#been looping dead man all day my family has to be sick of hearing me sing it but its so GOOD

[emily-prentits]

big day for alessia cara discography lovers (me)

[boytouya]

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘖𝘧 𝘈 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦

words:2.3k

WARNING: graphic depictions of violence, blood, angst, open ended/ambiguous ending, descriptions of death.

request: “Can i request sukuna x male reader. Where reader keeps reincarnating with each lifetime for a curse and every time he remembers sukuna, he dies after gaining memories back. You can choose if theres a good ending or angst. Thank you king! I fell in love with him especially after reading that one shot i had to watch jjk and hes hot! Thank you for turning me into a sukuna simp! Much love”

a/n: i went,,,overboard with this request 🗿 BUT IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITESSIJEHSHE i’m honored to have introduced you to such a foine man

When you were five, only then had you understood the curse deemed ‘Ryoumen Sukuna.’ A rather tall man with two heads, one of which had splattered blood onto your sneakers. You understood the concept of death, of course, but could never truly comprehend the feeling of nothingness after watching your life flash before your eyes until nineteen. But there you stood, clutching the loop of your shorts when you witnessed the murder of your entire village. You didn’t know evil could have a moral compass, but the tall curse seemed to exclude half of the women and children. After the widening of youthful eyes and curdling screams you learned the monster took likings to things too. Women, with shaking forms and broken spirits. He’d stop before them, stare at them with eyes that could- in fact- kill, if they truly wanted to. But then he stopped in front of you.

“Close your eyes, Brat.” Death's hands were just as large as your family painted them out to be, if not larger. Calloused and riddled with blood as they are placed over your ears. You do as he- it says, squeezing your eyes shut and enclosing your eyes behind the meat of your palms just to be extra careful. You can see stars behind your eyelids, just as you can feel the sickening twang of death lingering in the air. You were aware it would happen at some point, Death would find its place for you over and over and over again, you’d been told since the day you were born.

There’s another sound, only muted under large palms. You don’t need your sense of sight or hearing to know what it was, the warm chunks splattering onto your skin was enough. Immediately, you flinched. When you opened your eyes, there were piercing eyes staring straight into your own. It looked so human, but something was off. Uncanny, as if it took years to manipulate its flesh and bone to emulate humans to a T. But there was nothing human behind those eyes, instead a void of nothingness. Death itself. If Death could express interest, you’d have thought that was the expression it was imitating. It offers a hand, one of four. Larger than your face, with sharp claws that could almost be described as talons. Darkened by dirt and remains of your loved ones, if it truly wanted to kill you, it could. It could tear you limb from limb with the wave of a finger. And it knew that.

So you took the hand, and he became your second home.

When you were ten, you learned about the red string of fate. It could never be broken, and those connected by it would always reunite, no matter the circumstances. You often had nightmares, those of which filled with blurred faces and sharp pain that reached you in your lucid state. Dreams of talons, piercing eyes, and double headed monsters. You dreamt under the stars, tasted metal on your tongue, and choked on smoke that wasn’t actually there. You dreamt of facial markings, details that you couldn’t exactly place, a name that you couldn’t quite remember. It left your tongue feeling thick in your mouth, racked tremors through your body, and caused premature dark circles to accumulate under your eyes.

When you were nineteen, you experienced your last breath. The air was stolen from your lungs, crushed under years of heartbreak and terror, and snatched from you in the dead of night. Your eyes glazed over, and nothingness overtook you. It left you for someone else to find, cold and lifeless. A void, similar to the eyes you had finally placed. But that didn’t matter much then, you had already drifted away from your body.

And that was that.

Thus, the cycle repeated. Under different names, different ages, different genders. There was always something gnawing away at your conscience, you felt as though you were forgetting something. But when you finally remembered, it was too late. And there was nothing you could do about it.

It was almost like deja vu, stepping outside your home to find blood splattered on the concrete floor. It made your blood run cold, sent a tremor through your body and made you feel like you were five again. Small and defenseless. You take it as your best interest to go back inside before you pass out, but the second you whip your body around you meet something- someone?- large and sturdy.

“Sukuna.” That was it, the sour taste at the tip of your tongue, the lingering sensation at the back of your brain. Him. He didn’t look the same, no, much smaller with tufts of pink hair. There’s something behind his eyes this time, something almost irrevocably human. For some reason that’s much scarier than what you remember. What you think you remember. He’s much more human, but the way he looks at you is everything but humane. He looks frustrated, angry at something, as if he’ll implode any second and go on a rampage. Dread bubbles up in your stomach, nearly erupting through your mouth as bile. It felt as though something should be happening, like something usually happened when the itch went away. He chuckles, low in his throat as he cranes his neck to put his face uncomfortably close to your own. His hands, still large, find their way to your wrist, gripping your right hand uncomfortably tight. For a moment, you consider how long a trip to the hospital would be if he shattered the bone beneath his fingers. But instead there’s a jolt of electricity that would’ve had you yanking your hand back if he weren’t holding it.

“What? You look different.” He all but purrs, inspecting your palm with long nails. Not long enough to be talons, but longer than those of a claw. It was true, you did look different. He wondered if you spent your lifetimes looking exactly the same. That couldn’t have been possible, he would’ve found you much easier, then. Still quite boyish, as if the body you were in didn’t originally belong to you. Clearly grown out of cargo shorts and polos, much taller than you were before. There was no way he could have forgotten you, the way you jumped when the remains of your loved one splattered across your legs. The way you stared back at him with a look of acceptance, the way you grabbed his hand and allowed him to lead you out of the village. It explained the body memories perfectly, the feeling of large palms on your head and remnants of a brain splattering onto your knees.

“Last time I saw you,” He let’s go of your wrist with a bored expression, then replaces its spot with the top of your head. He shoves you down, and you make an effort to ignore the crack your knees make when they smack against the concrete. Then, he crouches down to stare you directly in the eye, just like he had the first time you met. His eyes were no longer dark, instead a deep shade of red that caught light from the moon. They reminded you of vials of blood. “You were this tall. Much cuter in this century.”

“And you were bigger.” Sukuna laughs as if hearing that was the funniest thing in the world. He leans his weight into you and uses you as a support beam, laughing until his ribs burn and beg for a break. But how could he laugh at a time like this? He didn’t think it was weird? He’s existed for centuries, murdered for millennias and only now has he seen you. That wasn’t how it worked, when you died, you died. But Sukuna was a walking oxymoron to that statement. When he died, if he died, he would return. He’d return through you, the last fragments of his soul would stay bound to yours until the end of time. Perhaps that’s how he knew, how he remembered. Perhaps that’s why he still took the time to find you, even after countless years of failure. It was peculiar, but not as much as being bound to Death himself. It was a sick game of turning the phrase ‘Til’ death do you part,’ because in your case it was literal.

“You’re still a brat.” His voice is closest to something fond, as if he’s reminiscing sweet memories. It was much different on your account, and part of you wondered if Sukuna understood that. He makes no effort to help you up (he explains that you’re “a big boy now”) as he invites himself into your apartment. Nothing special, he doesn’t care much for family photos or if you have them, but the stacks of letters and books on your table peak his interest. He tears apart envelopes as if he owns them, reads through the contents and discards them to the floor if he deems them useless. The way he sits nearly breaks your chair, and, honestly, you weren’t sure what to do with yourself.

So you sit beside him.

“You were so scared,” He says, almost as if he were bragging. But he was known to be arrogant and cocky, that was just his nature. He didn’t truly mean it like that, in fact, he looked quite reverent after letting the thought drift into the air. It was kind of funny, such a powerful thing fawning over past memories. But that wasn’t how this should go, you had your memory back, so why hasn’t anything happened? “When you grabbed my hand you stopped shaking.”

“...”

“It’s a shame I couldn’t keep you long,” He visibly frowns, the skin around his lips worry, but you can't tell if it’s genuine or not. He looks at you with something knowing the second the thought enters your head. “I looked for you, at first. You died young, for a human.”

Ninteen. ‘I should have been there,” he wants to add.

“Why aren’t I dying now?” You interrupt and let the panic sink in, the thought of impending doom sits on your shoulders because, really, it could happen at any moment. But this time, you don’t want it to. You remember accepting death when it came to your door at the young age of five, nineteen, countless times over and over. You had only ever gotten this far, you weren’t ready yet. You couldn’t start over, not now. “Sukuna?”

The question sours his mood in the blink of an eye, and instead of looking through your things, he raises himself from his seat to rest his palms on the table. It seemed he had a thing for staring down at people, making them cower under his stone cold gaze. You note the way his jaw clenches. You open your mouth to speak again, but he seems to have other plans. He squeezes your cheeks, making your lips purse together under the pressure of his large fingers. The movement feels familiar, like he’s done it before. The five years you spent with him were still a bit of a blur, but you remembered holding his hand quite often. He’d tell you to close your eyes if there was something he didn’t want you to see, he’d ruffle your hair a bit too hard, let you sleep on his back if he was out in the town. But that was all you remembered. He remembered it all.

“Respect your elders,” He lets go and sits back down as if he hadn’t just thrown a tantrum over you interrupting him. Sukuna was centuries old, but even then, he’d exhibit immature behavior sometimes. Living for so long had to get boring (and lonely) at some point, perhaps that was why he looked for you. He did consider you something close to family, after all. In truth, there were some lifetimes where you met. Some when you were friends, something more than that, and something inseparable. And that’s why you hadn’t died yet, you didn’t remember it all. “It’s rude to interrupt someone when they’re talking.”

“You’re much more handsome in this life.” His smile is much more intimidating than sweet, the sinister curl to his lips would only ever be associated with bloodshed in your eyes. But it was much more than that. Nights of sleeping together, days of laughter and flirtatious comments, soft moments that only you had seen. And it was bittersweet, because he knew the second he’d jog your memory you’d be gone. It wasn’t just a curse for you, but for him. Maybe it was his punishment for hurting so many people, dragging an innocent soul down with him and hanging them by the red string of fate. The comment makes your skin prickle with heat. Sukuna was quite the charmer when he wanted to be, easily picking at your weak spots with whatever you wanted to hear. But the comment was much more for the sake of his own, instead of yours.

Sukuna stands, hot on his heels as he holds out his hand one last time. If something were to happen to you tonight he’d make the most out of it, just as he did countless times over and over. So many years of starting over, getting to know you in various different bodies, realizing that being trapped away was the only way you’d get to live a full life, it was always on his mind. You were always on his mind.

So you take his hand. And for the millionth time, he’d become your second home.

taglist:

@ryoukuna @indigowren21 @cannedfoodisbestfood @junkwhoore @kissesdenji @sanderssidesangsttrash @i-d0g @kaito-asmr @jream-23 @princejasno @mel-bigia04 @mhasimp666 @onehellofasimp @corporeal-terrestrial @angelaturservice @shadows-of-nightmares @rinkindaugly

[sunnysviolin]

Reading that one post it makes me imagine Mari comforting her Mob Husband when he had those nights where he feels horribly guilty about those three deaths.

Nonnie....I kinda went off with this ngl. I didn’t really stick to your prompt but like...I went off with this. Hero is my favorite character and I love him so much in this AU and if you want to resend this and get bulletpoints or something then aok but I think you’ll like what I have. I’m...obsessed with it ngl. I’ve been working on it all day long, and I think it’s not half bad. But also ummm Huge fucking TW on this one guys. 

TW: Death TW: Violence TW: Mafia TW: Knives

In his dreams, Hero always ends up back in that parlor. 

It was an opulent room, extravagant to the point of garish. There was a tall ceiling with a simply enormous chandelier hanging down. The tiny crystals glittered in the light, sending dancing shadows along the walls. Along one wall was a bar with a gleaming gold rim. It was gilded with real gold, Hero knew on instinct. He had become an expert in finding the truth since he had taken his place at Mari’s side. 

The only ordinary thing in the room was the knife. Just a straight butcher knife, polished clean. It sat on the table in front of the couch he sat at. Everything else was excellence, the best of the best. This one thing was average. The thing that Tommy “Hedonist” Barone was going to use to kill them was average. The irony would have been funny if it didn’t make Hero feel sick. 

Those are the things that stick out to him- the glittering chandelier, the glowing bar, and the knife. 

Hero knows it's a dream because he’s wearing his pajamas. Just a t-shirt and boxers, remarkably plain for everything in the room. That day he had been in a custom made suit, tailored to fit his exact frame. He had burned that suit, it no longer existed. It had been a beautiful thing, the fabric sinfully luxurious against his skin and light enough he barely noticed. Barone had apparently paid an italian seamstress thousands for each piece of the ensemble, just for the perfection of that night. Hero had hated every second of wearing it. 

He knows its a dream, but he’s still terrified. He’s still shaking as he sits on the too soft cushions of the couch and waits alone in this too big room. There’s no point in trying the doors, he knows that right outside wait two burly guards. They are the same people who marched him here from the cell they had been holding him in. The cell Tommy Barone had tortured him in. 

The cell where he had laughed about how he would kill Hero’s family. How he would rip apart his brothers, Aubrey, Mari, his father, even his mother though she had been dead for over a year. Over and over he had taunted Hero, cutting him and beating him and burning him, all in an effort to get him to scream. Hero had stayed silent. 

The human part of Hero wants him to run and hide or pick up the knife and prepare to go down fighting. Hero keeps himself still and straight. He is the consigliere of the most powerful crime syndicate in the world. His wife is Don Migliore, a legend. Tommy Barone was nothing. He would not be what made Hero break. If he was going to die, he would die, but he wouldn’t be turned into a puppet for Barone to use against his family. The door opposite the one he came in opened, and in walked the Hedonist. 

Tommy Barone was every stereotypical mobster- his greasy hair and his rotund belly. He hid himself under fancy shirts and fingers fat with rings, but Hero had known him most of his life. Hedonist was a slimeball who liked to pretend himself into being a capo. Hero hated that there was fear inside of him from this man, this pig of a man. 

“Well well. You shine like a jewel. I dare say you didn’t even look this nice at your wedding Henry!” Hedonist taunted, the words forever branded into Hero’s mind. He would remember the exact words said to him that night for the rest of his days. Hero loathed being called Henry. Only his mother had ever gotten away with it, but that didn’t matter to Barone. Hero shot a harsh glare towards Barone but kept his mouth shut. 

“Still not talking? And after all the trouble I went through to get you that suit.” Barone stepped further into the room and waddled his way over to the bar. He grabbed a crystal decanter and poured himself a glass of amber, continuing to speak, “I have a little jewel myself- my own personal seamstress. Of course she lives in the old country, she would never want to leave, but I pay her well to be available whenever I need her. She handcrafts everything I wear. Isn’t her work magnificent?”

Hedonist turned from the bar and began to walk to the lounging area. He took a second to do a slow spin, turning to Hero with an expectant look. Hero bit the tip of his tongue between his teeth. A beat passed and Hedonist sighed, coming to sit on the couch directly opposite Hero. 

“I’m fine with continuing to talk if you don’t want to, Henry. You were always a bit quieter though. Your brother, what a chatterbox!” Hero couldn’t help the slight jump in his shoulders when Hedonist mentioned Kel. Barone noticed this and jumped on it, continuing to ramble like the pathetic old man he was, “Even when you two were little you were always teaching him when to be quiet. You should hear him on the phone when your little wifey is arranging your safe return to her. I offered to send them a little piece of you when she tried to say I didn’t have you. Ha I think they had to drag him kicking and screaming from the room,” 

Hero was going to kill him. Hero was going to fucking kill him. Barone had been a part of his father’s business, had watched him and Kel both grow up. Tommy Barone was one of his father’s bannermen, a staple of their organization, but Hero had never liked him. When Mari had taken over she and Hero had cleaned house. Hedonist had been one of the first to go, his methods too messy, his tastes too extravagant. Barone had always lived up to his nickname, and Mari hadn’t wanted to deal with his exorbitant costs. Hero didn’t see it as a waste, and now he knew it wasn’t. 

Barone took a long slow sip of his drink, appraising Hero who continued to stare him down. Hedonist was forced to look away first, and his congenial attitude quickly soured, small blue eyes blown wide in fury.

“You should blame her for this, you know. Your precious Mari. Your family used to be powerful, one of the greats.” Barone sneered, downing the drink and slamming the glass down next to the knife. Hero jumped, his hands trying to pull away from one another. When had he been bound? Weren’t they free only a minute ago? 

Hero looked down at the rope rubbing angry red bracelets onto his wrists. Barone was still going on, but Hero was able to ignore it in favor of looking down and trying to remember how he got this way. He had been forced to listen to Barone’s drabble on an endless loop for the three weeks since he had been taken from outside the Bakery. Hero couldn’t remember anything from before he got in this room, but he knew it had happened. He knew he had been taken, he knew what Tommy had done to him, but it all felt murky. The details existed, but they held no meaning. Barone, clearly done with being ignored, leaned up and grasped Hero’s shoulder, pulling him roughly forward. 

“Now look at you, heir to nothing but being a bitch for some uppity woman who calls herself a Don.” Hedonist leered. Hero shook the man’s hands off of him, leaning back as far as he could. There were a thousand and one things right on the edge of his tongue, but he held himself back. He had gotten this far, he just had to keep playing the game. 

Barone laughed at the boy’s fire, a twisted noise that Hero had always loathed. He had heard it more than he ever wanted in the last few weeks, as Tommy took his pleasure from doing everything he could to get him to buckle. Barone stood, walking towards the door Hero had come in. 

“I hope I do get to hear you scream eventually, Henry. Maybe when Mari gets here,” Hero couldn’t help his quiet gasp. His heart beat a thunderous pattern, sick both with longing and fear. His girl couldn’t come here, not near this monster. Not for him. Hedonist saw that he had gotten a crack, and he chuckled again, “She’s coming herself to get you tonight. Mistress was finally willing to pay the price for her lost puppy back. I told her to come alone, but I’m sure she won’t. I’ll get the satisfaction of wiping your whole miserable family off the planet. At least the last time she sees you, you’ll look perfect. Aside from a few bumps and bruises.”

Barone locked the door, and Hero’s head spun. Mari was coming for him. He knew she had been looking for him, he knew that they had sent her pictures of the damage they had done, humiliating photos that Hero hoped Mari had destroyed before anyone else saw. He knew Mari would eventually come, but now that the reality was at his doorstep, Hero felt his control beginning to slip. Hedonist turned back around and with slow sloping steps began to get closer. Hero was never more aware of the knife in the room, the same knife that had given him the injuries that were still healing all over his body. They pulsed with a familiar wave of pain, and Hero tried to define the exact moment he had gotten so hurt. He didn’t understand, he hadn’t been hurt before. But he had? This was a dream. This wasn’t real. Why did it feel so real?  Hedonist was speaking again.

“The silent treatment is getting boring kiddo, and you know what I’m like when I’m bored.” Hero knew. Hero knew all too well. He had the evidence written into his skin. Hero kept his mouth shut. Mari would be here soon. Mari would make everything okay. Mari would make sure that Tommy begged for mercy, and then she would deny him. 

“Just a few more minutes… actually, I think I’ll kill you now. I was going to kill Mari first, just to get you to finally do something, but it would be more fun to throw your corpse down in front of her and see her lose it.” Barone’s face contorted in glee at the thought, and Hero’s stomach bottomed out. A few more minutes. Mari was coming. Mari would be here soon. 

“You’re the reason she killed her daddy after all. So...maybe all of this is your fault then.” No that wasn’t their fault. That wasn’t Hero’s fault. That was Mari’s father. Mari’s father had made his choices, and forced their hand. Mari had killed him to protect Sunny, to save their families. It hadn’t just been for Hero. It couldn’t have been just for Hero. He couldn’t have been the reason behind everything. It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be. Barone twisted the knife in his hands, throwing his final punch to Hero’s mind, “You’re the reason your family is nothing. You’re the reason your mother is dead.” 

Hero breath began to quicken, and Hedonist jerked him up by an arm, pressing the knife tip against his throat, tracing it almost lovingly against his pulse point. Hero was nearly hyperventilating, his eyes up, staring at the chandelier shaking. Was it the chandelier? It looked fuzzy. Maybe it wasn’t a chandelier at all. This was a dream? Why were his palms sweating? Why was he so terrified? If it wasn’t real, it wouldn’t be like this. He would wake up. 

Please wake up. Please wake up.

“Any last words? Anything to say?” Even if Hero had any, he wouldn’t be able to speak. His mouth was a desert, his throat closed tight. There was no air. This wasn’t a dream. He was going to die. He was only eighteen, and he was about to have his throat slit by an ex-mobster in a parlor. They were using him to get to his wife. Hedonist was going to hurt his Mari. “How disappointing,” 

A series of gunshots tore through the air, throwing them both out of synch. Hero took the two seconds that afforded him. He slammed his bound hands into the side of Tommy Barone’s head, taking all of the rage he had been storing up in the last 24 days and unleashing it. Barone stumbled back and Hero surged forward. He grabbed the blade end of the knife, wincing in pain as it cut into his palms. Hedonist’s grip was loose from disorientation, and that was enough for Hero to wrench it away, spin it around, and thrust it deep into Tommy Barone’s stomach. 

All sound cut out. A high pitched whine was shrieking in his ears. The knife handle was sticky in his grip from the blood. 

Tommy looked at him, confused as a lost child. Hero ripped the knife out of the other man’s gut and buried it in the side of his throat, joined hands holding fast to the black plastic handle. Hot blood sticky and disgusting sprayed out, staining Hero with it. The fabulous suit that Tommy had commissioned was destroyed, ripped from their scuffle and forever marked with red. 

Hero pulled the knife out with a horrific squelching noise, and Tommy fell back. His pale fingers went up to his throat, trying to stem the bleeding. Sound cut back in, there were people yelling and shouting outside. Someone was banging on the door. Hero took two stumbling steps towards it, then paused. 

He was panting from exertion, the feeling of the suit and the blood curdling in his stomach, but he wasn’t done. Not yet. Not after what Barone had done to him. 

Hero turned back. Tommy was a lost cause, panic racing across his features as mortality flew towards him. Hero felt a cruel smile settling on his features, so unlike anything he had ever done before. His face felt like wax, molded and shaped by some unknown force. He practically slid over to where the dying Hedonist lay, tilting his head and staring down at the monster turned human. He stepped over the older man so one foot was on each side of him. 

“You’re going to kill my wife?” Hero’s voice was shredded after so many days of keeping from speaking, but he kept going. He doesn’t recognize his own voice, “Kill my family? You want to hear me scream?” 

Hero turned the knife so the point was directly above Barone’s heart. The man was making a horrific wheezing noise, and the stench of death hung in the air. Someone was rhythmically pounding against the door, clearly trying to break it. Hero ignored them. He had a job to do. He had to protect them from this monster. He had to do what had to be done 

Hero fell to his knees, drove the knife deep into Barone’s chest, opened his mouth, and screamed. 

Hero wakes up still screaming, the iron taste of Hedonist’s blood heavy on his tongue. He thrusts himself into a sitting position, pitching forward and letting his head smack down onto the mattress. A broken howl of agony heaved from his chest, and he continued to wail. His joined hands were pressed up against his chest, no longer bound to one another but stuck in the position all the same.  Hero’s voice gives out on the fourth cry, and Mari’s hands are cool on his back as she runs her fingers along his spine and hushes him. She is speaking to him in soft whispers. He can’t hear her words, but the smell of her shampoo is strong in his nose. She is here. She is safe. 

Hedonist is dead, his body burnt and ashes scattered in a dump. Hero is not bound, his injuries long scarred over. The horrible suit was destroyed. It was a dream. He was safe. He had saved his family. He had done what he had to, and it had broken him, but he had protected them. 

Hero continues to cry out silently until the sun rises pale in the sky.

[sammyxorae]

Falling For You (Spencer Reid x Reader)

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Word Count: 3,901

Warnings: fluff, angst, cussing, suicidal thoughts, kissing

Author’s Note: I’m so excited to be starting another series, especially one with Spencer. I apologize for this one being so long, but I just couldn’t find a place to break it up. I’m going to try and update every couple of days!

***

“What do you think it’ll be like when we’re in love with someone when we’re older?” you asked your best friend as the two of you lay in the bunker, smoking a joint. You were only 12 at the time but at that moment, you felt as nothing in the world could bother you. You felt content and at ease with your best friend by your side.

You heard her giggle and felt her nudge you to hand the joint back over. “Well Y/N/N, I bet it’s going to feel amazing and nothing like we have felt before,” she spoke quietly, looking over at you with a look in her eyes you’ve never seen before.

“What are you thinking about Kitty? You look like you’re going to eat my face,” you laughed but before you could say anything else, you felt her lips on yours. It was a surprise for you and stopped her immediately.

She looked at you with hurt in her eyes and anger. You’ve known the things she has been through, you looked down at the bruises on her arms. She only told you about the way her Dad hurt her and you felt awful rejecting her. “I’m sorry Y/N/N…” she trailed off for a moment but then continued, “I’m so sick of being rejected though, Y/N/N, by men. And hurt by them. They’re fucking pigs.” She began to sob through her words.

You pulled her into you, hugging her and stroking her short brown hair. “I’m so sorry Cat, I wish there was something I could do. I will always be there for you.”

***

That was years ago. You were now in your late twenties and still living in the same town that you guys lived in, but one day, Cat was taken from her father who finally got sent to jail for the abuse and other charges. She was then put with an adoptive family, which seemed to be good at first and the two of you sent letters back and forth for a while. They slowly stopped, receiving and sending less and less, until one day she sent me a letter stating that she was going away for a while, that she killed her adoptive father because he was doing the same thing to her as her biological dad. That was the last letter you ever received from her. You tried to search for your friend throughout the years without any avail. Until one day you saw her on the news.

You were surprised, but not entirely, especially with what she revealed in the letters and the way she acted when you were kids. There were things that Cat did and acted as a child and teen that really threw you for a loop, but you just chalked it up to her abuse at home. Now, as a licensed professional, you knew differently. Trauma has a significant effect on the brain and a child’s psyche. Many individuals who are children do “bounce back,” what is called resiliency, but there are others who unfortunately continue to struggle and develop further mental illnesses.

You looked at the TV screened again, focusing on Cat’s face. It broke your heart, even though you heard of what she did. You felt that guy feeling that you needed to see her one last time. No one should ever really be alone, even though she is a prolific serial killer.

***

You had gone to see her and it was just about what you expected, but a little worse. She was quiet, she looked disheveled, she was more cunning, more manipulative than she used to be. The only thing that was the same was the moment she saw you, there was that look in her eye. It was the same one that she had the night she had kissed you all those years ago.

“I’ll always be there for you Kitty. You know that,” you walked over and kissed her head before you got yelled at by a guard and left.

***

When you got to your apartment, you didn’t realize how emotionally taxing that experience was for you until you felt like you were going to pass out, throw up, and didn’t even hear Walter, your German Short-Haired Pointer dog barking at you.

“Calm down buddy. I know, it’s been a rough day being a dog, huh?” you smiled patting his head.

You knew you had to get yourself in check before it totally consumed you. After you lost Cat as a teenager, you had a really difficult time with your best friend gone. You were depressed, anxious, and couldn’t handle her being gone. There had been nights where you felt as if you had lost a piece of yourself. You loved her, but not in the way that Cat seemed to feel about you.Eventually, you got into therapy yourself and one coping skill you learned to help yourself, was running.

“You want to go for a run boy?” The dog started barking like crazy, running around in circles, grabbing his toys, throwing them in the air. You couldn’t help but laugh at his antics as you changed into your running clothes and shoes.

“Alright Walter, let’s go buddy!”

When you got to the park you and Walter kept at steady pace as the audiobook in your ear played. You were listening to a crime series that had captured your attention from Denmark, but translated in English. You looked around and noticed a tall, lanky, but good looking man sitting down at a bench, you nodded at him as you were about to pass him, but the next thing you know, you lost your footing, and Walter was chasing after a squirrel.

Spencer’s POV

He had been out of jail for a few days, not even, and he had to take time off. Yet, he couldn’t get out of his mind that his mother was kidnapped and that he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. And it was all because of Cat Adams. She was a main center piece for his rage.

Emily Prentiss, his boss and colleague, told him as much as she wanted to have him on the case, he was too close. She also made sure that the last 3 days he had been receiving therapy services to help him cope with everything. One thing the therapist made him realize is that he doesn’t have any friends outside of work, which he was mostly okay with, but that he also hasn’t had a conversation that wasn’t entirely work related as well.

With that said, he decided that he would go to the park and try to “free” his mind, as the therapist said. Anyone that had known Spencer, knew that “freeing” his mind was nearly impossible. The man was a genius with an IQ of 187 and could read 20,000 words per minute. Not your average man. Spencer instead did what he does best, watch people. He’s always found it comforting and relaxing. He immediately noticed a woman and her dog jogging, she had nodded her head at him, and he waved to her. He noticed quickly how pretty she was and seemed to be enjoying herself, but also on alert as she ran.

Almost as soon as he turned his head, he saw her fall straight in front of him as her dog ran off after a squirrel. He ran right over to the woman to help her.

***

Reader’s POV

“Shit!” you yelled out. “Walter get back here!” you screamed again. Reaching down to your bloodied leg and knee, and then your ankle that throbbed. When you looked up, the man that you had noticed moments prior came over to you in a hurry.

“Are you okay?” He asked with concern in his voice. You noticed how his curly, brown hair hung over his face and how his golden brown eyes had stared down at you with worry.

“Yeah…” you trailed off, wincing at your ankle when you touched it. “I just need to get my dog. So much for being loyal.”

“Well, actually, in the list of the top 10 most loyal dogs, German Short-Haired Pointers are not on that list. In fact, most believed that Golden Retrievers would be on the list but they didn’t quite make it, actually being voted at number 11. However, German Short-Haired Pointers are one of the world’s most accomplished hunting dogs.” The man continued to ramble as he looked at your ankle, touching it in different places. “Well, it doesn’t seem to be broken so you should be okay, but those gashes on your leg really should be looked at.”

You laughed through the pain saying, “What are you? Some sort of doctor.”

“Actually, I have three PhDs in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering…” he stopped himself when he noticed you were looking at him, smirking but also with a cocked-head in almost confusion.

“But you weren’t actually asking. I’m sorry.” He offered you a hand and helped you up.

“Thank you for helping me…?” you paused, hoping he would catch your drift in wanting to know his name.

“Spencer.. Dr. Spencer Reid.” He smiled as you grabbed his arm, holding you up.

“Well thank you Doctor, but now I need to find my dog if you don’t mind.”

“What’s uhm, your name? If you don’t mind.” He stuttered.

Was he nervous?

“Y/F/N Y/L/N.” you smiled, pushing your bangs behind your ears, taking out the last earbud and putting it in your pocket.

“I can help you find your dog if you’d like and you should probably go to the ER for that. It could probably use some stitches,” he said as the two of you walked a few steps until Walter came running up to you with a dead squirrel in his mouth, wagging his tail as if he just brought you the best present in the world.

You couldn’t help but giggle, “Ew” more giggles, “Gross.” Spencer and you both laughed.

“I told you they were accomplished hunting dogs,” Spencer smirked looking at you with a look that lasted just a little bit longer than you expected. Spencer kindly bent down and grabbed Walter’s leash.

This man is incredibly handsome and I could look at him for days. Stop it Y/N, he’s just being kind and helping. Sometimes you had a hard time separating kindness from something more.

“So how about I get you a ride and make sure you get to the ER for your leg,” he asked again as you held his nice strong arms, Stop Y/N, toward the street, out of the park.

“No, no. I can’t do that, I really should get back home,” you let go of him trying to walk as you grabbed Walter’s leash, but nearly fell all over again. Spencer was quick to catch you before you fell to another impact, possibly making the wounds worse.

“What are you? A ninja or a cat with those reflexes,” you couldn’t help but laugh at his mannerisms and behaviors. He was an interesting person and you were just wanting to get to know more about him.

“No, just something I do everyday. But honestly, I’m a pretty clumsy person,” he admitted with a hidden smile.

Between a few more words, you and Spencer agreed to let him buy you an Uber to take you and Walter home. The Uber man was not particularly happy about the dog part, but you guys had bribed him with extra cash due to the situation.

The ride wasn’t long and soon you were back to your apartment, Spencer helping you out of the car and getting Walter.

“Shit. Of course, the one time I really need an elevator, I don’t have one. Guess I’ll crawl,” you groaned with irritation.

“Or, I could carry you up. Nothing weird, I’ll just give you a piggyback ride,” he shrugged as he looked at you.

At first you thought he was joking but no, this man was serious. Carrying you up three flights of stairs wasn’t too bad, but it seemed like a lot to you. You huffed out in defeat and gave in to his offer. He bent down so you could get on his back. He was careful to not touch your leg or ankle so he didn’t hurt them.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Up, up, and away!” You yelled with a hint of playfulness. He giggled and you gripped on tight. Luckily, Walter knew where the door was and he ran straight up. You only hoped that’s exactly where he went. Obviously he had a track record of not listening to you.

As Spencer carried you, there was no way that you could ignore the fresh smell of shampoo in his hair and how his toned arms and shoulders felt under yours.

“Did you just smell my hair?” Spencer laughed as he continued up the stairs.

“I absolutely did not just sniff your hair that smells like flowers,” you lied with a snort.

Just before you could say something else, you guys were at your door, with Walter waiting right in front.

“Thanks for doing one thing right today,” you sighed with a smile, patting your dog on the head. You opened the door and smiled to Spencer, “Thank you again for helping me out again, Spencer. I appreciate it. Also, you haven’t told me what you do but from what I understand you’re the combination of a cat and ninja.”

“Let’s just say I work for the government and I’m used to this stuff,” he pushed his hair back.

You noticed immediately the form sweating on his forehead and the way he licked his lips unintentionally. Get a grip Y/N.

Snapping back to what was in front of you, “Spencer, please let me thank you by ordering some food for you and get you something to drink… As long as that doesn’t seem weird.”

Spencer hesitated for a second, looking down, letting his locks of brown and curls fall in front of his face. He looked up with a gentle smile and agreed.

“I’m going to hobble my way into the bathroom and take a shower and then try to deal with the bandages and cleaning up my wounds. There’s a folder in the top drawer to the right of the refrigerator with restaurants that you can choose to order from. I’ll be done in like 15 minutes, tops. Please make yourself at home, seriously. Mi casa es su casa,” you smiled and began to hobble just down the hallway.

After 15 minutes, like you said, you got out of the shower and realized that you didn’t grab any clothes. Shit. You groaned out loud to yourself. Why wouldn’t you grab clothes before you went to take a shower when there’s a hot man standing in your living room? You grab the towel and walk out in the hallway, hoping that he doesn’t see you, but as soon as you walk out, you run straight into Spencer’s chest.

“Ope! Shit!” you jumped with startlement.

Spencer immediately covered his eyes, “I’m so sorry! I was just coming to knock on the door and check on you.”

You gained your composure and blurted out, “Quit it. You act as if you hadn’t seen a woman in a towel before.” You walked away into your bedroom, wondering where the hell that confidence and flirtatiousness came from. Sometimes you surprise yourself.

Back out in the living room, you had noticed that he had fed Walter, and you finally sat down on the couch. “Thanks for feeding Walter. How did you know where his food was?” You had it in a particular cabinet, not where you figured most would keep it.

“You’d be surprised how many individuals’ kitchens are similarly put together and organized,” he spoke with confidence.

“People are creatures of habits,” you both said at the same time and looked at each other and giggled. You felt the red on your cheeks rise up and almost the same for his. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a therapist, you recognize people’s body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

While you sat down, you attempted to verbally direct Spencer through your apartment to find the medical box you had of bandages and stuff to clean your wounds. Luckily, he was incredibly smart and able to understand your horrible direction. After a few curse words, tylenol, and an ice pack later, you thanked him once again for putting the bandages on you and began to talk about where to order. The two of you both agreed to get chinese, oddly enough ordering pretty similar orders.

The two of you sat on the couch, him sitting next to you, your shoulders touching lightly, as your leg up on the coffee table to keep it elevated and iced. Both of you agreed to watch some Disney movies to pass the time, talking about what you did, telling him that you’re a therapist. He seemed to be understanding when you talked about what you do, how you love helping people but that it is exhausting.

“I couldn’t agree more. Burn-out is real and people sometimes forget to take care of themselves. That’s my favorite part of my job too,” he rambled on.

For a while, the two of you fell into a pattern, eating, talking about the movies that were on, laughing about the things that each of you have experienced in life, and sometimes just enjoying each other in silence.

You learned that he found it funny that your dog’s name was Walter because his middle name was Walter. He learned that you have lived in this city your whole life. Also, that the both of you have never been out of the country. You found each other holding each other’s gaze a little bit longer than usual, like at the park, but this time more comfortably. You also learned this man was walking genius. Which had you interested in anything he did or said. Having an eidetic memory could be a curse and blessing, from what it sounded like.

***

You don’t know how much time had passed, but you realized that you had fallen asleep. It must’ve been hours later. You noticed that there was a large figure behind you and an arm around you as well. You almost freaked out until you realized that the man who had helped you yesterday had stayed the night by accident and was near you. Spencer. You thought to yourself. You turned slowly to see his face. He seemed calm and his breathing at a normal pace.

Without trying to wake him up, you looked down and saw that Walter was asleep at the other side of the couch. Oddly enough for a dog, he didn’t like mornings. You attempted to move your way into the kitchen behind you, noticing that your leg wasn’t hurting as bad as last night, but still some pain. You looked at the clock, it was 5am, and you instinctively began to make some coffee. Not trying to be creepy, but you watched Spencer as he slept, moving a little bit here and there.

You grabbed the coffee cups and miraculously made it back over to the couch without falling or spill, and almost as if the smell hit his nose, he was awake.

“Hey,” you whispered to him, handing the coffee to him.

He smiled and grunted out the word hey, taking the coffee and sipping it slowly. “Thanks, I can never turn down a cup of coffee.”

The two of you sat there in silence but Spencer was the first to talk. “I’m really sorry about staying the night. I hope that didn’t bother you.”

You put your hand on his hand, “absolutely not. Seriously. I really had an awesome time getting to know you last night and hanging out. You’re seriously hilarious and great company,” you blushed as you said it. I probably sound like a freaking idiot. Good one Y/N, you’ll probably scare a nice person away. Although you were a therapist, you had a lot of self-doubt about yourself, something you really struggled with, but sometimes there was that confidence.

“Me too. It was... normal,” he said with intention and obviously using his words carefully. “My life is not really what most would consider normal.”

“What is normal anyway?” You questioned with a smirk and partially a rhetorical question.

Before Spencer could answer, hsi phone began to ring. He grabbed it and immediately you saw fear and maybe some anger in his eyes.

“I… I-I- have to take this, sorry…” he trailed off, getting up and going down your hallway, as if he knew the place. You were concerned because that was the first time you had really seen Spencer, in the last 24 hours that you’ve known him, seem defeated almost. You weren’t trying to eavesdrop but you still couldn’t hear him.

Spencer’s POV

“Hey JJ, what’s going on? Did you guys find my Mom? I should be there..” he spoke trying to calm himself. He was still frustrated with the fact that he couldn’t be part of this. He wanted to find her. After all of what Cat Adams has put him through, she had to go and hit him where it hurts the worst. Having his Mom kidnapped.

“I know Spence, I’m sorry,” JJ stayed quiet for a moment then stated “One big thing we found out is that Cat and Lindsay, aren’t just a partnership, they were lovers. Well, for Lindsay they were or are lovers. However, we found out that Lindsay is in love with Cat, but we don’t think that’s the same for Cat.”

Every time he heard her name, he felt this anger build up more and more inside of him. One that he never really had before prison. People say prison changes a person and Spencer had always found it to be a saying people would use to rationalize their behaviors, but now, he believed it. He would never kill Cat Adams, but he sure wouldn’t feel any different if she died.

“Spence? Are you listening to me?” JJ brought him back to reality.

“Yeah, sorry. So Lindsay is in love with Cat… Cat is manipulative, she will do whatever it takes to get control and achieve her goal,” he said with that anger slowly starting to build up. He began to breathe slowly, to calm himself. He couldn’t let it get the best of him.

“They recently got into a fight, somehow, they had connection with one another in person, we’re thinking that Lindsay pretended to be someone else to get into the prison and bypass security or there’s a mole allowing this all to happen. All we know is that it caused a riff between Cat and Lindsay, making this a possible way to break the connection between the two. Unfortunately, Lindsay is still being loyal to Cat. Love can do some weird things to people.”

“So we’re nowhere closer to finding my mom?” his voice broke.

JJ stopped speaking and then he heard Emily speak, “Hey Spence, I know it’s Sunday morning, but something just happened. I need you in here this morning. We’re transferring Cat Adams back here. She’s agreeing to talk. On one condition,” she trails off, Spencer knowing where this is going.

