Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Playing Home ❯ Part 24 ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: chayron

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. I'm not making any money.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male). Goku/Vegeta.

Playing Home by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by RowinaDequina

Part 24

Vegeta yawned then disentangled himself from Goku's arms and legs and went downstairs to the kitchen. His thoughts were whirling all about some sweets and chocolate.

Vegeta could perfectly feel that there was someone else in the house. He could feel someone else's ki. It was too faint to distract his attention from the cupboard with sweets. He was very content to find it filled.

Vegeta piled up sweets and chocolate bars on the kitchen table and switched the TV on. He wanted to turn on the kettle for some tea, but there was a rustle behind him, and then Vegeta saw a gun before his nose. Sure he had been able to hear the man a mile away and could have wrung his neck long before the intruder entered the kitchen. But, well…Vegeta was hungry. A hungry Saiyan is an unpredictable Saiyan.

“Don't move!” the man hissed at half-naked Vegeta who tried to reach the kettle and turn it on.

Vegeta glared at him, but lowered his right hand. He then tried to reach a chocolate bar with his left one.

“I said don't move!” The gunman's patience was wearing thin. “No wonder you are so fat! All you think about is how to fill your balloon!” he snorted at Vegeta.

That was unheard of. Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest, clearly insulted. “I'm pregnant, not fat!” He gave a deadly glare to the man.

“That's the lamest excuse for being fat I have ever heard!” The gunman roared with laughter. “Anyway, fatty, where's your money?”

“I'm not fucking fat!” Vegeta screamed.

“For the last time, where's your money? Or do you want your brains splashed on that window?!”

The next second the gunman was staring at his empty hands. He raised his head to Vegeta who turned the gun several times in his hand to observe it. With a good measured blast, he turned it to dust. His eyes then rose to the man.

“Do you know how to make pancakes?” Vegeta yawned. He turned on the kettle, grabbed the chocolate bar and plopped down on the chair.

“W-what?” The robber seemed a little startled. He slowly began to retreat to the kitchen door only to have Vegeta grab him by his clothes.

“I said: You make pancakes for me.” Vegeta roughly pushed him to the table. “Pots are here.” Vegeta gestured with his foot to the cupboard on the floor. “And the other stuff that Kakarott is using for baking pancakes should be here.” With his index finger he pointed above the robber's head.

“It's three o'clock in the morning…” The gunman tried to edge his way back to the door.

Vegeta lost his patience. He smashed the man's face several times then created a blue ki ball in his palm. “Cook or die!” he threatened the man who was wiping his bloodied nose.

The gunman began to quickly nod.

“Good.” Vegeta sat back down at the table. He wrapped his tail back around his fuller waist. “Stand so that I can see what you are doing,” he ordered the man, who was now staring at Vegeta's tail, openmouthed. “What?” Vegeta's left eye twitched. “Move! Now!”

Vegeta happily sipped his tea and ate chocolate while watching the robber sweat. He then tried the first pancake.

“Not bad,” Vegeta admitted after licking his fingertips. “But Kakarott's are better.”

“So ask Kakarott to make pancakes for you…” the man politely suggested while pouring the mass on the frying pan, forming a pancake.

“At 3 AM?” Vegeta's gave him a dubious look. “Wouldn't work. We'd end up fucking, and I'd still be hungry.” He shook his head. “Good that you were here,” he concluded, digging into another pancake.

Before starting to prepare pancakes, the gunman had already concluded that his would-be victim was a psycho who had recently run away from a hospital. And he was very dangerous psycho who was able to explode guns and had enough strength to lift him over the floor with his two fingers. There was no need to anger the guy.

The gunman turned to the door as the stairs creaked under the jogging steps.

“Hey.” Goku entered the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes. He was still half asleep; he just got up after realizing that Vegeta was not beside him anymore.

The gunman's eyes went round as he suddenly heard a loud growl behind his back. He quickly turned around to look for a dog. He blinked at Goku's face.

“Who the heck are you?” Goku sniffed the robber. “Vegeta! Why is there a man in our kitchen?!” He proceeded with staring and growling at the robber who now was afraid to even move.

