A/N: This takes place sometime between the end of Buu Saga and before Super, Goku and Chichi are about 37-38. This fic will be very bittersweet, mentions of tissue/blood, miscarriage, etc. This is based off my own experiences and I hope you can enjoy the read despite how painful it might be. This fic has been very therapeutic for me, so again, I hope you enjoy it. If you follow me on Twitter you can see the beautiful piece of artwork that inspired the earrings mentioned in this fic.
Goku waited patiently. Well, sort of, his 'patiently waiting' consisted mostly of pacing outside of the bathroom door. He was fighting for his life not opening the door and demanding his wife pee faster. Besides, he was still healing from the slap he got for the last time he did that. He groaned quietly to himself before giving in and pressing himself to the door.
"Chichi," he whined through his teeth, "Are you done yet? What does it say?" His tone ended with a whine and he earned a giggle from his wife from within the bathroom.
"I just finished peein' on it," she laughed before putting herself back together and allowing him entry. Goku walked quickly through the door, careful not to knock it off its hinges, and directly to where she stood at the sink. He peered over her shoulder at the little white stick sitting on the counter.
"I see one line," he said excitedly.
"You have to see two, Goku," Chichi reminded.
"Well, where's the second one?" He whined.
"It'll pop up in a few minutes, just like the last five tests did." She bumped her husband back with her butt. When he took a step back she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her weight against him, his hands fell to her hips and she stood on her tiptoes to plant a chaste kiss on his lips. When they broke, she looked at him carefully, "How are you feeling about all this?" Her question ended in a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Goku asked.
"About how sudden this is," Chichi confessed, "You've only just come back to life. My body isn't what it used to be and I'm so much older than you now-"
"Stop sayin' that," he cut her off. "We're still the same age, I keep telling you that. And you're still in peak physical condition." He emphasized his words by rubbing his hand over her plump rump and squeezing. He earned an unamused sigh from his wife and he closed his eyes in understanding, "You're worried."
"I'm scared," she said softly. "I'm scared it'll be like the times before..." Goku paused at that. It had been a long time since she'd brought up their Moon Babies. Their too early little angels that didn't get to make it. They had three altogether, two from right before Gohan and one right after. Goten had been her rainbow baby. This would be their fourth.
It was hard to look back at what it had done to them, more specifically, what it had done to Chichi.
Thinking of it had Chichi's heart thudding in her chest, Goku could sense the anxiety radiating from her small frame. Truthfully, he shared her fears. But he had hope, too. More hope than fear, he decided.
"Everything will be okay…we'll just take it day by day and figure it out along the way." He said encouragingly. "Maybe this is our chance to have a little girl?"
Chichi gave him a small smile, "That would be nice…another boy wouldn't be so bad though, either."
Satisfied with her smile, Goku turned his attention back to the pregnancy test. "Oh, weird," he said frowning, "the line on this one is lighter than the others."
It was Chichi's turn to frown. "Well," she said thoughtfully, "It is pretty early…it could just be the test." Ignoring the pang of dread, they both decided to begin packing for their family beach they'd be going on in a few days.
OOO
Chichi walked around the house while Goku and the boys packed the car, giving their home one last glance before they were to leave for a week. The Son family had been busy tidying the house in preparation for their trip to the beach. The kitchen was pristine, as usual, the games and books that usually littered the living room were put away, beds all made, the coffee maker turned off and there was nothing else she could think of that might be amiss. Before she walked out of the door, she decided to use the restroom first before their long drive.
Goku stood outside of the well-packed car, holding the passenger door open for his wife while the boys chattered in the backseat. When she finally came outside, he noticed immediately that her demeanor had changed and he walked briskly to meet her at the front door while she locked it.
"What's wrong?" They'd been together long enough that it didn't take words to notice when something was off.
She sighed as she turned, "Nothing. I'm bleeding a little bit, that's all."
Goku stole a glance at the car from over his shoulder, making sure the boys weren't paying attention since they'd decided not to tell them about the pregnancy yet. He turned his attention back to her with a furrowed brow and noticed that though she was tense, she was calm. It eased him a bit to find her collected and he thought that perhaps this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Bleeding this early can be normal sometimes, right?" He remembered.
She nodded. "Yup," she continued as they made their way to the car, taking their time in their stroll. "It's only a bit of spotting, so it could definitely be nothing."
Goku stopped, "We should stay home."
Chichi turned on her heel, "Absolutely not, Goku. We are not canceling this trip! The boys have been looking forward to this!"
"Chichi," he said pleadingly, "I'm only looking out for you. What if something goes wrong? What if you start feeling bad? What if you start feeling like the last time again?"
"That won't happen," she soothed, easing him with her gentle tone. "Things are different now, I'm older, wiser. I understand myself more. I promise that won't happen."
The couple stood there for a moment, eyes locked and minds working through the knots in a silent exchange. He knew she was trying to conceal her fear. It would always be painful to look back and remember those dark times. But her words struck something in him and he felt it was best to trust her.
"Okay," Goku agreed. "But you have to keep me updated on how you're feeling. If you start feeling sick or runnin' a fever-"
"I will let you know," Chichi placed a kiss on his cheek before getting into the car.
