"Goku…Goku…Where are you, Goku?"

"Here!" Goku shouted, rushing around the corner. "I'm right here!"

He spotted her shadow on the far wall and raced after it but when he turned the corner she was already at the other end of the hall again. He growled and hurried after her.

"Hold up!"

If she would just stay still, he could catch up to her already but her shadow never seemed to stay put, always moving beyond his reach! He didn't know how she did it. Had she always been so fast? He could hear her giggling, her sweet scent heavy all around him. His fingers itch, wanting to hold her, but every time he thought he was within reach she disappeared again!

"Goku…"

"Stop running from me, damn it!"

He awoke with a start, his chest heaving as if he'd been sprinting laps.

"Oh man!" Goku groaned. He'd had that dream again!

The same one he'd been having off and on for over a year now and it seemed like it was only getting worse! Sure they had started out nice enough, a flashback to a memory, like that time by the lake or Chi-Chi swinging that tiger around. But he'd made the mistake one day of wondering if she'd grown like him and then he'd started dreaming about her kisses and the feel of her in his arms and suddenly every night he was chasing after her in his dreams, always failing to catch up!

He knew why they'd increase too.

It was because this was the year he was supposed to marry Chi-Chi and his brain wasn't going to let him forget it!

Goku ran a hand through his hair, feeling guilty. It wasn't like he'd really had a choice. He couldn't just sit back and do nothing with the threat of Piccolo looming on the horizon. He knew Chi-Chi would understand.

But that wasn't the only reason he'd been feeling uneasy.

He had sworn to never forget Chi-Chi. Had tried his hardest to memorize all that he could the last few times he'd seen her…but despite his efforts, the more time that passed, the harder it was for him to recall what she looked like. He remembered the basics. Dark hair and eyes, pale skin and a pretty smile. She was strong and smelled of smoke and wildflowers like those on Mt. Frypan. And she could cook too!

But the finer details, the ones that made Chi-Chi Chi-Chi were all a blur. And if she had changed as much as he had? Would he even recognize her when he finally saw her again?

He wasn't so sure and that scared him.

He didn't want to forget the way she'd made him feel or the feelings she'd invoke. They were supposed to get married and become a family. Could they still do that if he couldn't remember her anymore?

WHACK!

"OW!" Goku cried, cradling the back of his head. "What was that for?!"

"You're not paying attention," Mr. Popo chided.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

Goku rubbed his head, frustrated. He was supposed to be training, he couldn't afford to get distracted right now, but that's what the dreams were! Distracting! He couldn't think of anything else. If only he could make them stop. Maybe…maybe if he could just visit Chi-Chi for one da—

WHACK!

"OW!"

"You're still not paying attention, Goku."

"Sorry, sorry."

"Are you?" Mr. Popo asked doubtfully. "Do you wish to discuss what has you so distracted?"

"No! That's okay!" Goku declined, waving his hands frantically.

The last thing he wanted was to talk about Chi-Chi with someone else…especially not with Mr. Popo. These things he felt about Chi-Chi…he didn't want to share them with anyone…at least not until he could see Chi-Chi again and figure things out for himself.

"Hmmm…sometimes I forget how young humans are," Mr. Popo smiled, patting Goku's shoulder. "I'm sure your friends are missing you as much as you miss them."

Goku stiffened, his gaze darting to the other man suspiciously, but saw only genuine sympathy staring back at him in return. He sighed and scratched his head.

"Yeah…it's been a long time since we last hung out," he admitted after a minute.

"The measure of time is never constant. For one with so little years, the time without is a great deal, but live as long as I have and you'll see it is not so long."

"Huh?"

"Come. Let me show you a room where time really does not matter."

"What?"

Goku didn't understand but as he followed Mr. Popo into the room behind the golden door, he began to.

o0o

Chi-Chi stared into the sky, watching the clouds slowly roll on by as she wondered for what had to be the hundredth time just that morning what Goku was up to. Which was silly. She knew what he was up to, he was training with Kami, a great honor, but not unexpected for someone as amazing as Goku.

She also knew he wouldn't be finished until it was time for the Tenkaichi Budokai, so any chance to see him sooner and get married like they planned was currently put on hold. Which was fine, they hadn't set an exact date, and as happy as being married to Goku would make her, she wouldn't have had him pass up this opportunity. It was better, in fact, that he was doing this now rather than after they wed. She didn't plan on letting him out of her sight ever again! So he might as well do what he needed to do now.

And yet…her heart still felt restless nonetheless.

Five years was such a long time. It hadn't seemed so when they had first made their promises but now…now she couldn't help but wonder if they shouldn't have planned to meet up a little sooner, even if just for a day or two.

She had changed so much in such a short time, her body was now that of a woman's, her strength had long surpassed that of her father's, and she'd traveled the world, gaining so many new experiences and insights that she felt like an entirely new person than the girl she'd been when they'd last met.

Goku was surely different too.

And she knew his adventures probably surpassed her own. Did his fight with the Demon King Piccolo change him? Or was he still that sweet, confident, guileless boy she had fallen in love with so very long ago?

She had no way of gaining any answers to her questions. She would just have to be content to wait until they were finally reunited again.

As frustrating as her situation was, there was one thing still the same.

Chi-Chi smiled as she patted the fluffy cloud she'd been stretched out on. Nimbus was a constant reminder that though she may have changed over the years, in her heart she was still much the same, and it comforted her to have a reminder of the boy she missed so much.

It would just be a little longer now. She would see him again soon.

And she hoped…she hoped his feelings hadn't changed. That he liked who she had become and that he was as eager to start their lives together as she was.

She hoped he still remembered her.

Chi-Chi sighed and turned her head, looking towards her father's castle off in the distance. She should probably head back now and start on any one of the dozens of tasks she'd self appointed to herself—despite having an extra year to prepare, there was still so much to do!—but…

Her gaze drifted back to the clouds. Maybe that could wait until tomorrow.

Today…today her heart just needed to stare at the clouds for a little while longer.