“Damn, moron!” Vegeta kicked the robber into the shin. “You will burn the pancake!” He then looked at Goku. “Sit down.”

Goku snarled at the gunman once again then obediently sat down.

“Do you remember that volunteer organization the Woman has been talking about?” Vegeta asked Goku. “So he's from there.” Vegeta motioned at the robber after Goku nodded.

“Isn't it a bit too early…?” Goku cast a glance outside the window. It was dark. “And shouldn't they be helping poor grandmothers and such?”

“Well,” Vegeta snorted at him, “most of the grannies tend up to get up very early; it's just something in their blood. Besides, I'm pregnant and require some attention, too!”

Goku blinked. “Okay. But I didn't know that anyone knew that you're pregnant…”

“Apparently they know and are very happy about it.” Vegeta kicked the robber's shin. “Aren't you?”

“Yes, yes, we all are in admiration,” the gunman spluttered.

“See?” Vegeta turned to Goku.

Goku went back to yawning and being sleepy. “That's perfect,” he yawned.

“You can start making another pot of that batter,” Vegeta announced to the robber. “No, better make it two; Kakarott eats more than I.”

The gunman obediently nodded.

“Hmm…Vegeta, I feel perfectly fine…” Goku felt a bit uncomfortable. “He's just wasting his time on me. I don't require any special services…”

“Oh, you require them, you require them very much. You don't even know how much you require them…” Vegeta dramatically sighed. “Just think about all those times when you saved the Earth, and nobody ever thanked you or offered at least a cup of tea… You look weary,” he added.

“I'm sleepy.”

“No, you are weary,” Vegeta said in a tone Goku didn't dare contradict. “So at least once let someone else make breakfast for you. It's the least you deserve.” Vegeta turned to look at the gunman who was vehemently stirring the batter. Immense love in Vegeta's eyes was replaced by a deadly sparkle. “I'm sure you'd be happy to make breakfast for my mate, wouldn't you?”

“Yes, yes! Of course!”

Goku was a bit surprised to hear such enthusiasm. He then shrugged and reached over to Vegeta's plate to taste a pancake. “Hey, it's actually good.”

“Told you.” Vegeta added sugar to Goku's tea and put the mug in front of Goku. “We could keep him as our personal cook.”

Goku turned to look at the robber who seemed to have choked on something. “Dunno…” he said. “I don't like other men around you.”

“Pity,” Vegeta sighed.

After his fiftieth pancake Goku decided that he'd had enough. He thanked Joe (that was the name of the gunman) and offered to wash dishes, but as Joe enthusiastically volunteered to do that on his own, he just sat and watched the man washing dishes.

“What a nice guy,” Goku concluded after Joe left, and Goku sat with Vegeta in their living-room. Goku gave Joe all the pancakes that were left and invited him to come again. “Looks like a serial killer, but his heart is so pure…” Goku added as an afterthought.

“Don't know about his heart, but the bastard tried to rob us,” shrugged Vegeta.

Confused, Goku blinked at Vegeta. “Rob us?”

“What would you call a situation when a gun is pointed at your nose, and you hear a request for money?”

“He tried to kill you?!” In an instant Goku was Super Saiyan two.

“I was hungry!” Vegeta pushed Goku farther from the sofa in order to protect it from Goku's scorching ki.

“Hungry my ass!” Goku hissed venomously at his mate. “You, you… Grrr!” He started looking for Joe's ki.

“He's ten miles away and still going.” Vegeta rolled his eyes, not understanding why Goku was so emotional. Then Vegeta frowned and checked again. “Nope. He's coming back, and not alone.” He scratched his chin then and looked at Goku. “I suppose they will be here about dinner time…”

XXXXX

Goku and Vegeta were calmly sitting in the living room when suddenly Goku suggested, “Let's go to the Lookout. I can't sit just like this.

“And what about Joe?” Vegeta asked.

“We'll be back before then. Besides, Kamala is here; the sedative should stop working soon. He'll wake up at any noise.”

Vegeta just nodded; there was no point in arguing, anyway. Besides, he was also impatient to see Raaven.

Goku and Vegeta ITed to the Lookout.

