Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality
Chapter 3 – “Growing up Saiyans”
WC: 5,309

AN: So here we go people, new chapter. Yay (author does a little dance). We're halfway done now, I can see the finish-line. Reviews are much appreciated.

Chapter Sum-up: Life in the Saiyan abode and some more unexpected visitors (...I feel like I'm repeating myself...oh well).

On with the story...

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It has been two years since the night Gohan and Goten joined Trunks and Vegeta in their home out in the wild. For the first months they all stayed close to home, strengthening their bonds with one another. Vegeta’s time was mostly occupied by the two youngsters of the family, but he would find time during their naps to spent time with Gohan. He even eventually got the kid to talk about everything that happened between the end of the Cell Games and coming to stay with Vegeta.

It was late one night about one year after the Sons came to stay with Vegeta. Both Trunks and Goten were down for the night in their room, Goten having been weaned not too long before that and Vegeta moved the cubs in with one another. The two had become quite close after their rocky start; you could never find one without the other, which of course had advantages and disadvantages. Vegeta had found Gohan in the library reading a book by the fire. “Gohan,” he began, “we need to talk.”

Gohan marked his place in his book and set it aside, turning to look at his parent. “About what Papa,” the child asked curiously.

Vegeta was still amazed at times to think about how much power this child held, yet how fragile he was. Vegeta came and sat on the floor, beckoning for Gohan to join him. “About what happened after your father died, but before you came to live with me,” he said as soon as Gohan was settled with his head in Vegeta’s lap.

Gohan tensed at the question, but the hand on his back and in his hair calmed him and the sweet musk coming from the tail gently stroking his cheeks soothed his pain. He sighed but none the less told Vegeta about how he had become a slave in his own home. His mother didn’t let him leave the house unless he went to get food. She cruelly home schooled him, harshly punishing him physically when his work was not absolutely perfect. She ranted and raved about the evilness of Saiyans, particularly about his father, how he was a good for nothing failure and slut, whoring himself to another evil alien, never thinking about how many times she cheated on her husband, both before and after his death. Gohan had to endure watching his mother be with other men before it became too dangerous for the pregnancy. He listened as she cursed his father and cursed the child in her womb. Gohan was only thankful for the fact that she didn’t have an abortion.

The night Goten was born Chi-chi was at her all time worst. She had said the cruelest things about her sons and their father. Calling her sons bastards, saying they were mistakes, and no one could love freaks like them. She called Goku a failure, a coward running from his problems, and an evil beast with a stone heart and no brain. She then told Gohan to leave and never come back; Gohan didn’t need to be told twice.

Hatred, pure unrestrained hatred boiled beneath the Prince’s skin. He wanted nothing more than to hunt that bitch down and tear her apart…no…that would be a mercy. She deserved far worst for the pain she caused his lover and their cubs, no one deserves to spoken to like that, least of all by their parents. “You are not a mistake Gohan, never believe that,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion.

Gohan raised his head, revealing the tears that had fallen as he had told his Papa about his painful past. “You are a bright, strong Saiyan who is loved by his father. You aren’t a freak, if anything she is, for treating her own flesh and blood as she did. Do not spare that woman a second thought my son, she doesn’t deserve you. You are too good for her. I love you, and so do your father and Piccolo and the kids. You are someone special Gohan, I’m so proud of what you have become and you can only keep shining. Erase that woman from your mind and be the best you can be, prove her wrong,” Vegeta said, silent tears for the cub in his lap making their way down his cheeks. He pulled the boy into his arms, nuzzling his hair and letting the boy cry out his pain into his shoulder.

Gohan couldn’t even begin to explain what he felt as he sobbed into the strong shoulder of his Papa. Relief, happiness, sorrow, pain, gratefulness and many more emotions and reactions flowed through his body and all he could do was cling tightly to the man that loved him, really loved him for who he was. In that moment Gohan wouldn’t have traded anything to go back to that woman who gave birth to him. Here was his real ‘mother,’ the one who truly cared for him, who was proud of him, and who loved his father just as much.