“If she talks to me..” he spoke quietly. He rubbed his eyes and hair, “I’ll be there soon.”

***

@spnackleholicswainer @alexa-ann-blog @crazysocklovingfangirl@totallysupernaturaloneshots @crowleysplaythings @i-dont-understand-that-url @baritonechick @samanthasmileys @sammys-angel @dont-hate-relate-pls@thegameison97 @growningupgeek @ive6669 @your-favorite-emo @fandom-has-ruined-my-life @youcanhavit @hillface89 @angelkurenai@letmewriteyourlove @fangirl1802 @robbenedictxreader @ellienovak@psycho-moose-sammy @ashiewesker @hudine @paddy121996-blog@wayward-mirage @zymmas @evyiione @heatherhoney2000-blog @gabriels-trix @your-not-invisible-to-me me @carry-on-my-wayward-girls@reigningqueenofwords @writings-of-desire

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XXXV

Part Thirty-Five:  Waiting For You: Part Two

 Ten minutes earlier.

 Krillin and 18’s wedding brought a mini-reunion for everyone. Not since the Cell Game has Piccolo or Dende seen Vegeta. The lone full-blooded Saiyan looked sharp but annoyed in his dark suit and tie. He sat on the sofa with Bulma’s parents as they entertained Trunks. Master Roshi paced, waiting and rehearsing his lines for the ceremony.

 “18 is almost ready,” Bulma announced when she reached the bottom of the stairs. She noticed two important people still not in the room. “But the wedding’s gonna start late if the best man and the man to walk 18 down the aisle don’t hurry up.”

 As if on cue, the door opened and 17 stepped in. Eyes turned to him as 17 scanned everyone with sly eyes. “Who would’ve thought my sister’s wedding will bring us all together again?” 17 spotted Vegeta. “Vegeta…. didn’t expect you here.”

 Vegeta looked away. 17 wanted to say something he knew will rile Vegeta but since this is his sister’s day, he bit his tongue. “So, where’s my sister?”

 “Upstairs. First room on the left.” 17 followed Bulma’s instructions. “One down. Now if only Yamcha will show up so the wedding can start on time.”

 As if on cue again, the door opened. Gohan and Goten walked in first followed by Krillin, Yamcha and a man no one other than Bulma has seen. Piccolo and Vegeta looked at the new guy with immediate suspicion. Vegeta also noticed Gohan looked agitated. That with Bulma’s smile at the guy was concerning.

 “Hey, everyone.” Yamcha knew this was not a good idea. He tried to talk Kenji out of it but his friend insisted. “I meant to be earlier but my friend, Kenji, wanted to come. He’s my teammate.”

 Kenji, Vegeta wondered, who the hell is that?

 Kenji flashed a charming smile as he went around the room introducing himself. When he came to Vegeta, he paused. “Oh….. you must be Vegeta.” He abruptly turned away.

 One sharp eyebrow rose on Vegeta’s face at the sudden coldness. What was that about?

 “Are you two ill?” Kenji asked Piccolo and Dende. “Your faces are green.”

 Piccolo’s glare at Yamcha had the human stepping back. “Why is he here? This is a private wedding.”

 “He’s here to see ChiChi,” Bulma smirked. “I knew she didn’t get rid of you. I bet you came to be ChiChi’s date. Gohan,” she gently pushed the boy towards the stairs. “Tell ChiChi Kenji is here.”

 Gohan hesitated but did as asked. Goten followed after him.

 “Date?” Living with Goku’s family for three years, Piccolo picked up human terms. He knew what date meant and he didn’t like it ChiChi was doing it without Goku. “I thought ChiChi could only date Goku.”

 “Goku’s dead so ChiChi is free to date whomever she wants,” Bulma explained. “Don’t be a prude, Piccolo.”

 “Prude?” Another term he learned and it was insulting. “I’ll never understand you humans.”

 “Oooh,” Mrs. Briefs’ eyes swept over Kenji. “First Goku and now Kenji. ChiChi knows how to pick handsome men.”

“Mom,” Bulma politely warned her mother. “This is ChiChi’s guy. You can’t have drinks with him.”

 Everyone grew silent when ChiChi came down the stairs. Vegeta kept his suspicious eyes on ChiChi. He watched her talk to Kenji, let him touch her back and escort her outside. As soon as the two left, questions flew from everyone.

 “ChiChi’s dating?! 18 never told me this!” Krillin slapped Yamcha’s arm. “Yamcha, why didn’t you say anything?”

 “I didn’t know! I only knew Kenji was interested.” Yamcha didn’t like being out of the loop, too. “I thought it was all one-sided.”

 “That’s not true,” Bulma gleamed happily. “ChiChi’s smitten with him but she knows the game. Men are hunters. Let them hunt.”

 “Is it serious?” Krillin wanted to know.

 “It has to be. He’s here, isn’t he?”

 “I guess.” The idea of ChiChi dating didn’t sit right with Krillin. “I never imagined ChiChi dating anyone. She’s been loyal to Goku for so long. She stuck it out when he was dead and away after his fight with Freeza. She waited years to marry him. It feels like a betrayal.”

 “A betrayal?” Bulma scoffed at the idea. “Goku’s not coming back this time. Do you expect ChiChi to sleep alone for the rest of her life? ChiChi has an attractive, rich guy interested in her. You should be cheering for her and not think she should stay loyal to a dead guy who refused to come back!”

 “Well,” Yamcha snorted, “we all know why---”

 Bulma raised a finger silencing Yamcha, “Don’t you finish that sentence.”

 “Ugh!” Vegeta jumped to his feet. “You all make me sick with your petty gossiping! I did not come here to hear about Kakarrot’s wife’s love life!” Vegeta stormed out and slammed the door.

 Outside, Vegeta waited. He wondered if he acted too over the top but no one coming outside confirmed he didn’t. He followed ChiChi’s Ki. He found her pressed against the wall of the house with Kenji leering over her.

“You’re hot when you’re angry.”

Who the hell is this ass?

 “Don’t kiss me.”

 “Carnal thoughts about me again?” Kenji joked. “I’m flattered. Now I know the feelings between us are mutual.”

 This damn woman. You’re practically begging this fool to kiss you. Kakarrot, you damn fool. Didn’t you do it right?!

 Vegeta watched as Kenji caressed ChiChi’s face. He looked as if he will kiss ChiChi and she will allow it.

 Ah, hell.

 Vegeta cleared his throat. Kenji and ChiChi turned in his direction.

 “Leave,” Vegeta demanded. “Now.”

 Leave? Kenji didn’t like Vegeta’s tone. It was a demand. Kenji didn’t like Vegeta for what he did to Yamcha. If Vegeta thought he will push him around, he’s in for a world of shock. Kenji pointed to himself. “Do you mean me?”

 “Yes.”

 “What for?” Kenji stepped forward. “I’m talking to ChiChi.”

 “I say you’re done talking. Leave,” Vegeta repeated. “Now.”

 “No,” Kenji refused. “Whatever you want to say to ChiChi, you can say to me. I know I’m the topic. Though I don’t know why it’s your business.”

 Vegeta kept his eyes on ChiChi. “I make it my business.”

 “Well, don’t,” Kenji pushed back. “It’s not your business. Your business is with the woman you stole from Yamcha and that illegitimate kid of yours.”

 “Illegitimate?” the word was unfamiliar to Vegeta. “There’s nothing illegal about it. Trunks is my son.”

 Kenji couldn’t decipher if Vegeta was joking or being intentionally stupid. “He’s your son all right and I know how fatherly you’re not to him. There’s more to being a father than donating your sperm. Have you hugged yet? Played or spent time with him?”

 Vegeta’s eyebrow shot up. Bulma’s lips were loose again but he didn’t think it was ChiChi who told Kenji how he behaves around Trunks.

 “It’s okay, Kenji,” ChiChi tried to assure him. “Give me and Vegeta some time to talk.”

 Kenji stepped closer to ChiChi. He didn’t like the look on Vegeta’s face. “I don’t think you should be alone with him, ChiChi. I don’t trust him.”

 Vegeta smirked, intrigued. “You don’t? My appearance threatens you that much?”

 “No, but I know your type. I know what you did to Yamcha.”

 Vegeta chuckled. This was getting interesting. “And is that why you fear ChiChi being alone with me?” The man was spineless like Yamcha. Vegeta shook his head at ChiChi. All that fire in her and this is what she settles with without any Saiyans around. “I can’t believe you degrade yourself with this. Where’s your pride?”

 “ChiChi isn’t degrading herself with me, Shorty.”

 “Shorty?!”

 “Kenji,” ChiChi intervened. This was getting out of hand. “You don’t have to have to worry about me being alone with Vegeta or any man.” She knew Kenji meant well but the implication she couldn’t be alone with a man without being seduce was insulting. “I’m not like that.”

“Listen to the woman,” Vegeta advised Kenji. “You’re too beneath me to fight but if you don’t shut your damn mouth and leave, you will force me to act.”

 “I’m beneath you?” Kenji tossed his head back in a cocky laugh. From what Yamcha told him of Vegeta, Kenji saw it the other way around. He sized up Vegeta. Height didn’t always mean anything but Kenji had plenty over Vegeta and whatever fighting skills Vegeta had, Kenji was confident in his. Vegeta was an arrogant short man with a lot of mouth. “At least I have a job you freeloading shrimp and I have more dignity in myself than to live off my rich baby Momma.”

 ChiChi’s mouth fell open. Kenji will be killed if this wasn’t stopped. “Kenji!” ChiChi warned. “Please, go inside. I’ll be fine talking to Vegeta.”

 “Why?” Kenji protested. “I’m not getting punked by him.”

 “This is a wedding of my friend,” ChiChi reminded him, “and I don’t want any fighting.”

 Kenji’s temper cooled slightly. A fight at a wedding was not a good look and not a way to impress ChiChi. He wanted to be civil but Vegeta pushed his buttons. “I don’t how Yamcha lost his girl to you and why he never kicked your ass for what you did.”

 “Because that fool is smart. Unlike you.”

 “You’re lucky we’re at a wedding. If we weren’t, I’d fight you right now and deflate that oversized ego of yours.”

 “You? Fight me?” Vegeta mimicked Kenji, tossing his head back in a cocky laugh. “I’ll kill you before you take one step to me.”

 “Kill? Oooo,” Kenji feigned fear at Vegeta’s words. “I don’t cower to empty threats but I have too much class to fight you now but you name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

 “Kenji!” ChiChi screamed. Did this man want to die?

 “So anxious to die?” Vegeta laughed again. It amused him he was getting under this human’s skin. How pathetic. Vegeta tutted at ChiChi disappointed. “You spurn loyalty to Kakarrot for this? He was never thin-skinned and weak.”

 “Who’s Kakarrot?” Kenji asked. “ChiChi was married to Son Goku.”

 Vegeta’s eyes lit up as ChiChi squirmed. “He doesn’t know?”

 “Know what?” Kenji demanded. As he waited for ChiChi to answer, he grew more agitated at her silence. “Who is Kakarrot? Is he someone you dated after Goku?”

 From 18’s window, 17 saw the conversation between ChiChi, Kenji and Vegeta. “It’s getting interesting down there. Funny, how everyone thought Vegeta and me would get into a fight at your wedding when it’s Vegeta and ChiChi’s boyfriend.”

 Kenji looked ready to throw fists and Vegeta appeared on the verge of losing his patience. “Maybe you should intervene.”

 17 chuckled at his sister’s suggestion. “How much did you put in the pool for me to fight Vegeta?”

 “Not enough for this to happen.”

 17 winced hearing a zinger Kenji gave Vegeta about his height. “So, what do you think of this guy?”

 “I think it wouldn’t hurt if ChiChi gave him a chance. Her husband isn’t coming back but it is her choice.”

 “This is something you have to think about, too,” 17 told her. “Our power runs forever. You will outlive Krillin. Will you be able to move on?”

 “Just me?” 18 questioned. “What about you? You won’t be a bachelor forever. You haven’t found anyone to be more than a weekly bed partner?”

 “Not yet but I have plenty of time.”

 Gohan and Goten stayed in the hallway when ChiChi went downstairs. They heard the shouting from everyone over ChiChi and Kenji. Gohan remained upstairs to protect him and Goten from an interrogation.

 “Big brother?” Goten curiously asked. “Why is everyone yelling? Is Mr. Kenji a bad man?”

 He wasn’t a bad man but Gohan didn’t think Kenji was entirely good either. Gohan thought it was odd Kenji offered his mother a job but his suspicions wore off when it seemed legit. His mother was happy about the money but suspicions about Kenji rose again when he took them to South City. Gohan noticed how Kenji looked at his mother. It was the same looks his Dad gave Mom. Gohan didn’t like it. Once, ChiChi bent over to pick up a toy Goten dropped. It was brief but Gohan saw Kenji staring at ChiChi’s backside. There was also the way Kenji behaved around Goten. He playfully teased him, placed Goten on his shoulder when he couldn’t reach a prize and Kenji always got Goten anything he wanted. It reminded Gohan of the times his Dad did that for him.

 “He’s not but no one knows him so they are curious.”

 “They mention Daddy.” Goten twiddled his thumbs nervously. “Is Momma doing something bad being friends with Mr. Kenji?”

 “No, Goten. Mom’s not doing anything bad. Everyone is confused now.”

 “Okay,” Goten accepted that answer. “I like Mr. Kenji.”

 Too bad, Gohan thought. He didn’t feel the same way.

 Kenji never liked when everyone knew something he didn’t. Judging from the looks ChiChi and Vegeta exchanged, this Kakarrot person was someone important and he wanted to know who he is. “Who is Kakarrot?”

 “Kakarrot is Goku’s birth name,” ChiChi answered “He didn’t know about it until he became an adult. Goku had an adoptive grandfather who named him Goku. Only Vegeta calls him by his birth name.”

 “Oh.” Was that really all? “Didn’t know Goku’s adopted.”

 “There’s a lot you don’t know,” Vegeta grew impatient, “and you’re wasting my time. Leave.”

 “No!”

 “Kenji,” ChiChi touched his shoulder. “It’s fine. With everyone here, you can be sure nothing will happen. Vegeta wouldn’t dare do anything with my son, Gohan, around. He’s very strong.”

 Vegeta rolled his eyes at the zing.

 “All right,” Kenji reluctantly accepted. “Just holler if he does anything and I’ll be here.”

 With a final glare at Vegeta, Kenji walked off. Vegeta kept his eyes on Kenji until he disappeared around a corner. Gone, Vegeta turned back to ChiChi and received a slap to his face. “Before you speak,” ChiChi began, “I haven’t degraded myself and I haven’t spurned loyalty to Goku!”

 Vegeta clenched a fist. The audacity. This was the second time she did this. If she wasn’t the mate of a Saiyan and the mother of one who saved his life…... He spat, “You spurned your loyalty being with that.”

 “His name is Kenji and I’m not with him.”

 Vegeta scoffed. “Could’ve fooled me. You two seem very familiar with each other. You’re touching him. He’s touching you. If I hadn’t interrupted, you would’ve kissed him.”

 “It’s not your business if I did.”

 “The hell it’s……!” he refrained from raising his voice. “Kakarrot gave his life for you and the pitiful people of this planet. You as his mate are required to stay loyal to him. After everything he’s done, he deserves that! If Kakarrot fucked you good enough, you wouldn’t even be thinking of another man. I thought the sentimental fool could do that right.”

 The second slap was harder than the second!

 “And what do I deserve? I was left pregnant! I am raising two boys on my own! I have to make sure there’s enough money to pay for food, clothes and everything my sons will need while making sure my house doesn’t fall apart! If it’s not one thing like needing a new refrigerator or brakes for my truck, it’s something else like a new stove!”

 “So, you’re whoring yourself in hopes of being taken care of?” This time Vegeta caught ChiChi’s slap.

 ChiChi pulled but Vegeta wouldn’t release her wrist. “Isn’t that what you’re doing with Bulma?” ChiChi fired back. “After all these years, you still haven’t changed. She tries and tries with you; takes the little bit of attention you toss at her and in return she does everything; cares for your child, provides you with a home and everything you need without you lifting a finger or earning a zeni. At least Goku spent time with Gohan and worked occasionally. You don’t do anything. I know you went through a lot under Freeza but you were pampered then like you are now.”

 ChiChi’s words felt like a third slap to his face. Vegeta snarled at her. His grip tightened slightly as he raged. “You don’t know anything about what my life was like under Freeza!”

 ChiChi wasn’t intimidated by Vegeta’s fury. “I know enough from what Goku and Bulma told me. Freeza was a tyrant and you did his bidding but the way you speak and conduct yourself tells your life, too. You were pampered, educated and told you are the strongest Saiyan because you were born a Saiyan Prince with high power. I’m guessing, but I doubt Goku’s brother was treated the same as you. You thought no one was stronger than you and it galled you, my husband, my low-class warrior Goku shattered that image so many filled your arrogant head with! Because of my husband you were rewarded with a rich life where you continue to do what you want and nothing for those who do care for you in exchange for being taken care of. So…..” she tossed the question back, “who’s being the whore?”

 Same fighting spirit. If she weren’t tied to him, he would kill her but seeing how defiant ChiChi stood, showing no fear for retaliation, he admired her guts.

 “Still fiery,” Vegeta complimented as he released ChiChi’s hand. “But mentioning Freeza was low.”

 ChiChi rubbed her wrist. “And what you said wasn’t?”

Perhaps it was but Vegeta saw no other way to get his point across to ChiChi her actions were blasphemous. “Saiyans can go through multiple partners. Nappa told me a Saiyan could have two mates together or go through many over time. However, if the Saiyan is elite and dies an honorable death the living partner is considered untouchable. Kakarrot wasn’t born elite but he earned that status.”

 “So, you think I’m breaking Saiyan laws?” That explained Vegeta’s behavior to her and Kenji. “I love Goku. I never considered dating anyone when he died. I didn’t look for Kenji. He found me. When he told me his feelings I thought my silence meant no. Kenji showed up today because my answer wasn’t clear.” ChiChi thought it was but knew she was fooling herself. “I guess I wasn’t clear because maybe I am having doubts on what I should do. I’m not a Saiyan, Vegeta. I’m a human and laws are different.  We are allowed to move on after our spouse dies. Some do. Some don’t. I thought I was in the category of those who don’t. Maybe I shouldn’t be.”

 Silence followed. The only sounds between them were ocean waters rolling on the beach and seagulls flying over them. Hearing ChiChi’s explanation, Vegeta understood why they saw things differently.

 “I stand by what I said before. Don’t give a damn what Kakarrot’s friends say. That includes Bulma.” Vegeta exhaled as he released a tired sigh. Living on this damn planet was having an effect on him he didn’t like. He was getting soft. “Do as you wish but know Kakarrot is alone, too. You have your sons, your father and Kakarrot’s friends. Kakarrot doesn’t have anyone.”

 ****

 “Sorry, ChiChi,” Yamcha apologized. “I shouldn’t have told Kenji about the wedding. If I’d known all this would happen, I never would’ve told him. I didn’t want drama on Krillin and 18’s day. That’s why Nasima isn’t here.”

 ChiChi thought it was odd Yamcha’s girlfriend was absent. She was with everyone at Bulma’s party where they met 18. “Why?”

 Yamcha rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “My girlfriend knows more about everyone than Kenji but that party at Bulma’s house, turned her off.”

 ChiChi suspected the reason. “That incident between 18 and Vegeta was dangerous.”

 “It was Bulma that turned her off. Nasima knows what happened between us. She even said I share blame for our breakup but Bulma…..” Yamcha shook his head. “Love her still but you know how cocky Bulma can be. It rubbed Nasima wrong.”

 ChiChi recalled Bulma’s comments about Nasima when she came to the party. If Nasima got those vibes, she understood her reasons for staying away.

 Yamcha sighed as he signaled Gohan to start the music. “I’m gonna need a drink once the ceremony is over.”

 Gohan pressed a button on the sound system Yamcha brought for the wedding. As the music began, Yamcha and ChiChi walked down the beach aisle as Maid of Honor and Best Man. There were only ten guests with five chairs on each side. Kenji sat on the end of the bridal row.  ChiChi looked ahead pretending Kenji wasn’t there but knew his eyes were on her.

 Once ChiChi and Yamcha were in their places, Gohan switched tracks to the bridal march where everyone stood. Vegeta remained seated until Bulma smack him to stand. Krillin stood at the altar a happy groom. A tear rolled down his cheek as 18 walked to him escorted by her brother. When 17 and 18 reached the altar, Krillin stepped forward to take 18’s arm. 17 stared down Krillin. There were worries of a fight to break out between the two but 17 smiled, lightly jab Krillin’s cheek, linked Krillin’s hand with 18’s and took his seat.

 Master Roshi acted as a proud father as he orated the ceremony. He kept his opening speech brief as he wished Krillin and 18 well. There was light humor when Master Roshi asked if anyone felt Krillin and 18 shouldn’t marry. All eyes turned to Vegeta briefly before Master Roshi carried on with the vows.

 Watching Krillin and 18 say their vows reminded ChiChi of her and Goku at the wedding. If he were alive, he would’ve escorted her down the aisle as Krillin’s best man. If he were here, there wouldn’t be a Kenji and the unease he won’t leave her life so easily.

 After the vows and rings were exchanged, Master Roshi announced, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” Master Roshi grinned perversely. “Oh, you two didn’t kiss when I was around but you can’t hide from me now!”

 Blushing, Krillin rubbed his neck chuckling. “Nope. You got us there.”

 “All right, Old Man. Enjoy your only look.” 18 grabbed Krillin, dipped him and planted a kiss firmly on his lips to loud chuckles, whistles and applause. When Krillin stood upright, he was speechless with his tomato-colored face.

 After a group picture of the bride and groom with all the wedding guests, Bulma took pictures of the newly married couple on the beach while Gohan and Dende removed the seats and placed them against the house. Yamcha took over the music as DJ. A mixture of Pop, Rock and R&B boomed over the tiny island. ChiChi and Mrs. Briefs were in the kitchen arranging all the catered food. Kenji assisted them while Master Roshi prepared drinks as the bartender. Dr. Briefs and 17 kept an eye on Trunks and Goten chasing each other around the table of wedding gifts while Piccolo and Vegeta stood opposite sides of the room eyeing Kenji.  

 When the wedding reception was ready to start, everyone gathered in Master Roshi’s house to see Krillin and 18 cut the four-tier wedding cake and give a brief speech. Krillin and 18 stood together as all the adults except 18 and Piccolo held a glass of wine.

 “It’s crowded in here so 18 and I will make this speech quick. We want to thank everyone for coming, your gifts and helping out. ChiChi, thank you for making this beautiful dress for 18 and being such a good friend to her and so forgiving of me. Bulma, thank you for the food. We butted heads a few times but you’re a great friend. Master Roshi, Yamcha, thanks for the music and decorations and being a friend and the best father figure a guy could have. 17, I’ll do my best to take care of 18. Piccolo, we’ve been through a lot together and I’m glad to call you friend.” Krillin looked around the room with glistening tears. “There’s one more person I wish was here to make this day perfect but I know he’s smiling down on us.” Krillin raised a glass. “Goku, you’re the best. Without you, none of us would be in this room together. We all went from rivals and enemies to lifelong friends.” Krillin sniffed overwhelmed with emotion. He grasped 18’s hand as he needed her to help him get control of himself. “Shall we tell them? I can’t hold it back anymore.” 18 nodded. “You do it. I talked enough.”

 “You would put me on the spot,” 18 dryly scolded him. “Krillin and I have something to say. A few know but we wanted to wait until now.” 18 exhaled. Now she needed a moment to get control of herself. “I’m pregnant. Krillin and I are going to have a baby.”

 The announcement was met with cheers and applause.

 “Way to go, Krillin!” Yamcha cheered.

 “That’s my boy!” Master Roshi raised his glass.

 “Well, well,” 17 applauded slowly at the news. “So, this is a shotgun wedding.”

 “Shut up,” 18 jabbed her brother’s ribs.  

 “We really are family now. I’m gonna be an uncle. Cool.” He stepped closer and whispered. “You’ve been to a doctor? Is everything okay?”

 “So far, so good,” 18 sipped her cider. She placed her hand on her stomach, happy to no longer keep this a secret. “I’m four months. Also,” she whispered, “it’s a girl.”

 17 put an arm around 18 and gave her a quick hug. “Good. If it were a boy, I wouldn’t still be the most handsome one. A niece will always adore me.”

 “And the stolen things you will bring her?” 18 quipped.

 “Yep.” 17 sipped his wine. “I will be the best uncle.”

 After congratulations to Krillin and 18, the reception broke into two groups inside and outside. Vegeta stayed inside. He had food on several plates occupying the square table in front of the TV while everyone else preferred to party and eat outside. After Gohan fixed his plates, he went outside with Goten. This left ChiChi alone to fix her and Goten’s plates. Piccolo approached.  

 “What is this situation between you and Kenji?”

 ChiChi turned her head giving Piccolo a ‘not you, too’ look. “Let me guess. You heard me, Vegeta and Kenji talking.”

 “Ears like these don’t miss much and Kenji nearly got himself killed arguing with Vegeta. He’s causing a lot of trouble. Is he worth it?”

 ChiChi resumed fixing the plates. “I don’t even know him like that to make that assumption.”

 “But you’re curious?” Piccolo figured. “Even living with you and Goku, I don’t understand human emotions and needs but I’m guessing those are the needs you’re missing with Goku gone that you want to be fulfilled by Kenji.”

 ChiChi raised her head to meet Piccolo’s scrutinizing glare. “A guy notices me and everyone’s suddenly interested in me, my life and what I do with it.”

 “That’s the attention you get being Son’s wife. They’re all here because of him. You’re a fool if you think they wouldn’t say something.”

 “They?” ChiChi questioned. “You’re not including yourself?”

 “No. I only make observations.”

 “And?” ChiChi pried. “What do you observe?”

 “Kenji is showy and attention-seeking. He could’ve waited until after the wedding to talk to you but he chose this moment to bring attention to what you obviously tried to deal with privately. That’s a sign of things to come if you choose a relationship with him.”

 ChiChi lived with Piccolo merged with a Namek named Nail for three years and he wasn’t this philosophical. “Who’s speaking right now? Piccolo or Kami?”

 He didn’t answer. “You didn’t answer my question about what needs you’re missing and seeking from Kenji.”

 “I’m not missing those needs.”

 Piccolo sipped his water. “I find that surprising.”

 ChiChi’s eyes thinned as her ire rose at Piccolo’s implications. “And why is that?”

 “Well….” Piccolo’s green cheeks turned purple, “it wasn’t a rare thing between you and Son. I lived with you for three years. Do you know how many times I ripped my ears off when you and Son were mating? How many times I put on those headphones you gave me to drown your sounds out? If you do something that frequently and it suddenly stops……” Piccolo shuddered as the visual popped in his mind, “it’s a little hard to believe you don’t have needs to do that again if the opportunity presents itself.”

 One thing ChiChi knew she could count on from Piccolo is his blunt honesty. Even if the topic is uncomfortable, he speaks his mind. “With you and Vegeta, I know what it’s like to have overprotective brothers.”

 The dead face Piccolo gave her left ChiChi in giggles. “You didn’t have to insult me comparing me to Vegeta.”

 Amused, ChiChi left the house balancing her and Goten’s plates and her glass. “Here. Let me help you,” Kenji suddenly appeared. He took a couple of plates from ChiChi and pointed to her right. “The boys are over there.”

 Gohan and Goten sat together chair dancing to the music. ChiChi sat next to Goten. The seat next to her was empty. Gohan rose intending to take the empty seat but Kenji quickly sat down.

 “Do you need something, Gohan?” ChiChi noticed Gohan’s sudden rise.

 Gohan sat down. “No. I had to stretch my legs for a moment.”

 ChiChi handed Goten one of his plates. As she started to feed him, Goten grabbed a boneless chicken and popped it in his mouth, “I can do that, Momma.”

 With Goten feeding himself, ChiChi settled her plate on her lap and ate. Kenji sipped his margarita watching the fun on the beach. Yamcha played a fast pop song for Krillin and 18 and 17 and Bulma to dance to on the beach.

 “Do you dance?” Kenji asked. “If not, I can show you some moves.” He moved his body to the loud beats. “I can do fast and slow dances.”

 “I don’t think I will,” ChiChi declined. “I have to keep an eye on my sons.”

 “Bulma’s dancing,” Kenji pointed to Bulma and 17 dancing. “And she has a son. And she’s dancing without her man.” He leaned forward to whisper. “Do you really see me as  a scary big, bad wolf or is it you know if we share a dance, even you have to admit there’s chemistry between us?”

 “After all the commotion you caused when you arrive, I’d be crazy to dance with you.”

 Kenji took the rejection with a wry smile as he sipped more of his drink. “Maybe I was a bit strong coming here like this but I really wanted to talk to you. Could we at least do that?”

 “All right,” ChiChi thought if they did talk Kenji wouldn’t do anything drastic to get her attention again.

 Kenji was a patient man. ChiChi didn’t dance with him but danced with Goten, 17 and even Krillin in an upbeat dance. Gohan remained in his seat watching his mother and brother. Gohan didn’t do anything when ChiChi danced with 17 and Krillin but when Kenji stood, Gohan noticed. When Kenji went inside for another drink, Gohan relaxed. When Kenji walked on the beach, Gohan got up. He kept his distance but followed Kenji who talked to Yamcha, played with the music and danced with Bulma, 18 and Panchy. If Kenji moved near ChiChi, Gohan was suddenly at her side. Kenji respected the young man’s game so he kept his distance. ChiChi gave her word she will talk to him and he believed that. Not even Gohan could stop that.

 Three hours into the celebrations, the party was winding down. ChiChi and Mrs. Briefs began cleaning up and when Piccolo and Dende announced their intentions to leave, Bulma wanted to play one more wedding tradition.

 “Gather ‘round everyone!” Bulma announced. “It’s time for the bouquet toss. All single ladies step up!” ChiChi stepped out of the house holding a garbage bag. She was picking up the empty paper plates when Bulma snatched the bag out of her hands and pulled her on the beach. “That’s us.”

 “Bulma, this is ridiculous. Technically, I could play but I’m not and you have Vegeta!”

 “The bouquet toss is for unmarried women. That’s us. Come on, 18,” Bulma encouraged 18 who stood on the beach with her bouquet. “Loosen up, ChiChi.”

 “You know this is ridiculous.” Even 18 thought this was silly and if she knew Bulma, this was her way to get ChiChi to give Kenji some serious thought. 18 turned her back on everyone. She swung once and tossed her bouquet over her head.

 ChiChi and Bulma saw the bouquet come towards them. ChiChi didn’t reach for it but Bulma did. However, another hand reached forward and grabbed it. ChiChi and Bulma both were stunned when Vegeta caught the flowers.

 “Vegeta!” Bulma yelled. “Why did you do that?”

 The angry Saiyan Prince glared at Bulma. “What is this?”

 “Flowers.”

 “No!” he rudely thrust the flowers in her face. “What’s the meaning of you catching this? Didn’t you say unmarried women accept these?”

 “I did. I am unmarried.”

 “But you’re with me.” He tossed the flowers on the beach. “You don’t need this.”

 Bulma bent to take the flowers. “I don’t?”

 Vegeta snatched the flowers from her and flung them. This time Gohan caught it. “You had your fun and I held my bargain. We’re going home. Get the child, your parents and let’s go.”

 Bulma pulled back. “I’ll leave when I want and I don’t want to.”

 Vegeta stepped to her. His dark eyes bore into hers. “You’ll have to come home and when you do, I’ll be waiting.”

Vegeta flew off, surprising no one except Kenji. “Whoa! He can fly like you, Yamcha?”

 Bulma kept watching Vegeta fly off until she could no longer see him. That was enough. Bulma took out her capsule ship and tossed it on the beach. “Well, this was a lot of fun but it’s time to go home.”

 Piccolo and Dende were the first guests to leave. This was followed by Bulma and her family. Yamcha helped ChiChi with the food clean up while Kenji and 17 took down the decorations. Master Roshi watched TV and 18 relaxed on the sofa while Krillin rubbed her feet. After the house was cleaned and food put away, Yamcha waited in the air ship to take him and Kenji to West City. Kenji stood outside the ship waiting for ChiChi.

 She was, he knew, a woman true to her word.

 ChiChi settled her sons in her Dad’s airship before walking to Kenji. She knew they were watching. Goten didn’t care if she talked to Kenji but she noticed Gohan seemed trouble. He kept following him during the reception. Kenji leaned against the airship. His tie was loosened, a few buttons of his shirt were open and he looked at her as if she were the only girl in the world.

 Why did he have to look at her like that?

 “I gave you my word. I said I will talk.” ChiChi rehearsed this during the reception but it still wasn’t easy to say. “When I was younger waiting to marry Goku, I rejected every suitor because I was promised to Goku. I never considered anyone else. I was still thinking like that when you told me your feelings and that wasn’t fair to you because it’s not the same. I’m not promised to Goku anymore. Goku is dead and he’s not coming back,” her voice shook. “It’s been four years and I’m starting to think he’s not coming back. No signal. No message. No announcement. Nothing. When he died, that was it. It wasn’t like before. There’s no one to wait for.”

 Kenji resisted the urge to take ChiChi in his arms and hold her until she stopped crying. He wanted to do it but he did enough move making. He wanted ChiChi to make the move. If they were to have a relationship, he couldn’t do everything.

 ChiChi hadn’t meant to breakdown. She wanted to explain herself but when she thought of Goku and the reality he wasn’t coming back this time, she broke. “Sorry,” she apologized as she wiped her tears. “I’m kind of raw now. There are things I’m now realizing that I have to accept. There’s plenty I have to think about now that I didn’t before today.”

 “Did Vegeta say something?” Kenji didn’t listen in on their conversation but he felt it in his bones Vegeta has some cause for ChiChi breaking down. “You let me know and I’ll set him straight.”

 “No!” ChiChi protested. Why was this man trying to get himself killed? “Vegeta made some very good points and has given me a lot to think about. So, I need you to give me a real chance to think this time. I won’t keep you waiting long.”

 “Okay,” Kenji accepted. “I guess it’s really hard for a widow to think if she wants to date again. Even after four years. Honestly, it’s admirable you have this loyalty. I wouldn’t be a decent guy if I didn’t respect that. So, yeah, give it some real thought.” He enclosed one of her hands with his. “I can’t replace Goku. I can’t compete against the guy who gave his life for the world but I don’t think you should be alone. Goku’s life ended. Not yours and I’m a guy who likes to go after what I want. I don’t want to live with regrets in life. You shouldn’t either.”

 A smiled curved ChiChi’s face. “Funny. That’s how Goku saw life, too.”

 Kenji grinned as he stroke her hand. “I wouldn’t mind if I have more things in common with Goku.”

 ChiChi pulled her hand from Kenji’s. His innuendo was obvious. “I need to go home but I’ll call you.”

 “I’ll be waiting for it.” ChiChi walked away and feeling good about his situation, Kenji climbed in the air ship.

 As they flew off, Kenji looked out the window at ChiChi. ChiChi put him through more challenges than any woman he dated but he knew if he could win her heart, the hard work would be worth it.

 ****

 Bulma felt tension in the air when she entered her bedroom. Vegeta was annoyed with her which wasn’t new but this time Bulma didn’t understand what she did to piss him off. He leaned against the door arms crossed as if he was waiting for her.

 “You didn’t have to fly off like that.” Bulma scolded him as she removed her shoes. She picked them up and banged them against the wastebasket. She dumped her shoes before she left Master Roshi’s island but she still brought sand back. She glanced at Vegeta. He refused to talk. “Oooo, the silent treatment. That doesn’t work on me. Either say what your problem is or keep sulking.”

 “You need to mind your business.”

 “On?”

 “Didn’t Kakarrot stay dead because you told him he’s the cause of all the bad things happening on this planet? Now you’re in his wife’s ear telling her to date because she’s alone because of what you said to Kakarrot. Why are you constantly giving bad advice?”

 “Is that what you’re mad about?” Bulma thought it was her dancing with Kenji and 17. “Goku didn’t have to listen to me. He always does what he wants and ChiChi shouldn’t suffer because of it. Why should she stay single when someone wants her? She’s suffered enough. Let her have a happy life.”

 Bulma placed her shoes down and went to her vanity desk. She removed her necklace and bracelets.

 “You run your mouth too much.”

 There was more? Bulma unzipped her dress. “You have to be more specific.”

 “I don’t care if you tell Kakarrot’s wife about us but only her. No one else.”

 Bulma was still lost. “She’s the only person I talk to about us.”

 “She doesn’t seem like the type to gossip but that downgrade knew a lot about us.”

 “Kenji?” Bulma pushed down her dress. “He probably heard stuff I told Yamcha. We did talk regularly before I became friends with ChiChi.” There was that infamous scowl again. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault you still haven’t changed or whatever Kenji said got under your skin.”

 “Nothing got under my skin but since you’re with me, you will be wise to not parade yourself around other men or take part in activities for women unattached.”

 Other men? Activities? “Is this about me dancing with Kenji and 17?” Bulma laughed. “Kenji danced with 18, too, and Krillin didn’t mind. I didn’t think you were the jealous type and if you’re referring to the bouquet toss, we’re not married.”

 “It doesn’t matter. You’re still with me and I’m not jealous but I know your reputation around men.”

 All humor faded from Bulma’s face. Anger rose at the insinuation. “Excuse me?”

 Vegeta stepped to her. “You won’t make a fool of me as you did Yamcha.”

 Bulma turned away from him. “I’m free to dance with whomever I like.”

 Vegeta grabbed Bulma and turned her back to him. “Not as long as you’re with me.”

 “My, aren’t we possessive.” Vegeta stood eye to her and though sinfully close, Bulma appeared unaffected. “That’s rich coming from you. Sometimes it’s hard to decipher we’re in a relationship or you’re a parent. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we fuck but that’s it. We don’t do couple things and I’m the one raising Trunks. You just sit at the table and eat with him. That’s all the time you spend with Trunks. He just turned five and only thinks you’re his Dad because I told him! You could be spending time with him in that gravity room. You could be training him. I won’t stop you. When Goku introduced us to Gohan, he was four years old. Goku wanted to train Gohan but ChiChi wouldn’t let him. I’m not stopping you but you don’t do it!”

 All of what Bulma said is true. He hadn’t trained Trunks yet but he didn’t realize how much time had passed either. It felt as if it was yesterday Trunks was a baby and now he’s five. He felt Trunks Ki when he was a baby but his power level was low. It wasn’t high like his at his birth. Vegeta considered it a waste and not worth his time training Trunks. That changed when he met Trunks from the alternate future. Spending that year with Trunks gave Vegeta the possibility his son will reach that power but it wasn’t time to train him yet.

 “I’ll train Trunks when I think he’s ready but you have a misunderstanding of how this relationship works and how together we are.” Bulma jumped back as Vegeta turned into a Super Saiyan. “It’s time to change that.”

 ****

 Bulma had a dreamy smile on her face during lunch with ChiChi. All she could think about was her night with Vegeta. ChiChi noticed that faraway look on Bulma’s face and knew she wore the same face after certain nights with Goku. ChiChi glanced out the window to check on Gohan playing with Trunks and Goten. They had their lunch and will be busy for a while. This left plenty of time for Bulma and ChiChi to talk alone.

 “So,” ChiChi placed a plate of sandwiches on the table, “had a good night with Vegeta?”

 “That obvious?” Bulma grinned.

 ChiChi filled their glasses with iced lemon tea. “Weddings have an effect on people. Couples tend to recall their weddings and things happen.” ChiChi sat and reached for a sandwich. “I think that’s how Aki and his wife got pregnant with their third kid.”

 Bulma moaned into her sandwich as if she were having sex with it. “Sex with Vegeta is always good but last night,” Bulma fanned herself, “you won’t believe what we did.”

 ChiChi had an idea. “Sex was extra special.”

 Bulma thought that was a major understatement. She thought about keeping it a secret since she thought ChiChi never experienced it but in that same moment, decided she shouldn’t keep it all to herself. “We did it with Vegeta as a Super Saiyan.”

 It was as ChiChi thought. Every time and definitely the week leading to the Cell Game, ChiChi knew she had that same glow on her face.

 “I don’t mean to brag but it was amazing. If only you experienced that with Goku.”

 ChiChi drunk her tea. “I never said we didn’t have that experience, Bulma.”

 “But I know you didn’t or you would’ve told me about it.” Bulma was very confident about this. “You wouldn’t be holding out on me but let me tell you, ChiChi, Super Saiyan sex is great! The power, the intensity….” Bulma moaned loudly again. “You would have had the best orgasm.”

