Royal Namekian Blues

When Goku next swam back to life, he heard a faint sobbing. Slowly he blinked up into the faces of people assembled around his bed. Something was shoved against his lips while a muscular arm propped his head and shoulders up. It tasted like grapes, and Goku swallowed it because he was terribly thirsty.

"That's it, Goku-sa. Drink it down… please wake up and open your eyes," came Chichi's frantic plea.

"Chi... chi… is that you… I can't move," Goku groaned, his limbs starved of oxygen.

"Don't try and get up. Just lay still. Oh Goku what the hell were you thinking!" Chichi lamented.

"Daddy!" came Gohan's voice.

"Gohan, keep back a ways. Go watch over your aunt and cousins," came Chichi's command. The muscular arm gently lowered him back down.

Goku blinked up his vision still foggy. Still he could make out the faces of two concerned females leaning over him, one on either side. Someone taller with spiky hair hovered to the left, his dark eyes gleaming with anger. Swirls of clouds swam away with each blink, then sharpened into focus. Chichi's frantic pallid features pained him to see. Another dark haired woman with gleaming glasses held a vial of something that smelled of grapes. She bobbed out of sight, then returned with something hidden behind her back.

"Get him some water… easy now," said Chichi. Something cold was draped over his brow, while the other woman vanished from the area.

"Honestly Brother, you slept damn long enough!" Raditz snorted. With shock Goku blinked up into his older brother's frowning countenance.

"You… you're here… what happened…"

"Prince Vegeta and the others took on the androids. While I must say they were victorious, other things have transpired," Raditz grunted.

"What?"

"The green man… Piccolo has gone on with your friend Krillen, and Prince Trunks to see two other Androids in the place called Ginger Town," Raditz announced. "The Prince and Nappa are still on the trail of Android 13…"

"Thirteen?" Goku gasped.

"There was another. But you and I will stay here till you've recovered enough. Lt. Commander Bliss is also with them. And you need not worry, because the Prince can control his ascendance at will. He and Prince Trunks have discovered another level beyond…"

"Beyond?" Goku panted.

"Ultra," Raditz murmured. "They were terrifying to behold. He and the Prince Trunks… they were every bit as powerful as the Legendary was said to be."

"Wow. How long was I out?" Goku asked.

"Three days," Raditz said, pressing him down to the bed.

"Time to give him an injection," Chichi said.

"Oh no… no!" Goku cried as he saw the gleam of a needle in Dr. Stellari's hand.

"Hold him down, Raditz!" Dr. Stellari urged. "Chichi, you didn't TELL me he was scared of shots!"

"No, don't!" Goku yelled. Fortunately Raditz pinned him down, shoving a gauntleted hand over his eyes.

"Keep your eyes covered, moron," Raditz growled. Squirming, Goku suddenly felt terror surging through him. Yet all he felt was a sharp prick.

"There, done," said Stellari's voice. "That's the booster shot."

"That was IT?" Goku panted, when his eyes were uncovered.

"Yes. Honestly, Goku, it's just a little needle…"

"Don't tease him like that," Stellari sighed. "If you had a needle shoved into YOU…"

"Uhhh," Goku moaned, wanting to pass out.

"Enough, both of you! Kakkarot, are you well enough to sit up?"

"My name's Goku, remember," he groaned.

"He's all right," Chichi sighed with relief.

"But where is everyone… are they…"

"Rest," said Chichi. To his shock, Gohan wandered in, his face filled with worry. Another fact that dawned on Goku was that Gohan was standing in the same room as Raditz and hardly batting an eyelash. Was it just because he was more worried that his father was gravely ill?

"Mom, is he going to be ok?"

"He's weak, but he's recovering," said Chichi as she drew back, and wrapped her arms around Gohan from behind to give him a hug.

"Daddy, I was so worried! We thought you were a goner!" Gohan sniffled. He scrambled up onto the side of the double bed, wrapping his arms around his father's neck. By this time Raditz and Stellari had moved back to give them room, standing awkwardly.

"Maybe we should leave them alone," Stellari suggested. Raditz simply gave a grunt and turned to stride out the door. His hand lightly rested on his mate's shoulders while hers moved around his waist. His blue and brown armor was slightly scorched and cracked in a few places as if he had fought hard.

