Chapter 3

Okay first of all, I would like to say that due to a little "problem" (someone had her kicked off) Vegetas-Princess has become...Gokus-Princess. So go back and re-review. It is the least any of us that have enjoyed her stories could do.

Now on with the thanks! BTW, I know this is getting long, but I want you guys to know how much I appreciate your reviews, but if it gets to long I won’t be able to thank you all personally. Sorry! L

Secretsquirl-- I love Gohan too! Toy stores do rock, but let me give you a little advice, don’t ride the bikes in Toy’s R Us, they will kick you out. Lol

Ledophole--I can’t wait to read more of your story! Thanks for reviewing all my stories! *sighs* That is sooo nice!

Ana--Different eh? Lol, well that is better than being just like every other story out there.

GingerRose--I loved the prayer to, this is going to be a sappy story, at least until all the drama starts. *wink wink*

Saiyan Serpent--Oh, yeah sparks are flying! Look for more sweetness in the next few chaps! O.o. and thank you sooo much for the long review. I Love those...

Facelesspersonamob--Thanks

Sirencirce--Here you go! Oh and no prob with the plugs, those girls can Write!

See Jane Conform--Thanks for pointing out my typos! (Lol, I am bad about that stuff) And to have you say MY story flows is like the ultimate compliment. Thank you very much.

Jimbo Jones-- Don’t worry, this story has at least 14 chapter left.

W-chan--I am glad you liked it! Sappy but sweet!

Nekoni--Man eating crocodiles eh? Lol, well I am glad I could help with the happy part of your dreams.

AquaBlueGoddess--Don’t worry, it will all fall into place soon.

Burned Vamp-- I want a Son family for Christmas, but they were all sold out! Thanks for reviewing, hope you like this chapter too!

Sue-- Thank you so very much. I know you reviewed at MM.org as well, and they both mean sooo much to me.

Belle Sourire-- Neopets lol, okay. I am glad you like it. Here is more!

Vegetas-Princess (Gokus-Princess)-- *sighs*, There would be no story without you! What else can I say?

Disclaimer- I only own it in my dreams.

********************************************************************************************

Christmas Eve came the next morning and Bulma prepared herself for a day of loneliness. "No family, no friends around, and no phone call." Then she realized how pathetic she sounded and forced herself to be happy, "Well Mandy is in town, and I know Goku will call. I mean we just met, can’t expect him to call the very next day I suppose." But secretly she wanted him to call right that moment more than she had wanted anything for a long time. "B you DO have it bad. I am acting just like all those girls I swore I would never be." Then Bulma drew herself a hot bath with bubbles, and sank into the warm water. As she relaxed the conversation she and Goku had shared over lunch kept relaying in her head. He had been so polite, asking about her life and family without seeming nosy or pushy. He had seemed genuinely shocked too, when he discovered she was Bulma Briefs, but not overly impressed. "I think that is what I like the best about him," she said aloud to herself, "He treats me just like everyone else." Bulma let out a long sigh and whispered, "Kami, I hope he calls," before submerging her head under the bubbly water.

********************************************************************************************

"Should I call? Man I forgot how hard dating was." Goku paced back and forth in front of the telephone, an amused Gohan holding his Blue’s Clues doll close to his chest. "She’ll think I am crazy if I call her so soon, but for some reason I just can’t get her out of my head. What do you think Go? Do I call or not?"

"Call! Call! Tell her to come play with me! I bet she has lotsa toys!"

"Well, how do I argue with that? I will call her after lunch, how does that sound?"

"Yeah, maybe Bulma can spend the night! But," a confused look came over his tiny face, "Will Santa be able to find her if she is here?"

"I don’t think she will spend the night here little man. I was thinking maybe I would just call and ask her to eat pizza. How about that?"

"Uh huh! I love pizza!" Gohan forgot all about his Santa worries for the moment and began to dance with his Blue’s Clues toy. The little boy eventually danced his way out of the room and into his bedroom where he began to jump on his bed, yelling "Pizza! Pizza!" at the top of his lungs.

Goku laughed and started getting things together for lunch. "What will I say? She’ll probably think I am a big loser. What kind of guy calls a woman up and asks her to come wrap presents with him? How lame," the black haired man muttered to himself. "But I guess it is a chance I have to take. After all, the worst she can do is say no..."

********************************************************************************************

"Well, I tell you what Chante, I know it was asking a lot, but I really thought he’d call. I mean he seemed so interested, asking for my number and all. I mean, I know I told you I thought he’d wait, but I was hoping he wouldn’t."

"I want to meet this dream man of yours. If he has got YOU this worked up, he must really be something. You were never this happy with Yamacha or Juunana, and you actually dated them." Chante laughed into the phone.

