It was a beautiful day with the sun high and bright. Anyone would have said it was an excellent start to the day but not Son Chi-Chi. She hadn't been able to enjoy the lush scenery around her home ever since Gohan had snapped at her. She wondered if he would come down for breakfast, she knew he had definitely returned home last night but was sure he had just flown into his room through his window. Hoping for the best, she called "Boys, breakfast's ready!"

Predictably, her youngest son was the first to arrive practically running to the table as a blur, an eager look on his face. She gave a small smile as she saw Goten sitting at the table, knife and fork already in hand. She could hear Gohan walking downstairs quietly and slowly causing her smile to disappear. This was going to be an awkward breakfast for sure.

Watching her son sit next to Goten, she was saddened that he didn't even give her a glance, she was hoping to at least catch his eye. Sighing, she brought all the food to the table on a ridiculously large tray.

For the next few minutes, she was content to just watch Goten inhale his food as every Saiyan always did but couldn't help but notice Gohan was eating rather conservatively…which no Saiyan ever did. When the boys were finished, she carried the leftovers to the kitchen for the first time in her life. There had never been such a thing as leftovers in the Son household before. After she had put them away in the fridge, she turned to see Goten carrying all the dishes to the sink and smiled at the sweet young child. She remembered when Gohan was like that.

"Goten, why don't you go and play outside, it's such a nice day today."

The smile of her child filled her with happiness as he quickly gushed his thanks before dashing out the door laughing all the way. Left alone in the kitchen, Chi-Chi sighed as she strengthened her resolve to talk to her other son. Leaving the kitchen in a rather meek manner which was rare for the princess, she was disappointed to find Gohan wasn't there. He was probably in his room. With another sigh, she walked as calmly as she could to Gohan's room and paused for a moment before knocking. She had initially wanted to just walk in but after last night, she knew that would end badly.

"Yes?" drawled Gohan from inside. Chi-Chi cringed momentarily knowing that Gohan knew it was her. He clearly hadn't let go of the anger he held towards her.

"It's me Gohan, may I come in? I think we should talk."

There was moment of silence which felt like an eternity to Chi-Chi. It didn't help her nervousness was starting to make her hands sweat.

"Fine," came her son's voice in the same drawling manner.

Gently, Chi-Chi turned the door handle and walked into Gohan's room. He was standing by the window facing her, it was clear he had been looking outside. He was so grown up now, as big as Goku even. She would guess his physique was even stronger than her husband's.

"Gohan, I… I've been thinking a lot about the things you said last night and I want to tell you how sorry I am."

Clearly, her son hadn't expected that because he couldn't hide the surprise that showed on his face. He was about to speak but Chi-Chi quickly rushed to carry on "I don't really have an excuse, I just didn't realise how you were feeling and I...I thought I was doing what was right."

Before she could continue, Gohan's indignation flared and he cut in "Were you also thinking it was the right thing to smash my head with that frying pan?"

Chi-Chi cringed at the reminder of what she had done. True, she had done it many times to pretty much everyone she'd ever met but she'd never really done any lasting damage. Last night had been different. "Gohan, I'm so sorry," was all Chi-Chi could think to say. The tears were streaming down her face now, she had tried to stop them but they wouldn't allow themselves to be held back.

"I thought I was going to be blind forever you know," hissed Gohan in low voice. Chi-Chi flinched at that. She had seen her son in every emotion there was but she'd never heard him speak like this. "You're always so obsessed with my studying; did you know you could have actually blinded me permanently with that attack? Hell, the only reason dad didn't destroy Earth and everyone with it is because he had a hard knock on the head."

Chi-Chi hung her head in shame. She knew she had a temper but it had never gotten her into trouble before. Until now. "Gohan," she started in a rather quiet voice "please… what can I do to make this right? I know I was wrong in so many things, I just want you to be happy."

"HAPPY! I haven't been happy in years!" Gohan's words were cutting through her, Chi-Chi felt her heart throb in pain at the anger her son had built up for so long. "I always tried to be the best son I could be, I did every single thing you ever asked of me but it still wasn't enough."

"Gohan… please."

"Tell me mother how did it feel when I said those same words again and again for so long? For some reason, I think it's not too far from how I feel now."

Again, Chi-Chi could do nothing but hang her head in shame. In hindsight, her obsession with how she wanted Gohan to be had cost her son so much happiness. His friendship with Lime was over ever since she'd told the young girl to leave Gohan alone, she didn't even know why she saw the young girl as a detriment to his studies. His scores had never been less than perfect. Her ban of all things martial arts was the biggest mistake in raising Gohan alone. She understood now, especially after last night's rant where she'd felt smaller than ever before.

