Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyan Foster Father ❯ Guest of the Sons ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 5

Nighttime fell on the Son residence. Already the new capsule house had been installed, giving them a whole mess of space that had not originally been intended. Since Atomique's sons insisted on sleeping in Goten's room, Son Goku had schlepped the bunk beds into his younger son's large room. This made one large common area where they could be together. To the boys it was like a sleepover party. It was a relief to see how well they got along together. Because of this development, Atomique wondered if she would be sleeping in the small pagoda house with Videl and Gohan instead while the others shared the new dome shaped dwelling.

 

Such answers would have to wait. For the last few hours, she had tutored Gohan and his fiancée for an upcoming mid term. Videl and Gohan sat out on the couch, pouring over chemistry texts under the watch of Atomique. Bowls of popcorn, potato chips and other snacks festooned the coffee table, along with stacks of notebooks and textbooks here and there. Videl nestled her orange juice between her knees, shifting forwards in the sofa next to Gohan. He pushed his black framed glasses more securely on the bridge of his nose, riffling through his meticulous notes.

 

"Gimme those… your notes are better than mine are…" she said, leaning over his thigh and playfully snatching the book from him.

 

"Hey, your handwriting's more clear than mine," he protested, tugging it back.

 

"Please?" she said, giving him the best set of puppy dog eyes.

 

"Aw no fair!" he groaned.

 

"Thanks sweetie," she grinned, kissing his cheek. He blushed profusely, turning his head to the side.

 

"Okay lovebirds, what's next… The Bohr Model of the atom… and its shortcomings…" Tryni, a.k.a. Atomique in this dimension smiled. She enjoyed seeing the cute blushes on the two teenagers faces for the past few hours. Whenever Videl wanted something to Gohan's left she always leaned over his jeans clad leg, inadvertently pressing a shirt covered breast over the top. Judging from the gleam in her blue eyes, she was doing it deliberately. Not that Gohan minded much, yet he still shyly squirmed and protested.

 

"More popcorn?" he asked her, passing the bowl to her after digging out a huge handful for himself. Half of the particles spilled onto his lap and Videl's to his embarrassment. She picked up the stray pieces, popping them into her mouth eagerly. Gohan took the chance to watch her nibbling on the white chunks she popped into her shapely lips, piece by solitary piece.

 

Atomique drew her finger down the line of facts as they worked problems back and forth. "Now tell me the equations for quantum numbers…"

 

Gohan dragged his pencil across his paper with one hand, while popping the rest of his handful of popcorn into his mouth with his other. Through the chewing he mumbled, "Oh, I remember this from a long time ago…"

 

"You would," Videl said, throwing a piece of popcorn at him. From the back room, Atomique's son Fermi wandered in to see where his mother was. He wore a long t shirt that hung to his knees, overtop the flannel pajama bottoms decorated with purple and blue stars. Seeing Atomique and the others in the living room, he padded his way over and rounded the sofa. Atomique gave a small smile and motioned for him to sit next to her. He smiled back, climbing up next to her and leaning his arm on her lap.

 

Gohan laughed and tickled Videl in the ribs, "So sue me… I remember all sorts of stuff from then… considering I thought I was gonna be a scholar or a doctor…"

 

Fermi crawled over to sit on Atomique's lap. She pulled him over to give him a hug while she opened Gohan and Videl's encyclopedia sized chemistry tome. Mimicking his mother, Fermi traced his finger down while she read from the chapter overview notes.

 

Unseen by the others, another observer stood in the doorway, holding Bohr on his hip. Son Goku had carried the other twin along with him when the boy asked where everyone else was. Goten had already darted into the bathroom to take his nighttime bath while the tub was free. Bohr curled his fingers into the fabric of Son Goku's blue sleeveless top, and leaned his head on the man's muscular shoulder. Effortlessly Son Goku shifted him so he held the boy with one hand, pointing to the assembly in the living room with his other.

 

"Mommy's playing teacher," Bohr whispered.

 

"She's really smart, isn't she, Bohr-kun?" Son Goku whispered back. His mop of black unruly hair tickled the boy's nose, making him sneeze. He blinked sleepily, settling comfortably against Son Goku's chest.

 

"Uh oh… someone's talking about you," Son Goku teased.

 

"Your hair tickles my face. It's all stiff like Uncle Bejita Sama's… but he always gets cranky and never wants to hold me for long…" he made a face.

 

"That's Bejita for you…" Son Goku laughed, amazed at the thought of the Saiyan prince even consenting to hold a stranger's child. Yet there was the one time when Buruma, Christine, or Jeannie wasn't around, and Bohr had hollered at the top of his lungs along with his brother because of an accident when they were much younger. Trunks had grabbed both boys and run to the GR, looking for an adult because he wasn't sure what to do to quiet them. As an eight-year-old, Trunks had a good sense of what to do about toddlers, but even after changing their training pants and checking to see if they were hungry. Finally Bejita had grudgingly stopped the training room to grab one howling boy and hold him while Trunks quieted the other.

 

"I gotta go…" he whispered.

 

"Okay… better see if Goten-kun's outta there first," Goku nodded, carrying the boy off to the washroom.

***

Back in the living room, the study session continued. Fermi tucked a pencil behind his ear, much like his mom did. She continued her latest explanation; "The trick to remembering equations is to picture in your head just what the math is trying to say. Get beyond the letters and learn it like a foreign language…"

 

"It IS a foreign language," Videl mumbled. While Gohan scribbled down her directions, Videl almost flopped over as she fell asleep.

 

"Somebody's sleepy mommy," Fermi whispered in her ear.

 

"Sorry!" Videl groaned.

 

"Where's your brother?" Atomique asked her son curled up leaning his head against her chest.

 

"Picking out his bunk," said Fermi. "In with Goten-kun…"

 

"I dunno about you guys, but I think it's time for little scholars to put in some shuteye," she said, lifting him off her lap. She tossed down the book, and glanced at her two scholars rapidly folding their notes away.

 

"That means us too?" Videl joked. "I can't keep my eyes open a second longer. If I see another equation I'm gonna scream! No offense, Atomique-san…"

 

"None taken…" she said with a smile.

 

"I think we'll go take this party into Grandpa's house… right?" Videl said as she nudged Gohan in the ribs.

