My Love

My Love
Chapter 5: My True love Part A

A dramatic pause filled the air as the three tensed wild looks in their black eyes.

"Otou-san," growled Gohan baring his teeth.

Goku tensed more and turned his head to look at his oldest son, he was almost caught by surprise when Goten let out a growl and lunged right at him, both were sent tumbling off the bed and to the floor. Goten straddled his father and growled menacingly right in his face.

"Tou-san," hissed Goten through his teeth drawing back a fist.

Goku easily caught Goten’s fist and the two-started grappling.

Gohan glanced down at them then back at Vegeta who was curled up so he wasn’t facing any of them. "Vegeta-san?" he said taking a step toward the bed and reach out a hand to give the man a shake, but before he could touch him he felt two strong hands grip his ankles and looked down.

"No you don’t!" said both Goku and Goten in unity before pulling Gohan’s legs out from under him making the demi-saiyan topple right into their little brawl.

Five minutes passed, ten, twenty and the sounds of yelping, growling, grunting, and raving filled the room. Every time one of them tired to pull out of the mad twist of limbs he was pulled right back in. Finally they stopped in a very odd fashion. Goku had his arms wrapped around Gohan’s thick throat in a choke hold, Gohan had his long legs wrapped in a vice-like lock around Goten’s throat, and Goten had both his arms and legs wrapped around Goku’s neck and head from behind in a crushing hold. Together they formed a nice circle of gasping, choking saiyans. Faces slowly turned red, then purple, and last blue before they all let go with a gasp for air. They lay there sprawled all over the floor, limbs everywhere for several second gasping for air.

"This isn’t getting us anywhere fast," said Goku out of breath.

"What’s to get?" growled Goten. "You took something that was mine and I want it back," he managed just as out of breath as his father.

"Yours, I don’t think so," growled Goku slowly moving to try and get to his knees.

"Yes mine!" challenged Goten.

"Hold it both of you," said Gohan still gasping as well and pushing himself up. "Tou-san’s right, fighting like this isn’t going to get us anywhere." He breathed in a deep breath seeing he’d gotten their attention and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "It’s obvious that dads already slept with Vegeta-san. I slept with him also just last night," he said sitting down cross-legged on the floor. "Goten?" he asked looking at his little brother.

Goten blushed, rubbed the back of his neck shyly and moved over away from his father. "Yes, this evening."

"You both have?" said Goku with wide-eyes. They got to him before I did thought the saiyan a worried frown made its way on his face. This is bad, very bad. He really didn’t want his whole family breaking up over this, but he was just as reluctant to let go of any claimed he had to Vegeta, the worried look grew in intensity.

"I don’t believe it," said Goten shaking his head in denial. "Vegeta-san isn’t that kind of guy. He doesn’t sleep around, I doubt he’s been with anyone since Bulma-san died. He won’t do this," said Goten firmly.

"He won’t," agreed Goku in a serious voice, "unless he wasn’t thinking straight." Both his sons turned questioning faces to him. Goku sighed loudly. "He said he was in heat before we- well-um," Goku fidgeted and looked down at himself suddenly realizing he was still naked. Blushing he leaned over and snatched his pants to drape them over his lap.

"So you knew he wasn’t being himself and you still-" growled Goten being to rise, hand clenched in a fist.

"Calm down," said Gohan reacting over and grabbing his arm to pull him roughly back to sit on the floor. "Lets try not to let our emotions get the better of us here."

"Calm down," growled Goten clenching both his fists. "I finally found something that felt so right and now you’re telling me it might have been nothing more than a rush of hormones! NO! I don’t care if he was in heat, there was emotion in it, it wasn’t just lust!" he shouted banging his fists on his thighs. "I’m not backing down," he said far more softly, he lifted his head and looked them both in the eyes. "I’m not backing down to either of you."

Gohan’s face remained serious too. "Brother, I, as well, have no intention of backing down," he stated. "You think you have feeling for him, but have you ever really been in love? Do you know for sure that you love him?"

Goten’s lips tightened and deep longing and sadness filled his eyes. "I may not have found someone special before like you brother, but I can and do feel love," he said looking Gohan straight in the eyes. He turned his eyes toward his father, "And I know it wasn’t just lust," he said a little bite in his tone.

Goku frowned. "I knew he was in heat, but that doesn’t mean I was just looking for a one night stand," said Goku calmly. "I thought it over really carefully before I even came here and I won’t lie I want him. I want him as my mate and partner, Goten, Gohan."