"Yeah well, obviously J and I weren’t meant to be. I mean you guys make a much better couple, I still can’t believe you two are getting married! Seems like only yesterday he and I were trying to hook you and Adam up." Bulma giggled. "Oh and Yamacha?! Please, that was just a fling. Even he knew that."

Her best friend began laughing, "Yeah I guess he did. Well I think everything turned out for the best."

"Well of course you’d say that. You are going to be a beautiful bride. By the way, any way I will get to know what color mine, Mandy’s, and Juuhachi’s dresses are? I really look washed out in, oh hang on a sec, I’ve got another call."

"Okay, but you click back over, especially if it is dream boy!" Chante said.

Bulma just laughed and clicked over, that was when she heard a strangely familiar baritone over the line. "Hi may I speak with Bulma please, this is Goku Son calling."

Bulma didn’t even say hello, she just clicked back over to where Chante was and began jumping up and down, yelling into the phone, "He called! It is him! It is Goku! Chante, he called!!!!" Then the blue eyed genius gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh my Kami, I didn’t even tell him it was me that answered! He probably hung up!"

"Well then why are you still talking to me?! Go, shoo, shoo, get out of here!" As she heard the phone click Chante couldn’t help but laugh, "B girl, I hope he is all you want him to be, Kami knows you deserve it." she whispered as she placed the phone back in it’s holder.

********************************************************************************************

Gohan had become more and more excited as the two had eaten lunch, Goku had eventually had to tell him if he didn’t sit still he wouldn’t get to talk to Bulma when he called. Goku looked over and gave the thumbs up sign to his silently watching son. "Hi may I speak with Bulma please, this is Goku Son calling." Silence... "Uh Bulma? Are you there? Bulma, this is Goku, from the mall. Do you remember me?" Still no answer. "I hope she didn’t hang up! She probably thinks I am weird, calling on Christmas Eve and all." The dark eyed man thought to himself. He felt a small tug on his leg, and looked down to see the smiling face of his son, and Goku felt his heart string’s tugged at Gohan’s smiling face.

"Daddy can I say hi? Please!"

"Well, Gohan I don’t think Bulma wants to talk to us." Goku said, a hint of sadness in his voice. As he went to hang up he heard muffled yells and pleas to ‘not hang up’ and ‘I am here’! Goku quickly pulled the phone back to his ear and said, "Hello! Hello Bulma? Is that you?" with a little more excitement than he would have liked to show.

"Yes! I mean, yes, this is Bulma. Goku it is so nice to hear from you. I didn’t think you’d call so soon, but it is certainly nice to hear from you. What are you and the little man up to?"

"Nothing really, that is kinda why I am calling," Goku laughed. 'Gohan and I were..., well I mean we were hoping..., hang on a second somebody small and dark-haired is tugging on my leg." Goku turned to his son and looked at him, question in his eyes. "May I help you little man?"

"Uh huh! I wanna talk to her! Tell her to come over now!" he giggled.

Goku turned his attention back to the phone and said, "Well you heard him. I guess I have to give the phone over."

"Oh, okay. Yeah, put that little cutie on."

"Hiya Bulma! This is Gohan Son. Do you remember me? I want you to come play with me, can you?"

"Well Gohan, yes I do remember you, but I don’t think your daddy would appreciate that."

"Nu uh, that isn’t true. My daddy told me to ask!" He replied sweetly.

As soon as those words left Gohan’s mouth the phone was snatched away, and Goku put it up to his ear in time to hear Bulma’s giggling and whispering yes, yes, yes. "Ahem....um, Bulma this is Goku. I am back on the phone now."

Bulma had never been more thankful that she could not be seen over a phone, as her face had turned an alarming shape of red. "Uh...well hello, Goku." she stammered out, "

Goku silently thanked Kami that she was as anxious as he to meet again. "Well I assume Gohan told you of the invitation that is open to you. We would love it if you would join us for dinner tonight, nothing fancy just the three of us eating pizza. Sound like fun?"

"Absolutely, I have no plans for the evening, but don’t you two? I mean it is Christmas Eve."

"Well actually I can’t talk about it right now..."

"Oh is Gohan still there?" The brainy beauty questioned.

"Yes, but honestly we both would really like you to come."

"Well, then yes, just give me directions and a time." She replied, trying to control her racing emotions and quickly beating heart.

"Okay!." Goku then went on to give her his address, and set a 6:00 dinner date. When he finally put the phone back in it’s cradle, he let out a huge rush of air that he hadn’t noticed he was holding and sunk into the chair that sat beside the phone. "Well little man, she will be here at 6. I have a date, I have a date? Oh man, I hope I don’t screw this up..."

