#Barkley Bean | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

cozykhaos · 5 years ago

Text

A New Sun Part 8

Waking up the next morning with a pile of puppies cuddled up around me was the best feeling in the world. All of them perked up when I got out of bed and when the food bowl hit the floor, all of them did too. I would go into town today and post a bulletin about the other pups. After changing and breakfast we all went outside. I checked the soil of my crops, the ground still wet from yesterdays rain, I skipped out on watering. I would check it again in the afternoon. I used my scythe to clear the weeds to the forest, for a more defined path. I started a pile of stones and branches near the house. I would need both for any upgrades I would want to make.

I was the afternoon when I heard the engine from the truck. I started back to the house, the pups standing on the porch, all at attention. Robin and Sebastian got out of the pickup. “Puppies!” Robin’s face lit up. The pups came running down the steps and bounced around her feet. Robin crouched down and let them lick her face. Sebastian stepped around the truck, looking grumpy, hair disheveled.

“Sorry we are coming over so late, I didn’t want to wake up Sebby. He was up late last night working,” Robin said standing.

“It’s no problem. I actually forgot you were coming by today,” I let out a little laugh and scratched the back of my head. Noticing Sebastian, the puppies bounced over to him, Asher’s gray twin reached up to Sebastian, who picked her up. Robin looked between the puppy and Sebastian, who was now holding the dog like a baby and scratching her stomach. She smiled.

“Well, should we get this fence put up?” Robin clapped her hands together. Between the three of us it didn’t take long to get the fence assembled and put up. Robin had given me plenty of room to expand my crops as well. Once we were finished, we sat on the front porch, drinking lemonade and eating sandwiches that I had made.

“Sorry it isn’t much,” I refilled my glass. “It’s a small kitchen and it’s a pain in the ass to cook in.”

“House upgrade,” Robin sang.

“Mom,” Sebastian groaned.

“I’m just saying, the place is very small. And what are you going to do when you get married?” Robin asked. Sebastian started choking. “Sebby, what’s the matter?” Robin started patting his back.

“Nothing I’m fine!” He snapped and waved her hand away. Robin frowned and then looked at me.

“I’ve actually been thinking about it. But I also need a chicken coop and a barn. Thankfully most of this season’s crops are being sold. The only vegetables I really like that I’m growing are potatoes and green beans. And it’s just me so I don’t need a whole lot.” I shrugged. I had brought out a notebook and pen with me and I started my bulletin. I looked at the puppies when I was done. Ash was playing with two of his siblings, wrestling in the dust. The all black puppy slept by the door. The gray pup slept next to Sebastian, her head on his leg. I frowned, it had only been a day, but I was attached to the little guys. But they would at least still be in the Valley with me.

“I need to go put this on the bulletin board, I’ll be right back,” I stood, Ash got to his feet and watched me. “Are you coming?” I asked him.

“I am,” Robin stood and stretched. “I need to get a few things from Pierre’s. Do you need anything?” She looked at Sebastian.

“I’m good, but thanks,” Sebastian waved us off. Asher followed us into town. Feeding all 5 dogs I would need another bag of food from Pierre’s as well. I posted up my notice, letting everyone know to come see me if they were interested in a puppy and describing each of them and the genders. I made a note that if you adopted a puppy to cross it off that way others would know it was taken.

Robin stared at the page and took up the pen that was attached to the board and crossed off the gray puppy. She beamed at me and pushed into Pierre’s. I showed her the dog food that I was feeding them and grabbed another bag for myself. After purchasing toys, collar, treats and a leash we went to check out.

“More stuff?” Pierre asked.

“More puppies,” I corrected.

“Oh my!” Pierre’s eyebrows shot up into his hair line. Robin put her elbows on the counter and leaned in. “I’m getting one for Sebastian,” she smiled.

“Oh,” Pierre’s face fell and then quickly caught himself. “Oh! I’m sure he will love that!” He cleared his throat.

“I think so,” I nodded. “One of them has been really attached to him.”

“I think it’ll be good for him,” Robin agreed. We payed for our stuff and left. I helped Robin carry her stuff back to the farm. Sebastian was still sitting on the porch, now the puppy was in one of his arms, chin on his shoulder, while he scrolled through his phone. He looked up when the other dogs came running. His brows scrunched together when he noticed his mom.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“Stuff for pup dog,” Robin replied with a shrug.

“Wh…what?” Sebastian stood still holding the dog. “Really?”

“Yeah!” She tossed the dog food into the back of the truck.

“What about Demetrius?” Sebastian’s tone went sour.

“What about him?” Robin didn’t look at him. “She’s your dog, not his.”

Sebastian stared at his mom in shock, mouth slightly open. Puppy licked his chin and he closed it.

“She will be your responsibility, feeding, playing, walking, cleaning up after her,” Robin ticked off the list on her fingers.

“Yeah, of course!” Sebastian nodded.

“Alright, well let’s get her home!”

Sebastian smiled at me over his shoulder before getting into the truck.

The rest of the week went by in a blur. Lewis, Eveyln and Haylee came by on Monday and gave me packets of tulips and blue jazz that they wanted me to plant for the flower festival. I still had time to plant them, so I kept them to the side for now. Lewis ended up leaving with the all black puppy that day, declaring her Pepper.

Tuesday, Sam and his little brother Vincent came by, their mother had agreed on letting them get a dog. They took the black dog with the one white spot over his eye. Later, I find out that Sam named Gnarles Barkley. Barkley for short.

Late Thursday Morning Shane came over, I was just finishing up with the days harvest, when he stood awkwardly at the edge of the property.

“Morning!” I waved to him. He gave a short wave back. There were dark circles under his blue eyes. “Can I help you with something?”

“I was wondering about the last dog you have,” he said. I looked over my shoulder where the black and gray bearded pup lay on his back, sun bathing in the dirt. “Jas, that’s my niece, she was furious with Marnie when she found out she gave a puppy away,” he scratched the back of his neck. “She’s usually a quite little thing. But she was spitting fire.”

“I can imagine,” I nodded.

“And now Vincent has one..” his voice trailed off as he moved next to me. The pup rolled over and popped up on to his feet. Ash bounded over to us, I picked him up. He had already grown in the last week. Shane, pushed his finger to the dog’s upper lip exposing the baby teeth. The pup stuck out his tongue, licking Shane’s finger, a small smile broke through.

“I’m going to call him Gandalf, because of the gray beard. Do you think Jas will be able to say that?” He looked at me. His eyes were kind.

“How old is she?”

“Six.”

“She should be,” I nodded.

“Yeah,” Shane played with Gandalf’s soft floppy ears before clearing his throat. “I should get going. Marnie was getting supplies from Pierre’s she should be done by now.”

“If you need anything let me know. He should be potty trained by now.”

“Yeah, okay thanks,” with a small wave Shane disappeared back into town.

I looked down at Ash who was watching Shane retreat. He whimpered. “It’s okay bud, we can have everyone over for a play date,” I said to him. His tail wagged.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Egg Festival, but my heart leapt for joy at the sight of the many buffet tables. My eating habits had not been the best since moving to Pelican Town and the soft layer around my tummy was slowly disappearing. I generally only ate once a day now, eating breakfast after tending the farm. The rest of my day was spent running errands, fishing or scavenging for wild crops. By the time I got home I would be exhausted and collapse into bed with Asher.

I bee lined it to the first table, there were platters of egg dishes. Deviled eggs, scrambled, fried, hard boiled, poached, egg benedict, egg salad. Little breaded cups that looked to be filled with egg, spinach and ham. Plates of steaming sliced ham that smelled of cinnamon and honey were my first stop. I filled my plate before finding a bench. I would have to remember to ask Gus for a piece of leftover ham for Ash, who I left at home. I looked around, everyone was mingling. Eating with their friends and family. Haylee was taking pictures of everyone and everything. I smiled, I hadn’t interacted with her much, since I had returned, but I admired her passion for photography.

“Kit!” Robin called me from a few tables over and waved. She was sitting with her family, as well as Sam, his mom and little brother. “Come over here!”

I swallowed my mouthful of food before moving over to their table, taking the end seat across from Sam.

“What were you doing over there by yourself?” Robin asked.

“I didn’t want to be a bother,” I shrugged and then shoveled in a mouthful of potato salad. It was sweet and had a hint of vinegar in it.

“Oh please,” Jodi said with a smile.

“You’ll always be a bother,” Sam said with a smirk.

“Sam!” Jodi snapped, reached over her youngest son and slapped Sam on the back of the head.

“Ow!” Sam rubbed his head.

“Don’t be rude!” Jodi said through gritted teeth. I smiled and shook my head. “I would like to say I am used to it, but I don’t think that would help.”

“It wouldn’t!” Sam shook his head.

“So, Kit, how is the farm doing?” Demetrius asked.

“Honey, we aren’t here to talk about work,” Robin said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Across from her Sebastian had his chin resting on his fist, leg tapping furiously. Next to him was Maru who was looking at me expectantly, I hadn’t spoken to her much either.

I cleared my throat. “Oh, it’s fine, I don’t have much to talk about any ways. My world revolves around farming and Ash.”

Sebastian looked over at me. “You didn’t bring him either?”

I noticed for the first time no one had brought their dog besides Marnie, Gandalf was chasing Jas around the yard behind Sam’s house.

“Asher gets really excited about food. Like he can’t contain himself, so I thought it best to have him stay home. Or else he would probably be slip and sliding through the egg salad right now,” I sighed. Sebastian snorted.

“I know it’s late and the seeds are hard to find, but do you think you will be getting in Strawberry seeds?” Maru asked.

“Strawberries are our favorite,” Demetrius beamed.

“Yeah, if I can find the seeds!” I nodded. “The farm is actually doing well. You can walk around now, and I finally got around to cleaning the inside. It’s hard work but I enjoy it.”

“Hmm,” Demetrius glanced at Sebastian and drummed his fingers on the table. “Some people will never know what that is like.”

“Oooookay,” Sebastian said standing. “I’m going to go check on Asha.”

My mouth dropped open, shocked at the name he had picked. I didn’t have time to speak, Sebastian was already leaving.

Robin frowned at his retreating form, she quickly hid it with a smile. “Well, I’m glad you are enjoying it.”

“I know I could never do that work,” Jodi said, she was now running her fingers through Vincent’s unruly ginger hair.

“I wasn’t so sure at first. I’m positive if it wasn’t for visiting grandpa during the summer, I would have ended up going back to the city,” I said.

“I don’t think I would mind it too much,” Sam shrugged. “I could see myself taking care of some chickens. Planting crops.”

“I know I couldn’t do it,” Maru shook her head. “I will stick to my lab thank you.”

“Lab?” I looked at her.

“Yes, I’m a scientist and inventor!” Maru smiled. “I also work with Harvey at the clinic.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cool. Weird question, but I’m going to ask. I found some blue prints for sprinklers. I know that is probably nothing to you. But will yo-“

“Yes, I would love to help!” Maru grabbed my hands. I noticed behind her Demetrius’s eyes narrowed, while Robin’s face broke open into a smile. “That sounds like fun. I haven’t made sprinklers before, but I’m sure it’ll be cake!”

“Thanks, that would be a huge help!” I squeezed her hands.

“Mom, is there cake?” Vincent finally spoke, he had been pushing around the food on his plate the entire time. He had only eaten a couple of grapes.

“It looks like it, but you will need to eat more lunch first,” Jodi kissed the top of his head.