“Hey,” Goku greeted Krillin and Gohan “You are early…”

“We didn't know when he was going to come out.” Krillin glared at Vegeta who smirked. “Asshole,” Krillin snorted. Vegeta smirked wider.

“Shh…” Goku motioned to Dende. “We have children around…”

Dende looked at Goku then just sighed. “I have heard worse… Part of the job…”

Vegeta's head was following Goku, who paced back and forth from the Time Chamber door to the first palm in his path. Back and forth, back and forth.

“Doesn't your head hurt?” Krillin asked Vegeta.

“Shush! I'm counting.” Vegeta's head continued to follow Goku.

“It's fifty-five,” Gohan said.

“No, fifty-seven,” Vegeta disagreed.

They proceeded to count further. But their counting was quickly forgotten as the Time Chamber door moved. Everyone who was sitting got to their feet, their necks craning forward. The door noisily opened, but the shadow that was falling over it obscured the view. Then Raaven and Piccolo walked out.

After seeing so many people Raaven shrank away, his back bumping into Piccolo. Raaven stood there staring at them, a small bundle in his arms pressed to his chest. It was clear that he didn't expect to see anyone.

“Is everything alright?” Goku broke the silence.

Noticing Goku's curious gaze on his chest, Raaven blushed. He raised the child a bit higher to block Goku's view. “Yes,” he nodded.

“Can I see him?” Goku carefully approached, not risking Raaven's protective instincts.

Raaven faltered but then held the baby out.

Goku was absolutely fascinated when he was met by two black eyes, a little mouth and a mop of black hair so similar to Kamala's. Goku smelled the child. Nice young scent, more Kamala's than Raaven's.

Carefully holding the child, Goku sat down on the ground, the rest of the observers pushing closer to him to see.

Goku felt a little nervous when the child began to wiggle then freed himself from the swaddling-clothes and began to crawl all over him. The baby was much smaller than Goku had expected; Gohan was way bigger when he was born.

Raaven misunderstood Goku's confusion. “It's alright; I put them on just in case it was cold here. I can't keep him in the swaddling-clothes, anyway.”

“Raaven, how old is he?” Goku gazed at the child, who now wrapped his thin brownish tail around Goku's wrist, bringing Goku's hand to his mouth and starting to suck on Goku's index finger. Goku blinked as he felt something sharp around his finger. The baby already had teeth…

Raaven looked at Goku a bit surprised. “Five days.” Then he got uneasy. “Is something wrong?”

“He can't be five days…” Goku stared down at two bright black eyes which gazed back at him. Then he turned to Vegeta, who was standing behind him.

“Well, he seems fine to me.” Vegeta shrugged.

“Vegeta, he's crawling, he has teeth and he reacts to surroundings.” Goku tried to pry his hand away from the tiny tail, but the infant whimpered and pulled it back, this time holding onto Goku's wrist not only with his tail but also with his other four limbs.

“As any normal child.” Vegeta shrugged again.

“Not exactly.” Krillin scratched his head. “Goku, Vegeta won't understand what you mean because he never saw Trunks as a newborn. But I know what you mean. Probably that's why the Saiyans carry their babies for eleven months. I mean, look at him - a few days old and he can go hunting.”

“What are you babbling here about, you two?” Vegeta glared. “The child is completely fine!”

“Yes, he is,” Goku nodded, smiling as the child's tail tried to wrap around one of his moving hair strands, but limply fell back to his lap not catching it. “It's that he's much smaller than any Human baby. But from his appearance and his reactions he's like a one-year-old.”

“I see,” Vegeta observed the infant once again.

Piccolo tugged at his antennae. “And I was wondering what idiot wrote all those books…”

Raaven smiled at him then sat down on the white tiles near Goku. The infant immediately let go of Goku's hand, clumsily turned around to his stomach and began his unsteady crawling journey to his parent. Raaven watched his son crawl up his leg then drop in his lap, wincing because of the lack of attention. Raaven picked him up, seated him upright on his lap then gently brushed with his tail over the small body. The infant began making tiny noises that mostly sounded like giggles.

