A/N: The last time I uploaded a story was eight years ago! Hopefully my writing has improved since then.

Little Monster

"No! Not another monster in the family!"

I can't stand to look at Super Saiyans. Gohan thinks it's because of all the furniture and utensils that got destroyed last time a couple of Super Saiyans lived under one roof.

He's wrong.

He was a Super Saiyan the last time I saw him. It felt like weeks that he had lain in bed, unconscious yet moaning and crying out from the pain in his heart. When he finally awoke he left again, only to return a day later with my son, both looking foreign and seeping with confidence. Tall blonde hair...bright teal eyes...what happened to my husband and son in the span of one day? The next nine days were amongst the happiness of my life. And when nine days were over he walked out the door in his usual orange gi and blue boots, blonde hair and teal eyes, smiling. I asked him to come back safely; he told me not to worry. That was the last time I ever saw my dear Goku.

We were all convinced that Goku was hiding something – he must have had a secret that could defeat Cell. He laughed, ate, and played without a care in the world. And then he cried in his sleep one night. When I managed to wake him, he held me and asked if I ever regretted marrying him. I answered him honestly – no – and he cried in relief and desperation until the front of my nightgown was soaked. Relief – because he was extremely lucky to be surrounded by so much love in his life; desperate – because he could lose it all in mere days. Son Goku cried himself back to sleep that night because he did not want to die. In the morning he was himself again and apologized for his momentary weakness and selfishness. I told him he was the most selfless person I have ever met.

I have not felt that closeness and warmth from him since before that first Saiyan showed up and all the drama snowballed from thereon. His focus and attention on me kept me at peace, so much so that I almost forgot what is soon to come. In hindsight, he was creating memories that will live on when he is gone.

On that awful day my son came home alone and told me my Goku is not coming back. He asked not to be wished back. He wanted to stay away so the Earth would be at peace. At the time I could not begin to grasp his reasoning, but within a year when I was staring lovingly at the small, spiky-haired bundle in my arms, everything just clicked into place. I felt whole again.

My older son worked diligently towards his studies and surpassed all my strict expectations, but my younger son played and learned to fight. I did not have the heart to tell someone who looked so much like Goku to not have fun. And suddenly he stands before me with blonde hair and teal eyes, looking identical, albeit much young, but nonetheless identical to him the day he left me forever.

"Mom? Mom! Are you okay? Did I do something bad?" My younger son looks at me with guilt, not knowing what is making me sad but feeling bad all the same. His black dishevelled hair swayed with the wind and charcoal eyes stared at me with shame, concern, affection. I could breathe again.

"Goten...don't ever do that again."

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

A/N: This was very short, but hope you enjoyed. Reviews are always appreciated. Formatting drove me crazy!