“I don’t want to be slow for the hunt,” Vincent said.

“Yeah, this year we are going to beat Abbie, isn’t that right kiddo!” Sam playfully shoved his little brother who looked up at him and smiled.

“Yeah!” Vincent nodded vigorously.

“Hunt?” I looked at everyone’s faces.

“There is an egg hunt every year,” Robin said.

“And every year Abbie wins!” Vincent bagged his fist on the table and huffed. I looked around for my purple haired friend. She was at a table with her parents, head on her palm, looking at an empty plate of food.

“They really shouldn’t let her search. She is a grown woman now,” Jodi sighed.

“It’s open to all ages,” Robin shrugged.

“Or make age events,” I said.

“That’s a good idea,” Demetrius nodded.

“Maybe mention that to Lewis,” Robin said to Jodi.

“Trust me, I am!” Jodi said. I noticed Gus bringing out new plates and unveiling chocolate frosted cupcakes. I excused myself and made it over to the table. I was stuffing one in my mouth when Pam made her way over and started to empty a flask into the punch. She held up a finger to her lips. I looked away, a smile spreading. Gus gave me permission to take some ham home to Ash then handed me a plate that was stacked up in food and wrapped in tin foil. “Do you know Linus?” He asked.

“The guy who lives behind Robin’s house?” I questioned taking the plate.

“That’s him,” Gus nodded then stroked his mustache. “He rarely comes to any of these events. He is always welcome, but I know he feels out of place. Do you mind taking him this plate for me?”

“Not at all!” I exclaimed and headed towards the mountains.

Linus was sitting at his campfire, a basket of wild plants next to him. He sat up straighter when he saw me, his eyes narrowing into a squint.

“Hey, I’m Kit,” I said with a small wave. “I took over my grandpa’s farm.” I shoved a thumb over my shoulder, in the direction of the farm. Linus didn’t say anything. I cleared my throat. “Any ways, Gus asked me to bring you this.” I sat the plate down on the stump he had pulled up to the other side of the fire. He glanced at the plate before looking back at me. I frowned, looking at him, to the tent, then the plate. His gray eyes never left my face.

“I guess I’ll be going, enjoy your day!” My customer service voice tuned in and I wanted to kick myself. I started away when I heard a small. “Thank you.”

I smiled to myself and started back to the square. Sebastian was locking the front door when I was in front of the house. His eye brows furrowed together when he saw me. “Checking up on me?”

“No, I brought plate to Linus,” I said. Sebastian turned his head up towards the mountains. “I don’t know about that guy,” he said.

“He seems harmless,” I shrugged.

“So did Ted Bundy,” he pointed out.

“Do you think Linus has a trail of bodies leading to the valley?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Everyone has something to hide,” Sebastian smirked. I rolled my eyes.

Everyone was waiting for us when we strolled into town. Lewis had a big cup of punch in his hand, Pam glanced at me, her grin widening. I wiggled my eyebrows at her before helping myself to my own cup.

“Everyone knows the rules!” Lewis began, there wasn’t any hint of the alcohol taking effect yet. “You have 3 minutes to search for the hidden eggs. Whoever finds the most wins!”

Abbie was jumping up and down in place. She waved me over, I shook my head, pointing to my cup, I made a big deal out of taking a drink from it.

“Ready, set, go!” Lewis shouted and the hunters ran in different directions. Jodi started to cheer on Vincent while Shane and Marnie cheered on Jas. Gandalf chased after the girl. Sam had entered the hunt as well and I noticed him slipping eggs into Vincent’s basket. Abbie darted from one location to the next, I could tell that her basket was filing up quickly. Emily had also entered who skipped along as she went. Lewis blew a whistle, and everyone came in and placed down their baskets. Both Sam and Emily’s were mysteriously empty, while Jas and Vincent’s looked just a little fuller. Abigail still won, but I snuck extra cupcakes to the kids and they quickly cheered up.

The sun was starting to set when the square began to empty. Conveniently it was when clean up also started. Gus and Emily lingered, packing food into containers. Sam and Alex helped with stacking tables and chairs. I was on garbage duty when Mayor Lewis staggered past me a deep set frown on his face. I watched after him, he stumbled one step at a time towards the north. I looked over my shoulder at Gus, who had paused in his own task to watch after the Mayor.

“Should I go after him?” I asked.

“If you would,” Gus nodded. I set down my garbage bag and headed after Lewis. It didn’t take me long to find him, he stood in front of the old Community Center. The old building had seen better days. Ivy grew up the side of the walls, there was a hole in the ceiling and years of rain had caused a moldy film on the windows.

I stood next to the Mayor looking up at the old building. Something inside it stirred, I couldn’t see it, but I could feel it.

“Eye sore, ain’t it?” Lewis said, his voice was filled with sadness.

“It’s charming,” I said softly. “Like the farm.”

Lewis chuckled. “This is what is left of the Pelican Town Community Center. It used to be the pride and joy of the town… always bustling with activity. Now look at it. It’s shameful.”

I could hear the pain in the old man’s voice.

“These days, the young folk would rather sit in front of the TV than engage with the community.” He sighed heavily. “But listen to me, I sound like an old fool.”

“No.. no you don’t. You sound like a Mayor concerned for his town,” I spoke, touching his arm softly.

Lewis sniffed. “Joja Corporation has been hounding me to sell them the land so they can turn it into a warehouse. Pelican Town could use the money, but there’s something stopping me from selling it. I guess old timers like me get attached to relics of the past.. Ah well.”

He finally turned and looked at me. “If anyone else buys a Joja Corporation Membership I’m just gonna go ahead and sell it.” Lewis dragged his feet towards the door and unlocked it. I followed him inside, the old floorboards groaned under our feet. The ivy had found its way inside, we left a trail of footprints in the dust that coated every surface.

Lewis paused looking at a hut that was erected in the corner of the room.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

“Do you think Vincent and Jas were playing in here?” I asked.

“Must’ve,” he shrugged. “This place is even more dilapidated than I remember.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say something a familiar chirp came from behind Lewis. The apple sized creature jumped up and down waving. I gasped and stumbled backwards.

“Kit!” Lewis steadied me. “What’s the matter are you ill?”

I moved to the side of Lewis and looked around, the creature was now gone. “I thought I saw something, there!” I pointed to the spot.

“Hmm… I wouldn’t be surprised if this place was full of rats.” Lewis said.

Again, the creature appeared behind Lewis, waving its little arms. My eyes widen and a scream came out before I could stop it. Lewis swung around, but the creature was gone. Hands clasped over my I stared at the spot. Lewis turned back to me. “You’re worrying me Kit!” He was frowning.

I looked around the room. Everything was quite now, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Counting to ten before releasing it and opening my eyes. “I’m sorry Lewis,” I smiled. “I must be more tired than I thought.”

Lewis gave me a tight smile. “I’m going to head home and get some sleep, I suggest you do the same. I’m going to keep this place unlocked from now on. Maybe you can help catch that rat if you have some extra time.” He gave my hand a small squeeze before walking outside.

I stood still and suddenly my senses open up, and the magic poured in. My spine prickled at the energy. I wondered down the hall a strange force leading me. Inside a small room I found a note on the floor, I shoved it into my bag not even bothering to read it, I knew I wouldn’t know the language that was written upon it. I left the room, finger tips trailing along the wooden paneled walls that lined the hallway. The old floorboards sang their ballad as I walked upon them, the dust flaring up around my shoes as I walked towards the door. The door shut behind me and I woke up, snapping out of the strange trance.

I stumbled away from the building gasping, I clutched at my chest as I retreated. I suddenly couldn’t get home fast enough and I ran towards the farm. I didn’t stop until I was inside, the door firmly shut behind me. Ash wiggled his way up to me, a big smile on his face.

“Hey buddy,” I gasped leaning down to pet him. I skipped my other nightly chores and only fed Asher. I fell into bed. That night I dreamed of the small creatures. They chirped and danced through the Valley, life returning to the land.

#Stardew Valley #Stardew Valley Farmer #Stardew Valley Fanfiction #Sebastian Stardew Valley #stardew valley sebastian #sebastian x farmer #farmer x sebastian #A New Sun

16 notes · View notes

elisajdb · 5 years ago

Text

Life With You: XXVI

Part Twenty-Six:

Making Up

Goku opened his eyes to a dark room. He didn’t know the time but he knew he was late. He was always late. He sat up and stretched. He scratched his head as he shook off the last vestiges of sleep. Fighting off a yawn, Goku stood up, folded his blankets and stuffed them in the closet. He picked his pillow off the floor and placed it on his empty side of the bed.

ChiChi didn’t want Gohan thinking things were bad between them and even though their child rarely entered their room, she didn’t want to risk Gohan seeing anything so Goku hid he slept on the floor while ChiChi slept in bed.

Not only ChiChi kept him out of their bed, she forbid him from touching her unless absolutely necessary. Goku leaned forward and placed a kiss on ChiChi’s forehead. This wasn’t absolutely necessary but what ChiChi didn’t know, didn’t hurt her.

It’s been five weeks now. ChiChi should’ve been healed two weeks ago. When Goku came by to pick up the senzu beans three weeks after the incident, Korin told him Yajirobe ate them all but promised more will be ready the next week. Goku came by again to learn Yajirobe ate those beans, too. Now going into week five, Goku made sure this time Yajirobe wouldn’t eat the senzu beans before he got some for ChiChi.

Goku was getting tired of this. He knew as long as ChiChi was hurt, he was not welcomed in bed. He understood ChiChi’s feelings but he wanted to sleep in his bed. He wanted to share the bed with his wife. He wanted to make love to his wife.

When he was dead, he was too focused on reaching King Kai’s place and training to have these feelings. In the hospital, ChiChi provided temporary relief and on Yardrat, he distracted himself with training. His control was waning fast but the knowledge he was going home kept his urges at bay. Now it was sheer torture seeing ChiChi every day and not being allowed to touch her the way he wanted.

Dropping a kiss on ChiChi’s cheek, Goku left the room. Goku exercised for an hour outside with Piccolo looking on and shaking his head occasionally. When he finished, Goku hunted a fish in a nearby lake. While that cooked outside, Goku entered his home. ChiChi and Gohan were awake and waiting for him in the kitchen. While ChiChi drunk her tea, Gohan read his schoolbook, Goku cleaned his hands, put on ChiChi’s apron and started breakfast.

Goku was climbing an uphill battle working his way back in ChiChi’s good graces. The first step: get a new home. Gyu-Mao was true to his word in financing the purchase of a new home. Just as they did while engaged, Goku, ChiChi and now Gohan visited a capsule store for one. This new home was bigger and had more space in the kitchen and the living room area which pleased ChiChi. It also had a second floor where both bedrooms were.

Goku’s second step in getting ChiChi’s forgiveness: take over ChiChi’s responsibilities for the house. The first days of her accident, Gohan and Goku took care of the cooking and cleaning but once the family settle into their new home, ChiChi told Goku he will be responsible for everything.

“It’s your fault I’m hurt so you should be responsible in doing all my housework until I’m heal. Gohan is a child and since I have to take him out of school for three years so he can train to fight these Cyborgs, the least he can do is schoolwork until he has to start training.”