"Gohan, you're not scared of him?" Goku asked.

"He saved your life, Daddy. I couldn't believe it," Gohan murmured into his father's neck. Goku managed to wrap a muscular arm around his son's shaking body. As if pent up emotions burst, Gohan sobbed in his father's arms.

"Hey, it's okay son. Let it out," Goku whispered, stroking and patting his back.

Around the door, Raditz peered with a frown on his face. "Sentimental foolishness," he mumbled.

"Don't make me hurt you," Stellari warned, grabbing a handful of his hair and tugging hard on it. "You know as well as I do that' he's a human before the Saiyan. Don't start!"

"Mmmph, he's a lot of trouble," Raditz snorted. Still he felt jealousy in his stomach to see how affectionate Goku was with his son. To see the concern in his brother's eyes for his nephew defied his comprehension. Something like emptiness filled him, and he forced the weak emotions away.

"You can sit with him, Gohan. I've got to get lunch ready," Chichi said. Leaning over she caught Goku's lips in a brief but grateful kiss. He reached to grasp her neck, keeping her mouth on his for a moment while Gohan blushed a bit. Then she drew back, stroking his hair affectionately.

"I'll be okay, Chi," Goku whispered, caressing her cheek. "Thanks…"

"Just listen to your brother," she muttered, wiping away a tear. "Gohan's going to sit with you for a while. But don't give him any ideas about fighting!"

"Mom!" Gohan groaned as she turned and left them alone. Goku managed to wink at his flustered son.
***

Those last two days had been full of events. Gohan had told Goku everything about what had transpired. Now Goku was recovering, and Vegeta and the others had taken up the search for the androids.

Closing the door on the two important men in her life, Chichi joined the others in the sitting room. She heard some clanking of dishes and a grunt of some strange language. Then she accidentally brushed past Raditz wandering out to answer the shouts of two wrestling boys.

"Apologies," he said glancing down.

"Thank you," she whispered, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"None are necessary. You've thanked me far too much. It's getting annoying," Raditz grumbled, wiping his cheek as Chichi laughed. Patting him on the back she joined her sister in law who was fussing over massive quantities of food.

"I don't see how you keep up with it all. Where the heck do you get the money for a huge grocery bill I'll never know! And you've got two of them to feed," said Dr. Stellari, wiping her brow.

"You don't have to do that… but thank you. Sit down… you're going to deliver any day now!" Chichi snapped at her.

"When I told Raditz I was a doctor of chemistry I wasn't joking! I'm not used to giving shots!" she complained.

"You did fine, dear," Chichi reassured her, keeping her back to the other woman. "I'm just glad my Goku's awake again. But it will be very hard to keep him in bed for very long!"

"Raditz will hold him down if he must," said Stellari. Both women exchanged a laugh. Chichi grabbed a spoon and dipped out some food. Before Stellari could say another word she shoved the spoon into her mouth.

"How's it taste?"

"Hmmm, I wish you'd warn me when you did that!" Stellari complained. "It's fine."

"You need more," Chichi insisted, giving her another spoonful. "You've got two kids on the way!"

"How DO you feed two hungry Saiyan if Goku doesn't work… and you don't seem to… I mean you do midwifery, and you've got that herbal remedies business…"

"Goku never will hold down a job," Chichi sighed. "Pop's money won't last forever. It's a godsend having you and your husband giving us money…"

"Raditz has a paycheck, and all the food provided on Capsule's budget, not to mention my own," said Stellari.

"Are you going to still work with two babies on the way?"

"I wish I could just leave it up to him for the paycheck. But I feel guilty…"

"Don't," said Chichi. "Your boys need you there. But it's not for me to tell you what to do."

"You'd find a way anyhow," Stellari retorted. Chichi rolled her eyes and thrust a spoon at Stellari. Unspoken commands for her to check the eight treasures soup. When Stellari opened the steamer, she leapt back at the huge cloud of steam blasting her in the face. It wafted around the other scents enticingly dancing through the small kitchen.

