FOREWORD
Gohan had left home a few years earlier, when he’d started his own fight against them. He’s now almost twenty and has been battling them alone with only the aid of Corrin's sensu. Since Piccolo and his counterpart Kami’s death, the mantle of the Protector of Earth has fallen to Mystic Cat Sensei. It’s still several of years before Mirai Trunks joins Gohan in the battle against the mechanical threat.
‘Shit!’ He thought to himself, ‘I just missed them again!’ It was extremely hard to catch the cyborgs since neither one had any ki to speak of for tracking. And it was beginning to worry him a bit that they seemed to be getting closer to his mother’s house.
He had arrived here too late to stop any of the destruction , but at least he could help with the rescues. Luckily when he concentrated he could sense the even the weak ki’s of trapped people when he was close enough to them, so is able to direct the rescuers who were digging out the survivors. But as he moved through the city lifting some of the heavier pieces of debris and sending volunteers after more easily rescued victims, he felt a strange compulsion. It was as if something was drawing him towards one particular section of the city.
That area was dominated by the rubble of what had only shortly before been a large dome with a battered barely legible sign that was amazingly still in place above it. But all that could be made out through the scorching was a few letters, “M.. SAT..‘S ..M”. From the amount of damage it was obvious that someone there had tried to fight back.
Gohan kept feeling as if something was tugging him towards the smoking pile of concrete and so he slowly worked his way, in that direction, through the city’s wreckage. Stopping only long enough to free any victims he sensed that had been trapped by the androids rampage.
He finally reaches the site and extends his senses into it, seeking a hint of any ki beneath the rubble. He becomes aware of two signatures but one is growing rapidly weaker.
Gohan starts digging frantically, something inside is suddenly impelling him to reach these two as quickly as he can. He finally lifts the last of the rubble to find a badly injured dark haired muscular man, his body is laying across a young woman’s, shielding her protectively.
As Gohan carefully raises the man, he groans in pain, blood is soaking both victims. But most of it is has come from the man. His life fluid is pumping away from a massive wound that has been torn through his chest, penetrating both his heart and lungs. It’s amazing that he’s lasted as long as he has.
“V-Videl? M-my baby girl!” He manages to choke out, “I-is she alright?”
Gohan barely glances over at the girl, even drenched in blood, he notes that she’s attractive in a tomboyish way. Small boned, more girl than woman, even if she does seem to be just about his own age. He can sense the even steadiness of her ki and realizes she’s been merely knocked unconscious. Obvious from the bump above her right eyebrow.
He looks down at the man and tells him reassuringly, “She’s fine sir, just knocked out.”
A sigh of relief, bubbling with blood escapes his lips. He starts to go limp in Gohan’s grip as he begins to slip away.
Gohan infuses the man with some of his own energy, pulling him back from the edge of death, “Sir, sir? What‘s your name?”
He rouses a little an answers “Hercule,” coughing up more blood in the process, “Hercule Satan and that’s my daughter Videl.” He looks over at the girl, then realizes his own nearing fate. “Who are you?” He stares up blurrily at his rescuer.
“My name’s Son Gohan, sir.” Responds the young man.
The dying man suddenly grabs the youth’s shirt “Gohan, promise me you’ll take care of her!” He chokes a little, “She’s got no one left now!”
Gohan is startled, he doesn’t dare be saddled with another person to worry about, as it is he had moved out of his parents home to safeguard his mother and grandfather in case the androids ever attempted to find him. But he can’t refuse a dying man’s request either!
The man’s grip on his shirt tightens and shaking with effort he demands again, “Promise me!”
Gohan looks into the desperate man’s eyes. Then lowers his head and nods saying, “I’ll try sir.” The man releases Gohan’s shirt, and slowly his eyes close.
The girl starts to stir, “Dad, daddy wh-what happened.”
She sits up and sees her bleeding father in Gohan’s arms.
“DADDY!” She screams and rushes to his side. She doesn’t even look at the young man holding her father.
Hercule opens his eyes and looks up into his daughter’s face, “It’s alright honeypie, daddy’s fixed it. Gohan’s gonna take care of you from now on.”
She looks up in confusion, barely glancing up at the young man supporting her father. “Gohan?!”
He nods at her, silently.
She gazes back down at her father, “But daddy, we don’t...” she starts to protest but then catching Gohan’s slight head shake stops. Tears start to drip from her eyes, “Alright, daddy.”/P>
At peace, now that he certain his daughter will be cared for, Hercule slips into the final darkness.
Videl sobs silently as she wipes the blood from her father’s face.
Standing she looks down at his body.
“We’d better go.” Says the young man.
“We can’t leave him like this!” protests Videl vehemently.
“What do you want to do?” Asks Gohan gently.
The girl stares at her father, “He’d want to be buried here.”
“Alright.” says Gohan , “but after we bury him we have to leave.“
Videl nods silently in acquiesce.
“I’ll dig the grave, why don’t you go find some thing to wrap him in.”
He glances at her in the bloodstained clothing and gently suggests. “You might feel better if you find something else to wear too.”
She nods again and then carefully ventures inside what’s left of her home.
She returns ten minutes later with bed sheet, a pan of water and a couple of rags. But she had taken the time to clean the blood off herself and change into some cleaner clothes as Gohan had suggested.
Meanwhile, Gohan had blasted a shallow grave in the ground and gathered some of the smaller pieces of rubble to pile over Hercule.
She kneels down beside the body and washes her father, tenderly. Then silently they wrap the sheet around him like a shroud and without words they bury him in the shallow grave on the grounds of his beloved dojo.
Videl moves off and is sits down on another piece of rubble, tears trickling down her cheeks as she cries silently.
As Gohan places a final heavy slab concrete at the head of the grave.
The young Saiyan concentrates his power in a finger tip and carves Hercule’s name into the stone. Then he turns to look at the girl.
For some reason he’s being drawn to her, and it‘s more than just sympathy. Or the fact that she has a very strong ki, almost as strong as Krillian’s was, no there’s something about her that’s intriguing.
The grieving girl has barely glanced at the young man who has been aiding her.
She mumbles, “Thank you.... Gohan.”
Her voice is melodious and riveting now that their task is finished, Gohan can‘t seem to tear his gaze off her slender form.
“You’re welcome, Videl.” He answers softly, then says, “We’d better go now.”
She turns and stares at the pile rubble that was her home. “You needn’t worry about me.”
His acute hearing can catch the soft, barely audible sobs that she’s valiantly holding back. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, you know!”
The girl’s resolve and strength impresses Gohan, attracting him to her even more.
“I realize that.” He answers quietly, “But I promised your father that I’d take care of you, so I should at least see that you get somewhere safer than this.” He gestures towards the wreckage.
“THIS is my home!” She snaps angrily, but then stops and looks about in confusion. “But I guess it’s all gone now.”
He feels a strange need to offer her some sort of comfort, “Look, I understand what you’re going through.” He pauses, as she straightens resentfully, “Really, I lost my dad too, a while back. I can’t say that the hurt will ever go away but I can say it does get easier to bear as time passes.”
She turns to face him, really looking at this oddly compassionate stranger for the first time.
As her dark eyes meet his for the first time, a sudden thrill runs through them both. Suddenly it’s as if they can feel each other’s emotions!
“V-Videl ?!” Stutters the young Saiyan warrior , stepping back in surprise. He can feel her grief! And it makes his heart ache for her sadness.
Her eyes widen in shock. “G-Go-han?!” She can feel the depths of his compassion and concern for her, sensing that he does truly understand. Gohan’s quiet wellspring of strength begins to fill her soul, soothing her heart’s hurt. Videl can sense his innate gentleness but she also feels his lonely desperation and stern resolve to protect the world no matter what might happen to him. His honest spiritual goodness somehow comforts her.
Her grief is subsumed by growing admiration for him, that turns into a sudden attraction as she stares into his intense dark eyes.
H-he’s so handsome, strong and valiant! Just looking at him makes her quiver, feeling tingly all over. He’s appeared like a hero out of a story book.
Gohan stares at the girl standing before him, he’s never felt anything like this before. Strange sensations are washing over him. New wants and needs are stirring desires he’s never experienced before. A heat grows in his lower regions, he suddenly wants to enfold her in his arms and never let go. He’s doesn’t quite grasp what’s happening to him, he only knows that he has to have her. He has to make her his. He doesn’t understand any of these feelings he’s having or why this bereaved young woman stirs him so strangely.
After Goku’s death, life had changed drastically at the
Son house. It almost seemed that ChiChi had lost part
of herself. She rejected all attempts of Goku’s
friends to console her. She couldn’t even stand the
sight of Vegeta and that in turn drove Bulma away too.
Eventually she pushed them all away except for Gohan.
To whom she clung like a life preserver. She became
more and more subdued, not even urging Gohan to study
any longer. It had scared the already grief-stricken
boy.