 

"But I thought I was gonna stay there…" Atomique said.

 

"Please Mommy, Goten-kun said we'd sleep in his room tonight," Fermi said. She felt what seemed like a rush of air burst past, and a loud squeal.

 

"What the heck?" she wondered. Goten burst out of the back of the small area, his feet pounding on the carpeted floor. Hovering just at Atomique's shoulder was the missing twin.

 

"Mommy look!" Bohr laughed.

 

"What are you doing up THERE?" she said, resting her hands on her hips.

 

"No flying in the house! Darn it you KNOW that!" Gohan groaned.

 

"Sorry Nissan… I told him, but he forgot! You guys KNOW better than that okay? We'll do it tomorrow… but you have to follow the rules!" the younger brother scolded Bohr, waving his finger at him.

 

"I think both of you need to try out those new bunks now, don't you?" Atomique said as she rested her hands on her hips.

 

"First one in bed gets out of breakfast duty tomorrow…" Gohan reminded them.

 

"C'mon guys… race you there…" Goten laughed, tugging down his silk pajamas with the dragons on them.

 

"Uh uh, no racing!" Gohan insisted.

 

"Does it count if the grown ups carry them?" an alto voice laughed. Goten groaned as his father swept him up under his arm.

 

"C'mon dad put me down I'm too OLD for this!" he yelped.

 

"I know someone who isn't," Son Goku laughed, transferring Goten to his back while he swept Bohr out of the air and set him on his shoulders.

 

"Mommy I wanna ride!" Fermi complained. She shook her head and marched after Son Goku towards the back room.

 

"Good night Atomique-san! Have fun!" Videl called. She grinned like a Cheshire cat while

Gohan cast her a questioning look.

 

"What was THAT about?" he asked her.

 

"What was what?" she giggled.

 

"That 'look'… that 'I know something you don't know cause I'm a girl' look!" Gohan said frustratedly.

 

"Oh, just thinking that maybe you and I should share the guesthouse tonight… because your daddy and his houseguests are gonna have a heck of a time getting those rowdy boys to bed…" Videl giggled, poking him in the ribs.

 

"You're worse than Krillen!" he yelped, blushing deeply.

 

"We're practically engaged… so why are you so shy about bunking with your lady?" Videl further needled him.

 

"My DAD's in the house across… that's why," he gritted, hiding his mouth with one hand pressed to the side of it.

 

"Relax. I think they're gonna be way too busy to check up and see if we're behaving… besides there is a sofa, and a bed… and what he doesn't' know won't hurt him…" she winked, kissing him on the cheek.

 

Mortified, Gohan protested, "Videl… he could walk out at any minute!"

 

"C'mon, your dad's begging us to get married! Unlike my pops…" she rolled her eyes. "Hurry up before your dad and his little friend come back…"

 

"Little friend?" he winced, squeezing his eyes shut.

 

"Oops, slip of the tongue… c'mon… move…" Videl urged, leaping off the sofa and grabbing Gohan's hand. He let her pull him to his feet, and half drag him out the door. Taking the hand she held, she wrapped it around and over her head so he held her against his side.

 

"I guess it can't hurt… I mean knowing Dad, he'll take forever telling a story…" Gohan grinned mischievously.

 

"C'mon tiger… that's the look I wanna see…" she cooed, pulling him along as she raised her lips to kiss him. She snagged her backpack, letting him walk her out the front door to Grandpa Gohan's house.

***

Meanwhile, Son Goku plopped Fermi in the top bunk, while dropping Goten on his single bed across the room. He took a seat on the side of his son's bed, and leaned back against the wall comfortably. Atomique sat down on the bottom bunk, repositioning pillows so she could lay on her side, and pull Bohr to lay alongside her.

 

"Tell us a story, Mr. Funny man!" Fermi clapped his hands.

 

"Fermi, you know perfectly well that's NOT his name!" Atomique groaned, hiding her face at Goku's amused grin.

 

"Are you gonna get it!" Goten started to laugh, shaking his head.

 

"Fermi-kun… it's Son-sama!" Bohr gasped, with a horrified look. "He's such a kid!"

 

"I've been called worse by my own kids," Goku said, reaching across to ruffle Bohr's hair.

 

"Sorry, Son-Goku sama!" Fermi blurted out.

 

"Quiet will you, or he won't tell us a story!" Goten shushed them both.

 

"Please, tell us a story, we like yours the best…" said Bohr, hugging his mom. "Mommy, please stay, you'll love this…"

 

"I suppose I can," she said. Fermi slid down out of his bunk, and sat on her other side. Bohr leapt down and went over to sit on Son Goku's other side, while Goten sat on top of his covers.

 

"Is it about the Dragon Balls?" asked Fermi.

 

"I just know I'm gonna want to listen to this… I've been dying to know what the heck they are…" Atomique whispered to Fermi.

 

"Listen Mommy, he'll tell you everything," Bohr hushed, holding a finger to his lips.

 

"I dunno… I kinda forget where I last left off. Do you remember, Fermi-kun… or you, Goten-kun?"

 

"I remember!" Fermi blurted out, crawling onto Atomique's lap. "You were telling us about how you and Auntie Buruma first met in the woods… and then you ran into the Scaredy cat man…"

 

"You mean Uncle Yamucha?" asked Goten. "I don't think he'd be too cool being called THAT, dad…"

 

"He was scared to death of any girls, that were his age," said Son Goku with a grin. "Every time he saw a pretty girl, he'd run away. So Auntie Buruma and Chibi Goku were always free of him snoopin' around. But then there was that night when Crazy King Pilaf decided he was gonna capture us all an stick us in this dark, dark dungeon."

 

"You would, showoff," Bohr pouted, folding his arms across his chest much like Paul Stanley himself.

***

 

Time passed along with the chapters of Goku's story. Everyone's eyes inextricably grew heavier with each passing minute. Although the story was exciting, Atomique and her sons were having more and more difficulty staying awake. On either side of Son Goku, Goten and Bohr leaned against him. Finally he drew Bohr into his lap, while helping Goten to slid under his covers. Atomique curled up on Fermi' lower bunk, hugging him in her lap.

"Then everything went BLACK poof… after the moon came out…" Son Goku continued.