"At least Mr. Piccolo's gone. He drove me nuts," said Chichi. "I know I'm glad he didn't eat anything, but Goku and Gohan hardly helped out with him around…"

"I'm glad it's not a problem for me to stay here. It's kind of nice to have a break from all that corporate rat race. But you're out in the middle of the sticks," Stellari said.

"Let's just say that Goku's sparring habits make it necessary. He'd cause untold damage if he was in a town or city," Chichi blushed.

Back in the living room, Raditz had tried to separate two rambunctious boys from pummeling one another. He finally was dragged into the middle of it, while one of them pulled on his hair, and the other was trying to twist his arm behind his back.

"This is for outside, both of you!" Raditz complained. "I don't want your aunt or mother angry with us!"

"Sorry Daddy," murmured one of them. Raditz reached down and pulled Bohr out of the mess then set him on his hip. Grunting, he rose up and reached down to take Fermi's hand.

"Fine, Dad," mumbled Fermi. "I guess it would suck if we got grounded! I hate being a Stellari unplugged!"

"Don't even go there!" Bohr gasped horrified.

"No video games would drive me insane as well, but then you'd have more time for training, young warriors," Raditz said as Fermi placed his small hand in his. Though Raditz gauntleted hand swallowed Fermi's the strength in the small fingers astonished him. Without question he had convinced both twins to accompany him out into the courtyard of the Son home.

Distant Dinosaur mating calls echoed on Raditz ears. He also heard the sounds of low grunting from the Green Man nearby. Piccolo was already sparring fast and furiously with another version of himself. Picking a spot well away from the Namek, Raditz let go of Fermi's hand, then set Bohr down from his armored hip.

"Ready to train?" he asked both. He punched his scouter button to attenuate his own reading from the boys. To his shock he saw he had to filter a level of 5000.

Five thousand? But this is impossible! Since when was THAT my apparent level and I haven't begun to move? Raditz asked himself.

"You bet," said Fermi.

"Let's go!" Bohr answered. Both stood in poses that were similar to Goku's Kame-sennen, while Raditz adopted a more Saiyan stance. For a few tense moments the boys waited while their adoptive father stared them down. Then he blurred out.

Fermi and Bohr vanished as well, their fists raised to block Raditz flurry of blows. Back and forth they traded hits, their tiny legs a flurry raining on his gauntleted fists. His punch arced out, and Bohr feigned. Fermi slammed his elbow on Raditz back, only to have a push out to the side. They flipped out of the way of his arcing kick, and Raditz landed opposite them.

"Nicely done. I'm impressed, young ones," Raditz nodded, knowing a bit of praise went a long way. They had the reflexes of newborn Saiyans and his scouter bleeped with battle levels of 2000 and 1700. He had to calibrate his own down, and blinked with shock to see his level had arisen already to 10,000. At resting state Raditz rating had considerably shot up. He swallowed hard, not even having broken a sweat. Lately he'd gone without the scouter, but for the sake of the twins he'd used it to track their progress.

They were unaware of someone peering out his bedroom window at them. Gohan rested his head on his hands, seeing Raditz training both twins. Ever since he saw Raditz carrying his father home, Gohan had felt mixed emotions. Luckily Vegeta, Trunks and Bliss had fought off 19 and 20 while Piccolo had covered Raditz. Gohan had accompanied Raditz on the flight back, his eyes wary.

In tense silence they had fought off any resistance. He recalled how Gero was blown to bits by Vegeta's blazing super Saiyan form. Trunks and Bliss had joined forces with Piccolo and vanquished 19. Then Piccolo had shot back to make sure that Goku was all right. It had happened in such a blur.

"Gohan, are you studying?" Chichi asked.

"Aw c'mon mom!" Gohan shot back.

"Aunt Stellari's going to help you with your formulas," said Chichi. Gohan grunted and settled down. Through his doorway shuffled the form of his aunt, who was very far along with her pregnancy. He leapt up to help guide her to his chair.

"You okay, Auntie?" he asked.

"I'm fine… I know this is the LAST thing you want to do now, but I figure we can knock out the first two groups of the Table before your mother bugs both of us," she said with a chuckle.

