Chapter 2

Tee-hee, in my rush to get the next chapter posted during my lunch break, I forgot my A/N and thanks! Do you forgive me? *crickets chirping* Uh, okay... well on with the thanks!

Nekoni-- Here is the next chapter! I hope it is a little longer!

Secretsquirl--Lol, thanks for the review! Interesting eh? Just wait for the twits,,,

Sirencirce-- Well I hope you come back to read more! Oh, and go read the G/B’s I recommend at the bottom, they are excellent!

Lauryn--A fellow G/Ber eh? Well I hope you like this chapter to!

W-chan--Thanks for the review. By the way, I can’t wait for more of Silver Dragon Hotel!

Burned Vamp--Hey thanks! I think Gohan is on a constant sugar high! What a cutie.

Saiyan Serpent--I am glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing, and you are right, those fics do rock!

Vegetas-Princess--Well, Chante there probably wouldn’t even be a chapter without you! Thank you for all your help and support. Oh, and I can’t wait to see if Steven decides to let us see his better side once more! Lol!! Pancakes and snorkels, and lemony interludes, Oh my!

Disclaimer- Anyone have some spare change?

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"Man, I guess I forgot how crazy this place gets so close to Christmas," Bulma said out loud to herself as she circled the Satan City Mall parking lot. "I am never going to find a dece...Ah hah! There’s one!" Bulma sped towards the spot, 3rd slot, front door entrance. Just as she was getting there, a little blue Veo pulled in in front of her. "What a jerk! He knew I was going to pull into that spot. What ever happened to chivalry?" she mumbled aloud. Sighing in defeat Bulma moved on looking for another open spot.

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Goku was holding Gohan with one arm and bundling himself with the other. "Man it sure is cold out there, but no snow yet."

"Daddy what is snow?"

"Snow is that really pretty, white, fluffy stuff that falls from the sky. I love snow."

"I love snow too, then!" the tiny boy shouted happily. "Let’s go daddy! I’m all ready."

Goku laughed as he finished buttoning his coat. he placed Gohan on his back and jogged out to his car. Once they were both safely buckled in Goku started the engine and they were off.

After about 20 minutes of driving Goku had finally reached the Satan City Mall. "Daddy look at all the cars! Wow!"

"Yeah Gohan, guess there are a lot of people Santa shopping today. Hope daddy can find somewhere to park."

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"Ug! Finally! Jeez Bulma only took ya 30 stinking minutes to find a parking spot." the blue haired beauty grumbled. She stepped out of her McLaran F1 and right into a puddle. "Off to a great start," she sighed. Then she sighed once more and thought to herself, "It’s almost Christmas Bulma. Think happy, at least the day can’t get worse." As she trudged through the parking lot towards the man main mall entrance she noticed a man running with something small on his back. Bulma laughed, "How cute! A father and son, I remember when Dad would do that with me." She smiled softly and continued her trek. When she finally reached the entrance she was greeted by a rush of warm air and the smells of coffee and cookies. Shoppers rushed everywhere in a hurry for that last item, or like Goku and Bulma, for that first item. Bulma made her way through the crowd and into her favorite store, Bath and Body Works/White Barn Candle Co. "Mmmm. Everything smells so yummy! Let’s see. I know Mandy loves Gingerbread, I bet I can find some bubble bath and a candle..." The shopping went on like that for about an hour and a half before Bulma decide she wanted a break and cappuccino. As she sat down at the tiny table she spotted two familiar faces weaving in and out of the crowd. Bulma quickly shoved her numerous bags under her chair in a poor attempt at hiding them.

"Bulma! Hey! What are you doing here?" Bulma recognized the sweet voice of her friend Mandy.

"Ya, you aren’t shopping for anyone in particular are you?" Chante asked.

Bulma laughed and shook her head no then invited the two girls to pull up a chair and sit. "What are you guys doing here? I figured you’d already be done."