"What happened? Were Auntie Buruma and the Bandit Uncle Yamucha stuck in that dungeon?" asked Bohr, sitting in Goku's lap. Goten lay with his head and shoulders resting against Goku's hip while he continued to tell his tale.

 

"Well Chibi Goku suddenly found himself without a stitch of clothes on… they were all torn up… and he had a headache… and Auntie Buruma and Uncle Yamucha were huddled in a corner… Poor Pilaf was so scared, because his whole castled was busted up into little piles…"

 

"How did THAT happen?" asked Fermi.

 

"Well, Chibi Goku had magical powers," Son Goku said with a mysterious smile. "You remember he had his tail, right?"

 

"His monkey tail," nodded Bohr.

 

"You used to have a tail Daddy like I did, till…" Goten remembered, then silenced himself at Goku's patient wink.

 

"Well, turns out that in the light of the full moon, that tail made him grow really big. But he didn't know that… but Auntie Buruma and uncle Yamucha saw him grow bigger and bigger. He grew thick fur over his body, and long fangs, and swung his arms and feet back and forth cause he didn't like being captured, no way!"

 

"Yikes…" Bohr whispered. "Sounds like Uncle Tyler San…"

 

"The kitty man?" asked Fermi.

 

"Kitty man?" asked Goten, shaking his head. "Who's that?"

 

"Another story…" Fermi nodded.

 

"Anyway, Chibi Goku had turned into something called a GREAT ape…" Son Goku continued.

 

"Like king Kong!" Bohr squealed.

 

"Sorta… but he didn't swat any planes. He just tore that castle apart brick by brick till the moon set, and then they were ALL Free…"

 

"What happened to Chibi Goku's tail?" asked Fermi.

 

"Kami removed it, right Dad?" Goten said. "Just like mine… and Prince Bejita's… and Nissan's…"

 

"You mean you really TURN into a big monkey during the full moon?" Fermi said. "I thought that was just a story!"

 

"It sure does happen… cause Chibi Goku ain't no normal human kid. He was a Saiyan kid, but didn't know till much later when his big bad brother Radditz came an' kidnapped his little Gohan-kun. But that's ANOTHER Story," Son Goku said, squeezing a nervous looking Bohr to his side.

 

"You guys are gonna love that story…" said Goten, yawning deeply. HE slid out the covers, letting his daddy tuck them around him. Bohr and Fermi both yawned in unison. Son Goku gently picked up Bohr, and deposited him in the top bunk. When he turned to check on Fermi, he noticed that his story had put their mom to sleep. With a smile he lifted Fermi off her lap, and pulled the covers aside. He placed Fermi into bed, then lifted Atomique-sama gently into his arms before pulling the covers around her son.

 

"Gnite Daddy," Goten whispered. Son Goku leaned over and kissed his son on the cheek. He did the same to the other two boys, who held up their arms to him as if they were his own.

 

"Mommy's all sleepy…" Fermi murmured, hugging Goku tightly around the neck.

 

"That's why I'm gonna go tuck her in too," Son Goku said, holding a finger before his lips. "Shh, keep quiet okay. Don't wanna wake her up, right?"

 

"Right. Gn'ite Son-Goku san," Bohr muttered, slipping into sleep shortly after the others.

 

"Nite Funny man-san…" Fermi giggled.

 

Treading softly, Son Goku carried their mother through the capsule house in the dimness of dark. He could see as well as if it were day, thanks to his superior Saiyan senses. Once in the master bedroom, Son Goku carefully set her on the middle of the large double bed. He sat her up, leaning her head against his shoulder while he reached down to take off her shoes. Modestly averting his gaze, he slipped off the outer tunic and tossed it over a chair. Then he peeled back the covers, rolling her gently between them.

 

"G'nite, Atomique-sama," he whispered, gently touching his lips to her forehead before he caught himself. She seemed peaceful, dark lashed eyes fluttering. He turned and left her in the dark room, making his way to the guest bed next door.

***

No sooner had he prepared himself for bed, and then he heard a soft cry. He tugged on his pajama bottoms and concentrated. Shrugging, he slid under the covers and struggled to get into a comfortable position to sleep. After a time, he blinked awake at the sound of a woman screaming,

"Paul… no! Blackwell! Don't… don't leave…"

 

"Kuso…" he murmured, sitting upright. He threw the covers aside, touching his fingers to his forehead. An instant later and he stood right next to her bed. Covers tangled around her legs as she flailed and thrashed her arms wildly.

 

"Atomique-sama… wake up… it's a bad dream…" he urged, sitting on the edge of the bed. One of her fists flew and socked him hard in the jaw. While it didn't hurt, he figured he should hold her down before she really hurt herself. Gently he took her wrists in his hands and pinned her flat on the bed.

 

"Shh… easy… you're okay… it's me… Son Goku… you're safe here… nobody's gonna hurt you!" he repeated softly, shaking her.

 

"No… no… Paul… don't leave… don't you care… don't you…" she sniffled, tears escaping through her dark lashes. Blue energy crackled around her fingertips, slamming into Goku as he held her back. For a moment her chikara or ki flared to a level that surprised him before receding.

 

"Wake up… wake up," he urged.

 

She blinked open dark brown eyes, yelping up at him in confusion. "Where… how… oh thank God you're here… I thought you'd left me…" she sniffled, twisting her wrists.

 

"I'm here… you sounded like you were having one heck of a nightmare… you gonna be okay?" he asked, releasing her wrists. She sat up, glancing at the disarray of dark hair back-lit by the starlight seeping in through the windows. A muscular male frame with long strong fingers reached out to fold her in his arms as she lay her head on his chest. Automatically Son Goku folded her into a platonic hug, patting her back soothingly as he shushed her.

 

"You didn't leave," she whispered, burying her head in his shoulder. He wondered if she thought he was her expired husband, and scrunched his face in momentary disappointment at the choking sobs of relief.

 

"What did you see?"

 

"Blackwell. And Dragon Womyn. Then you… I mean… wait… you're not Paul, and I'm not home… am I?"

 

"I'm sorry, but you're in my house… on Mt. Paozu, on Chikyuu… the Son house… my place… do you remember me?"