OOO
It would be a six-hour drive to the beach and while they could've taken a capsule plane, Goku and Chichi had decided a nice long road trip would be a good way to connect the family again. They were right, too. The boys bickered here and there, as any kids might do, but for the most part, they got along well. Gohan was blessed with the ability to read while riding in a car, so he had his nose buried in a book most of the way. At one point he did get a call from Videl and the others in the car had to pretend they couldn't hear their entire conversation. Once the call had ended, Gohan got an earful of teasing. It was a normal family drive and exactly what they needed.
Chichi rolled down the window and held her hand against the wind while Goku stole glances at her and placed his hand on her thigh. The radio played music from before even Goku and Chichi were born that provided a soothing background noise. Goten fell asleep with his head back and his mouth open wide. He lightly snored with a snot bubble in his nose from being passed out so hard. Chichi turned in her seat and took a picture.
They drove for hours in peace.
The spotting from the morning hadn't left Chichi's mind, but she was doing her best to ignore it. That was until they came to their first rest stop and she found that she was now bleeding more profusely. She sat in the stall, staring down between her legs at the deep red blood on the pad. When she'd noticed the spotting that morning her immediate conclusion was that she was losing the baby but, just as she'd told Goku, she'd reminded herself that bleeding could be normal. It could still be normal, but her doubt was growing.
Goku was waiting outside the car for her when she rejoined them, his eyes full of expectation. She wanted to be cheerful but he'd see right through her front.
"Are you bleeding more?" He asked with concern. She nodded.
"Not a lot, but heavier than this morning," she replied. "Let's just continue on."
"Are you cramping?"
She stole a glance at the boys in the back seat, Goten was busy playing a handheld video game but Gohan's curious gaze had fallen on his parents.
"No," she chewed her tongue, "Mm…okay, yes, but just minor cramping. Nothing I can't handle." She motioned for Goku to move and he reluctantly slid aside, she opened the door but before she could pull it open fully, he stopped her by the elbow.
"Do we need to go to the hospital?" He whispered, oblivious to his oldest son's prying ear.
Gohan only caught the tail end of his father's words before his mother's overly pleasant tone, "Nope!" She slid into the passenger seat and Goku closed the door.
While his dad moved to the other side of the car Gohan quickly asked his mother, "Everything okay, mom?"
Chichi turned her face towards him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes, honey," she said just before Goku returned to his seat. "Let's try not to stop anymore, Goku. I think we can push through the next couple of hours to get there early."
Goku agreed and turned the car back on, taking her hand in his as they continued their drive.
OOO
As he drove, Goku was overcome with sadness. They were losing another one, just as they'd feared might happen. When the second line on the test was faint, he'd started to worry, although Chichi's words that it might just be because it was so early along in the pregnancy did ease him a little, the thought that she might miscarry never left his mind. His excitement over the prospect of another child was dashed and his mind began to drift off to Chichi's first miscarriage.
It happened very early in their marriage, they'd only been married a few months when Chichi's period was a week late and Chichi said she felt like she might be pregnant. But then the bleeding started. Chichi had told him she knew the moment the pregnancy had passed through her body because she'd been hit with the strongest wave of emotion as if something dear was being ripped from her.
Goku had rushed her to the doctor, where their suspicions were confirmed. Being 18, both of them were barely adults, they were shocked and confused. Chichi had cried, scared that she'd done something wrong, Goku had held her tightly through her tears. The doctor had assured them there was nothing they could've done and that sometimes it just happens, but that did little to assuage their grief.
When they'd told the Ox King he'd done his best to encourage them to try again, reminding them that they were young and still had plenty of time. That didn't make them feel any better, both were overcome with mourning for what could have been but they did their best to push through it and tried to take comfort in the fact that they could try again. Statistically speaking, they were more likely to get pregnant again quite quickly.
Neither of them expected another loss, however, and when the second one struck them it took a deeper toll on both of them. Especially poor Chichi.
"Hey Dad, how much longer till we get there?" Gohan's words dragged Goku back into reality, and the full-blooded Saiyan blinked.
"About two hours, honey," Chichi answered for him, taking note of her husband's dazed expression. She knew he was thinking hard about their situation, and she wished she could do something to make it all better. As much as the loss was taking out of her, she knew Goku was going through turmoil as well. They both wanted this baby so much and to lose it was devastating.
Still wanting to keep the boys out of the loop, Chichi reached over, grasped Goku's large hand in hers, and squeezed it gently. She hoped the motion conveyed how she was feeling, how she knew and understood his feelings, and how they would get through it together. Goku looked at her and gave her a small, understanding smile as they continued their drive.
OOO
Goku and Chichi put all their feelings aside and on hold, each of them deciding to just push forward for not only the boys' sake but for their own as well. The hours passed and soon enough they had arrived at the ferry that took them to the small island. The island was small and full of locals and tourists alike, and everyone got around by either foot or golf cart. They found their temporary housing easily and soon they were unloading their luggage and settling into the surprisingly cozy Capsule Corp beach condo Bulma had let them borrow for the week.
It was a two-story floorplan with a private pool, three rooms and three bathrooms so that everyone had their own space. The main bedroom came equipped with an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub so large Goten could almost swim in it. But most importantly the beach house came with a large kitchen filled with food. Goku was most excited about the food, but the boys were even more excited by the golf cart and a private walkway to the public beach that also came with the house. In the living area were dozens of board games, movies, and books, making the entire house the perfect getaway.
By the time they'd finished unpacking, it was early evening, so Chichi headed to the kitchen to start dinner and was surprised when Goku joined her and was insistent that he help her. With his assistance, they got a quick meal put together. With dinner over, they headed down to the beach to watch the sunset.
