, his eyes dancing with anticipation.
When Videl finished with the paper, she saw a nice felt box, a deep blue color. She opened the box and gasped. Her eyes fell upon a gorgeous blue stone set into a silver necklace. The way the moonlight reflected off of it caused her mouth to fall open. It was dazzling.
"Gohan, this is so gorgeous!"
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course I do!" she insisted, lifting it carefully from the box and admiring it. "What kind of stone is this?"
"It's aquamarine. The woman working at the store told me aquamarine is March's birthstone so I thought it might be nice for you. Extra points since it's blue," he explained, laughing lightly. She flashed him a giant smile.
"This is really so sweet of you, Darling! It even matches Mama's bracelet!"
"That was on purpose!"
"Really?"
"Yep! I wanted to make sure I didn't step on your dad's toes so I called him up a little while ago and he told me he was going to give you your mom's bracelet. So I asked him what it looked like so I could match to it once I knew what I wanted to get for you." She met his dark gaze and felt that unbelievably wonderful feeling of warmth envelop her heart, mind, and body.
"You are just so amazing and wonderful to me."
"I…didn't know if you really like jewelry like that, but when I asked Mom if it was a good idea she said you'd appreciate it. I hope it's a nice present."
"It's a perfect present, my love. Thank you so much! Would you help me put it on?"
"Of course."
Videl brushed her hair out of the way and turned her back to Gohan, handing him the necklace. As his strong hands began the process of fastening it around her neck, she was reminded briefly of the time last summer when he had helped her put sunscreen on. The positioning was the same (as was the way her breath caught in her chest) but the feeling was different. Back then, things had felt a bit awkward and unfamiliar. But now, everything felt familiar and comforting.
"There you go," he said at last, letting the chain fall gently against the back of her neck. Gazing downwards, Videl eyed the marvelous blue stone with wonder. The way the moonlight refracted from its surface was just mesmerizing.
"Thank you! It's really so beautiful, Darling."
"Then it matches how beautiful you are, huh?" She blushed just a bit and met his eyes.
"You know, you've really gotten a lot smoother since we started dating." He shook his head and laughed.
"Nah, you just don't notice how awkward I am anymore."
"Mmm…could be! But if that's true, then I guess the same is true of you for me, don't you think?"
"What, you're saying we're both just awkward messes all the time?"
"That sounds like us, doesn't it?"
"…you do have a point."
The two began laughing together as Videl fell against Gohan's side once more. His arm found its way around her and she nestled in close with him, drawing their blanket back around them.
"Gohan?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for the most wonderful birthday I could ever ask for."
"You really enjoyed your day?"
"So very much. It's the best birthday I've had since Mama was still with us. Maybe the best I've ever had!" Gohan gave her a warm smile as he brushed some loose hair from her face.
"Then I'll make you the same promise you made me last May – I'll make sure your next birthday is even better than this one was!"
"As long as I get to spend them with you, every birthday will be just perfect from now on."
"You always will."
"I'm sorry we couldn't steal a little…'alone time' tonight like we got to back on your birthday," she whispered, a half-smile on her face. Gohan blushed but shook his head.
"Don't even worry about that. Pretty soon we'll have all the alone time we could ever ask for."
"Mm, I like the sound of that."
A comfortable silence fell between them for several moments before she felt his strong hands take hers, the warmth emanating from him spreading to her heart effortlessly. She looked up at him curiously and saw his perfect smile aimed directly at her.
"Happy birthday Angel."
"Thank you, Darling. I love you so much."
"And I love you too."
Without another word, he leaned in slowly and kissed her. It was a soft, gentle kiss, the kind that made her heart race and her toes curl. The kind that she had only dreamed of sharing with him last May but one that wasn't uncommon in the slightest anymore. The kind that made her feel more loved than she ever thought possible.
Another birthday had come and gone. She was nineteen now. About to start college. About to leave home for the first time in her life. And yet, she knew everything would be okay. More than okay. Because no matter what hardships or challenges the world might throw at her, she would have her Gohan to support her through all of it. That made all the uncertainty more than manageable. That's what kept her excited for the future.
Their future. Together.
2/24/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Hey again! I hope you enjoyed Videl's birthday! I really do have such a good time writing she and Gohan in wholesome, sweet scenarios and that's been such a fun thing to explore throughout this entire story. Now, for a few updates.
I've been saying the last few weeks that this story would end with Chapter 25, but I think it's actually going to end with Chapter 24 instead. I was planning out the last scenes and honestly I don't have enough to warrant an entire extra chapter other than just trying to stretch the number to a nice round 25. So with that said, I think I'm just going to combine all of my finale ideas into one big ending chapter that'll be slightly longer than usual (probably). So when is that happening?
Well, I'll be entirely honest here - I've burnt myself out pretty hard trying to keep up with this weekly self-imposed deadline. If my chapters were half the length that they currently are, I think it'd be fine, but since I usually write such involved and lengthy chapters, I've been running a bit empty creatively the last few weeks. I hope it doesn't feel that way in the writing, though. The scenes and inspirations still come to me pretty naturally, but catching my stride and really getting into writing uninterrupted has become much harder than it was earlier in the story. But with all that said, don't worry, I'm absolutely not abandoning this story and I'm not even stepping away. Not this close to the finale!
What I am going to do is give myself an extra week for the ending, though. Since this will be a slightly longer chapter than usual, I just don't think I'd get it written (or at least written well) by next Friday. So here's the plan! No update next week on Friday, March 3rd, but then the week after that, I'll post the grand finale on Friday, March 10th! This will give me plenty of time to get everything written, edited, perfected to my liking, and give everyone a satisfying finale to read! I hope everyone is cool with that; I'm very excited to finish this story out strong and show you all the ending I've had planned since Chapter 4 or 5.
So with that, I'll sign off here for now. Thank you all again for your support - it really does make this such a fun process, seeing that people enjoy this story! So until the final chapter, thanks again for all the kind words, views, and just reading in general! Everyone have a wonderful next two weeks and I'll see you back here on March 10th for the final installment of my story!