The two of them stayed that way until the fire died down. When the room began to get cold from the lack of heat, Gohan reluctantly pulled from Vegeta’s embrace, whipping his eyes and nose on his sleeve. “Thank you Papa,” he whispered, voice cracking slightly. “I love you too you know. And I’m really happy that I’m here.”

Vegeta smirked and ruffled Gohan’s hair, “Me too kid, me too. Now come on, time for bed, we’re going to do some more training tomorrow with Piccolo and then I want you to catch up on your studies,” he said as he helped the boy to his feet.

“If you want you can start going to school. It would be a good way to make new friends and learn the proper way,” he continued with his arm around Gohan’s shoulders, leading the way upstairs.

“Really? I’d like that a lot. I always wanted to go to school,” he replied happily.

“Then it’s settled, you get caught up and I’ll enroll you in the best school money can buy,” Vegeta said, guiding the boy into his room, helping him get ready for bed, and tucking him in. He kissed his forehead then rose to leave the room.

“Papa,” Gohan called before Vegeta shut off the light. “Do you think Dad is proud of me?”

Vegeta smirked, “Of course he is Gohan. You are a strong, brave and intelligent young man. Your father wanted you to be the best you could possibly be and you exceeded his expectations. No one is more proud than he is.”

Gohan smiled, relaxing at the answer and drifted off as his bedroom light was turned off and the door shut.

Two months later Gohan was enrolled in a prestigious school for outstanding students, only about a fifteen minute flight of home. Vegeta had gotten money for the school from a fund the Briefs had started for him. While Vegeta didn’t like accepting such charity, at the time it was the only source of money he had, since he did not know of any job he would be well suited for. His answer came in the television advertisement of an up and coming martial arts tournament in the area. Vegeta just found his source of income.

About once a month or whenever he could Vegeta would enter a tournament somewhere on the planet, in disguise of course, and win the prize money. He made sure never to enter any prominent tournaments that could arouse unwanted attention or suspicion. After a few months he had enough money to pay the Briefs back and begin saving for all three of his sons’ educations.

Now a year later he had a steady income and a quickly growing up family. Gohan, now fourteen, was excelling at school and making lots of friends, many of whom would spend time at the Saiyans’ home, ignorant of course to the family’s true nature. Goten had just celebrated his third birthday and Vegeta was seeing more and more of his beloved Kakarot in the child. And Trunks…ah Trunks, what a fine boy he was turning out to be, already he was learning katas and was terribly close to learning how to fly, and he was only four years old. Of course Goten wasn’t far behind, because of how close the two have become, but his age was still limiting his power.

At times the two youngsters were the sweetest children on the planet, and at others they were quite the menaces. They never did anything too terrible, mostly pranks, and Vegeta knew his son was the master mind and used his devoted companion Goten to help him implement his childlike terror. Don’t even get him started when they exchanged his shampoo for pink dye or when they replaced Piccolo’s water with vinegar. They are terrible pranksters but are loved quite dearly by their family, and they did not do their pranks often, preferring to have their Papa happy and warm towards them than cold and aloof after they pulled a prank, but the facial reactions to their hard work was always worth it.

It was a Friday afternoon in May and Vegeta found himself on the back porch with a book from the library, most of which had been donated by the Briefs, reading about a boy and his adventures towards discovering buried treasure (Treasure Island). Gohan was at school, and the Two Terrors were taking their afternoon nap. He was really enjoying his book, if there was one thing he congratulated the human race on it was their liberal arts, especially literature. Humans are very imaginative when it comes to creating something. He was too engrossed in his reading to notice neither the approaching power signatures nor the sound of knocking on his front door. He did, though, hear the sound of someone clearing their throat not ten steps from him. His head shot up in surprise and his eyes widened at the sight of Krillin standing in his backyard.

He finally picked up the traces of three other chi’s situated on his front porch. He tensed slightly, not knowing what to expect from Kakarot’s oldest and dearest friend. He took notice of the casual clothes and was that…yes it was…Krillin’s hair was growing back. At the moment it was mostly just black fuzz but Vegeta had always thought he was naturally bald…apparently not.

“Can I help you,” he finally asked, breaking the tense silence and trying not to sound accusing.