Gohan sighed and leaned back. "This is a problem, a real problem," he whispered that last part softly. "I-I really don’t want to fight with you. I really don’t," his voice filled with misery. "But, if I have to, I will. I’m sure we all know that things like this don’t happen often, that we’re all going to outlive any human partners by many years. I have no wish to watch another mate died, I know… I won’t be able to handle it again," he almost whispered that last part.

"Gohan…" said Goten softly reading the sad, empty look on his brother’s face. He wanted to put a hand on his shoulders and say he understood the longing and loneliness that ate at him. But he didn’t, he couldn’t, in this game there could be only one winner and Goten had no desire to lose.

"So then," said Goku slowly and regretfully. "We’re foes in this…"

Everyone bowed their heads avoiding eye contact.

"We shouldn’t ruin everything over it," said Gohan frowning softly. "There has to be a way we can settle this that we all except and find fair."

"Except," muttered Goten. "It’s a saiyan thing, how can we except what we don’t truly understand," he said plucking at his shoelaces.

"That’s it!" smiled Goku brightly, slamming a fist down on his palm.

"Huh?" said both Son brothers giving him questioning looks.

"This is a saiyan thing so we should handle it like saiyans," he nodded his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "This must have happened a lot on Vegeta-sei, they probably had some laws or ways to deal with it."

"You’re right," said Gohan a smile also lighting his face. "Vegeta smelt so strongly of that scent and it was definitely designed to arouse potential mates; therefore, it’s not unreasonable at all that more than one suitor would show up. They must have had some way of deciding who had the right to take he or she as a mate."
"Okay, that makes sense, but do any of you know how they did that?" asked Goten.

"Umm…" said both Goku and Gohan looking at each other.

Goten threw up his hands. "Well how are we going to settle this like saiyans if we don’t know how the saiyan did it?!"

"Good question," said Goku scratching his head.

"Vegeta," said Gohan turning his head to look at the saiyan. "Vegeta would know."

"Ah! You’re right," said Goku climbing to his feet. He glanced down and tugging his pants on before moving over with his sons to the bed.

"Vegeta-san. Vegeta-san!" said Goten softly shaking the prince.

Vegeta groaned, rubbed his check, and rolled over on his other side. Two seconds later soft snoozes were heard.

All three Sons face vaulted.

"He’s asleep!" said Goku in disbelief.

"Well, he has been kind of… busy the last 24 hours," said Gohan pulling himself up.

"Should we wake him up?" asked Goku glancing at the three.

"No," protested Goten. "We should wait till he’s rested and not about to fall asleep on us, we don’t want any misunderstandings."

"Okay then, we wait till tomorrow. Is everyone agreeing that we follow and go with what Vegeta says?" asked Gohan.

"Hai."

"Hai."

Another long pause filled the room.

"Um… shouldn’t we like leave him to sleep?" asked Gohan looking around at his father and brother.

"I don’t trust one of you not to sneak back in here and try something," said Goten. He crossed his arms and sat down on the floor facing the side of the bed. "I’m staying here.

"What?!" said Goku. "I’m not leaving you here alone with him!" said Goku. He sat down at the foot of the bed, crossed his arms to glare at his youngest.

Gohan sighed and moved over to the side across for Goten. "This is going to be a long night," he said as he sat down and crossed his arms too, keeping a watchful eye on the others. He didn’t really trust them not to act on their desires either and he wasn’t about to go somewhere and give them an opportunity to act.

The three stayed that way daring each other to try something with their eyes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Vegeta groaned into his pillow as awareness crept back up on him telling him it was time to ‘rise and shine’. He had the strongest desire to stay in bed as if sensing some trouble or annoyance that was just waiting to greet him. With a deep intake of breath he ignored the warning and sat up fanning his mouth as he yawned.

"What a weird dream," he said rubbing a hand through his hair. Still half asleep he tossed back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu, Vegeta-san."

"Ohayoo, Goten," said Vegeta rubbing at his eye and standing up. He paused and snapped his head back down to look at the demi-saiyan sitting on his floor, eyes widening several sizes. "Wah!" shouted Vegeta falling back onto the bed and promptly tumbling off the other side of it. He landed hard and winced a puzzled look appeared on his face as he could feel whatever he was on top of rising and falling as if it were breathing. He opened his eyes and looked down at Gohan.

"Ohayoo Vegeta-san," smiled Gohan.

"Ahhhheeee!!!!" The prince was back on his bed snapping his head back and forth looking at the two demi-saiyans.

"What the hell- Ah!" he jumped back and clung to the headboard of his bed as he spotted Goku sitting at the foot of it. The taller saiyan smiled and waved at him.

"What the hell’s going on?!" He glanced down at himself. "And where are my clothes?!" He paled and snapped his head back up looking right at Goku. "What the hell did you people do to me while I was asleep?!"