While the boys played and splashed in the water, Goku and Chichi took each other's hands and began to walk the beach. After walking for a little while, they stopped to stare at the sunset on the horizon, shoes in hand they stood in a comfortable silence as the water lapped at their feet. There was so much to be said, but at that moment there was nothing that could take Goku and Chichi away from their happiness.
When night fell and the sun was gone, they all traveled back to the house and settled in the living room to go over a puzzle together. They'd only gotten about a quarter through it when Chichi excused herself. Goku stayed but his eyes followed her as she left the room, not noticing Goten following his gaze.
"Hey Dad," Goten asked, "Is Mom okay?" This caught Gohan's attention, who raised his brows and glanced between his brother and his dad.
"Oh, yeah," Goku said with his signature grin, "Mom's fine. She's just a little tired from the drive. Let's see how much of this puzzle we can get done before she gets back." That got them all distracted again, but Chichi never left Goku's mind. He wondered how he could make an escape without stirring up much suspicion when he got a rumble in his lower stomach and he smirked as the rumble silently slipped out.
"EW! DAD!" Goten screamed, holding his nose and crawling away from his father. Gohan groaned and pulled his shirt up over his nose.
"Gross, Dad," the teen grumbled.
"That's my queue," Goku giggled before throwing down his puzzle piece and excusing himself, leaving the boys diverted at the coffee table. He trucked off towards their temporary bedroom and snuck into the bath area, where Chichi sat on the edge of the tub, hunched over slightly and holding her stomach. "Honey!"
"I'm okay, I'm okay," she greeted hurriedly as Goku rushed to her side and knelt on the tile floor in front of her. "I'm just a little uncomfortable because of some cramping. Nothing serious. As long as I'm not bleeding through a pad in an hour, it's fine. But…I'm definitely miscarrying."
They sat there in a tight silence while Goku grasped Chichi's hand tightly and brought it to his lips. The action made her want to cry. He would always be so attentive when she was ill or unwell, but during their losses, he was something else. There was an unspoken bond there that neither of them could explain. Goku couldn't speak the words, but he could still show her how much he cared and how she could lean on him in her time of need.
"I know you'll say no," he said with a slightly muffled voice against the back of her hand, "but do we need to see a doctor? Maybe they can give you some medicine." He wished he could fix her discomfort, wished he could make it all better.
She cupped his cheek with her free hand and smiled sadly, "They won't be able to do much for me. I'm passing it naturally, so we just have to let nature take its course. I can take some over-the-counter stuff we packed to help. I'd rather not spend our vacation at the Emergency Department. Plus, we'd have to explain what's happening to the boys and I'm not ready for that."
Goku sighed and nodded. Gently dropping her hand, he slowly stood, promised her he'd be back, and walked out of the bathroom, disappearing into the dark bedroom. Chichi saw a sliver of light as Goku opened the bedroom door, she could see his shadow when he called out to the boys.
"Gohan, Goten," he said, catching their attention, "Mom has a headache, I think we should all call it a night. You two put yourselves to bed. Good night, sweet dreams!"
With the door closed, Goku's shadow disappeared and he walked back into the bathroom, took hold of both her hands, and pulled her to stand in front of him. He walked backward, pulling her with him into the bedroom. "Let's get comfy, I know this part is hard and it's going to be a long night."
Chichi stood there, gazing at his sweet, understanding expression, and smiled, tears welled in her eyes and she nodded. He gathered her into his arms and laid side by side to tenderly kiss her ear as they slipped in and out of sleep for the night.
OOO
The next morning Chichi woke early, still bleeding fairly heavily but nothing alarming, so she got to work on their picnic for the beach day they had planned. Gohan was the first to wake among the boys and eagerly offered his help with packing. About halfway through their work, Goku and Goten awoke and got to business in picking up ice and filling up the coolers with water, alcohol for Goku, and sodas for the rest of them. Once the food and drinks were done, everyone spread out to change into their beach attire.
Goku hovered over Chichi as she changed in the bathroom.
"You don't have to stand so close," she laughed lightly, "I'm going to fall."
Goku smiled sheepishly and took a step back, "Sorry. Just like being close to ya."
Chichi finished putting on her modest bikini and stepped into a pair of comfy jean shorts that were cut a little shorter than what Goku normally liked Chichi to show, but he enjoyed the tease of her butt when she wore them enough that it didn't bother him. He usually preferred her in more conservative clothing, part of his possessive Saiyan nature, but there would be no complaints from him. Chichi, for her part, knew it drove him wild and, despite what they were going through, she still wanted to show herself off to him. Hormones and emotions had her feeling a little confused, and she wondered if something was wrong with her.
But then she remembered how high her emotions and hormones had been the second time she ever miscarried. She froze, then, frowning at the memory. This wasn't the time.
Blowing out a huff of hair, Chichi dragged her mind away from it to concentrate on getting ready. There would be plenty of time to sort through these feelings later, she told herself.
Soon she and Goku were walking out to load up their borrowed golf cart with a pop-up canopy, beach chairs, towels, cooler, and food. Once the boys came out, they all squeezed together into their seats and Goku drove them down to the beach, where the sand kissed their skin that was carried on the breeze and the smell of the sea filled their senses. It didn't take long to find the perfect spot where they set everything up.
The moment Chichi finished applying sunscreen to him, Goten ran to the water leaving his parents and brother behind to open up the canopy and chairs. Once that was clear, Gohan joined Goten in the water, leaving Goku and Chichi alone again.