Gohan had been afraid to leave her alone for quite sometime after his father’s death. It had even worried the old Ox-King so much that he decided to move in with them. Only when androids appeared and started wreaking destruction, did ChiChi finally began to notice things outside their little house again. And then it was only to insist, almost hysterically, that Gohan stay out of it and keep away from them.
The others warriors had understood Goku’s widow ’s terror. She had lost her husband, and she didn’t want to lose her son too. So Gohan had remained at his mother side, instead of joining the other defenders.
And so they were killed off, one by one. First Piccolo, then Vegeta, followed by Krillian and Yamcha, then Tien and Chaotze finally even Yajarobi had been killed. Until Gohan was the last remaining Z fighter left alive, that’s when he finally started sneaking away to train himself. Striving to increase his strength and power so one day he could take over the fight.
And because of all of that, he had ended up isolated from others his own age.
Gohan had been far too busy to have time for any of the usual teenage pursuits. Girls had been one of the furthest things from his mind, something he had never even thought much about.
But now he’s being irresistibly drawn to this
one! He’s just realized that she’s the most beautiful
woman he’s ever seen. He’s almost trembling and he
starts blushing in embarrassment.
She senses his uncertain reactions and smiles through her sorrow, ‘How strange, he’s actually shy!”
They both can feel the odd sensations stirring within them. A heat begins to ignite, the warmth of sexual attraction suffuses through both of them.
Their healthy young bodies start reacting to each other, as the instinctive, animalistic need to come together and procreate in the aftermath of disaster overtakes them.
And it is even further accentuated and impelled by the reawakening of Gohan’s truemate link.
The instinctive psychic seeking bond that had arisen long before in the savage Saiyan race. It had originally evolved to draw a perfectly genetically matched pair of the deadly ferocious species together for the purpose of procreation instead of battle.
Gohan’s involuntary racial drive had psychically sought his truemate out and found Videl shortly after their births. It had linked and bound them together long before either had consciously known of the other’s existence. This linkage had been what had been drawing him, impelling him to her side to once he came within a certain proximity.
Now that she’s standing before him, the Saiyan mating drive within him begins to become fully activated . Awakening a burning hunger that steadily grows in them both, as she too feels it through the bond linkage. Bringing to fruition a process that started long years before.
Gohan’s mating imperative, another part of his Saiyan heritage, is emerging, and since she is psychically tied to him, Videl is being affected by it too.
Their emotions are intertwining, their hearts are starting to match beat, the linkage has created the psychic feedback loop of sense and sensation, that melds their two souls together as one spirit. Each can feel the other fully, both emotionally and physically.
They each stare in silence at the other, for an endless eternal moment, and then she steps confidently into his arms. Fulfilling their shared destiny.
Their lips meet, Gohan’s virgin kiss is their first physical contact, bonding them forevermore.
The electric shock of the final stage of bonding courses through their ripe fully mature young bodies, rousing new desires that will need to be satisfied soon.
Gohan has finally found his truemate, Videl!
But now things have changed, Gohan has found a new inspiration. Wrapped in his embrace is a glorious new reason to fight and survive, it gives him hope for a brighter future.
Gohan reacts instinctively, without thought he gathers Videl up in his arms, and leaps skyward. He has to do everything to protect her, she is his!
Videl’s arms tighten about his neck. Familiar with martial arts herself, having been trained by her father, she braces for the shock of impact before his next leap.
Then gasps in surprise as they continue rising ever upwards and when Gohan levels off, and stutters “W-we’re flying!”
Gohan glances down at her in concern, but she’s not showing fear only interest and delighted amazement.
“Yeah, you’re not frightened?” He asks as gazes into her eyes.
She smiles up at him shaking her head no and snuggles closer to him confidently, her grief dispelled by the thrilling new sensations that are coursing through them both.
Now in flight, Gohan starts to realize that his
life has drastically changed. He considers taking her
to his mother’s house but quickly rejects it. His
need is rising and he feels Videl’s desires growing too
. He knows ChiChi even in her changed state would
never countenance what is going to be happening very
soon between the two of them. He decides to take Videl
to the one other place he knows is safe. To old
Gohan’s house, the man he had been named after.
Goku had shown him the small isolated hut where he had grown up, long before he died. Shortly after he had returned from Namek, and long before the androids had surfaced. It had become their private training area, a safe refuge from ChiChi’s temper tantrums.
The little hut was far enough away from his mother to keep her safe, but still close enough that Gohan could sense her, if she really needed him. It has become his headquarters since he had left home years ago. Whenever he needs to really rest or recuperate he returns there. Otherwise he just sleeps wherever he’s at. He had learned that trick from the time he’d spent training with Piccolo. Gohan’s three room hut is not luxurious but it’s comfortable enough for him with just a simple pallet bed, a small bathroom, a kitchen area with a table with a couple of chairs. And it’s certainly safe since it’s located far from the cities that the androids tend to repeatedly decimate.
Gohan heads for the little house nestled in the distant forest. Where once, long ago, Bulma first met his father.
Videl’s almost breathless with her excitement, the warmth of her desire is growing and this miraculous flight is exhilarating! She’s not overly experienced, since her father was always very protective of her, but she’s not completely naive either. She’d paid attention in school during sex education classes. So she fully understands what’s going to happen once they get wherever they’re going.
She’s watched enough TV and gone to the movies , and even dated several boys. Besides her father had never been very discrete about his own activities. She’s fully aware of what happens between a man and a woman, even if she’s never actually done it herself.
The warmth of their shared arousal is growing within her. She wants this mysterious, handsome stranger to make her his own. She yearns for him in the deepest recesses of her body.
Gohan’s strong arms are holding her firm and securely. He pulls her closer sensing and sharing her mounting desires.
She gazes up at his face in wonderment. Of course, they had all heard the rumors about the flying golden warrior who was often seen fighting the androids. The students at her father’s dojo had even speculated about where he came from and what kind of training he‘d had. But, Hercule had dismissed the rumors and sightings as hallucinations brought on by terror.
Gohan’s not golden, but he certainly can fly! Is he the mysterious warrior?
“Gohan?” she asks.
“What Videl?” He looks down at her possessively .
“You’re the one who’s been fighting them, aren’t you?”
He nods, “Yes. I sorta have to.” He grins ruefully, “It’s kind of like the family business. My dad spent his whole life protecting the Earth from evil while he was alive, now I figured it’s my turn to do it.” He pauses thoughtfully, “I’m the last real fighter left.”
“So you’re battling them, the androids, all by yourself.” She says quietly.
“Yes.”
Her heart is suddenly fearful for him, “Wh-what happens if they kill you?”
Misunderstanding the question, but feeling her fear he answers to reassure her.
“There’s one other who could take my place, but he’s untrained,.. untested.” He looks down at this marvelous being in his arms.
“Who?”
“A friend of mine, he’s like me, but he’s still just a child...” Gohan’s voice lowers and she barely hears the last few words, “..but so was I when all this started.”
They finish the flight in silence. Each lost in their own thoughts.
He and Trunks are the last of the Saiyans. And Gohan is the only experienced warrior left. He keeps half hoping Vegeta and Bulma’s son will eventually come to him. Asking to be trained, but the boy’s Saiyan rage hasn‘t awoke yet. Trunks can fly and knows some basic rudiments of ki control, but he’s never actually trained for battle. Bulma had kept him close after Vegeta’s death. It was almost funny, as if Bulma had caught some of ChiChi’s protective attitudes.
Videl gazes up into his face. She can sense his emotions but not his thoughts. She can feel the desire he has for her, but underlying it there’s a lonely bittersweet sadness. Who is this young almost magical warrior? He’s seems to be about her age, but he’s much more mature than the other boys she known. It's obvious that he’s already become a determined man. It’s so strange, she’s not frightened by him or has any misgivings about what’s going to happen soon.
And even though her heart still aches at the loss of her father, it’s also filled with undeniable love for this stranger who holds her so securely in his arms as they sweep swiftly through the sky.
Gohan lands beside the little hut, he lowers her feet and they touch the ground, but she remains in his embrace gazing up into his eyes. Waiting expectantly.
He’s uncertain, unsure of what to do next. He knows what he wants but nothing of how to go about getting it. The only women he’s really known are Bulma and his mother. He blushes again in sudden confusion and steps back.
Gohan tries to cover his awkwardness by telling her, “This is where I live, it’s not very fancy, but it’s safe. You can stay here.”
She senses his hesitancy begins to suspect the problem, she looks at him quizzically.
Gohan blushes and turns away as if about to leave.
“Wait.” Says Videl grabbing his arm. She can feel how her hand on his arm stirs him.
He turns back to her as she cocks her head sideways regarding him.
His blush is getting brighter by the moment.
“You’ve never even been out with a girl before, have you?” She asks with a slight smile.