His voice seemed to startle Krillin from wherever he was because he shook his head slightly. “Umm, yeah. Me and my wife and Master Roshi came to see you actually. We noticed you were here a few years ago and then Gohan joined you and we were wondering what was going on,” Krillin said, barely meeting his eyes, hoping not to evoke the wrath of the once volatile Prince.

Vegeta smirked sadly at how Krillin still did not trust him. How could he, he never gave him reason to. He sighed, might as well try to make amends…for Kakarot’s sake, it’s what he would want. He marked his place in his book and stood, wincing inwardly as the monk took a guarded step back. But Vegeta squared his shoulders, he would show these people, who are very dear to Kakarot, hospitality worthy of his royal title.

“Why don’t all of you come inside,” he suggested, gesturing to the backdoor. “I’ll get us some snacks and answer any questions you have.”

He turned, hoping the gesture of having his back unguarded would dispel any last fear the monk had of him. He opened the door, letting the wide eyed monk in first. He chuckled to himself; yes, he must be acting very differently than the Saiyan Prince Krillin fought so long ago. He shut the door, tossing his book into the library as he passed, noting smugly that it landed perfectly on the table in the room. He then motioned to the kitchen, “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll let the rest of your company in.”

Krillin nodded a bit absently and walked into the kitchen with a very confused look on his face. Vegeta smirked; this could turn out quite interesting. He opened the front door to see Master Roshi and Number 18, the latter of which had a baby in her arms. He smirk/smiled towards them and opened his arm wide in a sweeping motion toward the inside of the house. “Please come inside. Krillin is already in the kitchen,” he said nodding his head toward the inside of his home.

Master Roshi gave him a skeptical look but they came inside none the less. He shut the door and lead them into the large kitchen where Krillin was already seated at the bar, twiddling his thumbs. Number 18 sat next to him, clutching the baby close to her chest, while master Roshi sat at the end of the island. Vegeta went to the fridge, pulling out a pitcher of lemonade he made that morning, grabbing four glasses and pouring them all some of the sweet juice. He passed three of the glasses to his guests before turning and grabbing several plates to fill with light snacks of fruit, vegetables, crackers, and cheese. He came back to the end of the island spreading out the plates and grabbed some for himself as he sat on the remaining unoccupied side. “So what brings all of you to my neck of the woods,” he asked, sipping his drink and munching on his snacks.

His guest exchanged glances before Master Roshi cleared his throat and faced the Prince. “Well we noticed you were here and we were wondering what you’ve been up to these past couple of years. We realize you’re not a threat but we wondered why you haven’t left, you have no ties here,” Master Roshi said, absently grabbing some grapes.

Vegeta snorted and regarded all of them, “Of course I have ties, my son being one among others.”

“But I thought Bulma was taking care of him,” Krillin blurted out.

Vegeta stared at him steadily, knowing getting angry wouldn’t solve anything, “That woman has no right to call herself a mother, besides those moments in front of others she couldn’t spare her son, much less me, a second thought. I understand she probably wasn’t ready for this kind of responsibility, but that doesn’t excuse her for being less than truthful. I didn’t want Trunks growing up in that environment. So I took him with me and brought him here, where we’ve been as you know. I stay for him because I know from experience that space is the worst place to grow up. Maybe many years from now I’ll leave, but for now I stay here,” he finished his speech by crossing his arms, daring any of them to refute his words.

Krillin was hanging his head but when he lifted it he had a sad smile on. “Part of me always knew there was something wrong with the way Bulma treated her son, it seemed kinda fake. Of course seeing what a real mother with her child looks like I know now that Bulma lied to us,” he said this as he turned to 18 who had a light blush on her otherwise impassive face, but her eyes smiled at her husband.

Vegeta’s heart ached at the sight, realizing right then how much he missed Kakarot and wished to be like those two were. He looked over at Master Roshi who was looking at him closely, scrutinizing him, showing that under that perverted surface was a real master of martial arts, a wise old man of uncountable age. Vegeta shifted slightly but turned back to Krillin who had started talking again. “We’re also wondering why Gohan has been here and Piccolo too,” he asked turning back to the Saiyan Prince.

“I have taken charge of Gohan,” he responded. “It seems his mother could not handle raising him anymore. Apparently the truth that he is not completely human sunk in. I cannot tell you what she said to him, the words are such that I never wish them to be repeated or I will surely do something drastic.”