"Wait! Wait! Calm done Vegeta," said Goku waving his hands before himself.

"We didn’t do anything while you were asleep," assured Gohan.

"Don’t you remember Vegeta-san?" asked Goten.

Finally things began to fall back into place in Vegeta’s mind, which was now wide-awake thanks to the three. "Oh… shit," said Vegeta looking around at the semi-circle of Sons.

"He remembers," said Gohan.

"Yah I remember, but that still doesn’t explain why you three are camped out around my bed!" growled Vegeta.

"Um well… we really didn’t want to leave," said Goten rubbing the back of his head.

"And we’ve got some really important questions to ask Vegeta-san," said Gohan.

"I’ve been waiting to ask you to cook us something for breakfast? I’m starved," smiled Goku.

The three suddenly found themselves flying through the door and down the hall to land in a pile. "What do I look like?! Your maid?!" shouted Vegeta. He slammed the door behind him then leaned back against it and reached up to rub his forehead. "What the hell’s going on? Oh! I don’t need this!" he growled heading towards his bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed. If he was going to have to deal with those three he wanted to at least have some clothes on and not feel cornered as he did.

Ten minutes later he stepped out of his room dressed in a black version of his usually sleeveless stretch suit, white boots and gloves included. He wasn’t at all surprised to see the three leaning against the hall walls waiting for him. He sighed and folded his arms. "Look I’ll put this simply, I was in heat, still am, but not nearly as bad. None of us were thinking straight so don’t feel obligated to do anything. I know none of you wanted to be involved with me like that so let’s just forget it happened," said the prince moving to walk down the hall as if the subject was closed.

"Hold on a minute Vegeta," said Goku snagging his shoulder as he moved to walk past him.

"What’s your problem Kakarot?" growled Vegeta.

"Our’ problem is that we do want to be involved with you in that way," said Gohan.

"And that there’s only one of you," said Goten.

They watched Vegeta’s muscles stiffen slightly. "You’re joking."

All three shook their heads.

"All… three of you?" said Vegeta in disbelief scanning them.

Once again more nodding.

Vegeta looked dumbfounded for several seconds then pinched the bridge of his nose as if he were developing a headache. "Let’s take this down to the kitchen," he said once again moving down the hall. The three followed him and all sat down at the table, Gohan and Vegeta poured themselves some coffee, Vegeta took his black.

"Okay," said Vegeta putting down his mug after taking a big gulp. "Let me see if I got this straight. All three of you, after one roll in the hay, suddenly think you want me as a mate am I correct?"

The three nodded. Vegeta took another big drink of his coffee.

"Well that’s a problem now isn’t it," said Vegeta.

More nodding.

"Vegeta-san," said Goten looking a bit nervous. "Did you… feel anything when we," he paused looking uncomfortable.

"You mean do I have any feelings towards any of you or was it just a mindless rut spell?" said Vegeta.

Goten slowly nodded.

Vegeta sighed loosing the annoyed look on his face. He reached up a finger and started running it over the rim of the mug, he didn’t answer for several seconds making everyone tense waiting for him to speak. "I’d say no if I didn’t know it was a lie," said the saiyan not look at any of them. "I do have… feelings for you, all three, though they weren’t sexual before this all happened. Apparently they weren’t too far away from that kind of affection though. I won’t have bothered to do anything beside have sex you with if it was a mindless rut." He Stopped tracing the mug with his finger and sighed. "I actually spent a few hours talking and enjoying Gohan’s company and even then he was the one that initiated the sex part. Same with you, Goten."

Goten looked extremely happy to hear him say that and a small smile curved Gohan’s lips.

"Kakarot, however," frowned Vegeta, the annoyance back. "I jumped all over him when he showed up."

A worried look flashed on Goku’s face. "Does that mean you don’t have any feelings for me Vegeta?" he asked sounded wounded by the thought.

Vegeta sighed loudly again and went back to tracing the mug rim with his finger, seemed to be some kind of nervous habit of his. "There’s a thin line between love and hate, Kakarot," said Vegeta. "I hated you with a passion for many years." He lifted his gaze and looked blankly foreword, "But, I haven’t been able to hate you for many years now. I don’t know how I feel about you anymore," he said more to himself than Goku.

Goku didn’t know what to think about Vegeta’s answer. ‘A thin line between love and hate’, with the hate gone what was left? Love? Goku’s eyes widened at the thought, did that mean Vegeta loved him?! If Vegeta didn’t know, Goku sure didn’t, he licked his lips nervously.

Vegeta licked his lower lip too in a nervous gesture. Abruptly he stopped tracing the mug rim and stood up. "Anyway," he said obviously uncomfortable. "As you’ve said there’s only one of me and three of you, so that pretty much means this is pointless."