She settled into one of the beach chairs with a Truly in hand. Goku quirked a brow at her in question and she shrugged, thankful her tired eyes were hidden by her sunglasses. "I might as well enjoy myself," she said. "I never drink so there's no harm," she added quickly, knowing he was about to question it.
"Are you sure?" He asked cautiously, eyeing her over his sunglasses. She sighed and nodded and he decided to trust her. "Okay, just not too much. I know you're in the shade, but it's hot out."
"Okay, Dad," she teased. Goku gave her a knowing grin and bent down towards her, placing his hands on either side of her chair before giving her a sweet kiss. He could helicopter when the tables were turned and she was sick but she loved that about him. It was cute how he wanted to fix everything in his own way. Eventually, he consented to her will and joined Gohan and Goten in the water.
The hours passed by smoothly, Chichi mostly stayed under the canopy but she would pop into the water here and there just up to her knees to watch the boys swim. They did a lot of horsing around, which she found great joy in viewing, especially when Gohan and Goten would gang up on Goku. They took advantage of Goku's attention being on Chichi, he was busy waving at her when their sons would suddenly jumped on him at the same time, dragging him under the water. Chichi laughed heartedly at them and was laughing still when Goku popped up out of the water with both boys on his shoulders. He threw them into the sea and jokingly roared before flexing before his wife. He ran up to her and threw his arms around her waist.
"By the way, honey," he asked, "When will it be food time?"
After lunch, everyone was pretty beat from the heat so they packed up and settled back into the beach house for a little while after cleaning up. Goku and the boys all fell asleep on the couch while watching some shark movie, leaving Chichi to herself for a little while. She took advantage of the time to check on herself.
The bleeding had slowed down and was getting lighter, a tell-tale sign the miscarriage was coming to an end. Alone in the bathroom, she was able to reflect on the situation. She couldn't help but feel a familiar, ever painful ache in her heart. This surprise had been a welcome one. When she and Goku had first met she'd wanted a house full of kids, 9 or 10 at least. Having grown up as an only child, she'd always dreamt of a large family – and Goku had loved the idea as well. Especially after he realized how babies are made. He'd been really eager then.
But over the years their dream of a big family was dashed. Chichi had no problem getting pregnant, but staying pregnant was another ordeal. Time after time they would get the positive pregnancy tests and would visit the doctor to get a scan, their hopes high, only to be told the baby hadn't made it or there was no fetal heartbeat detected, or she would start bleeding.
She thought of their second loss, before Gohan, and how much of a toll it'd taken on her physically and emotionally.
Chichi was supposed to be twelve weeks when it was discovered during a scan that the baby had stopped growing around nine weeks. A "Missed Miscarriage" they called it, where her body hadn't recognized the pregnancy was no longer viable. They gave her medication to expel the tissue and instructed her on how to care for herself, what to do, and what to look out for.
But they hadn't prepared her for the pain.
She'd been wracked with excruciating contractions that left her writhing in agony and delirious. She didn't remember much from during that time except for the pain and Goku's care. He'd never seen Chichi in such agony, later he told her how scared he'd been and how helpless he'd felt. But despite his fear, he was there for her. Amid her delirious mumblings, she'd begged for a hot bath and Goku had carried her into their bathroom where he ran the water, stripped her, and then pulled them both into the tub. Still clothed, he'd nestled in behind her with her back against his chest and held her through the ordeal.
She'd sobbed the whole night, not only from the pain but from the loss. Their child had been so wanted, so dearly loved already, it felt as if her world was being ripped apart. Despite that, she had Goku and she was grateful beyond words that she did.
The pain eventually faded, but the nightmare had only just begun.
While Chichi's physical body had healed, her mind had struggled to do so. She'd found herself feeling lost, hopeless, and exhausted. Daily tasks became more difficult to cope with, she wasn't sleeping, she wasn't eating, she wasn't working out or sparring, she barely left the house and she was leaning on Goku so much that she felt guilty. There was so much pressure building up and she couldn't figure out how to solve it – everything was just too much and she eventually snapped at a minor inconvenience.
She didn't even remember the reason anymore, couldn't recall what it was that sent her boiling over. But it had happened and poor Goku dealt with it the best way he could.
He'd been outside chopping wood when he heard Chichi's angry screams and the crashes. He'd found her in their destroyed kitchen, she was screaming as she tore plates and bowls from the cabinet to throw them on her dirty floors. Blinded by her rage and anguish, she hadn't noticed Goku come inside, nor did she notice that she was bleeding profusely from her hands and feet due to the broken glass.
Goku had called out to her and begged for her to stop, but she was too lost. He picked her up by the waist, still kicking and screaming, and carried her out of the house. She was ready for a fight when he set her down, but when he turned her around to face her and yelled at her like he'd never done before, she melted. Reality hitting her she caved into him, sobbing and begging his forgiveness.
"I'm so sorry," she'd cried, breaking down and letting him hold her in his arms. "I don't know why my body won't do what I want it to, I'm so sorry!"
That time, despite the pain of it, had brought them closer together than ever before. She'd never been so vulnerable with anyone and Goku had accepted that vulnerability with such warmth she promised she'd never let go. It was then that cemented them together. Just a few months following that, Chichi was pregnant again and they were blessed with Gohan.