********************************************************************************************

Bulma placed her cordless phone back on it’s charger and did a dance, pumping her arms in the air and spinning, while she sang. Then the actual realization set in and panic overtook her, "I have to call Chante, what am I going to wear! Not to casual, but not to dressy. Crap! It is already 2:30! Ack!!! It is going to take me at least 20 minutes to get there...so I have only three hours to get ready!" Bulma stopped dancing and dove for the phone. "Gotta call Chante, gotta call Chante, gotta call Chante. Please pick up, please pick up!" Bulma let out a huge sigh of relief when she heard her friends familiar voice.

"Hello?"

"Chantehecalledandhewantsmetocomeoverinthreehorsandihavenothingtowearandineedyouhelp!" Bulma yelled into the phone without once stopping for air.

"Wow, slow down honey, before I can do anything, I am going to have to know what the hell you said. So start over and take deep soothing breathes." she added with a slight smirk, that Bulma would never see.

"Okay, Chante, he called and he wants me to come over tonight. Three hours, I have nothing to wear and I need your help. So get you skinny blond butt over here!" Bulma was practically crawling through the receiver to get to her friend.

"Alright B I am in my way, but I want all the before and after details, and I think you know what I mean."

********************************************************************************************

Bulma stood outside the Son’s residence going through the final debate over entering or running as fast as she could back to her car, but as is usually the case, before she could make her final decision, the front door opened and a tiny head of black hair peeped put. "Daddy! It’s Bulma, she is here!" Gohan yelled before grabbing Bulma’s hand and leading here on tour of the small, yet, cozy home.

She took notice of the brightly burning fireplace, the aroma of pizza and...gingerbread, she thought. She saw the comfy chairs and worn table, but all she could think of was how comfortable she felt in this house. As Gohan took her on the last leg of the tour, his room, Goku caught up to him and said, "Go, I bet Bulma would rather play after dinner. Let’s go relax."

Bulma saw the obvious disappointment on the little boy’s face and so she bent down and whispered, "Gohan, I promise I will play with you in just a little while, but my tummy is growling, and I think....no I am sure yours is too," as she said this she began to tickle Gohan until he agreed and fled to the living room.

"orry bout him Bulma, he just really wanted someone else to play with. We don’t get to much company. But that is a conversation for another time, let’s get some food."

"Hey it is no problem, I think that little man of yours is absolutely adorable. I think you are right though, we can talk later, eat now!" she said teasingly.

Goku took her hand and lead her back to the living room, where Gohan, pizza, and a blazing fire place awaited. "Sorry it isn’t to fancy, but with it just being boys we don’t really need anything to nice." The dark eyed man laughed, his hand going behind his head, a gesture that Bulma had already figured out he did when he was embarrassed. "I hope you like odd pizza. I completely forgot to ask what kind you wanted until about five minutes ago when they delivered them. I am really sorry Bulma." Then Goku mentally slapped himself, "Off to a great start Goku," he whispered.

"What was that, I didn’t hear you."

"Uh...nothing really." he said nervously.

"Oh okay, and yes to answer your question I love weird pizza, my favorite kind is Taco pizza. So no worries, I will eat almost anything!" she giggled out.

"Taco pizza? I’ve never had it, but I bet I would like it. Well are you up to trying mine and Gohans’ favorite kinds? First we have hamburger and jalapeno, and second, Canadian bacon and pineapple. Like I said, I am really sorry I didn’t ask."

"Like I said, no worries. I love hamburger/jalapeno, and I defiantly want to try that other. So why don’t you fix me a plate with a slice of each, and I will have Gohan help me fix some drinks." The minute that left her mouth, Bulma instantly regretted it, "Man, he is going to think I am a weirdo! Wanting to talk around his house without him, and acting like I already live here!" she thought to herself.

"I think that is an excellent idea," Goku said, almost as if he had read her thoughts, "Gohan, show Bulma where the cups, ice, and drinks are, but I want her to fix them. Do you understand me?" he said, that same firm yet always loving tone in his voice.

Bulma stood in silence, absolutely amazed by this man. He was kind and loving, but still firm when he needed to be, "Goku really is an excellent father." she said in her head. Gohan grabbed her hand once more and lead her to the kitchen, and after a few minutes of taking drink orders and preparing them Bulma and the tiny boy walked back to the living room, ready to dig in. "Mmmm. Something in your kitchen smells wonderful, are you cooking gingerbread?"

"Yeah, we needed some milk and cookies to leave out for Santa, so I decided to make some. Homemade always taste better than store bought."

Bulma did a happy dance in her head as she mentally counted off all the things that were perfect about this man, "He is gorgeous, has his own home, has an adorable son, is nice, polite, and he can cook! This is to good to be true." Out loud she said, "Alright I am going to try the pizza..."