"Huh?" said the three sons.

"I’m not about to pick one of you and you’re all too close to try and win me by courting me at once, so this is pointless," said Vegeta giving them his back.

"Vegeta," called Gohan making the prince look over his shoulder at him. "We’ve already talked about this together and come up with a solutions."

The prince turned around and raised an eyebrow at him.

"We’ve all agree to do this the saiyan way," said Goku.

Vegeta’s eyes widened and he took a step back from them. "Are you… serious?"

Goku nodded. "We just need you to tell us how, the winner can have you the losers won’t interfere."

Vegeta relaxed slightly. "So than, none of you know about that tradition."

"What tradition?" asked Gohan.

Vegeta frowned, crossed his arms, turned to the side, and lifted his head slightly. "I’m not gonna to tell you."

The three fell out of their chairs in shock.

"What?! Why not?!" shouted Goten.

"Because, maybe I don’t want to tie myself to one of you third class bakas for the rest of my life, have any of you even thought of that?! I’m still in heat, there’s no telling if any of these ‘feelings’- makes little quote marks with his hands- I have for you won’t just disappear when it’s over in the next 24 hours or so. They may just be strong feelings of companionship or a slight fondness for all I know. Nor do I know if I’ll be content with whoever wins. I could grow to hate whoever they are once I find out what living with them is like or vice versa. You still want to take that chance?"

"Yup," smiled Goku.

"What?!" said Vegeta.

"Hey you already said you don’t hate me anymore, so I’ve got it made if I win," smiled Goku cheerfully.

Vegeta face vaulted. "Baka."

"It’s alright Vegeta-san. We’re willing to take that chance and living problems can be solved without two people growing to hate each other," said Gohan. "Besides I don’t think you could grow to truly hate any of us."

Vegeta frowned. "I do. In fact, I think I’m growing to hate you all even as we speak," he grumbled tapping his fingers on his biceps and turning his head to the side as he said it.

"Look me in the face and say that Vegeta-san," said Goten.

Vegeta bared his teeth and looked Goten’s way. "I said-!" he looked at Goten smiling sweetly at him and winced. Several seconds paused. "Damn it! Alright I can’t do it, you happy?!" he growled turning back to the side and tapping his fingers on his arm faster and with more force.

Goten smiled brightly and held up a peace sign.

"Okay so Vegeta-san what do we have to do?" asked Gohan.

Vegeta frowned darkly and turned his head farther away from them, they could see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he refused to answer.

Goku made a frustrated sound, like usual Vegeta was being stubborn, but then again that was one of the things he liked about the ouji, the man could teach mules a thing or two. He scratched his chin in thought wondering how they could make Vegeta tell them what they wanted to know.

"Please Vegeta-san?" said Goten looking frustrated as well.

Darker frown and a small-annoyed sound from the prince were Vegeta’s answer.

"Come on Vegeta-san, be reasonable," pleaded Gohan. "This is the best solution for us all. None of us want to give you up and we can’t all have you."

A sly look crossed Goku’s face. "Or can we."

"Huh?" said all three men standing next to the tall saiyan.

"What do you mean dad?" asked Goten.

Goku gave an innocent grin. "Well Vegeta’s right we are all too close to let this ruin our family and if Vegeta doesn’t want to pick one of us then why should we make him?" He smiled even wider showing white teeth. "He obviously has feelings for us and we have feeling for him as well as each other, so why not just share?"

Vegeta gasped and jumped a step back, his tail puffed out to twice its normal thickness and a really freaked out look crossed his features. "Are you insane Kakarot! I’m not going to be your family whore!" he shouted.

"Dad!" said Gohan also with a freaked out look.

‘Play along,’ came a telepathic reply in both Gohan and Goten’s heads. Sly looks crossed both the Son brothers’ faces as they caught on to their father’s plan.

"I call heads!" shouted Goten.

"Tails," said Goku.

"Now, now we should split up the week and each have some private time with him," said Gohan pushing his glasses up his nose. "I call Fridays and Saturdays that’d be a nice way to spend the weekend after a long week at work." He nodded as if agreeing with himself.

Vegeta backed himself up against the wall away from the three as they started working out a schedule. He embraces himself as if his clothes had suddenly disappeared and that freaked out look only got more freaked out as they continued to bargain with each other. The thought of having a Son harem had its perks, but when he tried to picture it in his head he was always the one that ended up in the skimpy outfits waiting on one of the three hand and foot. "I’ve… got to… escape," said Vegeta snapping his head back and forth looking for the nearest exit. He spotted the sliding glass doors leaning out back and ran for them.