Amazed, Goku watched how the infant tried to catch the fast moving tail. Predator. The baby wasn't aggressive but instinctively tried to catch everything moving and put it into his mouth. Goku had never thought that those two additional months could ever make such a difference.

“What is his name?” Vegeta asked, watching the infant and slowly realizing that in several months, he was going to have such a wiggling and thrumming thing too.

“I didn't name him yet,” Raaven shook his head. “I think we should decide together with Kamala.”

“Can I…?” Gohan moved forward. He was mesmerized by the small life.

Raaven picked the infant up. The infant used the opportunity and grabbed the retreating tail. Raaven carefully unclenched the tiny fingers, freeing his tail.

“Does he cry a lot?” Gohan sat down, a bit unsure how to hold the baby, but his problem was solved when the baby attached himself to one of his fingers and his tail wrapped around Gohan's wrist. Gohan raised his hand with the child hanging on it, his other hand under him, just in case the child decided to let go. The child smelled very nice. Something in between Kamala and Raaven.

“No, he's very quiet.” Raaven shook his head. “All those books… It's very different. He moves a lot, plays, crawls. He cried only once, when Piccolo scared him.”

“What did he do?” Vegeta asked while smirking at Piccolo.

“Tried to make him laugh…” Raaven chuckled. “Probably he isn't fond of green…”

“You are very quiet. Do you feel well?” Goku turned to Piccolo.

“Yes. But I can say this.” He turned to Vegeta. “If one day you have another brilliant plan - please - keep it to yourself.”

Raaven chuckled. “Don't complain. It wasn't so bad. You'd make a good mate. Well, if you were…”

“Oh, please…” Piccolo snickered, raising his hands, indicating that he'd had enough.

“You look and sound better,” Goku said carefully to Raaven. “I mean, healthier.”

Raaven shrugged while watching his child release Gohan's wrist and crawl up Gohan's shirt. “I had six months to think about everything. Things can't be that bad when I have him.” He smiled at his son who, with Gohan's help, crawled up Gohan's shirt and reached his chest. Gohan blushed immensely when the baby started looking for nipples.

“Did it hurt?” Vegeta casually asked.

“A lot,” Raaven nodded while peeling his son away from Gohan's chest. “But it was worth it.”

“I nearly lost my hearing,” Piccolo snorted. “It was worse than Gotenks stuck in the Time Chamber. At least it didn't last long.”

“I think he's hungry,” Raaven blushed while cradling his son. “I'd like to feed him if you don't mind.” He blushed even more as Goku's eyes fixed on Raaven's chest.

“Yes, of course,” Dende nodded. “There's a free room. I'll show you.”

“Unbelievable…” Krillin said, after Dende and Raaven were gone.

Everyone agreed. Even Vegeta.

“Raaven's changed a lot…” Goku looked at the door where Dende and Raaven had gone. “I was afraid to think how he'd handle the whole situation, but it seems that everything is going to be alright.”

Vegeta let out a surprised grunt as Goku suddenly pulled him to his body. “Oh, I can't wait!” Goku excitedly brushed his hand over Vegeta's stomach.

Vegeta slapped his hand. “Dammit. Stop pawing about!”

“I feel so glad somehow…” Gohan contently sighed.

“It's instincts. The pack is getting bigger and at the same time stronger,” Vegeta explained. “You already feel protective over the child.”

Gohan thought a moment. “Well, yes, that's true.”

“Your brother and Trunks will feel the same way,” Vegeta nodded.

“And we will, too,” Goku pointed out to Vegeta who rolled his eyes. He then changed the topic: “He's very similar to Kamala… Has the same hair, you saw… And smells almost the same. I wonder how our child is going to look…”

“Something similar to Gogeta…” Krillin grinned. He then innocently scratched his head as Vegeta glared at him. “Err…”

“Shit!” Goku jumped to his feet. “Kamala! I forgot Joe!”

“Fuck!” Vegeta agreed. He already was searching for Kamala's ki. “He's doing something!”

“Vegeta!” Goku growled as Vegeta suddenly simply ITed away. “And nonetheless, I'll have to chain him to the bed!” he cursed, ITing after his mate.

