Gohan stood still.

Everything seemed to ring by his ears slowly, as if caught underwater. The boy called Trunks being from the future, the oncoming Android threat, the idea his father was supposed to get a heart virus and die.

Sickness. One of the few things the dragonballs couldn't undo if it killed you.

But it was okay now! They had medication for it. So, when Daddy did get sick, he'd be fine now.

And he was going to train with Daddy and Piccolo! Hadn't he been looking forward to this for months? Ever since he started training, really.

Yet, everything seemed to be passing by slowly, haltingly. It was as if he was outside if his own body and just watching.

Watching as his father explained how he survived Namek. Watching as they considered the options to survive the androids. Watching as his father chatted, like he'd been gone but a few days and not a year and a half.

Everything whirled about him, each thought coming faster, stronger until it was like punches to the gut. Time travel. Freeza. King Cold. Androids. Red Ribbon Army. Dr. Gero. Heart virus. Death.

Gohan's stomach twisted, his legs shook and it was hard to swallow. A horrible acidic taste filled his mouth. It was as if he were in one of those twirling rides at the amusement park but without any of the fun.

Next thing he knew, he was crouched over, in his hands and knees, staring at rock and dirt. His stomach heaved ovce, then twice before it surrendered anything left of the breakfast he'd had that morning.

Despite not even having fought, by the time he finished his third heave, he was exhausted. His arms shook, he closed his eyes and wondered if it was all a dream.

"Hey, you feel better now, kiddo?"

A strong arm wrapped around his chest, helping to pull him to his feet. Trembling, Gohan clung to it, turning as soon as he could to find himself face to face with his father.

The others, save Vegeta and Piccolo, had crowded as close as they dared.

"You okay, little buddy?" Krillin asked.

"You sick?" Yamcha

"Seemed fine when we came out here." Bulma. "Too hot?"

So many voices. So much going on. How were they ever going to handle this? How were they going to stop that terrible future. How come he couldn't get one day…no, one hour with his father home before the world imploded on itself again.

He opened his mouth to say so. To say how utterly unfair all this was. How it was so much and too much and why was it always them?

But Trunks didn't deserve everything that happened to him. Yet, he wasn't complaining, just grasping for hope, any kind of hope.

How could Gohan go against that? And all the people the Androids were going to kill? That wasn't right.

But what blubbered out in his voice was a sob.

No, not a sob. A wail. A cry of someone who had reached their absolute limit and couldn't take even an iota of pressure more.

Coward, he told himself. Weakling. What Daddy must think of you now—

But then there were arms under his and he was up, tight into a chest with a strong hand on his head, pressing it into a shoulder.

"Shh, Shh, Shh, it's okay. It's okay."

Okay. Yes. Daddy was here. Daddy was home. He'd make sure everything would be okay.

Gohan's fists ground into unfamiliar material—that odd Yardrat outfit—but the smell and feel was all Daddy. His face found that shoulder and all the worry, all the pain, all the sadness erupted in a fit of tears that put his younger self to shame.

OOO

Goku held his son tight, tucking him into him into his chest. Gohan's sobbing hurt his heart. He heard so much pain and fear in that cry and much as it bothered him to hear hurt from anyone, it was doubly true of his own child.

How many nights had he dreamed of holding his son again, of smiling at his wife, of feeling the familiar wind of the mountains again? Now, it was here and true.

"He softens with you, Son." Piccolo's gruff voice carried more contempt than Goku liked. "I hope you don't plan on letting that happen during our training."

Goku set him with a glare and his voice came out dipped in poison. "I'll train him how I think he should be trained." To Gohan, he laid his cheek on the boy's head. "Shh, you're alright, son. It's okay."

To his credit, Gohan was attempting to swallow his tears but that only resulted in a more pitiful snorting cry. His grip on Goku's shoulders and neck was iron-clad.

"So much!" Gohan finally got out. "Freeza, you hone, Androids, sickness…too much, Daddy!"

Goku smiled as now this made a lot of sense. "Pretty overwhelming, isn't it?"

A snotty nod into his neck.

"It's a lot for me to take in too, Kiddo. I think you're the smart one!"

"Me?" A tearful face looked up at him.

Goku grinned and gave the boy a quick peck on the nose. "Yeah! Here, all of us are babbling because we don't wanna talk about how scary some of this is. But you say it out loud."