So, until the senzu beans were ready, Goku prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for his family. Last time Goku did any domestic work, Gohan was a baby. Times were happier then. He volunteered to help with cooking and cleaning since ChiChi was overwhelmed with Gohan. Now Goku felt as if he was walking on egg shells around ChiChi every time he spilled food on the floor, broke or damaged a dish. It always meant more work for him so he tried to be as neat as possible.

After cleaning the breakfast dishes, Goku and ChiChi returned to their room where Goku cleaned up himself and ChiChi. It would be a fun experience but ChiChi wasn’t in the mood to play around. After ChiChi’s bandaged arm was carefully wrapped and protected, she would stand in the shower with Goku as he clean them. Sometimes it took longer when Goku washed her hair. After they showered and dressed, ChiChi sat in a chair while Goku brushed and styled her hair.

Afterwards, Goku cleaned the house, sweeping and mopping floors, washing the windows, before breaking to start lunch. After lunch, Goku did the laundry: sorting clothes for the washer and washing some by hand, folding and putting them away before starting dinner. After dinner, the family spent time together talking of their time apart and playing family games before going to sleep and starting the day over again.

ChiChi didn’t speak to Goku unless she had to. Even alone in their room, ChiChi didn’t say anything even though he knew while he laid on the floor and she in bed, she was awake. Goku knew he screwed things up badly but now he wondered if he permanently ruined things between them.

So, he was surprised while brushing ChiChi’s hair before bed, ChiChi initiated a conversation with him.

“We have to see Dr. Barkley tomorrow.”

Goku parted her hair in half and gently brushed. “She needs to look at your arm again?” They visited the doctor last week. “Tomorrow, I’ll visit Korin to see if the senzu beans are ready.”

ChiChi rolled her eyes. “Goku, it’s been five weeks. By the time those beans are ready, my arm will be healed.”

“They’ll be ready tomorrow.” Goku placed the brush down and began braiding ChiChi’s hair. “I made sure of it.”

ChiChi wasn’t sure what that meant and at the moment, she didn’t care. “Goku, the visit is for you. When Dr. Barkley questioned what happened to me, I told her but I also told her what will happen to you. I wanted her to examine you in hopes of preventing you from catching the heart virus but her specialty isn’t in cardiology. She promised to find a heart doctor we can trust. She’s found one. He has a clinic in East City.”

“East City? Ain’t that city destroyed?”

“They’ve been rebuilding since the destruction. Gohan and I visited a few months ago.”

“Ohhh.” Finished braiding, Goku brushed the other half of ChiChi’s hair. Goku didn’t object to seeing a doctor about his heart since he was curious about the virus, too. He had the medicine but if there was a way to prevent him getting sick, Goku wanted to know what he can do.

“His name is Dr. Sims. He wants to give you a complete physical.” Goku groaned behind her. ChiChi knew Goku hated that. He complained a lot during his first one years ago. “It’s for your own good, Goku. I’ll be there and I’ll hold your hand if he has to give you a shot. Oh,” she gasped feeling Goku’s arms wrap around her. He gently pressed her body against his. “Goku, what are you doing?”

“Thank you. You still care for me.”

“What?”

Goku released her and resumed brushing her hair again. “You wouldn’t want me to get an exam or find a way to prevent me from getting this heart virus if you didn’t care.” He put the brush down and started braiding her hair. “I’m okay with you being angry with me now I know you still care about me.”

“Of course I care about you, Goku. Why do you think I don’t?”

“You don’t speak to me unless you have to. You don’t want me touching you unless I have to. You don’t look at me when we eat or when we spend time with Gohan after dinner. I thought you didn’t care about me anymore because I screwed things up so badly.”

So he thought her silence was solely at him? On some level, ChiChi understood why Goku thought that but she had hoped Goku would understand there was more to it. Obviously wrong, ChiChi explained herself. “When I married you, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I had to teach you everything. I knew it will be hard and I knew I had to make sacrifices but I was fine with that because I knew a marriage, a good marriage is hard work and it was worth it. We raised a beautiful child and had five wonderful years together. All the hard work and frustrations were worth it.

“Then your reunion happen and everything was turned upside down. Plans for a second child was put on hold. Our family’s entire life was put on hold. Not once but twice with you gone another year. The second year you’re gone, I told myself to keep faith, to believe you will come back to Gohan and me. I told myself things will be normal one day. Gohan started school again, and I thought when you return, you’ll have gotten all that fighting out of you; you’ll get a more lucrative job to care for us and we’ll try to have another child. We’ll go back to being that happy family we were before that awful reunion.”

ChiChi rubbed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. “Now that won’t happen. You’re back only to prepare for another fight where you can die again to these Artificial Humans or that virus. We have to hold off having another child again. Our lives are put on hold and I’m at risk of losing everything again!” The dam broke and the tears flooded from her eyes. “I’m tired of this! Why is it always us?! If I lose you and Gohan, I won’t have anything. But I’m the bad person,” she angrily spat. “I’m the selfish person because I’m tired it’s always my husband and now our son putting their lives on the line for billions. I’m the bad person because I want you safe; I’m bad because I don’t want you or our son to die…. I don’t want you,” her voice shook, “I can’t live if I lose…..” ChiChi buried her face in her hands sobbing heavily.

Goku witnessed ChiChi cry before but she never broke down like this. Goku touched ChiChi’s shoulders. “You’re not a bad person, ChiChi. Why do you think that?”

ChiChi shoved his hands off her as she faced him. “It’s not what I think. It’s what you think! You waited until I asked you why Piccolo was outside. You didn’t even tell me he was out there until I confronted you just like your friends two years ago!”

“It happened so fast,” Goku excused himself. “I just got home after being away for two years and I knew you were angry at me. Gohan told me what my friends said and what Gyu-Mao wanted you to do. I couldn’t tell you right now.”

ChiChi didn’t accept his excuse. “You couldn’t tell me about the future but you had no problem inviting Piccolo to live with us for three years without talking to me! This is my home, too, and you had no right to make a decision like that without talking to me first!”

“I didn’t think it was a problem. I thought you like Piccolo like Gohan and I do now.”

His words were insane. “Like the person that took my son away from me for a year? Like the person who nearly beaten you to death seven years ago and finally succeeded in killing you? Why would I like him?!”

“Piccolo’s different now. You know he gave his life for Gohan against Vegeta and Nappa. He saved both our lives on Namek. Didn’t Gohan tell you what Piccolo did for us on Namek?”

“With his constant nightmares, I didn’t force Gohan to say more than he wanted about what happened on Namek. I really don’t know much,” ChiChi admitted. “When Gohan started getting better, I didn’t bring up Namek. Gohan seem happier when he didn’t have to think about Namek.”

“Oh.” That explained why ChiChi was still hostile to Piccolo. She refused to allow him to set foot in their home.

“Goku, if I hadn’t noticed Piccolo, how long would it have been before you told me about the future?”

Goku shrugged. That was a tough question. “Later. Maybe the next day. I knew you would be upset but I wanted time to tell you.”

ChiChi shook her head disgusted. He was just like them. “You’re just like your friends; leaving me in the dark; keeping important stuff from me while everyone else knows the truth on what’s happening to my family!”

“Don’t….” Goku warned her. “Don’t compare me to them.” Goku touched ChiChi but she pushed him away with her good arm.

ChiChi turned away from him leaving Goku to stare at the back of ChiChi. Her shoulders shook as she cried again. ChiChi told him to not touch her but Goku knew ChiChi needed him to hold her like he needed her now. Goku wrapped his arms around ChiChi and pulled her against his chest. She immediately struggled, “I said don’t to—“

“That’s enough!” Goku snapped at her. “You need this! So be quiet and listen!” ChiChi stopped struggling against him. The only sounds in the room were her soft sobs. His lips touched the back of her head as he inhaled her sweet scent. “Don’t you think I feel the same as you, ChiChi?” He closed his eyes as he leaned his head against hers; her tears were like a knife to his heart.

“When I was on Yardrat, I decided I was done fighting to protect everyone. I wanted to come home to you and Gohan. I was gonna keep training but for fun with Piccolo or Vegeta if he was still here. Now I saw his potential, I wanted to train Gohan. I knew you wouldn’t like it but I knew I could convince you Gohan can study and train. I wanted to try having another baby my first day back. I wanted things, too, ChiChi, but when Trunks told me what will happen, I realized I have to be the hero a little longer.”

ChiChi’s tears had stopped during Goku’s discourse. She wanted to cry again knowing Goku felt like her. “It’s not fair, Goku. We’re forced to keep putting things off for us. What if we never get time for us? What if we never have another baby? What if we never get back to the life we had?”

Goku had some hard truths for ChiChi. ChiChi was still idealistic, even more than him at times, but he knew from losing his grandpa how things can never go back to what they were. “We can’t go back to that life, ChiChi. I thought we could but we can’t. That life died when I died. This…. me fighting to protect our future is the life we have now.”

“I don’t want this,” ChiChi whispered. “I want our other life; our happier one.”

“It’s gone,” he told her. “But it doesn’t mean the life we have now can’t be a happy one.”

Maybe but it’s not what ChiChi wanted. “Let me go. I…..I want to go to sleep.”

Goku released ChiChi. She got in bed while Goku tucked her in. As Goku turned to his bed on the floor, ChiChi grabbed his hand. Their eyes locked. He saw sadness and longing in her eyes. “ChiChi?” In response, ChiChi released his hand but she never stopped looking at him. Goku leaned over ChiChi to give her a kiss good night. With a smile, he turned off the lights and joined his pillow and blanket on the floor. Before he fell asleep, he heard ChiChi’s soft sobs against her pillow.

****************

Goku and Gohan arrived at Gyu-Mao’s castle by teleportation. Staff at the castle were surprised to see Goku and even more surprised at how cool Gyu-Mao appeared with Goku. Goku kept his talk brief before disappearing and leaving with ChiChi on Nimbus to Dr. Sims in the newly renovated East City. Goku remembered coming to the city over the years alone with ChiChi and later with Gohan. Walking to Dr. Sims office from a nearby park Goku was amazed at the city’s turnaround from the barren wasteland he saw on TV over a year ago.

There were many skeletal buildings still in construction but a few completed ones. The population was smaller but there were people; most moving from other cities wanting to be part of the reconstruction including Dr. Sims.

When they entered Dr. Sims office, they were greeted by a friendlier Dr. Barkley. Dr. Barkley’s anger had cooled over what Goku did to ChiChi. Goku was grateful despite what he did, she really wanted to help them.

Dr. Sims was a tall, older man with salt and pepper hair. He had a friendly smile and a friendlier demeanor as he was excited to be studying someone of alien origin. Goku was still nervous but felt better ChiChi was with him; holding his hand and having Goku focus on her as Dr. Sims drew blood; being in the room with him as Goku went through every test Dr. Sims performed on Goku. During some of the physical tests, Goku held back but broke a few instruments anyway. The scans were easier as Goku laid down with a machine examining him from his head to his toes.

After two hours of testing, Dr. Sims needed time to study the results. Dr. Barkley stayed behind to assist. After calling her father to check on Gohan, Goku and ChiChi went to a restaurant to pick up several to go meals. Goku carried multiple bags to the newly opened park near Dr. Sims office.

Under the sun, sitting on a picnic blanket with food, with other families and couples in their separate spots, Goku and ChiChi looked like any other couple eating and people watching. One wouldn’t think they had problems in their marriage or worries for the future.