“So you’re taking care of him, that explains why Piccolo has been here, obviously checking up on Gohan,” Roshi mused to himself.

“He also comes to spend time with me,” Vegeta stated smugly, “It seems the two of us have quite a bit in common, besides once trying to conquer this planet.”

This got a chuckle from 18 who regarded him with understanding eyes. Vegeta smiled slightly back before a loud thump above them interrupted the conversation. Vegeta turned quickly to the digital clock in the kitchen and cursed to himself, he thought he had more time before this would happen. A loud wail accompanied the thump and Vegeta sighed leaning on his hand with his elbow on the counter, waiting for the inevitable…“PAPA!!!” Nap time was over.

Two sets of feet tore down the stairs bringing two young Saiyan cubs slipping and sliding into the kitchen.

“Papa Trunks hit me.”

“Papa Goten kicked me.”

“He pushed me out of bed.”

“He didn’t wake up when I told him to.”

“He hurt me.”

“I was playing.”

“Were not.”

“Were too.”

“WERE NOT.”

“WERE TOO.”

Vegeta resigned himself to introducing the toddlers to his guests in a not so graceful manner and growled in his throat causing both of his cubs to go silent, anxiously looking up at him, tears staining their cheeks. He sighed, reaching out and picking both of them up, cradling his boys to his strong chest. Both cubs nuzzled him, seeking his warmth and comfort. “Now we have been over this before. Trunks, hitting someone to wake them up is very rude and Goten hitting back without good reason is a big no. Understood,” he said addressing both of them with calm looks. They nodded solemnly but still nuzzled into the comfort of their Papa.

“Has Goku been reincarnated or something? I think my eyes are playing tricks on me,” Krillin said, startling the Prince out of his own little world consisting of him and these two cubs with his question.

Vegeta chuckled and turned the now shy boys, since they just noticed the visitors, to his guests and introduced them. “Krillin, Roshi, 18, you remember my son Trunks,” he said gesturing to the lavender haired boy in his right arm, who burrowed deeper into his Papa’s hold when three pairs of eyes turned to him.

“Hello there youngster. My you’re growing up quite quickly and you certainly have your father’s looks,” Roshi said kindly and Trunks blushed but still waved shyly. Krillin and 18 smiled at him as well.

“And this little ape is Goten. He was born nine months after the Cell Games and he came with his older brother to live with me,” Vegeta introduced, and it was Goten’s turn to burrow into his Papa’s hold as the attention of these strangers was turned to him.

“Boys this is Master Roshi, Krillin, and Number 18, they are very good friends of the family,” he said looking at the innocent and curious gazes directed at him.

“I must say Vegeta, this is a side I’ve never seen from you, but I always suspected was there,” Roshi said, gazing at the Prince with eyes behind glasses full of untold wisdom. “I think these boys are in the best care possible.”

Vegeta smirked and inclined his head in gratitude. Before conversation could continue the front door opened and two happy squeals came from the boys as they launched themselves from Vegeta’s hold into the expecting arms of Gohan who had just rounded the corner. The two boys climbed all over their big brother, chattering excitedly as Gohan laughed. Gohan froze though when he noticed the other occupants of the kitchen, sending an anxious glance to his Papa. He calmed though at the slight smirk on Vegeta’s face, who was casually leaned back in his chair. Obviously any animosity that could have arisen has been dispelled. He turned back to his brothers, placing his satchel on the floor and wrapping and arm around each of them and spinning gleefully.

“Let’s go outside and play Gohan,” Trunks said in-between his cries of laughter.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go play Gohan,” Goten readily agreed with his best friend.

Gohan smiled at them and looked at their Papa. Vegeta rolled his eyes but mockingly shooed them out the door. “Go on, I couldn’t stop the lot of you if I wanted to. Have fun and dinner is at sun down,” he said as he rose from his chair, standing in front of his boys.