Chante laughed and said, 'We are done, we were hoping we could catch Juunana shopping for me." As she pushed a blond strand of hair out of her face she sighed, "But we haven’t seen him or anyone else till now."

Bulma took notice of something that looked suspiciously like a ring on Chante’s left hand and spat out the long drink that she had taken, and then sputtered, "When did you get that?! Oh My Kami! Why didn’t you tell me? Chante, you are J are getting married?"

"Yeah," the blond beauty laughed, "He proposed last night at dinner, I was beginning to wonder when you would ask me about it!"

"By the way B, you never said what you were doing here." Mandy replied.

"Well I just felt like getting out and I had a few things to pick up. What is everyone doing for Christmas and New Years? I have to go to a fundraiser on New Year’s, but I’ll probably leave early."

"Well, I think Juuhachi and Krillen are spending Christmas at her house, Jeremy, Yamacha, Adam, and I are all going home to our families." Mandy answered. Then she added, "But I’ll be at my house till Christmas morning. You’re more than welcome to stay with me if you want."

Chante then added, "J and I are staying at my house. So you can spend Christmas Day with us. Oh, and New Year’s? We’ll probably just chill at Mandy’s. No big plans. Get a little drunk and play monopoly. Same as always."

"Alright sounds good. But I don’t think I’ll take you guys up on the Christmas offer. I’ll be okay. I’ve spent every single Christmas since the accident with one of you guys’ family. I need to start spending holidays on my own. I will eventually have a family of my own again," she said, a thoughtful look coming across her pretty face. "I can’t use you guys as a safety blanket forever."

"Ya, you’re right. But if you get lonely we’ll be home." The three women sat at the small table talking and sipping cappuccino.

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Goku and Gohan ran through the mall parking lot. Gohan hanging onto his father’s back giggling and screaming with glee. They reached the main doors and entered. Goku deposited Gohan onto a nearby bench and then helped him hop down. "Toy store first?" Gohan asked, his obsidian eyes shining brightly.

"Well, I think we need to look at some warm clothes first. Then we will go Santa shopping. And then we will go out to eat! Deal Go?"

"Uh huh! But I think we better hurry cause all the toys might be gone afore we get there!" The tiny boy said, an anxious look crossing cute face.

"Don’t worry little man. There will be plenty to choose from to make your list. I promise." Goku grabbed his son’s hand and then wandered into a nearby Gap kids. About 30 minutes later the two shoppers headed towards a shoe store. A brief 15 minute pit stop there, and then on to the toy store.

Gohan’s already large eyes grew to twice their normal sizes when he saw all the treasures that were in the store. He let out an awed whisper of "Wow daddy, I’ve never seen so many toys! There’s like a gazillion! How am I supposed to pick?"

"Well, we have all the time in the world, Go. Pick any thing you want, bring it to me, and we’ll get it put on your Santa shopping list." Goku said and gave his son a push in the direction of the stuffed animals. Gohan spent an hour looking for toys of various textures, colors, and styles. When he had finally picked his top seven items he told his dad he was ready, "Daddy, I think I am done. But maybe I think I need one more."

"No Go, I think that is a good list. Santa will have no problem getting these toys. Now you wait right by my side while I tell this nice lady what to put on your list." Goku turned his attention to the woman behind the counter. The two adults began whispering and pointing at the list. Gohan soon became bored and wandered back onto the toy isle, completely forgetting his father’s heed to stay close.

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"Well ladies, I think I will be heading home. I have to wrap presents and make my plans for Christmas. Besides, I bet you guys need to go to."

"Yeah, I bet J is looking for me now." Chante chuckled. "What about you Mandy? You going home to?"

"Uh huh, I have to baby-sit for a neighbor tonight. She is going out on a date for the first time since her divorce." The soft spoken brunette replied.