"Hey!" shouted Goten catching the movement out of the corner of his eye and turning to watch as Vegeta yanked open the door and ran like his tail was on fire.

"He’s getting away!" said Gohan.

"After him!" said Goku.

The three were soon in hot pursuit.

"They’re going to kill me!" shouted Vegeta as he ran, three Sons not far behind. It was probably true, even he couldn’t possible hope to keep up with three lovers as demanding, vigorous, and wild as those three. "Ahhh!!!!" Vegeta was too busily looking back to look foreward and he never saw the solid wall of green flesh till he ran right into it at neck breaking speeds. Fortunately for Piccolo he was hardly frail and the impact of one compact panicked saiyan prince didn’t even knock him off his feet, though it did draw a loud grunt from him.

"What’s going on-ah!" said Piccolo as Vegeta climbed right up on his shoulders and perched on his head hissing like a mad cat at the three.

"Keep those crazy people away from me!" shouted Vegeta kicking whoever got too close for his liking.

Piccolo reached up and tugged his turban back up over his eyes, which had fallen down when Vegeta leapt up on him. He pale a lighter shade of green when he came face to face with three possessive saiyans that were all suddenly giving him cold looks, eyes switching from him to the saiyan using him as a shield.

"Piccolo," said Goten narrowing his eyes at the namek.

Piccolo sweat dropped. "Now wait a minute! I want nothing to do with this!" shouted the tall namek taking a step backwards. He reached up and grabbed Vegeta by the nape of the neck and yanked him off to hold him at arms-length like one would a house cat.

At once all three Sons started talking at the same time to the saiyan prince. Both Piccolo and Vegeta winced at their combined whine; Vegeta raised his hands and covered his ears, Piccolo wasn’t so lucky since he was using one of his to hold Vegeta off the ground.

Piccolo drew in a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs. "SHUT UP!!!"

Startled the three did, blinking large eyes at the namek.

Piccolo panted raggedly still holding Vegeta by the back of the neck as he stared down at the three. "Okay, what the hell’s going on?!" demanded Piccolo. "I’ve been sensing you people’s power readings climbing and falling all day yesterday and when I finally came by to check it out I find you all chasing Vegeta around like a pack of rabid dogs!"

"Stay out of this Piccolo, it doesn’t concern you," said Goku moving over to Piccolo’s side and reaching out for Vegeta.

Piccolo turned to the side holding the saiyan prince away from him. "I’ll be the judge of that," snapped the namek.

"Piccolo," whined Goten moving over to copy his father. "Don’t be a big green meanie," he said grabbing at the saiyan in Piccolo’s grip.

Piccolo jumped back away from the two and lifted Vegeta higher off the ground to be eye to eye with them. "You’re right they are crazy. What did you do to them?"

Vegeta shrugged.

"Gohan?" asked the namek raising a non-existent eyebrow at the demi-saiyan. He noted that Gohan was giving Vegeta worried possessive looks as well as the other two crazy people.

Gohan licked his lower lip and sighed. "It’s hard to explain Piccolo-san. It seems Vegeta-san has gone into a saiyan heat and well…" he blushed a lovely shade of red. "We’ve all- um- excepted his offer of companionship and now we’re fighting over who gets him. We wanted to do this the saiyan way, but Vegeta won’t tell us how saiyans fight for their partners."

Piccolo blinked at the three before him then glance down at Vegeta who once again gave a helpless shrug. Piccolo frowned slightly and then gave Vegeta a good shake. "Out with it saiyan."

Vegeta bared his teeth at the namek. "Don’t tell me what to do namek. I’m too high born for them it’s a mockery to be mated to any one of them," he growled.

Piccolo gave him another shake. "I don’t want to hear it," said the namek. "I care about Gohan and his family and I’m not about to let you tear it apart. We settle this and we settle it now, tell them how it’s done or I’ll get it out of you by other means."

Vegeta growled deep in his throat at him then suddenly stopped and studied the namek holding him off the ground.

Piccolo jerked his head back slightly. "What’s with that look?" he demanded.

"If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were angry at me for some reason," his looks grew more concentrated as he studied Piccolo’s face for some clues.

Piccolo looked slightly uncomfortable for a brief moment before he snarled and gave the smaller saiyan another good shake. "Of course I’m angry at you! How dare you do this to them!"

Vegeta snarled as well. "It’s not my fault all three of them are too stupid to control themselves!" he growled.

"You tempted them!" growled Piccolo.

"I did no such thing! I was doing fine all by myself in my territory, they’re the ones that showed up uninvited and made themselves at home in my bed!"

"Gohan won’t-"

"He did!" snarled Vegeta up at him. "He was the first to do it!"