After eating their meals, ChiChi people watch while Goku laid on his back staring at the clouds in the sky. His thoughts surprisingly weren’t on his heart but of East City. It was smaller, different from the last time he was here. He knew to expect some differences since most of it was completely wiped out but it was still jarring to see how different the city is now from what he remembered.

“Gohan and I came here on the one year anniversary of the city’s destruction,” ChiChi casually spoke. “The news reported progress in the city; how many moved here from other cities to rebuild. Thankfully, no one figured out what really happened.”

Last time he saw Aki, Aki told him the news reported East City was destroyed by meteors. Survivors of the destruction lived on the outskirts of the city. There were reports of something in the sky. Though it didn’t bother Goku if it led back to him, Aki told him it was a good thing people believed meteors destroyed the city and not aliens.

Several times Goku heard what Vegeta and Nappa did to East City, saw pieces of the destruction on TV but it wasn’t until he was here it hit him how bad it was; how even after a year of the city’s destruction, the effects still lingered. This park he came here with Gohan and ChiChi three years ago was smaller. The lake that was the epicenter and main attraction of the park was gone.

“All this building reminds me of the time we went to King Furry’s home.”

“I remember,” ChiChi smiled fondly at the memory. “That was the day we learned I might be pregnant with Gohan.”

“We should’ve brought Gohan with us.” Goku rolled on his side. “Maybe that jungle gym is still here. He liked that.” ChiChi shook her head, letting him know it wasn’t. “Why didn’t they rebuild it or the lake?” Goku asked. “Gohan loved feeding the ducks there.”

“They rebuilt the lake but it’s smaller. Since the lake was completely evaporated, the only water there is a manmade memorial fountain that surrounds the memorial where the lake and jungle gym used to be.”

“Memorial?” Goku repeated.

“Memorial of all the people who died when Vegeta and Nappa arrived.” ChiChi pushed herself to her feet. “We should see it. There’s…..” ChiChi suddenly looked distraught. “There’s something I need to show you.”

Goku followed very curious why ChiChi wanted to show him the memorial. When they arrived, it hit him again how disastrous Vegeta and Nappa’s attack was. At the entrance of the memorial there were statues of people in grief; statues of people pointing upward at the supposed meteors that destroyed the city. On one wall, an artist created a mural of the city seconds before its destruction. There was a memorial pool in the center as ChiChi said. Little children stuck their hands in the water, giggling at how water spurted from the fountain. Looking away from the children, Goku noticed marbled walls all around the memorial with people looking and touching. Stepping to one, Goku realized what the people were looking at.

Names. Names of the dead. There were so many one wall; maybe thousands.

Goku put his hand on a wall, feeling the names etched in the marble. “All these people were killed by Vegeta and Nappa.”

ChiChi took Goku’s hand and led him to one specific wall. “When I came here with Gohan, I started remembering people we met like that teenager who gave Gohan his hat after it was knocked off by the wind and…..” ChiChi placed her hand on the wall. “People we knew.”

Goku frowned at ChiChi. Sure they met people when they came to this city but he didn’t recall knowing anyone by name. “We don’t know anyone here.” His eyes followed where ChiChi’s hand were on the wall. He read the name her index finger pointed to. “Paz.” It’s been years but he knew that name. “That shop we went to when we needed food. His mother knew Grandpa and me as a baby. Are you sure it’s him?”

“I double checked. Pictures of the victims were posted so family outside the city could check if their family members did die.” She sighed. “His whole family is gone.”

As Goku reached for a sandwich, ChiChi sweetened Goku’s tea with honey. “Goku and I thank you for giving us a moment of your time.” She pushed Goku’s cup to him and sweetened her tea next. Instead of sitting with them, ChiChi noticed Paz going to a box resting on a sofa. “How is it your Mom knew Goku as a baby?”

“I grew up in these mountains but I wanted more out of life,” Paz explained as he flipped through the box’s contents. “I moved to East City for college and didn’t look back. After Dad died twenty years ago, I tried to convince Mom to move in with me and my family but she liked living out here and running the shop she and Dad opened together.” Paz smiled as he found what he was looking for. He returned to the table and placed a photo in front of Goku. “Your grandpa came to my Mom’s shop.”

Goku’s fingers touched the names etched into the wall. Each name had a number indicating their age. “Paz. His entire family is gone.” Goku’s hand dropped from the wall. “Damn. I didn’t know. I forgot he lived here.” As Goku thought of a solution to this problem, he cursed again. “Damn. They can’t be wish back. It’s been too long.”

“Too long?” ChiChi repeated. “What do you mean?”

“Everyone killed in East City has been dead for over a year. That’s past the dragon balls’ limits.”

ChiChi vaguely recalled Goku telling her about the limits of the dragon balls. It was something Mr. Popo told him. “And none of us even thought of using the Namek dragon balls.”

“That won’t work.” If it did, Goku would be trying to locate the new planet the Nameks live on now. “The Namek dragon balls can only wish back one person at a time.” Goku’s hand touched the wall again. His fingers touched the names of all seven members of Paz’s family. He was father and grandfather and died with his wife, three adult children and two grandchildren with the youngest being one.

“This is my fault.” Goku stepped away from the wall. He looked around seeing people touching the walls, reading the dead names of thousands. “If I wasn’t late, this wouldn’t have happened.”

ChiChi touched Goku’s face with her good hand. “This isn’t your fault, Goku. You are not the protector of everyone. You’re just a man… my husband who can protect everyone but shouldn’t be burdened to.”

Maybe he shouldn’t but he was. “What happened here, I won’t let happen to any other city on Earth, ChiChi.” He gripped his hands making a promise to himself. “I won’t allow it.”

ChiChi and Gohan can be part of something like this if I die. They probably are in Trunks’ future. I can’t die to that heart virus. I won’t.

When Goku and ChiChi returned to Dr. Sims office, ChiChi tried to read Dr. Sims and Dr. Barkley expressions but both appeared neutral as she and Goku sat across from Dr. Sims at his desk. Dr. Barkley sat on the windowsill behind Dr. Sims.

“I will caution that with Goku being an alien everything may not have picked up on the instruments and machines I use,” Dr. Sims wanted to warn them. “That said, Goku appears in good health. His arteries are clear, there’s nothing unusual in his blood and his heart is strong. There’s nothing wrong with him.”

“But he’s expected to get this virus within a year,” ChiChi told him. “If you don’t see anything wrong now, is there anything we can do to prevent Goku from getting sick?”

Dr. Sims was blunt. “This virus hasn’t made the news yet. There hasn’t been any strange deaths or anyone falling sick. Until patient zero arrives, there’s nothing we can do. We can’t counteract something we haven’t encountered.”

“So,” ChiChi was crestfallen, “we just let Goku get sick? There’s nothing we can do?”

“Keeping the body healthy with the right foods and exercise is all I can recommend at this time. I suggest checkups every two months to monitor Goku’s heart but the moment Goku feels different, come to me. We want to catch this early. We don’t want to be too late on this.” Dr. Sims handed Goku the medicine he received from Trunks. “The ingredients are very potent. With that combination, it must be vital Goku takes his medication as soon as he feels ill.”

Goku handed the medication to ChiChi who placed it in her purse. “What happens if he doesn’t?”

“If taken early, Goku should be conscious throughout recovery but bedrest is strongly recommended. Goku, you cannot do any strenuous activities when you suffer from this heart virus. It will speed up the virus attack on your heart.”

Keeping Goku still will be a handful but ChiChi was a determined woman. “I’ll make sure Goku stays in bed while he recovers but I know my husband. If you tell him not to do something, even for his own health, he will do it to know the consequences. So what happens if he doesn’t take the medication early and the virus spreads?”

Dr. Sims didn’t like what ChiChi told him but Dr. Barkley did warn him. “If he doesn’t take the medication as soon as the symptoms appear or he does something that puts more pressure on his heart, it will take more time for the medication to work. The medicine is potent enough to put him in a deep sleep for as long as ten days.”

“Ten days of sleep?” Goku whined. “Oh, I’m gonna be so weak.”

“Weak but still alive, Goku,” Dr. Sims reminded him. “And even after your heart has healed from this virus, I want to examine you to see if there are any side effects on your heart. Even if there are no side effects, you still have to rest for at least another two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” Goku complained again. “So I won’t be doing any martial arts for almost a month?”

“This is your heart, Goku. If it’s damaged, it affects your whole body and that will affect how you live the rest of your life. If you’re not careful, you can have irreversible damage on your heart. As a precautionary measure, if Goku is in a deep sleep for ten days, I’ll put in orders for medicinal shots to be given to Goku so he doesn’t starve or dehydrate.”

More shots? The very thought of it made him tremble. On top of what Dr. Sims warned what could happen to him left Goku frustrated. No training for a month? Goku couldn’t go two days without exercise and this doctor wanted him to rest for almost a month? He couldn’t rest in the hospital. As soon as he could move, he exercised much to ChiChi and the hospital staff’s annoyance.

On the way home, Goku didn’t know how he will make it a month without exercise while ChiChi worried about his heart and what the heart virus will do to him. Once home, Goku suddenly disappeared using that teleportation trick he learned on Yardrat. With him gone, ChiChi went to their room to put the medicine away in a small storage box she purchased.

ChiChi hated that despite all the testing there wasn’t a way to prevent Goku from getting sick and the heart virus will strike Goku no matter what. The idea of her husband being sick; the idea of him being incapacitated broke her heart. She didn’t want that for Goku. He suffered enough in his life. She didn’t want him to suffer anymore.

Which led ChiChi to think of their problems. For five weeks, she was stuck in this cast and for five weeks Goku has been home, taking care of the cooking and all her housework. He was sloppy and messy spilling food and breaking dishes but over the weeks, he got better with the cooking, cleaning and laundry. He spent all his free time catching up with her and Gohan. Despite the urgency to prepare for fighting the artificial humans in three years, Goku stayed home to care for her, their house and spend time with her and Gohan. She knew that irritated Piccolo for she saw him yelling at Goku everyday about them not training.

ChiChi knew Goku wanted to train but her injured arm held him back. He was doing all this for her. In return, she kept her distance. She only spoke when necessary, only let him touch her when necessary. She didn’t think he understood what they were losing but that talk last night convinced her he understood. He had dreams and plans for the family, too, but the grim future changed all of that.

Like Goku said they can’t go back to what they had but they can be happy together if they were willing to try.

She was willing to try.

Goku suddenly appeared, startling ChiChi. ChiChi put a hand on her racing heart. “Goku, you have to stop doing that. I’m not used to you appearing and disappearing like a magician!”

Goku shoved a bag in her face. “The senzu beans are ready! I got them before Yajirobe ate them.”

“Oh…” ChiChi stared at the bag. “How did you stop him this time?”

Goku handed ChiChi a senzu bean. “Dump him a thousand miles away from Korin’s Tower and took any capsules he had so he walked back.” ChiChi’s mouth fell open. “He wouldn’t stop eating them. I had to get him away from Korin’s Tower, ChiChi.”

ChiChi put the bean in her mouth and chewed it. Her body pumped with energy. The ache in her arm disappeared. She unwrapped the bandages pleased her arm had finally healed. “Finally. I can do things again; clean my house; cook for my family.”

“Yep,” Goku grinned. “It also means me and Gohan can start our training with Piccolo.”

The joy of being well again quickly deflated in her like a popped balloon. There will be nothing to keep Goku from leaving the house every day to train with Piccolo and Gohan. It’s for our future ChiChi told herself. Maybe but she knew she will cry when Goku and Gohan leave.