 That wasn’t a lie but ChiChi knew the downside of it, too. “And you will be in a lot of pain if your body isn’t prepared for it.” ChiChi suspected it the moment Bulma entered her home. “That is why you were an hour late to our lunch? Why you’re sitting so rigidly and hiding an obvious limp that has nothing to do with your lie you slipped on Trunks’ toys and fell halfway down your stairs this morning?”

 Bulma wasn’t smiling anymore. In fact, she was stunned for two reasons: ChiChi knew she was lying the moment she gave an excuse for her tardiness and stiff body and she and Goku had Super Saiyan sex. “You and Goku? Really? When?”

 “The first time was by accident,” ChiChi was honest. “It was the first night Goku and I were together after he returned from space.” ChiChi would never share Piccolo spying on them caused Goku to spontaneously change. She will take that to her grave. “My lower half was very sore but we haven’t been together in that way in a while. Goku can be very physical.”

Bulma nodded in mutual understanding. “I’m not surprised Goku’s the rough type. He has no restraint. When he saved me from bad guys on our adventures, he was heavy-handed. Believe it or not, Vegeta’s gentle.” If ChiChi was surprised, she didn’t show it. “The first time we were together, I thought I would have a broken bone but he was really gentle. I think he knew he had to show restraint since I’m not strong like everyone else. You keep in shape with martial arts and weights. Since I had Trunks, I run on the treadmill and watch what I eat.”

 “I had to do extra training to get back in shape for our intimacies,” ChiChi admitted. Like Bulma, ChiChi knew the struggles in keeping up with a Saiyan. “Goku was a lot stronger. It wasn’t like when we married but Goku had struggles, too.”

Bulma understood why ChiChi would have struggles but not Goku. “I don’t understand.”

 ChiChi knew this was a lot of sharing; more than she ever did with Bulma but she accepted Goku wasn’t coming back and it wouldn’t be wrong sharing knowledge of intimacies with a Saiyan with one who is going through what she went through and needed advice. “No one knows this but Goku wasn’t solely away because he was learning that teleportation trick. He also stayed away to get control of himself as a Super Saiyan. Goku spontaneously changed all the time. Thinking of his fight with Freeza; a random incident where he got angry or intimacy triggered it. On Yardrat, he was able to get control of incidents triggered by fighting.”

 “Ah,” Bulma got it, “but sex he didn’t because you weren’t there.”

 “Exactly.”

 Bulma thought of the day Goku returned. Vegeta pressed Goku why he was away for so long but Bulma really thought it was learning that teleportation technique. “Goku really has a knack for hiding things behind his smile. I never knew.” The more Bulma learned from ChiChi about Goku the more she realized she didn’t know him as well as she thought. For ChiChi to know this, it emphasized how special she was to Goku. “But you two did get control of it.”

 “Oh, yes. We couldn’t practice as much that first year because of Gohan. He always knew when Goku changed and would knock on our door asking if something is wrong.” Bulma nearly choked on her sandwich.  

 “It’s funny now but it wasn’t then.” ChiChi laughed with Bulma. “A few times we got away with it.”

 Bulma gasped as she suddenly recalled something. “Trunks told me Goku and Gohan controlled being a Super Saiyan all the time before the Cell Game. I can’t believe I never thought of it but did you and he…..?”

 “Yes,” ChiChi confirmed with a sly smile.

 Bulma squealed, “Everyday?!!”

 “There was one day we didn’t leave the bedroom.”

 “Wow.” These tidbits ChiChi shared about her and Goku were gold! “Who would’ve thought Goku….” Well, Bulma had some idea when she fantasized about Goku but thinking of Goku and ChiChi like that was mind-blowing for her. “And you weren’t sore? Not even after all those days?”

 “I was used to it then.”

 If ChiChi can get used to it, Bulma knew she could, too. “Soooo,” Bulma ran her finger over the rim of her glass, “got any advice for someone who’s now venturing into that territory?”

 It would help if Bulma took up martial arts or some strengthening exercises but there were ways to work around that. “You said Vegeta is gentle with you. He must be the same as a Super Saiyan. He’s doing his part. You have to do yours.”

 This was one of the many things Bulma treasured with her growing friendship with ChiChi. They could talk with each other about things no other woman could understand. Not even ChiChi’s friend from her village could grasp what ChiChi went through being with a Saiyan. Bulma felt that gave her an advantage.

 “I’ll show you some techniques to strengthen your legs and hips,” ChiChi advised, “and we’ll work up to your upper body strength depending on what moves you and Vegeta do.”

 Bulma agreed with the plan and with her issues settled, Bulma wanted to talk about ChiChi’s. “Now that we have a solution to my problem. Let’s work on yours. Kenji. I had to leave because Vegeta was being an ass but what happened between you and Kenji?”

 ChiChi realized Bulma was unaware Vegeta talked to her. There was a chance Kenji mentions it to Yamcha who will tell Bulma but for now, ChiChi decided to keep her talk with Vegeta between them. “I told Kenji I need time.”

 “Still?! Come on, ChiChi. How long will you keep him waiting?!”

 There were a lot of reasons but Bulma wouldn’t understand. “I still held hope Goku will return. I didn’t think he would be away this long. I think I’m ready to accept I am on my own and I have to decide what’s best for myself and our children.”

 “I know I don’t show it but I understand your loyalty to Goku. Hell, I was ready to fight the Red Ribbon Army for him but Goku made his decision to stay dead without consulting you and that was selfish. He could’ve talked to you like he talked to Gohan but he didn’t. He didn’t give you the chance to say goodbye or talk him out of his crazy decision.”

 It was hurtful Goku didn’t talk to her but ChiChi held on to some idealistic hope Goku had his reason to not do it. If he could’ve, he would. That was her belief.

 But Bulma saw things differently. “It would be a waste to not give Kenji or any guy a chance. You shouldn’t bind yourself to one guy if he refused to come back to life when he had the chance. Stop thinking of yourself as Goku’s wife and the mother of his kids and think of yourself as Son ChiChi, widow free to make choices in her life.”

 ****

 “I know it’s strange I asked you here but I think you will tell me the truth.”

 Kaifun sat with ChiChi at her kitchen table perusing her wedding album. “I don’t think it’s strange. We were friends before you married Goku. It’s been rough for us since then. I have my family and you have yours but you know I’ll always come when you need me.”

 ChiChi was grateful for that. Things were strained between them since she married Goku but after Kaifun married and had a family, things changed. The only times they saw each other were during ChiChi’s visits to her father’s village. Gohan gave Kaifun suspicious looks when he said hello but Kaifun was always friendly and respectful.

 Gohan, Goten and Leska were exploring Mount Paozu. When Leska visit, they always went exploring and were gone for hours. ChiChi was grateful the house was empty or Gohan would not be happy seeing Kaifun at the kitchen table. She called Kaifun for more insight into how she acted years ago. After she spoke to her father, she needed to talk to Kaifun.  

 A week after the wedding, ChiChi received a bouquet of pink roses, lavender carnations, daisy and button poms with a card reading, ‘Thinking of you.’ The following day she received a bouquet of more pink roses, lilies, larkspurs and a snapdragons with the card reading, ‘You’re on my mind.’ Two days later, ChiChi received two dozen multicolored roses in colors of red, yellow, pink, purple, and orange. The card read. ‘You were my first thought this morning.’

 When her father visited, ChiChi dread receiving two dozen kaleidoscope roses and two dozen bouquet of red roses and calla lilies. The delivery man placed both vases on the kitchen table under her father’s curious eyes. She grabbed the card poking from the kaleidoscope roses before Gyu-Mao had a chance to see it. ‘Going on the road for the next five games but I’ll still think of you. P.S. I’m waiting but I hope we can talk when I get back.’

 “When I saw the other flowers, I thought Gohan and Goten picked them for you.” Gyu-Mao inhaled the kaleidoscope flowers. “But it’s not them. Whose sending you flowers?”

 Her father was unaware of Kenji’s pursuit of her. Now he knew there was someone she kept from him, he’ll ask questions until he got the truth. “A man.”

 “A man?” Gyu-Mao’s voice rose. “You’re dating? Why haven’t you told me about him? Who is he?”

 These questions were exactly why she didn’t want to tell her father about Kenji. She was over thirty. Not a teenager. “I’m not dating but I met Kenji a few weeks ago attending a baseball game Yamcha played in. He’s Yamcha’s teammate and I did some work for him.”

 “Work?” Gyu-Mao’s eyebrows rose. “What skills do you have?”

 ChiChi brushed off the slight insult. She had skills and could’ve had more if not for her father limiting her. “I helped him cook and shop for food. He paid me very well. One day he surprised us with a trip to an amusement park in South City. That’s when he told me his feelings.”

 “So, that’s how you got that new refrigerator and the brakes for the truck without my money.” ChiChi nodded. “You’re not working for him anymore?” ChiChi shook her head. “So, he’s sending flowers because he wants you?”

 “Yes. He’s on the road now and when he returns, I think he wants an answer.”

 “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, ChiChi, but I think you should date him. If possible, marry him.”

 Marry? ChiChi suspected an approval to dating after he checked out Kenji but never marriage. “You never met him and you’re thinking about marriage for us?”

 “Your sons need a man in the house. I’m just grandpa and I’m doing all I can but it’s not the same as having a father, especially for Goten. Kenji is a baseball player. That means he has enough money to provide for you. Goku’s a great person but he wasn’t good at bringing money in the house. Even when he worked, you were struggling to make ends meet. Kenji has a career where you don’t have to worry about that or him dying.”

 “So, you want me to marry Kenji because he’s rich and can be a father to my sons?” It was offensive. ChiChi felt her father wanted her to be a gold digger. “Do you think I would marry someone for those reasons? What about love?”

 “Love is nice but you don’t need that to be cared for.” Gyu-Mao was blunt. “And I hate to say this but look at what love has done for you. It made you a widow and mother of two before you turned 30. Do you think this is the life I wanted for you? I never wanted you to be a widow like me. My sins robbed you of your childhood and because of me, I caused you to meet Goku.”

 Her father had concerns but was always supportive of her marriage to Goku. The first five years he treated Goku like a son. Things were strained after Goku’s return from Yardrat. He wanted her to move back in with him but after Goku’s death, Gyu-Mao expressed guilt for how he acted towards Goku. Since then, Gyu-Mao spoke of Goku with the highest respect. Now he spoke with regret. “Are you saying I shouldn’t have married Goku?”

 “I will never say that because I have two wonderful grandsons but I do share blame for your pain, ChiChi.  Because of me, you met Goku. You endured so much in your youth because of him. The past can’t be changed but you can’t be foolish about this opportunity. You have two sons who need you to provide for them. If you can’t love Kenji, make it can be a marriage of convenience. I know you’ll be a good wife and you’re still young enough to give him a baby. In time, maybe you can love him and have the life you should’ve had.”

 First, it was a Bulma and 18 and now her father was on board, too. Maybe they were right and she was wrong staying faithful to Goku. They were so young and innocent when they married. She was so young and innocent. She waited for years to marry Goku and though she was happy with him it didn’t turn out how she thought. She did her job as homemaker but Goku didn’t pull his full weight as head of the household. Everything was always on her. She dictated what jobs Goku can do to bring in money. He never initiated work on his own. ChiChi knew that was her fault. Their first fight was over Goku not doing his duties as a husband. It caused words to be said that had Goku living outside their home for days. ChiChi was so scared Goku wanted to end the marriage, she caved and put more on herself.

 “You trust me that much, Goku?”

 “Hmm?”

 “You don’t mind having a limited education. You know you will be looked at differently. You know you will be called names and you want me to be okay with this. One of us will have to be the adult. So are you saying you trust me to make family decisions for us? Do you trust me to control the finances and all the adult stuff?”

 Goku’s face broke into a brilliant smile. He knew ChiChi would get it! “I trust you with my body, ChiChi. Every time we’re intimate, I’m vulnerable and you never hurt me. If I can trust you with my body, I can trust you with anything.”

 Then she was a young and eager wife desperate to impress her husband. She was afraid the concerns others had of her marriage to Goku had merit. If she was wiser and stronger, she would’ve said no to Goku and risk the consequences. If she had, she wouldn’t be filled with doubts on what she and Goku had. Maybe they would’ve had Gohan and Goten. Maybe they would’ve went their separate ways before Gohan and she married someone like Kaifun or dated and met someone like Kenji. Maybe she would have more than two kids and a husband with a job that didn’t put his life at risk and financial security. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

 “Maybe I was wrong then. I was so young and idealistic. Maybe you, Dad and even Mrs. Niver were telling the truth but I was too stubborn to listen.”

 That was an admission Kaifun never thought ChiChi would say. “If you think Grandma was right, you really are jaded.”

 Jaded or seeing the truth. ChiChi didn’t know anymore. “Things are different now. I’m not that innocent teenager who had the world ahead of her. My eyes have been opened to a lot of things.”

 Kaifun’s eyes were opened, too. Years of jealousy and anger were wasted because of his feelings towards ChiChi. “Yeah, but we were all wrong. You were naïve but Grandma and I didn’t want you to marry Goku for our own selfish reasons. I can’t say you shouldn’t have married Goku but maybe Goku’s death was a blessing. Maybe his death set you free to find the right person for you. It wasn’t us. Maybe it’s Kenji or some other guy. Coming from someone who wanted to marry you, I don’t think you should be spending your nights alone if you can change that.”

 ****

 After the evening dishes were washed and kitchen cleaned, ChiChi joined her children in the living room. Gohan sat on the sofa reading while Goten played with his flashcards. She will give Kenji an answer but she couldn’t decide without discussing this with the two people she loved more than anything.

 “Boys, I want to talk to you.” ChiChi picked up Goten and settled him on her lap. Gohan closed his book and gave ChiChi his attention. “How do you feel about Mr. Kenji?”

 “He’s nice,” Goten confessed. “I like the toys he bought me.”

 “He’s okay,” Gohan didn’t sound as enthused as Goten. “I don’t know why he came to Krillin and 18’s wedding. He’s Yamcha friend. Not theirs.”

 ChiChi felt that was cold for Gohan to say. “He came to see me, Gohan. When we last saw each other, Mr. Kenji told me he wants to date me. He waited for my answer but since I didn’t give him one, he came to the wedding.”

 “What’s date?” Goten asked.

 “Date is when two people spend time alone together to get to know each other. They do fun things like see a movie, eat---”

 “Amusement park?” Goten asked with shiny eyes.

 “Yes, that, too, Goten.” Kenji really made an impression on Goten taking him to the park. “Mr. Kenji wants to date me and I want to know how you feel about that?”

 Again, Goten answered first. “If you want to, Momma. I like Mr. Kenji. Do you like him, Momma?”

 Only her son would ask a bold question so innocently. “I think Mr. Kenji is kind. Gohan, what do you think?”

 “There’s a lot about him we don’t know.”

 “If I date him, Gohan, I will have a chance to find out.”

 “So, does that mean you like him?”

 When Goten asked that question, it was innocent. Coming from Gohan, ChiChi felt she was being interrogated. “I think Mr. Kenji is a nice man I should try to get to know.”

 “You’re not answering my and Goten’s question, Mom.” Gohan pressed, “Do you like him?”

 ChiChi skirted from answering the question. “I am flattered Kenji has feelings for me and I would like to spend time with him to see if I can develop those same feelings but only if you two are okay with it. Ever since Krillin and 18’s wedding, you seem bothered with Kenji. Do you have a problem with him?”

 “I’m okay,” Goten gave his blessing.

 That meant he was standing in the way of his mother dating. Gohan wanted to say no but felt he’d get in trouble if he said that. Besides, his mother did say she needed to spend time with Kenji to see if she can develop feelings. Maybe she needed to go on a date to understand she felt nothing. “I don’t like he crashed the wedding but I guess you have to date him to see if you like him.”

 ChiChi accepted that was as close she will get of approval from Gohan. That night, while her sons slept, ChiChi called Kenji. His baseball game was over two hours ago. ChiChi thought Kenji will be home but she got his voice mail. “Hi, Kenji. It’s ChiChi. Give me a call when you can. Bye.” As soon as ChiChi hung up the phone, it rang. “Hello?”

 “Hi. Sorry I missed you. I’m having dinner with some of the guys. I had to rush out to take this call.”

 “I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner.”

 “No, no. It’s cool. I was getting ready to leave anyway. How have you been?”

 “I’m well. I got the flowers. They’re beautiful though you said you will let me make my choice.”

 Kenji laughed. “I thought a little incentive couldn’t hurt. Did it?”

 “It was nice. Thank you.” ChiChi didn’t want to drag the conversation with small talk. She wanted to focus of the topic of this call. “I will go on a date but I’m not having sex on the first date. I won’t kiss on the first date. I don’t dress half-naked on dates. I’m not aware of the latest songs and dances so no clubs and I expect to be home by 10.”

 There was a long pause from Kenji. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting you to do any of that. Ten is early but I can accommodate. I know this is big for you so we have to take it slow. I have two more games and then I’m off Wednesday. Remember that farm you told me about? We can pick fruit and talk. The place closes at 6pm so I can definitely have you home by 10.”

 Fruit pricking. That was not what ChiChi expected for a first date. It sounded relaxing and very stress free. She didn’t have to worry about hair and makeup or what to wear. “Fruit picking. Sounds like fun.”

 ****

 Gohan looked out the window for the eighth time. ChiChi left with Kenji at 11am. Gohan knew the place closed at 6pm. It was 7pm. Where was she? Why wasn’t she home? Did they spend seven hours picking fruit?

 “Gohan, help me and Goten finish this puzzle,” Gyu-Mao called Gohan away from the window. “We’re almost done.”

 Gohan loved Grandpa but he didn’t like Mom called Grandpa to babysit him and Goten. He was thirteen! He saved the world at nine years old. He was left on his own for six months at four years old. That should excuse him from needing a babysitter.

 With one last glance, Gohan stepped away from the window. “Are you worried about ChiChi, Gohan?”

“It’s been eight hours. Do dates last that long?”

 Gyu-Mao pressed two puzzles together. “Some dates do if you’re having a good time but that farm is over an hour from here.”

 Gohan sat and grabbed a handful of puzzle pieces. “They can’t be picking fruit for six hours.”

 “No,” Gyu-Mao agreed. “Perhaps they did something else.”

 Something else? What else could they be doing? “Like what, Grandpa?”

 “We’ll have to wait and see.” Gyu-Mao unmatched two pieces Goten tried to force together. “ChiChi’s having a good time. Let her enjoy herself, Gohan. If she plays her cards right, it will be great for you and Goten.”

 “Me?” Goten jumped in the conversation. “How is Momma dating Kenji good for me?”

 “Kenji could be your new Daddy.”

 Goten’s eyebrows wrinkled, “But I have a Daddy. He’s dead.”

 “I know and we will never forget Goku but with Kenji, you’ll have a living Daddy and he will play and do all kinds of fun things with you; the same things Goku did with Gohan.”

 “No, he won’t!” Gohan jumped from his seat. “Kenji can never replace Dad and he can’t do the same things Dad did!”

 Gyu-Mao respected Gohan’s defensiveness of Goku but thought he was blinded by that love for his father. “Kenji can be a fine man for you and Goten to admire. He’ll take real good care of all of you.”

 Gohan ignored Gyu-Mao when he heard the sounds of a vehicle. He looked out the window and saw Kenji’s air ship descending. Finally, they were back. Kenji stepped out first and ran to the other side to open the door for ChiChi. When she stepped out, she was laughing.

That’s not what Gohan wanted to see.

 Kenji opened the ramp for the back of the ship. He pulled out a bushel of strawberries. ChiChi didn’t hold anything as she walked to the house but Gohan saw Kenji staring at her backside as he followed behind her.

 “Momma!” Goten jumped from Gyu-Mao’s lap and ran to ChiChi.

 “Ah, Goten!” ChiChi picked up her son and kissed his cheek. “Did you have fun with Grandpa?”

 “We’re working on a puzzle.”

 “A puzzle?” ChiChi noticed a half-finished puzzle on her coffee table. “Hi, Dad.”

 “Hi!” Kenji grinned as he stepped in. He placed the strawberry bushel on the kitchen table. “We picked a lot of fruit.”

 ChiChi put an arm around Gohan for a quick hug. “Gohan, there are bushels of peaches, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers and another bushel of strawberries in Kenji’s ship. Could you help him bring them in?”

 Wordlessly, Gohan followed Kenji to his ship. “Your Mom picked a lot.” Kenji handed Gohan a bushel of tomatoes. He picked up the peaches. “She said you and Goten eat a lot but honestly it looks like your Mom got enough food to feed an army of fifty men. You two must take after your Grandpa.”

 “We take after Dad. He ate a lot,” Gohan noticed Kenji only holding a bushel of peaches. His Dad could carry more. “I can take those, too,” Gohan offered.

 Kenji looked at the bushel of peaches he held and at the bushel in Gohan’s hand. “It’s heavy to take on both---”

 “I can carry them.”

 “Uh….oh…. kay,” Kenji handed Gohan the other crate. To his surprise, Gohan held them both with ease. Kenji grabbed the blackberries and followed after Gohan.

 They took turns bringing the rest of food in. Gohan was insistent in carrying all the heavy bushels. Kenji thought it was strange. Gohan’s 13 but a slender boy who looked stronger than he appeared. After all the food was brought in, ChiChi went outside with Kenji. Gohan watched from the window. ChiChi and Kenji talked, shared a laugh and then the worst thing happened. Kenji took ChiChi’s hand and kissed it. She didn’t pull away and slap him. She waved goodbye and after Kenji flew off stared at her hand.  

 “So, how was it?” Gyu-Mao asked when ChiChi returned. “What were you doing all this time?”

ChiChi was back in Mom mode picking up the empty plates left in the living room from her sons and Dad and carried them in the kitchen. “We spent a few hours picking all this food. We were on our way back when we ran into a massive traffic accident. All the lanes were blocked so after an hour, Kenji got off at the exit and drove to a restaurant where we ate and talked until the roads cleared.”

 Goten stood in a chair examining the bushels of fruits and vegetables. “Is Mr. Kenji gonna be my new Daddy?”

 “What?!” ChiChi gasped. “Who told you that?”

 “Grandpa.”

 “Dad!” ChiChi screamed. “Don’t say that to Goten! It was one date!”

 “That looks like it could be more. I’m being positive.”

 “You’re being ridiculous and too eager to marry me off… again! Stop it!”

 Gohan smiled. This was positive. Maybe he was wrong about his mother liking Kenji to go on a second date.

 “Okay,” Gyu-Mao backed down. “I won’t talk about marriage but will there be a second date?”

 ChiChi turned on the water from the kitchen sink. “I guess.”

 “You guess?”

 “It was a nice outing, Dad, but Kenji doesn’t just wanna do things with me. He wants to include Gohan and Goten, too. I agreed the next time we go out, we’ll include them.”

 “Can we go to South City?” Goten jubilantly asked.

 Gohan rolled his eyes. There will be a second date. Gohan didn’t like this at all.

 ****

  “You’re sure it’s safe?”

 “I’ve brought Goten here many times and he loves it.” Gohan laughed, “I can’t believe you’re scared.”

 “Because I’ve never played with a baby dinosaur before. I told you I’m a city girl.”

 For Gohan, city girl meant Leska didn’t live here and wasn’t staying. As summer break wind down, Leska prepared to return home and resume her school life. Leska visited Mount Paozu once a week where Gohan showed her the forests and animals. Gohan talked to her on the phone two times a week for an hour after his lessons were completed. When Leska visit, Goten always accompanied them but this time, Leska’s last visit, ChiChi allowed the two kids to spend time alone.

 In this part of Mount Paozu, the dinosaurs were friendly. Leska sat near a nest petting the baby dinosaur with the parent dinosaurs looking on. Gohan handed Leska a bowl of apples. “He’s still young so give him two apples at a time.”

 Leska held two apples to the baby dinosaur. She yelped when the dinosaur stuck out his tongue and pulled the apples in his mouth. “Eww,” she laughed at the dinosaur drool on her hand.

 “See? It’s not so bad.”

 Leska grabbed two more apples. “I guess not.” She held out the apples to the dinosaur. “When I go back, I’ll have a lot to tell my friends.”

 Gohan wished she hadn’t said that. He didn’t want to acknowledge this is Leska’s last visit. The teen made a normal summer exciting. Last summer, he spent it studying and playing with his brother with visits to Piccolo. This summer, he visited Piccolo once and spent his free time with Leska. She was the only person he shared his true feelings on his mother dating Kenji. He tried with Piccolo but the Namekian didn’t understand human emotions like that.

 “So, how serious are your Mom and Kenji?” Leska asked. “They’ve gone on a few dates, right?”

 Gohan wasn’t sure if what his Mom and Kenji have been doing lately could be considered dates. “After the first date, Goten and I went on the next three dates. We went to South City again. Goten loved that.” Gohan rolled his eyes. “We went on a hike and a picnic. We went to East City together and spent time at a zoo and a new science museum I wanted to see. After that, Mom and Kenji had another date alone. He took her to a film festival.”

 “Ah,” Leska understood. “I wonder if he’s including you and Goten to impress you. If he wins you two, he wins your Mom over.”

 Gohan snorted. Kenji will never win him over. “I like going to the museum and the hike but it doesn’t change my feelings about him.”

 Leska handed the dinosaur the last apples. After he licked the apples from her hand, Leska wiped the dinosaur drool on her shirt. “I bet it scored points with your Mom.”

 ChiChi was happy and Gohan hated to see that. He wanted his Mom happy but not when it included Kenji. After the feeding, Gohan and Leska decided to leave the dinosaur family alone. The two teens said goodbye and left the cave. Outside the cave, Gohan grabbed the fish he caught for his family earlier and walked home with Leska.  

 “I do have some good news. Kenji hasn’t seen Mom in a month. He said the Taitans are focused on the upcoming playoffs and want to be the number seed.” Gohan didn’t understand that at all. “Whatever that means.”

 Leska knew what that meant. “Taitans are really good this year. They have a chance at beating Central City in the championship so they had to win the last month of regular season games to hold the number one seed and control hosting most of the games in the playoffs which starts next week.” All of what she said went over Gohan’s head. “You really need to follow baseball, Gohan, but that’s why Kenji can’t come for dates. West City is hours from here in the fastest airship. Coming here to pick up your Mom, go on a date and bring her home is a lot of hours. It’s not enough time to rest or practice.”

 Gohan didn’t care. All he understood, Kenji hasn’t seen his Mom in a month. “I read baseball playoffs and the championship can go on for a month so that means Kenji may not see Mom for two months.”

 Leska sympathized but thought Gohan’s missing the bigger picture. “Have they kept in contact since their last date?”

“Well…. Kenji and Mom talk on the phone.” His shoulders slumped. “Three times a week. Last night they were watching a movie together over the phone.”

 “So, your Mom and Kenji are still getting along?”

 Gohan didn’t want to admit that but it was true. “Yeah. Grandpa really likes it. He told Goten Kenji could be our new Dad.”

 “Ouch,” Leska winced.

 “Mom was mad at Grandpa about that.”

 Leska saw that as beneficial for Gohan. “If your Mom didn’t like that, then tell her how you really feel about Kenji. Stop this before it gets serious.”

 “Everyone will be mad at me if I say anything. They’ll think I don’t want Mom happy. They’ll keep bringing up how Dad’s not coming back and….” Gohan sighed frustrated. “I hate it.”

 “What will if you do if she marries him?”

 Gohan shrugged. “I hope it doesn’t happen.”

 “If she marries him, there will be a lot of changes. You’ll move to West City.”

 Gohan stopped walking. “Why would we leave Mount Paozu?”

 “Gohan, Kenji’s a baseball player in West City. Your Mom will have to move to where her husband works.”

 Gohan hadn’t thought about that. He didn’t want to move to West City. He wanted to stay here!

 “Forget home school,” Leska kept talking. “You may go to a public or private school and your last name will change.”

 “Why would my last name change?” Gohan got defensive. “My last name is Son! It’s my Dad’s name!”

 “If your Mom marries Kenji, she will take his last name, like she took your Dad’s when she married him, and if Kenji adopts you and Goten, you will take his last name, too.”

 “No, I won’t!!” Gohan suddenly flared into a Super Saiyan. “I won’t take his name! I won’t move to West City!”

 “Whoa!” Leska stepped back. “I’m just warning you what to be prepared for if your Mom and Kenji marry.” Gohan showed Leska what he looked like as a Super Saiyan. She was in awe in a cool way. Now she was in awe slightly fearful. Despite that, she stepped forward and pulled his hair. “This is why you should talk to your Mom. It’s really bothering you and you’re creeping me out.”

 Gohan depowered. He hadn’t meant to lose it like that. “Sorry. I just don’t like what you said. I don’t want to talk about Mom and Kenji anymore.”

 After Gohan’s outburst, Leska didn’t want to either. “Not the way I thought our last day together would go.” She looked around at the peaceful forest. “I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss you. It was fun.”

 “Will you be back next summer?” Gohan asked hopefully.

 Leska shook her head. “My cousins will be spending next summer with me.”

 That meant no. “Well, what about the year after that?”

 Leska shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll be a junior then and I’ll be preparing for college. I might have a summer job or an internship.”

 Another no. Gohan thought of flying to her city but he didn’t want to get in the way of her life there. As lenient Mom has been letting him be friends with Leska, he knew she wouldn’t approve of him visiting her. They couldn’t talk on the phone. Long distance charges will be expensive. “Can I write you?”

 Gohan thought Leska would say yes to that but she looked pensive. What was wrong Gohan wondered. “We shouldn’t get our hopes up on seeing each other again. You’re a sweet kid, Gohan. I thought it would be boring here but you made my time here fun.”

 “You made this summer fun for me, too. I…..” Gohan felt his face warming up, “I really like you and I want to keep in touch.”

 Leska didn’t smile like Gohan hoped. She didn’t look sad but she looked troubled. “I’m glad, but,” she sighed again. “I know what you mean about liking me, but Gohan, you’re thirteen and I’m fifteen. It’s only two years but it’s a big two years and I…. I don’t feel that way for you. You’re a friend to me and when I go back home, I’m gonna resume school. I’ll like a boy the way you like me. I’m sorry…. but if I let you write me I think I will be leading you on and getting your hopes up.” Gohan lowered his head to hide his disappointment and Leska hated herself for hurting Gohan. He was a really sweet kid. “You’ll find another girl to like,” she tried to be positive, “and talk to. She may be in your Grandpa’s village or she might be there when you go to high school.”

 Gohan nodded. “I…. I understand.” He forced a smile, hiding his disappointment.

 “It’s been a crazy summer,” Leska mused. “I am sorry about my cousin. Because of her, we couldn’t hang out at Aunt Reia’s place and she stole your first kiss.”

 Gohan actually laughed. He felt bad he wouldn’t see Leska anymore but thinking of Kala and what she did make him laugh. “I can’t believe she did that.”

 Leska giggled feeling the tension between them ease. “I’m glad you can laugh at it. It was funny.”

 What could he do? Laugh or get mad at an eight-year-old?

 Leska stared at Gohan, thinking. She probably shouldn’t but something inside her told her she needed to do this. She pried the fish from Gohan’s hand. It fell on the grass. Gohan looked at her confused as Leska took a brave step forward. “Promise me something. When you talk about your first kiss, don’t bring up my cousin. Tell everyone it was this.”

 Gohan’s eyes were wide as dinner plates as Leska placed her hand on his shoulders. His heart thumped wildly in his ribcage as she moved closer. His eyes were still open when she pressed her mouth against his. Gohan thought about this with Leska but never imagined it would happen. He stood rigid as his eyes droop close and soaked in the moment. His body felt warm and tingled with an odd but pleasing sensation. His nose was filled with Leska’s pleasant flowery scent. His heart skipped a beat feeling Leska’s chest brushed against his as she got closer. His eyes flew open as he felt something soft brushing against his closed lips. Gohan wasn’t sure what that was but it definitely sent a strong sensation down his stomach. All too quickly, Leska pulled away.

 Gohan’s entire face was pink like beets and his breathing came in ragged breaths. Smirking and not breathless, Leska pointed to the fish. “Let’s go.”

 Gohan picked up the fish and followed Leska. He didn’t speak but stole glances at the teen, smiling and touching his stinging lips. His first kiss. His first real kiss.

 ****

 In the kitchen, Aki and ChiChi waited for Gohan and Leska to return. “Reia told me the King and one of Goku’s friends have encouraged you to date this guy. I also talked to Kaifun. I honestly don’t know why you talked to him and not me but is this what you want?”

 ChiChi poured her chopped vegetables into a steamer. “Are you saying this isn’t my own decision?”

 “No,” Aki picked up the annoyance in ChiChi’s tone. “I know how much you love Goku and how crushed you were when he died. I also know other people have been encouraging you to date because you are alone and have two kids. I just wanna know if you want this or if too many people aren’t minding their business and getting in your head.”

 It was a little of both. “I wouldn’t be a good mother if I didn’t make sure my children are cared for and have everything they need.”

Aki sighed sensing this was ChiChi’s reason for dating Kenji. “You know me and Reia will help you with anything.”

 ChiChi appreciated Aki’s help but he couldn’t give her everything she needed. “I know you were close to Goku and you want to help but there are some things you can’t help me with. I have to do this.”

 “How do you feel about this guy?” Aki wanted the truth. “Any spark on your dates? Any feelings for him?”

 “He’s a kind man. He’s very good to Gohan and Goten and sparks aren’t always immediate. Sometimes feelings take time to develop.”

 In other words, ChiChi felt nothing romantic for this guy. “With me and Reia, it was instant. You and Goku were instant. You couldn’t stop talking about him.”

 “It wasn’t instant for me and Goku. I felt the attraction but not Goku.”

 “Oh, really?” Aki saw through that lie. “First time I met Goku, he came down for breakfast. You kissed him and he groped your breast. If that’s not sparks and attraction, then tell me what is.”

 ChiChi didn’t want to acknowledge that moment. “I meant when I was a kid. I didn’t know anything then.”

 “The kid I knew was a very determined person who knew what she wanted. She didn’t let anyone deter her from marrying Goku. She heard the whispers, the concerns Goku wouldn’t marry her; forgot her; but she knew better than everyone else. Where is she now?”

 She was still here but wiser and filled with doubts. “That girl married Goku and had him die on her twice. That girl has to raise her sons alone. That girl grew up. That girl is trying to do what’s best for her sons.”

 “That girl has too many people in her head.” Aki didn’t hold back his opinion. “But she has a friend in me. Goku was my friend, too. He was like a little brother to me but you’re my princess. Whatever you want, I support as long it’s what you want and I don’t think you want this.”

 “It is,” she told him but both knew she was lying.

 ChiChi heard her door opening and stepped away. As she composed herself, Aki talked to the kids. “There you two are. Did you have fun saying goodbye?”

 “How do you have fun saying goodbye, Uncle?” Leska retorted.

“What did you do?”

 “We just talked while Gohan got a fish and we fed dinosaurs.”

 As Leska spoke, ChiChi noticed Gohan. His face was flushed. Leska chattered about Gohan catching a fish and the dinosaur they fed as if nothing else happened but ChiChi suspected something did. ChiChi scanned both children. Clothes weren’t rumpled so they didn’t do that. ChiChi knew of Gohan’s crush but always felt Leska didn’t share those feelings. A fifteen-year-old girl wouldn’t be interested in a thirteen-year-old like that. That’s what ChiChi told herself but she wasn’t sure now.

 Leska politely bowed before ChiChi thanking her for her hospitality. When Leska said bye to Gohan, his blush deepened. That confirmed it for ChiChi. Something happened and she had an idea what did.

 Voice changing. Height. Now kissing girls. Gohan’s growing up so fast. ChiChi didn’t think it was time to have that talk but she knew she had to keep a closer eye on Gohan when it came to girls from now on. Puberty and discovery was growing in Gohan and that was something that couldn’t suppress no matter how much she wanted to. As much as she wanted Gohan to stay her little boy, he was growing into a man and there was nothing to stop it.  

 That didn’t mean she couldn’t put fear in her son on what she will and won’t tolerate.

 “Gohan,” ChiChi pulled a bowl from the cabinet. Gohan stared at Leska and Aki driving off. “Gohan!” ChiChi raised her voice. This time Gohan jumped and turned to her.

 “Yes, Mom.”

 “Wash your hands and let me show you how to prepare the seasoning for the fish. I still have to finish the rest of dinner and I can’t do it.”

 Gohan pointed to himself. “You want me to help?”

 ChiChi opened a large spiral notebook. It held all her handwritten recipes. Since marrying Goku, ChiChi created her own recipes with the proper size portions to create enough food to feed her Saiyan family. “You’re thirteen. I think it’s time you help out more.”

 Gohan washed his hands. In the past, ChiChi forbid his help in the kitchen even though he did it sometimes. Her book was numbered and labeled which made it easier for Gohan to find the section on preparing fish. Reading the instructions, Gohan pulled the proper spices from ChiChi’s spice rack.

 As he properly measured each season, ChiChi talked to him. “Are you sad Leska is going home?”

 Again Gohan blushed but he focused on pouring the different spices properly in the bowl. “Yes. I want to keep in touch but I think the distance and our studies won’t allow it.”

 He was handling it maturely but was hurt he wouldn’t see Leska again. His life since four prepared him several times to deal with loss. ChiChi wanted to lecture him but thought Gohan didn’t need that now. He needed comfort.

 “You may not see her again but you’ll have fond memories of her.” There was that blush again. He’ll have to work on that or he’ll be an open book around girls. ChiChi hoped this was a sign Gohan wasn’t going to explore too soon. “After all, first kisses are memorable.”

 Gohan turned to her astonished. “You know?”

 ChiChi refrained from laughing. He was growing up but she still saw flashes of her baby boy. “I’m your mother. I know everything and because I know, don’t be in such a rush to grow up and kiss girls. Take your time and get to know her first. Treat her well but don’t forget about yourself and what you want. As your father said, ‘I don’t do what I don’t wanna do.’”

 “That sounds like Dad.” If Dad were alive, Gohan would share this experience with him. He wondered how Dad dealt with his first kiss. “Mom. You were the first person to kiss Dad, right?”

 “He was my first kiss, too.” She laughed, “We were late bloomers.”

 “How did he react?”

 ChiChi thought of her first kiss. Editing the groping, she thought it was a story she could share with her son. He was growing up, needed guidance and based on her experienced learned it was better her son come to her with questions instead of venturing out and finding them out on his own.

 Ah, Goku, our baby’s growing up. I wish you can see him now.

 ****

 Getting to know Goku wasn’t easy. When Kimani was introduced to Goku, he said hello and walked off with Kai of the North. It was very surprising to Kimani. Other males lingered; they wanted to know everything about her, wanted to pursue her but Goku said ‘Hi. Nice to meet ya’ and left. It was something she wasn’t used to and Kimani found that intriguing along with Goku’s skills as a fighter. For a time, Goku was a busy person. Kimani learned Goku was very popular among the fighters. Pikkon was the closest but no one could defeat him. Instead fighters sparred to see how they stood against him. Goku was always engaging; studying fighters and learning tricks.

 Goku was very unique. Goku slept and ate as if he were still alive. Here in the afterlife, these normal functions weren’t needed. He always seemed happy, too. Kimani noticed other fighters expressing sadness at being dead or missing friends and family but Goku was always upbeat. Kimani figured Goku didn’t have a family which she found very strange. How is it no one caught his attention when he was alive?

 After a time, Kimani noticed Goku had fewer opponents to fight and spent more time by himself or the Kai of the North. That’s when Kimani decided to make her move.

 Today, Goku spent time with the Metamorans again. Days ago, Kimani watched Goku battle two Metamoran fighters simultaneously. Even with it two against one, Goku easily outmatched them. The fight changed when the two Metamorans performed a strange dance and their bodies combined into one being. Their appearance reflected physical traits from both fighters and the Ki from them was phenomenal. They challenged Goku. He had to become what Kimani learned was an Ascended Super Saiyan to defeat them. Since then, Goku wanted to study them and learn Fusion.

 “No, Goku, your arms are too high and you slid too soon.” A Metamoran elevated Goku’s arms to show where he should be.

 “My arms?” Goku looked at his Fusion partner. “What about Olibu’s?”

 “He’s in sync but you can’t tell because he’s two feet taller than you.”

 “My apologies, Goku, but I don’t think I am a suitable partner for you in this Fusion. Our height differences makes it difficult for us to be in sync.”

 “But you have to,” Goku nearly whined. “Pikkon won’t do it and you’re the next closest to me in Ki.”

 “Perhaps I can help,” Kimani stepped forward. “We are the same height and my Ki is very powerful. If it’s not enough for a Fusion, I can at least help get you in sync.”