Piccolo was now the one studying Vegeta’s face looking for signs that he was lying and finding none. He turned his gaze up and looked at his student. "Is that true Gohan?"
Gohan nodded his head. "Yes it is."

Piccolo held Gohan’s gaze a long time then set Vegeta gently down on his feet, though he kept a good hold on the back of the shorter man’s neck.

"And do you really want to continue your relationship with him?" asked Piccolo.

"Yes," said Gohan no doubt in his voice. "I do."

Piccolo’s features never changed, he kept looking at Gohan even as he spoke to Vegeta. "Tell them, saiyan."

"This is none of your affair!" snapped Vegeta reaching back with his hand to try and pry Piccolo’s off the back of his neck. He froze as the namek’s grip tightened, sharp nails pressing against arteries in his neck.

"If it deals with Gohan’s happiness it is my affair," said the namek coolly. "Tell them."

Vegeta drew in a deep breath and sighed, he crossed his arms trying to making himself look like he held some control over the situation, but it wasn’t too convincing with Piccolo still having a firm hand hold on him. "According to saiyan costumes the first one to mate claims right to keep his partner."

Goten and Goku’s shoulders slumped in a defeated manner unable to believe that settled it all. A pleased smiled lit Gohan’s face as he looked at the reluctant saiyan prince.
"That would be me," said Gohan a note of disbelief and happiness in his voice. His smile grew bigger and he took a step toward Vegeta and his sensei.

"However," said Vegeta freezing Gohan in mid step and making Goku and Gohan snap their heads up, hope simmering in their eyes. "If a saiyan were interested in maintaining his claim he would never leave his mate while they were still in heat, in doing so they give up ownership and that leaves their partner open for another who does want a life mate." He lifted his gaze and looked Gohan right in the eyes. "You lost most of your right to me when you left and Goten showed up."

Gohan’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in shock, sudden pain crosses his features as he bowed his head. "That’s what you meant… ‘leave now and I make no promises’," whispered Gohan in a gloomy voice.

Vegeta nodded his head slowly.

Goten stepped forward. "Does that mean I hold a claim?"

"Yes," said Vegeta.

A beautiful smile made its way on Goten’s face.

"But you’re claim is no more solid than your brother’s," stated Vegeta.

Goten’s face fell. "What?"

"You left too and your father showed up. You hold the same kind of claim as Gohan, no more, no less."

Goten suddenly looked miserable. "Does that mean-" he glanced over his shoulder at his father.

"Me?" said Goku pointing to himself. "I hold top claim? Or is there another catch?"

Vegeta frowned and shrugged his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes at Piccolo and slapped the namek’s hand off him, Piccolo didn’t fight to maintain his grip satisfied that they were going to resolve this little problem and Vegeta couldn’t get away.

Vegeta snorted and didn’t look Goku in the face he turned to the side and stared blankly across the lawn. "You would have left too."

"What?!" said Goku.

"You heard me," said Vegeta turning his head to the side to look at the tall saiyan. "Just like your sons you would have left, if they hadn’t shown up and made you feel threatened you’d probably have been up and gone before I even woke up knowing you."

"Vegeta that’s not fair," said Goku. "You can’t be sure I would have-"

"Can’t be sure?" said Vegeta cutting him off, he tossed back his head and laughed a mocking laugh; one that made Goku flinch in remembers of his earlier fears. "You would have stayed with me? Don’t kid yourself, Kakarot," said Vegeta with no humor in his voice. "I know you too well. Maybe you would have stayed, but for how long? How long till you saw something shiny on the other side of the galaxy and wondered off like the meandering fool you are? Do you really think I want such an- an absentminded baka for a mate?!" demanded Vegeta anger spiking his voice. "I’m not that woman of yours, I’m not going to throw my arms around you and say ‘oh you’re back! I missed you," snarled Vegeta. "I know you too well Kakarot, far too well," he said giving the taller saiyan his back once more.

"Vegeta," said Goku unable to hide the hurt in his voice. "No, you’re not Chichi. I know you’re not like her, Vegeta, you’ve never been like her. She never made he want to return to her," he said softly almost apologetically. "I loved her, but… there were places in me she just couldn’t touch nor understand, things that I know you do. And if you’ll let me I want to fill those empty spots with your presents, Vegeta. I know you can, because I feel these empty places in you too, places you want filled as much as I do."