Realising this was a crucial moment that would decide her future in her son's life, Chi-Chi tried to think of what to say. "Gohan, all I can say is I'm sorry for everything. I promise I'll never use the frying pan again and I understand your need to train. I… I just never realised how deep your Saiyan side ran."

This was clearly not the right thing to say since Gohan didn't look particularly forgiving, his arms were still crossed and his scowl was akin to his mentor's. "So you're blaming this on my Saiyan side now, is that it? What about Krillin, dad's best friend! Or any of other friends. I grew up surrounded by the martial arts and you thought it was fine to just stop me altogether just because dad's gone!"

Chi-Chi remained quiet, she wanted to tell Gohan that wasn't how she felt, how she had just used the wrong words... but she had made her choice. Now it was Gohan's turn.

"I wasn't even out training last night you know. All I did was visit Piccolo because I felt his sadness and wanted to talk about it with him. That's all beside the point though. Do you even know what I resent most?"

Chi-Chi looked up to the fury in her son's eyes. Her precious Gohan, her firstborn…and she had caused him to look at her like that. "The studying," she whispered barely audible as the words caught in her throat.

"The studying. I never wanted to be a scholar, that's what you wanted!" his voice was now a soft roar filling the room but not travelling too far. He wouldn't let his problems affect Goten, no matter how angry he was. "I didn't even mind studying hard to remain at the top, if anything I was grateful for that. But it was never enough for you, even now when I'm well ahead of anyone my own age, all you ever want is for to study more and more." He was talking faster and faster now. This dismayed Chi-Chi even more knowing how long Gohan had kept his feelings locked away. She had always wanted her son to be happy and embrace his feelings to experience the human side of himself. She had always blamed the fighting her son was forced to do as the cause of everything wrong going so far as to consider Piccolo an enemy... but in the end, it was her own actions that had caused her own son years of pain.

"I meant what I said last night mom."

Chi-Chi looked at her son in shock and suddenly rushed to him falling to the floor. "Please Gohan, no! Anything but that! Please don't leave. Things will be different, I promise!"

Gohan looked down at his mother. As angry as he was, he didn't want to be the cause of his own mother begging on her knees. This was a proud family. Bringing her up to stand up again, he kept her at arm's length knowing she would try and hug him which he didn't want right now. It would only stall the conversation.

"I know they will be but I can't go through this time and time again every time you dislike what I'm doing mom. I'm not some helpless immature child anymore, I don't think I ever was. I can fly around world at breaking speeds, I can build robots that obey human commands, I can do anything I want to but you keep me here locked in a tiny room."

"I'm sorry Gohan, I just… I just wanted to keep you as my little boy. I'm sorry!" Chi-Chi wailed not knowing what else to say. Gohan looked at his mother without emotion also not knowing what to say. He felt bad that his mother was sad but he wouldn't emotionally blackmailed, not now, not after everything he'd been through.

"I'll stay for now," he said softly smiling slightly as his mother's hopeful eyes. "But you have to know I won't home much, I want to train more, I'm going to be with Piccolo a lot too."

Chi-Chi nodded frantically, she'd agree to anything Gohan demanded right now. She felt a burst of pride knowing no matter what, her son was still a fair person and even in his angriest moments wouldn't ask or do anything that was truly wrong. "There's more though mom, I can't have you treating me like a child anymore." Seeing her downcast face, he hurriedly continued "I'll always be your son and only yours to mother, but you can't order me around for whatever you want. I want to be able to make my own choices and live my life."

Chi-Chi wiped away the remainder of her tears and smiled at her son. This conversation was possibly the hardest trial she had faced in her whole life but she felt proud of her son. He was handling this horrible situation like a man. Fair but firm. Just like Goku…

"Of course Gohan, you've been right about everything and…I want you to know I'm very proud of you."

Gohan smiled softly. "Thanks mom."

Seeing her son had calmed down now, she asked in a rather meek voice "Can I get a hug from my son now?"

Gohan was about to but he paused. "I'll tell you what mom. If you can tell me what my favourite thing to do is, I'll not only hug you but we'll spend the whole day together doing whatever like. If you get it wrong though, I guess you'll have to wait till tomorrow."

Chi-Chi gulped. It was only now she realised how little she actually knew about her son's life outside of the small house they lived in. Knowing she only had one shot at this, she thought back to all her memories of Gohan. The times when he'd go swimming and hold his breath as long he could, going to meet his friend Icarus the tamed monster, the times he'd gush and never stop talking of his love for Piccolo. More than that, she remembered what he was looking at before she entered the room.

"Gohan… would you teach me to fly?"

The smile Gohan gave her was more than she ever wished for as she flung herself into his awaiting arms.