“The man who gave you the antidote to the heart virus,” ChiChi changed the topic, “Who is he?” It occurred to her in all this time she never asked about the person who gave Goku his medicine. She wanted to know about the man and if he is around in this time, thank him.

ChiChi never saw Trunks and with relations being strained with his friends and ChiChi, there was no chance of them meeting in three years where ChiChi could accidentally spill the secret. Still Goku worried about risking Trunks’ future. “He’s a young man. I guess 17, 18. He’s really strong. He defeated Freeza without breaking a sweat from what Gohan told me.”

“But you said he came twenty years from the future. If he’s as young as seventeen, that means he’s not born yet. Why did he come to the past to find you?”

“His mom told him about me. She thought if I live, there will be a timeline where the cyborgs are killed and Trunks can learn from me on how to defeat them.” With his friends, Goku kept up a positive demeanor fighting the cyborgs will not be a problem. Alone with ChiChi, Goku lowered his guard and share his concerns with the one he knew will understand. “I don’t know if I can defeat them, ChiChi. These things killed everyone. If they killed Vegeta and Gohan when both became Super Saiyans….I don’t know how much I can do unless I can reach a level beyond Super Saiyan.” Goku shrugged unsure, “And I don’t know if that exists.”

It was rare Goku showed doubt. ChiChi knew in front of anyone else, there will be panic. ChiChi knew from personal experience Goku’s friends couldn’t handle Goku showing doubt or fear. They needed to see him confident. Maybe it was a way for them to not be scared or panic because as long as Goku acted carefree and confident, they didn’t have to worry. Only she did because it was her husband risking his life and she had more to lose than them. With Goku showing doubt, it was up to her to pick him back up.

“You have three years. You know they’re coming. You’ll be ready.” ChiChi playfully jabbed his cheek. “You better because if you let Gohan die, I’ll kill you.”

Leave it to ChiChi to threaten him to get his act together. It worked. This was his ChiChi and he didn’t want her any other way. I wonder what my and Gohan’s death did to ChiChi in Trunks future. It probably killed her. “I couldn’t protect Gohan in Trunks’ timeline but I promise you, he won’t die in this one.”

“Trunks?” ChiChi reiterated the name. “That’s the name of the man who gave you the medicine. Who is his mother? Do you know her?”

Oh, boy, if ChiChi knew the truth…. “I promised I wouldn’t say who his parents are in case he won’t be born, ChiChi.”

Those words didn’t have the affect Goku wanted. It confused ChiChi and made her even more curious. “What does that mean?” When Goku didn’t answer, ChiChi said, “Do you know his parents? Have they met yet?”

Goku chuckled nervously. “They know each other,” his voice got higher as he spoke, “but they don’t know they’re gonna be parents. If they know, it might not happen.”

He spoke in riddles. ChiChi stared at him, thinking. Goku could see it on ChiChi’s face she was trying to figure out the mystery. Finally she gasped horrified! “Are Bulma and Vegeta Trunks’ parents?!”

Goku screamed and waved his hands frantically as if telling ChiChi to keep her voice down in case Bulma and Vegeta heard her. “Shh!! Don’t say it so loud! They might hear you!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Goku! They’re hundreds of miles away!” Honestly, her husband can really try her patience with his innocence. “Is it true about Bulma and Vegeta?”

“Yeah,” Goku admitted, “but how did you figure it out?”

“His mother knows you and Bulma’s smart enough to build a machine to send someone back in time. If Yamcha and Bulma are his parents, you would’ve said it.” After a moment, she added, “And it makes sense.”

“It does?”

“I overheard Yamcha and Bulma arguing not long after he was wished back. Yamcha wasn’t happy with Vegeta living with Bulma and her family while he was dead. He accused her of being unfaithful.” ChiChi shrugged. “I guess he was right in his suspicions.”

Now he didn’t have to keep the secret to himself, Goku was very relieved. Piccolo didn’t want to talk to him about it. He was happy to share this with ChiChi. “It was a shock to me, too, but when I saw Bulma a few weeks ago, I noticed her staring at Vegeta funny. I guess she’s liked him for a while.”

ChiChi knew Goku left to talk to Bulma the morning after he returned from space but with everything that happened later with her father, getting settled in their new home, she forgot to ask what happened. “You never said what happened when you talked to Bulma.”

Goku forgot about it, too, since other matters took priority. “Well, you were right about Bulma having feelings for me.” He made a repulsed face. “Really strange, too. I never saw Bulma like that.”

“I was hoping to be wrong but it makes a lot of sense. What did you tell her?”

“I told her to stop being mean to you. She knows I never liked her like that.” He shrugged. “She’s not what I want.”

“I was never worried about you being faithful to me.” Things weren’t perfect but ChiChi was confident in Goku’s love for her. “I know I’ll always have your heart but it’s just weird and it will be awkward next time I see her. I know you talked to her but maybe I should, too; woman to woman to make things clear.”

Make things clear. It was deja vu for Goku. Gyu-Mao said something similar years ago about him and Kaifun. “It’s kind of the same with you and Kaifun. He likes you but I know you want me.”

“Kaifun?” Now ChiChi made a disgusted face. “It’s not the same. We’re not even friends anymore. You and Bulma are friends.”

“He still came to my house when I was gone.” Just thinking about Kaifun in his home, annoyed him. “After you promised to not be alone with him.”

“He came here to fix the hole in the ceiling that wouldn’t have been there if you came home.” She put her hand up stopping Goku from speaking. “I know why you couldn’t but don’t you dare get angry at me when I did nothing wrong.”

Arms crossed over Goku’s chest. He couldn’t get angry when it was his fault. ChiChi didn’t break her word since Gohan was home but the thought of that man in his home with his wife and child…. He had a strong urge to turn into a Super Saiyan and confront Kaifun. Maybe he’ll get the message then. “He angers me. I don’t like he wants you. You’re my wife. He should get his own.”

The anger in his voice and his eyes were startling. Goku didn’t anger easily. ChiChi touched his face with her newly healed hand. “You were like this during the full moon. Possessive. I guess Saiyans are protective of their spouses.” It was another thing she will have to get used to. “As for Kaifun, he got married while you were gone. Kaifun invited me and Gohan to his wedding but it didn’t seem right to go with all the drama with his grandmother so I didn’t.”

“Kaifun’s married?” It was a relief for it meant Kaifun wouldn’t bother ChiChi anymore but he wondered what woman would marry Kaifun.

“You missed out on a lot of things while you were gone.” ChiChi removed the ribbon from her hair and brushed it. She appreciated Goku taking care of the household while her arm was broken but her husband wasn’t the best cook. It wasn’t spoken but it was obvious her husband and son wanted her cooking again as soon as possible. “There’s enough time to cook a real feast. We can start with that wild boar in the refrigerator. So, while I’m cooking, pick up Gohan from Dad’s castle. Get a fish from the lake, too.” ChiChi put down the brush and pulled her hair up as she prepared to wrap it in a bun. Just as she wrapped a ribbon around her hair, Goku turned her around to him. With one hand on her hair and the other on the ribbon, ChiChi addressed Goku confused. “What?”

“Let’s catch up before I pick up Gohan.” Goku touched the edges of ChiChi’s dress and pushed the soft garment up her legs.

ChiChi stammered as she understood Goku’s implication. “W-w-we told Gohan we’ll get him after we return from the doctor.” She stepped away from him until the back of her legs touched the foot of the bed. Oh, no! Not here!

ChiChi moved away from the bed with Goku slowly following her with a playful gleam in his eyes. She’d seen that look from him before. Sometimes, when they were playful, ChiChi would pretend to run from him while he give chase. Well, she would actually run but Goku was so fast, it was never a fair chase. With his speed and strong sense of smell, he always caught her in a short time.

Just as ChiChi opened the door, Goku’s firm hand pressed hard on the door shutting it. “We will.” ChiChi turned to face him. Her cheeks were flushed and that excited Goku even more. His hand slipped up the skirt of her dress. “But let’s do one of those quick sands before I go.”

“Quickies, Goku,” ChiChi corrected him. “Hah,” she exhaled as Goku’s fingers reached between her legs. “Careful,” she told him. She’d be lying to herself if she said she didn’t want this but she was worried. As Goku leaned forward to kiss her, ChiChi immediately flinched when Goku touched her recently healed arm.

Her eyes went up to Goku’s kind eyes as his hand caressed her arm. He knew what bothered her. “Five weeks I’ve showered with you. Five weeks I’ve helped dress you. I even washed and styled your hair.”

That should be enough proof Goku had control of his strength and wouldn’t hurt her but ChiChi was still nervous. “Last time we had a dry spell, it was after Gohan was born. That was four months. I could handle it then but it’s been two years and you’re a lot stronger now. Just,” ChiChi pleaded, “take it slow.”

Slow? Goku grinned as his fingers moved slowly between her legs. “Like this?”

“That’s not….” ChiChi exhaled, “That’s not what I meant.”

He stopped moving but kept his fingers inside her. He cocked his head to one side looking completely innocent. “What do you mean?”

ChiChi glowered at him. That innocent look. Her sneaky husband exactly what she meant. “You know.”

Goku innocently shook his head. “No, I don’t.” He smiled slyly. “Could you…. show me?”

ChiChi chewed her lower lip. Those thick fingers wedged between her legs; touching her in places that longed for him with that blank innocent look on his face that he perfected. ChiChi grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him to her face so close her breath fanned his skin. “Touch me the way I want or I’ll kill you.”

“Nngh!” ChiChi gasped as Goku lift her off the floor with his fingers wedged between legs. “Oh!” Initially, his fingers felt warm inside her. Now they were suddenly hot. Her back was firmly pressed against the door as Goku fondled her slowly as she quickly glistened his fingers. ChiChi slammed Goku’s lips against hers while she clenched around his fingers. His lips felt hot as did his body. Opening an eye, ChiChi noticed a strange blue aura around him. It should concern but since his thrusting fingers were making her feel so good, and his hot lips against hers made her body hot and needy, she ignored it.

After a moment a third finger entered her, then a fourth until ChiChi couldn’t take it anymore. She clenched around his fingers and muffled a long moan against his mouth. Goku removed his lips from hers and lowered her back to the floor. While ChiChi leaned against the door panting, Goku pulled his thick and leaking penis from his pants. The aura around him was gone. Or was there one at all she wondered. She was certain Goku glowed but now she wasn’t sure.

She also didn’t care as Goku lift her against the door and lined himself against her. His tip brushed against her moist entrance. After two years, she will finally feel this wonderful piece of man meat inside her.

“Mom? Dad? Are you home?”

Gohan?!

“Aw, damn! Again?” Goku whined.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the door. ChiChi slapped Goku’s shoulders frantically forcing him to lower her. While Goku struggled to hide his bulge in his pants, ChiChi pushed her dress down; her hands shaking as she smoothed the skirt of her dress. “Gohan,” she tried to sound normal. “Is that you?”

Gohan turned the knob of the door and opened it. He saw his father standing and grinning behind ChiChi’s chair by the window. Well, it was anyone’s chair to sit in but it was mainly ChiChi’s as Gohan often saw his mother sewing or knitting in that chair.

“Gohan!” ChiChi snapped. “What have I told you about entering before knocking? You know better than that!”

“Sorry,” Gohan apologized. He noticed his mother’s arm wasn’t in a bandage. “Your arm is healed.”