Bulma said her goodbyes and then gathered her belongings. As she collected her packages she glanced up and noticed the bright colors of the toy store. Some unseen force was compelling her to go into the store. She hadn’t been into a toy store in at least 12 years, why she would want to go into one now was beyond normal thought. The blue eyed beauty walked into the toy store, gazing at each tiny toy and the children playing with them. "I wish I had a child of my own, a little boy that is smart, cute, and fun." she whispered to herself, a few tears forming in her azure eyes. It was then that she noticed a little boy with black hair and eyes walking towards the door with a Blue’s Clue doll in his little grasp. The tiny boy was almost to the exit when he was violently jerked back. An angry attendant wrenched the doll from his hold, oblivious to the tears welling in his black eyes. Bulma, however, was not oblivious to the tears or the fact that the rude woman had pulled the boy back with more force than necessary. "Um excuse me, um...Brea? Is there a problem here? Why are you harassing this child?"

"Well, not that it’s any of your business you nosy wench, but this punk kid was stealing that doll."

"Pardon? Wench, was that the word you used? Okay Brea, I think we have a very big problem, and that problem is not this little boy, it is you!" Bulma bent down to

Gohan and brushed the tears from his face and softly questioned, "Are you okay? Did that mean woman hurt your little arm honey?" When Gohan shook his head no, Bulma stood back up and angrily turned on Brea, "Listen here, I want you to know that I will be filing a report with your manager.'

"Oh like I really care. Busybodies like you come in here all the time trying to cause problems."

"Busybodies like me huh? Well we will just about that. Look, here is the money for the doll. Now I suggest you get out of my sight." Bulma grabbed the doll and placed it back on Gohan’s arms. "Here you go honey, I bet you must have really wanted that toy. What is your name? Where is your mommy?"

"There isn’t a mommy." A deep baritone voice answered from behind her, "And his name is Gohan. I am Goku his father." The dark haired man then reached down and picked up his son, "Where were ya going littler man? I thought I told you to stay right beside me? I think you need to pay better attention next time." Goku said in a firm yet loving voice.

Bulma stood amazed, the man was obviously his father, they looked so much alike it was scary. Then she couldn’t help but think to herself, "And there is no mom. Hmm...he is a very very nice looking man, and that little boy! Too adorable." Then she stopped that train of thoughts when she realized both father and son were watching her. "May I help you?" she questioned, a teasing tone to her voice.

"Well, I would like to thank you very much for what you did, but first I’d like to get out of this store." the black haired man said. The three walked out of the store and headed towards a group of nearby benches.

Back in the toy store, "Man that lady had some nerve! I mean come on the kid was trying to shoplift!"

"Um, Brea, do you know who that was?" the same lady that had helped Goku questioned.

"Well no, I figure just some nut with no kids of her own. No one important."

"That is where you are very wrong. That ‘nut’ was Bulma Briefs, the richest 25 year old woman in the country." After hearing these comments Brea’s face turned various shades of green before she passed out on the department store floor.

Goku reached to help Bulma with her packages, and ushered her to a bench, "Like I was saying, thank you so much for helping Gohan. Let me pay you back for the doll, really."

"Oh no! It is no problem, really. I promise. I don’t have any children to buy for. No kids or nieces and nephews, so it was kind of a gift for me too." she replied a small smile on her ruby lips.

"Daddy!" Gohan tugged on Goku’s pants leg, and said, "Can we take her home? She is really pretty!" and then he whispered, "And nice too."

Bulma blushed a flattering shade of red and Goku placed one hand behind his head and smiled. "Well Gohan I bet she has a husband or mom and dad that want her home for Christmas. But, maybe we can interest her in lunch with us. Do you think she’d go for that?" Goku looked up from Gohan and focused his gaze on the blushing blue eyed beauty.

"I think lunch would be great. We can talk more about me going home with you two gentleman." She linked her arm with Gohan’s and then turned to Goku, "You lead the way I will follow."

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"Man Chante I swear to you he is perfection! He was polite, friendly, funny, and gorgeous!"

"But didn’t you say he had a son? What happened to the wife or mom?"