Goku was just in time to duck something flying over his head. That something hit the wall behind his back.

“I said I have no fucking money!” Kamala sent another man through the window.

Goku frantically looked around in the living room, but Vegeta wasn't there. Then he noticed Vegeta in the corridor, calmly sitting on the stairs, munching a chocolate and watching Kamala juggling with the attacker.

“Where the fuck have you two been?!” Kamala punched another man in the face, definitely severely bruising something there. “I had to entertain them for half an hour! The bastards told me that they were your friends!”

“We'll talk later.” Goku lifted a man who was near him by his collar and sent him crashing through the nearest window. “You'll have to go with us,” he then said to Kamala. He turned to glare at Vegeta. “And I'll have a talk with you later, too.”

Vegeta gave Goku the finger.

After they got rid of the gunmen, Kamala looked at Goku. “So where are we going?”

“To see Raaven,” Goku said.

“Finally you came to your senses!” Kamala was at Goku's side.

Goku sighed. “You'll see…” He ITed them both back to the Lookout.

“Raaven,” Kamala called the other Saiyan who was sitting with his back to him. “We need to talk.”

Raaven slowly got up then turned around with the infant in his arms. “Yes, I believe, we need…”

Kamala's brows furrowed in confusion. He watched the child in his mate's arms while trying to grasp where Raaven had gotten the Saiyan baby. His eyes then went to Raaven's chest. “What the fuck is going on?” Kamala breathed out in an unsteady voice. He felt sweat beading on his forehead.

“Time Chamber,” Raaven softly said. “While for you it was only twelve hours, for me it was half a year…”

“Gods.” Kamala brushed his hand over his forehead. He stumbled over to Raaven. “Is this…?” But his senses already told him that it was his child.

“Yes,” Raaven nodded.

Kamala's hands reached for the child but then dropped to his sides. He stood there, his eyes locked on the baby, his mind already there, but his body paralyzed. “Raaven…I…”

Raaven sighed. “Come here, you idiot. I'd never take him away from you.”

“Oh Gods, Raaven…” Kamala was at Raaven's side immediately. He started shaking all over as Raaven held the child out to him. In case his feet simply gave out he sat down on the white tiles, reaching his arms up to take his son.

Raaven squatted down, putting the child onto Kamala's lap. Kamala tensed. Raaven smiled, seeing their son dunk his small nose into Kamala's big palm then, recognizing him as his second parent, happily start crawling all over Kamala.

Kamala came out of his stupor. Tentatively, he reached out to carefully brush over his son's hair. He carefully brushed over the tiny tail. “He's so beautiful…” Kamala then couldn't hold it back anymore. He pressed the child to his chest. “Oh Gods…” He burst into tears.

“Shhh…” Raaven soothingly brushed over Kamala's shoulder. “Everything is alright.”

Kamala lowered the child back to his lap, his eyes caressing the small body. With his tail the infant tried to catch Kamala's hair-strand but then lost his balance and would have fallen if not for Kamala's palm, which pressed to the child's back to keep him upright.

“Raaven…” Kamala's eyes followed the infant's every move as he tried to turn around on his stomach. “We need to talk, but not here…”

“Let's go home then,” Raaven smiled. He looked at Kamala's eyes, which were wide in disbelief. “Kamala, that night was a huge mistake… I don't know what happened there… I'm very sorry,” he sighed. “Let's go now,” he said, watching his son trying to make some den or nest from Kamala's clothes on his lap. “Put him under your shirt, or he'll freeze while flying.

Kamala nodded and tucked the child under his shirt.

XXXXX

“I'm so glad that Raaven is much better now,” Goku sighed blissfully while pouring potatoes into the pot to boil.

“The Namek coped perfectly,” Vegeta nodded.

“Piccolo would be very flattered to hear that from you…” Goku grinned.

“Only over my dead body,” Vegeta snorted.

“Did Saiyans always have these qualms with Nameks?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Goku stood beside Vegeta to watch what the prince was doing.

“Hell if I know. There's some idiotic story to it, but I was damn young at the time to remember it now.”