Goku meant that too. It was scary. In more ways than one. Exciting but frightening. He was surprised he'd managed to keep track of all the info that had just been dropped in his lap.

And he was an adult! His poor Gohan was only seven! Let him cry.

"But we'll handle it." Goku promised. "We'll do it together. But not today. And not tomorrow." He looked directly at Piccolo when he said that. "We've got three years. First thing I'm doing is taking you home, seeing your mom and relaxing."

"We shouldn't waste any time." Piccolo argued.

Goku shook his head. "And I won't be. I haven't seen my family in over a year, Piccolo. You wanna train? Fine. We'll join you in a few days."

He tightened his grip on his son, adjusted his weight, and relished the fact he finally had his child back in his arms. "I've got more important things to manage."

By the time Goku flew to the edge of the mountain range, Gohan had exhausted himself. Tears and excitement tended to do that and he still had a little boy's body and stamina after all.

Goku didn't mind. He held the boy close to his chest. Sort of reminded him when Gohan would wear himself out as a toddler. Eventually, even if the boy protested, his tiny body would take what it needed by force. It was the same now.

Gohan slept, not a care or fear to disturb him, clutched tight to Goku's chest. Utter and complete trust that should anything happen, his father would handle it.

Goku hoped he would be worthy of such trust.

"You've gotten so big." He whispered softly. "And so strong. Even more than when I saw you on the battlefield or against Freeza. Daddy missed so much." He traced his finger and moved a stray hair behind the boy's ear. "Hope you plan to tell me all about it."

They moved past the wall of trees, over the waterfall and beyond the field of bamboo. A tiny house came into view and wonderful smells were emitting from it.

"Your Mom must be making lunch." Goku licked his lips. Oh, he'd missed her meals. Nothing, living or dead, could come close.

As his feet hit the front lawn, he adjusted his grip on his son to prevent him from waking and as he did, a familiar clatter of feet from inside the house made his face break into a grin.

"Gohan, what did I tell you about running off—" the door flung open and ChiChi's words died in her tongue.

Goku smiled, put a finger to his lips and nodded toward Gohan before saying, "Hi, ChiChi. Sorry I'm late."

Her face paled and her shaky hands went up to her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Goku…"

Stepping forward, Goku gently grasped her chin and knelt down, giving her a soft kiss. "I didn't mean to take so long. But I had to wait until it was safe."

"Safe?" Her voice choked. "Safe from what?"

"Me." His voice turned morbid. "I wasn't going to come home until I knew I wouldn't hurt you or Gohan."

"Hurt us?" She shook her head. "Goku, what are you talking about? You'd never hurt us. It's not in you."

"…something happened on Namek, ChiChi. Didn't Gohan tell you?"

She frowned. "He gave me some details. Bit much to swallow. But…our lives have been nothing but surprise after surprise the last three years."

"I know. I'm sorry." He meant that. Losing himself in her eyes, he said, "And more are coming." Lifting his hand, he shook his head. "Later. I'm home. I want…to enjoy that. I'm home."

She stared at him and he could see the anger in her. The past year and a half of worry and loneliness. It burned in her eyes.

But just as powerful was an overwhelming love that took her whole body. She flung her arms around his neck and with tears rubbing down her cheeks, she kissed him back.

He'd missed this. Her touch. Her smell. The sound of her voice. All of it. He lingered there in the doorway, drowning in it.

When they parted, Gohan stirred, his tiny nose twitching. "Is that lunch?" He asked through a yawn just as Goku's stomach growled.

ChiChi laughed. A bright, melodious sound. "Yes, yes it is! Both of you clean up and it should be ready to eat by the time you're done. We'll talk about…well, everything, later. What's important now is Goku's home."

Goku grinned "C'mon, little man! I don't want that food getting cold!"

They all but flew upstairs.

What had happened on Namek? What could frighten her Goku so much it kept him away for more than a year? What did Goku mean more changes were coming? Why had Gohan insisted on leaving this morning? They all linked together; she knew it.

But as she heard Gohan laugh and squeal, she smiled herself and made her way to the kitchen.

Doesn't matter. She told herself. Whatever it was, whatever it is, we'll handle it.

Time had taken her family apart for years. It wouldn't do it again.

She swore to it.