Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgivable ❯ I want him happy ( Chapter 30 )

"Goku!" She ran for him, he swung her up and around, grinning hugely.

"Hey, Chi-Chi! You aren't mad at me anymore?"

"Oh, Goku, no. Of course not!" She looked up at him. "Wait a minute. Mad about what? What'd you do?"

"Radda. You're not mad about her anymore?"

"Rad… oh. No, Vegeta explained that. I told you that last night."

"But, Chi-Chi," Goku held her out at arm's length, "I wasn't here last night. I have a job! It pays really well, and I have my own room at my boss's house. I got a vacation this week, and I thought I'd come by and see if you were still mad at me. I'm glad you aren't. What's wrong? You look sick."

"You… you weren't here last night?" One hand pressed over her mouth. "I… didn't dream that, did I? No…. You were here. I saw you. We made love. I know we did!"

"Nope. I was in my room at my boss's house, trying to decide if it was safe to come back or not. I mean, I told Kuroichi to tell you guys I killed myself, because I was really feeling… all torn up, but I'm better now, and I missed you guys. So last night, I was trying to decide, and today I came." He pulled her close. "I've missed you so much. You must have missed me a lot to have dreamed that," he added, and kissed her.

"Kuroichi?" Goten tapped on the door. It swung open, so he walked in. "Kuroichi?" He looked behind the door, confused. No one was in the room. "Where are you?"

He pushed the door shut, making sure it latched properly, before looking around. "Kuroichi? Please. I'm sorry… about earlier. I was just upset. I should've knocked. I shouldn't've just barged in. Kuro?" His face twisted, tears beginning to flow. "Daddy, please…" He dropped to his knees next to the bed. His father wasn't here, he realized that now. But he kept talking, his voice slightly muffled by the pillow he buried his face in.

"Oh, Daddy… I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't tried to make you talk to me by telling you my problems, none of this wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have had that extra trouble on your soul, and you wouldn't have taken Vegeta to the pool. I know about your special place, Daddy, where you used to go to cry. I even know you took Vegeta there to spar… and I know what happened.

"He told me, Daddy. I don't think he meant to, but he told me. And it happened twice. I wish I hadn't made you think that you couldn't talk to me, I wish you would have told me. Then maybe it wouldn't have happened again. Maybe you wouldn't have gone to Yardrat, you would have come to me instead.

"But, Daddy… I know you're so much happier with Vegeta than you were with Mom. All I have to do is look around. Or see you with him. I can tell… you love him the way I love Trunks." Goten gasped, a little hiccupping sob.

"Trunks told me… what he did… that he beat you. I'm so sorry… he did it because you were hurting me, and his mother, and taking his father away from him. I hate that he hates you, Daddy. I love you both so much… it's tearing me up, and I can't tell him what's wrong."

Goten hiccupped again, his tears soaking the pillow. "I hope you heal, Daddy. I don't care if you don't come back, just as long as you're better, and happy. Even if… even if you never accept or recognize me as your son again… I want you to be happy." His voice faded as he sagged down to the floor, emotionally spent.

He felt, distantly, someone pick him up off the floor, lay him on the bed. His eyes were too puffy and tearful to see, he only knew that it was someone who cared. He threw himself into comforting arms that wrapped around him and pulled him tightly against a strong chest. "You cry too much, boy," a rough voice said, even as strong hands rubbed his back gently.

"He's my daddy," Goten whimpered.

"Of course he is, mini baka. He's treating you the same way I used to treat Trunks. He knows he's your father, but he's too wrapped up in other things to care. I knocked him around for that… probably not the best thing to do," Vegeta added reflectively.

"No," Goten whispered.

"And you can't blame yourself for what I did. That… was my own choice, and I alone carry the blame." Vegeta sighed. "It is not something I would do now."

"You wouldn't have to now." Goten loosened his death clutch on Vegeta to wipe at his eyes. "You can just tell him to strip."

"Hn. That's not what I want, brat. I want him willing for his own sake, not just doing a job. I want your father happy, not hiding behind a smile like he did for so long, or that emotionless mask he has now. I want him to stop crying when he sleeps, and I want him to sleep longer than a few minutes at a time. I want his nightmares to end, but I'm the cause of some of them." Having finally gotten Goten's tears to stop, Vegeta pushed him back a little and tipped the younger man's head up. "Now, what was that about Trunks beating him?"

-----------------------------

… should I flee spork armies?

Vegeta: I am mush again.

Jewel: Yah, I know. Do you have a point?
Goku: Hey! I went home! I thought I loved Vegeta?

Jewel: You do. *looks at Vegeta, temporizes* In the story, I mean.

Goku: Oh. So… why am I at home with Chi-Chi?

Vegeta: Kakarot?

Goku: Yes?

Vegeta: Shut up. And believe me when I say you don't want to know. *eyes Jewel* Does he?

Jewel: Nope.