Goku shrugged. He then kissed Vegeta's neck “Forget legends. This is real.” He then decided to change the topic: “You know, the baby was much smaller than Gohan was… I'm very relieved.”

You can't realize how relieved I am, Vegeta thought. “So maybe now you'll shut up about that caesarean?” He found a pan and put the meat into it.

“Well, I still want you to do it, but now I'm much calmer.” Goku observed Vegeta's work. “You really were telling the truth - you do know how to cook. You used me.”

“Yes,” Vegeta shrugged. “Even a complete idiot can learn to cook while living with you.”

“Good that the idiot finally decided to show me his skills.” Goku slapped Vegeta on his ass.

Vegeta kicked Goku in the shin.

“You know, they will need clothes for the baby, nappies, food,” Goku scratched his head.

“I gave my credit card to Gohan. He said he'd talk to Bulma and then buy everything that's needed,” Vegeta glared at the pan, which had just spit sizzling fat on his palm.

“You are fast…” Goku shook his head.

“Gohan seems to be fascinated by that child.” Vegeta stirred the pan. “He was very enthusiastic…”

“I'm glad that your and Gohan's relationship improved,” Goku smiled. “So did you find out why he's avoiding me?” he asked.

Vegeta sighed. He fidgeted with the handle of the pan he was stirring. “You'll have to ask him on your own. But it would be better for everyone if you didn't.”

XXXXX

Gohan knocked at the door. He heard Kamala's voice, and after a second the door opened.

Kamala looked at Gohan who fidgeted then held a yellow capsule out to Kamala. “Hey. I just wanted to give you this. There are some clothes for the baby, nappies, food…” He saw Kamala's face harden.

“We'll take it.” Raaven's voice wafted from the corridor, then he himself appeared in the doorway.

Gohan sighed in relief; he had no wish to argue with Kamala. “Vegeta gave me some money, and I bought what Bulma thought you'd need.” He scratched his head.

Kamala glared at Gohan who then lowered his hand from his head.

“Come in.” Raaven pushed past Kamala and took the capsule from Gohan. Then he grabbed Gohan by his wrist and dragged him into the house. “Something to drink?” he asked while hauling Gohan into the kitchen.

“I…” Gohan faltered. “Okay. Why not… Tea will do.” He wanted to see the baby again. He looked around - the house was tidy. Much tidier than his apartment.

“Say thanks to Prince Vegeta.” Raaven showed Gohan to the chair at the table. He quickly switched the kettle on.

Gohan heard scratching somewhere and after looking around, noticed the baby sitting on the floor, surrounded by a pile of sticks. The child was sitting on the pile of clothes.

Raaven followed Gohan's gaze. He shrugged. “We just couldn't think of anything better. He just climbs and crawls and wiggles all the time; that's the only way I know to keep him from hitting his head or chewing a table leg off.” He walked over to the “box” and lifted the child out of it.

“There's something in the capsule that will solve that problem.” Gohan smiled at the child who stuck his toe into his tiny mouth and began sucking while gazing at Gohan with big dark eyes.

“Kamala,” Raaven called. “Check what's in the capsule.” He tossed the capsule to Kamala who appeared in the doorway. Kamala caught the capsule and disappeared again.

“No, I'll do it myself,” Gohan said when Raaven wanted to make tea. Gohan noticed that Raaven's movements were upsetting the baby.

Gohan put teabags into the mugs. “For Kamala…?” he asked when he didn't see the third mug.

“Take one from the cupboard,” Raaven motioned. “Although he might just ignore you… He's going to be angry because of the damn capsule.”

Gohan put the kettle back onto the stove. “You've changed a lot,” he said softly.

Raaven shrugged. “Those six months worked as a therapy. I don't think I changed, I simply healed.”

Gohan gazed at him for some time. “So,” his eyes lowered to the child on Raaven's lap, “does he have a name yet?”

Raaven nodded, smiling. “Karela. That was the name of Kamala's father. We thought that it would be nice.”

“It's a nice name,” Gohan nodded.

Then both men started as Karela suddenly started screaming his lungs off, tears streaming down his face.