 “Kimani,” Olibu breathed at her vision. Like many fighters, he was enraptured by her beauty and tried to get her attention. Onlooking fighters parted like the Red Sea as Kimani walked to the two men.

“I didn’t know you were watching us.”

 “Seeing you two try to do a Fusion is eye-catching and hilariously bad. You two can’t get in sync.” She shrugged innocently. “I’m not busy but I think I can help.”

 “Have at it,” Olibu offered as he stepped away.

 Kimani took Olibu’s place and smiled at Goku. “Do you mind if I help you?”

 Other fighters drooled at her appearance but Goku kept his eyes on her face. “Sure, but who are you?”

 “I’m Kimani. We met the first day I came here.”

 Goku thought back trying to remember when that was. “I don’t remember but nice to meet ya.”

 Kimani vowed Goku won’t forget her this time. They worked at it and after a few tries, Kimani understood Fusion technique but she and Goku still had trouble getting in sync. Goku had trouble getting the footsteps down.

 “It’s like dancing,” Kimani told him. “You have to slide and move your arms in the right way.”

 “I ain’t dance in a while.” Goku looked at his feet. “Maybe that’s why I am out of sync.”

 “I think I know a way that will help us get in sync. If we spend time together and become more familiar with each other, we can develop a connection. Maybe we can read ourselves enough to be in sync for the Fusion.”

 “Spend time?” Goku questioned. “Doing what?”

 “Spar of course. I’ve wanted to fight you for a while to see how I stand up against you. I hear you are the best but I also want to train and learn from you. It’s what all of us are doing as we wait for personal training with the Grand Kai.”

 “It sounds like a good idea,” Olibu agreed. “And I can’t imagine a lovelier company learning Fusion.”

 Goku didn’t understand what Olibu meant about lovelier company. Did he mean Kimani? Goku looked her over not seeing anything special but if Kimani could help him get in sync with Fusion, he was willing to partner up with her.

 ****

 Going into the last month of baseball season, the Taitans were in competition for the number one seed. To achieve that, they had to win most of the games in the final month of the season. At the beginning of the month, they were the fourth seed. Kenji was passionate for his team to enter the playoffs at number one. Knowing Kenji needed to focus, ChiChi suggested they shouldn’t meet for dates until the Taitans season and playoff run is over. Kenji resisted but bargained with ChiChi if he can’t see her they talk on the phone.

 ChiChi allowed this but only at night after her sons went to bed. Kenji focused and gave his best performance in the final month of the baseball season and the playoffs. He stole several bases, hit home runs and made several catches in the field. ChiChi and Goten saw the games on TV. Gohan stayed in his room reading, studying or going to bed early. Gohan took Leska’s advice to learn baseball. He read books understanding the mechanics of the game, but Kenji killed any interest Gohan would have in watching the sport or playing it.  

 Since Kenji couldn’t visit until the Taitans were out of the playoffs, Gohan was stunned during breakfast at Kenji’s arrival and bearing gifts of flowers and bags. ChiChi opened the door and before she could get a word in, Kenji pulled ChiChi in his arms and spun her around the room.

 “Hey, hey, what’s going on?” ChiChi kept her voice light but the sudden affection in front of her sons caught her off guard. “My sons are watching.”

 “You’re a wonderful sight for these sore eyes. Two months is too long to be away from this pretty face.” Kenji moved in to kiss ChiChi but a sudden turn of her face caused Kenji’s lips to touch her cheek.  

 Kenji placed ChiChi on her feet again and held the flowers out to her. “I….um…. thank you…..I should get these in water.” ChiChi turned away to find a vase. Gohan’s eyes followed ChiChi. He saw her touch her cheek briefly before she picked up an empty vase on an end table. “Congratulations, but what are you doing here? I thought you’d be sleeping.”

 “Congratulations?” Gohan repeated. “What for?”

 “The Taitans won the championship last night.” Goten went to the bags in Kenji’s hands. “Wow!” Goten pulled out a shirt that read World Champions. “Is this for me?”

 “It’s for everyone.” Kenji helped Goten pulled out the bag’s contents. Jerseys, baseball caps, a baseball, bats and gloves. “You didn’t see the game, Gohan?”

 Goten tried to fit a baseball cap over his spiky head. “Big Brother didn’t see any game.”

 “Really?” Kenji was surprised. “Is the game hard to follow? We can go outside and I can teach you.”

 “Gohan’s studies are more important to him than baseball,” ChiChi explained as she arranged flowers in the vase. “He can focus on his work without any interruptions from Goten since he watches with me.”

 “Oh.” Kenji stared at Gohan wondering if that were true. He shrugged and joined ChiChi in the kitchen. “Baseball season is over. There will be a parade celebrating our championship tomorrow. I want you and the boys there and tomorrow night,” he put an arm around ChiChi, “I wanna take you on a date again. We have a lot of making up to do.”

 “Oh…” ChiChi broke away from Kenji and went to the sink. As water filled her vase, she said, “West City is so far to travel for the parade and a date. We’ll need a place to stay for a few hours.”

 “We can stay at Trunks’ house!” Goten volunteered.

 Gohan never so badly wanted to cover Goten’s mouth.

 “That’s not a good idea,” Kenji brushed off Goten’s suggestion. “Vegeta’s there and you don’t need to deal with him. I can put everyone in a hotel. Unless you don’t mind staying at my place.” He grinned. “I have the room.”

 Such choices. “A hotel will be fine but I have to pay….”

 “You don’t. Don’t worry about money with me, ChiChi. I have more than I can spend and I want to spend it on the people I like most.”

 ChiChi hesitated. It didn’t feel right. This wasn’t a date where the guy is expected to pay after a few hours of fun. Goten wrapped his arms around ChiChi’s legs pleading her to do it. The almost four-year-old did not understand money and how the optics looked in this situation.  

 “Come on,” Kenji cajoled. “We haven’t seen each other in two months. Just this once,” Kenji pleaded. “Please. I really want to spend time with you and the kids. I missed you a lot.”

 Maybe she was overthinking this. Kenji being rich didn’t see money as she did. He probably compared paying a hotel room the same as movie tickets. “Okay, but just this once.”

 “Great. It’s all set up. Once you and the boys pack, I can take you.”

 “What?” ChiChi no longer thought she overreacted. Now she was suspicious. “You have the arrangements made already?”

 “I booked it,” Kenji didn’t see the problem. “I had to. After our win, I knew you would come so I booked a suite for you and the boys.”

 “And what if I said no?”

 Kenji chuckled as if that was ridiculous. “Then I would’ve begged until you say yes. Come on, ChiChi. I haven’t seen you in two months. Can you blame me for being planning ahead?”

 This wasn’t planning ahead. It was Kenji being arrogant and pushy. Kenji showed this trait in smaller doses but this was a big dose and she didn’t like it. Piccolo warned her Kenji will do this.

 “This is really important to me,” Kenji pleaded, “and I want to share it with someone I really care for. Sorry if I seem too forward but you know me.”

 He said the right words but could she trust him? Maybe I am overreacting. We’ve talked but not seen each other in two months. Maybe he missed being around more than me. “All right but we’re in the middle of breakfast and I have to clean up and get the boys packed. We won’t be leaving for a couple of hours at least.”

 Kenji grinned, flashing his perfect smile. “That’s good with me. I haven’t had breakfast and I need a nap. I got two hours of sleep before I flew here.”

 “We can spare an extra plate,” ChiChi offered breakfast, “but hurry before it’s almost gone.”

 “Oh, yeah,” Kenji sat at the table watching Gohan and Goten still eating. Spending time with them on his group dates with ChiChi, Kenji saw how much Gohan and Goten ate. “They sure do eat a lot. I know you keep saying they have Goku’s stomach but your boys inherited their Grandpa’s stomach.”

 Goten shook his head. His mouth was full of food. “We haf Daddy’s stommaf.”

 ChiChi had her back to everyone while she fixed a plate for Kenji. “Goten, don’t talk with your mouth full.” She turned and froze. Kenji sat in Goku’s seat. There were four chairs at the table. Gyu-Mao sat in Goku’s seat but that was acceptable. Seeing Kenji sit there was unnerving. Gohan had his head down eating very fast while Goten happily ate unbothered. She shook off her feelings and gave Kenji his plate.  

 Kenji finished his plate first and was astonished Gohan and Goten were still eating. He took a nap and ChiChi was unnerved again. Kenji slept on the sofa Goku took his naps. When Gohan and Goten finished breakfast, ChiChi saw she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Gohan stared, too.

 “Gohan,” ChiChi distracted him, “help Goten pack while I finish breakfast.”

 Gohan looked as if he wanted to say something but obeyed his mother.  

 As ChiChi cleaned, she stole glances at Kenji sleeping. Goku slept on that sofa. He slept with Gohan as a baby and during his toddler years. In the last three years of his life, she remembered the naps Goku took. Having Kenji lying there didn’t feel right. She had a vision of what her future will be like with Kenji if she married him. Kenji will nap on the sofa like Goku. Kenji will sit at the head of the table like Goku.

 It didn’t feel right.  

 Packing in her bedroom, ChiChi felt eyes on her. Goku’s eyes. They were everywhere. On her nightstand, a photo of Goku smiled at her. On her chest, the picture from his shrine smiled at her. On a wall, the last family photo Goku smiled directly at her. His smile made her stomach twist.

 Was this right?

 During her first date with Kenji, ChiChi didn’t think of it as a date. She didn’t dress up or wore makeup. She kept her clothes casual. The other dates included her children. Kenji gave a lot of attention to Gohan and Goten. On the hike and picnic, Kenji carried Goten on his shoulders and played with him with toys he brought. ChiChi treated it as a casual outing. Not a date. Their last date was slightly different. Kenji took her to a film festival. That was the first time she allowed physical interaction. Kenji held her hand and she didn’t let go.

 After that date, they talked on the phone since Kenji had to focus on baseball. They talked while watching movies, TV shows and things going on in their lives. The conversations reminded ChiChi of talks she shared with Goku. With Goku, the talks felt intimate. With Kenji, it felt friendly. She knew the expected endgame. Marriage but when Kenji picked her up and spun her around, it felt wrong. When he tried to kiss her in front of her sons, it felt wrong.  

 It shouldn’t just be friendly ChiChi told herself. This was the natural progression of two people dating but for ChiChi, it didn’t feel right.

 On the flight to West City, Kenji was very engaging to Gohan and Goten. He talked like a father catching up with his children after a day at work. He made promises to take them to an arcade restaurant after they go to the hotel and list things they can do together now baseball season is over. Gohan was polite but aloof. He kept his head in the book. Goten chattered excited about the things Kenji wanted to do but ChiChi was growing concerned about all this showering of gifts. Her concerns grew even more when they arrived at the hotel. Kenji set them up in a suite with large TVs in the bedroom and living room, a wet bar and stocked refrigerator, a master and guest half bath and a private furnished balcony.

 “This is a lot,” ChiChi told Kenji as she looked around stunned. “Too much. We don’t need all this.”

 “You do,” Kenji told her. “You’re not used to this. You told me you were a princess. It’s time you live like that again.”

 ChiChi saw Goten getting food out of the stocked refrigerator. “Goten, that’s expensive. Don’t eat that!”

 Kenji overrode her authority. “You can eat that, Goten. I have the money to provide for you, ChiChi.”

 “I don’t care about that. I am Goten’s mother. I decide what he can eat.” This was a mistake. She wished she listened to her feelings before they left. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have allowed this. Take me to a cheaper hotel. I’ll pay. No,” ChiChi shook her head. This was West City. Not a hotel in a town near Mount Paozu. She couldn’t afford a hotel here. “I’ll go to Bulma’s house.”

 “No!” Kenji refused her request. “I shouldn’t have said that to Goten. He is your son.” He exhaled frustrated. How to get ChiChi to understand. “I know you had to because of Goku but don’t worry about money with me. I have more than enough and I’m not trying to spoil you or your sons. It’s not spoil if you’re getting what you deserve. You’re not used to that because you haven’t had that since you married Goku.”

 Every time money came up, Kenji brought up Goku. ChiChi brushed it off but now it was annoying as if Kenji was insulting Goku. “I had everything I need with Goku.”

 Kenji didn’t speak but his face said he didn’t agree with her.

 Still, ChiChi felt the need to defend her dead husband. “Moneywise we didn’t have everything but we had enough. We never needed fancy stuff. If I wanted that life, I would’ve stayed in my father’s castle.”

 Kenji didn’t want to argue with ChiChi but they were on their way to a fight. She just didn’t get it. “I wasn’t meaning that…..” He sighed. Best to let her win and move on he decided. “Got it. Can I still take you and the boys to the arcade restaurant? It’s not expensive.”

 ChiChi wanted to say no but Goten was very excited and behaved so well on the flight. He finished his lessons and even did extra work. It wouldn’t be right to punish him when she’s uncomfortable. “You can take the boys. I’m staying here.”

 “Why?”

 “I’m not into video games.” True but not the real reason. Space from Kenji is what she needed now. She hadn’t seen him in two months and being around him for a few hours made her feel smothered. “It’ll be better if I am not there. Gohan will help you with Goten.”

 “I can handle both boys.” Over the shock of ChiChi not going, Kenji saw the potential in this. “I’ll prove to you I can take care of them.”

 Please don’t let me regret this. “Be back in three hours.”

 “Three hours,” Kenji saluted.

 Kenji returned in three hours and ChiChi didn’t regret it. Goten had a fun time. Kenji didn’t spoil him with a lot of toys. He bought one. Gohan wasn’t as enthused as Goten but he did enjoy himself. Kenji respecting her wishes, made ChiChi feel a little better about this situation and gave her hope tomorrow will go well.

 The championship parade started at noon. ChiChi and Goten watched the parade on TV and when it passed their hotel, watched from the balcony. Gohan avoided the parade and spent his time reading and working on his lessons. After the parade, Kenji called with dinner plans. ChiChi heard of the restaurant from Bulma. It was expensive.

 For date nights with Goku, ChiChi showered with regular soap and didn’t wear perfume. Goku’s sensitive nose didn’t like it. Bulma gifted her a beauty set of perfume and scented lotions for her birthday which ChiChi decided to finally use. Her face was decorated in colors of red for her lips, pink for her cheeks and a dark tint of eyeshadow over her eyes. Her sleeveless black dress came to her knees and accentuated her curves. ChiChi admitted she looked good but deep down wished Goku will see her like this and not Kenji.

 Gohan sat on the sofa helping Goten read when ChiChi stepped out of her room. “Gohan, remember Goten has bed in an hour. I should be back by….” She trailed off when Gohan stared at her. “What is it?”

 “Where did you get that dress?”

 ChiChi looked herself over. Was it too much? “My closet. It’s something I bought before Dad died. We were gonna have date nights again after the Cell Game and…” ChiChi didn’t finish the rest.

 “That’s a dress you wanted to wear for Dad and you’re wearing it for Mr. Kenji?”

 “I wouldn’t put it like that. I’m wearing this dress for myself. It’s a nice dress to wear at the fancy restaurant Kenji will take me.” Three knocks tapped her door. ChiChi answered and allowed Kenji in.

 “Wow!” Kenji’s eyes roamed over ChiChi. He even circled her to look at her from behind. “Very nice. Very nice. Perfect dressing for Polaris.”

 “Thank you. I hope I don’t get dizzy,” ChiChi joked.

 “You won’t. The restaurant doesn’t move that fast.” He circled her again and took a third look at ChiChi’s backside. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Gohan watching him. He grinned, “Hi, boys.”

  “Why would Mom get dizzy?” Gohan wanted to know.

 “Polaris is a rotating restaurant. The room moves in a circle but it’s slow and you hardly notice. It takes an hour for it to complete its rotation.”

 “Is it like Nimbus?” Goten asked.

 “What’s Nimbus?”

 “It’s a ride,” ChiChi rushed out. “We should go.” ChiChi bent to kiss Goten’s cheek. “Good night, Goten.” She kissed Gohan’s cheek. “Polaris’ number is by the phone. Call me if there’s an emergency and don’t wait up. I want you in bed an hour after Goten.”

 “Sure, Mom,” Gohan nodded. He even smiled as ChiChi and Kenji left but as soon as he closed the door, he scowled. He didn’t like this. He felt it in his gut this was a bad idea. Mom never dressed this fancy for a date except with Dad. He didn’t like that she wore makeup and smelled like those fancy scents Bulma wore.

 She’s falling for him.

 Gohan tried distracting himself by putting Goten into his pajamas and reading to him until bedtime but the words in the book were a jumbled mess. He could only think of his mother and Kenji. Will she kiss him? Is she starting to fall in love with him? Will they marry?

 The idea made Gohan sick to his stomach but what if Kenji sitting at the kitchen table yesterday was a forecast of the future? What if Kenji spends the night? Will he be in Mom’s room? In the same bed she shared with Dad? If they marry, what about their home on Mount Paozu? What if Leska is right and they move to West City?

 “Big Brother?” Goten poked Gohan. “Won’t you read to me?”

 Goten was so young and innocent. He didn’t see anything wrong with Mom dating Kenji. He never experienced seeing Dad with Mom the way Kenji tries to be. To Goten, it was fine but Gohan knew it wasn’t right and he had to do something about it.

 “Goten, do you want to see the rotating restaurant where Mom and Mr. Kenji went to?”

 Goten’s eyes grew wide in awe. “We can?”

 “Sure. A rotating restaurant sounds. Maybe it moves like Nimbus.”

 “Ooo! Ooo! I wanna see it!”

 Gohan picked up Goten and carried him to the balcony. “Then let’s go. Nimbus!” Nimbus zoomed from the sky and parked on the balcony. After getting on and settling Goten in his lap, Gohan said, “To the Polaris restaurant.”

 “Polaris restaurant!” Goten cheered.

 ****

 “It’s a beautiful view,” ChiChi gazed out the window as the room slowly rotated. The sun went down twenty minutes ago and the city lights brightly lit the city like tiny stars. “Feels kind of weird moving but nice.” They were on the 70th floor of the skyscraper with the rotating restaurant. Soft piano music traveling through the room and candles at their table created a romantic atmosphere. As ChiChi read the menu, she thought of Goku and how he will drool over the food listed. “Goku would…..” ChiChi caught herself. “Sorry.”

 Kenji kept his eyes on the menu. “Did Goku take you to restaurants?”

 “We went to a few. Nothing fancy. We couldn’t afford that. Most nights we ate at home.”

 “Even with Gohan?” Kenji inquired. “No family dinners at restaurants?”

 ChiChi studied the menu, wondering if she should bring food to Gohan and Goten. “We did go to a few restaurants when Gohan was very young. We wanted to go out in the later years of Goku’s life but things got in the way.”

 “Goku’s martial arts training?” Kenji guessed. “There’s something I don’t understand. Goku won the tournament before Mr. Satan. I know Mr. Satan didn’t beat Cell but he capitalized on his fame with endorsements. He’s making millions of zeni. How come Goku never did that when he won the tournament? You would’ve been set for life.”

 They would have money but ChiChi doubted they would’ve been set for life. The food bill would put a dent in anyone’s retirement plans. “Goku never cared about the fame of fighting. We could’ve gotten endorsements but it would’ve brought us a lot of unwanted attention. We didn’t want that and I know Goku wanted a break from everything.”

 “A break?”

 “Goku traveled the world for years training. He told me after the 22nd tournament, he was going home to relax but he was sidetracked in another battle and trained for three more years. After we married, we closed ourselves off from the world.”

 “And said no to money that would’ve set you up for years.”

 ChiChi half-rolled her eyes. Kenji’s lowkey obsession with money was becoming irritating. “Not everything is about money, Kenji.”  

 “I know but being an athlete, my time is limited. I’m not gonna have a thirty- or forty-year career playing baseball. I need to make as much money as I can while I can play. That’s what Goku should’ve done. If he capitalized on his fame, you wouldn’t be struggling for money now.”

 Even though the remark was truthful, it hurt. Capitalizing on Goku’s fame wasn’t something ChiChi thought about and if she had, it wouldn’t have been something Goku wanted to do. It would force ChiChi to find another way to make money.  

 The waitress returned and took their orders. As they waited for their food, Kenji apologized, “Sorry if I am talking about money a lot. I got some decisions to make. My agent’s negotiating with the team on my future contract. They wanted to wait until after our season is over to talk but during the playoffs, other teams reached out to my agent. They wanna pay me a lot. My agent will talk to the team tomorrow and bargain a deal. There will be a decision soon.”

 “Good luck.” ChiChi knew Kenji worked hard at his career and deserved whatever he wanted. “You’ve earned it.”

 “Thanks. Now that baseball season is over, we will have more time together. I have a lot of dates planned for us and Goten turns four next month. I wanna do something special for his birthday.”

 “Birthday?” ChiChi didn’t know what Kenji had in mind but she envisioned a lot of money will be spent. “Goten’s having a simple birthday party at home.”

 “Okay but I’ll bring bounce houses,” Kenji offered. “I can stop at a capsule store and buy a Ferris Wheel capsule. Maybe I can rent some of the games Goten liked playing at the arcade.”

 “You can bring yourself and one small gift,” ChiChi put her foot down. “I don’t want Goten spoiled and thinking every time you visit, he will get something grand.”

 Kenji picked up his wine glass relenting. “Okay. You may be right. Kids shouldn’t be spoiled. This is good practice when I’m officially a Dad.” He sipped his wine. “That reminds me. I told my parents about you. I showed them a picture of you and the boys. Mom is curious but I told her it’s not time for us to meet. Dad thinks you’re cute and way too young for two kids. He’s kind of touchy so when you meet, watch out for his hands.”

 Parents?! ChiChi knew Kenji had them but she didn’t think about meeting them. Her breath quicken and her heart thumped faster. “Wh-wh-why did you do that?”

 “We are dating and as soon as pictures of us hit the Entertainment pages, Mom will ask. I’m getting ahead so she’s not shocked by it.”

 “Entertainment pages?”

 “I am a celebrity, we just won the championship and we’re in one of the most famous cities in the world.” He leaned forward and whispered. “Haven’t you noticed people looking at us?”

 ChiChi brought her glass to her lips, pretending to drink while she scanned the room from the corner of her eye. Most people were eating but there were eyes on them. Oh, boy. She had more privacy outside of West City. She never worried about people staring. One of the reasons she didn’t come forward about Gohan defeating Cell, she didn’t want media attention on her family. She risked doing that now dating Kenji.

 This is too fast. This is too much.

 Tap. Tap. Tap.

 A tapping sound came from the window. ChiChi turned and spat her drink.  Goten waved at her. She couldn’t hear him but reading his lips, Goten said, ‘Hi, Momma’. He sat on Gohan’s lap on Nimbus waving at her 70 stories high.

 Everything happened in slow motion for Kenji. He was enjoying a dinner date with ChiChi, happily talking about their future when a pounding on the window got their attention. They turned simultaneously and saw Gohan and Goten floating on a cloud. Shocked and so many questions raced in Kenji. Why were they here? What were they on? How were they floating 70 stories?

 Before his lips could form words, ChiChi was on her feet and screaming, “GOHAN! GOTEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE?!”

 “ChiChi,” Kenji put a finger to his lips trying to get ChiChi to quiet down. He was shocked to see Gohan and Goten, too but ChiChi’s screaming brought more attention. People were looking as if ChiChi lost her mind. “ChiChi. Shh. Shh.”

 ChiChi ignored Kenji. Furious, she pointed down indicating she wanted Gohan to land Nimbus. “Get down and meet me in the lobby!!” Gohan shook his head not wanting to land knowing the wrath he will face if he did. “Don’t make me come through this window! GET…DOWN…. NOW!!”

 “ChiChi.” Kenji was on his feet and by her side. He looked nervously at the guests. “Calm down. It’s not that serious.”

 “Not serious?!” She pointed to her sons. “Do you see this?!” Gohan still hadn’t obeyed. “Nimbus! Land!!”

 Nimbus dropped from their view. Kenji saw ChiChi’s anger at Krillin and 18’s wedding but that was on an island and they were alone. This was not in a restaurant full of people who knew him. He thought in a public place, ChiChi knew how to conduct herself even if she were rightly angry. “You’re making a scene,” he gently scolded her. “Relax. I’ll get the boys. You just stay here and calm down. Maybe have a drink.”

 Gohan stood in the lobby holding Goten. The little boy wore pajamas and no socks. If Goten’s feet got dirty, Gohan knew he’ll be in even more trouble. The plan was perfect. Fly here and spy on his mother with Kenji. Too bad his little brother had other plans.

 “Which building is Momma in?” Goten eagerly looked around.

 “I think it’s that one,” Gohan pointed at a glass tower. On top of it was a spherical shape globe with rings with the words ‘Polaris’. Though the city was bright at night, it was still dark. From their distance, they couldn’t see ChiChi.

 “I wanna see Momma,” Goten complained.

 “We only came to see the rotating restaurant.”

 “I wanna see Momma!” Goten screamed.

 “We’ll get a little closer,” Gohan promised. “Fly a little closer, Nimbus.”

 Nimbus flew below the lower rings and windows concealing Gohan and Goten. From his view, Gohan looked up watching the people and searching for ChiChi.

 “Where’s Momma?” Goten asked again. “I can’t see.”

 “I’m looking. I’m looking,” Gohan told his brother. “If Mom’s not by the window, she’s in the middle of the restaurant away from—oh!” Gohan spotted ChiChi. “There she is.”

 Goten stood. “I wanna see!” He stood on his toes and Gohan grabbed Goten so his brother didn’t fall off Nimbus.  “Higher Nimbus!”

 “Goten, no!” Gohan pulled Goten down as Nimbus flew higher, against the window and directly at ChiChi. She didn’t see them so Goten knocked against the window and waved until ChiChi did.

 Oh, no!

 The fury on ChiChi’s face told Gohan he was a dead man.

 Every time the elevator opened, Gohan expected his mother to storm out and scream at him. If he weren’t too old to be spanked, he was sure ChiChi would bend him over and smack his bottom in front of everyone. When Kenji stepped off the elevator alone, Gohan’s fear turned to confusion. Where was Mom? Kenji stood at the elevator and gestured for Gohan to come with him. Gohan obeyed.  

 Riding up in the quiet elevator, Kenji loosened his tie. It was the first time Gohan saw Kenji frustrated. “I’m not your Dad but I think I can speak for him when I say he will be disappointed in what you did tonight. He wouldn’t like how upset you made your mother.”

 “We did something wrong?” Goten looked worriedly at Gohan. “Big Brother, did we do a bad thing?”

 “Not you, Goten.” Kenji knew what happened tonight wasn’t his fault. “Gohan did and he knows it.”

 Goten looked at Gohan astonished. “Big Brother, is that true?”

 Gohan didn’t answer Goten. What he did was wrong but Kenji didn’t have to bring it up in front of Goten. “You can never speak for our Dad. You don’t know him and he wouldn’t be disappointed at what I did tonight.”

 Kenji scoffed. “You can’t think he would be proud of you.”

 Gohan was saved from responding when the elevator opened. Two couples stepped in. The men of the pairings instantly recognized Kenji and chatted with him. Kenji’s façade changed. He was the cool and happy guy again. Lucky for him, Gohan thought. He wasn’t sure if Kenji would’ve made it back to the restaurant if the couples didn’t step on.

 ChiChi sat at the table furious as Gohan, Goten, Kenji and a waiter carrying two chairs returned to the table. The waiter pushed one chair by ChiChi and the other by Kenji. “Momma,” Goten reached out to ChiChi.

 “Goten,” ChiChi was curt as she took Goten from Gohan. She noticed Goten wore his pajamas and no socks. She gave Gohan a suspicious glare. Gohan picked up the chair by Kenji and moved it to the other side of ChiChi. ChiChi ignored Gohan as she settled Goten in his chair. “Why are you here?”

 “We wanted to see the floating restaurant.”

 “Rotating restaurant,” ChiChi corrected Goten.

 “Ah,” Kenji noticed their orders arrived while he left to get Gohan and Goten. The waiter handed two menus to Kenji for Gohan and Goten. “Since they’re here, they might as well eat.” Kenji was back to being a charming host but ChiChi was embarrassed, angry and suspicious. Gohan orchestrated this. She had growing suspicions but tonight made it obvious. Gohan had a problem with her dating Kenji.

 If Kenji knew it, he didn’t show it as he played the engaging host again. “So, how did you two float on a cloud? Was that an invention from Dr. Briefs?”

 “It’s Daddy’s cloud,” Goten told him.

 “Daddy’s cloud?” Kenji laughed. “Goku was a scientist?”

 “No.” Goten shook his head giggling. “It was a gift to Daddy because he’s a good person. Only me, Momma and Big Brother can ride Daddy’s cloud.”

 Kenji suspected it was an invention from Dr. Briefs but Goten was told it was a cloud from his Daddy. “Uh-huh.” He half-rolled his eyes but went along with Goten’s explanation. He kept the conversation light as he made jokes with Goten and Gohan. Goten was spoiled with dinner and dessert. Gohan only had an appetizer which he hardly touched due to the deadly gazes ChiChi sent him. The guests at the restaurant forgot the earlier outbursts and enjoyed their dinner with Kenji paying for their bill on the promise they didn’t speak of what they saw. With a hefty bill paid, two full children and an embarrassed widow, the four left the restaurant.

 The ride back to the hotel was tense for everyone except Goten who fell asleep. ChiChi thanked Kenji for dinner but declined his invitation to see her to her room. ChiChi didn’t speak to Gohan when they entered the hotel or in the elevator but as soon as they entered their room she hissed, “You stay here until I get back and don’t you dare think of flying off. If you are not here, I will find you.”

 Gohan sat on the sofa and waited for ChiChi to put Goten to bed. He knew he will be in trouble for tonight. He knew he will be yelled at and punished. Gohan accepted it but also felt this was ChiChi’s fault. If she weren’t dating Kenji, they wouldn’t be here. They shouldn’t be in this hotel. They should be in their home on Mount Paozu.

 Gohan heard the bedroom door close and ChiChi’s Ki approaching. She stood in front of him pissed. Her arms were crossed. Her eyebrows furrowed, eyes tense and mouth molded in a snarl. She hadn’t looked this angry since Goku wanted to train him after his return from Yardrat.

“Gohan, when we talked after your father’s death, I thought the secrets ended. When I talked to you and Goten about dating Kenji, you told me you were okay with it. You lied! You pulled your baby brother in your scheme and spied on me?!” ChiChi exploded. “Have you done this every time I went out with Kenji?!”

 “No. This was the first time.”

 “Then why now?! How could you embarrass me in front of Kenji like that?!”

 Embarrass? That’s how she felt? Involving Goten was wrong but he wouldn’t have done this if not for her. “You were the one screaming and getting everyone to look at you. Not me.”

 Gohan’s snark shocked and enraged ChiChi. “I was screaming because of you! You were floating on Nimbus 70 stories high when you should’ve been in bed!”

 No. No. Gohan wasn’t going to take all the blame. “I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t betrayed Dad!”

 “Betray Dad?” ChiChi gasped as if slapped. “How did I betray him?”

 “Dating Kenji! I know Grandpa and Bulma want you to date him because Dad isn’t here. I didn’t speak up because I knew they would’ve been mad if I said something.”

 “So, that’s your excuse for being quiet? For them?” ChiChi would not accept this. “You spoke your mind when I didn’t want you to go to Namek. So, try again!”

 “I thought you would go on one date and tell Grandpa and Bulma you didn’t want to date Kenji anymore but you didn’t. You kept dating him and you included Goten and me!” Three months of anger and frustration bubbled out of Gohan. “You let Kenji hold you like Dad held you. You let him almost kiss you. You let him sit in Dad’s chair and sleep on the sofa! If you love Dad, you wouldn’t be doing this!”

 Gohan left ChiChi speechless. Is that what he thinks? “I love Dad, Gohan. I’ll never stop loving him.”

 “Then why date Kenji? Dad isn’t here but I can help. I bring food for you to cook. I bring wood to keep the house warm. I can get a job if you need money.”

 “You’re not working, Gohan. You have a bright future ahead of you. We’re not rich but we have money. Grandpa is helping us.”

 “But you don’t like taking money from him. I can study and work,” Gohan was willing to do anything to not have Kenji in their life anymore. “If it’s touching like kissing and hugs you miss from Dad…. well, I miss Dad’s hugs, too, but I cope. Why can’t you?”

 The last remark hurt. Gohan was mature for his age but he didn’t know everything. “I cope, Gohan. I’ve coped for years but missing a hug from your Dad pales to what I’m missing from him. You can’t compare what we’re missing and it’s not even the point.”

 “Then what is it? It’s like you don’t love Dad and you’re trying to replace him. If you marry Kenji, you’ll have babies with him and Goten won’t know Dad at all except he’s dead. You’re being selfish.”

 If he weren’t her son and hurting, ChiChi would smack him. Gohan loved Goku and seeing her with another man would bother him. ChiChi accepted that but what she couldn’t accept is Gohan looking at her as an accessory to Goku and not a person with feelings, too. That’s how she felt Goku’s friends saw her. She truly thought Gohan saw her differently.

 “You accuse me of forgetting about Dad. You accuse me of not loving him. You accuse me of betraying him. Have you ever thought of my feelings?” ChiChi wanted to carry her burdens privately but Gohan’s words hurt her. “Your father reached out from death to talk to you twice. He helped you beat Cell and he said goodbye to you on Kami’s Temple. He never said goodbye to me. I was married to him for ten years. I cared for him every day. I waited for him when I was left alone for over two years. I cared for him when he was sick. I gave everything to him and I couldn’t get a goodbye. Did you ever think about that?”

 He didn’t. He was too consumed with his grief and error and never noticed Dad never said goodbye to Mom. Dad mentioned her and how they will suffer the most with him staying dead but Gohan never realized he got a chance to say goodbye while Mom didn’t. When Mom cried on the floor, that would’ve been the time for Dad to reach out but he didn’t.

 Why didn’t he?

 “I am a person with feelings, too,” ChiChi went on. “Maybe I would like to have an adult conversation after I spend my day caring for my sons. Maybe I would like to discuss watching a movie I’ve seen or a book I’ve read. Maybe I deserve to have a friend, too.”

 Friend. Mom said friend. Not boyfriend. Not husband. That gave Gohan hope. “So, you don’t love Kenji.”

 ChiChi sighed. After all that, that’s what Gohan took from what she said. All her anger was zapped from her. She was filled with disappointment. “I can’t deal with this right now, Gohan. I’m tired. I…. I just can’t.”

 ChiChi walked away from him. She returned to her bedroom and closed the door. Gohan watched the anger faded from ChiChi’s face. Her eyes were filled with hurt and sadness. Gohan tried to call out to her, tried to move to stop her from leaving but his body wouldn’t move.

 “Ma….Mom….” he spoke after a long silence. “Mom,” he tried again. Silence. His brain began to function again; his limbs began moving. He took one step forward and another, moving his feet until he was at the bedroom door.

 Gohan touched the doorknob. He started to turn it but stopped when he heard sobbing. His mother’s tears. Gohan pressed his forehead against the door. He closed his eyes as guilt filled him.

 Mom, I’m sorry.

 ****

 “Wow. She’s active today.” ChiChi rubbed 18’s stomach and felt the baby growing in her friend move from one side to the other.

 “I swear she’s doing gymnastics in there.” 18 had her feet propped up on a foot pillow in ChiChi’s living room eating another plate of lunch. Since entering her third trimester, Krillin went everywhere with 18 when she wanted to leave the island. Right now, Krillin was outside with Gohan and Goten and giving ChiChi and 18 time to talk alone.

 “Have you and Krillin settled on a name yet?”

 “We agreed with Marron.” 18 put down her empty plate. She reached for the other one but her bowling ball stomach got in her way. “We decided last night when Krillin packed my bag for the hospital.”

 “Already?” ChiChi handed 18 a bowl of noodles.

 “He’s excited.” 18 sighed. “I wish he was excited about moving us to our own place.”

 “Maybe you shouldn’t move now,” ChiChi suggested. “You’re a special case and Dr. Barkley wants you to take it easy. Finding a place, moving and unpacking might be too much now.”

 “Our bank account isn’t much right now,” 18 lamented. “Krillin’s working but it’s only enough to get by. Once Marron is here, we’ll need more space. Our room is barely enough for us and in two months we’ll be adding a baby, diapers, clothes and toys.”

 “Don’t worry about that. Bulma and I will make sure you and Marron won’t be without anything.”

 18 appreciated the support. ChiChi already made five outfits for her child and Bulma bragged about throwing her a big baby shower. “If you mean that, convince your rich boyfriend to buy me and Krillin a house.” She thought ChiChi would laugh but her sudden distressful face alarmed 18. “What? Did something happen?”

 It was four days since the incident in West City. Kenji flew ChiChi, Gohan and Goten home. Kenji picked up the tension. No one. Not even Goten spoke on the flight back. When pressed for an answer, ChiChi told him she needed to deal with Gohan alone and needed a few days. She spoke with Gohan when she needed to but spent most of her free thoughts thinking of Kenji, her sons and the situation she got herself in. “Don’t get used to calling him my boyfriend.”

 “Why?” 18 slurped a mouthful of noodles. “Did you break up?”

 “No, but I’m having second thoughts about this.” ChiChi preceded to tell 18 what happened in West City.

 “Damn.” The update was like a drama in those soap operas Master Roshi occasionally watched. Gohan’s behavior was natural. It was ChiChi’s 18 couldn’t figure out. “I was on board with Bulma you should date Kenji but I’m pregnant and filled with all kinds of emotions and hormones. You’re a fool if you listened to me. You’re a damn fool if you listened to Bulma.”

 18 was blunt as always but ChiChi took it with humored disbelief. “Not taking responsibility for me and Kenji?”

 “Don’t tell me you did date him because of us.”

 “My Dad had more influence than you and Bulma but yeah,” ChiChi confirmed. She leaned back and gazed at the ceiling wondering how all this drama entered her life. “Dad and Bulma said some hard truths about my marriage. I was happy but it wasn’t perfect. I thought I should give Kenji a chance at least for Gohan and Goten’s future, but since West City, I’ve been having doubts about all this.”

 “Because of Gohan?”

“Not just him. Kenji, too. Our outings didn’t feel like dates. For me, it felt like friends spending time together. So did our talks but after the championship, Kenji wants to speed things up. He told his parents about us and he’s making all these plans for Goten’s birthday.”

 “It’s his way of showing his feelings, ChiChi. You haven’t seen each other in two months. He’s making up for that time.” There was a problem here and it was ChiChi. “Be honest with me. Do you have any feelings for him?”

 There was a long pause. “Yes.”

 If she didn’t need her foot pillow, 18 would use it to smack ChiChi. “I mean romantic feelings. You’ve been dating for three months. One month in person with you and your boys and two months talking over the phone. Feelings grow over time but you haven’t felt a damn thing have you?”

 Sharp, blunt and straight to the point. It was fun when 18 is like this with others but not her. “Kenji’s attractive and a decent man. He’s also pushy and showy but no one is perfect. Goku had flaws, too.”

 “But…..” 18 pressed.

 “It’s platonic,” ChiChi finally told the truth. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. When Kenji approached me, I was flattered. It was the first time since Goku’s death I was seen as a woman and not just a Mom. I tried to do the right thing and not respond to Kenji but he showed up at your wedding. More flowers came. Dad and Bulma got in my head about Goku and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I felt desired, wanted and I liked the attention.

 “I love my sons. I love being a Mom. I spend my day taking care of them but when I go to bed, it’s just me. I have to see that empty space every night. I have to see Goku’s pillow every night. Every night I’m confronted with how alone I am.” Tears rolled down ChiChi’s cheeks. ChiChi felt 18 reached for her hand. The tears came harder. For years, she had to hold all this in. It was a relief she could confess her feelings. With 18, she knew she wouldn’t be judged. “I could never share this with anyone.”

 “You can with me,” 18 told her. “You know my history is different from the others.”

 ChiChi knew that and was so happy it was. “I can’t let my kids see my loneliness. I can’t show how sad and angry I am Goku could say goodbye to everyone but me. I’ll always love him and I know he didn’t mean to but he hurt me a lot.” ChiChi wiped her tears. “I knew by the first month I wouldn’t marry Kenji. Dating Kenji filled the loneliness I’ve felt. It was wrong and selfish but I wanted to think of myself for once.”

 “Selfish?”

 “Kenji will make a wonderful husband and father but not with me. I knew that but I didn’t want to end it because I enjoyed his attention. I controlled the relationship; told him my Dad couldn’t watch the boys all the time when we go out; advised him to focus on baseball until the season was over. I found ways to keep Kenji at a distance but still keep the attention.”

 “You mean including the boys on dates and talks over the phone.”