Trunks and Goten mock saluted him and Gohan smiled brilliantly. He put the boys down and told them to get ready and that he’d meet them outside soon. They whooped, turned and sprinted out the kitchen door. He turned back to his Papa and came into the open arms, nuzzling a regal cheek, inhaling the scent that always calmed his nerves. Vegeta stroked his hair, forgetting the rest of the world for these few special moments. “How was your test today? And do you have a lot of homework this weekend,” he asked quietly, holding the once boy now teenager to his chest.

“The test was fine, just as I expected. And I have one worksheet to do this weekend for history but that’s it,” he replied into the warm neck his face was buried in. For the past couple of years, whenever he came home, he would nestle into Vegeta’s embrace, a way for them to communicate easily, with few words. Their relationship had deepened dramatically after the night of Gohan’s admission to what he had endured, and he always wanted to curl into the body of his Papa whom always made him feel safe and worth something.

“Alright, you can do that on Sunday. Now get going, we don’t want those boys to grow impatient,” Vegeta said, pulling away from the young man in front of him. He brushed a stray strand of hair from his son’s forehead and kissed the spot his fingers just caressed.

Gohan smiled at his Papa, and then turning to the other occupants of the room bowed graciously. “It is good to see you my friends,” he said straightening his body. “I wish there was more time to talk but I need to see to my brothers.”

He turned from the room with a wave and dashed outside to where his brothers impatiently waited for him. As his steps faded from hearing range, Roshi and Krillin turned to the Prince with wide eyes, trying to figure out who this was standing in front of them. Vegeta chuckled at his son’s departure and returned to his seat.

Vegeta’s chuckle turned into an all out laugh at the ‘dropped jaw’ expressions on Krillin’s and Roshi’s faces. 18 smirked at him, he supposed because she knew what he was going through. They were both feared as enemies before but what they really wanted was an average easygoing life, it was just circumstance that brought them to where they were before.

“Gohan’s just finishing up his 8th school year, and will be starting high school next year. Quite a bright kid he is, he keeps surprising me,” Vegeta commented as he grabbed various snacks and stuffed them in his mouth, with only the grace a prince could pull off.

“He seems very happy, considering what you told us he went through. I’m quite surprised, you’re excellent father material,” 18 said as she cradled her child to her chest.

“Well I say the same about you 18. You know us villains have surprising turnover potential,” Vegeta smirked as he said this, then he turned to his other guests who had picked their jaws off the floor. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

The three of them exchanged glances before Krillin spoke up, “You sure that wouldn’t be a problem. I mean you’re fixing a meal for three half-Saiyans and yourself, don’t you think that might be too much.”

“Nonsense,” Vegeta replied with a flip of his hand, “Adding enough food to feed all of you is no trouble, I usually do it anyway so there are leftovers for snacks. Trust me it’s no problem.”

Vegeta then stood up from his chair, put on his apron and began gathering pots, pans, and other necessities to make dinner. “Tonight is meat night, my boys requested it, I hope you don’t mind,” he mentioned as he went to the fridge room to get slabs of ham, turkey, and beef, along with rice and vegetables.

He turned on the stoves while adding water to the industrial sized pots, which will be used for the rice and soup. At the same time he brought out his cutting board so he could start chopping the vegetables and slicing the meat. He turned on the oven with his tail then went and grabbed some bread to add to the feast. All the while his guests watched silently, amazed at his skill and efficiency at cooking.

“Anything I can do to help Vegeta,” Krillin offered as he partway rose from his seat, seeking to help the prince who had shone so much hospitality to his once enemies.

Vegeta turned with a flourish, wearing a navy blue apron with the words ‘Too Hot to Handle’ embroidered on the front against a flame background. He waved his knife towards the monk. “Sit down. It would be insulting if you help me. You are my guest and I will treat you as such so just sit there and don’t get in my way,” he said, not as harshly as he would have in the past, but with an edge he will always have, no matter how much domestic life has softened him.

Vegeta turned back to his slicing and cutting, adding ingredients here and there to the soup and rice, putting a couple of pans of meat in the oven, and quietly humming to himself as he worked. Since he had been cooking so much in the past years he had refined his skills at basic cooking and had started to incorporate different food styles into the their diets. Each night held a different theme, making it exciting and less monotonous as it would have been if he had cooked the same thing every night. Preparations for dinner took about two hours each night, depending on what would be served. This night was no different.