“Those senzu beans were finally ready. Why are you here?” ChiChi snapped. “Your father was gonna pick you up. Is Grandpa here?”

“No,” Gohan shook his head. Why was his mother mad? “Mr. Aki drove me home. When he stopped by at Grandpa’s to make some deliveries, he offered to take me home because he wants to talk to Dad.” Gohan looked at his father whose eyes suddenly widen. “Dad, Mr. Aki is in the kitchen. He’s waiting for you.”

“Right now?” his voice squeaked and his grip on the chair tightened. How could he move when he still had a hard on?

“Uh, Gohan,” ChiChi intervened. “Give your Dad and me a few minutes.” She looked at her husband for a moment. “I need to finish my….. talk with your Dad before I forget what I want to say.”

“Okay.” Gohan left and closed the door behind him. Gohan was only a few steps down the hall when he heard a mild groan coming from his parents’ bedroom. It sounded like his Dad was in pain. He stopped but turned around and continued down the hall. Talk. Gohan figured that ‘talk’ was actually Mom yelling at Dad. He wondered what Dad did this time to anger Mom.

When he entered the kitchen, Aki sat at the table with a glass of water. “Are your parents here?”

“Yes, but we have to wait. Mom’s mad at Dad about something. I think she wants to finish yelling at him before he can talk to you.”

“Oh.” Aki sipped more of his water. “Well, sometimes parents have to argue. It’s natural.”

A few moments later, a cheerful Goku entered the kitchen. “Hi, Aki! Wow. It’s been a while! How ya been?”

Aki laughed at the arrival of his friend. His cheerful friend seemed extra happy. “That’s my line. I heard you’ve been back….for five weeks.”

Goku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He knew it looked bad he’s been back all this time but hadn’t caught up with his friend from Gyu-Mao’s village. “I’ve been busy catching up with my family.”

“I understand. You guys haven’t really been together for two years.” He stood as ChiChi entered the room. “Hi, ChiChi.”

“Hello, Aki. What brings you here?”

“Well, I had to see for myself Goku is back,” he joked. “And collect on our agreement.”

“Agreement?” Goku frowned. “What agreement?”

“In the hospital.” His friend looked clueless again. “I told you we should have a barbecue when you get back. I have two big grills, plenty of charcoal, freezer full of hamburger meat, an awesome sound system in the backyard and a sweet, one year old baby girl that needs to meet her Uncle Goku.”

Last time they talked, Aki did tell him his wife was pregnant. It was mind blowing so much time passed, Aki’s daughter was born and now a year old.

“We can have a barbecue. When?”

“Today if possible,” Aki knew it was short noticed but he also knew if it didn’t happen soon, Goku will forget again. “Who knows when we can hang out again. It’ll take a couple hours to thaw the meat but everything else is set up.”

“We can bring some meat,” ChiChi offered knowing hamburgers will not be enough for her husband and son. “Goku can hunt a fish and we have that seasoned boar meat we were gonna have for tonight’s dinner.”

“Sounds good to me.” Aki looked at his watch. “How about you come in a couple hours?” Aki suggested. Goku looked at ChiChi who nodded her approval. “Great. I’ll see ya then.”

As soon as Aki’s car left their home, Goku headed for the door. “Guess I’ll hunt that fish. Wanna come with me, Gohan?”

“Sure, Dad.” Gohan wanted to go to the barbecue but his parents forgot something important. “What about Mr. Piccolo?”

“We can’t bring Piccolo, Gohan.” ChiChi wondered what her son was thinking. “He’ll scare Aki’s family.”

Gohan didn’t think so. Piccolo will grumble but he wouldn’t intentionally scare anyone. “Mr. Piccolo trains in the woods during the day. He doesn’t come back until nighttime. He’ll be confused if he comes home and we’re not here.”

ChiChi snorted. “As if I care what that monster thinks.”

“We’ll be back before Piccolo returns,” Goku brushed off Gohan’s concerns as he urged them outside. “Let’s get that fish and go to that barbecue. I’m starving.”

*********

The backyard of Aki’s home was a lively place. In the fenced yard, music played on Aki’s sound system, his one year old daughter, Kala, freely ran around as she was playfully chased by Gohan. ChiChi and Aki’s wife, Reia were in the kitchen preparing the fish and wild boar for the grill. Goku and Aki were outside keeping an eye on the children while they prepped Aki’s two large grills for all the food. After Aki loaded the fuel soaked charcoal, Goku lit the grill with a tiny burst of Ki from his hand.

Aki whistled impressed. “One of these days, you have to show me how to do that.” Aki handed Goku two plates of burgers and a package of buns while he grabbed a large food container of marinated vegetables. Having done this before. Goku placed the burgers and buns on one grill while Aki placed vegetables on the other. “I still can’t believe you escaped an exploding planet. That must’ve been scary as hell.” He shook his head. “Pfft! I would’ve been dead.”

“A lot of close calls but I wasn’t dying on that planet.”

“Yeah,” Aki put aside the empty container. While he moved the vegetables over the grill with his spatula, he observed Goku with the burgers and buns. “Family is a great motivator. The buns are ready,

Goku.” Goku grabbed an empty plate and loaded it with the burger buns. Aki stifled laughing at Goku wincing each time he picked up a hot bun. He checked on the kids and noticed Kala stumbling on the grass. She immediately cried. Gohan sat on the grass and pulled Kala on his lap and made goofy faces to the child until her tears turned to laughs.

Aki looked away from the children bonding to Goku flipping the burgers. “I go crazy missing Kala when I work all day. I can’t imagine how it was for you to miss Gohan and ChiChi for a year.”

“I trained a lot so I didn’t have to think about it.” Goku liked his friends Yamcha and Krillin but Aki was special. They didn’t train or fight but they definitely created a brotherly bond over the years. He couldn’t talk to Yamcha and Krillin like he could with Aki. “Thanks for checking in on Gohan and ChiChi for me.”

“No problem.” Aki pulled some of the vegetables off the grill. While the rest cooked, Aki quickly put together the meaty sandwiches. “I visited but ChiChi and Gohan had things under control. Especially Gohan. You got a very strong boy, Goku.”

Goku checked on Gohan. He was walking with Kala sitting on his shoulders. “He’s grown a lot and changed so much.”

“He’s not that shy boy anymore. Gohan!” Aki waved them over. “Burgers!” Aki stood with Goku holding three large burgers layered with meat, cheese and vegetables. “I got this.” Goku took his plate of sandwiches and sat down while Aki cleared the remaining burgers and vegetables from the grills. “You missed a lot but you can make up for it now.” When Gohan approached, Aki pointed to Gohan’s plate of burgers. Gohan placed Kala on her feet and she went straight to her father and wrapped her small arms around his left leg.

Watching Kala around her father, Goku smiled recalling how attached Gohan was to him when he was Kala’s age. He glanced at his son eating his burger. Gohan wasn’t as attached to him anymore. He didn’t hug him as much; he called him Dad now instead of Daddy. He missed that. He missed having a baby around. Now because of the future he and ChiChi have to wait.

ChiChi and Reia came out with large platters of fish and wild boar in their hands. “The first group of meats are ready to be cooked.” Reia put her platter on the table. “Are you sure we don’t have too much meat, ChiChi? With these and the ones in the house, we have enough to feed fifty people.”

ChiChi laughed as she placed fish on the grill. “With my husband and son, it’ll barely be enough.” She looked over at Goku nearly stopping at what she saw. Goku took Kala off Aki’s hands. He raised the child over his head smiling and making faces. Kala shrieked in giggles. Seeing him play with Kala, ChiChi could think of several moments catching Goku with Gohan, feeding him, crawling with him and even changing his diapers.

Goku howled in laugher. “She’s slobbering on my shirt.” He unbuttoned it and pulled it off, leaving himself in a tank white shirt. “Ow!” he said when Kala grabbed a fistful of Goku’s black hair.

Reia was amused at her daughter’s playfulness with Goku. “Kala’s usually shy around new people.”

“Goku’s always been good with babies.” Kala was a cute baby but ChiChi’s eyes were on Goku. Because of earlier, she could only think of him. Her eyes swept over the muscles outlined in his tight shirt. They went lower staring at how well he fit in his jeans. Goku usually wore looser pants like his fighting gi but when he wore tighter clothes that outline how fit he is, ChiChi couldn’t help staring and desiring to get him alone as soon as possible.

Reia noticed how ChiChi ate Goku with her eyes. “He’s good with babies. Now that he’s back, maybe you can get started on a playmate for Gohan. He’ll be a very good big brother.”

Oh, how she wanted to but knew that wasn’t possible now. “Maybe,” ChiChi turned her attention back to the fish. “Someday.”

While ChiChi, Reia and Gohan stayed with the grills, Aki and Goku who fed Kala with a bottle walked around Aki’s yard talking. Goku shared some of his time on Yardrat but kept most of the conversation on the future in three years.

“Maybe it’s because I’m not a fighter but I think you should find Dr. Gero’s lab and destroy everything before he builds those cyborgs, androids, artificial humans, whatever the hell they are.”

Aki wasn’t the only who thought that way. Bulma and ChiChi did, too. They made sense but Goku couldn’t help himself. It was in his Saiyan blood to fight. “I know it’s crazy but I gotta fight them.”

“Just remember East City, Goku,” Aki warned him. “You knew your people were coming but you couldn’t prevent what happened to East City. Your people could’ve arrived anywhere but this is different. You know what city will be attacked and you and your friends can prevent that. If anyone in South City dies, I hope you guys are ready to share the blame.”

“No one will die,” Goku wasn’t as bothered by that since there was a solution. “But if they do, we can undo it with the dragon balls.”

“I hope so.” Aki said. “But I’m still building an underground shelter for my family in three years.” Aki looked over at Goku again. Kala laid her head against Goku’s shoulder sleepily. “Let me take her. If she sleeps now, she’ll keep me and Reia up all night.” He gently plucked his daughter from Goku’s arms. He held her hand and forced her to walk with him. The child sleepily rubbed her eyes as she walked with her father.

As they walked, Aki checked on his wife and ChiChi. ChiChi stood by the grill laughing as Reia showed Gohan a dance move. “I’m glad the princess is happy again. This year was rough on her. ChiChi handled Mrs. Niver but it doesn’t take away the stuff she said. Mr. Olitz, Mr. Lupp and I tried to tell the people you’re not the person Mrs. Niver made you out to be but you not coming back really hurt your credibility.”

“Yeah,” Goku sighed. He saw the looks of Gyu-Mao staff earlier. “I know.”

“You did make up for it right?” Aki asked him. When Goku looked at him puzzled, he elaborated, “With ChiChi. You apologized. Grovel. Made up with her,” he elaborated his words.

“Oh.” Goku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He talked to Aki about a lot of things but he never told him about the incident that happened five weeks ago. ChiChi didn’t want anyone outside the family to know. “Well, I’ve been cooking all the meals and doing all the housework since I came back.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” The stare Aki gave Goku was of suspicion and mild shock. “Goku, have you slept with ChiChi since you came back?” Goku’s prolonged silence and awkward rubbed of his neck were his answers. “Holy…..” Aki stepped away from Goku. If it were possible, Aki’s eyes would grow as wide as those characters on the animated programs he’s seen. “Goku….. you’ve been back five weeks. I thought I haven’t seen you because…..” Aki knelt and covered his hands over his daughter’s ears. “I thought you were fucking your wife all this time. What the hell are you thinking?”