 

"Son Goku san… I'm so sorry… I didn't meant to wake you… are the children…" she asked, twisting a lock of hair around her finger. Without it pinned up in its french braid she seemed so much younger then the authoritative tutor role she portrayed. While Chichi had been strict, this woman had a much softer touch when it came to enforcing rules.

 

"Sleeping soundly. Don't worry about THEM… are you gonna be all right?" he asked, lips close to her ear. He squeezed her reassuringly to his broad muscular chest, glad that she took comfort from his physical presence.

 

"I don't know… I hadn't dreamed of Paul for a while… but now… seeing the boys…" she trailed off. "I miss him so much…"

 

"I know it hurts. It's okay… but he's not really left you right? He's still here… in your heart and memories… ne?" he reminded her. "And you can still dream about him…"

 

"But I saw something else. As if he were so far away he couldn't hear me then… the rest is hard to remember…"

 

"If you had something of his, maybe if you kept it close… you'd know he was there with you. I always have the Four-Star Dragon ball so I'm close to my Grandpa Gohan…"

 

"All I have is the wedding band… and my children…" she whispered.

 

"Best part of you, right? Just try and sleep. You'll feel better in the morning… and you'll be safe tonight… want me to sit up with you?" he asked, still hugging her at arm's length.

 

"If it's no problem…" she whispered. "Tell me more about those Dragon Balls… because I'm totally clueless… from what I gather… they grant wishes… but only under certain conditions…"

 

"You need all seven for starters… and they only work once a year… then turn to stone… just like in the story I told Fermi-kun and Bohr-kun…" he recounted, shifting up to sit next to her on the bed. She leaned her head on his chest, letting him stroke his fingers through her long hair to soothe her. Lulled by the motion of his strong fingers and heartbeat under her ear, she surrendered to sleep again.

***

Nighttime fell on the Son residence. Already the new capsule house had been installed, giving them a whole mess of space that had not originally been intended. Trynia's sons insisted on wanting to sleep in Goten's room, so two bunks were moved to make a common area where they could be together. To the boys it was like a sleepover party, so Son Goku and Gohan had obligingly schlepped the whole thing inside.

 

Videl and Gohan sat out on the couch, pouring over chemistry texts under the watch of Atomica. She ran down the line of facts as they worked problems back and forth. "Now tell me the equations for quantum numbers…"

 

"Oh, I remember this from a long time ago…" Gohan mumbled.

 

"You would," Videl said, throwing a piece of popcorn at him.

 

"So sue me… I remember all sorts of stuff from then… considering I thought I was gonna be a scholar or a doctor…"

 

James wandered over and crawled over to sit on Tryn's lap. She pulled him over to give him a hug while she opened Gohan and Videl's encyclopedia sized chemistry tome. Mimicking his mother, James traced his finger down while she read from the chapter overview notes.

 

"The trick to remembering equations is to picture in your head just what the math is trying to say. Get beyond the letters and learn it like a foreign language…"

 

"It IS a foreign language," Videl mumbled. While Gohan scribbled down her directions, Videl almost flopped over as she fell asleep.

 

"Somebody's sleepy mommy," James whispered in her ear.

 

"Sorry!" she groaned.

 

"Where's your brother?" Atomica asked her son curled up leaning his head against her chest.

 

"Picking out his bunk," said James. "In with Goten-kun…"

 

"I dunno about you guys, but I think it's time for little scholars to put in some shuteye," she said, lifting him off her lap. She tossed down the book, and glanced at her two scholars rapidly folding their notes away.

 

"That means us too?" Videl joked. "I can't keep my eyes open a second longer. If I see another equation I'm gonna scream! No offense, Atomicasan…"

 

"None taken…" she said with a smile.

 

"I think we'll go take this party into Grandpa's house… right?" Videl said as she nudged Gohan in the ribs.

 

"But I thought I was gonna stay there…"

 

"Please Mommy, Goten-kun said we'd sleep in his room tonight," James said. She felt what seemed like a rush of air burst past, and a loud squeal.

 

"What the heck?" she wondered. Goten burst out of the back of the small area, his feet pounding on the carpeted floor. Hovering just at Atomica's shoulder was the missing twin.

 

"Mommy look!" John laughed.

 

"What are you doing up THERE?" she said, resting her hands on her hips.

 

"No flying in the house! Darn it you KNOW that!" Gohan groaned.

 

"Sorry Nissan… I told him, but he forgot! You guys KNOW better than that okay? We'll do it tomorrow… but you have to follow the rules!" the younger brother scolded John, waving his finger at him.

 

"I think both of you need to try out those new bunks now, don't you?" Atomica said as she rested her hands on her hips.

 

"First one in bed gets out of breakfast duty tomorrow…" Gohan reminded them.

 

"C'mon guys… race you there…"

 

"Uh uh, no racing!" Gohan insisted.

 

"Does it count if the grown ups carry them?" an alto voice laughed. Goten groaned as his father swept him up under his arm.

 

"C'mon dad put me down I'm too OLD for this!" he yelped.

 

"I know someone who isn't," Son Goku laughed, transferring Goten to his back while he swept John out of the air and set him on his shoulders.

 

"Mommy I wanna ride!" James complained. She shook her head and marched after Son Goku towards the back room.

 

"Good night Atomicasan! Have fun!" Videl called. She grinned like a Cheshire cat while Gohan cast her a questioning look.

 

"What was THAT about?" he asked her.

 

"What was what?" she giggled.

 

"That 'look'… that 'I know something you don't know cause I'm a girl' look!" Gohan said frustratedly.

 

"Oh, just thinking that maybe you and I should share the guesthouse tonight… because your daddy and his houseguests are gonna have a heck of a time getting those rowdy boys to bed…" Videl giggled, poking him in the ribs.

 

"You're worse than Krillen!" he yelped, blushing deeply.

 

"We're practically engaged… so why are you so shy about bunking with your lady?" Videl further needled him.

 

"My DAD's in the house across… that's why," he gritted, hiding his mouth with one hand pressed to the side of it.

 

"Relax. I think they're gonna be way too busy to check up and see if we're behaving… besides there is a sofa, and a bed… and what he doesn't' know won't hurt him…" she winked, kissing him on the cheek.

 

"Videl… he could walk out at any minute!"