Vegeta glanced at him, no anger on his face this time. He seemed to study him as if he was seeing Goku for the first time and didn’t know what to make of him. Vegeta sighed softly and looked away again. "I still think you would have left," said Vegeta softly more to himself than Goku. His voice rose as he continued, "In my mind all three of you hold about even claims," he said not looking at any of them. "Things like this did happen on Vegeta-sei. More so to high class females, but males were fought over as well. When this happened, a tournament settled who held rightful claim. The strongest always had top priority on Vegeta-sei," said Vegeta, voice sounding distant. Vegeta turned around and faced them with a serious look. He raised up a hand and held up three fingers. "In these tournaments the fought over saiyan makes the rules. I have three." As he went he counted down on his fingers. "First, there will be two refs to judge who is winner. Second, there will be no going super saiyan, winner will be decided by skill and not who has the higher power level. And last, I claim right to challenge winner, if I lose… I won’t deny that person’s claim any more. Fair?"

The three glanced at each other as if considering.

"It does sound fair, if we have refs to judge there can’t be any cheep shots or misunderstandings over who won," said Gohan.

"I agree, plus if none of us go super saiyan it gives us more even odds of winning," Goten looked relieved by this rule, probably because he was the weakest of the three as far as ki went.

Goku frowned. "I don’t know," he said in a thoughtful voice glancing at Vegeta who stood with a neutral look on his face. "Do you really need to reserve right to challenge winner, Vegeta?" asked Goku.

Vegeta sneered at him. "Those are my rules, Kakarot! Take them or leave them."

Goku held that small frown on his lips for a moment then nodded his head. "I understand Vegeta, I except your rules." There was a kind of knowing light in Goku’s eyes as if he knew something they didn’t.

"Well," said Vegeta glancing to the side. "Now that that’s settle, why don’t you three get out of here," said Vegeta turning to walk away.

"What? Hey wait a minute Vegeta!" protested Gohan.

Vegeta stopped and glanced back at them from over his shoulder. "I need to find two people as refs, two people who won’t pick sides and can see a fight at such a level of power and speed. Till I do there’s no reason for you to hang around here."

"Vegeta, you’re not going to use this time to try and escape, are you?" asked Goten.

A sweat drop ran slowly down the side of Vegeta’s head. "What makes you think that?" he said not looking at them.

The three exchanged knowing glances….

Two minutes later.

"Assholes!!!!!" shouted Vegeta in rage from his spot wrapped from shoulders to ankles in ki charged ropes and chains. The three stood over him like a couple of cell guards dusting off their hands.

"We know you too well Vegeta," said Goku standing straight. "If you can find a chance to get out of this you will. If we don’t keep an eye on you the next thing we know you’ll probably be half way across the galaxy."

Vegeta ground his teeth together then turned his head to the side and silently fumed.

"Well what are we going to do about refs?" asked Goten.

Gohan raised his head and looked at Piccolo. "Piccolo-san, you’ll be a ref right?" he asked.

On the ground Vegeta snorted and grumbled something about favorites too low under his breath for them to understand.

Piccolo lips were drawn in a tight line as he looked at Gohan and several seconds passed before he slowly nodded his head.

"Good then we only need one more person," said Goku.

"Yah, but who? Trunks, Bra, Uub, and Pan are off world on the moon, and everyone else that could see that kind of a battle are all dead now," said Goten.

Frowns appeared on the threes faces and they bowed their heads and rubbed their chins in thought.

"I know someone," said Piccolo to the side. They all snapped their head up to look at him.

"Who?" asked Goten.

Piccolo didn’t answer. "I’m not sure if he’ll agree to ref, but I can ask him." He bent and scooped up one protesting Vegeta to sling him over his shoulder. "I’ll keep an eye on the… trophy," said Piccolo glancing at Vegeta’s thighs as the saiyan prince voiced a few of his favorite curses. "That way you three won’t get into another fight over him. Don’t worry I’ll keep a close eye on him. Gohan, take them to that plot of wilderness I trained you in as a boy, you three won’t cause any trouble way out there. As for me I’ll ask if he’ll ref for us and meet you there." The namekian levitated up into the air and turned, vanishing over the horizon.

Goten had a confused look on his face. "He didn’t answer me. I wonder who he’s going to ask," he muttered to himself watching as Piccolo became a speck in the distances.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Woowe!" said Goku sitting back and wiping the sweat off his brow. "This looks about right, ne Gohan?"

Gohan smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, I’d say that’s the right size for a ring," he said looking at the flat section of square stone blocks they’d constructed for a ring.

Goku smiled and slapped a hand down on the solid block next to him. "It’s not as nice as the one Cell made, but I don’t think it is bad considering none of us have any carpenter skills, ne Goten…? Goten. Yo Goten!"

"Huh?" said Goten snapping his head up to look at the two across the ring from him.

"What’s wrong Goten?" asked Gohan.