He shrugs sheepishly, completely crimson now, “I hadn’t even kissed one before I kissed you. Except, of course, my mother.”
“Well, I wouldn’t count that.” She grins at him and grabs him by the hand, pulling him to the doorway.
“We both know what we want, not that I’ve done it before but I’ve seen enough to get the general idea. ” She tells him, “So I think we can muddle through it. ”
Once inside they embrace and she shows him the infinite joys of kissing. Nibbling on his lower lip and slipping her tongue into his mouth.
They murmur the soft endearments of young lovers.
“You’re so beautiful.” Whispers Gohan as he gazes into her face, cupping her cheeks in his hands.
Her arms wrap about his neck and she presses her body against his. Heating his desires.
He lowers his hands and they begin to wander over her body, exploring her hidden curves and softnesses, feeling the hardness of her well toned muscles underneath.
She feels his taut firm chest and thighs pressing against hers, “I can’t believe how strong you are.”
Their tongues begin to play tag.
The mating drive envelopes them and they migrate towards the pallet.
Their desire grows more frantic with each passing moment
They collapse onto the mattress. Eagerly pulling at each other’s clothing.
She tugs at the hem his shirt trying to lift it and suddenly realizes it’s far heavier than it appears.
She breaks free of his lips, to gasp, “Take it off!” Her desires are flaring wildly.
His hands have already opened her blouse has found her breasts kneading and fondling them.
They pause, pantingly, eyes locked , just long enough to shed their clothing.
Then their bodies intertwine once more. “I love you, Videl!” He tells her breathlessly as their lips part, she smiles and pants back, “And I love you, Gohan.”
Her lips trail down his throat until she reaches the hollow, stopping she slips further down and her tongue laps at his nipple.
He gasps at the sensation that shoots through his being, pushing her back against the bed, he mimics her actions and she arches in response. Then they take turns alternating suckling and kissing exploring their shared sensations. She can feel his desires surging inside him matching hers and the pressure growing within his member. It’s hardness presses relentlessly against her thigh.
Gohan senses her slight apprehension even as she strains closer to him, her body warming, responding to his as she quivers within, moistening in anticipation for him.
Hesitantly, she reaches for his manhood, knowing the mechanics of where it has to go.
The touch of her hand literally ignites him. Suddenly Gohan flashes golden, before her surprised gaze, her eyes widen in wonder. He is golden! His light glows softly, filling the room like gentle sunlight. His eyes burn like emerald embers down at her. His soulfire gently warming her skin and spirit.
She had felt him expand under her hand, but still is not really frightened. She guides him to her moist opening.
When he slips inside her entrance, he is overcome and thrusts deeply into her. Driven by his need and hers. They both feel the single small tearing pain and then a growing ecstasy, begins surging through them as her waiting body accepts him.
They rock in tandem, to the silent siren song of love.
Tides rising within them both, higher and higher with each movement. Her soft cries urging him on until he explodes within her, flooding her waiting womb with his fiery seed as she quenches his fire with her own juices.
They collapse, replete with their triumphant love.
As they lie together, limbs still entwined, bodies still joined, breathing heavily, Gohan’s body slowly returns to normalcy.
It is then that Videl feels a strange sensation bloom inside her body, a soft glowing warmth starts to grow within her belly. And suddenly somehow, someway she knows new life has just awakened, she’s conceived his child. A smile of contentment touches her lips.
She gazes up into his face and grins. “Well, now you’ve done it.” She gripes teasingly.
He rises up on an elbow and gazes down at her. “Done what?”
“I don’t know exactly how I know it, but I’m pretty sure you just got me pregnant!” She grins up at him.
He looks at her in wonderment and extends his senses to discover the tiny ki sparkling into life within her.
He grins down at her happily. “Then I guess we’ll just have to get married.”
She gazes up at her fiancee, then her brows furrow in puzzlement.
“Gohan, what just happened here?” She asks, “Your appearance changed.”
“Yeah, it’s part of what I am.”
“So what are you, exactly?”
“A Saiyan, well half-Saiyan anyway.” Says Gohan starting to sit up, she pulls him back and cuddles close.
“A Saiyan? What’s that?” She asks, “A special dojo sect or something? Your gi says Kame’?”
“No, Kame’ was my father’s teacher. Saiyan is a species similar to humans close enough to be genetically compatible but from another world. My father was born on another planet in a different part of the galaxy. Goku was sent to Earth as a baby, when he landed, he was found by an old sensei named Gohan. Who raised him as his human grandson, even though he guessed that dad was really an alien.” He looks down at Videl, who listens raptly not questioning the strange tale.
The name rings a bell, “Hey! I think I remember reading something about a someone named Goku in history book,” interrupts Videl. “Wasn’t he the kid that stopped the demon king Piccolo?”
“Yeah that was my dad. He didn’t find out he was a Saiyan until later. I was about four at the time, that’s when another Saiyan named Raditz showed up, searching for him.”
Somehow she knows that Gohan is telling her the truth, as strange as it sounds.
“So you’re half alien. And that’s why you can change.” Prompts his mate. “So tell me more about these Saiyans.”
“They were a warrior race, feared through out the galaxy but that didn’t prevent them from ending up enslaved to a tyrant called Frieza, he was a different kind of alien entirely."
Gohan pauses remembering Vegeta telling them the story, “When he thought the Saiyans were getting too strong, Frieza destroyed almost all of them and their planet. Leaving less than a handful still alive.”
“Years later, their leader Prince Vegeta, who was still under Frieza’s control albeit unwillingly, secretly sent Raditz, who was apparently my uncle, to Earth. His mission was to locate his younger brother Kakarot, that was my dad’s Saiyan name, and bring him back to join them.”
“When dad refused, all hell broke loose for a while.” He looks at her, “It’s kinda of a long story, but to make it short, dad eventually fought them off, killing everyone but Vegeta who got beat to a pulp. Dad let him get escape. Later, when we went looking for help ,we encountered Vegeta again but he sorta changed by then. We ended up helping each other while we fought against Frieza and finally managed to beat him.
Vegeta ended up back here on Earth with us, the n he got involved with an old friend of my father’s, a woman named Bulma. He sired her son Trunks, who’s the only other Saiyan left now. Vegeta was killed along with the others, fighting the androids.
“So did your dad die while fighting the android s too?”
“Nah, and that’s the worse part of it. He got that heart virus early on, the one that killed so many people before they found the cure.” Gohan sighs, “I think that if Dad hadn’t died then we could have beaten the androids when they first showed up. He was an exceptional man, really strong, a true hero, not like me.”
She pulls him close, “I think you’re a hero Gohan.” Videl draws his face down to hers and kisses him.
He smiles at her, “I think you’re prejudiced.” Then he asks, “You getting hungry?”
“Sorta.”
“I’ll go get us some fish.”
She laughs looking appreciatively at his nude body, “Just like that.”
“Sure, this way my clothes won’t get all wet.” As he turns to leave she notices a short stub at the base of his spine.,
“Hey what’s that?!” She blurts out in surprise .
He looks over his shoulder at her, “What’s what?”
“That thing on your butt!” She demands.
“Oh I forgot about that, I haven’t thought about it much since that last time it came off, that’s just what’s left of my tail.”
“Then you really are an alien, aren’t you?” She stares at him and he comes back to her side.
“Does it bother you?” He asks in concern.
She smiles at him and cups his cheek in her hand. “No, not really Gohan, it’s just a little disconcerting find out that the man I love isn’t totally human.”
He leans down and kisses her lips. “At least you know from the beginning. Imagine how my mom felt, she didn’t find out dad was an alien until I was four.”
He stands up again and heads for the hut’s door , “Now I’m going out and catch that fish.”
She sits up, “You’re gonna go and catch it?! I thought you meant the refrig.” Gesturing towards the kitchen.
“I don’t have one here,” he shrugs. “I really don’t keep a lot of perishable stuff around, the power supply isn’t very reliable.” He heads for the door, “And it’s just as easy to get it fresh from the lake. When I start getting too tired of fish I go see mom, she always has other stuff to eat.”
Videl wraps the sheet around her body and follows him outdoors. Watching with interest as he flies out to the center of the nearby lake and dives smoothly into the water. She moves down to the shore, drops the sheet stepping into the lake shallows and begins to bathe as she waits for him to reappear. Just as she’s beginning to get concerned over the length of his absence, a huge fish breaks through the surface near where he entered it. Her heart leaps to her throat, as she retreats from the water. That monster is almost big enough to have made a meal out of Gohan! It continues to rise and as the body clears the surface she sees his hands holding it up, he emerges from the water beneath it, grinning happily as he carries his prize. He had caught it!
She looks up at the huge monster looming over them. “And just how are we going to cook this?” She asks adding, “Isn’t it a.. little... big?”
He looks up, “Not really, it’s kinda small if you ask me, but I’m not that hungry so I only got a little one.”