"I don't see how memorizing the Periodic Table's gonna help me, but if you say so," said Gohan. He was balancing a pencil on his nose as he rocked his chair back.

"You've got balance that puts me to shame, kid," said Stellari.

"Oh, sorry," Gohan said.

"Worried about your dad, huh? I'm sure he's out of the worst of it. Piccolo's regenerating skills helped, and luckily I was able to help Chichi make some of that medicine to bring his fever down," Stellari said.

"Good thing Trunks told you the formula over the videolink," Gohan nodded. "I wanted to thank you for making more of the medicine to save Dad's life… you're pretty good with chemicals…"

"I haven't synthesized a drug so complex… your blood sample helped… and then there was the matter of that transfusion… I'm glad your mother has some nursing skills… I don't like needles any more then Goku does…" Stellari shuddered.

"Mom's pretty good with most stuff. But I didn't think Raditz would be the same blood type as my Dad," Gohan said softly.

"I'm just astonished you aren't terrified of hi anymore, Gohan," Stellari said, closing the chemistry book. It was clear Gohan's focus was far from his studies now. He glanced out the window seeing Raditz suddenly getting trounced by a twin beam attack. Barely Raditz managed to block an Atomic Ram with a Double Sundae.

"It's weird. He's not the same person. When I saw him carrying my Daddy, I was so scared… but he was holding him like my Daddy was… Uncle Yamcha or Uncle Krillen," said Gohan.

"Hell's a place that changes many a soul," Stellari said.

"Everything you know, he knows? Mr. Piccolo said you two had a bond. Piccolo and I sometimes share thoughts… but you know what Raditz did?"

"Everything," Stellari said with horror on her face. "And he knows what I've done. We're one, like your mother and father."

"Mom and dad? You mean that bite on Mom's neck is just like yours? It's weird!" Gohan shivered.

"It's a Saiyan mating bond. All Third Class share a bond. I mean all the ones that are like your Daddy and Uncle Raditz do that. It's considered a weakness, but Raditz family considers it a strength. At least his mother Kinoha did…"

"I can't get my head around it… it's so hard to think of any other family but my Grandpa Ox King, and Great Grandpa Gohan…"

"They ARE your family, Gohan. Blood doesn't make a relative. Love does," said Stellari.

"Uh huh, cause Mr. Piccolo's like my family now," said Gohan. "I guess if he can stop being bad, Uncle Raditz can."

Stellari wiped away a tear. Gohan leapt up and hugged her tightly, his arms around her neck. Kissing her cheek he gave her a squeeze. Stellari swallowed hard at the open affection of this 'nephew' of hers. The last month in the Son household had shown her more family then she'd ever recalled as a child.

"Gohan, lunch!" Chichi hollered. He reached out his hand to lead Stellari with him to the dining room.

Aunt and nephew made it in time to see both twins helping set the table. Piccolo leaned in a corner, wearing his turban and cape as he kept a close watch on the tall Saiyan Raditz bearing huge platters of food to set on the sideboard. Fortunately he'd removed the armor and scouter at Chichi's request in the house. Over his spandex he wore a house robe, like a men's kimono. Long hair was tied back into a vast ponytail. Gohan let go of Stellari's hand to wash up.

"All right Gohan, you can take Dad's dinner back to him, and eat with him if you'd like," said Chichi, wiping sweat from her brow.

"I'll take it," Piccolo grunted. Warily Raditz leveled his gaze at the 'green man', and nodded as he handed one of the platters to the former enemy. As long as Piccolo kept watch, Gohan felt safe. Gingerly Gohan climbed into his chair, next to his aunt's. She sat opposite her husband, with a twin to his left, and one to her right. One chair was left vacant at the round table, Goku's chair. Sometimes they ate outside at the rectangular table, but when indoors they used a round one. Piccolo often drank water while standing in a corner as the family dug in. But Gohan still felt uneasy sitting together like this. His hair was long like his uncle's and for a moment Gohan fingered it. Having the twins around was like having a younger brother he wished for.

Lately he sensed a duel energy from his mother Chichi. She seemed oddly compliant at some times, and ate strange concoctions. Was she pregnant as well?