 ChiChi nodded. “Yeah, but it’s getting out of hand. I thought I could keep it like it was before but Kenji wants more and he’s going about it in ways I don’t like and after Gohan’s confession, I saw how wrong I’ve been. I hurt Gohan thinking of myself and I’m leading Kenji on. He doesn’t deserve that.”

 18 asked to be sure. “So you really don’t think anything can happen between you two?”

 “It’s been three months since I agreed to date him. With Goku, the attraction was instant.”

 “He touched you,” 18 reminded her.

 “I don’t mean that. I mean when I saw him again when I grew up. My first thoughts were, ‘He’s so handsome.’ I was angry he forgot me but I couldn’t deny how attractive he looked. My feelings grew. With Kenji, he looks attractive but I don’t feel it.” ChiChi knew physical attractiveness didn’t have to be instant. She experienced that with Goku. “Even when we talked, I felt I was talking to a friend. When Kenji tried to flirt, I changed the topic. When Goku and I flirt, it always led to something. I don’t mind being single. I have enough on my plate raising my boys but sometimes I want to forget the loneliness but I can’t do this anymore.”

 18 leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling with ChiChi. This was a sticky situation. “You know what you have to do.”

 ChiChi nodded. “Yes.”

 “When do you see him again?”

 “Kenji called this morning. He wants to take me to Central City in two days. He sounded really happy on the phone. I guess negotiations went well with his new contract but I’ll end it then.”  

 ****

 Going to Central City, ChiChi expected to dine with Kenji in a fancy restaurant. He told her to dress to celebrate so she expected he got a new contract with the Taitans. She didn’t expect a tour of a mansion. It had three levels, a ten-foot ceiling, a huge kitchen, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a private room for a gym, a large basement, lots of yard space for a garden, a pool and a guest house.

 “Is this how you celebrate winning the championship?” ChiChi read of athletes going on wild trips or a huge shopping spree. “You play in West City. Why did you buy a house in Central City?”

 “Since we won the championship and I’m a great player, I’m entitled to a big contract. My first contract was for rookies and it was extended two years ago. This year I refused another extension until I got paid more.”

 ChiChi knew all that and it didn’t answer her question. “You proved your worth and the Taitans gave you a raise. Why didn’t you buy a home in West City?”

 Kenji grinned. “You haven’t figured it out. The Taitans organization didn’t think I deserve a big contract. I became a free agent and the Rockets in Central City will pay me. It’s not public yet but I accepted their offer. It’s 20 million zeni a year for the next five years.”

 “Wow,” ChiChi whistled. Now it made sense. “That’s a lot of money but you won’t be Yamcha’s teammate anymore.”

 “Yeah, but we can hang out in the offseason. The good news is I’m closer to Mount Paozu.”

 That was true. He can get to Mount Paozu in half the time from Central City. “I’m happy for you. It sounds like a good opportunity.” But guilt stabbed her heart. How can she tell Kenji she wants to end their relationship when he’s so happy? I did a terrible thing. He’s been so nice to me and my sons and I will have to hurt him.

 “That’s why I wanted to show you this house. Do you think it’s a good one?”

 “It’s wonderful. You have a lot of land to grow your food and a lot of privacy. However, it is big for one person, but,” ChiChi shrugged, “I can’t criticize. I grew up in a castle with my Dad and his staff.”

 “It is big,” Kenji admitted, “but it wouldn’t be so big if you and your sons live here with me.”

 Oh no. “What?”

 “Moving to a new city will be a fresh start for all of us. I think one of the difficulties you have moving on from Goku is you are still in the house you shared with him. Memories will be very strong there. You told me you wanted to leave and get a fresh start when you were pregnant with Goten.”

 “I did, but Gohan couldn’t leave.”

 “Right. It would’ve been tough for him to leave when Goku just died but it’s been four years. Gohan should be ready to move and Central City is the capital of the world. It has great schools and opportunities for him. It’s a fresh start for your entire family. Here, you won’t be Goku’s wife.”

 ChiChi eyed Kenji skeptically. He said it as if it’s a bad thing she’s Goku’s wife. “No. I’ll be a woman with two children living with a man I’m not married to.”

 “That’s why I picked a home with a guest house. It’s as big as your home on Mount Paozu. It has everything you need but I hope that living arrangement isn’t forever.” He grasped her hands. “I know we’ve taken it slow but it’s been three months. Surely, you see the potential of us being together. I see us married and having a child of our own. I’ll hire a maid to help you with the kids. You will never stress over money, never feel isolated and you’ll always feel love. I can take care of you for the rest of my life.”

 The guilt hit ChiChi hard. Here she was thinking of ending things with Kenji and he wanted her to move in with him. She couldn’t stall anymore. She had to end it now. “Kenji…..”

 Kenji picked up her tone. “Wait. Don’t you see that, too?”

 ChiChi pulled away. Even if she had deep feelings, three months was too soon to move in together. “It’s too soon to even think this.”

 “Too soon? ChiChi, we’ve known each other for three months.”

 “That’s my point.” It stunned her he didn’t get it. “You’re rushing a lot. You want me to uproot my family and move in with you. I’ll be hours away from my father and friends.”

 “Friends?” Kenji laughed. “Those aren’t your friends. They are Goku’s friends. They are only friends with you because of him and if you didn’t have his kids, they would want nothing to do with you. Here in Central City you will find real friends.”

 “I do have friends besides Goku’s friends. I’m friends with people in my village.”

 “Because your father is the king of that village.”

 Now he was pushing it. Goku’s friends were fair criticism given their history but not the people in her village. “Are you saying they’re not my real friends?”

 “Your father created incentive so they are friendly to you. In Central City, you will never wonder if you have friends because of your Dad.”

 She never wondered before! “You don’t think I will wonder if these new people I meet aren’t friends with me because of you? If we are seen together, my picture will be plastered all over the entertainment magazines! No.” ChiChi stepped back not liking this. “I won’t uproot my family.”

 Kenji could see ChiChi wasn’t sold on this so he bargained with her. “Baseball season doesn’t start until another four months. Until spring training, I’ll still do the long commute for our dates, but by the time the season starts, you should be living here. I’ll hire a tutor for Gohan so he’s ready for high school and Goten will be four. We can put him in preschool. With your sons having lives of their own, you can focus on us.”

 Whoa. Whoa. Whoa! He was doing the same thing he did to convince her to come to West City. Present her with a plan she’ll say no to and offer an option she agree to. “Have you arranged all this again and you’re expecting me to say yes?”

 “I don’t have Goten enrolled in preschool but I got recommendations from the seller.” ChiChi couldn’t believe this. He really did plan ahead and expect her to give in. “And I have a tutor set up for Gohan. All his students have gone to the most prestigious schools.”

 “You…. you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

 “What?” Kenji didn’t see the problem.

 “You. You’re planning my life and my sons’ life without consulting me. What’s next? You want me pregnant by the time baseball season starts?”

 Kenji laughed. “That’s crazy, ChiChi. We can be living together but you can be pregnant by the time the next season start.”

 Now he’s dictating when she will be pregnant? “No. No.” Kenji was always pushy but this was too much and ChiChi felt it was her fault letting it get this far. “This was a mistake. It’s my fault.”

 “What is?”

 “This! All of this. Kenji, you are a kind man but I can’t do this. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and my sons but I’m not the woman for you. I can’t give you what I want. I can’t see you anymore.”

 Kenji didn’t appear as if he heard correctly. “I don’t understand. I’m showing you I can be the man for you. I can provide for you and your sons. I can be there for you when your husband wasn’t. I can give a woman like you everything and you don’t want me?” He shook trying to keep his cool. This couldn’t be happening. “Are you so in love with Goku, you won’t give a decent guy like me a chance?”

 “It’s not like that.”

 “Then what is it?!” Kenji snapped. “I get Goku is a strong person. He saved the world and no one can compete with that and if you’re holding me to that bar no one will have a chance with you and that’s not fair.”

 ChiChi let him lash out. She felt she deserved it. “I will never hold you or anyone to that bar. That’s insane.”

 “What else is there? His bedroom prowess? You won’t even give me a chance to let you compare that. I can’t even kiss you! I’ve proven I have the wealth to give you and your sons everything. I brushed off Gohan’s annoyance with me and I’ve been attentive to Goten and you. Was Goku always around enough to do that?”

 Kenji can lash out at her but ChiChi wouldn’t let Kenji drag Goku into this. “Stop making comparisons between yourself and Goku.”

 “You leave me no choice!” Kenji kicked the ground and release a foul expletive  “I thought to find the woman for me I need to go the opposite of what I’ve dated. For me, being with you felt right. You are what I need but you seem to be the type of woman who keeps making bad choices in men because you are controlled by their dick.”

 ChiChi’s slap was so fierce it knocked Kenji off his feet. He soared several feet before crashing on the ground with a hard thud. Kenji touched his face looking at ChiChi astonished. “ChiChi…..”

 ChiChi turned her back on Kenji. “Nimbus!”

 “ChiChi….” Kenji pulled himself to stand. “Wait. Let’s talk.”

 ChiChi didn’t listen as she climbed on Nimbus. “I will forget what you said and think fondly of you but we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

 “ChiChi….” Kenji called again as she flew away. “ChiChi, wait!”

 ****

 Gyu-Mao tossed a frisbee to Gohan and Goten as they played in the yard. He was happy ChiChi was back to having physical dates with Kenji again and was hopeful this relationship will turn into marriage. That hope faltered when he saw Nimbus in the sky with ChiChi on it. ChiChi left with Kenji hours ago.

 “Mom,” Gohan walked up as ChiChi stepped off Nimbus, “why are you on Nimbus?”

 “ChiChi,” Gyu-Mao stepped to his daughter. “Where’s Kenji?”

 Three pairs of eyes stared at her. ChiChi’s priority was Goten. He liked Kenji more than anyone. She knelt before her son. “Goten, Momma won’t be seeing Mr. Kenji anymore. So no more baseball games. No more trips to the amusement park.”

 “What about my birthday?”

 “Sorry,” she apologized, “he won’t be coming.”

 “Why?”

 “He is moving to another city. It’ll be too difficult to keep seeing each other. Will you be okay?”

 Goten frowned, thinking what this meant. ChiChi thought she broke Goten’s heart but he shrugged and cheerfully said, “Guess it didn’t work out but that means we’ll spend more time together, right, Momma?”

 ChiChi hugged Goten so happy he is taking this well. “Of course and I will cook dinner tonight instead of Grandpa.”

 “Yay!” Goten cheered.

 “Gohan, take Goten inside.” Gyu-Mao’s tone had the hair on the back of ChiChi’s neck standing. “I wanna talk to ChiChi.”

 “Come on, Goten.” Gohan knew that tone. He heard it once and that was toward his Dad. He knew Grandpa was angry. “We should clean up the house before Mom goes inside. It’s messy.”

 Goten covered his hands over his mouth as if he did something bad. “Oh, no.” All his toys were scattered everywhere! He ran ahead of Gohan into the house.

 Gyu-Mao waited until Gohan and Goten were in the house before he asked, “What happened?”

ChiChi braced herself for her father’s anger. He will not be happy no matter what she says. “Dad, it was going too fast. Kenji wanted more than I was ready for. He bought a house. He wanted me to move in with him. He made plans for Gohan and Goten without me. He was already thinking of babies and our lives in Central City.”

 “That’s a good thing. ChiChi, he wanted to marry you!”

 “I don’t wanna marry him. I didn’t wanna lead him on.”

 “I told you. Make it a marriage of convenience. You won’t love him now but in a few years…..”

“I didn’t want that!” How many times did she need to say it? “It wasn’t about my happiness but my kids, too. Gohan didn’t like him.”

 Gyu-Mao couldn’t believe ChiChi was using that excuse. “Gohan’s a child. He’ll throw a tantrum but he would’ve grown to like Kenji and if he became a problem, I would’ve set him straight. You blew this opportunity! A rich man willing to take you and the boys don’t come by every day! This will never happen again! You blew their future!”

 “I considered their future!”

 “No, you didn’t! If you did, you would’ve said yes. Gohan and Goten would have a new Dad. Gohan would have many opportunities to pursue his education. Goten would grow up in a complete home.”

 “My sons have a father!”

 “Their father is dead and you’re staying loyal to a corpse!” Gyu-Mao knew it was cruel but it was the harsh truth and ChiChi needed to hear it. “I don’t mean to speak ill of Goku. He did the best he could but he’s not here and I am not gonna be here forever. You blew your chance, ChiChi!”

 Gyu-Mao’s temper was notorious. ChiChi was always intimidated by it but this time she wasn’t. “I accept you’re upset, Dad, but you will not insult Goku in front of me. It was you that caused me to meet Goku because you were too selfish to leave your precious treasure! You sent me, your eleven-year-old child to find a man I never met to help put out the fire around our home because of your wicked ways! I could’ve died! But I met the love of my life which you never fully accepted and tried to marry me off to others while I waited for him. You offered Goku to me as a bride and then you changed your mind. It became guys in the village like Kaifun and now Kenji. When will you stop?!”

 Unbeknownst to them, Gohan watched the argument from the kitchen window. He occasionally checked on Goten who scampered around the living room picking up his toys. As much as he wanted to be with his mother, he couldn’t leave Goten alone. He had to protect him from seeing this.

 “I was worried you were setting yourself up for disappointment. That’s why I wanted you to forget that promise. Goku honored his word and did his best but you still relied on me. You relied on me more financially than on Goku for most of your marriage! You needed me to help mend your marriage when Goku wanted to quit after your first fight!”

 ChiChi was livid her father brought that up. “That was a misunderstanding!”

 Gyu-Mao knew that but it added more evidence to his argument. “You needed my money when Goku stayed away after his fight with Freeza. You still needed it when Goku came back and trained for three years. Goku’s a lovable person. He can save the world but as a husband he’s not someone you can rely on. You have been given a chance at love, a better life and you’re blowing it staying faithful to a dead man who couldn’t bother to say goodbye to you!”

 For as long as he lived, Gohan will never forget the look on his mother’s face. It was as if Grandpa slapped her. Gohan wanted to run to his mother and yell at Grandpa but he couldn’t leave Goten. Mom held her own. She yelled at Grandpa and pointed away from the house. Grandpa opened his car capsule. He tried talking to Mom but she kept screaming at him until he drove off. Mom walked to the house. Gohan jumped from the window and joined Goten in the cleanup

 “My, my,” ChiChi sounded cheerful when she stepped in. “I thought I was coming home to a dirty house.”

 Goten pointed to his full toy chest. “I cleaned up, Momma.”

 ChiChi bent to hug Goten. “You’re a good boy. Momma loves you so much. Grandpa went home but as soon as I change clothes, I’m cooking you and Gohan your favorites!”

 “I’ll fix dinner, Mom,” Gohan decided. “You weren’t expected back until later and I was gonna make dinner.”

 “You were?” That was news to Goten. “Grandpa was gonna-----”

 “I’m cooking,” Gohan cut off his brother, “and you’re gonna help me.” To ChiChi, Gohan said, “I’ll take care of everything. I’ve been reading your cookbooks and I should get more practice. Let me do this. Please.”

 ChiChi knew Gohan saw her argument with Gyu-Mao. She would insist she will cook but didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. “Thank you, Gohan.”

 ChiChi went to her room. She changed clothes and took a nap. Gohan woke her to let her know dinner is ready. The kitchen was messy with dishes scattered on the counter and food stains on the floor but dinner was delicious. Gohan cooked a lovely meal of seasoned wild boar, noodles, steam vegetables from her garden and for dessert, pudding. ChiChi wanted to clean up but Gohan insisted he will do it. While Gohan cleaned, ChiChi spent her evening with Goten. She checked the work he did in his lessons, played with his toys and watched a program on TV before he went to bed.

 After ChiChi put Goten to bed, she checked on Gohan. Sometimes Gohan went to bed at the same time as Goten but other times he stayed up for another hour to read or watch a TV program. She found Gohan in her spotless kitchen pouring tea. “Are you drinking tea?” She placed a hand on Gohan’s forehead. “Are you sick?”

 “It’s for you. You always drink tea before you go to bed.”

 Moved to tears at his caring, ChiChi embraced Gohan. “You’re a good son.”

 Gohan hugged ChiChi back. “You’re a good Mom.”

 The two sat at the table drinking the hot tea. “I know you saw me and Grandpa talking. I know that’s why you cooked dinner. Thank you but tomorrow we go back to normal.”

 “I’m sorry about Kenji.” Gohan’s apology surprised ChiChi. “I know you broke up because of me. Grandpa yelled at you because of me.” From their fight in West City and this, Gohan’s eyes were fully opened. He finally understood what ChiChi privately dealt with; how she tried and continues to protect him and Goten.

 “I broke up because it wasn’t right for us. There have been too many people in my head lately and I was selfish, too.”

 Gohan didn’t think so. “I didn’t know how tough it was being with Dad.”

 It was touching Gohan finally understood but he didn’t have to say this. “Having a good marriage is tough, Gohan. There were hard times but there were more good times. In our years together, the only thing me and Goku really argued on was training you and allowing you to fight monsters that can destroy the planet.”

 In his early memories, Gohan mostly remembered happy times. Mom got angry but when it involved him fighting, Mom became a different person. She seemed so cold and not understanding. Gohan finally saw it was he who didn’t understand. “Everyone needed me but I was too young for that,” Gohan confessed the harsh truth. “I didn’t see it that way then but when I see Goten, sometimes I think of what I went through and how it changed me. I don’t want that for him.”

 ChiChi didn’t want that either. “It would be nice to break the cycle. Me, your Dad and you all had traumatic events when we were young.”

 “Goten will break the cycle,” Gohan promised.

 ChiChi appreciated Gohan’s determination to keep Goten innocent as long as possible. It was a good feeling knowing her son had her back. ChiChi wished they didn’t have to deal with the tough circumstances to get to this point. “I thought this wouldn’t happen until you marry and have kids. Not now.”

 “I want it this way.” Gohan didn’t want to be coddled anymore. He was ready to see things how they really are. “I wished it happened earlier. I wouldn’t have been mad at you when you were right. I would’ve noticed I surpassed Dad. I would’ve been ready to fight Cell and Dad would be here with us and Goten.”

 “That’s a lot of wouldas.” It bothered ChiChi Gohan still burdened himself with guilt over the Cell Game but she knew only Gohan can come to terms with it. “It never would’ve happened that way.”

 “I know.” Gohan stared at his cup. “I love Dad but he sometimes frustrated me. I was in denial about that because Dad always saved me; Dad was always happy and he was a good person and I love being around him. I thought I was wrong to feel different.”

 “It’s hard to not see Dad perfect when he brings out the best in everyone. He turns enemies into friends.” ChiChi sipped her tea. “You don’t truly love and understand someone unless you see all their flaws. So, don’t think of noticing Dad’s flaws as a bad thing but think of it as knowing Dad and loving him for who he is. Everyone can’t say that. Not even Dad’s friends.”

 It wasn’t until after Goten’s birth Gohan noticed his Dad’s friendship with everyone. They were friends but met when it involved fighting or collecting dragon balls. They didn’t meet for holidays or mini reunions like now. Meetings were out of necessity. Gohan didn’t meet them until he was four and five. Goten was three but met everyone several times.  

 Gohan thought his Mom was the reason he didn’t meet them sooner but now he saw it was probably Dad. So many misunderstandings were created that labeled his Mom wrong when she wasn’t. She suffered in silence, forgo her own happiness for her family. Gohan thought his Mom deserves happiness and he will be silent for once. “If being with Kenji makes you happy, Mom, I can be happy, too. I know you love Dad and I know dating Kenji doesn’t mean you stopped loving him. I won’t get in the way.”

 This was a big change from what happened nearly a week ago. Her son was a caring soul but this isn’t what ChiChi wanted. “Listen to me. I don’t want to get back with Kenji. I was feeling lonely. Grandpa and Bulma influenced me to date Kenji to fill that loneliness and to secure your and Goten’s future. I tried but I couldn’t do it. Kenji is a kind man but our feelings for each other are different. He wants things I can’t give and he deserves someone who will give him what he wants. As for Dad, I will never understand all of Goku’s decisions but I know he wouldn’t have stayed dead if he didn’t think he had another choice. It hurts but I know Goku will never intentionally hurt me, you, or Goten. And, I know he’s lonely, too, and waiting for us. He’s probably wishing he could hold us like we want to hold him now.”

 ****

 The ground shook as two strong forces collided. Their punches created soundwaves that could be heard for miles. Their Ki exploded mountainous terrains and caused quakes. Luckily, they were far from the Grand Kai’s palace or it would suffer damage, too.

 Kimani played it smart. She knew Goku would want to train together and perfect Fusion as soon as possible and when he is in sync with her, he’ll move on. Kimani wanted his attention before that happens. She arranged it where they spent an hour a day together. During this hour they will spar or talk. Kimani did most of the talking while Goku only answered questions when asked. Kimani knew he died protecting Earth from a threat but Goku didn’t talk about it or his life there.

 Kimani loved when they sparred. That’s when she felt she got the real Goku. He was playful in the beginning, not taking her seriously but when she outwitted him with her speed and got hits on him, his demeanor changed. He was impressed and put more effort into their fight.

 But Goku was not a patient man. When he wanted something, he wanted it now. At the end of every hour, Goku brought Kimani to the Metamorans to see if they were in sync. Goku got better each time. She didn’t have long before Goku mastered it and moved on. She needed to leave an impression on him before then.

 As their spar came to an end, Kimani had one more attack. Her arms vibrated at Goku in the form of twisters. A large burst of Ki grew from these spirals. They expelled from her arms and surrounded Goku; spinning his body as if he were caught in a tornado. The spirals spun faster until Goku was a blur. With all this spinning, Goku will be dizzy and vulnerable for her final attack. She flew into the spirals and before she could strike Goku a sharp punch struck her stomach. She saw Goku’s smirk and flowing Super Saiyan hair before she was flung from the twisters. Her impact on the ground created a three-foot crater.

 Her body ached all over and she blacked out but when she opened her eyes, Goku stood over her smiling with his hand out to her. Kimani accepted it and allowed Goku to pull her up. “That was intense but I almost had you.” Wanting to be closer to Goku, Kimani took a few steps and wobbled. As expected, Goku caught her.

 “Whoa. Are you okay?” Kimani pressed herself closer. She loved the solid wall of muscles pressed against her body. “Sorry. I think I hit you too hard.”

 “It’s all right.” Kimani put her arm around his waist. “I want it this way.”

 “Yeah, but I’m really stronger than you. I should go easy on you.”

 “I’ll slit your throat if you did.” Kimani leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’ll get you next time but hold me until I get my energy back. You knocked the wind out of me.”

 “Um, okay.” They stood in the empty field holding each other. Kimani never had a chance to be this close to Goku and wanted it to last as long as possible. His arm felt so good around her. His body felt even better. She wanted more. Kimani put her arms around Goku’s neck and pressed closer. Her covered breasts massaged against the blue tatters of his shirt. Her hips rubbed against his but for a second before Goku pushed her to stand arm’s length. “What are you doing?”

 “Holding you until I get my energy back.”

 Goku frowned. “You didn’t need to hold me like that.”

 “Why?” she asked coyly. “Didn’t you like it?”

 “No. You’re being weird,” he told her as he put two fingers to his forehead. He searched for a Ki and transported him and Kimani back to the training grounds at the Grand Kai’s palace. Kimani grimaced being in familiar terrain again. She wanted more alone time with Goku.

 “Hi!” Goku waved at the Metamorans. “I think we got it this time.”

 The Metamorans broke from their afternoon spar. Goku always appeared like clockwork. Kimani hated this. Goku was a lot better now. Even she knew the next visit or two will be the last one for them. Goku was always the one out of sync. If she acted out of sync after being perfect this entire time, Kimani knew even naïve Goku will be suspicious.

 Goku stepped away from her. He smiled, determined this was it. “Ready?”

 Kimani held her in position. “Ready.”

 The Metamorans observe Goku and Kimani move in sync. They slid at the same time, swung their arms at the same time and the tips of their fingers touched at the same. Kimani mentally cursed. Goku got it. They were asked to repeat it again. Perfect. After a third, it was unequivocal. Goku mastered the Fusion dance.

 “Whoo-hoo!” Goku thrusts his arms up. “I got it! I got it!”

 “Congratulations,” Kimani hid her disappointment. “Now you need to find someone who can match you in Ki. If you lower yours to match mine, we can fuse.”

 “Nah,” Goku refused. “I’ll wait for a fighter to show up that’s close to me in strength. I’m glad I got the Fusion dance down. Thanks for the help. I need to tell King Kai. Bye!”

 Goku did as she thought. Leave as soon as he learned Fusion but Kimani didn’t see this as a goodbye. Through the time they spent together, Kimani knew she left an impression on him. She needed to wait until the right moment.

 Time couldn’t be accurately recorded so Kimani followed her planet’s recordings of time and guessed two weeks passed since she exclusively spent time alone with Goku. She found ways to randomly encounter Goku. As always, Goku was on the move but when she overheard Goku telling the Kai of the North he was traveling again, Kimani knew it was time to make her move.

 Most fighters stayed on the land surrounding the Grand Kai’s enormous palace but Goku was an adventure and traveler. Once a month, Goku ventured on these travels alone. He even had a favorite spot where Goku trained and relaxed. Goku mentioned it to her in passing. When Goku left, Kimani waited an hour before following. She kept her Ki low from detection. When she caught up to Goku, he stood in front of a lake undressing. Activities for the living like baths and showers weren’t needed in the afterlife but some of the dead fell back into old habits. Even Goku. He ate when he didn’t need to. Slept when he didn’t have to and swam for cleansing more than sport. Alone and naked Kimani knew this was perfect.  

 “Goku!” Kimani walked to the end of the lake waving at Goku.  

 Goku waved, finished his lap and swam back to the edge of the lake. “Hi.”

 “Are you swimming alone?”

 Goku looked around. “There ain’t anyone else here.”

 “How is the water?”

 “Great.” Goku pushed back in the water to resume his laps.

 “Good.” Kimani removed her shoes and loosened her clothes. “This lake reminds me of home. I swam in it every day.” She raised her dress over her head and dropped her clothes beside Goku’s. Nude, she walked into the lake and swam to Goku. “Do you mind if I join you?”

 Kimani thought Goku would be happy to have company but he looked annoyed. “Lake is all yours.” Goku swam away. “I’m done.”

 “Done?” He only swam twenty laps. In the pool at Grand Kai’s palace, Goku swam 100. Kimani swam after Goku back to the lake’s edge. Goku climbed out and gave Kimani a wonderful eyeful of his backside. She stared as his wet body illuminated in a light Ki to dry himself. “How many did you swim?”

 “Enough.” He bent to retrieve his pants. As he put his legs in, Kimani got a glimpse of what dangled between. Very nice. Goku pulled up his pants, shielding his tight body from her eyes.

 “The lake is big enough for both of us to share.”

 “I know,” Goku agreed, “but ChiChi told me I only swim with her.” He reached for his shirts.

 “ChiChi?” Kimani rose from the water. She stood before Goku as he pulled his shirts over his head. Once his head appeared out of the shirt whole, Kimani expected Goku to stare at her body. He didn’t. He bent to pick up his obi.

 “ChiChi’s my wife.”

 Wife? He had a wife? “You were married on Earth? I didn’t know.”

 Goku turned away as he tightened the obi around his waist. “I didn’t tell you.”

 Kimani stood in front of him still naked. It was insulting he didn’t want to take a little peek. “I know, but…… you never talked about her. Do you miss her?”

 Goku pulled on his wristbands. “Sure. I miss her and my son.”

 “You had a family?” Kimani did wonder how no one snagged Goku but now she knew someone did and Goku kept it a secret. There was a reason for this. “We all deal with death in our own ways. Some people share their grief. You hide it.”

 Goku sat on the grass and pulled a boot over his right foot. Kimani sat next to him, not hiding or caring she was still nude. “What do you miss most about your wife?”

 Goku tied his boot. “Her cooking. Food here is okay but it’s nothing like ChiChi’s.”

 Cooking? If cooking was what he missed most about his wife, ChiChi was lacking in an area Kimani excelled at. “Cooking? Not… sex?”

Goku put on his other boot. “Well, yeah, I miss that but ChiChi ain’t here so I can’t do that.”

 “Your wife’s cooking isn’t here but you eat.” She slid close enough so her wet breasts touched his arm. “You can do the same with sex.”

 Goku pulled away. He looked disgusted. “I can’t have sex without ChiChi?”

 “You eat food ChiChi didn’t cook.”

 “I always did that. There ain’t rules on eating. I married ChiChi and that means I only have sex with her.”

 Kimani wanted to laugh. His innocence was adorable! “When you’re married, you shouldn’t have sex with anyone but your wife, but you’re not married anymore. You’re free from that rule.”

 “I am?”

 Innocent but definitely teachable. “Now that you’re dead, you can have sex with anyone you like. Is there anyone here you felt sexual excitement for but didn’t act because you thought you couldn’t because of your marriage to ChiChi?”

 “No.”

 He answered that too quickly. “Not even with me?”

 Goku made a face as if he ate something nasty. “Why would I wanna have sex with you?”

 Why? Didn’t her beauty, body and skills answer that question? Goku was cute but incredibly dense. “Can’t you imagine how intense and hot sex will be with us? We could make the world shake.”

 “I don’t want it to shake.”

 “I want it to shake. With you.” Kimani approached him but Goku stepped back. “We can be very good together. I understand loyalty to your wife but the bonds you made with her are gone. It ended when you died.”

 Goku shook his head. “But ChiChi said……”

 “What ChiChi said doesn’t matter anymore. We have been gifted to keep our bodies in the afterlife. We’re a special breed. We are free to be with whoever we want. It’s crazy to limit ourselves and experiences. The other fighters aren’t. Why are you?”

 Goku stopped stepping back. “What fighters?”

 Kimani kept moving but stop just inches from touching Goku. She didn’t want to spook him away now she had him where she wanted him. “Several fighters have gotten together. Olibo has taken a few lovers. Sarta was very impressed with your fighting in the tournament the Grand Kai hosted.”

 “Sarta?” Goku thought the name sounded familiar. “Oh! I know him. He’s been here for a while.”

 “He’s 3600 years old,” Kimani informed him.

 “We sparred once. He was a little grabby but I beat him.”

 Kimani grinned slyly aware of why Sarta was grabby. “I hear he wanted you as a lover but you didn’t show interest.”

 “Huh?” Goku wasn’t dumb to what Kimani meant. He’s seen men like that on Earth. “But he got a wife and kids.”

 “They weren’t allowed to keep their bodies when they crossed over. Sarta moved on and found love several times in men, women and others. He and Torbie are lovers now.”  

 Goku knew Torbie. He looked like Cell, strong but was easily defeated by Pikkon. He’s seen Torbie and Sarta sparring together but thought they were friends. Not lovers.

 “Oh.”

 “So, you see, we can be lovers, too.” Kimani moved to wrap her arms around Goku’s neck but he jumped in the sky to get away. Kimani flew in front of him. She floated before him, freely advertising her marvelous nude body to him. “Don’t you want to be happy?”

 “But I am happy.”

 Goku turned to fly away but Kimani jumped in front of him again. “You’re lonely. I heard when you came here, you fought several fighters. Now you spend most of your time by yourself, with the Kai of the North and sometimes away from this place. With me, you won’t be lonely. We can be very good together if you give us a try.”  

 “I don’t wanna try.” He was getting annoyed with Kimani. “I’m married to ChiChi. She’s waiting for me now and I’m waiting for her.”

 Kimani laughed. “You can’t really think that.”

 “It’s the truth!”

 Goku needed a reality check. How terrible his Kai of the North kept the truth from Goku. “Even if you do wait for her, there’s no guarantee she’ll keep her body when she crosses over. It will be like Sarta and his family. What will you do when ChiChi can’t keep her body? Fuck a puff of smoke?”

 That would be weird but Goku knew that wouldn’t happen. “ChiChi will keep her body. She’s a good person.”

 “You need special privileges to keep your body and just being good isn’t one of them.” Kimani smiled seeing a change on Goku’s face. It was finally sinking in. “I didn’t mean to anger you, Goku, but you need to be told the truth and your Kai failed you. Your wife will be a floating spirit when she dies. Take your time to mourn but I’ll be here. I have my body. I won’t go anywhere but I’ll wait for you.”

 Kimani descended and left Goku with troubling thoughts. Goku put two fingers to his forehead and searched for King Kai’s Ki. What Kimani said wasn’t true. Sarta’s family couldn’t keep their body but Goku knew ChiChi and Gohan will keep theirs. Gohan saved the world. It’s a guarantee he’ll keep his body when he crosses over. ChiChi didn’t save the world but she was a good person. ChiChi will keep her body and reunite with him. He knew it.

 ****

 “Goku, are you blind, stupid or crazy?”

 “I’m neither.”

 “You’re one of them,” Olibo was certain. “I don’t know which.”

 Goku teleported to King Kai. With him were Olibu and Pikkon resting after a rematch. He told King Kai of his encounter with Kimani. Pikkon had no opinion but Olibo had plenty to say to his Earth friend.  

 “Kimani is the most beautiful and strongest woman here. Many of us have tried to get her attention. Her wanting you means she finds you worthy. Am I not right, King Kai?”

 King Kai stepped back, waving his hands in a ‘no’ gesture. “This is not my territory. I advise on fighting. I don’t give advice on romantic issues. Well, I can,” King Kai eyed Goku, “but no one listens and if someone did, he would be on Earth with his family.”

 “But you’ve been around for ages,” Olibu said. “You’ve seen many things. You must have some opinion.”

 “My opinion is to respect Goku’s choice. You should, too.”

 “I would but he’s not being rational.” If King Kai wasn’t going to give Goku the facts, Olibo elected himself. “Kimani is right. You haven’t been here thousands of years so your family is still fresh on your mind but those feelings won’t last. At some point, they will die. All of us had families and friends when we were alive but we’re not with them. They became spirits or were reincarnated. You will forget yours like I forgot my loved ones. That’s the natural course here, Goku. The sooner you accept this the better it will be for you.”

 “Then let it happen for Goku,” Pikkon suggested. “Let the natural course run.”

 “There ain’t no natural course!” Goku snapped. Olibo was wrong! “ChiChi will keep her body and she’ll be here. So will Gohan.”

 “Goku…..” King Kai forward cautious of Goku’s fluctuating Ki. “Olibo is trying to be helpful. He has been here thousands of years and has seen many things. He’s trying to prepare you….”

 “I don’t wanna hear it!” Enraged, Goku flared into a Super Saiyan and flew off. It wasn’t true Goku told himself. Olibo was wrong. He had to be except King Kai didn’t correct him. If Olibo was right then that meant when he saw ChiChi and Gohan on the kitchen floor, that was the last time he’ll see them. It meant he’ll never embrace or talk to them again. No. He’ll see Gohan. He saved the world. He’s Earth’s hero now. He’ll do many feats to secure keeping his body but what about ChiChi? She’s a good person but she didn’t do anything special. If that was the last time, he saw her then…..

 That means I’ll never see her again.

 ****

 18’s baby shower was hosted at Master Roshi’s house. Only Bulma, ChiChi and their kids came. The house was decorated in pink and white balloons and streamers and tables were covered with gifts and food. While ChiChi and Bulma fawned over the gifts, Gohan played caretaker to Goten and Trunks. Master Roshi and Krillin were in competition with each other putting together the big presents. Master Roshi worked on the crib while Krillin worked on the stroller. Both men argued they will finish first.

 18 unwrapped a gift from Yamcha. “Onesies from Yamcha’s baseball team.”

 “Oh, lord,” Bulma rolled her eyes. “Ever since the Taitans won the championship, Yamcha’s ego has been impossible to deal with. He’s giving everyone Taitans gear. He gave a jersey to Trunks and Vegeta burned it.”

 “That was a waste,” ChiChi chided the act.

 “And what about the jerseys Kenji gave you, Gohan and Goten?” Bulma was still not happy with ChiChi’s decision to end things with Kenji. “Have you worn them?”

 “Goten’s still plays with the toys but the clothes are in storage.” Bulma rolled her eyes at the answer. “It’s better this way.”

 Before Bulma could give what would’ve been a snarky retort, Krillin cheered, “I did it! I’m finished!”

 Master Roshi grumbled as he tightened the last screws on the crib. “Only because I have more things to screw.”

 Krillin stuck his tongue out. “You lost, Old Man. Deal with it. Come look, 18. I finished the stroller.”

 ChiChi helped 18 off the sofa. The sofa was comfortable to sit on but being nine months pregnant, it wasn’t easy to rise from. Bulma examined the stroller. “Hmm.” She rolled it back and forth. “The rear left wheel is wobbly. I think you’re missing a screw.” Bulma kept rolling the stroller. The wheel broke from the stroller and rolled into a wall.

 Master Roshi laughed. “First stroll on the beach and Marron will fall out. Tsk. Tsk.”

 “I’ll fix it,” Krillin promised. “I missed something because I was trying to beat Master Roshi.”

 18 waddled to Marron’s crib. Bulma examined this one, too. It felt sturdy but 18 waited on Bulma’s judgement. “It looks secure.” Bulma gripped the bars of the crib and shook it. “Feels secure. All the screws are in, too.”

 “Slow and steady wins the race,” Master Roshi wagged his old, wrinkly finger at Krillin.

 “But can you get it in their room?” ChiChi asked. “Their bedroom door is narrow.”

 “That door is 30 inches wide. I remember because I had to put in a door after Lunch shot holes in it.”

 Gohan read the crib’s measurements. “This crib is 34 inches wide.”

 This time Krillin laughed at Master Roshi. “You’re as bad as I am. I’ll help you take it apart and we’ll put both back together.”

 18 shook her head. Those two were in competition with each other the last two months of her pregnancy. If Krillin brought home a “Best Dad” shirt. Master Roshi bought a “Best Grandpa” shirt. If something needed fixing, they fought on who will do it and sometimes made it worse. One tile needed to be replaced in the shower but because of them, ten new tiles were replaced.

 “Just get it done without killing yourselves.” 18 winced at the sudden pain in her stomach. She had pains in her lower back and stomach off and on since yesterday but she ignored it since it was minor and didn’t last long. This one made her legs wobbly.

 18 gripped Krillin’s shoulder. She felt growing moisture between her legs. “Krillin…. I think…. Ugh… I think the baby’s coming.”

 18’s legs buckled under the pain. Krillin caught her and gently ease her on the sofa. As a pained moan escaped her lips, Krillin hollered in joy. It was time! “Oh, boy!! Master Roshi, I’m gonna be a Dad! 18 is having the baby! Bulma, I’m gonna be a Dad! 18 is having the baby! ChiChi, I’m gonna be----”

 “Why are you so excited?!” 18 screamed. “I’m in pain!!”

 Trunks pointed at 18. “She peed herself!”

 Everyone looked down to see amniotic fluid slide down her legs. “Oh, geez,” Master Roshi groaned knowing a pudding was forming in 18’s seat. “Do I have to clean all of that?!”

 “Hospital,” ChiChi took charge. “Gohan, get 18’s bag.”

 “Blue bag by the door!” 18 hollered as Gohan ran upstairs.

 ChiChi held 18’s hand. “How long have you been feeling pains?”

 “I…..” 18 gritted at the pain coursing through her. “It’s been off and on. It wasn’t this bad before. I thought it was false contractions.” She panted. “She’s a week early.”

 “That’s okay,” ChiChi calmed her friend. “Dr. Barkley warned this could happen.”

 “A week early?” Krillin picked up 18. “That means you can give birth now!”

 “Krillin!” Bulma yelled after him but Krillin zoomed out the house. The wind created from his speed knocked Bulma into Master Roshi, ChiChi flipping over the sofa, presents off the table and Goten and Trunks rolling on the floor like balls.

 “I got the bag!” Gohan ran down the stairs to see everyone on the floor in a crumpled mess. “What the….”

 “Let me go, you perv!” Bulma’s back laid on Master Roshi. In the calamity, the old man grabbed Bulma’s breasts.

 “I was saving you from being blown away. Ow!” he was kicked in the head by ChiChi.

 “Where are Krillin and 18?” Gohan asked.

 “Halfway to the hospital,” Bulma groused as she stood. “Come on. I’ll fly us.”

  ****

 18’s labor progressed quickly. When Dr. Barkley examined her, she determined 18 has been in labor since last night but due to her strong body’s resistance to pain, 18 didn’t notice. Calls were made to Yamcha and 17 as everyone waited for Marron’s birth.

 Yamcha burst into the waiting room. Master Roshi paced and smoked his pipe like an expecting father. ChiChi knitted. Bulma was on her cell phone and Gohan watched Goten and Trunks. “Where’s 17?”