“As for cooking it.” He grins then suddenly tosses it up in the air and fires a ki blast at the fish, roasting it perfectly before it lands on a large wooden platform that Videl had mistaken for a patio when they first arrived. It’s now apparent that it’s a very, very, very large platter.
Gohan has mastered taking care of himself quite well. He had made the platter shortly after he moved in and quickly learned exactly how much power to use to cook his food.
He goes inside and brings out a blanket that he spreads on the ground along with some dishes. The sunshine warms their bare flesh, as they begin eating, soon Videl is replete but she watches in growing amazement as Gohan continues eating until he’s consumed the rest of the fish, leaving nothing but bones behind .
She stares at him, “You weren’t that hungry?!”
He grins at her suddenly, realizing, “No, but I guess watching, it would seem like I was. It’s another Saiyan trait, big appetites. A Saiyan burns massive amounts of energy in battle, so we eat way more than what seems possible. I think it’s a survival trait. We can also go a long time without eating anything, but look out when we do start getting hungry!” He laughs.
“I’ll bet!” She replies glancing at the huge skeleton that’s left.
Finished, he lifts the huge platter “No need to waste what’s left, there are others that will eat the scraps.” He takes out to the center of the lake the lake and dumps the last of the fish carcass.
His strength is so incredible, it’s almost mind boggling. Gohan’s way stronger than her father ever was and she had thought Hercule was the strongest man in the world.
With a wave of his hand, Gohan sanitizes the platter with a short power blast. It smokes slightly as a microscopic layer is burned away leaving new wood exposed.
Videl grins, “Neat! Hardly any clean-up.” She starts to gather the rest of the dishes,. Gohan suddenly scoops her up in his arms, “Leave them for now, I’m hungry for something else.” His eyes glow into hers.
“I teach you one thing, and now I think I’ve created a monster!” She grins up at him, as they push the dishes aside and embrace once more.
Later they return to the house, for more loving and a nap. Later that afternoon, Gohan wakes to find Videl watching him.
She reaches over and strokes his hair, twining his forelock around her fingers. “You mentioned your mother earlier. Where is she?”
“Safe at home, my granddad, her father, lives there with her.”
“Do you think she’ll like me?” Questions his mate. “Probably, but not right away. Mom can be, or at least used to be, difficult.” He closes his eyes in worry, “She changed a whole lot after Dad died. Lost her spark I guess.”
Gohan opens his eyes and gazes at the ceiling contemplating the problem of breaking the news to his mother.
“I suppose we should to go tell her what’s happened.” He sits up and reaches for his pants. Then turns to look at her with a sudden grin as he thinks of a solution. “But we’ll make another trip first!"
“A trip?”
As he pulls his pants on saying, “Yeah, to Corrin’s Tower.”
“Corrin’s Tower?” She asks, “Where’s that?”
“It’s way out west, across the sea from West City.” He pulls his shirt over his head.
“That’s an awful long way.” Says Videl, “Why do we need to go there?” She draws her knees up as she sits on the bed.
“Well, since Kami died, Corrin’s been Earth’s Guardian.” Says Gohan, “Mom won’t say much if we’re already married when she meets you, especially if Corrin’s the one who performed the ceremony! It’s kinda hard to argue with a demi-god.”
“But my clothes, I can’t wear those.” She indicates her tattered clothing. “I always thought I’d at least wear a white dress for my wedding.”
“I think Mr. Popo could help with that if you really want a dress.” Gohan smiles, “He’s pretty handy at making things.” He looks at her petite body, “But for now I think you can get by with wearing one of my old outfits if you want, it‘s white.”
He goes to a chest opens it, pulling out a white mandarin jacket and black pants. “Mom made these for my birthday, just before dad got sick. When I outgrew it I decided to keep it around as a reminder of happier times.” He holds the jacket up appraising it with his eye, “I think it just might fit you.”
Videl looks at it. “I-it’s beautiful.”
She comes over and slips it on. She strokes the silken fabric and admires the delicate embroidery that ChiChi had done so lovingly for her son, “I wouldn’t even mind getting married in this!”
The jacket drapes softly over her curves. Even though it had been made for Gohan as a young boy, it fits Videl almost exactly. Her full breasts take up the excess that had been meant for his already broad shoulders and muscular chest at the time. She pulls on the pants, the jacket’s just long enough that it looks like a tunic on her.
She gathers the jacket tight around the waist with her hands, “If I had something to tie around it would be perfect.”
He gestures towards the chest, “Maybe you can find something in there that you could use.” When she rummages through the chest, she finds a blue sash. It’s one of ChiChi’s hair ribbons that Gohan had brought along to remind him of his mother, and wraps it about her waist like a belt.
She turns to find Gohan staring at her in awe.
“I thought you were beautiful before, but now ...” He’s at a loss for words.
This time she’s the one that blushes. “You really think that?”
“Yes!” He grabs her and whirls her around in his arms. “And I think mom will think so too when she sees you. It looks like it was made for you.”
He sets her on her feet, “Do you think you’re ready to go?”
She nods, and they step outside.
Gohan lifts her back into his arms and then leaps skywards once more. Heading westwards.
Videl looks into her lover’s face, studying it’s strong lines. Gohan’s face is so familiar to her, it’s as if she always known it. Things have happened so fast. The androids attack, the destruction of her home, her father’s death, Gohan’s sudden appearance and now she’s getting married! Not to mention she probably already pregnant. Her head is awhirl, but strangely enough she knows that everything is as it should be, it was always meant that she would be with Gohan, she knows it in her heart. She can feel his arms tighten about her as they rise higher and higher.
Gohan is traveling at super speed, he is projecting a protective shell of ki about them, to shield his precious burden from the buffeting winds of their rapid passage. So their travel relatively quiet.
“Gohan?” “Yes, Videl.” She blushes slightly, “Is flying like this something only a Saiyan can learn?”
“No, I had some human friends who could fly.”
“Then do you think you could teach me how to do it sometime?”
“I don’t know, it takes a lot of training and power control.”
“Oh.” she says a bit disappointedly.
He looks down at her and then reaches out his senses and tests her ki level. He knows she possesses the power level needed for flight but without proper control it would be useless to try and teach her. He’s pleased to discover that it’s also extremely well controlled.
“But you’ve had martial arts training, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, my dad taught me.”
“Well I can’t promise it’ll work but I can try to teach you.”
She brightens, and smiles once more.
“Look can you see it.”
She turns her head to look in the direction he’s gazing, in the distance she sees an edifice that seems to be floating in midair. As they draw closer she sees that it’s actually supported by an impossibly slender column.
“That’s Corrin’s Tower, that’s where he used to live, but no one stays down here anymore.” He tells her.
“But you said that’s where we were going?” “And we were but now that we’re here we’re going up even higher, all the way up to the Lookout Palace above it, Kami’s refuge.”
Gohan starts flying straight up, whizzing up through the clouds. Until a small dot appears far above them. It grows steadily larger until it looms overhead, reaching the base Gohan flies up the lower curve and rises past the edge of the paving stones then the lands softly.
Videl looks around at the exquisite building and manicured grounds, everything is imbued with a sense of peacefulness, there’s barely any sound, and the palace seems deserted. A butterfly flutters past, as birds chirp softly in the nearby bushes.
Gohan shouts, “Mr. Popo! Master Corrin!” Breaking the serene silence, startling her. A stout little man with pointy ears, black as pitch, and dressed like genie comes out from around the side of the elegant building. “Gohan, we didn’t expect you back so soon, are you hurt? Do you need something?”
“No I’m fine Mr. Popo, better than fine.” He grins, “But I do need you and Master Corrin to do a favor for me. But first, I want you to meet someone.”
Gohan slips his arm around her shoulders pulling her to him and says, “This is Videl, and I want to marry her.”
“Oh Gohan! That’s such wonderful news!” The little man grins and gets all excited. “I’ll go and get Master Corrin at once.” He runs back into the building.
Soon the little man returns, followed by a small white Persian cat with a staff gripped in it’s left paw.
Gohan bows respectfully to the cat. “Hello Master Corrin.”
The cat peers at the two teenagers in front to him. “Mr. Popo tells me you’ve got some news and that you want a favor.”
“Yes, sir.” Says Gohan deferentially.
“I think I can guess your news.” He peers nearsightedly at Videl, walks around her then pats her in the stomach.
“You Saiyans just can’t seem to wait, no patience at all. Now I suppose you’re wanting me to perform a wedding ceremony.”
The two blush sheepishly. Suddenly aware that Corrin is privy to what happened earlier.
“Never mind,” says Corrin. “Technically as a Saiyan you’d already be considered married the moment you mated with her. The ceremony more of an Earth formality than anything.”
The Cat shakes his head. “But the sooner it’s done the better, otherwise ChiChi will really freak.”