“I wanted to, but some stuff happened when I got back and ChiChi got even angrier at me…..”

“No, no, no,” Aki shook his head. He wouldn’t accept any excuse Goku had. “Hell, no! Whatever the problem is, sex will resolve some of it.” Aki stood with his daughter in his arms. “Gohan’s staying with me tonight and you’re going home and do with ChiChi what you should’ve be doing for the last five weeks.”

“But….”

“The only butt you need to focus on is your wife’s!” Aki left Goku and briskly went to the women. He was a man on a mission. Most of the grilling was done with the table laden with burgers, grilled vegetables, fish and boar meat. “Wow!” Aki’s eyes gleamed at all the food. “Smells great.”

“Grab a plate,” Reia said. “I’ve fixed several. Everything’s delicious. Gohan is on his fourth plate.”

Juggling his daughter on one arm, Aki picked up his fixed plate with his free hand. “Speaking of Gohan, I told Goku we’ll watch him tonight.”

“Gohan?” ChiChi looked up from the grill to Goku who arrived rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. “Why, Goku?”

“Oh, I’ll love it if Gohan stays the night,” Reia approved. “He’s so good with Kala. I’m sure she’d like her friend to stay a little longer.”

“But…..” ChiChi protested. Reia whispered in ChiChi’s ear. She didn’t know what the men said but watching ChiChi stare at Goku earlier, Reia knew the woman needed time alone with her husband. ChiChi’s eyes grew wide with saucers and her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. Was she that obvious when looking at Goku earlier? Goku, on the other hand, had that awkward look on his face as if he said something he shouldn’t have. The color on her face darkened as she realized Goku let it slip she and Goku were having marital issues. “You!” she snarled at Goku. “How could you?!”

“But I…….” Goku shook his head and waved his hands frantic. ChiChi looked as if she was going to hit him. “I didn’t…”

Instead of striking him, ChiChi put the large fork and spatula down and disappeared into the house. Reia followed after her leaving Aki to finish grilling and Goku to keep an eye on the kids. Reia and ChiChi eventually returned. ChiChi wasn’t outwardly angry but Goku could feel an angry aura surrounding ChiChi. Gohan was concerned when ChiChi stormed off but her laughing with Reia and Aki while appearing friendly to Goku fooled him.

While ChiChi and Reia were in the kitchen cleaning the dishes, Aki and Goku cleaned up outside. Gohan stayed inside watching Kala and an animated movie while his parents were busy. He expected after the cleaning was done he will go home but was surprised when his father told him he was staying here.

“But why?” Gohan asked.

“You’re still watching this movie and I don’t want you to miss the ending,” Goku told him. Gohan did like the movie and they didn’t have a copy of the movie at home, but… “Can’t we stay until it’s over?”

“Nah. It’s been a long day and I’m ready to sleep. Besides,” Goku whispered to Gohan. “I want you to have as much fun as you can because with Mom well again, we can finally train with Piccolo and that’s all we’re doing for the next three years.”

With that, Gohan accepted he will stay at Aki’s house and happily finished watching his movie.

*********

As they flew home on Nimbus, ChiChi didn’t speak to him. Aki told him what he and ChiChi should do tonight but the silence from ChiChi told him he will have to wait another night. So while ChiChi took her first bath alone in weeks, Goku pulled a blanket from the closet and his pillow off the bed expecting another night on the floor. While laying his blanket on the floor, Goku heard the door open behind him.

“You’re dirty.”

“Hmm?” Goku turned to ChiChi. She stood in the doorway in a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her hair.

“You can’t go to bed dirty,” ChiChi repeated.

Goku sniffed himself. He wasn’t as fresh as he was this morning and maybe he smelted a little smoky from the grill but it wasn’t an awful smell. “I’m not that dirty and I’m sleeping on the floor.”

“You’re dirty.” She pointed to the bathroom. “Clean up.”

Goku opened his mouth to argue but gave up. If ChiChi wanted him to clean up before he slept on the floor, fine. Goku shrugged as he stood and shuffled into the bathroom. A few moments later, ChiChi heard the sound of water running.

ChiChi picked up the blanket, folded it and placed it back in the closet. She placed Goku’s pillow besides hers. Next, she pulled out lingerie she expected to wear the night Goku returned. While her husband showered, ChiChi prepared herself.

ChiChi sat in bed waiting for Goku. She looked over to his side of the bed nervous. Since his return, she had him sleeping on the floor with a blanket and pillow. Tonight, the blanket was in the closet and his pillow was on the bed beside her. Tonight, Goku will know she no longer wanted him on the floor but in bed intimate with her.

She was angry and embarrassed earlier but talking with Reia, realized her hungriness for Goku was obvious. If Reia saw it, then Aki did, too, and knowing Goku sometimes let things slip….. she sighed. She couldn’t really be angry at him.

ChiChi held her breath as the bathroom door opened and Goku cheerily stepped out naked with a towel on his head. ChiChi wondered if Goku was punishing her for kicking him out of the bed by walking around naked for five weeks. Every night, her eyes roam up and down the muscles on his chest and back to settle on the bouncing appendage between his legs. Usually ChiChi kept her face buried in a book when Goku walked out but tonight, she stared.

Goku pulled out a pair of boxers from the dresser drawer. He was going to put them on when he saw the floor empty of his makeshift bed. Goku thought ChiChi wanted him on the floor again. She was embarrassed Aki knew about their bedroom issues but now he suspected ChiChi changed her mind. “ChiChi?”

ChiChi could feel the blush on her cheeks. “It’s…. it’s a little cooler tonight. I thought you would want to share the bed with me.”

“Really? You’re not mad about earlier?”

ChiChi pulled the covers back. “Come to bed, Goku.” Goku nodded slowly. He raised a leg to step in his boxers when ChiChi stopped him. “You won’t need those.” Goku lowered his leg and the boxers slipped from his hand.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Goku,” ChiChi said quietly. “Come to bed.”

Almost in a trance Goku went to bed. ChiChi turned to him, settling on her knees as Goku faced her. ChiChi’s scent hit him at full force. He could smell her arousal and in return, he began to show his rising in front of ChiChi. He wanted to touch her, wanted her to touch him but decided to let ChiChi make the first move.

ChiChi initiated intimacy with a kiss. She took her time, moving her lips slow and exploratory over his before her tongue slipped in his mouth. While her hands caressed his chest, ChiChi felt Goku’s hands on the edges of her lingerie. He pulled it up, breaking the kiss to remove it.

Goku kissed her again, taking control; his tongue dominating hers. His body lean further forcing ChiChi back until she fell against the bed and Goku on top of her. His mouth went to her neck giving her kisses and tender bites while a hand massaged a breast. When the other breast became occupied with his mouth, her back arched and a hand fisted his spiky hair while the other slid down his back to touch the stub of his tail.

Goku moaned into her breast with each caress on his tail stub. A firm dig of her finger had him pulling back to vocally announce what she was doing to him. ChiChi caught the serious look on his face when his eyes met hers. That cocky smirk, those dangerous eyes. If it was anyone but Goku looking at her this way, she would be scared but she found it arousing. Her finger circled his stub. “Doesn’t that feel good, Goku?”

“You know what that does to me. I’m barely controlling myself now.” He groaned as she caressed his stub again. His eyes shut for a moment and he gritted his teeth. “This isn’t like before, ChiChi. Before I became a Super Saiyan.”

“Because you’re stronger now?” ChiChi questioned. “This side has always been with you, Goku. You never saw it but I did.” She jammed her finger in that stub again pleased her action created such an erotic, animalistic response from Goku. When he groaned like that, her lower body responded. She could feel the moisture increasing between her legs. Maybe it was a little wicked but she loved having this control over Goku. “When you saw the full moon, it was your Saiyan side coming out.” Another caress and he shuddered. “What you could’ve been as Kakarrot.”

The way she said his Saiyan name came off in a soft, erotic caress. Goku’s shaft tingled in response. She wasn’t touching him here but it felt like she was with the way her delicate fingers worked the stub on his lower back.

ChiChi laid before him. Her lips touched the tender skin of his ear, her teeth gently nibbled his earlobe all the while she continued to caress his tail stub fast and slow. When she pulled her nibbling lips away she whispered, “Kakarrot.”

“Nngh!” he groaned in his pillow. Goku hated that name Kakarrot. Accepted but still hated it Vegeta called him by that name but the way ChiChi said it…..“I want to see more of this side you want to keep hidden.” She pinched his stub and Goku fisted the sheets. “I want to see Kakarrot.”

Goku shut his eyes panting. He was hard and tight between his legs with his tip oozing liquid. He desperately wanted ChiChi to touch him there. She refused. Instead, she punished him with touches on his weak point. She said his name again and he groaned loudly. Why did she have to say his Saiyan name like that? “ChiChi,” he tried to warn her, “when I was on Yardrat, I had dreams. Those times I blacked out during the full moon….I remember everything. It was hard dealing with those memories and not have you there.”

“I’m here now.”

Goku shook his head. He was so close. ChiChi needed to understand. “I’m stronger now and there are things I want to do.”

“Do it to me….. Kakarrot.”

The final caress of his Saiyan name on her lips, the final stroke of his tail stub on her fingers caused Goku to snap. He roared in his pillow; his body jerk forward as he came spilling on the sheets and ChiChi. ChiChi swept up a dollop of creamy liquid on her finger and placed it in her mouth. “Mmm,” she moaned dreamily. “I missed this taste.” She smiled slyly at Goku recovering from her touches. “Maybe I am the strongest in the universe. No matter how strong you get, I can always defeat you.”

ChiChi yelped as she was suddenly knocked on her back. Goku pinned her arms to the bed while hovering over her. “Exposing my weak spot; taunting me to lure the raw Saiyan in me out.” The flowing black hair, the teal eyes and rising smirk on his face left ChiChi wondering if she went too far. “So be it.”

One of Goku’s hand pinned ChiChi’s arms over her head. His other hand illuminated in a yellow glow. ChiChi looked at the glowing hand to her smirking husband. “Goku…..” she laughed nervous, “maybe we should work up to this. I don’t know this trick. You never done this before. It might not be ooohhhh….” her chest arched as Goku’s glowing hand caressed a breast. “Mmm. How are you doing this? You ne—“ another moan silenced her.

Goku grinned as his sparkling hand massaged ChiChi’s right breast left her shaking and panting against him. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” He pinched a nipple and ChiChi shrieked. He chuckled. “That’s a yes?”

ChiChi nodded quickly as she struggled to breathe. “Yes….” She whimpered at Goku. “Do it again.”

Goku’s glowing hand hovered over ChiChi’s breasts. ChiChi’s eyes followed his hand, watching it sway over them. “Mmm,” she could feel the delicious heat hover her skin but he wasn’t touching. She chewed her lower lip in anticipation of that delicious pleasure that struck all her sweet spots as his hand moved closer and closer until he suddenly pulled away.

“No.”

“What?!” ChiChi shrieked. She tried to move her arms but Goku’s stronger hand kept her at bay.

Goku chuckled above her as his heated hand glide down her stomach. “You enjoy exposing my weak spot.”

“You like it.”

That was true but he also knew when he’s vulnerable like that ChiChi got a little too cocky for her own good. Sometimes she would brag she could defeat him just by touching him there. When they are playful she always found a way to touch him there to immobilize him. As competitive as Goku is, as someone who enjoys winning he couldn’t allow even his wife a little victory.