"Mom?" Goten's voice pulled Chichi out of her memories, she turned toward her youngest in surprise. He stood in the doorframe of the bathroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes, still her small little angel all tan and handsome like his father. Seeing him reminded her of what she had and she momentarily forgot her loss.
He wanted to know when they would be going to dinner and she was grateful for the disruption. Together they woke Goku and Gohan and they all hopped into the golf cart to drive into the island's small town square, where there were several restaurants and shops. Chichi had spoken with Bulma before their trip regarding cheap places to eat there on the island, and Bulma had suggested a few buffets that had easily fed Trunks and Vegeta so a pizza buffet was their first outing.
As they parked, Chichi turned back in her seat to face Gohan and Goten, "Remember to mind your manners while we're in there, boys. Enjoy it too, we can't afford to eat out dinner out every night this week."
Goku, however, had different plans. He always loved and appreciated Chichi's cooking, but he wanted her to enjoy their vacation and not have to worry about being in the kitchen for every meal. Before they walked into the restaurant, he pulled his little wife back by the elbow and out of earshot of the boys, who had walked ahead of them in the parking lot.
"Chi," he started, smiling at her confused expression, "I know you're planning on cookin' while we're here, but don't worry about suppers. I got enough money for the whole week."
"What?" Chichi said baffled, "What do you mean you have money?"
"I worked hard to make a little extra," Goku responded proudly, pulling out a thick wad of crumpled bills from his shorts pocket and holding it out to her. She took it in her hands, wide-eyed and counted.
"Goku, this is so much money-"
"I asked Bulma to make sure it was enough and she said it was more than enough," he cut her off gently, "I'm making some ground rules 'cause I know you're gonna insist on making breakfasts and lunches. Gohan, Goten, and I are gonna help make them every day – and you're gonna let us help. I already talked with the boys." He emphasized his last sentence by pointing at her in mock admonishment.
Chichi smiled, remembering Gohan's help that morning and Goku's assistance in making dinner the night before.
"And no workin' on dinners, yesterday was an exception, let me pay for 'em. Plus dessert. Let us treat you." Goku finished with a plead, grabbing her by the shoulders gently. "Please?"
Surprised and overwhelmed with emotion, Chichi was rendered speechless and nodded with a light sob. Goku flinched when she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, letting her tears fall. "Thank you so much," she cried into his shirt. "You're the best."
OOO
The next morning Goku woke up before sunrise and quietly dressed in his swimming trunks and a black tank top, he kissed a still sleeping Chichi before silently exiting the room to wake Gohan and Goten.
"Where are we going?" Goten asked sleepily when he came downstairs, closely followed by his older brother who was already bright-eyed and excited.
"To hunt for oysters!" Goku said happily. "We're gonna surprise your mom by having oysters for lunch."
"What about breakfast?" Goten whined.
"We can snack on the oysters," Gohan offered with a laugh at his brother's disappointed face. "Come on, we gotta hurry before Mom wakes up."
They made it to their hunting destination just after the sun began to provide a good amount of light. Equipped with five-gallon buckets, oyster rakes, and Neoprene gloves they made fairly quick work of filling their buckets. They were only about a half-hour into their work when Goten put his foot down.
"I'm hungry! I'm not hunting anymore 'till we eat something," the precocious child insisted, slamming down his bucket in the muddy waters.
Goku and Gohan laughed.
"Alright, alright, let me clean a few so we can eat," Goku relented, gathering a handful of oysters. Goten and Gohan stood by their father's side, watching as he showed them how to clean the oysters, he handed one to each of them and took out his shucking knife. "Now, we can probably just crack these suckers open with brute strength – that's what I did as a kid, but they're sharp and I always cut myself up. So we use this knife on the joint and crack 'em open. Oh, this one has some of those shiny rocks in it."
Goku dug around in the oyster meat and pulled out two perfectly round, off-white colored pearls.
"Oh cool, Dad!" Gohan exclaimed, "You found some pearls!"
"They're so pretty!" Goten joined in, "It's like you found buried treasure!"
"Heh, that's pretty neat," Goku grinned. "I've found 'em before but I usually just throw 'em away. What are they exactly?"
"They're considered the queen of gemstones and are one of the most precious gems discovered, Dad," Gohan explained. "They've been traded and cherished for thousands of years and they were used as gifts for kings, queens, princes, and princesses."
"Hey, your mom's a princess," Goku said thoughtfully, "I'll give them to her!"
The boys agreed that it was a good idea, but Gohan had a suggestion, "I saw a jewelry store in town. Maybe you can get them set in a ring or necklace for her?"
"Hm," Goku pursed his lips, "Since there are two we can get a nice pair of earnings for her, she loves earrings!" Over the years, Goku had learned what jewelry Chichi appreciated and she always got excited around earrings and bracelets.
After finishing up with the oysters, the three Son men headed back to the house with their findings. They'd decided to keep the pearls a surprise so when they returned and found Chichi waiting for them, they only showed her the buckets of oysters – much to her delight. Goku hadn't told the boys, but he knew how much his wife liked oysters and he was overjoyed to see her so animated.
"I hope you boys didn't wear yourselves out, we've got our work cut out for us!" She said, directing everyone to the sink.
Goku followed and placed a hand on her hip, "While you three do that, I gotta step out. The gold cart needs gas and I gotta rinse it off. It stinks like oysters."
"That's fine, we've got this handled," she replied sweetly, swiftly giving his cheek. "Just don't be too long."
"I won't!"