 

"C'mon, your dad's begging us to get married! Unlike my pops…" she rolled her eyes. "Hurry up before your dad and his little friend come back…"

 

"Little friend?" he winced.

 

"Oops, slip of the tongue… c'mon… move…" Videl urged, leaping off the sofa and grabbing Gohan's hand. He let her pull him to his feet, and half drag him out the door. Taking the hand she held, she wrapped it around and over her head so he held her against his side.

 

"I guess it can't hurt… I mean knowing Dad, he'll take forever telling a story…" Gohan grinned mischievously.

 

"C'mon tiger… that's the look I wanna see…" she cooed, pulling him along as she raised her lips to kiss him. She snagged her backpack, letting him walk her out the front door to Grandpa Gohan's house.

***

Meanwhile, Son Goku plopped James in the top bunk, while dropping Goten on his single bed across the room. He took a seat on the side of his son's bed, and leaned back against the wall comfortably.

 

"Tell us a story, Mr. Funny man!" James clapped his hands.

 

"James, you know perfectly well that's NOT his name!" Atomica groaned, hiding her face at Goku's amused grin.

 

"Are you gonna get it!" Goten started to laugh, shaking his head.

 

"James-kun… it's Son-sama!" John gasped, with a horrified look. "He's such a kid!"

 

"I've been called worse by my own kids," Goku said, reaching across to ruffle John's hair.

 

"Sorry, Son-Goku sama!" James blurted out.

 

"Quiet will you, or he won't tell us a story!" Goten shushed them both.

 

"Please, tell us a story, we like yours the best…" said John, hugging his mom. "Mommy, please stay, you'll love this…"

 

"I suppose I can," she said. James slid down out of his bunk, and sat on her other side. John leapt down and went over to sit on Son Goku's other side, while Goten sat on top of his covers.

 

"Is it about the Dragon Balls?" asked James.

 

"I just know I'm gonna want to listen to this… I've been dying to know what the heck they are…" Tryn whispered to James.

 

"Listen Mommy, he'll tell you everything," John hushed, holding a finger to his lips.

 

"I dunno… I kinda forget where I last left off. Do you remember, James-kun… or you, Goten-kun?"

 

"I remember!" James blurted out, crawling onto Tryn's lap. "You were telling us about how you and Auntie Bulma first met in the woods… and then you ran into the Scaredy cat man…"

 

"You mean Uncle Yamucha?" asked Goten. "I don't think he'd be too cool being called THAT, dad…"

 

"He was scared to death of any girls, that were his age," said Son Goku with a grin. "Every time he saw a pretty girl, he'd run away. So Auntie Bulma and Chibi Goku were always free of him snoopin' around. But then there was that night when Crazy King Pilaf decided he was gonna capture us all an stick us in this dark, dark dungeon."

 

"You would, showoff," John pouted, folding his arms across his chest much like Paul Stanley himself.

 

***

"Then everything went BLACK poof… after the moon came out…" Son Goku continued.

 

"What happened? Were Auntie Bulma and the Bandit Unca Yamucha stuck in that dungeon?" asked John, sitting in Goku's lap. Goten lay with his head and shoulders resting against Goku's hip while he continued to tell his tale.

 

"Well Chibi Goku suddenly found himself without a stitch of clothes on… they were all torn up… and he had a headache… and Auntie Bulma and Uncle Yamucha were huddled in a corner… Poor Pilaf was so scared, because his whole castled was busted up into little piles…"

 

"How did THAT happen?" asked James.

 

"Well, Chibi Goku had magical powers," Son Goku said with a mysterious smile. "You remember he had his tail, right?"

 

"His monkey tail," nodded John.

 

"You used to have a tail Daddy like I did, till…"

 

"Well, turns out that in the light of the full moon, that tail made him grow really big. But he didn't know that… but Auntie Bulma and uncle Yamucha saw him grow bigger and bigger. He grew thick fur over his body, and long fangs, and swung his arms and feet back and forth cause he didn't like being captured, no way!"

 

"Yikes…" John whispered. "Sounds like Uncle Tyler San…"

 

"The kitty man?" asked James.

 

"Kitty man?" asked Goten.

 

"Another story…" James nodded.

 

"Anyway, Chibi Goku had turned into something called a GREAT ape…"

 

"Like king Kong!" John squealed.

 

"Sorta… but he didn't swat any planes. He just tore that castle apart brick by brick till the moon set, and then they were ALL Free…"

 

"What happened to Chibi Goku's tail?" asked James.

 

"He had it removed, right, Dad?" Goten said. "Just like mine… and Uncle Vegeta's… and Ni san's…"

 

"You mean you really TURN into a big monkey during the full moon?" James said. "I thought that was just a story!"

 

"It sure does happen… cause Chibi Goku ain't no normal human kid. He was a Saiyan kid, but didn't know till much later when his big bad brother Radditz came an' kidnapped his little Gohan-kun. But that's ANOTHER Story," Son Goku said, squeezing a nervous looking John to his side.

 

"You guys are gonna love that story…" said Goten, yawning deeply. HE slid out the covers, letting his daddy tuck them around him. John and James both yawned in unison. Son Goku gently picked up John, and deposited him in the top bunk. When he turned to check on James, he noticed that his story had put their mom to sleep. With a smile he lifted James off her lap, and pulled the covers aside. He placed James into bed, then lifted Tryn-sama gently into his arms before pulling the covers around her son.

 

"Gnite Daddy," Goten whispered. Son Goku leaned over and kissed his son on the cheek. He did the same to the other two boys, who held up their arms to him as if they were his own.

 

"Mommy's all sleepy…" James murmured, hugging Goku tightly around the neck.

 

"I'm gonna go tuck her in too," Son Goku said, holding a finger before his lips. "Shh, keep quiet okay. Don't wanna wake her up, right?"

 

"Right. Gn'ite Son-Goku san," John muttered, slipping into sleep shortly after the others.

 

"Nite Mr. Funny man san…" James giggled.

***

Treading softly, Son Goku carried their mother through the capsule house in the dimness of dark. He could see as well as if it were day, thanks to his superior Saiyan senses. Once in the master bedroom, Son Goku carefully set her on the middle of the large double bed. He sat her up, leaning her head against his shoulder while he reached down to take off her shoes. Modestly averting his gaze, he slipped off the outer tunic and tossed it over a chair. Then he peeled back the covers, rolling her gently between them.