By the time the sun was starting its descent behind the mountains, Vegeta had finished dinner. His guests looked on in astonishment as Vegeta carried platter after platter of delicious food to the dinning table, setting extra places for his guest.

“Why don’t you take your seats,” he suggested as he set the butter and bread out. He had set up the table such that Roshi and himself sat at each end of the table and then on one side was Goten, Trunks, and Gohan (with Goten next to Vegeta) and Krillin and 18 on the other side. He had brought out the old high chair he had used for both Trunks and Goten so that their daughter could sit between them.

Once the table was set and his guests seated he went to the window and sent a small chi blast into the sky, his signal for his sons that it was dinner time. And not 30 seconds later did he hear the trampling of his brats as they burst through the back door and skidded into the kitchen. With a stern look from their Papa they detoured away from the table to the sink where the three of them washed up until Vegeta was satisfied.

Soon they were all seated and with a “dig in” from Vegeta, they all piled their plates with the home cooked meal and ate until their stomach’s content. There was some discussion, like about Gohan’s school, Krillin and 18’s daughter Marron, the Twin Terrors’ training, and many other things. It was a very comfortable atmosphere with laughing and smiles all around. Apparently Trunks and Goten had gotten over their shyness while outside and were regaling their new friends with tales of their adventures and heroics.

Once dinner was over Master Roshi said that they would need to head back before it got too dark and cold. Vegeta had his sons clean up the table while he escorted his newly found friends outside. Hands were shook and promises made to keep in touch and Roshi, Krillin, and 18 left, leaving behind a prince happier than he was before.

Before long they had an established a habit of meeting every Friday night for dinner at the Saiyan abode and strengthening a bond of friendship. Piccolo had even taken to showing up on these nights, per Gohan’s request, and soon the end of the week was filled with a mini party for the friends to celebrate being alive and well.

Krillin made a comment one night that these get-togethers felt like what the Z-fighters did back in the day when Bulma threw huge parties, mostly to flaunt her own money. Now, though, it seems Bulma had all but forgotten about the others, and the parties she used to throw to keep the Z Fighters in touch disappeared with her interest. Yet Krillin and Roshi didn’t seem to mind in the slightest, in fact they preferred being at a gathering with Vegeta, he was a much better host than Bulma…that’s what royal breeding did for you.

Gohan had also begun to establish friendships at school and many times had friends over for the weekend. Vegeta was happy to oblige, even though sometimes the humans got on his nerves, so he tended to stay away from them and spent more time with his youngest sons who were still very dependent on his parenting and would be until they went through their first heat. Many a time Gohan would bring a female friend over and Vegeta wondered if Gohan was beginning to have feelings of attraction but as the years went by he saw nothing that stood out.

Gohan was kind and affectionate with his friends but he never singled one out. Vegeta grew a tad worried but buried the feeling. He was only anxious because Gohan’s first heat would be soon, and while Vegeta didn’t know how his human blood would affect it he wanted to be prepared. Another strange thing was the fact that Vegeta couldn’t tell if Gohan was a Dom or a Sub. Since Gohan’s tail was cut off at birth his scent was a bit neutralized so Vegeta couldn’t distinguish what he was. Vegeta knew that Trunks was a Dom and Goten was a Sub, which was a tad unusual considering how their fathers were, but Vegeta would cross that bridge when he came to it. For now he would worry about Gohan and what to do with his lack of a romantic life.

Now Vegeta didn’t want to interfere, but because of how passionate Saiyans are, romance is a great way of balancing and controlling other aggressive emotions. Gohan had already passed his seventeenth birthday and was approaching his eighteenth which means he will go into heat soon. His heat could come at anytime and Vegeta didn’t know what he would do. Gohan didn’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend, not even someone he was interested in. If a Saiyan went through heat without consummation, that Saiyan would go insane with the overload of emotions and hormones and eventually kill themselves, and Vegeta did not want that for this young man who had already gone through so much in his short lifetime.

He had a plan; he would sit Gohan down some evening soon and pose these questions to him. Vegeta knew it would be uncomfortable for both of them, but he would rather Gohan be embarrassed instead of dead. He only hoped there was a simple solution to this problem…

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