OOO
Goku walked into the jewelry shop to find a kindly elderly couple and their adult daughter running it, he was amazed by all the shiny things and knew Chichi would love the store and secretly wished he could bring everything they had to her. But as bad as he was with managing money, he knew he was working on a tight budget and would have to sacrifice desserts with his limited cash in order to pay for the earrings. It was something he'd discussed with the boys and they completely understood – anything for Chichi. He was going to do his best to get something nice made for her.
"How can I help you, young man?" Said the elderly gentleman.
"I found some pearls that I'd like to have made into earrings for my wife," Goku greeted.
"Oh, I think we can help with that," the gentleman replied with a twinkle in his eye. Goku produced the pearls and soon the elderly wife joined them to get a good look at the gems.
"My, you've found some pretty pearls, your wife is a lucky lady!" she said kindly.
"Nah, I'm the lucky one," Goku grinned. "She's put up with a lot from me and she deserves the best." Goku then went in on how he'd only recently come back to life, how he and Chichi shared two boys, and that she'd raised their youngest completely on their own. While the family hadn't expected to learn so much about a complete stranger and his wife's lives, they were charmed and cut a deal for him. The daughter, an artistic jeweler, was especially keen to help.
"We can have the earrings done in two days," the jeweler's daughter said with a smile. "I'll set these pearls in something romantic that your wife will be over the moon for!"
Goku thanked them and left, excited about what Chichi's reaction would be.
He returned to the house about an hour later to find his wife and sons busy in the kitchen setting the table with dishes galore. Poached oysters with pickled cucumber and caviar, oysters on the half shell with rose mignonette, shrimp and smoked oyster chowder, oysters Rockefeller, oyster casserole with cracker crumbs, and grilled oysters with chorizo butter lined the table. The smell of the food had Goku's mouth-watering.
Goten and Gohan stood exhausted, but proud, over the dishes. "We helped Mom!" Gohan said, sweat on his brow as he sat down at the table. "Mom said we could only taste the stuff, so we're starving!"
The Son family ate their oysters and collapsed in a fattened heap on the couch once finished. Chichi and Goku snuggled up together while the boys picked a classic monster movie to watch. Soon Chichi was snoozing lightly against Goku's chest and he glanced down at her, smiling as he watched her sleep. He felt a sense of calm with her arms wrapped around him, one he couldn't find anywhere else – one he never wanted to find anywhere else. Even in their serene mountainside home he never found a sense of peace as what he found with her. As much as the boys lit up his life, Chichi filled him with a warmth and love that nothing else could replicate.
Even though they were both suffering from the loss of their baby, he knew they would get through it. If it were just him, he might not make it, but with his wife by his side…he could get through anything.
Glancing over at Gohan and Goten he found them enthralled with Godzilla on the large TV screen, giving him the opportunity to chastely kiss his wife in her sleep. He felt an all-too-familiar stirring for her but knew they wouldn't be able to do anything about it and while it was a little disappointing, he was aware when the time came it would be immaculate. He wondered then, would Chichi want to try again? Would he want to try again? Would the risks be worth it?
It wasn't something he could decide on his own, it was something that would have to be discussed at length and a conclusion they would have to reach together. But now wasn't the time. Now was the time for relaxation and healing. And he would do everything in his power to make sure his wife was restored.
OOO
On the fifth night of their vacation, Goku dreamt about Chichi's last miscarriage.
It had happened during the three years prior to the Androids about a year and a half in. They all knew Chichi was expecting, at the time she was about twelve weeks along and was even showing a little. Goku, Gohan and she were excited about bringing another member into the family, even if their lives were in peril. True, it wasn't the most opportune time, but life happened when it happened.
And so did death.
Goku, Piccolo, and Gohan were training for the day as usual, not far from the Son home as Goku wanted to stay close to the house. He would never know what made him decide that day to stay nearby, but he was glad he'd done so. Piccolo and Goku were watching Gohan from the ground as the boy practiced when the Namek's ears twitched and he pulled the elder Saiyan aside.
"You should go home," he gruffly told Goku.
Goku frowned, "What?"
"I think Chichi might need you," Piccolo responded awkwardly, hoping Goku didn't ask any questions. He did not. The moment his words left his lips, Goku had already placed his two fingers against his forehead and was gone in an instant.
He transported to their bedroom, where he heard shuffling and grunting coming from the bathroom. Rushing into their restroom, he found Chichi still in her silky slip nightgown, the front of which was stained with blood.
"Chichi!" He rushed to her side and caught her before she fell, skidding a little on some blood that was on the tiles. With his hands on her waist, she grasped at his gi and began crying.
"Goku," she sobbed, "I'm losing the baby, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Don't you ever apologize to me," he growled out before picking her up, "C'mon, we're going to the hospital."
"NO," she shrieked, kicking her blood stained feet, "No, please, let me do this here at home. I can do this here, please, please believe me, Goku." She buried her face in the crook of his neck and pleaded through broken sobs.
He stilled, torn between rushing her to the hospital and staying. He wanted to leave, wanted to get her medical attention, but the tone in her voice had him pausing.
"Please, Goku," she cried, "I can do this here at home. I don't want to be stuck in a hospital bed." He sighed heavily and shut his eyes tightly, fighting against everything in him that told him to go against what she was saying. "Please trust me."
He swallowed hard at her words before nodding, "Okay. But if you pass out or start runnin' a fever – we're going to the hospital. I won't hear any different."