 

"G'nite, Tryn-sama," he whispered, gently touching his lips to her forehead before he caught himself. She seemed peaceful, dark lashed eyes fluttering. He turned and left her in the dark room, making his way to the guest bed next door.

 

No sooner had he prepared himself for bed, and then he heard a soft cry. He tugged on his pajama bottoms and concentrated. Shrugging, he slid under the covers and struggled to get into a comfortable position to sleep. After a time, he blinked awake at the sound of a woman screaming, "Paul… no! Blackwell! Don't… don't leave…"

 

"Kuso…" he murmured, sitting upright. He threw the covers aside, touching his fingers to his forehead. An instant later and he stood right next to her bed. Covers tangled around her legs as she flailed and thrashed her arms wildly.

 

"Tryn-sama… wake up… it's a bad dream…" he urged, sitting on the edge of the bed. One of her fists flew and socked him hard in the jaw. While it didn't hurt, he figured he should hold her down before she really hurt herself. Gently he took her wrists in his hands and pinned her flat on the bed.

 

"Shh… easy… you're okay… it's me… Son Goku… you're safe here… nobody's gonna hurt you!" he repeated softly, shaking her.

 

"No… no… Paul… don't leave… don't you care… don't you…" she sniffled, tears escaping through her dark lashes. Blue energy crackled around her fingertips, slamming into Goku as he held her back. For a moment her chikara or ki flared to a level that surprised him before receding.

 

"Wake up… wake up," he urged.

 

She blinked open dark brown eyes, yelping up at him in confusion. "Where… how… oh thank God you're here… I thought you'd left me…" she sniffled, twisting her wrists.

 

"I'm here… you sounded like you were having one heck of a nightmare… you gonna be okay?" he asked, releasing her wrists. She sat up, glancing at the disarray of dark hair backlit by the starlight seeping in through the windows. A muscular male frame with long strong fingers reached out to fold her in his arms as she lay her head on his chest. Automatically Son Goku folded her into a platonic hug, patting her back soothingly as he shushed her.

 

"You didn't leave," she whispered, burying her head in his shoulder. He wondered if she thought he was her expired husband, and scrunched his face in momentary disappointment at the choking sobs of relief.

 

"What did you see?"

 

"Blackwell. And Dragon Womyn. Then you… I mean… wait… you're not Paul, and I'm not home… am I?"

 

"I'm sorry, but you're in my house… on Mt. Pauzu, on Chikyuu… the Son house… my place… do you remember me?"

 

"Son Goku san… I'm so sorry… I didn't meant to wake you… are the children…"

 

"Sleeping soundly. Don't worry about THEM… are you gonna be all right?" he asked, lips close to her ear. He squeezed her reassuringly to his broad muscular chest, glad that she took comfort from his physical presence.

 

"I don't know… I hadn't dreamed of Paul for a while… but now… seeing the boys…" she trailed off. "I miss him so much…"

 

"I know it hurts. It's okay… but he's not really left you right? He's still here… in your heart and memories… ne?" he reminded her. "And you can still dream about him…"

 

"But I saw something else. As if he were so far away he couldn't hear me then… the rest is hard to remember…"

 

"If you had something of his, maybe if you kept it close… you'd know he was there with you. I always have the Four star Dragon ball so I'm close to my Grandpa Gohan…"

 

"All I have is the wedding band… and my children…" she whispered.

 

"Best part of you, right? Just try and sleep. You'll feel better in the morning… and you'll be safe tonight… want me to sit up with you?" he asked, still hugging her at arm's length.

 

"If it's no problem…" she whispered. "Tell me more about those Dragon Balls… because I'm totally clueless… from what I gather… they grant wishes… but only under certain conditions…"

 

"You need all seven for starters… and they only work once a year… then turn to stone… just like in the story I told James-kun and John-kun…" he recounted, shifting up to sit next to her on the bed. She leaned her head on his chest, letting him stroke his fingers through her long hair to soothe her. Lulled by the motion of his strong fingers and heartbeat under her ear, she surrendered to sleep again.

***

Fresh breakfast smells drifted through the house, causing Son Goku's nose to twitch. He murmured and shifted on the bed, blinking in the morning sunlight streaming through the blinds in vertical strips. A woman's dark hair spilled across his chest, and he glanced down to see his fingers tangled in it. Her head rose and fell with each of his breaths. Mumbling, Son Goku curled up and immersed his fingers in her hair, not wanting to get up right away. The need for more sleep temporarily overwhelmed his appetite for food. Soon he snored gently away; enjoying the warmth of the woman curled up next to him.

 

From the kitchen came distant voices. Hearing them, the woman lying with her head on his bare muscular chest slowly opened her eyes. She mumbled at the bleary haze, realizing she had forgotten to put her glasses on. For a moment she had forgotten where she was. All she cared about was that she felt deliciously warm, and did not want to get up from the bed and the marvelously firm pillow under her cheek.

 

She heard a medium pitched voice say, "Goten-kun… don't spill the coffee… Fermi-kun, don't fly in the house, sit down! Bohr-kun… put the bowls over there will you?"

 

"Why haven't you woken your Dad yet?" Videl's voice asked, ending in a yawn. The dragging scrape of a chair heralded her sitting down at her place. Footsteps thumped like an elephant stampede while the three boys took their places.

 

"He needs a break, he's been working so hard getting all of us together. Besides he'll wake up the instant he smells the food," Gohan joked.

 

"Save some for mommy!" Bohr's high-pitched voice called out.

 

"Hers is right here… next to mine…" Goten's distinct voice answered. "How much more rice?"

 

"Two whole pots… and get ready to wash the empties… I'm almost done…" Gohan again announced. Clinks and thumps followed the sounds of clanging plates against a solid surface.

Inside the master bedroom, Atomique shifted reluctantly at the pastiche of breakfast noises. A brawny arm well featured with hard muscles tightened overtop her shoulder, holding her down. The opposite hand of the occupant of the bed next to her immersed long fingers in her hair, twisting the dark locks around them. She started when she realized the firm surface rising and falling was a masculine chest, bare of hair and smooth with a bit of sweat. Into her nostrils drifted a faintly musky scent.