Videl stares amazedly at the Cat, “How did you know we’ve already...mated.”
“You wouldn’t be pregnant if you hadn’t.” He says eyeing her, “And I wouldn’t be much of a demi-god if I couldn’t see what’s right there in front of me.”
Gohan grins and embraces her. “So we were right !”
Videl hides her face in his chest and blushes even harder.
“Popo, why don’t you make a prepare a nice wedding dinner for all of us while we get everything else ready.”
The little man beams and with nod hurries away.
Then Corrin leads the two into one of the palace’s large storage rooms.
It’s filled with a jumble of bric-a-brac, everything from clothes, extra cans of tuna fish to several treasure chests, overflowing with gold and jewels. He pulls out a lovely necklace and matching earrings and hands them to Videl, “Here you can wear these for the ceremony.”
“But, sir.” Videl protests, “I can’t take these they’re much too nice.”
“Nonsense, nothing is ever too nice for a wedding. Besides you need them, you’ve got everything else, something old, something borrowed and something blue, but you still need the something new. These are very old, but they are new for you since they’re my wedding present to you. And I don’t suppose either of you , even thought about a ring, but I think I’ve got that covered too. There’s some very nice ones in here.” He rummages through one of the treasure chests and pulls out several looking at them one by one , he discards them carelessly until he find the one he was looking for a gold band with embossed with seven stars. He hands it to Gohan.
Then he leads them to the throne room.
Where Mr. Popo soon joins them, then Corrin performs the simple but beautiful ceremony. The little caretaker wipes dabs away his tears as Gohan claims his bride’s lips.
After the ceremony, they all enjoy the delicious dinner that Popo had prepared for them.
As they finishing eating Corrin regards the newlyweds sitting across from him, speculatively.
“Well, Gohan are you going to stop fighting the androids now that you’re married with a family on the way?” He asks.
The couple stare at him in shock for moment, then without even a glance at each other chorus, “NO!”
Videl looks at the little Cat god, “Those monsters have to be stopped!” Saying emphatically, “They’ve killed too many people already.” She chokes a bit, “Even my father! I couldn’t live with myself if Gohan stopped fighting just because of me.” She places her hand on her stomach protectively. “I’d even help him fight if I could.”
Gohan slips his arm around her proudly.
Corrin says, “Well then that’s settled.” He rises from the table, “You’d better get going then, the sooner you tell ChiChi the better. Otherwise she’ll think you’re trying to hide something.” The cat smiles at them knowingly.
Gohan nods, he dreads facing his mother but she has to be told sometime. And Corrin's right, the sooner it’s done the better, especially since Videl is already carrying their child. They all head for the edge of the palace platform.
Videl thanks them for the beautiful gift, the lovely wedding dinner and everything else. Then hugs Mr. Popo and Corrin in turn, which totally flusters both.
“One more thing, my boy, when the time comes.” Corrin glances pointedly at Videl. “You can bring her up here to have the child if you wish. The androids are too filled with evil, so they cannot reach this place unless someone brings them here first.”
Gohan nods, “We’ll think about it, but mom will probably have something to say about it too. She’s missed the wedding so she may at least want to have her grandchild born at her house.”
“I understand.” Then with a final wave he takes his new bride in his arms once more and they leap off the edge heading eastwards.
They fly in silence each thinking quietly but
basking in each others emotions and sensations.
As they come closer to their destination dusk descends.
The moon begins to rise and the stars start to peek out one by one. The sight reminds Gohan of something.
“Videl.”
“Yes, Gohan.”
“There’s one more thing you need to know about Saiyans. It’s about our transformations.”
“Transformations?”
“A Saiyan’s tail can cause a different transformation than what you’ve already seen.”
“Your tail’s gone, so whatever it causes, really doesn‘t matter.”
“But it does matter, the reason mine was taken is because having one can cause me to turn into a monster whenever I look at the full moon. The form is called Oozura, it’s sort of a giant monkey or ape.”
“Kinda like King Kong or something?”
“Yeah, but a very, very violent ape.”
“But your tail is gone so it won’t happen.” She says “So why even bring it up?”
“That true, but it can grow back again, that has happened to me a couple of times. But that’s not the real reason I brought this up.” He says.
“Then why did you?” She asks.
“I brought it up because of the baby. If the child has a tail we’ll have to remove it.”
“Ohh!” She says softly, finally understanding.
He thinks of Trunks, “It may not happen but you needed to know that, just in case.”
“I see. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Not really. Look there’s mom’s dome, are you ready for this?”
She glances at the approaching building, lights gleaming softly from the windows. “Not really, but we have to tell her.”
He lands in the neat yard. “You wait out here, I’ll go in first and tell her I’ve brought a visitor. I’ll only be a second okay?”
Gohan gives her a comforting hug and then opens the door and goes inside. Videl can hear muffled voices greeting him happily.
He says something and there’s a long pause, followed by a curt response.
The door opens once more and Gohan comes out and puts his arm around her waist before leading her inside still in his embrace.
An incredibly large man is standing just behind a chair that holds relatively small dark haired older woman. This has to be Gohan’s mother, Videl can see their resemblance. Especially in her snapping eyes.
“Videl, this is my grandfather, the Ox-King, and this is my mother, ChiChi.”
Gohan looks down at the girl and pulls her closer, “Grandpa, Mom, this is Videl...” he takes a deep breath and adds, “my wife!”
ChiChi glares in shock then explodes “WWHHHAATT!!! Wife! Gohan, you can‘t, how could you. You’re much too young to be married. I don’t know what this.....”
“ChiChi, ChiChi... please.” The Ox-King tries to calm his furious daughter. “Gohan’s the older than you were when you married his father.”
“I don’t care, girls are much more mature at that age!”
“But Goku was the same age too!”
At the mention of Goku’s name, ChiChi suddenly grows quiet. Though she still glares at Videl.
“I don’t care.” She rises and stalks towards the girl. “I don’t know how you tricked my son into marrying you, missy. But I’ll put stop it. I’ll get it annulled!”
Gohan steps between the two women, “Easy Mom I know you’re upset and hurt, but I love Videl, she didn’t trick me. And you can’t get this marriage annulled, because Corrin performed the ceremony!”
“CORRIN!” Screeches ChiChi. “THAT CAT did this!”
“That Cat, is Kami now. There is no higher authority in this dimension.” Says Gohan sternly, “If he approved of it enough to perform the ceremony, then you know it has to be right.”
ChiChi suddenly deflates and sits down heavily in a nearby chair. “Alright Gohan. I give up.” She glances at the girl and finally notices what she’s wearing. “Isn’t that you old outfit?”
Videl speaks for the first time, a little hesitantly, “Yes ma’am, it’s Gohan’s. He lent it to me because my clothes were all ruined after the attack. I thought it was so beautiful that I wore it as my wedding outfit. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Well at least I had some part in my son’s wedding.” ChiChi glares at Gohan, “Since I wasn’t even invited!”
She looks back at the girl, and her hard look softens, “Well at least you’re pretty.” ChiChi really looks at the girl for the first time. There’s something about her, a kind of a glow, but ChiChi dismisses it as wedding happiness. “Where’s you’re parents, what do they think about this?”
Videl looks stricken tears start in her eyes and Gohan takes her in his arms to comfort her. Looking over at ChiChi, he says softly. “Videl’s all alone, her father is dead, mom. The androids killed him when they attacked Orange City. He asked me to take care of her just before he died.”
“Is that why you married her?” Asks the Ox-King. “Because of a hasty promise?”
Gohan looks down at the girl in his arms, “No gramps,” he answers firmly, “I married Videl because I love her and she loves me.”
“So you met, fell in love at first sight then rushed off and got married.” Says ChiChi sarcastically. “There’s something else going on here Gohan, I don’t know what it is, but I can feel it.”
Gohan looks sheepish, but says “Not really we just got married is all.”
“And you’re not going to tell me anything else are you?” says ChiChi in frustration.
Her son shakes his head.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped, after all, you’re just the way your father was.” She finally smiles a bit sadly. “He never told me more than what he had to about what you both actually went through half the time.” She looks pensive. “I guess he felt it was better if I didn’t know all of it, and he was probably right. I worried too much about both of you as it was.”
“I didn’t know, that Mom.” Says Gohan, “I thought you knew everything that we’d done.”
“No.” She answers, “Just the generalities. I know you did great things, heroic things and that you both risked your lives over and over. But that was what Goku did. He always thought of others before he thought about himself.”
“I could fill you in about the things we did.” “There’s no need.” Says his mother, then she glares at Gohan but there’s a teasing sparkle in her eye. “I just wish you’d be a little more like me when it comes to some of the more important things like weddings!”
Gohan puts his hand behind his head just like Goku used to do, when he was apologizing for something. It makes ChiChi’s heart ache.