 “Hell if I know,” Bulma bristled. “I’m calling with the number 18 gave but he’s not answering. I left five messages.”

 “How’s 18?”

 “In the delivery room with Krillin,” ChiChi looped her yarn with her needle. “She’s pushing now.”

 “That was over an hour ago.” Master Roshi circled the room again. “How long does it take to push out a baby? She’s not traveling far.”

 “Oh, calm down,” Bulma turned off her phone. “An hour is perfectly normal.”

 “How long did it take you to push out Trunks?”

 Bulma shrugged. “I was too high on drugs.”

 Master Roshi and Yamcha looked at ChiChi for an answer. “I can’t remember with Gohan but Goten came out quickly. I think it was about thirty minutes.”

 Yamcha joined Master Roshi in the pacing. They did three loops around the room before Krillin burst in like he won the lottery. “She’s here! I’M A DAD!!!” Krillin threw his arms up in victory. “18’s okay and Marron’s here. Everyone—ack!”

 Master Roshi knocked Krillin over as he blurred out of the room. Bulma laughed, “You’d think it was his grandchild being born.” She grabbed Trunks’ hand and followed after the old martial artist.

 Everyone else filed out eager to see the baby. ChiChi stuffed her yarn and knitting needles in her purse, making her the last to leave with Yamcha. Yamcha followed close besides ChiChi as she followed everyone down the hall. Just as she was going to enter 18’s room, Yamcha grabbed her arm and pulled her from the door.

 “ChiChi, wait a second. I need to talk to you about Kenji.”

 “Kenji?” They were over two months ago. She saw Yamcha at Goten’s birthday party. He never talked to her about his teammate. ChiChi wondered why he wanted to now. “Why?”

 “I know why you and Kenji didn’t work out. He told me what he said. I was pissed. I punched him for Goku.”

 “It’s okay, Yamcha,” ChiChi brushed off the matter. “I share some blame so I’m not mad anymore.”

 “He’s settled into Central City. He’s not dating anyone.” Yamcha dug in his pockets and pulled out an envelope with ChiChi’s name on it. “Kenji wanted me to give this to you.”

 ChiChi didn’t want it. “There’s nothing else to say.”

 “He really wanted me to give this to you.” He urged her to take it.

 ChiChi reluctantly took the envelope. It wasn’t sealed. “Have you read it?”

 “No, but we talked and I have an idea what he said.” Yamcha left ChiChi with that as he stepped into 18’s room.

 ChiChi looked at the door, wondering if she should go in, and then the envelope, wondering if she should read it. She didn’t want to read the letter. ChiChi considered the chapter of Kenji closed but something in Yamcha’s voice told her she should read it. Decision made, ChiChi pulled out the letter

 Dear ChiChi,

 I know you are not expecting this letter but please read this. I wanted to see you several times but I didn’t want to surprise or upset you. I am a blunt and direct person. I say what’s on my mind. I’m sorry I upset you the last time we talked but I spoke out of anger and frustration. I didn’t mean it. You must believe me. I reacted the way I did because I love you.

 Yes, I love you. I know you will find that hard to believe. You’ll say it’s too soon but I do. You’re an easy woman to fall in love with. I’m not Goku and I can’t replace him in your heart but I care for you deeply. I care for Gohan and Goten and I want to be a husband for you and a father to them.

 I love baseball. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I didn’t play but spending time with you and your boys really showed me another part of life I’m missing. It’s something I really want. I love Goten so much. That sweet boy deserves a Daddy. I’m not Goku but I can be a Daddy to Goten. It’s too late to spare Gohan the pain of losing a parent but I’ll make sure Goten doesn’t grow up with the pain and loss you and Gohan have in your heart. I can be a husband for you and if we’re lucky, we can have children together.

 “Mom?” ChiChi looked up. Gohan stood by the door. “Aren’t you coming to see the baby?”

 ChiChi folded the letter and placed it in her purse. “Yeah. Sorry. I…..I am… I just.. never mind.”

 “What were you reading?” Gohan asked.

 “Bills,” she lied. “Let’s see the baby.” ChiChi followed Gohan inside. Goten and Trunks shared a chair looking curious but not all interested in the new baby. Everyone else surrounded 18’s bed in awe. 18 sat up holding Marron wrapped in a pink blanket. Krillin, the proud papa, sat by 18 with tears glistening his eyes. Master Roshi openly cried like a proud grandpa. Yamcha stood farthest but smile approvingly and Bulma fawned over baby Marron.

 “She’s so cute. We finally got a girl in our group.” She cocked her head at Goten and Trunks. “They’ll be fighting over her in sixteen years.”

 “Oh, no!” Krillin protested. “I don’t mind Goten dating Marron but she is not dating Trunks.”

 Bulma’s whipped herself to Krillin offended, “And what’s wrong with my son?! We know what he will look like when he gets older. He will be a magnet to all girls.”

 “It was a joke. You know I’m joking.” Krillin tried to laugh it off but Master Roshi and Yamcha pity shake told him he was on his own. “I’m a Dad. I don’t want my daughter dating anyone.”

 “But you said Trunks. You didn’t say Trunks and Goten!”

 While Krillin tried to calm Bulma, ChiChi took the moment to hold Marron. As ChiChi awed at the cute newborn, 18 whispered, “She needs to get to know her Auntie ChiChi and her godmother. Maybe her future mother-in-law, if Goten’s lucky.”

 ChiChi thought it was too soon to talk about matchmaking their children. It would be nice if their children got together but after her experience dealing with her father trying to pair her up, ChiChi wanted her kids to pick their partners on their own. “She has Krillin’s eyes.”

 “And no nose like Dad,” 18 added. “I can’t believe Bulma was right.”

 “About Trunks?”

 “No. That game of hers on New Year’s Eve. It predicted marriage and a baby for me. It came true. It predicted romance for you. You were meant to meet Kenji.”

 “Maybe.” ChiChi thought of the letter in her purse. “But it’s over.”

 Part 36: Changes

[powerosewaterpuff]

yo ,i remember a post about sort of reverse batfam , between jason and dick , can you do the headcanons about under the red hood please

yes yes yes yes yes and another yes to top it all off. i really really love the idea, and i love under the red hood in general so thank u so much for suggesting this :) like i spent all day brainstorming (probs shoulda been studying but shhhhh) diff headcanons so i’m pretty excited to write it out. also so the timeline with this is a little tight ig?? i really wanted to include tim as bruce’s new sidekick with dick in the middle of his fallout with bruce but again a lil too tight so we’re just gonna have rebellious dick for now and i also haven’t watched death in the family so i’m basing this purely off of under the red hood :) (oh and fuck dick’s hair in the movie oh my god i’m ignoring that it even exists i’m so sorry)

dick is 17 on the cusp of hitting 18 and he’s so fucking sick of batman. every conversation of theirs was leading to a screaming match where each one tries to push their opinion as fact. it was getting messy and soul crushing at this point, and dick hated it. the rising action of it all was dick getting fired from robin, a role he hadn’t even been formally granted by batman yet he felt it in his power to strip him of it. he felt like a pawn in a chess game that gambled his identity and being off of the mind numbing mantra of be better. do better. faster. punch harder. follow orders. be better be better better. and dick was sick of it, so he shed the robin uniform. swallowing it like a bitter pill because he was forced to do so. but nightwing was giving him clarity as of late. the sheer rush, brilliance and exuberance of it all reminded him of when flying was a much simpler task.

however, dick had an annoyingly unwavering loyalty to protecting bruce’s (less batman then bruce. bruce was his father. batman was not. yet nowadays the man himself was forgetting who exactly was the secret identity and who the real person was.) safety and well-being, even if it meant risking another shouting round. so, once dick catches wind of batman’s whereabouts for the night, he decides to help him with Amazo etc., and dick cant help but realize how well they still mesh together when it comes to fighting. the talking part however, did not come naturally anymore. (it used to. it used to be so much easier)

now bruce, is attempting his best to keep dick out of the loop. he knows dick will furious. and dick’s temper is something not many can tame, but bruce would take the risk. he’d rather dick spit on his memory then be dead in his arms (just like jason was, blown to bits when he should’ve been in his room. safe. sleeping after studying for some test not fighting crime with him in the underbelly of Gotham city, or getting dragged along bruce’s self induced fight with the world.)

dick, of course, does not appreciate this and can very easily tell the bruce is trying to get him off the case. dick doesn’t appreciate that in the slightest, and it only makes him want to push more. to fight bruce on every detail and demand he be apart of this because that’s the only way he can get anywhere with him. it was fair to say, that the interrogation with the joker he had to force bruce into taking him too, wasn’t exactly pleasant. he watches, leaning back against the wall as batman has joker by the neck. some part of him hates himself for not being upset about this, like he’s failing his moral code in some way. but he ignores that half, and tries not to feel angry as bruce doesn’t choke joker out like the rat he is. dick wished, in the darkest parts of his mind, that he could burn joker alive, just to watch in vengeful satisfaction that the man who stole his brothers breath wither in pain. ( and watch that fucking laugh die out)

now, the confrontation goes quite similar. except dick is noticing these little things that resemble jason too much it be a coincidence. too much. he knows how jason fights, he’s sparred with him for years and used to spend countless nights in his room trying to emulate his older brothers swift and hard hitting movements in front of his mirror. he always wished he could hit as hard as jason, as dicks strength at the time was his inhuman flexiblity and professional acrobatic skills. now, when he and batman are against the red hood, fuck it doesn’t feel right to dick. it’s all too similar. it wasn’t even the bigger moves that caught his attention but the little moves in stance that screamed at him that it was his brother. he kept shutting the idea down, because if it was possible dick would have made it happen. he would’ve.

dick gets hurt in the aftermath, but bruce must be a fucking comedian if he thinks it’s going to stop him. they get into another argument, bruce talking him down to nothing and dick frustrated that bruce couldn’t see that he’s been doing this for too long to be lectured on it, and that bruce wasn’t atlas. he wasn’t responsible for the world being held up between his two hands. it simmers down to loud silence, like it always does and dick hobbles out. leaning slightly on alfred.

bruce’s hunch is eating him alive. devouring his soul and heart with a satisfying crunch, not sparing crumb. with the revelation that his son could be alive, and the Red Hood of all people, one of the first thoughts that run through his mind is that he could not tell dick. dick could never know, and will never know. it was a hushed promise, one kept inside his chest, locked like all of his unspoken words. it would crush dick, just like it was crushing bruce now. (or maybe it was because if bruce was on the fence about breaking his moral agenda, he knows that dick would hurdle over that fence. he hates that he knows this but he does. dick wears a bleeding heart on his sleeve for his family, especially for jason. this is the same boy that was set on killing zucco all those years ago before jason and him had stopped it.)

(jason’s tasting bitter green as he mulls over why the fuck dick was there. that little idiot was supposed to be at home. safe. not carrying out bruce’s destructive agenda of self proclaimed justice. he didn’t know whether to be mad at bruce or dick. because of course bruce encouraged this shit, eager to force another child soldier into the suit and send him out to die. but God, did it hurt that dick had taken bruce’s side over his even if he didn’t know it was jason. and that stung like a motherfucker. his little brother, whose fond memories were becoming hazed in a cloud of viridecent smoke, had picked bruce’s side. a little part of himself though, shy and hesitant, whispered that he had hurt dick. he had hurt his little brother and he couldn’t justify it no matter how vengeful he was. but he shoved that part aside, trying to ignore its desperate murmurs as they told him that every time he looked at nightwing or whatever the fuck his new name was, he saw his eight year old little brother smiling up at him).

dick knows that bruce thinks he’s covering his tracks well. he is but dick knows bruce, better then bruce thinks he does. so dick is slowly beginning to formulate a hunch of his own, as he spends countless nights rubbing his formerly injured leg and wondering if he really did everything he could’ve to save jason. if there was something he missed. it’s starting to gnaw away at him, until realization settles into his chest after snooping through bruce’s files. then, he’s dashing to get into uniform, giving a breathless and hasty apology to alfred. itsjasonitsjasonitsjasongogogorunrunrun

batman. red hood. bruce. jason. father. son. bruce cannot stomach the vigor in jason’s words and jason’s heart is giving out at the fact that his father won’t do this for him. to end that pathetic excuse of a fucking life, one that’s stolen from so many people, but it still wasn’t up to his moral standards limit. was jason not enough to warrant a sacrifice for the greater good. (was jason’s desperate need to feel safe of that walking nightmare not worthy to overtake any mission)

it happens in a rush. dick is swinging up to the building, the blood pumping through his ears drowning out the screams of his chest. the joker tackles batman as the timer tick tick tick’s away numbingly. suddenly, dick has kicked the joker off and has one hand over his neck while the other smothers itself over his mouth and nose. why didn’t he do this before? why didn’t he kill the thing before? it didn’t even deserve to be called human, so why would any moral standards apply to a human based code. if batman wanted to be the whole representer of pure justice, fine. he could do that. dick wasn’t though. he was going this kill piece of shit then never let go of jason as long as he lived.

suddenly, there’s a pull at the back of dick’s uniform and at the corner of his eye he catches sight of jason being pulled by bruce as well and he’s just about to call out for him when the next thing he knows a blast rockets through his ears and the world goes black.

jason was no where to be found. and bruce ends up having to shove dick into the batmobile before he lunged after the joker, after realizing jason was missing and that the joker was still alive and kicking. the argument that insues? isn’t pretty. in fact it’s their worst. dick had spun around and asked bruce, ‘who are you? batman or bruce? because im not talking to batman, i want to hear why bruce couldn’t do the one thing his son needed! i want to know why bruce thought it was going to be beneficial not to fucking tell me that my brother-Bruce, he’s my brother! that he was alive, because you thought I was gonna pull shit like this? look at that! the exact thing you tried to avoid happened, you know why? because you cannot trust me, and it blew up in your face!’

it goes on. and on. and on. there’s no resolution, or admittance to what happened. bruce simply shuts himself down, stating this wasn’t changing anything. there was a then and a now, one in which bruce harbours enough guilt to crush his shoulders.

there’s a stony resolution in dick’s voice after bruce tells him to get out with more finality to it then he’s ever said it before, when he says, “fine. batman.”

(jason replays it over and over again in his head. the batarang. bruce turning his back to him. the jokers screechy laugh eating at his mind. eruptions of pain from the crowbar. again. again. again. and dick. smothering the joker. a steely resolve in his brothers eyes he never wanted to see but was secretly glad for. it replays like a broken film in his head, cutting and chopping but creaking out the same tune.)

AHHH OK SO i def wanted to do so much more with this ugh but i really wanted it done td so excuse just how unpolished it is, i might go back with some new ideas in it, but i like where i ended it off. this is more or less the ‘detachment’ phase in dick’s relationship with bruce, as hes nearing the end of high school and cannot do this with bruce anymore (oh college is a whooole other ordeal hehe) but i think dick would be better to tim then what he canonically was to jason. (also because dick is totally not on a mission to get his brother back at all costs and fix this family, nope. not at all.), and i think dick just has a lot more anger in this too? and bitterness here ig? just because he had lost his parents, then his brother essentially, and had to deal with being the emotional support to bruce who was falling apart. it’s a heavy load, and dick is absolutely still himself, just when it comes to jason and the joker as well as his family in general, i think he has a lot more anger as well as less control yk? (oh also i have him less in blüdhaven in this lil thing just bc like he’s still in highschool and is in this weird phase with bruce that hes fired etc., but is now yk fully going into the, ‘i’m not speaking to you anymore’ part. SOO THATS IT FOR THAT THANK YALL SO SOOOO MUCH FOR READING UR KINDA ALL THE BEST TBH AND TYSM FOR THE SUGGESTION AGAIN THIS WAS HELLA FUN :)!!

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Kingdom Collisions VII

masterlist

This is a fic i’m writing to try and incorporate more description into my works. You will be happy to know that it’s working ;) There are no pre-written chapters so updates are sporadic and i am just as in the dark as you about what happens next. Please enjoy!

Percy Jackson traces the insignia under his fingers, feels the gravelly texture of the stone and the way each word engraves itself into his skin.

militat omnis amans

He hears Jason's words in his head, let's the conversation loop in his mind.

"What are we doing here?"

"I needed to take a walk in the gardens. I can't stay in that stone monstrosity for another second."

"And you wanted me to come with you?"

"If you don't want to be here you can leave." His husband snapped.

He just hummed in acknowledgment.

"Sorry," The Prince mumbled, "I'm just a little volatile right now."

"What does this mean?" Percy figured it was time for a subject change.

"Our motto?"

"Yes, I've seen it everywhere and I've never managed to ask anyone about it."

"Every lover is a soldier."

He looked at the blonde, caught those dull blue eyes. "Really?"

"It's a long story."

"Shall we sit on the bench so you can tell me?"

And then someone had called them inside to go over the details of the King's address that would be happening in the coming week.

"Another time." Jason winced.

Now Percy sits in the garden on a wooden bench, basking in the warmth and protection of an Arrowood tree in full bloom. The soft pink flowers catch on the wind and shower him with petals every so often. The sky is unusually blue for the winter but the chill in the air makes up for it. It is a deadly bite, waiting for any piece of skin to be exposed. The grass is green and cushioning under his feet and the soft cashmere pants his wearing are keeping the icy breeze at bay. He takes a deep breath in. This weather is dopamine in his bloodstream; is full of new beginnings and life.

His fingers brush against the engraved insignia again and he cannot help but wonder the tale behind it. The story of his own kingdom's symbol is one he keeps close to his heart, treasures with every blink of his eyes. His emblem flashes across his mind: a silver sword slicing through a cresting wave, the droplets from it turn bronze in the sun and fall to make their maxim: datum amore ad defendendum. The story is gruesome and bloody and full of honour. Percy's father used to tell it to him on the rare occasion he would tuck him in bed.

There was once a man, brave and strong.

Like you dad?

His father laughed and ruffled his curls. Shh my Starfish and listen to the story of Arroyo the Saviour.

So Percy snuggled into his cotton sheets, a panda pillow tucked under his chin and blinked up in anticipation.

Arroyo was a little boy who lived with his mom and his sister and his sibling, near the ocean. Everyday little Arroyo went down to the docks with his sibling and they would stand there selling bracelets their family made. It was the only way they could get money to eat.

Did their king not give them food dad? His green eyes were wide with horror.

Not everyone is kind my son. Some days little Arroyo and his sibling came back with no money and his mom would smile at them and say "It is okay. Today we eat fish and tomorrow we feast." So they sat down at the table and ate their fish just like they did every night and not once did Arroyo or his siblings complain. For they knew that a tomorrow would come where the feast would be greater than the fish and it was no use leaving today's meal in the hope of tomorrow's promises.

Little Percy frowned, confused at what his father was trying to say. But the King was lost in his own world now, matching ocean eyes far away from this bedroom, in this time and place.

One day Arroyo's mother got sick and his siblings stayed with her while he went to sell bracelets. But when he got home, a small pouch of coins rattling in his pocket, his house was rubble and his family were gone.

Gone? Percy gasped, Where dad? What happened?

His father snapped his head to the present, looked down at his son. They died my Starfish. Someone killed them.

Tears pooled hot and fast in his little eyes, Why dad?

Because Starfish Arroyo's mother was not who she claimed to be and people do not like what they do not understand. But nobody knew that Arroyo was safe, that he had made it out alive. And when he finally grew up, his mother's blood strong in his veins he came back to the village. And there he demanded to see the people who had layed his home to waste all those years ago. The people trembled before him, his might and vengeance a force they could not tame. Arroyo only asked once. And when nobody could tell him anything he smiled with his teeth and drowned the town. His tail creating waves that engulfed the world.

Arroyo was a mermaid? Percy didn't like it when dad told stories, he always left things out and it was confusing to listen to.

He was a beast my Starfish. His father said softly, eyes glittering with excitement, For you see his mother was the Exiled Queen of the Ocean and she had fallen in love with a mortal man. A forbidden romance.

So what happened to Arroyo? Did he kill everyone?

He drowned the village but saved one person. A little girl by the name of Mare for she had looked at him, with his burning anger and broken soul, and offered him the pearl she kept in a pendant at her neck. For her he bowed down and accepted the gift.

Did she become his queen dad?

No Starfish, she was much too young. Instead Arroyo took her to his home deep deep in the waves and she lived there as his friend, as his family. But sometimes Mare had to go to land for she did not have the blood Arroyo did and she could not survive in those brutal waters for long. Arroyo would take her there every full moon and bring her home every new moon. One night when she was due back on land a terrible, terrible force lurked in the water. But Arroyo didn't feel it and Mare could never have known. They said their goodbyes as they always did, promising to see each other soon.

Percy squeezed his father fingers, little lip trembling slightly.

Arroyo dived back in but something slammed into his side. He smashed into the rocks of the village and the whole town quaked. The creature attacked Arroyo, its huge body and spiked tail hitting him everywhere. Mare screamed but there was nothing she could do. And then Arroyo came up to look at her because he knew in his heart that he was not to survive this fight. He waved to his friend, his family through the years and when she waved back the monster rose from the waves and bit Arroyo. He went down so softly it was almost as if he had chosen to sleep. Mare knew the monster would come for her village next and she would not allow it to destroy the only other thing she loved. So she grabbed a sword, sharp gleaming silver, and ran across the ocean. Her feet light and swift against the rolling waves. The creature burst out in a flurry of rage but it was not prepared for the strength of Mare and when it met her sword it let out a shriek so vile the dead curdled. Blood sprayed everywhere as the sword fell from her hand and into the waves below.

Did Mare live dad? He yawned, fear giving away to sleepiness.

Mare is the spirit of the ocean my son. She lives in here. His father tapped his little chest softly before bending down to place a kiss on his forehead.

I hope I'm brave like Mare dad.

You are braver still my Starfish. He whispered.

Percy blinks out of the memory, rubbing at the ache in his chest that accompanied every thought about his dad. It has been more than a decade since that fateful night but the missing never gets easier.

He hugs his knees to his chest and watches two birds fight over a small peach dangling precariously from the tree. Such simple pleasures and petties. There are at least sixty other peaches, just as perfectly red and ripe, on the tree but these birds continue to chirp indignantly at each other. He wonders if it's purposeful. If maybe they just want the connection. It's not really about the peach. It's about having someone to argue against, talk to, be with. Gods, he scowls at himself, he must really be lonely if it's come to this.

The bench suddenly becomes uncomfortable, like every splint of wood is trying to pierce his skin. With a heavy sigh he pulls himself up and strolls towards the stone castle. In the week that he's been here it still hasn't felt any more friendly. He misses his castle, misses the home he has there. But his husband is here so he must be too. At the very least Grover will arrive this afternoon and they can spend some time together. He needs this meeting, needs to see his friend and some semblance of normal. A little voice in his head argues that he's the one who's been straying from his angered promises. The one that's been sleeping besides Jason under the pretense of nightmares. He pushes the little voice deep down, buries it in the darkness where it can shiver and cower without his knowledge or concern. As if his thoughts summon the man, his husband appears around the corner and offers him a swift smile.

"I was just coming to find you."

"You've changed." Is his reply.

Prince Jason did indeed don a new outfit. Perfectly pressed tunic the colour of the sky and a gold chain attached dangling from the small square pocket on his left breast to the first button of the coat. His pants are a deep blue, the same golden threads glinting in the sunlight. But it's the small white rose tucked into his chest pocket that Percy is focused on.

"What is that?"

"When we mourn in the kingdom we wear white roses to signify gentle death and prosperous living."

He nods stiffly, unsure if it's appropriate to ask if he may participate in the custom. Luckily he is saved when Jason's blue eyes pin on him, "Would you like to wear one?"

"Please. This is my Kingdom now too. I feel it would be a great disrespect to not."

The prince looked at him, blonde hair ruffling softly as the breeze caressed their skin and flittered between his dancing fingers. He stood there unmoving while his husband studied him like a Rubik’s cube that needed just the right pattern to fix it.

"Come with me."

They walk together, through the field of poppies bursting with colour, past the grove of fruit trees equally bright and heavy with sweet delights, over the small bridge that marks the Pond of Storms, or at least according to the plaqued waterfall that fed it.

"Why that name?"

"Just before a storm hits the water goes pitch black like storm clouds."

He stares at the clear, brilliant aquamarine of the pond, his rippling reflection staring back and wonders if it's a lie, or a wives' tale.

"You still owe me a story."

"About?"

They cross the bridge and turn a corner.

"About your insignia."

"Why do you like them so much?" Jason turns to him, curiosity burning in his expression, "Stories I mean."

"They're the easiest way to understand the core of something. A language only the lived know how to speak."

"I've heard about yours, your symbol."

"How?" He's the intrigued one now.

"My father liked us to know about the neighboring kingdoms. I never understood it then, always managed to fall asleep in our history lessons, but I guess it's been helpful."

"My mother didn't know yours." He says softly, "She is the Keeper of Worlds so she was able to tell me all kinds of tales but she said she never knew the origins of Caelum."

The Prince shakes his head, "It's only passed down from king to to descendant. Sharing it with anyone is a crime against the kingdom."

Percy's head snaps back in shock, "For telling a story?"

His husband just shrugs like its the most normal thing in the world.

"Why would you tell me then?"

"Sometimes tradition is bullshit."

"But you'd still be committing a crime?"

"Gives life a little thrill." His smile is wicked as he winks an aquamarine eye and steps through the small wooden door built into the hedge.

"Welcome to the Garden of Hearts."

Spread out before them is a sea of roses so glorious in their beauty it makes Percy's soul stutter. There is every colour under the setting sun. Starting with bleach white the roses lay across the field bleeding into cream then yellow then orange then red then pink. Rows upon rows of soft love and romance.

He doesn't manage to hold in a gasp as he drops to his knees and caresses a maroon petal. The tears in his eyes go unacknowledged even when they spill over and water the earth. He's almost certain the flower blooms in his hand.

"This is..." He breathes. He doesn't have the words. They are dust particles violently swept under a rug. They are grains of sand smashed into the earth under the weight of feet. They are simply gone.

"I'm glad you like it." Jason smiles at him and the halo of sun around his head makes Percy weak at the knees.

"Who did this? Who planted this?"

"My sister, Annabeth." The blonde looks around, caught in a time long ago, "She did it in memory of our mom."

"It reminds me of mine."

What he doesn't tell his husband is that more than that, it reminds him of a friend he left far behind. Of a friend he was willing to marry. A friend he was willing to love.

He reaches forward and plucks a satin white rose from the small bush. But as he's pulling away his finger catches on a thorn and suddenly the rose is disintegrating to the floor and those pure white petals are splattered with rubies.

"Fuck." He mutters sucking on the wounded skin in an attempt to stop the blood.

"Here," Jason winces in sympathy, holding out a bleached pocket square.

"Thank you," He offers a gracious smile through the sting of pain. "And I'm sorry about the roses."

"It's okay, the blood will wash off with the next rains."

He just nods and cradles his throbbing digit.

"Are you okay?"

"I've been stabbed before but somehow the little cuts always hurt the worst."

For the first time in well maybe ever, he hears his husband laugh. And it is godlike, a thing of beauty and splendour. Something deep in his chest unfurls gently.

"We'll go inside and get some disinfectant and a plaster on that." Jason promises before bending down to cut another rose, carefully extracting it from the web of thorns and leaves it buried itself in.

"Here," He offers it.

Percy takes a step closer, still clutching his finger, and silently asks if he can put it on for him. Those blue eyes widen slightly, but that's all the surprise the Prince shows. 

They step together and the blonde softly places the flower in his emerald green tunic. Jason smooths his hand over the area distractedly and stares up at him. Their eyes clash in a look of confusion, and curiosity, and something wholly unnatural.

"We should go." The Prince whispers.

He swallows hard and nods but neither make a move. He can smell his husband’s fresh minty breath and see the micro flecks of grey in those eyes. Gods, how has he never noticed how strong his jaw is. How there's the tiniest beauty-mark on the bridge of his nose. And the small crease in his brow that makes his whole face look so much older, look like the king he will one day be.

A cacophonous shriek from above rips them apart in a jump of fright. The low gliding hawk over head seems to narrow its eyes at the pair before flying back to its master. Report on the Princes: they've almost started tolerating each other.

Jason turns away and starts for the carved door once more. Percy stares at his back, trying to gather himself, swiping the borrowed pocket square across his bruising skin. His kingdom's maxim flashes in his mind again. Datum amore ad defendendum. Given in love for protection. He takes a shaky breath before following his husband back to the castle.

The Pond of Storms flushes charcoal. And behind him, where his blood had spilled, the petals of an ice-white rose turn crimson.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you missed it: militat omnis amans means every lover is a soldier; Datum amore ad defendendum means given in love for protection.

Tags (if you want to be added to/ taken off the tag list just let me know, all my channels of communication are open):

@nishlicious-01​​

@queen-of-demons-and-hell​​

@leydiangelo​​

@sparkythunderstorm​​

@aalikun​​

@makos-bi-awakening​​

[op-law]

Charlotte Kato x Reader {I Need You} Ch 1

(Y/n)'s Pov

"(Y/n) we're leaving now! Hurry up or else you'll have to crave a watermelon this year!" As my sister threw my bedroom door open, I practically tossed my laptop across the room but I somehow managed to stop myself before that could happen. Though as I tried to get my heavy breathing under control, I replied to the girl that had barged into my safe space. "G-Geez Yuki, don't you know how to knock? Just let me find my socks then I'll be right downstairs"

"Hehehe. Alright but don't take too long~" Once she had left the room, I quickly found a dirty pair of socks before I did the smell test and slipped them onto my feet. "I hope the corn maze is ready now it's the best part of visiting the pumpkin patch" After I found my favorite Halloween sweater from my closet, I left the room and started down the steps.

"Perfect now that the whole family's here we can head out! Oh, and good news sweetheart I called ahead and they said the corn maze is open for business as of today" Hm, that was good news indeed. "That's great Frank but don't call me sweetheart again you're not my Dad so stop pretending that you are" I didn't intend to sound so hostile towards the man but I was sick and tired of him trying to replace my Dad.

"Sorry (Y/n) didn't mean to upset you... Let's all head out now it's a bit of a drive to get there though that's alright since it will all be worth it to see you kids happy" After the six of us had piled into the old caravan I refused to speak to anyone as I popped my earbuds in and started up my One Piece playlist.

'As a kid, I never stopped searching for a great treasure'

~~~~~~~~~~

45 Minutes Later...

I was lost in my music though when someone pulled out my earbud I was brought back into reality. "(Y/n) we're here. Come on I can even see a candy apple stand and I know how much you love those" Since it was only Yuki I gave her a pass as I unbuckled my seatbelt and followed her out of the van. "You're crying again (Y/n)"

Thankfully the others had already left so I quickly wiped my tears on the back of the sleeve of my sweater before I looped my arms with Yuki's. "Where should we go first, Yu? I hope you brought cash since I don't have a penny to my name" When my little sister brought us over to the candy apple booth, she brought us each one. "Dad gave me some cash so I'll take care of buying our stuff for the day"

As the word 'Dad' rolled off of my sister's tongue I felt a sharp pain shoot through my heart but I tried to ignore it. Sure, Yuki didn't have the same relationship with our Dad that I had though it still upset me to hear her call someone else Dad. She was only three when he died and I was seven but I was the one who watched him take his last breath. Even though ten years had passed since that day I still thought about him every day.

"Oh, look (Y/n) there's the corn maze! How about we have a little bet? The first one to find their way out gets to boss the other person around for the rest of the day. Which path are you going to take Sis?" As I looked over the map, I finally decided I would take the second path on the right. "I'll see you on the other side Yuki and if I'm not out by the time you finish just head to the pumpkin patch since I wanted to go there next anyways"

"Okay! See ya (Y/n)!" Once the girl had disappeared into one of the other paths, I started down my own though I was a little surprised to see how tall the corn was since it was still early in the season but I wasn't about to complain about it. "Now to find the exit~ Hehehe. I love October so much~" There was just something about this month that sent shivers up my spine but I just loved the feeling it brought to me.

"Boy and girls of every age wouldn't you like to see something strange?~" While I was making my way through the maze I had come across multiple dead ends and so far I still couldn't find the exit. It was a little strange since usually, I would have found my way out by now though maybe I just picked a bad path.

'(Y/n)~'

"Hm, Yuki is that you?... Yuki?" When I didn't get a response, I figured that I must have been hearing things or maybe the girl was celebrating her victory over me. "I need to find the exit so I can go hunt down my pumpkin" I took the next right in the path but something blocking the path had caused me to trip. "What the hell was that?... Hm, who in the hell would put a pumpkin in the middle of a pathway like this?"

As I picked up the medium-sized pumpkin in my hands, I gave it a once over though something about it felt familiar to me. "Hehehe. You kind of remember me of the sweet adorable Kato from Whole Cake Island. I wonder if the staff will let me buy you... I'm going to ask since I'm sure they'll be fine with it" When I stood up from the ground I continued on my way and as fate would have it, I finally found the exit. "There you are (Y/n)! You took forever in ther- where did you find a pumpkin?"

"I tripped over it before I found the exit though I think I want to buy this one. It's super adorable just like Kato don't you think?" As Yuki started to reply I could already see the frown on her lips but I didn't care since this little guy was coming home with me. "The pumpkin freak? Ha. Ha. Ha. Don't tell me you actually have feelings for that character (Y/n) I mean I can understand some of your other 'crushes' but that guy is just weird"

"Don't you have a crush on Basil Hawkins? I'm pretty sure that guy has a cult and he enjoys torturing poor innocent people like my baby Trafalgar Law" Sure, Hawkins might have looked like a normal guy but he just seemed like the type that would bathe in the blood of his victims. "Yeah... we're not going to discuss that (Y/n). Though at least my man actually looks like a man unlike the weirdo Kato"

I knew this wasn't going to end well but I couldn't help when a reply spilled from my lips. "At least Kato doesn't have any face tattoos" Yuki's face started to turn this bright red color as the insult war went into full swing. "At least Hawkins wears pants" When the next insult poured from my lips Yuki's cheeks had started to turn pink. "At least Kato smiles"

"Hawkins can smile and when he does it sexy as hell... Oh shit, thank God no one was around to hear me say that... Let's go to the pumpkin patch so I can get myself a pumpkin" As I started to giggle about the girl's outburst, I held my pumpkin closer to my chest though when something wet slid across my thumb I almost dropped it. "What was that?"

When I turned the pumpkin around, I didn't see anything that could have caused the wetness on my hand but I chalked it up to just being a drop of water from a nearby tree or something like that. "Weird... Yuki wait for me!" The girl didn't stop running towards the pumpkin patch though I easily caught up to her before she could get very far. "Slow down Yu! I'm going to end up dropping my pumpkin at this rate!" Thankfully this time Yuki did as I asked. "I'm sorry Sis. What are you going to crave on your pumpkin this year? You always do something different each year and they always come out looking fantastic"

"I'm not sure yet"

"Oh, look at this pumpkin (Y/n) it's huge! Do you think it will fit in the van? I don't want to take up too much space but I also really want it" I took a good long look at the pumpkin she wanted though I didn't think it would be a problem since it would fit perfectly fine in the backseat between us. "We can put it in the empty space in the back seat. If you can find Frank ask him to carry it for you since I'd rather not speak to that man any more than I have to"

"Alright (Y/n) I'll go find him but please try and at least be nice to him for once. He really cares about us like we're his own kids" That might have been true but there was no way in hell that I was going to get along with Frank any time soon. "No, it's not going to happen Yuki and you know that. I need to clear my head for a minute just text me when we're ready to leave" Why couldn't Yuki just keep her thoughts to herself for once? I didn't mean to get as upset as I did at the girl but it was far too late to turn back now.

'That wasn't very nice (Y/n)'

"Hm, who said that?" I had definitely heard someone speak though when I looked around, I didn't see anyone. "Hello?" There was a moment of silence as the sound of birds chirping met my ears but when I got no response from a person, I only shrugged my shoulders and kept walking. "Must have been the wind"

The rest of my walk was quiet and uneventful but I still didn't feel like going back to the others just yet. "This looks like a good place to sit" Since there wasn't much out here to use as a seat, I ended up just sitting on the slightly wet grass while my back leaned against the tree behind me. "It's so peaceful out here... Too bad I can't stay here forever"

I knew there wasn't going to be much time to myself today but I was at least going to enjoy every second that I had right now. "Hm, I wonder what kind of design would look the best on you. Any thoughts small pumpkin?" As my fingertips started to trace along the ribs of the pumpkin's hard shell, I felt a pleasant feeling start to fill my chest. Though I wasn't exactly sure what had caused me to feel this way.

"My Dad helped me crave my first pumpkin when I was just two years old. We had to use those silly plastic craving tools since I was too little to use the regular kitchen knife. It became our tradition to carve a pumpkin every year together but... now he's dead and it's all my fault" I couldn't stop my tears from falling any longer and I just sat there as they hit against the shell on the orange object within my lap. "H-He never would have been driving that day if I hadn't dropped the pumpkin b-but I did a-and it cracked. H-H-He just wanted me to be happy. I killed him!"

'It wasn't your fault (Y/n)'

~~~~~~~~~

End Chapter 1

[thefactsofthematter]

angst request: two lovers have been fighting to reunite for years. when they finally make it to each other, one is dying.

ohhhhhh boy. this request just spoke to me and oh my GOD this had me in genuine tears at the end and i’m the one writing it so,,, watch out y’all

post-canon, wwi era; javid; 2k; warning: gunshot wound, medical talk + hospital setting, major character death

-

When Davey sees Jack again for the first time in years, he doesn't even recognize him.

It's hard to believe it's been a whole ten years since Davey moved to Boston for school, and since Jack finally hopped on a train to Santa Fe. They went their separate ways, as even the best of friends or closest of lovers tend to eventually do. They meant to keep in touch— they really did— but none of the letters Davey wrote ever made it to Jack, or even to the mailbox for that matter.

He told himself it was because he didn't know Jack's new address, but maybe he was simply too heartbroken to bother reaching out.

"I'll be home every summer, and it's just for four years. If you think about it, that's not even very long."

Jack had just sighed and stared down at the train ticket in his hands. It had been hard enough, Davey doing his undergraduate's degree, here in New York. They never seemed to have any time for each other, and it was getting harder and harder to keep their relationship a secret. Now, with Davey headed all the way to Boston to go to medical school, things were bound to be even worse.

"So if you wanna go away and live your dream, it's fine, but when I wanna do it, I'm the bad guy?" The note of bitterness in Jack's voice had seemed insincere, as if he couldn't bring himself to actually be mad. "Maybe I'll only go for four years, then. We'll both come back to New York and find each other. If we write enough letters, maybe it'll be like we were never even apart."

Davey had just forced himself to laugh softly, while leaning into Jack's side to try and revel in every moment, as surely it'll be the last time they hold each other like this.

"Yeah, you're right." A lie. "We'll see each other again, I'm sure." Another lie. "I’ll love you forever, darling." Nothing but the truth.

The last place Davey expects to run into Jack is in a military hospital in France, in the midst of the Great War.

They hadn’t thought the war was going to be this long. When Davey had volunteered to go overseas as an army doctor, fairly early on in the war, the general consensus was that it surely wouldn’t last more than a few months. Now it’s 1917– Davey hasn’t seen his family in two years and the fighting just keeps barreling on. Every day, there’s a constant stream of young soldiers being carted in from the front lines with horrific injuries, and every day Davey has to put on a brave face and try to save their lives.

Jack isn’t the first of the newsies to come in— Davey has seen a handful of old friends and it’s bittersweet every time. The reunion is sometimes pleasant, but always difficult nonetheless: Albert had been missing an arm, Finch had been in agony from mustard gas burns, and the worst of it… Davey had been the one to call Elmer’s time of death. It was horrible and he hopes to never see another familiar face within these walls.

He’s jerked out of his thoughts by the wail of an ambulance drawing near outside— his two-minute coffee break is over and it’s time to jump back into action. He has mere moments to collect himself before the doors are slamming open and his world is back to chaos.

“Shot in the abdomen, already infected,” says one of the travelling field nurses, as they roll the patient in and Davey hurries to match their stride. She’s got a strong French accent and he struggles to make sense of what she says next— something about a fever and gangrene and septic shock, which makes Davey incredibly nervous.

“He’s in good hands,” is all he can think to reply with, as the resident hospital nurses take over and the field nurses head back out. He’s still fumbling to get his gloves on as they enter the operating room and he’s suddenly the one in charge.

Debridement, antisepsis, pack the wound. The three steps of trauma surgery are on a loop in Davey’s head as he takes in the situation.

“General anesthesia,” he orders. He can’t tell if the young man is actually conscious or not until a nurse’s hand gets too close to the bloody mess in the middle of his abdomen and there’s a quiet a groan of pain. “Start cutting his clothing away and cleaning around the wound.”