“Silly child,” Raaven cooed, pressing Kamala's small feet into his clothes to stop the bleeding.

“What?!” Kamala was already in the kitchen, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Gohan.

“Nothing, just bit his own toe,” Raaven gave a dismissive wave.

Kamala visibly relaxed. “Feed him; he's probably hungry.”

“I fed him twenty minutes ago Raaven shook his head. “He just bites everything around. Me included,” he sighed, releasing Karela's foot. “See, the bleeding already stopped.” He disheveled Karela's hair. Karela's screams now turned into simple hiccups.

“Come,” Raaven motioned for Kamala. “Sit with us.”

Gohan saw Kamala falter but then Kamala sat down next to Raaven. What was it that made Kamala not like him?

“Gohan said there should be something in the capsule to solve our problem of keeping Karela in one place.”

“Yes,” Kamala reached for his mug. “There's a cot, but I'm not sure that he won't wiggle out of it. Maybe Human babies can't climb over, but for Karela it won't be a problem… I'll have to make the walls higher.”

Raaven nodded. “Yeah… And how about the clothes?”

Kamala reached out a small shirt and pants for Raaven. “But I'd like to see how you put him in these…”

Raaven took the clothes, and Gohan watched him take a tiny arm and put it through a sleeve, then do the same with the other arm. Raaven did the cloth up, but as soon as his hands left Karela's chest, the baby began squirming and whining, his tiny fingers scratching at the cloth.

“He doesn't like it.” Kamala sipped his hot tea.

“No, he doesn't. It will probably be the same with nappies.” Raaven sighed, watching his son fidgeting with the shirt.

Karela whined for some time more then, after noticing that no one was paying him any attention, brought the lower half of the cloth into his mouth and, with his sharp teeth, began to tear at it.

Raaven pried the cloth away from the child's mouth and put it back on Karela's stomach. The next second the cloth was in Karela's teeth again.

Raaven sighed. “We could play that for a long time but now the clothes are wet and cold…” He removed the shirt from Karela who crowed excitedly.

“If he has teeth, he can probably already eat more than milk?” Gohan asked.

Raaven nodded. “Yes, but milk is the best. There's no need to feed him anything else yet.” He watched Gohan for some time then held the baby out to him. “You like children; you should start thinking about getting some of your own.” He smiled, seeing Gohan blush.

Gohan took the baby and seated him on his lap. “Well, I didn't know I liked them… I wasn't even this ecstatic when my brother was born…”

“You are like your father,” Raaven laughed.

“Does he require much attention?” Gohan asked. He brought his tail up then gently brushed over Karela's chest with it. The small fingers closed then unclosed while trying to capture his tail.

“No,” Raaven shook his head. “Not at all. You can leave him alone; he cries only when hungry or when sitting on the castle of his poo. Well, and also when he bites himself…”

“Usually he is sleeping or playing. I feed him six times a day.”

“Human babies make so much more fuss…” Gohan stroked Karela's already longish hair. Gohan raised his eyes to have them collide with Kamala's dark ones. “Err…” he flustered. Raaven had given him the baby to hold, but Kamala didn't seem to be content. “I…”

“Don't mind him.” Raaven sipped his tea. “He's just overprotective.”

“You didn't break the bond yet?” Gohan wondered then looked at both Kamala and Raaven.

Raaven sighed. “We have some…disagreements.”

Kamala rolled his eyes.

After the silence persisted, Gohan held the child out to Raaven.

“You know,” Raaven said to Gohan, “tomorrow at five I'm going to meet with Piccolo. Want to go together? You could watch over Karela. It won't last long… Piccolo has no heart at all…” He chuckled.

“He's training you?” Gohan looked at Raaven, surprised.

“Oh, not yet…” Raaven shook his head. “I'm still…quite sore…” he blushed. “But he promised.”

“That's great,” Gohan nodded. “Of course, I'll go. Did you know that Piccolo used to train me, too?”

“Yeah,” Raaven laughed. “Sissy boy…”

Gohan scrunched his nose. “He talks too much for a Namek… Besides, you've never seen me fight,” he protested.

“I suppose I'll see now…” Raaven chuckled.

TBC