Then her son says, “I’m sorry mom, but we did come here to tell you as soon as it was over.”
“Well what’s done is done, and now, I suppose you want to have some sort of celebration.” States ChiChi starting to rise.
“Please don’t, bother..” starts Videl.
ChiChi looks at her new daughter-in-law just a little crossly, “I will not allow my son to get married without at least having a proper family celebration for his wedding. Even if I didn’t get to come to the ceremony!”
Gohan grins at his mother. She almost seems like her old feisty self. He puts his other arm around her shoulders and hugs both women happily. “Thanks Mom, I know you and Videl will get along.”
The two women look at the young warrior they both love and then at each other.
ChiChi asks Videl, “Can you cook?”
“Just a little.”
“Then I’d better teach you how to fix his favorite dishes, Saiyan’s eat an awful lot.”
“I know, I’ve seen what Gohan considered as ‘a little snack’. That fish could have fed a family of twelve.”
“You should have seen his father eat! Compared to him, Gohan’s appetite is modest!” The two women laugh together for the first time as they adjourn to the kitchen.
Gohan sits down beside his Grandfather.
The old man gazes at his grandson. He says, “You’re mother’s right.” Then asks. “What else is going on Gohan? You know you can confide me.”
Gohan shrugs, “Everything I told Mom is true, gramps. I just haven’t told her the whole thing. But she’ll find out soon enough, you can’t hide something like that for too long.”
“Can’t hide what Gohan.” Asks the old man softly.
“Videl’s pregnant.” Confides his grandson.
“Pregnant?!” The Ox-King is taken aback. He looks at Gohan in concern, “Who’s the father?”
Gohan grins, at the look on his grandfather’s face. “Don’t worry, gramps it’s mine.” Gohan blushes a little. “I know that much for sure, but that’s what I didn’t tell Mom. It happened earlier today, before we even got formally married. It was like I was being drawn to her, then when we kissed and it was electric, something came over me and everything just started happening, I had to make her mine.” Gohan shrugs, he still doesn’t understand the bonding, “Corrin confirmed the pregnancy before the ceremony, although he claims a Saiyan is considered married at the moment of mating.”
“So I’m going to be a great-grandpa!” Beams the Ox-King.
“SSHH, keep it down I don’t want Mom knowing for a little while okay?” Confides Gohan. “She’d probably faint.”
“That’s for sure, and when she woke up she’d be furious.” His grandfather glances towards the kitchen, “Not to mention the fact that she put all the blame on Videl. But don’t keep it a secret for to long.”
“We won’t, like I said it’s something you can’t hide!”
ChiChi and Videl walk back in, “What are you two whispering about?”
Gohan and her father exchange guilty glances.
The Ox-King stutters, “Ahem,... w-well ChiChi dear, I.. ah... that is, MMM I was just explaining to Gohan, about his... ah marital responsibilities.”
Chichi grins and glances at her son “Is that what you’re calling it now.” She looks at Videl, “Well I don’t think telling Gohan about his .., responsibilities, could be harder than when you tried to tell me about my wifely duties.”
ChiChi giggles and her father turns red with embarrassment. And then everyone starts laughing.
Happiness descends on the Son home for the first time in along while. Gohan and Videl spend that night in the bosom his family. The next morning they return to his house, where they spend several days together quietly. Rarely leaving each other’s side as the bonding process completes itself.
Months and years pass, Gohan continues his
seemingly endless fight against the androids. He takes
the time to teach Videl how to fly, and then his small
daughter. The couple steal precious moments of
happiness to teach the small girl the rudiments of
martial arts.
Even though Videl’s fighting spirit makes her long to join Gohan in his battles, she remains sequestered in safety, in their little haven. Keeping both herself and little Pan protected and hidden. Understanding that if the androids even suspected their existence, the evil automatons in their cruelty might try to use both her and their child against their relentless foe.
So there she remains, tending his wounds when he returns to them. Offering Gohan the solace of her love to when he gets discouraged and depressed waiting for Trunk’s rage to awaken.
She knows that her husband’s one hope in ever defeating the androids lies dormant in the son of Vegeta and Bulma. It sometimes seems to them both as if the other demi-Saiyan’s rage will never arise.
Videl and their daughter, are Gohan’s single joy in the devastation of the world he’s trying so desperately to defend. So whenever they are together, Videl masks her own fear and worries for his safety. Doing whatever she can, to give him peaceful, serene moments when he can snatch whatever shreds happiness as she and their daughter can provide.
One day, Gohan returns from another patrol filled with excitement. She and Pan have been out Videl planting in the garden the child playing nearby in the forest.
Gohan sees them and starts shouting even before he lands, “Videl.., Videl, it’s finally happened I saw Trunks today!”
He quickly tells her how, as he was surveying the latest devastation he came across the other half Saiyan.
Trunks anger has finally emerged. The boy had been kneeling over a child’s broken toy weeping in thwarted fury.
“He’s as bad as I was after dad’s death, but he actually begged me to train him!” Exults Gohan “Oh Videl, you know how long I’ve waited for this!” She nods, “We’ve all waited.”
“This means we might finally get a chance at beating them.” Gohan is so full of excitement he doesn’t notice her growing trepidation.
Videl knows to well, how the other boy will feel when Gohan goes off to fight against the androids the first time. She feels the same every time her husband leaves them behind.
Trunks will be eager to join the fight too. He’ll want to go along and face the foe, not realizing his mere presence on the battlefield will compromise Gohan’s safety.
But Videl keeps her fears to herself and listens to her husband eagerly making plans. “It’s going to take lots of time to train Trunks, it’s very tough breaking through to the first level.” He gazes at Videl searchingly, “We’ll need a safe place to be alone together, I’ll need to guide Trunks through the transformation to Super Saiyan with out distractions.”
He pause s and looks at her searchingly, “Videl, could you to do something for me?”
“You know I’ll do whatever I can to help you, Gohan.” Videl replies, half suspecting what he’s leading up to, after all this was his childhood training ground before it became their home. So what he says next doesn’t surprise her in the least.
“I’d like you and Pan to go stay with mom and gramps for a while.” says Gohan, “That way I can train Trunks here, without any distractions.”
He looks at their playful young daughter zooming in and out of the trees as she plays tag with her friends the birds.
Videl agrees and that night they begin packing.
The little girl runs about the house excitedly shouting happily, “Granma,... granma, we’re goin’ to granma’s!”
She and Pan will remain at the Son home until Trunks is fully trained. Gohan promises to come and see them often. Since Vegeta’s son will continue living at home with his mother, Bulma.
That night as she lies in his arms, Videl awakens with an odd premonition. She gazes up into Gohan’s sleeping visage and studies it carefully. Memorizing every contour and line.
Gohan wakes feeling her worry.
“What’s wrong?” he asks sleepily.
“I can’t sleep, I dreamt something terrible happened.”
He pulls her closer, “Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I’ll always be with you.”
She resists the pull, rousing him more.
“But what if something does happen.” She responds almost tearfully. “What would I do without you?”
He half sits up in bed leaning against the headboard and pulls her up into his arms. She lays her head on his chest’s solid comfort, trembling a little in dread.
They can both see Pan’s dark head, nestled on her pillow.
“If something should happen, you’ll survive, for Pan’s sake.” Gohan says softly. “She’ll need to be protected until she’s old enough.”
Videl looks into Gohan’s eyes. “I don’t want to lose her to those monsters, too!”
He hugs her, “You’re worrying about something that may never happen.”
She sits up and glares at him worriedly, “It’s a possibility we need to face. I’m not like my father was or your mother. I face reality head on, you should know that by now!”
Gohan smiles at her, “I know, I know and you’re stubborn too.”
Her anger is growing, dispelling her despair, “I need to know what to do, Gohan! Pan may only be one-fourth Saiyan, but you’ve already said she shows all the signs of eventually having as much power as you do. If that’s true she’ll have to be trained to control it sometime. I can do the rudiments, teach her human marital arts but helping her attain full Saiyan power is far beyond me.”
“Alright, as usual, you’ve thought this out.” He glances at his daughter than back at his wife. “If something should happen. You should wait until Pan gets old enough, wait until her Saiyan rage has started to manifest. Then take her to West City, that’s where Trunks and Bulma live. In the basement of the old Capsule Corporation Grounds, they can help you train her.”
“but what if trunks is gone too?”
“Then have Bulma get you to both to Roshi’s. He can guide her for a while like he did with dad. Once she’s finished training with him, you should take her to Corrin. He and Popo helped train Goku for a while too. They should be able to handle Pan’s training at least initially and get her started in the right direction.”
Finally satisfied, Videl settles against him again, saying softly, “I hated even talking about it, Gohan but I really needed to know what to do. In case...,”
“I understand, Videl.” He looks down at the woman in his arms. “You’re a warrior too, at heart. And it may not seem like it at times but I do know what you’ve been going through. You’re far stronger than my mother is. I think I understand now why dad never really confided in her. She couldn’t handle any thing like this.”