 

"What the hell?" she murmured, blinking as she lay there. An alto voice groaned, resounding noisily through her ear pressed to his pectorals. A loud gurgling growl made her flinch momentarily.

 

"Breakfast… someone forgot to wake me again!" he groaned, feeling the empty pangs in his stomach.

 

"Oh no… what time is it?" she gasped, feeling a wave of heat spread from head to toe. She inhaled deeply, realizing nothing had happened. HE must have simply remained with her to make sure she would be safe from nightmares, reassuring her with purely platonic presence. For a minute she felt disappointed, then scolded herself for such thoughts. Little did she know that the Saiyan had similar thoughts as well.

 

"Seven thirty… hope they left us some…" he muttered, clearing his throat and shifting under her ear in the bed.

 

"Gohan and Videl have that big test… they might be late if…" she gasped, sitting bold upright. For a moment she glimpsed him leaning under her, bare chested, wearing little more than long blue and green plaid flannel pajama bottoms. Alongside her he curled his muscular body, lying on top of the covers while she lay underneath.

 

"Whoops… I told them to wake me!" he groaned, leaping out of the bed at the same time she did.

 

"I'd better go help out… start pulling my weight…" she said, staring at an invisible spot on the wall while he turned his blushing face away from hers.

 

"Now wait just a minute! How am I supposed to treat you like a guest if you keep talking like that!" he protested with a childish pout. "You stay here and get freshened up and changed. I'll be sure to save you some food… okay? You've had a rough couple days already!"

 

"Knock it off will you?" she yelped, pounding his shoulder. He grabbed a stack of orange clothes from the closet, and a pair of boots and other assorted items.

 

"Sorry… gotta go get dressed myself… don't take too long or else you'll miss chow!" he chuckled awkwardly. "Later!"

 

"I'm never going to get used to that… it's just as bad as Ace," she shook her head with a chuckle. Grabbing a change of clothes, she began to get dressed once more.

***

After Atomique finished dressing, she set about making the bed. To do so she had to round the sides every so often to even things up or smooth the blankets down. Her toe caught on something solid, tripping her up. Automatically her fingertips glowed with her alchemical power, producing a long thin sheet of plastic to arrest her fall, stretching from window to door. When she untangled herself from the plastic safety net she dispelled it. A quick search for the object that tripped her up revealed a black boot she recognized as one of Goku's. However she couldn't pick it up easily because it felt like it was made of solid fifty pounds worth of lead. To her left on the chair by the bureau, the blue shirt draped overtop caught her eye next.

 

"Why am I not surprised," she muttered, barely able to lift the garment up due to the same unexpected mass issue she encountered. With interest she flipped the garment over to examine its structure. Judging from the feel between her sensitive fingertips metallic chainmail was sandwiched between a double layer of blue cloth. Generous pores allowed sweat to pass through during a workout. On shelves in the closet she saw the various outfits folded, many of them orange training gi, while others were more conventional clothes.

 

She reached into her small backpack to remove her toiletries and hairbrush. Walking out into the living room of the Capsule house she finished French braiding her long black hair. Approaching the living room she caught sight of Goku's mop of unruly hair crowning his sturdy shoulders clad in bright orange gi. Only the top fourth of the circular emblem on the vest's back was visible over the back of his chair. Flanking him was an empty space at the dining room table, while Videl sat to his left. Fermi and Bohr whizzed about the kitchen, one of them plopping fresh bowls of food before Son Goku while the other dumped the empties into the sink. Goten dunked his hands into sudsy water to keep up with the already increasing stacks of serving plates. Son Gohan stood setting another place next to his dad with fresh dishes.

 

"Why didn't' ya wake me up?" Son Goku mumbled in between shoveling bites of his meal down the hatch. His left hand moved so fast it seemed a blur. Only the continuous clink of chopsticks on the bowl indicated the pace of his eating. Son Gohan sat down next to Videl, grabbing his own chopsticks to finish the meal he'd started.

 

"Because we were giving you a break," Videl laughed. "You worked hard getting Fermi-kun and Bohr-kun to bed…"

 

"Please that's nothing," he answered with a chuckle. Food flew over and almost hit Videl in the face. She held up a hand and reassured a horrified Son Gohan that she was perfectly used to this occurrence by now, simply taking the napkin he handed her and letting him help wipe her face off of Son Goku's debris.

 

"Dad, watch it will you?" Gohan groaned, slapping his hand against his forehead. Not for the first time he wished the floor would swallow him up. Never mind that Videl thought the whole scene was cute.

 

"Bombs away," Goten joked, tossing another set of bowls into the wash tub.

 

"Good thing you already finished," Fermi whispered. It dawned on the approaching alchemist that her son was floating six feet above the floor with his latest handful of soiled dishes.

 

"Good Grief… are you… flying again?" she gasped.

 

"Mommy! Come eat…" Bohr insisted, leaping down from his chair and running over to grab her hand and drag her over.

 

"Move over Goten-kun, I'll take over the dishes…"

 

"No you won't, you'll sit down an' eat!" Son Goku interrupted. He leaned out of his chair, throwing his chopsticks down. Before she could protest he shot out an arm and grabbed her up bodily, then deposited her in the empty chair Bohr pulled out.

 

"Wait a second…" she gasped, trying hard not to laugh, but failing miserably because she giggled at the smooth teamwork that just elapsed.

 

"How are we supposed to treat you like a guest if you keep wanting to help, huh?" Son Gohan teased.

 

"Kame, we're going to be late, Gohan-kun!" Videl exclaimed, leaping up from the table. "Kuso…"

 

"Watch the language!" Gohan groaned, running his fingers through his hair.

 

"Is that a bad word in English, Chinese or Japanese?" Fermi whispered to Goten.

 

"In Japanese," said Goten with a smirk.

 

"Um, I don't think you should be flying in the house, right Son-Goku-san?" asked Tryn-sama, grabbing her other son in midair. He chuckled and landed on her lap, pushing a pair of chopsticks into her hand.

 

"Mommy you gotta eat… Mr. Funny man san said so…"

 

"That's my dad, you silly!" Goten rolled his eyes.