“Remember our agreement? You have the household.” His glowing hand slipped between legs. “I have the bedroom.” ChiChi screamed as if Goku shoved his thick penis in her. Her chest arched inches off the bed, her breasts jiggled as her entire body tickled with intense pleasure. Moisture soaked Goku’s fingers as a thumb brushed her sensitive clit while his heated fingers thrusted inside the folds of her pink flesh. “Sometimes….” His deeper voice rumbled, “you need to be reminded.” ChiChi’s sweaty body continued jerking against Goku’s hand; her head turned left and right causing the ribbon in her hair to snap loose and her silky hair to spread over her pillow. “Don’t you?” When she didn’t respond, he repeated firmer, “Don’t you?”

“YES!” ChiChi shouted submitting herself and body to his torturous pleasure. “Goku…..I….” Two slippery, hot fingers pinching her clit was her undoing. ChiChi screamed while her body spasm, pulsed and soaked all over Goku’s fingers.

The glow of Goku’s hand faded as he pulled out of ChiChi. Mimicking her earlier, he licked his fingers, enjoying the sweet taste he’s been deprived of for too long. ChiChi’s face….. Goku smirked. If his hand created that pleasuring glow on her face, he could only wonder how she looked once he’s inside her.

Not wanting to wait, Goku crawled over ChiChi. She was still panting as her husband settled over her. His hair fell back in place and his eyes returned to the black coal she knew and loved. She felt Goku lift her left leg and settle it over his hip. She spread and link her other leg over his in anticipation. She expected Goku to enter her but instead he captured her lips in a possessive kiss. She clung to him as he kissed her, exploring her mouth as he shoved himself inside, hard.

ChiChi broke away, groaning at the slight pain she felt with all of Goku inside her. Teeth nibbled her neck as Goku whispered. “You’re so tight.”

“Two years, Goku,” ChiChi gritted her teeth as Goku shifted a little. Her nails dug in his back to dull the pain of their union. Slowly, Goku pulled out and pushed back in. With each thrust, the tension in her body drained and pleasure rose in return.

ChiChi’s hands slid up and down Goku’s sweaty back as she tried to get a grip. Once Goku felt ChiChi relax under his thrust, he increased his speed for his and her pleasure. With each whap against her hips, Goku was either letting her know how much he missed her or punishing her for delaying their union. At the moment, she wasn’t sure and she didn’t care. He pounded in her so hard it started to hurt again but it also felt good.

“Still hurts?” Goku’s hot breath fanned her face.

“A little….” ChiChi moaned. “But…. it’s …. .good. Don’t you dare stop.”

“I’ll make it better.” Goku slipped out and flipped ChiChi on her stomach. Having an idea what Goku had in mind, ChiChi got on her hands and knees. She barely had time to adjust herself before Goku slipped back in again.

“Ooooo….” ChiChi crooned as Goku gripped her hips and plundered her from behind. With his tight hold ChiChi couldn’t push back to return some of the pleasure he was giving her. “Yeah….” her hands gripped the sheets, “this is better.”

“And deeper, too!” Goku groaned as he rapidly slapped her hips against his. Appreciating the firmness, Goku gave one cheek a nice firm whack. “You’ve been working out, ChiChi! Yeah!” he whap her again. “I love it!”

ChiChi laughed against her pillow as Goku smacked her repeatedly from behind. “Mmmm, Goku…..” It felt so good to have Goku pummel her this way. “I can handle more.” Her voice trembled with need. “Don’t go easy.”

Goku obliged ChiChi’s request. As she cried for more, Goku put more into his thrusts, pounding into ChiChi’s receptive body. If she can take him like this now, Goku knew a few more times and she’ll be ready for him as a Super Saiyan. Sweat glistened his body, his skin tingled. He was gonna come again and it was gonna be a good one!

As he worked himself to another release, Goku suddenly felt he and ChiChi weren’t alone. There was another presence nearby. He was sure of it. He turned his head towards the window.

Piccolo with purple cheeks, wide eyes and a hanging mouth locked eyes with Goku.

Shock coursed through Goku but also anger. They were on the second floor which meant Piccolo was hovering in the air, which mean Piccolo was deliberately watching them. What the hell was Piccolo doing watching them? Last time he felt this anger it was on King Kai’s planet where he probe his mind and viewed his memory of him and ChiChi being intimate.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Goku’s Ki flared as he screamed.

ChiChi suddenly convulsed into an orgasm as she felt Goku grow bigger inside her and intense heat spread over her body. Arms turned to jelly as ChiChi collapsed on the bed. She felt Goku pull out of her but her mind was dazed as she tried to understand what was happening. She turned her head horrified to see Goku was in his Super Saiyan form.

“Stop looking!” Goku screamed.

“Wha…..?” Goku’s eyes were on something out the window. ChiChi looked in his direction but saw nothing. “Hmm?” Goku leapt off the bed and bolted to the window. “Goku?” ChiChi pulled herself to sit up. Her jelly body fell back on the bed. Too fast ChiChi told herself. What was her husband thinking turning into a Super Saiyan? She’s not ready for that! “What’s out there?” Slowly she pulled herself out of bed. Gingerly, she joined Goku at the window. She didn’t see anything. “What did you see?”

“Uh….” Goku powered down to his base form. ChiChi barely tolerated Piccolo. If she knew Piccolo saw them, she’ll be mortified and in her anger may forbid him and Gohan from training with Piccolo. “Animal.”

“Animal?” ChiChi looked out the window again. She saw nothing. “We’re on the second floor.”

“I think it was a dinosaur…. the flying ones or maybe a bird? I need to check.”

ChiChi slapped him. “You turned into a Super Saiyan in me because you saw a bird?! Goku, you could’ve killed me! Wait!” she called after him as he walked away from her. She wasn’t done yelling at him! “Where are you going?”

Goku grabbed the towel he left on the floor. “Stay here.”

ChiChi stared at the slamming door puzzled. What just happened? Normally, if she was angry, Goku would stand there and take it but he walked off annoyed by something and stormed out. That wasn’t like him at all. “Goku?”

Goku stepped out of his home with a towel around his waist. He looked up to see Piccolo hovering several feet over his home. Goku flew up to meet him. His temper had cooled but Goku was still annoyed Piccolo saw him and ChiChi in a very private moment.

Without a moon in the sky, it was dark with only the twinkling stars as his light so Goku raised his Ki to turn into a Super Saiyan. Now he had some light, he could see Piccolo. The Namek didn’t look at him. His eyes were cast down and his cheeks were still purple.

“So….” Goku started, “about what you saw, Piccolo……”

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!” Piccolo suddenly flared at Goku.

Goku pointed to himself. “Are you mad at me? Piccolo, you’re the one peeping—“

“I WAS NOT!!!” Piccolo cut him off. “I returned from the forests after I finished my training. When I came here, I didn’t feel Gohan’s Ki but I felt yours and I thought that was strange. Then I felt your wife’s. Then…” his cheeks turned purple again, “I heard noises, strange noise from your wife. You sounded different, too. So I flew up to your window and I…… and I…..” Piccolo shuddered disgusted. “Is there anything you don’t eat?! What the hell were you doing to your wife?! Why was she screaming in pain and begging for more?! Why were you—ARGH!!” He put his hands over his face. “Damn image is stuck in my mind!!!”

Now Goku understood. Living in the woods, Piccolo didn’t interact with humans. He might’ve seen a few interactions from a distance but Goku was confident Piccolo never saw intimacy. “There are different words for what you saw: sex, intimacy, making love, fucking, banging, smashing, mating…”

“Mating?!” That was a word he heard before. Living in the woods, Piccolo seen animals in the same kneeling position he caught Goku with his wife. He eventually realized that was how animals had children. Animal mating he’s seen but never human mating until now. “That’s what you were doing?!”

“Yeah. It may be weird to you but it’s a normal thing people do.” Goku powered down relieved. “Whoo! I was starting to think Nameks were perverts like Master Roshi.”

Piccolo put a hand on his stomach. “I think I’m gonna be sick and Nameks don’t get sick.”

“If you feel bad, think how ChiChi will feel if she knew you saw us.” Goku put his hands together in a prayer to Piccolo. “Please don’t tell her you saw us.”

The image of Goku slapping his pelvis against ChiChi and the sounds of their voices appeared in his mind again. “ARGH!” Piccolo covered his eyes screaming. “I want to burn my brain!”

That was assurance for Goku Piccolo wouldn’t say anything. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you here. Don’t come back until tomorrow. ChiChi and I ain’t done and with your ears, you’ll hear more than what you want.” Goku swerve to the side avoiding a blast of Ki from Piccolo. “Hey!! I’m tryin’ to warn ya!”

“Shut up, Son!” Piccolo warned him. “Or I’ll kill you!”

With a cheeky salute, Goku put two fingers to his forehead, disappeared and reappeared in his bedroom. ChiChi was in the middle of putting on her robe when she suddenly jumped. “Oh! You’re gonna give me a heart attack doing that.”

“What are you doing?”

“I was gonna look for you since you took too long coming back.”

“I was only gone five, maybe ten minutes.”

Maybe but the way he stormed off, left ChiChi very worried. “Did you find what was out there?”

“No. It was gone.”

“Probably a bird,” ChiChi figured. “At least it wasn’t Piccolo.”

“Piccolo?” Goku squeaked.

“He is living with us now. The wilderness has been his home for years. He lived with Bulma until the Nameks left but Gohan said he spent all his time with his people. Being around us is probably the first time he’s seen regular human interaction. Imagine if he saw us in our most intimate moment.”

“Oh…yeah.” He laughed nervously. “That would be embarrassing.”

“Tell me about it.” Now that was settled, ChiChi was ready to resume their marital duties. They had two years of catching up and with Gohan gone and a bag of senzu beans, ChiChi was going to make good use of the entire night. “Goku….” She smiled slyly as she opened his towel. ChiChi grabbed his arm and threw him on the bed. Goku was momentarily startled. He should be embarrassed his lowered guard got him tossed but ChiChi doing this to him, turned him on. She removed her robe and crawled in bed over him. “My turn to be on top.”

Outside, nauseating sounds of intimacy reached Piccolo’s sensitive ears again. The Namek roared in anger and soared from the Son Family home. When they start training, Piccolo vowed to make Goku pay for this.

Part Twenty-Seven: The New Normal

AN: I know I teased it privately with some readers but Piccolo will be featured more in the next chapter. I’ll delve into how he lived with the Son Family for three years and addressed things left out like Goku talking with Piccolo on his treatment of Gohan when he was dead; Piccolo interacting with ChiChi and how ChiChi went from hating him to considering him part of the family.

Knowing he will die from a heart virus, I think logically ChiChi would take Goku to a doctor and try to prevent him from catching the virus. I know if someone from the future told me I will get sick and die, I’m doing everything possible to try to prevent it.

It’s interesting how the dragon balls became a clutch later on in the series and especially in Super but there was a time where people died and nothing was done to revive them. As important it was to revive Yamcha, Tien, Chaozu, Piccolo and Kami, everyone forgot about East City being destroyed by Vegeta and Nappa and there were other people who suffered from that fight.

#Goku #ChiChi #fanfiction #Life With You #Part Twenty-Six #Gochi #Dragonball Z #dragonball #Son Family

39 notes · View notes