He pulls her close once more raising her chin, saying just before he kisses her, “You are my strength, the one thing that’s kept my hopes and dreams alive!”
Their lips meet and the flame of their passion ignites. Gohan and Videl revel once more in their love, renewing their bond. Sensations and emotions intertwine, as two hearts beat as one.
His hands travel the well know paths of her pleasure. She in turn fans his flames and in the golden glow of his ascension, their joy becomes incandescent.
Months later the news reaches them of Gohan and Trunks first battle with the androids. Videl had felt something had happened to him, but torn as she was, she resisted rushing to him. Instead she remained ensconced with Gohan's mother, who once she heard the news would need Videl’s strength even more.
As Videl expected the news of Gohan’s injury affected ChiChi badly. His mother had never fully recovered from the loss of Goku, and this blow causes her to begin to faltering even more.
Gohan comes to see them as soon as he recovers enough to travel, and even he can see his mother’s new fragility. ChiChi has faded to a mere wisp of what she once was, when Gohan walks in the door tears had blinded her as she gazed at his empty left sleeve. She comes over to him and embraces him. His other arm slips about her shoulders and he hugs her as best he can now. She reaches up brushes back the locks of his hair and looks searchingly into his wane, pale face.
“Does...it still hurt?” ChiChi asks worriedly.
“No, I’m fine now, really!” He answers with false cheeriness. “I just need to rest a bit more.” He sinks down onto the sofa and his mother settles down beside him.
“I knew you shouldn’t have gone after those two.” She scolds, “I told you not to and now look what’s happened!”
“Someone had to make a stand, Mom.” Says Gohan wearily, this is the same argument he’s always had with ChiChi.
“I.., I know, you’re just like your father. You couldn’t stand by idly by while people were being hurt.” Then ChiChi gets a determined look. “But now that’s over, you can’t fight any more.”
Videl, Gohan and the Ox-King exchange glances over ChiChi’s head. They know Gohan won’t stop, even though he now has only a single arm. He can’t, until Trunks is ready, Gohan’s the sole protector of Earth.
But before he can reply the door suddenly bursts open and a little bundle of energy charges in, she skids to a stop and stares at her father.
“Papa! Papa! I knew I felt you come, I knew it!” Squeals Pan excitedly as she careens into his lap.
“Hey squirt how are you?” Asks Gohan smiling at the toddler.
“I’m fine daddy..., but mommy told me you got hurt really bad!” She says solemnly as she stares at his missing arm.
“Yeah I did, but I’m getting better now.”
The little girl gazes adoringly up at her father’s face.
“Did the androids do that?” She glances at his empty sleeve.
“Yes they did baby.” He tells her.
Pan looks at over at ChiChi, then back at her father.
“Granma said when you came back you were gonna stay.”
“Well Pan I don..,” Starts Gohan.
Videl catches his eye and shakes her head solemnly. Her eyes tell him to let ChiChi have her way as least for awhile.
Gohan nods, he’s not completely recovered yet anyway. He’d planned on remaining here for a few days of rest, before returning to training Trunks at the other house. He can afford to give his mother a short interlude of happiness.
“You’re all going to stay right here!” Says ChiChi firmly, “We’ll build a little house next door, for you, Videl and Pan.” Chichi glances at the girl on Gohan’s lap. “She’s running around like a wild little animal, just like you did with Icarus. Pan really needs your discipline Gohan, and she’s needs to start her schooling!” ChiChi glares accusingly at Videl. “She can’t even read yet! You were already doing time tables and division at her age. But don’t worry I’ve still got all your books and your old desk. With your help I‘m certain she‘ll catch up.”
ChiChi starts rises and heads for the kitchen.
Videl starts to follow, but ChiChi gives her a stern look. “Videl why don’t you take Gohan up to your bedroom, he looks like he needs to rest and you haven‘t seen him for a while either.” ChiChi smiles, “Don’t worry I’ll fix supper tonight.”
Goku’s widow almost seems like her old self as she bustles off.
Gohan looks at his wife and grins. “Mom’s right I could use a bit of a lie down.” They both know what ChiChi really meant.
The Ox-King gazes at them a moment then it suddenly dawns on him what‘s going on.. “Come on Pan let’s go outside for a while.”
“But Great Granpa, I wanna stay with Papa.” Complains Pan.
The Ox-King lifts Pan off Gohan’s lap and holds the little girl in his arms. “You can be with Papa later, right now I‘ve got a better idea. Why don’t we go catch him a big delicious fish for supper.”
“That’s a good idea.” Says Gohan, “I’m really hungry and I’d love to eat any fish that you‘d caught just for me.”
Pan looks at her parents suspiciously, she knows something else is going on but isn’t sure just what. “Do you really want me to catch you a fish?”
“That’s right, a really good one, okay?”
“O...kay!!” The little girl get excited, “Let’s go get Papa the best fish in the whole lake Granpa.”
The Ox-King bounces the little girl in his arms as they go out the door, he winks at the couple in passing, “You rest well now.”
Videl and Gohan watch them leave, as the door closes he stands up moves over to her, cupping her cheek with his remaining hand he looks into her eyes. “I’ve missed you.”
She slips her arms around him hugging him tightly. “I was so worried when I felt it happen.” She glances at his shoulder. “I wish I had been there. I wanted to come to you.”
“I know, but you had to stay here.” He says, “I needed you to take care of Pan and Mom more.”
He glances towards the kitchen where they can hear the sounds of pots and pans rattling about. “She’s gotten lots worse.”
“Yes, when she heard the news I thought we might lose her then. But ChiChi managed to recover a little, not much though. I think it’s because she’s so sure that you‘re going to stop fighting now.”
He slips his arm around Videl’s waist. “You understand why I can’t though, don‘t you?.”
“Yeah, but let’s not talk about it anymore.” She leads him towards the stairway, looking at him critically, “You really do need to get some rest Gohan.”
He’s still so pale and drawn looking, it worries her.
He nods and follows her up the stairs.
They enter the room that he had occupied as a boy. It’s obvious that Videl and Pan have been using it since they got here. The little girl’s pallet rolled up is against the far wall.
Gohan sits heavily down on the bed, he struggles to pull his weighted shirt over his head, one handed. Seeing his difficulty Videl comes over and helps him remove it.
He smiles at her in gratitude. “I’m still not used to doing things with only one hand.”
She gazes at the still enflamed stump and tears start in her eyes. She had managed to control her sorrow and dismay in front of everyone else, but now that they’re alone she breaks down. His shirt hits the floor with a thump and she rushes to embrace her maimed husband.
He pats her back awkwardly, as she sobs softly against him.
“Oh, Gohan, Gohan.” Tears course down her cheeks.
He slips his arm around her pulling her closer, “It’s not that bad, Videl. After all I am still alive.”
“But for how long?” She asks hopelessly burying her face in his chest..
“Don’t think like that!” He lifts her chin to look into her eyes. “I’m here now, that’s all that really matters.” He looks into the distance, “And Trunks training is coming along. He’s far stronger than I thought. All he needs is to break through to Super Saiyan. He’s like his father Vegeta, he maybe even be stronger than me when he finally transforms.”
“Trunks!” She says angrily, “Did protecting him cause this?”
“No it didn’t.” he stares at her sternly, “Remember that Videl, the androids are the real cause of all our problems!”
Gohan looks at her seriously, “Videl, promise me that whatever happens, you’ll never blame Trunks for anything. He’s a good kid and my best friend.”
Gohan gets a far away look, “For some reason I know he’s very important. I have a feeling he’s the one who’ll eventually find a way to beat the androids.”
She gazes into her love’s weary face, “Alright I promise not to blame him. But now you need to lie down and rest.” She tries to push him down but he resists.
He turns back to her and his eyes twinkle playfully into hers, “Oh I’ll rest, but afterwards.” He pulls her up and nuzzles her neck.
“Mom and gramps have given us this chance to be alone together, why waste it all sleeping?”
She smiles a bit ruefully but, turns her face to his eagerly anyway and their lips meet. Souls conjoin once more, their bodies warm as their desire flares. His hand cups one of her breasts. Her lips explore his, as he fumbles one handed with her blouse. Sensing his difficulty she reaches down aiding him. Her shirt slips to the floor beside his, followed by her pants.
Now nude, she returns to him, her mouth finds his throat and travels down it to his broad muscular chest. His hand caresses her curves, as her mouth descends further pausing when she finds the pebble of his nipple. She nips at it tantalizing him with her teeth and tongue.
His hand clutches at her. Then she continues downwards until she’s on her knees between his legs. Quickly she opens his pants, finding him already rising to readiness. Her lips slip over his tip enveloping his swelling plum, her teeth caress it’s delicate collar and then encircles it with her tongue. He falls back with a groan of pleasure, when she laps at the sensitive indentation beneath it‘s hood, his fingers grasp the covers, twisting them in his grasp.