A fever. The field nurse had mentioned a fever, so he presses the back of his hand to the soldier’s forehead and winces at the heat that radiates from it. Shit.

That means the infection must be spreading, and she was probably right about sepsis, meaning as hard as they try, they might not be able to save him and—

He doesn’t even notice the patient’s eyes snapping open and staring up at him.

“Davey…?”

It’s hardly above a whisper and Davey almost doesn’t hear it. There’s a nurse about to put a mask over the soldier’s nose and mouth to put him under, but Davey quickly raises a hand, telling her to wait.

He watches the soldier’s face for a long moment, and then everything falls into place.

“Jack…” he whispers. “Oh god…”

Everyone has paused to watch them— his assistant and the two nurses— but Davey can’t stop himself from reaching out to carefully touch Jack’s face.

He’s changed— of course he has. They were hardly even adults yet when they last saw each other, and now they’re in their thirties. Jack had always liked his hair a bit long and messy on the top of his head, but he’s now got a close-cropped army cut, already greying just a little at the temples. His face is dirty and worn, but Davey can’t help but notice the smile-line wrinkles starting to form. At least that means he’s been happy in their decade apart.

This can’t be real. It can’t. There’s no way his first (and only) love is lying here on his goddamn operating table, dying of an infected bullet wound. Ten years apart and this is how they reunite… it isn’t fair.

“Remember when I told you I was gonna be a doctor someday?” he finally says, because it’s all he can do to keep from crying. Jack looks entirely disoriented, but he manages to crack a confused almost-smile at that. “You’re gonna be okay, Jackie. I’ve got you.”

And then he nods to the nurse, that she can go ahead and put Jack under, and he shoots a stern look to his assistant, a young doctor-in-training, telling him to keep working on the initial sterilization of the area around the bullet hole.

He’s gonna save Jack Kelly’s life, god damn it.

-

The surgery, miraculously, is a success.

The infection was somewhat milder than it had initially seemed, and Davey had managed to cut away minimal amounts of tissue and leave Jack relatively intact. Sure, he’s got a gaping wound packed with antiseptic-soaked gauze, but he’s alive and breathing with working organs, so Davey supposes he did his job.

It’s now a matter of hoping that Jack’s body can fight off what remains of the infection without going into shock— there’s nothing any doctor can do for him now.

It takes a couple of days before Davey has a free moment long enough to figure out where Jack’s bed is and actually have time for a visit. His shifts are back-to-back-to-back and he hardly gets a wink of sleep, but he finally manages to set aside some time in the afternoon for personal matters.

Jack is sleeping when Davey arrives. He’s in a room full of patients but his bed is tucked away in a corner, which at least affords them an illusion of privacy. Davey can’t help but check him for a fever, and his heart sinks a little when he realizes that Jack is burning up even worse than when he’d come in and sweating buckets. He carefully checks his pulse and winces at just how quick it is.

“Jack?” he whispers, trying to shake Jack awake as gently as possible. Slowly, his eyes peel open. “Hey… how are you feeling?”

Jack blinks several times and frowns in confusion, staring up at Davey. He seems out of it, as one might expect with being this sick and all. Davey can only hope he’ll at least be recognized.

“Dave…” Jack finally mumbles. “Am I dead? Are you… are you an angel?”

Davey can’t help but laugh softly as he takes a knee to get down closer to Jack’s level.

“No, no, it’s really me. You’re in the hospital— you got hurt pretty bad out there. Not really the best place to run into each other after all this time, is it?”

Jack sort of laughs, but doesn’t seem to have the energy for it. He smiles, at least, and Davey feels just as smitten as he did when he was seventeen.

“I’ve missed you,” sighs Jack, reaching weakly for Davey’s hand. He speaks slowly and somewhat slurred, but at least he’s conscious. “You… you said you were gonna be a doctor. Look at you— smart fella, I always knew it.”

There’s a lump in Davey’s throat as he takes Jack’s hand— it’s cold, another sign that his body isn’t handling the infection well.

“Look at you,” replies Davey, trying to keep things light. “A captain in the army. I suppose it can’t be that different from leading a band of newsboys, can it?”

Another almost-laugh from Jack. He can barely keep his eyes open and it makes Davey want to break down crying.

This isn’t fair. For ten years, he’d imagined all the ways that he and Jack might find each other again someday. None of them involved Jack dying. This isn’t how it was meant to go. They were supposed to be happy.

“Are you sad?” asks Jack, after a moment. He squeezes Davey’s hand gently. “Just ‘cause it ain’t how we pictured it… ‘least we still found each other. I knew we would.”

Davey can’t stop himself from crying.

“I love you,” he whispers, so low it’s barely audible. “Forever, Jackie. I’m always yours.”

Jack’s eyes are falling closed now, but he hums a little and nods as he rubs his thumb over the back of Davey’s hand.

“Love you,” he finally replies, before giving in and letting himself settle back into sleep.

This has to be it— Davey figures he made it just in time. If he’d delayed his visit even an hour, he probably wouldn’t have been able to see him.

He can’t watch it happen, so he pushes himself back up to his feet and wipes the tears from his eyes. He does a round of checking in with and making conversation with all the other patients in the room. He might be crying on the inside, but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t have the best bedside manner of any doctor he knows.

Sure enough, when he circles back to Jack, he has to take his pocket watch out and bring a nurse over as a witness so he can call time.

When he met Jack, all those years ago, he never imagined he’d be the one signing his death certificate, but life has a funny way of kicking you in the ass, doesn’t it?

Well… like Jack said, at least they found each other. He always knew they would.

[emily-strange]

Growing Pains...

So this is a bit intense but I hope you all think it’s okay! Really hard to write a lot of people talking at once haha

Also, it may seem like I don’t like Arthur, please be assured that I do haha

Summary: Emmy has been with the gang since she was a little girl. Her mother moved on, leaving her to be raised by Dutch, Hosea and Susan. Arthur and John are her brothers (argue and she will fight you). Becoming a woman is hard when everyone still sees you as a child. Since the Blackwater mess she’s trying to find her feet while dealing with her new feelings for the gangs resident douchebag.

Pairing: Slow burn Micah x female OC.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of vomit, mention of past abuse (not explicit at all)

Chapter 9

I only come around when we’re riding back to camp. I’m sat in front of Sean as he cradles me against his chest. My heads pounding. My eyes are sore. When did I pass out?

“Sean” I croak. The suns gone down completely and darkness surrounds us.

“Hey lovely” Sean whispers “not long now”.

Sean gives me a comforting squeeze and I reach out to hold his hand, the one clutching the reins. We’re riding pretty fast and I realise that we’re on Ennis.

“Jett?” I ask and Sean doesn’t hesitate in his reply.

“Don’t worry love she’s right behind us. That girl ain’t leaving ya” he says and it instantly makes me smile. Then all I can see is that birthmark. Those rotten teeth. I start to panic.

“Sean stop. Stop. I need to stop” I say as loud as I can. Sean instantly pulls on the reins telling Ennis to slow. As we do, I see Jett’s white coat whip past me to a halt. “Okay, okay. You’re okay” Sean mutters as I sit up straighter. I manoeuvre myself so that I’m side saddle and able to see Sean clearer.

“He lied” I mutter while looking at him, “Dutch lied”.

Sean nods “Looks that way” he says lowly.

I steady myself and jump off of Ennis with Sean following quickly behind. He holds me by the waist until I’m able to lower myself to sit on the ground.

“Dutch said he was dead” I say out into the night “He promised me he was dead”.

Sean sits next to me and rubs his face. We talk about everything me and Sean so he knows about my father. How cruel he was….how sick.

“Why the fook would Dutch lie about that?” Sean says quietly next to me and all I can do it look out into the darkness and shrug. We continue to sit in silence for a while as my mind races. Sean doesn’t touch me until I lean against him for support. He puts his arm around me to steady me and rubs my back as I relive that day in my mind.

I’m 6 and I’m sat at our camp table with Hosea, practicing my reading. I’m doing really well. Bessie tells him to wrap it up because it’s time for lunch and he makes a funny face at me like her cooking was going to be the death of him. Hosea always made me laugh, even when I felt I had no more joy in me. Such a sad thought for a child. Bessie had plaited my hair into two braids just how I liked it and told John that if he didn’t wash his hair soon, she’d give him some as well.

It was Bessie who I told first. The day before. About the nights my pa would come back to camp drunk, as my mother stayed out doing God knows what with God knows who. She would always tell me how I ruined her life. How she could’ve been so much more had she not got pregnant. I thought that’s how parents were. Until we started running with this gang.

Bessie told me not to worry. That she’d make sure I was safe.

That evening I remember Bessie and Susan packing my mother’s things while she was still out of camp. I remember the fire in Susan’s eyes as she stuffed clothes into a tiny bag. Hosea took them on his horse to whatever town she was at. I never saw her again.

Not that much of a loss really but I did shed a tear. A loss is a loss.

I was playing after lunch with John the next day. Hosea had made me some peg dolls and I was playing ‘bank robbery’ with John. It’d taken a while for him to warm to me but we got there. Dutch and Arthur came riding into camp and Hosea greeted them as they dismounted. They shared some words with Bessie and Susan before everyone came to sit with me. Arthur dragged John away as he complained about being kept out of the loop ‘as always’. They went for a walk with Arthur giving me a small smile.

Bessie sat stroking my back like Sean was doing now. Dutch took my hand and remember he looked so softly at me. He spoke so kindly.

“Emmy. Your pa….he wasn’t a good man. You know that. And we, we aren’t lawful but we aren’t him. And we don’t run with people like him. I don’t lie to my family so I won’t lie to you. You’ve had to grow beyond your years so I know you’re strong enough to know this. Your father is dead. I killed him.”

“He’s such a fucking liar” I finally say, scoffing, “We shoot fellas as need shooting eh?”.

“Whatta you gonna do?” Sean asks tentatively and I think back to that day again.

“If you want us to, we can take you somewhere. To an orphanage or find a nice family ourselves maybe. Or, you can stay with us. Be part of our family. Me, Bessie, Hosea and Susan. Uncle sometimes! We’ll look after you.” Dutch finishes. I look at the adults around me who have never been anything but kind. Bessie and Hosea were already better parents than I’d ever had and here I’d have brothers. Brothers.

“Arthur” I hiss while choking on a sob, “He was with Dutch. He knew”.

I hear Sean swear but all I can do is cry. I cry until I feel like I have nothing left.

Then, I get up.

When we get into camp, Dutch and Hosea are already back. I throw myself off of Jett and Sean, who’s been struggling to keep up with me the whole time, chases after me.

“Emmy just take a breath” he shouts but I ignore him, moving into the middle of camp. Most people have settled into their tents for the night and some aren’t even here. Off on jobs or out drinking.

John sits around the fire with Hosea, Arthur and Uncle. Micah is at the camp table alone and I completely ignore him as I go past. Sean tries to grab my hand but I wrench it away and approach the men I’ve known most my whole life.

As I speak, my voice doesn’t even sound like mine. It’s raw from screaming, from crying and instead of the quiet hiss I intended, a feral type of growl leaves my throat.

“DID YOU KNOW?” I snarl.

Arthur keeps his head hung low and Uncle splutters on his drink. Clearly they hadn’t caught him up. John gets up and moves slowly towards me with his hands up, like he’s approaching a spooked horse.

“Em, wha…” he starts but I can’t bare this uncertainty anymore.

“Did you know John?” I whine and basically collapse into his open arms once he reaches me, “Please tell me you didn’t know.”

I can’t see his face as mine’s buried in his chest, but Hosea answers my question for him.

“No dear. He didn’t know. And neither did I. Not before today at least.” he says while standing slowly and moving towards me. I trust Hosea more than anyone. Possibly more than Sean if that’s possible. So I nod and throw my arms around him as he shushes me.

As I pull back, I see Abigail approach from her spot with Jack, leaving him to sleep. She touches John’s arm and John throws up his hands in confusion. “What the hell is goin’ on?” he asks none too quietly.

Before I have the chance to say anything, I hear someone clear their throat behind Hosea.

Oh right, Arthur.

“Why don’t you ask Arthur” I growl, looking at him still sat at the fire with his head hung low. He won’t even look at me, “Go on. Tell them.”

When Arthur doesn’t move, the burning in my soul intensifies. I find myself storming over to him and smacking him the hardest I possibly can across his head, sending his hat flying.

“TELL THEM” I scream. How could he do this to me. Coward can’t even look at me.

Again, Hosea answers for those who clearly can’t, “Emmy’s pa is alive…..and Dutch, well, only Dutch and Arthur knew. Until we bumped into him in Valentine earlier today”. Through the whole explanation I watch Arthur. There’s no change in his expression. He simply sits there with his head hung low.

I can’t help myself, the rage inside me has never been so great. I raise my hand to strike him again but my wrist is caught by Dutch who must have snuck out of his tent during Hosea’s account of events.

“He was acting on my orders Emmy” he says quietly and I hiss back “Of course he was. Such a good little errand boy.” I snatch my hand away and see Micah is now with the group. Uncle is sat with his head in his hands shaking it from side to side in what I can only assume is disbelief. I then spot Abigail tug Johns sleeve and give him a questioning look. Of course, she never met my pa.

“I’ll explain later” John whispers back but I make them jump with my roar of dissatisfaction.

“Oh no John! Why don’t we tell her now? Why don’t we tell EVERYBODY” I scream as I notice the girls, Lenny and Susan edge into view from their sleeping places.

Dutch tries to calm me with a hand on my back but the thought of him touching me makes me want to vomit all over again. Sean reaches out a hand to steady me and I take it.

“Go on Dutch. Tell them. Tell them how you SWORE my father was dead. How you killed him to protect me. How you were going to keep me safe!! AND HOW YOU LIED.” I shout and Susan grabs her chest and gasps “Good God” as the girls rally to her side.

“You know Dutch” I start to cry “You know what he did to me. You know what he used to….why?” I finish with a squeak.

There is a moment of silence and all Dutch can do is shake his head. Sean puts his arm around me as Karen takes my hand now not in his.

“Money” comes the quiet answer from Arthur who stands and moves into the centre of the chaos, “Money”. He still won’t look me in the eyes. Good.

I feel my legs begin to buckle and John rushes to take Karen’s place at my side, keeping me standing with help from Sean. Fresh tears stream down my face and I take a deep breath. “He paid you off?” I ask quietly. Dutch just nods.

“Oh my God.” I sniff. I can’t believe this is happening. A few hours ago, I was so happy. I felt like things were getting back on track. “How could you?” Susan hisses towards Dutch and Arthur finally braves a look up at me. I can see how ashamed he is but I can’t find the ability to care.

“I think” Hosea says, “I think we need to sleep. And, in the morning, we will fix this.” He says to me. Almost as if no one else is around. “We WILL fix this” he repeats.

I shake my head and it looks like his heart breaks just a little more.

“The only way to fix this is to slaughter Wayne Gibbs where he stands” I seethe looking Dutch straight in the eyes.

The camp is silent for what feels like hours, but can only really be seconds. Then a voice from behind me startles us all.

“Ho, hold on. Your pa is Wayne Gibbs?” Micah asks and switches his gaze from me to Dutch in disbelief.

“Why?” is all I can find the strength to say, “Know him do ya?” I scoff. I think I’ve reached the point of delirious sadness. The whole situation is becoming more morbidly comical by the second. Hosea goes to stop Micah from continuing but I hold up my hand to him and move out of John and Sean’s arms to face him. “I want to know Micah. Please don’t lie to me as well” I whisper.

Micah looks conflicted for a moment and I can see him glance at Dutch.

“I will find out Micah.” I say sternly and he looks at the ground nodding. “I didn’t know he was ya pa by the way. Didn’t know that.” he begins and I nod, “Wayne…I ran with his group for a little while….”.

Micah pauses but I just know there’s more to it. So I simply ask, “And?”.

He clears his throat and rubs his eyes, hiding under the brim of his big hat.

When Dutch answers for him, I keep looking at Micah.

“Wayne Gibbs was Micah’s informant about the Blackwater job”

And with that, the camp erupts into a loud explosion of disbelief. I even hear Arthur shout something like “What the hell Dutch”. I guess Dutch doesn’t tell him everything after all.

I shake my head at Micah and lean in close, “I guess your brother was right to keep those kids from you” I hiss. I know it’ll hurt. I want it to hurt. I want everyone to hurt as much as I do right now. I see the flash of pain in his eyes for only a moment before he leans in just as close, gestures to me and whispers back, “Good job we didn’t fuck. I ain’t wanna be anywhere near this mess”.

For a moment I consider hitting him but I know that’s what he wants. He wants a rise out of me, just like I did from him. I wanted to give some pain and so did he in return. After a second I snort and turn away. It’s then I hear him muttering swear words and storm off into the woods.

Everyone’s yelling is interrupted by a very quiet little voice.

“Mama?” Jack asks while walking into our mess, rubbing his little eyes, “Mama what’s wrong?”.

Abigail glances at me and despite how wretched I feel, my eyes well and I give her the most apologetic look I can. She smiles and mouths “you’ll be okay” at me before gathering up Jack and hushing him on the way back to their tent.

“Now” Hosea begins quietly, “we have a lot to deal with tomorrow. But nothin’s changing tonight. So please, everyone, lets go to bed and sleep….if we can.”

Almost everyone nods and disperses from the group with tired glances at me and Dutch. John touches my shoulder and says quietly, “Wanna have a sleep over?” while giving me a small, sad smile. I nod and smile back. As we make our way over to his tent, I lock eyes with Arthur who looks fit to burst into tears. All I can do is look away and try not to cry anymore. I don’t see where he and Dutch go, or if they even go anywhere at all. Right now I couldn’t care less.

John grabs my cot from my tent and sets it up next to his. As I settle onto the inside one, I see Sean and Karen set up bedrolls just outside. “Just in case you need us” Sean whispers before settling down. I sniff back the returning tears and John lies next to me.

“What a fuckin’ mess” he whispers and I can’t help but laugh. “Well, at least you aren’t the biggest fuck up anymore” I whisper back and the two of us laugh quietly as I let the tears fall.

“Abby was right though Em. You will be okay” he says before letting me cuddle into his side like I did as a child. Both with him and Arthur. Arthur. I shake my head. As I gaze out of the tent, hearing everyone close to me begin to gently snore, I see the outline of someone make their way over to my tent.

I squint really hard and can just make out the outline of Micah’s big hat and that he’s swaying, clearly drunk or on the way to it. He looks into my tent and upon seeing it empty hangs his head and knocks his hat off. I suddenly feel an awful pang of guilt for what I said to him and a horrible sick feeling about what he said back.

I cuddle back into John, because I definitely can’t deal with those feelings tonight.

As I start to drift off into an emotionally exhausted slumber, I hear Sean mutter something about his da in his sleep and an “oof!” where Karen has elbowed him to shut up. And despite my overwhelming heartache from tonight’s events, I can’t help but feel like Abby is right as well.

As long as I have these people, my people, I will be okay.

The rest I’ll deal with tomorrow.

[sailorshadzter]

all's well that ends well to end up with you

@jonsa-week

day 7: bastards, royalty, free choice. 

a canon divergent au where jon is the known bastard of rhaegar targaryen, raised in winterfell by ned stark after convincing robert baratheon to spare his life as an infant. 

a king beyond the wall x sansa / alayne fic. 

"There he is my sweet..."

Lord Baelish's breath is warm against her skin, his mouth incredibly close to her ear; she can feel his body pressed against her back, far too close for comfort, but she cannot speak as she stands frozen on the spot. He's right, just ahead, the sullen Jon Snow stands. King Beyond the Wall, that's what he's called now, though once he had been her father's ward, once he had just been Jon. Sansa remembers, but she is not Sansa, not anymore. "You must make him fall in love with you... It should be easy enough to do." Baelish goes on, side stepping around her, his cloak rippling with his movements. "Even a man like Jon Snow will have a weakness for a pretty woman, all men do." The look he gives her sickens her and she turns away, instead again focusing her gaze upon the man that stands just across the room.

He's deep in conversation with Lord Royce and a man she doesn't recognize, his dark curls pulled back into a tight bun at the base of his neck. Jon Snow is a handsome man, she must admit, his battle scar giving him a different sort of attractiveness, rather than taking away from it. She's reminded of her first husband, the Lannister imp, who's already ugly face had been marred with a scar just before their union. They've not seen one another in years, she wonders if he'll even know her, though without her trademark red hair, she seems to blend in well among the rest of the world. I am not Sansa, he does not know me, she reminds herself yet again, I am Alayne now.

"Your grace," Lord Baelish greets as they approach the trio of men, all whom turn to look upon them. Lord Royce offers her a smile and the knot in her stomach lessens; he's the only one who's been truly kind to her here. He and the other man step away, leaving Baelish and her alone with the young king. "Might I introduce to you my daughter, Alayne." He extends out his arm, beckoning her forward, and somehow, she manages to propel herself the final few steps forward.

As she sinks into the appropriate curtsy, she offers him a demure sort of smile, looking up at him from beneath her lashes as Baelish has instructed her so often to do. "Your grace," she breathes as she returns to her full height and she wonders if he can hear her heart as it beats so wildly within her chest. "It is an honor to meet you."

Jon can't speak, why he can't even breathe.

He's captivated by this young woman that's so suddenly approached him on the arm of the weasel Petry Baelish. She's beautiful, with eyes so blue he could swear that he's looking into the summer sky. Her hair is long and dark, strangely unfitting for her, but he finds he longs to reach out to run his fingers through the length of it. And even stranger, he feels as if he knows her. He feels as if he's met her before. I must be imagining it, he thinks as he finally comes back to the moment, realizing he's been silent for far too long. Lingering just off to the side, Lord Baelish can't help but to smile to himself. "The honor is mine," Jon finally responds, reaching out to take her hand, a spark of energy flowing through him the moment his skin makes contact with hers. He draws her hand to his lips and he presses a soft, warm kiss against her knuckles, like a courtier to a queen, and he's hyper aware of how she holds her breath until his lips leave her skin.

Suddenly, he wants to speak with her without the eyes upon them, without the ears listening. "Walk with me, won't you?" He asks, surprising her, but she shoots Baelish a glance who of course gives a discrete nod and so she smiles and loops her arm through his when he offers it to her. Heads turn as they make their way across the room and out the door into the mid morning sunshine, to walk the gardens of the Vale.

It's growing colder and she knows winter is coming, her family's words ever present in the back of her mind. "I did not know Lord Baelish had a daughter," Jon begins as they take to the first pathway, the once lush gardens are now brown and dying, the most delicate of leaves heavy with the first frost.

"I am a bastard," she answers quickly, side glancing him, realizing in that moment that he does not know her. He would not know Alayne. "Though I am to be legitimatized," she goes on as he steers her towards the center of the gardens, where a great fountain once was the center piece of the place. Now it is but a stone pool among the frozen garden. They come to the nearest bench and when she's settled upon it, Jon sits down beside her, a comfortable distance between them.

"I too am a bastard, you know," he points out and she shakes her head.

"But a King's bastard," she replies. "And a man. It is different for you." She is the true born heir to the North, she is a princess of Winterfell, and yet she still holds no power for herself. Her family is gone, dead to her all these years now, and she's got no options but to trust that Lord Baelish will help her along. She has endured worse than him, that is certain. Her time in King's Landing had toughened her, had changed her. "I have no say in my life."

Jon can understand that. King's bastard or not, he too had little choice in his life. He recalls when the Starks had left Winterfell all those years ago and he, being the Targaryen bastard that he was, certainly could not go. He went to the wall, to Castle Black, and they went South to King's Landing. He can still remember the glimmer of the sun in Sansa's auburn hair as she rode away. "What would you do... If you had a say?" Jon asks and she turns towards him, surprise widening her sapphire eyed gaze. But then she's smiling, cheeks blooming with color as she glances towards her hands where they twist in her lap.

"I would fall in love," she whispers, thinking of what that would mean for her. A man to love her, not her name, not her title. A man who loved her for who she was. A man who would love her as a bastard born girl or as the North's lost princess. "I have been betrothed to kings and married to an imp... I should like to marry a man who loves me." She knows she's said too much now and she turns away, tucking a stray strand of hair behind an ear. "It is a silly dream," she goes on, almost more to herself than to him, as if she is trying to convince herself to believe what she's saying. "I will do as my father commands." She hates referring to Baelish as her father- Ned Stark was my father, she wants to shout, Catelyn Stark was my mother! The lords that snubbed their noses at her bastard status would fall to their knees in remorse if they knew the truth of who she was.

He knows that story.

It was the same story he heard all those weeks leading up to the trip to King's Landing. Sansa was going to King's Landing to marry the future king, Joffrey, a thing she had always seemed most excited about, even if Jon had thought him to be insufferable. Jon blinks as he stares at her, knowing there was no way that this was Sansa, that this was the girl he had been raised beside like a brother. It can't be her, he tells himself with a small shake of his head. "And what is is that your father has commanded of you?" He asks instead, peering at her with those somber gray eyes, his hand itching to reach out and touch hers where it lays in her lap.

"To marry as will benefit my family, as is every father's wish," she replies with a quick shrug.

"And do you have many suitors, Lady Alayne?" He watches as she licks her lower lip, a seductive gesture that spreads warmth from his belly down. "What men does your father parade before you?" He's closer now and she's staring at him with those wide, blue eyes, her rosy lips drawing him in.

"I am a bastard," she reminds him softly, "until I am legitimized, I fear I have no prospects." Her heart is beating wildly within her chest and it's only then that she feels Jon slip his hand over hers. The touch of his hand sends a shock wave through her entire being, a feeling that she wants to experience again and again. He's so very close to her now that she can feel the warmth of his breath with every exhale- but unlike when Baelish gets so close, she's giddy with nerves, rather than sick with disgust.

It's then that he kisses her, a long, slow kiss that when it ends, they're both breathless.

She pulls back, lips tingling, her hand still clasped in his. "I'm sory," he says at once, realizing he's kissed her without asking, without knowing her beyond this single conversation. Though, somehow it feels as if he's known her all his life. Kissing her had only felt natural, as if he had been waiting to do it all this time.

"Don't be," she says with a hint of a smile before it's her that leans in, capturing his mouth with a kiss that is deeper than the one before. His tongue meets with hers as the hand that once held onto hers slides into place against her cheek, the other one sliding up to tangle into her dark locks. They are as soft as he thought they would be. This time when they break apart, they're both grinning, hearts beating in unison within their chests. Something about kissing Jon felt right- as if she was always meant to do it.

She wonders if she should tell him the truth, it's there on the tip of her tongue, but it's Lord Baelish calling out to them then, catching their attention from across the gardens. Jon jumps to his feet then, despite being a king who rises for no man, springing away from her as if she's caught fire. "I've brought you your cloak, my sweet," Baelish says as he approaches, his smile that of a doting father, but Sansa can see the pleased look in his dark green eyes. The look of a man, not a father. He stoops so he can wrap the cloak around her shoulders himself, righting himself to turn to Jon instead. "At your pleasure, your grace, perhaps you might dine with us this evening."

Jon does not hesitate in his nod and when he's promised to see the pair lately, Jon excuses himself from their company to return to his chambers, where Davos already waits for him.

In the gardens, Baelish can only smile as he slips an arm around her slim shoulders, drawing her in as they make their way across the gardens together. "One hour with him and already he is yours," he says with a chuckle, wondering what his pretty bastard had done to ensnare the King Beyond the Wall so easily. No matter, so long as he was hers, Baelish could care less how she does it. "When he knows your true name, sweet girl, he will go to war and win back the North for you." That is the plan, after all. Jon Snow and his Wildling army would take back Winterfell from the Bolton's in the name of House Stark, in the name of the woman he called his queen. If things went as well as he hoped, when this was all over, it would be him that they called King and she woudl be his queen instead.

She can't help but to smile, her lips still tingling with Jon's kiss.

[thecleverdame]

Sleepy Hollow - Chapter Six

Series Master List

Pairings: Sam x Reader, mentions of Dean x Jo

Summary: In 1799, specialized police constables Sam and Dean Winchester are sent from New York City to a small town called Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders. Approached by the town’s council, the Winchesters discover the local residents believe that the murders are the work of a deadly Hessian horseman whose head has been mysteriously chopped off. With help from the beautiful Y/N Van Tassel, Sam Winchester’s investigation takes him further through the dark wood where more murders have been occurring. What Sam does not realize is that the mysterious Horseman is being controlled by someone in a sinister plot to kill the most suitable men in the village.

Warnings: Canon-level violence, murder, smut, horror, gore and a little fluff for good measure.

Words: 40k

Beta:  ilikaicalie

This series is completed. You can read it on my Patreon for a monthly pledge of 2.50. This pledge includes early access to all my stories and Patreon exclusive content.  >> CLICK HERE <<

-

Van Tassel House - Sam’s Room

Sam is startled awake, frightened and sweating. He lies in bed staring at the ceiling wrapped in the darkness of the night. There’s a candle flickering beside the bed almost completely burned down to the chamberstick and the smell of sweet salve, it’s a tell-tale sign. Dean must’ve dressed his head wound. He gingerly touches his forehead, wincing when he gets close to the gash and shakes sleep away.

It’s dark outside the window. The fall from the horse knocked him for a loop but now he’s able-bodied and not sure he’ll be able to sleep any more. He gets up, dresses and heads out to explore the house at night.

Entering the kitchen, he sets his lantern on the table and sits down to open his father’s ledger. It’s only as he settles in that he notices a faint light coming from down the hall. -

Most nights you retreat to the sewing room. There’s no one about the house at this hour and your bedroom can often feel like a prison. So after everyone is asleep you sit by the fire and read until the early hours of the morning.

You don’t hear Sam approaching, he’s quiet as a mouse until the door creaks open and you nearly jump out of your skin. For a moment you think it’s your stepmother, only to be met with the face of the handsome Constable.

Slapping the book closed and tucking it in beside you in the chair, you sit at attention, watching him inch inside the door. “You scared me nearly half to death.” “Pardon my intrusion. I saw a light.” He smiles softly, a wonderful, gentle smile you wouldn’t expect from such a beast of a man.

“It is no intrusion. I come here to read when sleep eludes me.” You can’t help but feel a thrill as he steps closer. “Will you sit with me, Constable Winchester?”

You pat the sofa beside you, watching as he bites his bottom lip. He bows his head in confirmation, then he takes a seat.

“How would your fiance’ feel about you being alone with me?” Sam asks, awaiting the answer with bated breath. He cannot deny his interest in you, especially to himself.

“I believe I told you Brom had proposed, not that I ever accepted.” Looking him over you scoot to the side, making more room. “I would expect more attention to detail from a man of the law, Constable.” “You must call me Sam,” he offers, leaning close to get a better view of the volume you hid away. “You come here to read books which you must hide?” he grins, tilting his head to read the spine of the book in question. “The Knights of the Round Table...isn’t that for children?” “Not everything is as it appears.” You pick up the large book, taking another, smaller volume from inside. “It was my mother’s book. My father frowned at them when they were hers, he would frown at me now. He believes tales of romance caused the brain fever that killed my mother. She died two years ago come midwinter.” Sam nods, “I am very sorry. I saw it written in the front of the family bible.” “The nurse who cared for her during her sickness is the new Lady Van Tassel.” “There was something else too.” Sam can’t stop the investigator inside him.  “Why did no one think to mention that Van Garretts are kit and kin to the Van Tassels?”

“Why because there is hardly a household in Sleepy Hollow that is not connected to every other by blood or marriage. I have more cousins than fingers and toes to count them on.” That thought seems to amuse him, cheeks rounding, dimples appearing. “What?”

“Dean is all the family I have the world.” He looks up, his eyes lingering for a moment too long.

A cock crows outside, dawn is coming soon.

“This land was Van Garrett Land, given to my father when I was in swaddling clothes,” you continue, eager to find any reason to keep him with you. Enjoying this sweet moment of privacy. “Given by the dead Van Garrett?” he inquires. “Yes,” you nod. “The Van Garretts were the richest family around these parts even then. When my father brought us to Sleepy Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with an acre, a broken-down cottage, and a dozen Van Garrett hens. My father prospered and built us a new house. I owe my happiness to him. I remember living poor in the cottage. Would you like to see it? I could take you there.” “Yes. I would like to see where you were as poor as I am.” He grins, unnaturally handsome and you want nothing more than to throw yourself at him.

Sam stands to leave and you stand too, revealing the book you had been reading. You give it a final look before handing it to him.

“Take this. It is my gift to you, Sam.” He carefully takes it from you, big hands curling around the spine as he reads the title: A Compendium of Spells, Charms, and Devices of the Spirit World. “I am grateful for the gift, but perhaps you should keep it. I have no use for it.” He steps closer to hand it back. “Are you so certain of everything?” You look at him, purposely holding his stare.

He inspects it, opening the cover and flipping to the back. There’s your name but in different handwriting is also the name Elizabeth Van Tassel.

“This was your mother’s?” He looks up, surprised.

“Keep it close to your heart.” You inch closer, nearer than you should be. “It is sure protection against harm.” His eyes narrow, looking from you to the book. “Are you so certain of everything?” “Almost always…” you whisper, tiling your head toward him like a plant hungry for the sun.

His lips meet yours in a single, longing kiss as his hand curls around your arm. He lingers for a fleeting moment, nuzzling his nose into your cheek before pulling back just enough to look you in the eyes. “I should go. It’s almost dawn and the staff will be waking. Being caught together as day breaks would certainly stir rumors.”

“I’ve never cared what people say about me.” You swim in the feeling of the kiss as he backs away.

“I will see you soon, Y/N.”

Sleepy Hollow Farmland

You and Sam make a pretty picture on horseback, riding slowly toward the ruins of the cottage you lived in as a child.

“I saw the photos on your desk,” you mention casually, watching him ride beside you. “Are they your family?”

“Yes, people I have lost.” He offers you a forced smile, hand tightening around the reigns. “My parents and someone I cared for.”

“A lost love?” you ask gently and he nods. “Did you lose her recently?”

“No, it was ten years ago now. But if I’m honest there are days when it feels as if no time has passed at all.”

“The heart heals slowly. There are days when I forget my mother is gone. Just this morning I had a fleeting thought. I wanted to tell her how excited I was to bring you here, only to remember that she is gone.”

“I know those moments as well.” He slows his horse as you approach the cottage. There’s almost nothing left but the hearth and part of a crumbling chimney.

Sam dismounts, turning to offer you a hand and help you off your horse. There’s a thrill at the feeling of his hands on yours and you’re about to let go when you notice little scars on his palm. You take his hand between your own, running your thumbs over the little dimples.

“These are strange,” you look up to him. “What are they?”   “I wish I knew. I’ve had them since I can remember.”

You inspect him for a moment longer, before taking his hand into yours and leading him into the ruins of the cottage. Sam's attention is caught by a red cardinal on a branch, much like the bird he had in New York. He reflects a moment, then turns to watch you crouching by the hearth. You look back at him, threading the stem of a flower into your hair. “I used to play by this hearth. It was my first drawing school and my mother was my teacher.” Unwittingly, you’re mimicking Sam's dream. You pick up a twig and start drawing on the hearthstone, just as his mother did. His blood runs cold but you’re unaware of the effect it’s having on him. Then he notices the few small wildflowers growing in the old fireplace and feels short of breath, leaning against the stones for support. “Oh, look! I'd forgotten this.” You smile. “See, carved into the fire-back, the Archer.” Using your fingers you clean off the dirt around a simple carving of a man with a Bow and Arrow. “This was from long before we lived here.” You look to Sam, who’s pale as a ghost. “Are you alright?” He nods but says nothing. You’re about to press him when you spot the cardinal too.

“Look there!” you point. “They are my favorite. I would love to have a tame one, but I wouldn't have the heart to cage him. “Then I have something for you.” Sam unslings his satchel, watching your face light up. You’re too beautiful and vibrant a creature to be stuck in a dark place like Sleepy Hollow.

It’s a paper disk with a red bird on one side and an empty cage on the other. Both ends of the disk are pierced by a looped string so that the disk can spin and twist. It was his mother’s gift to him many years ago.

“Come here, let me show you.” He steps behind you, indulging as he presses his chest into your back, arms reaching around your waist. You hum to life at the sensation of his large body curled over yours.

“A cardinal on one side, and an empty cage on the other.” You watch with bated breath as he spins the disk. “And now…” Once he moves it fast enough the bird appears to be inside the cage. You’re thrilled and excited, tilting back to look up at him. “You can do magic! Teach me!” “It is not magic. It’s optics,” he chuckles, lowering his mouth to the side of your head, he’s close enough you can feel his breath on your temple.  Sam gives you the toy and shows you how to spin it. “Separate pictures which become one when the picture spins. Like the truth which I must spin here.” He steps away, shifting to the side and watching while you spin the disk, the bird appears in the cage. “I may keep it?”

“Of course.” He confirms. “I’d give you anything you asked for to see you smile like this.”

His words send a flush to your cheeks and the disk in your hands is momentarily forgotten as you gaze at the handsome man before you.

“Anything?” you ask coyly.

“Anything.” His stare is unyielding, eyes fixed on yours.

“Another kiss?” you inquire, only to have him swooping down to pull you into his arms and his mouth close over your own. There’s a desperate passion that was not there this morning. This kiss stokes a fire in your belly, fanning the flame that his touch sparked in the sewing room.

You moan softly into his mouth, only to have him take advantage as his tongue slides past your lips, gliding, plunging, delving deeper and deeper until you’re breathless.

Before you know what’s happening his hand is on your stomach, pushing you back until you’re flush with the hearth, trapped between cold stone and the heat of his body. He pulls away with a pop, only to move down your jaw, drawing a breathless mewl from your lungs as he nips and sucks at the skin of your neck.

“Touch me,” you pant, fisting your hands in his hair.

Sam doesn’t need to be told twice. He’s wanted to kiss you, to ravage every inch of you, since the first moment he saw you. It’s a desire that’s only grown with time. He groans against the hot, sweating skin in the crook of your neck as his hand finds its way under your dress.

When his knuckles meet the soft skin of your thighs you gasp in response, pressing forward into his touch. Two fingers brush over the thatch of hair at your sex, scooping forward until he finds warm, wet flesh. You must want him as much as he desires you because you’re thoroughly slick.

“Sam,” you moan, spurring him on as those fingers thrust upward into the tightness of your channel. His thumb goes in search of your delicate pearl, sliding back and forth until you nearly squeal, two hands grabbing at his back confirming he’s found his target.

You can feel him inside you, two thick fingers thrusting in and out as he rubs your bud, bringing a wash of pleasure and wanton lust over every inch of you. You can also hear it, the sound of your sex taking his fingers and then the sensation of his mouth biting across the swell of your breasts.

If Sam had any less self-control he’d throw you to the ground and rip this ridiculous dress right off you. He’d fuck you here in the dirt, but he won’t. A woman as sweet as you deserves things like a bed and mattress.

He can feel it when you cum. You whimper, desperate cunt tightening around his knuckles, little sucking clenches that draw him deeper until you’re boneless in his grasp.

He pulls his hand from between your legs, sullied fingers on your throat as he hooks both hands under your jaw and kisses you again and again, swallowing every gasp and sigh until you’re lost in his mouth and his touch.

You spend the better part of the morning enthralled with each other, gentle touches and passionate kisses until the sun rises high overhead and you have no choice but to return home.

[pivitor]

My Top 10 Albums of 2019

2019 will go down, for me, as the year my beloved iPod died, and I finally bit the bullet and signed up for Spotify Premium. Thus, I listened to more new music in 2019 than I ever have before, and realized how much of it I found disposable. Bands I grew up loving put out mediocre efforts, new darlings grew in directions I wasn’t interested in following, but thank god, thank god there are still plenty of terrific musicians putting out work that resonates deep within my soul. Music is subjective, so I wouldn’t dare call this a “best of” list, but below are the ten new releases of 2019 that I listened to the most, vibed with the most, that just plain ol’ meant the most to me this year.

(PS: Don’t think too much about the exact order and ranking here. It changed multiple times even as I was writing this. What really matters is that all ten of these records rule)

10. Radar State -- Strays

Radar State are the Avengers of the early 2000s mid-west emo scene -- a band combining The Get Up Kids’ Matt Pryor and Jim Suptic, The Anniversary’s Josh Berwanger, and The Architects’ Adam Phillips into a single supergroup. Pryor has described the project as “just having fun with [his] friends,” and that dynamic shines through loud and clear in Strays. It’s like each member is pushing the next to just create the catchiest song they possibly can, and the competition leads to great results; Pryor favors fast and sloppy punk and Berwanger moody earworms that fuse themselves into your brain through sheer repetition, but it’s Suptic who fulfills that edict best with his shiny, addictive pop love songs. Radar State never quite hits the emotional highs of its members’ main projects, but that was never the point in the first place; Strays is just fun from front to back, and it’s an album I’ve returned to consistently throughout the entirety of 2019.