********************************************************************************************

Three hours, two bottles of Dr. Pepper, and two full pizzas later, Gohan was sprawled out on the floor, dead to the world. As Goku moved to pick him up, he felt a small hand on his arm, and looked over to see the softly smiling face of his date, Bulma Briefs. "Um, Goku I was wondering if maybe I could put him to bed. I mean, I haven’t ever done it before, so I might need help, but I would really like to try."

Goku felt a pang in his heart as he thought of all the things this beautiful woman had gone through, losing her parents at such a young age, spending holiday’s hoping from friend’s house to friend’s house, no family to love as her own. "Sure Bulma, you can put him in bed. I will help if you need it." the obsidian eyed man whispered.

Bulma gently picked the tiny prone form off the floor and carried him to his room. Gohan already had his pajamas on but, on Goku’s command, she eased his little shirt off, so that he wouldn’t get hot in the night. Then she carefully laid him, down on the already ready bed. Goku thought to himself, "Man this is a lot easier with two people." Bulma then pulled the brightly colored Pokemon covers up to his chin, and softly brushed the hair off his face. The aqua tressed woman then placed a quick and gentle kiss on the sleeping boy’s forehead and turned to leave the room when Goku caught her arm and whispered, "Are you sure you haven’t ever done that before? You are a natural. You will make a great mom."

Bulma felt herself being pulled closer to Goku, and when she was just inches from his face she softly said, "I am sure, first time luck I guess." Then a silence fell over then both and they stood locked into each other’s gaze. After a few moments Bulma broke the quite, and said, "Don’t you have something to do? I mean, um, his presents. When did you have time to get them and wrap them?"

"Actually I was kind of hoping you could help me out. Follow me, don’t want to wake him up." Bulma nodded her head and followed Goku out of the room and towards the back door. "His presents were delivered by that toy store, that is what I was talking to the lady behind the counter about when he wandered off. So, you interested in helping me wrap? I understand if you want to get on home."

"I would like to help," she responded, tears welling in her bright blue eyes. "I am touched that you would want me to help with something as personal as that."

Goku reached up and brushed the tears from her face and whispered, "I would love for you to help. Bulma I know this is crazy, but there is something about you that I can’t resist. And whatever that is, it is making me want to do this..."

********************************************************************************************

"Chante he kissed me! And oh my Kami! He is the best kisser I have ever kissed! His lips were so soft and he tasted sweet. I think I am falling in love! Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas. I hope he calls me today!"

"Well it sounds merry at your house. You didn’t do anything to crazy with him did you?"

"What! No, all we did was kiss, then we wrapped his little boy’s presents. I am supposed to go back over there around three this afternoon. So I can see what all he got. I think I will ask Goku if he might want to go to that fundraiser with me. Do you think that is a good idea?"

"From the sounds of things, yes. Than man obviously likes you. When do we get to meet this dream boat?"

"I don’t know. I guess probably New Years. I feel so sorry for him, he doesn’t have any friends. I guess having a child hinders the social life."

"How old is he anyway? I have been meaning to ask that from the beginning."

"He is 24. He married his Chi-Chi when they were both 18, but she passed away almost two years ago."

"Oh that is sad, but good for you! Well honey I have got to go, getting the evil eye from J. Call me later!"

"You know I will!" and with that said Bulma hung up the phone and laid back onto her feather bed, a huge sigh of happiness rushing out of her mouth.

********************************************************************************************

Oakies! That is all of chapter 3! What did you think? (Oh and I know it is really really sappy, but just wait. You know it can’t be totally smooth sailing.) Sp review and tell me what you think. Please?

Chance Encounters has a new sponsor this week, Gokus-Princess, *turns and listens to producer* Oh, never mind. Gokus-Princess is actually Vegetas-Princess.

Well in that case, Gokus-Princess is the author of The Vow, a wonderful V/B full of humor and drama. Everyone Says I Love You is a G/B in high school, and one of the best high school based stories I have ever read. Um...Heroes! This is my favorite! It is a G/B, but there are several twists and turns. Wicked enough to keep Anyone interested.

Belle Sourire has two marvelous stories out right now, Tale as Old as Time, a V/B based on Beauty and the Beast. It is very good, go check it out. Also Matter of Pride is an excellent story, she reposted it recently, go check it out, and if you tell them I sent you, you might get a new chapter out early!

Then of course there is the beautifully twisted world where these two write together. Go check out There You’ll Be. I promise you won’t regret it.

See Jane Conforms story, Peter Pan, is a more realistic view on G/B getting together, and she writes with such emotion and talent that even if you don’t like the pairing, you can’t help but love the story.

That is all for now! Review and maybe there will be more!