"Goku said she died of cancer a year and a half ago. Sad really, that little boy never getting to know her. Oh, and that little boy is adorable. Gohan is his name, he is a living doll. They are like carbon copies of each other, they even ordered the same thing. Well Goku ordered more of it, but you get the picture." Bulma said, giggling like a high school girl in love for the first time.

"B girl, you have got it bad for this man! So did you get some follow up? Phone number? Future plans? Anything?"

"Yeah actually, I gave him my number and he said he’d call. I figure it won’t be till after Christmas. This is the first one he is doing that Gohan will remember. I feel so sorry for that man, raising a child on his own, and such a young one. Chante I really like him."

"You do know you just met him right?"

"Well yeah, but I feel so directly connected to him. I don’t know why, but I think that our meeting was more than just some chance encounter. Honestly, why would I be in a toy store? I know I sound crazy, but I have a good feeling about this, really I do."

"Well then I want to be in the wedding! Speaking of which, don’t forget about dress fittings on January 12th."

"How could I? It’s not everyday your best friends gets married, to another best friends no less," Bulma chuckled.

"Well, I am gonna go. Call me if anything juicy happens!"

"Yeah yeah, get out of here. I will talk to you tomorrow. Bye bye." Bulma then put the phone back in the cradle and happily collapsed onto her bed.

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"Well Gohan what did you think of Bulma?"

"Daddy, she is very pretty, and she likes you. I can tell."

"Oh yeah, what makes you think that little man?"

"Uh, I donno, I just think she does. I bet she’d be a really good mommy!"

Goku smiled softly at his son, the two were laying in Goku’s bed together while he questioned Gohan about Bulma. "Well what else did you like about her?"

"She smells like a flower and she gotted me that doll! She was brave and stood up to that big mean lady."

"Yeah she sure did. Bulma Briefs really is something. Okay little man, time for bed."

Gohan suppressed a yawn and climbed onto his father’s stomach in his favorite position, arms and legs draped over Goku’s waist and hips. "But daddy, I’m not sleepy."

"Yes you are Go."

"Well maybe a little, can I sleep with you?"

"Of course. You know you don’t have to ask. Say your prayers and we will get to sleep"

"Dear Kami, thank you for my daddy who takes care of me, and nice people like Bulma. P.S. I hope you get my daddy and Bulma married, I know she’d be a really good mommy." the little boy whispered in vain hopes that his father wouldn’t hear him. He then gave Goku a quick squeeze, "Goodnight daddy, I love you."

"Goodnight little man, I love you too." Goku said into his son’s hair. He then kissed the top of his head and placed him beside him and then lay down and whispered, "Kami, Gohan’s prayer goes double for me."

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Okay that is all for Chapter 2! Did you like it? If you didn’t all complaints should be sent to....*fine, Chante, I won’t give them your address* no one! Okay ready for some plugs? TO bad! Lol

Vegetas-Princess: Everybody Says I Love You, this is an excellent look at G/B in high school. Full of drama and romance. The Vow, and The Vow, Broken Promises. These are two of the BEST V/B’s on FF.net (and that is including my own...). Or maybe you like suspense? Then Deadly Obsession, There You’ll Be and Heroes are the stories for you!

Belle Sourire--V/Ber’s, you will love Tale as Old as Time! It is based on Beauty and the Beast and it totally rocks. Or back to G/B, Matter of Pride is a very very good story. Or for a triangle, try There You’ll Be. (No I am not crazy, There You’ll Be is written by both Vegetas-Princess AND Belle Sourire)

Oh and *looks around and then whispers* go check out my other G/B. l’Amour Renouvele, it is an A/U staring Radditz/Chi-Chi, and Goku/Bulma.

Thanks again to Chante for her help!! See you soon!

Oh and no, this isn’t a new chapter or anything. I just made a few grammatical and typical (?) corrections. Thanks to See Jane Conform, lol, it was pretty funny huh?