Highlights: Making Me Feel, Self-Hurt Guru, Artificial Love

9. The Early November -- Lilac

Lilac is an album about learning from your mistakes and making a conscious choice to be better, and it’s a theme, an ethos that truly defines this release on every level. The Early November originally planned to release Lilac back in 2018, but ended up scrapping the original recording and going back to the drawing board, knowing that they could do better, and funneling that ambition, all their lessons learned, into their most ambitious release outside of The Mother, The Maker, and the Path (“but less self-indulgent,” I say with love). Horns, piano, and a wide variety of tempos spice up the proceedings, and the lyrics are more raw and honest than ever, but Lilac’s greatest weapon is the vocals, which Ace Enders wields with virtuoso skill. He plays with different cadences and deliveries, giving every song a unique feel, moving from soft and pleasant (“Perfect Sphere [Bubble]”) to menacing (“My Weakness”), from the joy of “Ave Maria” to the cathartic, powerhouse vocal explosion of “Hit By A Car (Euphoria)” to the pure, crackling, barely contained emotional breakdown threatening to burst right out of the chorus of “Our Choice.” There’s no other vocalist out there quite like Ace Enders -- and no other record quite like Lilac.

Highlights: Hit By A Car (In Euphoria), Ave Maria, Comatose

8. Magazine Beach -- Sick Day (EP)

Most year-end lists probably overlooked this record, a debut four-song EP from a small DIY band released in mid-December, and man oh man are those critics missing out. Sick Day isn’t just the biggest and best musical surprise I received all year, but quite possibly the most fun I had listening to music in 2019. Seriously, I played this on loop probably two dozen times the day I discovered it, and spent that evening forcing friends to listen to it too. Magazine Beach’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics, gonzo riffs, and stunning background harmonies are combined with vocals whose flatter, sardonic tone initially masks, but soon reveals their perfect cadence and quick crackles of emotion; they’re as close to a perfect pop-punk package as I heard all year, with their quirky, relatable songs about flaky friends, overstuffed social calendars, and other mid-twenties challenges filling that gaping Modern-Baseball-You’re-Gonna-Miss-It-All-shaped hole in my heart. If this had released earlier in the year, and I’d had more time to see how long it truly stuck with me, it might have placed far, far higher on this list, but either way I look forward to carrying this album forward with me into 2020, and I look forward to following Magazine Beach’s future career closely. I think they could go places.

Highlight: Living Room

7. Masked Intruder -- III

It’s easy to look at Masked Intruder and think that they’re more of an act than a band, just because they’re so good at playing hardened-yet-harmless criminals on stage, at enchanting an audience with their antics and banter alone. Thankfully, they’re equally skilled as musicians as they are performers; III isn’t just quick content for their live shows, but an entertaining, addictive, artfully made pop-punk record in its own right. Okay, maybe pop-punk is a bit too restrictive a descripter -- between the doo-wop, call-and-response harmonies and the raging riffs and solos, III sometimes sounds like a modern spin on sixties rock and roll, which is something I did not know I needed but absolutely needed. The lyrics never break kayfabe, but there’s some real clever stuff going on beneath the surface of these silly crime-themed love songs; contrasting the creepiness of Blue’s romantic pursuits with the shenanigans of a typical radio love song shows how few differences there actually are between the two, how creepy the entire genre is when you stop to give it any thought. It’s thoughtful and subversive without ever being preachy, just one more spinning plate kept perfectly balanced in the act that is III.

Highlights: Not Fair, Maybe Even, I’m Free (At Last)

6. Martha -- Love Keeps Kicking

Martha’s secret weapon is the empathy and compassion their songs cultivate for their subjects. Love Keeps Kicking is an album largely about the way love can kick you when you’re down, yet throughout the album Martha never villainizes even the bad actors in relationships. “Into This” finds the narrator jerked around by a potential partner who just won’t clarify what they are to each other, but the song isn’t out to attack the partner, simply to get a solid answer. Likewise, “Love Keeps Kicking” lays out a myriad of detailed complaints about romance and relationships, not to insult, but simply to find a way to endure them. “Orange Juice” rues the way the narrator diluted their partner just by being with them, showing impressive (and heartbreaking) levels of self-awareness. That kind of emotional maturity and complexity makes the true love songs (“Sight For Sore Eyes,” “Wrestlemania VIII”) all the more joyous, and makes their social commentary (“Mini Was A Preteen Arsonist”) that much more effective. Martha are a wonderfully catchy, fun band filled with great harmonies and British twang, but it’s their earnest, compassionate storytelling that truly made me fall in love with them, and with Love Keeps Kicking.

Highlights: Wrestlemania VIII, Love Keeps Kicking, Orange Juice

5. Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties -- Routine Maintenance

Hot take (?) incoming: Dan Campbell is the best songwriter of our generation. I already sang his praises pretty thoroughly last year when discussing my favorite album of 2018, but Routine Maintenance is just further proof of this truth, almost Campbell flexing. The previous Aaron West record was a character study of the worst year of a man’s life, but Routine Maintenance expands Aaron’s world in terms of scope, characters, and themes, all to the project’s (and character’s) benefit. The record is a tale of redemption, taking Aaron from rock bottom to a new place of security, all through the power of friendship and community, the power of music, and the power of family, of fulfilling your responsibilities to them, of finding your role and your home wherever you are, with the people who care about you, with people you can make proud. They’re themes Campbell has been exploring throughout his entire career, but brought down to a more personal level, and somehow that makes them hit harder than ever, perhaps because it makes the way they can fit into any listener’s life that much clearer. I’ve cried listening to this album. I’ve cried hearing these songs live. There’s true, true catharsis on Routine Maintenance, and it’s because Campbell’s taken Aaron West on a real journey, and it’s one I feel blessed to have been able to follow.

Highlights: Runnin’ Toward the Light, Rosa & Reseda, Winter Coats

4. Pkew Pkew Pkew -- Optimal Lifestyles

Pkew Pkew Pkew’s 2016 self-titled debut was an album told solely in the present tense, not worried about the future, but simply about the drinks, pizza, skateboarding, and parties to be had right here, right now. It was a blisteringly fun, gang-vocals filled powerhouse of a record that solidified Pkew Pkew Pkew as one of my new favorite bands. Optimal Lifestyles, though, is an album that has started to look back, if only to question the present. Are they still content to be these same fun-loving, hard-drinking party guys? Ultimately, as proven by lyrics such as “Shred until you’re dead, or until you break your wrist again” and “We lead thirsty little lives, and all we want’s another,” the answer they come to is a resounding “yes,” but the journey they take to find that answer not only makes it feel earned, but opens Pkew Pkew Pkew to some exciting new songwriting avenues, be it the touching introspection of “Drinkin’ Days” or the surprisingly beautiful nostalgia of “Everything’s the Same” (or even the more raucous nostalgia of “Mt. Alb,” for that matter). Don’t let words like “introspection” and “beautiful” scare you, though -- The Boys still rock as hard as ever, as the wailing, chugging guitars and even a totally rockin’ saxophone solo fully attest to (though I do miss all the gang vocals). And I’d be remiss to not mention “I Wanna See A Wolf,” an absolute songwriting clinic. In only a minute and nineteen seconds, Pkew Pkew Pkew takes a simple statement -- “I wanna see a wolf” -- and unravels it until it reveals a song about longing for freedom from the careers that cage our lives, even when they’re our dream. I don’t know if Pkew Pkew Pkew could have written this song three years ago. Talk about growth.

Highlights: I Wanna See A Wolf, Point Break, Adult Party

3. The Get Up Kids -- Problems

After their most popular record -- 1999’s Something To Write Home About -- the Get Up Kids’ next three albums all went on to be incredibly divisive among their fans. While all three records showed significant creative growth, none really sounded like what came before (personally, I very much enjoyed two of those records -- sorry, There Are Rules -- but I guess I’m not most fans). Problems, though, sounds like the natural evolution of Something To Write Home About without ever feeling derivative of it -- it sounds more like “the Get Up Kids” than anything the Get Up Kids have released in over a decade, which is an incredibly exciting thing let me tell you. Yet, Problems still benefits from everything the band has learned in that time: there’s new introspection (“The Problem Is Me”), a wider storytelling scope (“Lou Barlow”), and a shift from wallowing in their own pain to examining the pain of others (“Satellite,” which Matt Pryor has said is based on one of his sons). Problems also manages to pack in absolute bangers like “Fairweather Friends,” sensitive, tender ballads like “The Advocate,” and mid-tempo jams like “Salina,” a guaranteed future Emo classic that threatens to dethrone the Kids’ own “Central Standard Time” as The Quintessential Emo Song. Problems is the synthesis of just about everything that has ever made the Get Up Kids special, and it not only makes for one of the year’s best albums, but one of the Get Up Kids’ best as well.

Highlights: Fairweather Friends, Lou Barlow, Salina

2. PUP -- Morbid Stuff

The A-Side of Morbid Stuff is perfect -- a legitimately flawless five song stretch of punk rock that continues to blow my mind almost ten months after its release. The unmistakable opening notes of “Morbid Stuff”; that irresistible background riff from the bridge returning in “Kids’” second chorus, combined with some of the most nihilisticly romantic lyrics I’ve ever heard; the raucous sing-along that is “Free At Last”; the purest, most undiluted diss-track of the year in “See You At Your Funeral”; and, finally, the best song of the year bar none, “Scorpion Hill,” a sonic journey through multiple musical genres, telling a story of uniquely American misery that legitimately moves me to tears. The B-Side doesn’t quite live up to these first five tracks -- there’s a couple stand-outs (“Bare Hands” needs to make it into a live set pronto), a couple songs more interesting in concept than execution (sorry, “Full Blown Meltdown”), and a few more perfectly fine, standard PUP tunes (and I swear I don’t mean that as an insult!) -- but, well, how could it ever really have anyway? All together, it still makes for an outrageously enjoyable album that reaches the upper echelons of what 2019’s new music had to offer. That PUP was not only such a terrific band right out of the gate, but has remained so this far into their career, makes me so, so happy.

Highlights: Scorpion Hill, Kids, Free At Last

1. The Menzingers -- Hello Exile

It took me a few listens -- and, truthfully, seeing it played live -- to truly crack this album. At first it was a bit too slow, the vocals a bit too filtered, but once it clicked, I lived and breathed Hello Exile and nothing else for months. The slightly slower pace gives the Menzingers a chance to play around with some new musical tricks, be it the back-and-forth opening or the fun background guitar melodies of “Strangers Forever” or the almost hypnotic vocal melodies in the choruses of “Portland” or “Hello Exile,” and they pay off with great effect. Lyrically the Menzingers are at the top of their game; tracks like “High School Friend” and “Strain Your Memory” are more adept than ever at painting stories that make you nostalgic for a life you never even lived, but absolutely feel like you have, and lines like “it only hurts til’ it doesn’t” hit your heart with sniper-like precision. “Anna” may be the quintessential Menzingers song, a tale of longing, love, and location that drove the entire scene into a frenzy that still hasn’t subsided. “Farewell Youth” is the best closing track the Menzingers have ever released, a song about grief in multiple forms that manages to find poignant takes on each and every one of them. I’m not yet sure whether Hello Exile is the beginning or the end of a chapter for the Menzingers, but either way, it’s clearly an essential and unmissable part of their story, and one I feel privileged to be able to experience.

Highlights: Anna, Strangers Forever, Farewell Youth

[thisstableground]

High key sad ask, but how do you think it went when/if Ruben saw his mom and sisters again and they now know that ‘yeah that guy you sent me away with so easily kidnapped and tortured me’ I’m just in the mood for guilty family feels :(

ohhhh, oh no! (minor content warning for talk of torture/ptsd stuff bc ruben)

well. so i’ve got it in my timeline that what happens afterjamaica  is that when ian returns from jamaica he plays it so that jason thinks ruben is dead. works out best for ian that way – jason won’tgo looking for ruben to get rid of ian any more, ruben’s there if/when iandecides he’ll be useful to him, and he correctly figures that jason isn’t going toturn himself in unless he absolutely has to. 

unlucky for them, josh finds outthat jason was on the plane with ruben, and after that jason is pretty muchcornered into confessing to what he believes to be ruben’s murder. ruben’sfamily, of course, are kept in the loop about all of this. so for about anothermonth after that, before ruben is found and brought back home, his family justhave to live with thinking that the guy they all had dinner with straight upkilled him. and without a body and without jason even being able to say exactlywhat happened, they don’t even really understandit because let’s face it, this whole thing is a confusing, complicated situation. but that’s reallyhard for them to live with: that was the last time they saw ruben alive and, as far as they know, the last time they’ll ever have seen him.

his mom especially thinks about it all the time,thinks about how he’d said “ma, you don’t understand-“ and she’d just shushedhim and sent him on his way. god, she didn’t understand. she thinksabout that at the memorial and every time she looks at her heartbroken, hurtingdaughters and wonders whether she ever understood any of her children at all if shemanaged to miss that, and what else she might not see until it’s too late. she thinks about it every time she stands in ruben’s childhood bedroom, crying over his baby pictures, thinks about it while she’s clearing out his apartment and when she’s lying awakeat night wishing he’d just come back home so she could tell him that she’ssorry, that she should have listened harder, seen what he was trying to say.

then he does come back, of course. and she still wants totell him that she’s sorry. but there’s so much already going on – he’s unwell to thepoint of delirious when he first gets back, he can’t talk about what happenedat all, his only two modes are either violent flashback or so dissociated he’s practically comatose. enough of his own problems without dealing withhis family’s guilt. when do you find the right moment to apologize for that? how do you apologize to someone who can barely even hear you speaking to them?

the trial is hard for them all. it’s the first time theyhear the story in full, with ruben’s perspective on events. it takes weeks to get through, but by the end of it they know exactly what happened to ruben in jamaica, and they also know that by the timeian was at their house, he’d already tried to kill ruben at least once. earlier that same week, maybe that same day had gagged him and strapped him to ahospital bed and shoved a needle in his arm and left him there.

estefania remembers the person she thought was jason coleshowing up at their house a short while before ruben arrived, how she’d said that ruben doesn’t often bringfriends back because he’s so busy. how jason – ian – had laughed and with abright smile said, “you’d have to tie him down and lock him in the basement to keephim out of that  lab of his,” and she’dlaughed too.

she has to run out of the courtroom at the memory of that, stands out inthe cool spring air breathing heavily and trying not to be sick. he’d known exactly what he was saying. hewas laughing about it, at her, at ruben. did he laugh after what he did to her ruben in jamaica, too?

they didn’t talk about it after. the trial was somuch to deal with, and there was so much going on. they all feel a little guilty that it’s easier for them after ruben moves to new york - he starts doing better, being more independent, and so they havespace to look at their own trauma without feeling like they should all befocused on helping him get better. all three of them, estefania and the girls,end up in therapy themselves. everyone in that family has PTSD now, to more orless of an extent. the girls never bring friends home from school any more –halfway because it’s too hard to trust anyone, halfway because they know that ifthey do then they’d be under such suspicion. they’re all very private now, from the outside world and in many ways from each other.

ruben, for his part, does actually blame them a little. he feelsterrible about it, because he loves them and they’ve done so much for him. he didn’teven tell his old therapist about it. he doesnt wantto blame them, he wants to just blame ian, keep it all nice and straightforwardand clear. but he can’t help it: he tried to tell them as much as he could without spilling the whole story, he said he didn’t want to go out, he thought it waspretty fucking obvious that he didn’t want to go anywhere with ian, and there’sbeen a lot of times especially when he was still in jamaica that he wonderedwhy the hell they couldn’t read that, how little they must understand him evenafter knowing him his whole life. how his mother always says things like sheloves him how he is, but the first chance she got she was willing to overlookevery red flag and ruben’s own preferences to see him go out and be “normal”with a friend. none of it is that simple, of course, and he knows it isn’t, butthere’s enough of an element of truth to it to make it very difficult to shake.

there’s a lot of things theyhaven’t talked about just waiting there, that they’re trying to ignore becausethings are a little better now, everyone’s a little happier now, and nobodywants to be the one to disturb the fragile sense of recovery. i think ruben has a stronger sense of his recovery when it’s just him by himself, but while in a way this brought them closer as a family there’s also such a weight of grief and guilt and everyone’s trauma that when all of them are together the progress he’s made becomes less clear, less certain, because it reminds him of how many things there are still left to deal with for all of them.

but estefania is selling the house soon, wants out ofphiladelphia and especially out of the place where that man sat and ate theirfood and they all laughed at his jokes, just days before he dragged ruben tothe middle of nowhere and tortured him. i imagine that it’ll be once they’re intheir new place then a whole lot of suppressed stuff is gonna come out. that’s how PTSD works sometimes: often it’s only when you’re actually safe that you suddenly start to process the extent of what happened and really feel the fear of it. and thatit’s going to be very messy, but god knows all of them need it.

[sxance]

The walk to Thornbush Cemetery is a short and quiet one, being just about right across the street from your family’s property. It’s a warm evening, will get warmer as spring continues to... spring. You don’t know, you’ve never been good at wordplay.

You stop just before the entrance, stare at it, wavering. Whenever you go to a cemetery, you always bypass Thornbush despite it being the closest. It’s too haunted, even for you, and the fault doesn’t lie with the dead buried here.

Yet here you are.

You don’t really know why you’re here. Closure, you guess? Or maybe you want to prove to yourself that what happened here will never happen again, because you’re older now and your father’s six feet under.

You raise your shoulders with a deep breath in and let them drop when you breathe out. You take a step forward, and then another, and then a few more, and before you’re even fully aware of it, you’ve crossed the threshold into the cemetery.

It’s fairly small, a couple dozen graves and... the mausoleum... in the center making up the whole of it. When your eyes fall on the subject of your bullshit, you immediately want to turn around and head back. Yet you don’t. Can’t. your gaze stays locked on it as you continue to walk forward, walking through a ghost whose indignant protests fall on deaf ears. Before you know it, you’re in front of the mausoleum.

Your eyes immediately catch a lock on the door that wasn’t there when you were here, your father always brought his own lock, sick bastard that he was. Curious, you lift it up a little with your hand, and then hear someone behind you.

“Do you need something?” You almost jump out of your skin and whip around. It’s a man around your age, looking like he’s been rolling around in dirt. Shaggy brown hair and green eyes. He’s wearing gardening gloves and holding an trowel in his right hand. You’re pretty sure he’s alive.

“Who’re you?” you answer after you’ve recovered from your small shock. He doesn’t look dangerous, but if he turns out to be some kind of grave robber, this might not end well.

“James, the groundskeeper.” Ah. That explains the gardening shit. “You?”

“Klaus. Hargreeves. I live across the street.”

Recognition dawns on James’s face. “Hargreeves, you don’t say. The death guy, right? You know, our dads knew each other pretty well. My dad talked about yours a lot, said he was a good man. I know it’s been a while, but I’m sorry for your loss.”

You bite back the grimace that tries to make its way onto your face. “Thanks,” you say, a little more bitter than you meant to sound. “And yeah, the death guy. Wasn’t your dad the groundskeeper at one point?” You vaguely remember meeting him once or twice when your dad would bring you here, before he started locking you in. You don’t recall ever meeting James, though. Guess the graveyard keeper profession isn’t the type that has bring your kid to work days.

“Yeah, I sort of inherited the job from him. Family business, you know?” He laughs, a little awkwardly. “So you’re here to talk to your dead friends or something, right?” He glances up at the name displayed over the door. “You know the Robertses?”

Your mind drifts back to the kind old woman who used to try to comfort you when Hargreeves would leave you out here. Was her name Roberts...?

“I’m sure we’ve met.” You turn back to the mausoleum door and pick up the lock again. “This wasn’t always here, right?”

James leans over to look at the lock. “Oh, yeah. Dad started locking it when he kept finding bottles of booze lying around in there. Figured it was some teenage hooligans or something.”

“Booze, huh?” That’s right, you started to sneak small bottles of alcohol in with you, you’d found that it made being stuck in there more bearable, and you could ignore the ghosts in favor of your spinning head. That’s... probably where your addiction started, wasn’t it? At least you know that this lock, and by extension the booze, is what eventually got you out of having to come here. Kind of ironic.

He looks back at you, eyebrow raised and a half smirk on his face. “What, was it you?”

Your head snaps back to him and you drop the lock. He must mistake your expression for guilt, because he continues, laughing. “Look, it’s fine. We were all kids once. No offense, but you do look the type to go drinking in graveyards.”

You try to give your best you got me face with a shrug. “None taken. Guilty as charged.”

He laughs again, a full grin on his face. “So what, you came to reminisce? I can let you in, but I’m gonna have to say no booze this time.”

“I don’t have any,” you reassure him, and before you can decide whether or not you even want to go in, James has taken a key ring off of his belt loop and is unlocking the door.

“It’s all yours,” he says with a wave to the unlocked door. You turn, slowly, to stare at it, try to take a steady breath. You’ve come way too far to chicken out now.

Before you can think better of it, you push the door open and walk inside, all too aware of James standing at the door behind you. You look around your old prison, the single grave inside of it the same as it always has been, if a little more worn than last you saw it. Your breath catches when your eyes fall on the corner in the back you used to curl up and cry in, begging for your father to please, Dad, let me out, and you can’t do this.

You drop your head in your hands, wring them through your hair, try to breathe, god, you need to breathe, and when you turn to escape, eyes on the ground, you hit something solid and fall back, your shoulders hitting the stone grave hard enough that they’ll probably bruise.

“Are you okay?” When you look up, eyes wide and chest heaving, James is standing in front of you, leaning down. He looks worried.

“Let me out,” you say, voice small and shaking. He looks confused, but he steps out of your way, and you clamber to your feet and bolt out of the mausoleum. You ignore James’s call as you keep running, and running, until you leave Thornbush Cemetery and your hell away from home behind, until you’re back on Academy grounds, until you’re back in the bunker and speeding past your family and the questions you’re sure they have, and you don’t stop until you’re back in your room, leaning against the door behind you.

It takes another minute of hyperventilation before you can finally breathe normally again and knock your head against the door lightly.

“Fuck,” you whisper. God, you’re an idiot.

[draconida]

Shance Fic Recs (Part three)

More Shance! With Kuro and Sven too. 

82- Mysteries Become Reality by FullmetalDude1 [M/M/M/M, Sven and Kuro]

The world is full of mythical creatures that are slowly but surely being integrated and accepted into society, but a couple of hate crimes and BS still happens.

Lance is a human in this world, doing his best to help Mythics out even if he's got a bad history.

Then he meets 4 super hot Mythics in collage and he is gone, but he'll never admit that.

At least, not until he's been held for ransom by a gang of haters.

83- i don't have too much but i know enough by quiddative

Lance shot a panicked look at Keith but the asshole just laid there uselessly. “Don’t look at me like that,” he snorted. “They’re your kids, after all.”

What?

“What?” Lance and Allura yelled.

Allura turned to Kolivan with narrowed eyes. “Explain,” she demanded.

Kolivan looked very much like he wanted a drink. “The two of them appear to be the Red and Black Paladins’ children from the future.”

(Or: Lance and Shiro's children appear from the future and emotions ensue.)

85- Remember Me by boredomsMuse

Back before Kerberos, Lance and Shiro had been close. Boyfriends, type close. Boyfriends who'd meet each other's parents, all of them, type close.

Except, none of the Paladins know that. Not even Shiro.

86- Starlight Starshine by stirlingphoenix

'He’s beautiful', was the only thought Shiro’s mind could process as he watched Lance in person for the very first time. Those two little words repeated themselves on a loop over and over, making sure he’d never forget this moment. He’d always thought Lance to be exceedingly attractive, but seeing him in real life, as opposed to the TV screen or a movie poster nearly blew his mind.

Shiro had every intention of getting out of there before he ended up doing something embarrassing. Nevermind the fact that Lance wouldn’t know who he was, he still wasn’t too keen on potentially making a fool of himself. But just before he could make a beeline for the exit, the sound of his proper last name echoed throughout the air, forcing him to stop dead in his tracks.

“Excuse me, Mr. Shirogane?” The nervousness that plagued his caller’s voice hit Shiro’s ears wrong, yet it was still oddly familiar to him, as if he’d heard that same tone over a hundred times before.

As it turned out, he had, just never like this. Turning around, he came face-to-face with the lead of the production, the one and only Lance McClain himself, standing before him with a curious, perhaps even anxious expression covering his face.

87- Hi by Nevermoree

"in a world where you have your soulmates’ first words tattooed in your skin, he, obviously, has… well, that."

88- Te prefiero a ti by Nevermoree [Explicit and only spanish]

Lance has been in love with Shiro since he can remember, so when he have the opportunity to spend the night with Shiro, he have decided not to waste it. It's supposed to be a one-night deal, but things do not always work out the way you plan.

89- How to get a hot, shape-shifting dragon-man to fall in love with you by charlotteXOyates [Explicit]

Discovering a new species is a dream every reptile expert can relate to, so Lance's excitement upon meeting Shiro, a man with scales and a dragon tail, is understandably through the roof. What's less understandable, however, is Lance's sudden desire to help the dragon-man with his rut…

90- Daycare, Toddlers, and a bit of Love by starryrosez

Lance falls in love with the father of a boy he looks after in daycare.

91- Claws by AshesTheTerrible [Explicit and omegaverse] Lance had clawed his way through the Galra military ranks. This was the most important day of his entire existence. He was being assigned to a commander. One of the most ruthless commanders in the Empire. He had to make a good impression.

It would be just his luck that he'd be stricken with the beginnings of a ruthless heat. He knew the suppressants made him sick, but he took them anyway. Anything was better than a fucking stupid heat. He couldn't very well look strong with his heat boring down on his shoulders.

But puking at the feet of your new commander doesn't exactly make you look like a model Galra either… hindsight Lance supposes. 92- Lance's Guide on How to Embarrass Yourself in Front of Your Insurance Adjuster by Eilera

“This is for my mama, Hunk. She was so worried about this whole thing. They just finished renovating. I’m not gonna let her down. If my name isn’t Lance fucking Hernandez Martine-holy fuck he’s gorgeous.”

“Oh no. No. Lance do-“

Lance didn’t even hear him because there was a fucking gorgeous god walking up the path to the front door.

(In which Lance is helping his mama with an insurance claim and he was not prepared for the smoking hot insurance adjuster.)

93- designated drivers anonymous by kalakauuas

"It’s halfway through his sixth attempt at a puppy-filter pic that the bathroom door whooshes open wider than Lance’s mouth trying to prompt the puppy tongue onto the screen. Right when Lance screeches in surprised terror, he takes the picture.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was occupied,” says the person who threw the door open, his hands rushing to cover his eyes quicker than Lance would run from his mom’s chancla.

The good thing is, aside from vaguely humiliating selfie poses, there’s nothing to see here."

Lance and Shiro meet through a shared hobby, if you consider hiding in bathrooms during house parties a hobby.

94- Tris for Guys by quiddative

“Um, my name is Lance McClain-Reyes and I have a personal training session,” Lance said, though it came out as more of a question than a statement.

The girl hummed and typed something on the computer. “Ah, right on time,” she said. “Looks like you’ve been paired up with Shiro. If you’ll just take a seat, he should be out in a few minutes.”

Shiro?, Lance thought as all the gears in his brain suddenly screeched to a halt. I must have heard wrong. There’s no way—

“That’s okay, Pidge, I’m already here,” said a deep and familiar voice just behind Lance.

(Or: What do you do when the guy you've been crushing on turns out to be your personal trainer for the day?)

95- easier to lose by quiddative [Explicit]

Shiro is at the peak of his NHL career. Unfortunately, being famous has its downsides, particularly when it comes to dating. And that’s on top of the fact that he’s still in the closet. However, a chance meeting with college student Lance, who seems to be the only person in the entire city who doesn’t know who he is, gives him hope that maybe he won’t die alone after all. Just as long as he can keep his identity a secret.

96- A Halloween Tail by Cathwren

Lance just wanted to have a fun Halloween night, but when homophobic idiots give him trouble he makes a new friend in the dashing young knight that swoops in to save the day. Secrets are shared and Lance can easily say he got a night to remember...and maybe even a boyfriend.

97- 13 stories for Halloween by liddie [Explicit]

A collection of 13 Shance stories for the month of October featuring (but not limited to): vampires, kitsune, werewolves, demons, cursed scarecrows, ghosts, merpeople, oni and whatever else comes to mind!

98- Head Start by SuccubustyKisses [Explicit]

Werewolves. If there was one scent Lance knew above all else, it was Werewolves. Being born from a werewolf father and a human mother Lance knew werewolves. So when he got to the Galaxy Garrison and smelled werewolf in his class his first thought was to make peace with the other wolf.

Sure, Lance was only a half blood, and the closest to transformation he'd ever gotten was sharpened canines and claws during a full moon, but he was still wolf. As such, wolves should stick together. He left his family pack behind to come to the Garrison, maybe he'd be able to form a new pack here.

99- Forgotten Gods and Scales Like Jewels by keir [Explicit and Dubious Consent]

Lance has spent his entire career searching for the elusive and forgotten god of war and lust, a god made of part man, part snake. The pieces are there, and once Lance puts them together, he and his team discover the long forgotten temple dedicated to the naga god, but more lies in store for Lance than he could have ever dreamed of discovering.

100- Of God's and Fae's by MommaVanillaBear

A fae of the ocean, casted aside and alone made the dangerous trek to the festival of lights, and though the way back should have been easy, his steps become lost and the ocean he searches for is replaced by thick foliage and towering trees. Caught by a creature that claims to be an Earth fae, the one of the ocean must spend a month living in the forest or else the God who watches the forest will become aware of him. And there was no way the ocean fae could fight or hope to escape the wrath of a god.

101- Pornstar Lance by Ryuani [Explicit]

Lance used to work as a pornstar but space kinda stopped that.

102- Take a Chance by nuuuge [Fem!Shance]

Lance really just wants the hot Basketball prodigy to notice her.

103- Yearning Touch by CirqueBordello (CircusTalia) [Explicit and Sven]

Sven volunteers to be part of an experiment. But when that experiment makes a change in his body, Lance is there to support him but also realizes he likes the new Sven.

104- The Shirogane Triplets by MermaidLance [Explicit, Trans Lance and the title]

Three Boys

One Lance

He's in for an adventure.

105- Next Time, Pack Them Separately by Quiddity

“So, uh, you in Detroit on business?” Lance asks. The guy glances at him and for a second Lance thinks that he’s terribly misread his mood and he’s about to be snubbed in the worst way. Then he notices the dark circles under his eyes. The man’s totally exhausted. “No,” the man says, shuffling together his papers and securing them together with a wicked looking alligator clip. “I’m headed to New York.” Lance perks up. “Oh! Me too! I’m headed there to meet up with- uh…” Lance is cut off when his neighbor unbuckles himself, stands, and pushes into the line of passengers with a muttered apology. Lance sits there, dumbfounded as the man opens the overhead compartment and pulls down his- Nope. That’s Lance’s bag he’s strapping over his shoulder. That’s his palm tree name tag, that’s his laptop, that’s his senior film project he’s been working on for the past six months and his external hard drive with only back up of three hundred hours of work just shambling down the aisle and off the plane. Oh no.

106- The Knotty Omega by keir [Explicit, omegaverse and little All/Lance]

Lance never saw himself doing porn, but the opportunity fell in his lap with a wicked smile and the smooth talk of Lotor, a producer. The omega finds himself at the center of attention for many horny alphas as he does the most taboo and engages in heat sex for the camera.

107- Double Trouble by liddie [Explicit, Kuro and Shiro]

When Lance agreed to help out at his grandma's flower shop during summer break, he didn't know that it meant managing the shop singlehandedly for months while she went adventuring off to Europe.

Sure, he needs to practice his magic with living things...and yes, plants are a good way to do that without bodies stacking up if something went wrong. But Lance can't even keep a dandelion alive to save his life, so how the hell is he going to keep the entire stock of his grandma's enchanted flower shop alive and healthy for four months?

The answer is simple. He's going to summon himself some help using the dusty old spell book he found in the attic.

It's too bad Lance's handwriting looks like chicken scratch on a good day…

108- To Drown In You by Val_Creative [Explicit and Trans Lance]

Humans are a fearful race, unable to conjure anything other than simpler, volatile emotions, or so Shiro’s mer-clan has taught him. Lance’s compassion and his openhearted empathy deepens Shiro’s need for more. And he’s only know Lance for the turn of a moon.

109- How Deep is the Love We Think We Know by mizufallsfromkumo [omegaverse]

It had been a considerable while since Shiro nested.

So long in fact he didn’t even realize he was doing it.

Until he yanked one of the Castle’s lounge couch cushions out from behind Pidge. No regard for the fact that she was using it. He just knew he needed that one because it was the softest of all the other cushions. Pidge’s surprised squeak as she toppled to the side didn’t even register with him for a moment.

Or at least not till Keith called him out.

110- Repayment by SuccubustyKisses [Explicit and omegaverse]

“I need you to do me a favor Coran.”

“Anything for you, son.”

Lance stepped forward, digging his wallet out of his pocket and slamming it down on the desk in front of him. “There is a man here, an alpha named Shiro. He lost his arm in a car accident.”

“Yes, Takashi Shirogane. It’s a shame what happened to him.” Coran looked away sadly.

“I want you to take this credit card and give him everything he needs. The best, top of the line products.” Coran looked down at the credit card pressed between Lance’s hand and his desk then back up at Lance. “Please?”

111- Dream a Little Dream by thinkpink [Explicit]

Shiro is an adult- he knows how feelings work. He definitely knows his own feelings. Right?

112- Telltale Blush by thinkpink [Explicit and Dubious Consent]

“So why don’t we just skip the part where you throw lines at me and I pretend not to be interested, and you can suck my dick instead.”

113- Dress to Impress by thinkpink

How did Shiro even get sweatpants in space? And why are they so god damn thin!

114- A Dragon by liddie [Explicit]

On the day of his wedding, Prince Lance is carried away by a fearsome creature of old. The remote island is a prison and the dragon his keeper, although Lance is not completely alone. A mysterious man named Shiro is also a prisoner of the dragon, but as Lance learns just who he is, he comes to realize there is more to Shiro than he first thought.

115- In Flagrante Delicto by gwendy1

in flagrante delicto (adverb)

Definition of in flagrante delicto: 1 : in the very act of committing a misdeed : red-handed 2 : in the midst of sexual activity

116- Black's Deal by SuccubustyKisses [Explicit and little Klance]

I’ll give you what you need to get what you want, but you only get two quintent. Do you agree?

“Yes.”

Or the story of Shiro taking over Keith's body in the time of his disappearance between seasons 2 and 3.

117- The Beast Of Pirate's Bay by SuccubustyKisses [Explicit and Major character death, but don't scary you. Happy ending]

A loud shriek filled the air, causing him to fall back onto the damp metal of the ship floor. “I’m sorry.” He whimpered, covering his ears as the sound continued to ring out.

As instant as the sound came it quickly disappeared, leaving Lance to tentatively uncover his ears. “Please,” he begged, tears escaping his eyes as he looked over the side of the boat again. “I won’t even enter your territory if you just bring me a juniberry flower!”.

118- The Lion, The Witch, and the Cursed Ghost by SuccubustyKisses [Explicit]

When lance goes to Kogane forest in search of the cat he saw plastered all over the news he ends up with a lot more than he bargained for. But he's not complaining.

The ghost floated up, arms crossed as he looked over the trees. “I’ll make you a deal.” Lance’s eyes brightened, he knew his excitement was obvious. But, he didn’t care. “If you can find me in this forest before the sun sets, I’ll take you to see Shiro. If not, you will leave this forest without a fight.” He turned and lowered down to Lance’s level again, holding out his transparent hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Shiro must be the cat.

Lance reached out, taking the hand, surprised when he actually felt contact. “Deal.” Before he could even shake the hand properly it was gone, along with its owner, only the flutter of leaves in the air showing he had even been there. Snatching up one of the leaves, Lance grinned. This ghost vastly underestimated him.

119- That's not a phone by CrypticGabriel [Explicit and Trans Lance]

Lance had a part-time job at the movie theater. During his job, he liked ogling at a frequent flyer named Shiro. But he never expected to catch him doing the unthinkable while watching a movie. And no. It didn't involve a phone.

120- Let's Play A Game by liddie [Explicit]

About to leave for a little vacation time at his grandfather's seaside cottage, Shiro gets a text from Allura asking if he can drop her friend Lance off at the beach on his way. He agrees, but is entirely unprepared for everything that Lance is.

121- How Do I "Casual"? by The_Busy_Beee

Sometimes Lance loves living in the same building as his best friends.

Sometimes he hates it with a passion.

Usually only when Keith's involved, however.

Or:

Lance brings home a guy and isn't sure how to handle the "morning after" situation. Keith is exhausted and thinks Lance has murdered somebody.

122- Spilling Secrets by The_Busy_Beee

Everyone knows the past never stays in the past.

Or:

Shiro finally meets the Blue Lane crew, Lotor is a shit, and Lance really just wants today to go well.

123- Good Girl by strawberrylovely [Explicit and Fem!Lance]

Shiro hears Lance masturbating in the team bathroom. He’s not sure whether to help or run away, so Lance makes the decision for him.

124- Beautiful Breed by Blue_Queen662 [Fem!Lance]

Kept in captivity for years, Lance had not had any contact with others like herself in a long while.

Shiro had been gone from the sea for years. From being separated from his pod for a long time, he had forgotten how it feels to be loved by a mate.

Shiro has been chosen to be Lance’s mate. For his strangth, speed and intellect; it was decided amongst guests at a dinner party that the Champion will mate with Zarkon’s prize pet.

125- my boyfriend's back (and you're gonna be in trouble) by heavenlyrare

The Galra and the Alteans haven't been at each other's throats, thanks to Prince Lance's and Commander Shiro's relationship.

Unfortunately, the rest of the universe doesn't seem to know that.

126- Missing Pieces by AshesTheTerrible [Explicit]

Shiro comes back from two tours overseas a changed man. He has one less arm and a lot more nightmares. His best friend Keith convinces him Yoga is the perfect form of meditation to help with his PTSD and he's skeptical at best....that is until he sees the instructor and is instantly in love.

127- Full Moons and the Mornings After by Impetus

Lance really needs to stop letting stray wolves into his apartment.

128- My Best Friend's Brother? How Cliche by orphan_account

Lance has been pining after Shiro since he was 14, and the last time he saw him before Shiro left to go to veterinary school had been embarrassing as hell. But, things were different now. 3 years had passed, Shiro was back, and Lance was a new and improved version of himself. This time, Lance wasn't afraid to do what he wanted to.

OR that one where Lance hasn't seen Shiro in years but when he goes to drop some food off at Keith's house he walks in on Shiro working out.

129- How To Use a Long Rest by avoidingavoidance [Explicit]

In which the team's game of Monsters and Mana isn't actually a game, and Lance takes good care of Shiro. Several times.

130- Just Take That Breath in Your Lungs by mizufallsfromkumo [Omegaverse]

When Shiro was younger, and freshly presented as an Alpha, he use to think about how things would be when he claimed his mate for himself.

Ideally it would be their wedding night, but it wasn’t a necessity. Shiro was fine with whenever moment arose and felt right. And when his intended mate would find it, Shiro would turn on soft music. They’d maybe dance a little, or speak soft words of love. Then the night would progress in a slow, gentle, and loving path towards claiming.

Because yeah, Shiro was a hopeless romantic at times.

Sue him.

But that was the furthest thing that was happening, Shiro thought as he and Lance flopped into the nest both of them had constructed over two weeks ago.

131- Can You Find the Path that Leads Back to My Heart by mizufallsfromkumo

Lance was just left to sulk in the cockpit. And wonder just where his relationship stood with his mate, who had his soul transferred and fused into a clone's body. A clone Lance had just continued on courting like nothing ever happened, because he didn’t know his mate had even died in the first place.

Lance never thought going to space would be filled with so much drama.

Much less, drama that made his life sound like really bad telenovela plot line.

132- Some Good Shooting by AshesTheTerrible [Explicit and Trans Lance]

Lance and Shiro had been nothing but a hurricane of spats and frustration since the switching of lions. And then quite suddenly...they weren't anymore. Hunk couldn't figure out what had changed between the blue and black paladins but the rest of the team just seemed happy the two were working together. Maybe a little too well in fact.

Unbeknownst to the others, really all it took to change the two paladin's attitudes toward each other was one hard kiss in the hangar doors.

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