She nodded and thanked him before she asked for him to strip her. They crawled into the bathtub together and with her back pressed against his chest they stayed there until she passed the tissue. She couldn't bear to look at it, so Goku moved her and got her cleaned up in the shower before settling her into bed in a fresh set of pajamas.
"Bury it in the garden," she whispered to him, eyes were swollen from crying and he nodded. He gathered the tissue and took it outside where he buried their loss among the flowers. When he returned to Chichi he found her still awake, still in bed, and staring at the wall as silent tears fell down her face.
"Chichi," he said gently, crawling into bed behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her, and spooning his little wife. "How are you feeling?"
"Angry," she replied with a sniffle. "My body won't do what I want it to and I don't understand why."
He sighed against her, unable to find the words. "I wish I could make it better," he said. "I wish I knew what to say or do to make everything good."
"Just keep holding me," she whimpered, "Hold me and I'll be fine."
Goku woke from his dream then, jolting upright in an unfamiliar bed and an unfamiliar room, breathing heavily and glancing around wildly before he finally remembered where he was. He looked to his side at Chichi's sleeping form. Her face was angelic, deeply asleep, and peaceful. It took a moment for him to recall their situation and he frowned.
He wondered how she was feeling now, even in her dreams. He was surprised when her doe eyes opened and she immediately locked eyes with him.
"Are you okay?" she said softly, concern etched in her voice.
He gave her a small smile, "Yeah, just a bad dream." She smiled serenely at him and held her arms out.
"Well, come here, I'll hold you," she gathered him into her arms and he rested his head against her chest. "I'll hold you and everything will be fine."
Her mirrored words from his dream made him smile sadly, "Thanks, Chi."
OOO
The next day Goku and Chichi decided to go on a solo date for the day, leaving the boys behind at the beach house. Goten was a bit upset he couldn't go with them, he'd been attached to Chichi since her death by Buu, but thankfully Gohan was able to convince the seven-year-old with the promise of video games and junk food. Normally, Chichi would disapprove of that type of bribery but she and Goku desperately needed some time alone.
Goku and Chichi started with brunch at a cute French café with delicious food and bottomless mimosas that made them both glad they'd decided to walk into town instead of taking the golf cart. The drinks left them a giggly mess and when they'd finished brunch they decided to go mini-golfing at a place just a few blocks down from the restaurant.
It was a BYOB golfing course called Peter Pan Mini Golf and it was right next to a liquor store. Glancing at each other with grins, Goku and Chichi decided to continue their drinking by picking up some hard seltzers and taking it with them while they golfed. If they had been giggly at the restaurant, they were doubly so at the golf course.
Several holes and drinks in, Goku was golfing with one eye open. "Awe, damn it," he groaned as he missed the ball with the first two putts, making Chichi break out into snickers. He glared up at her with one eye open, "Hey, don't laugh. This is serious business, Chichi!"
"It's only serious because you're losing," she chortled. "Hurry up and swing, it's hot!" It was indeed hot, the sun was beating down on both of them and they were covered in sweat.
"Shit," Goku groaned again when he hit the ball too hard and it went soaring past Chichi and hit a man square in the head at the hole next to them. "Sorry!" Chichi leaned against her putter with both hands and doubled over with laughter. It was then they realized they were too tipsy and too hot to continue so they abandoned golfing and went in search of a snow cone stand.
Finding their destination, they sat at one of the umbrella-covered tables across from each other and ate their cold treats.
"This is fun," Chichi sighed happily as she slowly sucked on the guava-flavored ice.
"Mm-hm," Goku agreed, happy with his choice of guava-blueberry. He spooned a nice scoop and held it out to his wife. "Try." She opened her mouth and happily took the bite before she copied his move and fed him some of hers. "I'm glad we get to spend this time together, just the two of us, Chi."
She smiled serenely, "Me too, honey. I miss the boys, don't get me wrong, but it's nice having you all to myself for once."
"You're one to talk, Goten barely lets you out of his sight these days." Goku chuckled, his cheeks turning a bit pink. "It kinda makes me jealous."
"Silly," Chichi cooed. They fell into a comfortable silence then while they finished their delights. By the time they were finished, it was nearly three o'clock and they wandered around the island looking through the shops. While Chichi was busy in a clothing store, Goku excused himself to swing by the jeweler and pick up the earrings in secret. When he met back up with her, she was ready to move on to the next store and they continued their window shopping for a couple of hours. They grabbed burgers for dinner, Chichi surprised Goku when she ordered a double bacon cheeseburger and pickle fries and ate every bite.
She blushed sheepishly when she caught him staring, "I still have those hormones...they make me hungry." He gave her a greasy smile in understanding.
After dinner, they swung by the house to check on the boys. They found them in the living room playing video games, junk food wrappers littered around them. Normally, Goku and Chichi would get after them for the trash but since they were on vacation, and were well aware the boys would be cleaning up after themselves before the night's end, they let it slide.
Chichi's bleeding had subsided so she and Goku changed into their swimsuits. Chichi donned a little black bikini that had Goku's eyes wandering over her every curve in a salacious way. It didn't go unnoticed and she blushed profusely but made no comment. On her part, she admired every taught muscle of Goku's and wished they were in different circumstances, but she knew her body's limits and wouldn't push herself. Goku knew the same and wouldn't push, but he was craving her.