 

"All right, all right, everyone settle down! It's hard to eat with all this fuss!" Son Goku interrupted, strangely managing to talk coherently through the mouthful of food pouching his cheeks out like a pet hamster.

 

"Sorry dad… man I'm gonna be late…" Gohan groaned, flicking his wrist up to check his watch. "Maybe if we take Nimbus…"

 

"Have a good day, and don't forget to be back for dinner!" his dad called, motioning him and Videl over. She leaned down to give her future father in law a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze, then turned to do the same to the alchemist, who seemed taken aback at such a familiar display. However she thought twice about questioning it till later, while Gohan and his father embraced, patting each other on the back. He squeezed each boy's shoulder in turn, then grabbed Videl's wrist. She caught her bag as they shot out the front door in a blur.

 

"Good luck!" Atomique-sama called, masking her nervousness in the bowl of hot breakfast she picked up. Her fingers fumbled with the set of ivory chopsticks, almost dropping them.

 

"No flying in the house Nisan!" Goten called as a parting shot. The door slammed shut, and everyone resumed what he or she was doing.

 

"Are you sure you guys don't want some help with those dishes," she asked, barely keeping the cluster of food on the chopsticks before it ended up on her lap.

 

"Eat it fast like Dad does, and you'll make it to your mouth," Goten suggested. He began to dry the increasing stacks of dishes passed his way. Bohr climbed up on a nearby stool and started dipping his hands into the tub while Goten switched to drying. Amazingly for a three year old, Bohr had good dexterity, managing to keep from chipping or dropping anything breakable as he passed it over to be dried. Out of the corner of her eye Tryn watched him in amazement, realizing he was obviously familiar with this routine or else he'd be much stiffer.

 

Fermi stared at a pot of coffee, slowly extending one small hand. It began to rise into the air, and drift towards his astonished mom's outstretched hand. "Look at what I can do, Mommy!" he called proudly.

 

"Now THAT'S new…" she whispered. "Let it go. That's it… thanks… but let me know when you're going to do that… next time…"

 

"Sorry… it just happened on accident," he shrugged. She steadied him on her knee, moving out from the table while eating with her other hand.

 

"Oops," Son Goku widened his eyes. "Gotta use those powers responsibly, Fermi-kun. Your mom's not used to it… after we finish up here, we can show her what you've learned…"

 

"Who taught them that?" she asked suspiciously.

 

"Oh… first time I noticed the blocks and toys were flying around I figured out he could levitate things, and decided I had to do something to get him to stop," said Son Goku. "I'm not able to levitate THINGS, but I thought he should learn how to control it… so I started blocking him with my own ki till he learned he had to use his hands…"

 

"Your own ki?" she swallowed hard. "His dad could NEVER levitate things… I mean he could with his star beam… but he wasn't telekinetic…"

 

"Both of 'em are able to talk to each other I figure without moving their lips. I can just feel their ki churning there… they're really powerful… so I hope you didn't mind that I kinda started training 'em in Kame-sennen…"

 

"No of course not… but how young is too young?"

 

"I started with Nisan when I was their age," Son Goten chimed in. "Me and Trunks together… and then… Mommy worked with me… till before she left and Daddy here came back to life and took care of us…"

 

"That explains why they can fly, right?" she asked, managing to finish one bowl of hot cereal. Another was placed before her by Goten.

 

"Fermi-kun can, but Bohr-Kun has a little more trouble," said Goten. "Fermi-kun likes to fight more… and Bohr-kun moves things with his mind a lot… right?"

 

"Are you able… to communicate with them, telepathically?"

 

"Uh, well I kinda learned how to refine that from King Kai… and I've taught 'em what I know… and Goten here works with them when I can't be with 'em… Bejita sorta did some work with them… but most of the other stuff about mental powers your husband taught me through a mind link…"

 

"When did this happen? In Other world?"

 

"Yep. We mind linked, because he wanted to show me what he was up against. Then I got wished back for a day to attend the Budakai… and then we fought Majin Buu… and I ended up alive again… me and Bejita that is…"

 

"It was a pretty nasty fight, Dad…" Goten shook his head. "But Trunks and me kicked butt!"

 

"There's so much I owe you all, for caring for them when I couldn't be there…" she trailed off, putting her face in her hand. "And I had no idea if they were alive or dead… I was so afraid that the Bandit and the Golden Princess had them…"

 

"Only for a little bit…" said Goku. "But Yamucha and Krillen rescued 'em… and we've only had 'em for the last year…"

 

"They were barely two when they were taken from me," she swallowed hard. "I was so afraid they'd forget me…"

 

"They had pretty clear pictures in their minds, of who their Mommy was," said Son Goku, reaching across to squeeze her hand. "No kid forgets that… at least the one who bonds with their parent the most…"

 

"I haven't even met my daddy till a little while ago," said Goten. "I was born while he was gone... but Mom always told me about him... before she... you know..."

 

"Hey, enough with the sad stuff," Son Goku said, tossing his chopsticks down. "Let's get these dishes washed and put away, then we can start trainin' today… don't wanna lose a minute cause the weather's so nice. And maybe we can teach some of you guys how to fly…"

 

"If you can teach ME to fly, that would be a miracle," she laughed, rolling up her sleeves as Fermi and Bohr took her dishes to dump in the sink. "Hey, lemmie do that… and you can start warming them up…"

 

"You sure?"

 

"Yes. I'd like to. Gotta do something around the place since you invited me and my kids to live here till we get our own place," she smiled. "But I still don't know anything about cooking…"

 

"That's my favorite job… almost as much as eating it," Son Goku grinned.

 

"Come soon, Mommy… see us work out!" Fermi urged, giving her a kiss as he levitated to the height of her shoulder. Bohr climbed into Son Goku's waiting arms and let the Saiyan hold him up for a kiss to her cheek of his own.

 

"I'll help ya put these away, Ma'am," Goten volunteered. "You haveta learn where everything goes… and Dad always puts it in the same place so HE doesn't forget…"

 

Sweeping up Fermi he placed the kid on his shoulder next to Bohr. They both held onto his shoulders or hair as he strode out the door. Goten grabbed up a towel and began to dry the dishes that the alchemist grabbed from the table. Together they finished up in record time, anxious to see what sort of training session was commencing outdoors.

***