She warms to her task as she feels his arousal growing, feeding her own.
Following the rising sensations within them both she continues to stimulate him until she tastes his essences on her tongue. Rising she covers his body with hers, mounting his staff.
Gohan gasps as she envelopes him. Welcoming him into herself.
He thrusts eagerly into her velvety softness, feeling the her passageway tightening around him as the waves of her sensation caresses him.
He explodes within her, as she reaches her own cresting wave of climax. Riding the tides of their shared pleasure to it’s completion.
Gohan gazes up at his mate, eyes filled with his love for her, his pain and weariness is forgotten in the ecstasy of their total fulfillment. His joy know no bounds, even though it is tinged with a strange regret, a presentment of her future sorrow. But now they are together, one heart and soul united in their own private paradise.
Panting she descends to the mattress sliding to his gravitating to his uninjured side still joined with him. Videl resting her head on his right shoulder, as he slowly ebbs from her, after they’ve regained their breath she asks, “Now will you rest?”
He grins at her in satisfaction, and nods in acquiescence before his eyes drift slowly closed. Gohan falls into a gentle restful sleep beside his truemate.
Videl watches Gohan, as tears spangle her lashes, she know their snatched moments of happiness are only fleeting interludes, and even if Gohan’s here with her now, she knows it‘s won’t last for very long. She wishes their world was different, but knows it’s a futile dream, so she basks in his beloved presence while she can.
Too soon a noise below disturbs them.
Pan and the Ox-King are obviously back, and successful from the sound of the little girl’s crows of delighted triumph, which rouse her father.
Videl and Gohan redon their clothes reluctantly and go down to see the fish that their daughter has caught.
That night ChiChi’s happiness is boundless. S he finally has her family safe around her, and is content for the first time since Goku’s death. The future is cuddled in her beloved son’s lap, and she truly believes that Gohan will never leave them again. Her quiet joy cheers her loved ones.
But the happiness is transient, and it drains the last of her small store of strength. ChiChi dies peacefully that night, in her sleep, surrounded by her family.
They lay her to rest beside Goku the next day.
The old Ox-King is almost inconsolable, the first few days after the funeral, he just sits broodingly in his room. But then Pan with the childish irrepressibility of youth finally rouses him from his depression.
The Ox-King has survived so many deaths. First his wife, then the son-in-law he had loved as much as his daughter, and most of their friends. He can survive this too, after all even if ChiChi is gone, he still has some family left, a grandson to be proud of and great-granddaughter to cheer his last days.
A couple of weeks later, Gohan is fully
recovered. He knows the time has come, he’ll has to
leave them, again.
They share one final day together as a family.
That night Gohan and Videl make love almost desperately sensing something. Souls and emotions blending, hearts beating a single song. Bodies entwined in pleasure and a soft light gleams within the room. Neither guess that this is their last night together.
The next morning he bids them goodbye reluctantly and goes off finish training Trunks.
During one of their rest periods between
training sessions, Trunks asks Gohan curiously where
he’d gone to recover after he had left Capsule Corp.
The older half Saiyan smiles, “Visiting my family.”
“Oh, you mean your mom and the Ox-King.”
Gohan nods, “Yeah but now Mom’s gone now, too.”
Trunks had noticed that Gohan had been a lot more introspective lately, but he hadn’t realized why.
“Then all you’ve got left is your grandfather.” Says the youth, slowly.
Gohan shakes his head, thinking of his irrepressible little girl and his wife, he smiles slightly.
“No, I’m married, Trunks.” Gohan grins at the youth, “I’ve even got a daughter!”
Trunks stares at his mentor, in shock. “You’re married....?”
Gohan smiles with pride, “Yeah.”
“So when were you gonna tell me. Can I meet them?”
“No, not until after the androids are defeated. ” Gohan looks at his student, seriously, “Promise me that if something happens to me, you won’t go searching for them until then. I want them kept safe. My daughter Pan could be Earth’s last resort, she has been born with our Saiyan power too. If they need your help before then my wife Videl, knows where to come looking for you.”
Trunks stares at Gohan, then nods in understanding. Gohan’s daughter is a great secret, a treasure to preserve for the future, if both of them should fail perhaps she could still succeed.
A few weeks later, Videl is working outside.
Suddenly her heart freezes in her chest, feeling the
great shock as her soul is ripped apart, she screams
out in grief and pain, “NNNNNOOOOOO” and faints.
Scared and crying, Pan runs into the house in panic. The Ox-King soothes and comforts the little girl, then goes out to see what had upset her. Discovering the prostrate Videl, he gently takes her inside., suspecting sadly what has happened.
When she finally rouses, Videl can’t stop crying. She had felt the whole thing and she manages to sob out the horrible news. Gohan is dead!
“What is it hon’?” Ask her mother in concern.
“I sense something mama! It’s incredible, the power’s it’s so huge!” The girl drops her gardening tools and starts to leap into the air.
“Wait Pan, you don’t know what happening!” Shouts her mother.
Pan pauses, floating ten feet above the ground and looks back over her shoulder at Videl, “Yes I do, it’s him, it has to be! I don’t know how but I just know it! It’s Trunks, he’s so close and he’s turned into a Super Saiyan!”
There’s an eagerness shining in the young teenager’s eyes. “I gotta go see this, I wanna to meet him!” She starts to fly off again.
Videl shouts, “Hold on!” She glances at the garden, then at her impatient daughter. “Alright but give me a minute and I’ll come along too.”
The girl nods then turns and stares into the distance as she waits for her mother. Videl stows the equipment in the little shed beside Gohan’s house then joins the anxious quarter Saiyan in the air. “Okay, which way?”
Pan points to the northeast and they streak off in that direction.
Trunks had confronted Cell as it had started
slinking around Capsule. Challenging the
bio-construct, he had led it away from the newly
rebuilt West City.
This is it, the last battle! Trunks has been on guard for years, just waiting. Expecting Cell to appear and attempt to steal the time machine. The nightmare will finally end here. Dr. Gero’s last monster will be gone forever.
The battle commences, not far from where Gohan had trained Trunks years before.
Cell is shocked and surprised at Trunks display of strength.
Trunks quickly realizes that this is a mere travesty of those other fights in the past. This incomplete Cell is not even a nascent version of his final form, it never even has a chance.
With a final explosion of Ascended Super Saiyan Power, Trunks carefully blasts every single atom of the monstrosity’s body into complete oblivion. Eliminating any chance of it’s ever regenerating.
As the dust settles, he finally notices his rapt audience.
Two women are floating in the air several hundred yards away.
No, not two women, one woman and an adolescent girl! He stares at them in shock, feeling the girl’s immense ki, then it dawns on him who these two must be, this is Gohan’s elusive family!
He lands and waits for them to approach, powering down.
The teenaged girl lands first, her eyes are shining at him in wonder. “So that’s what a Super Saiyan looks like!”
He nods, even with her grubby hands and knees she’s absolutely adorable.
The woman lands beside the young teenager, placing her hand protectively on the girl’s shoulder. “You’re Trunks.”
“Yeah and you have to be Videl, Gohan’s wife.” His gaze returns to the girl, suddenly sensing something more, “And this must be Pan.”
“Unhuh.” Says the awestruck girl. Her hair is caught back by a red scarf, it falls in a long dark cascade past the sweet curve of her cheek, she’s so beautiful his breath catches in his throat.
Vegeta was right.
His eyes crinkle as he grins down at her in sudden understanding.
“Gohan told me about the two of you, but he made me promise not to look for you.” He shrugs, “At least until after the androids were destroyed.”
“But you destroyed the two androids years ago.” Says Videl in perplexity. She’s not sure what’s going on here, but something strange is happening. “Just the first two,” replies Trunks, not taking his eyes from Pan’s glowing face, “I was waiting for Cell, it was the last.”
“Cell?” Questions Videl. “Is that what that was?”
The young man nods, he seems to be mesmerized by Pan.
Videl’s gaze travels from one youthful face to the other. She almost recognizes the signs.
Then he grins, “It’s a long story, Videl. But now it’s over.”
He stares at the young girl standing before him, just beginning to blossom into womanhood. Then reaches over and extents his open hand to her. She smiles at him trustingly and takes it.
“Why don’t you both come home with me, and meet my mom. I’ll tell you the whole story.”
As her hand slips into his an electric tingle runs through both of them and Pan looks up into Trunks eyes with total love.
He can wait patiently. Till Pan’s ready, but he’s now that he found her, Trunks is not going to lose her. The Saiyan race with rise again, blending it’s strength with the virtues of human’s.
“Or maybe, it’s just the beginning.....,” Says the young half-Saiyan as he gazes into the eyes of his newly found truemate.