They walked down to the beach carrying a bag, two chairs, and a cooler filled with more alcohol to watch the sunset. After finding the perfect spot, Goku pulled Chichi into the water with him, holding both her hands with his and walking backward into the waves. They both laughed and played as the sun began to set, the water reflected orange, yellow, pink, and purple, surrounding the married couple in a warm glow.
After a while, they returned to shore and Goku pulled a wood log from their beach bag and started a fire. He set their chairs up in front of the blaze but before Chichi could sit down, he pulled a black box from the bag and handed it to her.
She stared at him in question before taking it and opening it to find a pair of the most beautiful pair of stud earrings she'd ever seen. They were pearls with a purple and white gold seashell and a yellow gold starfish, her eyes burned with tears as Goku told her the story behind finding the pearls and deciding with the boys what to do with them. By the time he finished telling her everything, she was crying happy tears.
"Thank you," she choked out, "they're perfect."
"Put them on," Goku urged and she did so. He pulled her close and pressed their foreheads together. His tone went serious, "I know we're going through a hard time…but I want you to know that I love you and I'd do anything for you. I hope you've been able to enjoy your vacation despite everything."
She smiled, "Thank you, Goku. I've had an amazing time, you've made sure of that. I know things are hard right now. I'm sorry we have another moon baby, but I thank you for being there for me. For being by my side through all of this. I couldn't have gotten through this without you."
"Same here," Goku replied simply. "I love you, Chi."
"I love you too, Goku."
They didn't need many words, they'd been together long enough that they weren't needed. When their lips met a fire lit between them and soon they were kissing intensely under the moonlight like teenagers, not having a care in the world if people might stare.
That was until they heard the voices of their sons in utter disgust.
"Aw, guys, in public?" Gohan groaned, holding a flashlight.
"We're on a date!" Goku laughed, "Besides, you two are supposed to be back at the house. What are you doing out here?"
"You were out here a long time and Goten started whining," Gohan replied. Goten ran straight to Chichi, squeezing himself between her and Goku, much to Goku's chagrin, he smiled brightly at his mom, illuminated by the fire.
"Can I stay out here with you, mommy?" Goten asked in the most angelic voice he could muster.
"Actually," Chichi countered, casting Goku a sympathetic grin, "I think we should all head back to the house at this point."
"Okay!" Goten agreed and began pulling her by the hand back towards the house.
"Well, I guess our date had to end at some point," Goku said as he enlisted Gohan's help to put out the fire and pack everything up before they followed Chichi and Goten back to the house.
OOO
The rest of their vacation flew by in a flash and soon they were back home and back to reality. Chichi made a doctor's appointment and they were able to fit her in the day after they returned home where it was confirmed she'd miscarried. The doctors told her she was healthy and could try to conceive again if she and Goku wished.
So one night after the boys had fallen asleep, she and Goku sat down at the kitchen table to discuss it at length. The pregnancy had been an unexpected, but happy surprise, but Chichi had to admit the multiple miscarriages were taking its toll on her mentally and emotionally. She knew it was doing the same for Goku as well.
"Goku," Chichi started gently, "What are your thoughts on trying again?"
He crossed his arms and frowned, deep in thought before replying, "It would be nice to have another baby. But I don't want you to have to go through all this again. So I'm kind of thinking…that maybe we shouldn't."
She felt a massive sense of relief wash over her and she reached across the table to reach for his hand, which he took immediately. "You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. All these losses over the years have really taken it out of me."
"You were so strong through this last one," Goku said, "But I know it still had a pretty hard effect on you."
"It did," she said, "I think being on vacation helped me a lot, to be honest. I might've been a wreck here at home. That vacation really healed me, in spite of having another moon baby, we all needed that refresher."
"The reconnection," Goku added, and she agreed wholeheartedly.
"But it also made me realize that I have everything I need, especially now that you're home again," she smiled a little sadly. "I'll miss what could have been, I'm mourning over our loss, but I know one day we'll get to meet our little hoard of angels in the afterlife."
"That's true," Goku agreed. He hadn't met them while he was dead, but that had been a purposeful choice. He didn't want to meet them without Chichi, he wanted to meet them all together. "I'll miss what could've been too…but I'm glad we're on the same page about this. I don't want to see you suffer anymore."
"I know it hurts you too and I don't want to see you suffer either. Are you sure about this though? There's always the chance that the next pregnancy could stick."
"I'm more than sure about it," Goku said, giving her hand a squeeze. "I know the doctor said you were healthy, but what if the next time something worse happens? I don't want us to take the risk."
She smiled, "I agree. I'll get on birth control so we don't have to worry about me getting pregnant again."
"I could get one of those vase-thingies." Goku suggested, not quite remembering what the procedure was called. "The thing where my balls stop making sailors."
"It's called a vasectomy," Chichi giggled, "It stops your semen from being fertile. I think…I'm not sure how it works exactly."
"We can look it up!" Goku paused, "The doctors don't cut my balls off though, right?"
She snickered, "No, your balls stay intact."
"Oh, okay, whew, I thought I was going to have to say bye to my balls for a second there."
"Awe, Goku, you'd get rid of your balls for me?"
"Of course!"
They laughed heartily before deciding to head up to bed. As they lay there in the dark, holding one another Chichi whispered, "Are you sure you're happy with our family just being the four of us?"
"More than happy," Goku whispered back.
"Good. Me too," she sighed before snuggling up closer to him. They closed their eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep where they dreamed about their four moon babies and the day they'd get to meet them.
A/N: This took a lot out of me, if you made it through this then thank you so much for reading!