"Nothing really," said Goten glancing at his feet. "I guess I’m just nervous about this, no matter how fair it is two of us are going to walk away from here alone…" Both Goku and Gohan could hear the unspoken part of that sentence, Goten was afraid he’d be one of the two.

Both men lightly bit their lower lips to restrain themselves, what words of comfort could they possible give the younger man when they themselves were the obstacles in the way of Goten’s happiness. Happiness… all three longed to taste it again, not the bitter taste of loneliness pulling them down like a black pit of despair.

Goku walked over to his son and placed a hand on his shoulder, the youngest son looked up at him. "Whatever happens Goten, you fight to your best. Maybe you’ll win, maybe you’ll lose, but whatever happens you know we’re there for you," he smiled that really soft smile of his. "Things have a way of working out, you’ll see."

Goten managed a small smile back, but it didn’t light his whole face as it usually did. "Hai, Tou-san."

The three suddenly stiffened and at once they all snapped their head up to look in the sky. Levitating in mid air were three figures, it was hard to tell who they were at that distance but as they came closer they soon identified them.

"Juunanagou?" said Goku taking a step back as the blue eyed android landed right next to him.

"Yo," said 17 tossing his hair back. "It’s been awhile, glad to see you remember me," he said with a small turn of the lips. "Piccolo filled me in," he grinned much wider. "It sounded too interesting to pass up, you guys are actually going to fight over him?" he said looking over his shoulder at Vegeta who was free from his bonds and floating over head with arms cross and a scowl. "I find that overly amusing, though he does have a sweet ass doesn’t he," he winked up at Vegeta who snorted and looked away.

Goten blinked confused eyes and inched over to his brother. "Ne Gohan, who’s that?" he asked.

"Eh? You don’t know? Hmm… I guess not, I myself haven’t seen him since the Cell tournament. He’s Juuhachigou’s twin brother, Juunanagou."

"Juunanagou?" said Goten tilting his head to the side like a curious puppy to study the android.

"Juunanagou, wow! I haven’t seen you in years," said Goku. "You remember my oldest son right, Gohan, and I don’t think you’ve meet Goten," he said gesturing at the two.

"Nice to see you again, Juunanagou-san," said Gohan bowing his head slightly.

Goten found himself staring. He looks a lot like Juuhachigou, they’ve got the same eyes he thought to himself. He suddenly noticed he was staring and made a hasty hello and a quick bow.

"Piccolo-san," said Gohan looking over at his sensei. "Juunanagou-san is who you were talking about?"

"Yes," said the namek. "I meet him out in the wilderness while doing some training a few years back. He been living out there, I’m lucky he still was or there’s no way I’d ever have found him."

As Piccolo said that Goten suddenly realized that he couldn’t feel any ki from 17, it was like the man was a rock; that would put anyone fighting him at a severe handicap as they won’t be able to tell where he’d reappear when he vanished. He wondered how strong he was and how his brother and father had beaten him being unable to feel him out. It must have been an interesting fight to say the least. Why had he’d never heard of him till now?

"Well than," said Juunanagou strolling over to the side of the ring. "Why don’t we get this show on the road, I want to see who’s going to win."

Piccolo nodded and moved over to the other side across from 17.

"Etoo," said Gohan looking back and forth between his brother and father. "How are we going to do this? There’s three of us."

Vegeta landed softly on the grass next to 17. "Kakarot will fight first against Goten," he said in a mellow voice.

"Oi Vegeta that’s not fair," said Goku. "Whoever wins will be tired before the final round, while Gohan will be fresh."

"Well take a two hour break after this round and then continue," said Vegeta in a neutral voice.

Goku frowned softly, but turned to look at Goten who looked both nervous and eager. "I’ll right than, Vegeta," said Goku softly moving to jump up on the ring, Goten right behind him.

"Let’s keep this clean," said Piccolo to the side. "If either of you go above normal and into super saiyan me and Juunanagou will know so don’t even try it or you’ll automatically lose. If a combatant gets too hurt and one of us calls him out, there will be no argument over it. No need for any of you to get too injured, we don’t have any senzu beans with us, remember that. Also stepping outside the ring will cause you to automatically lose."

"Yosha," said Goku glancing at Piccolo. He crouched down in a fighting stance and Goten mirrored him.

"Hajime!" shouted Juunanagou. The two blurred away to begin melee.

Goten snapped his head and shoulders from side to side avoiding his father’s rapid punches. His heart beat accelerated to a rapid patter in his chest as his saiyan blood sang to him, telling him to mar the other man, draw blood and fight till exhaustion pulled him down. Once again he felt so alive, alive like when he spared with Vegeta but a day ago. His was passion, this was battle and excitement; this was life.

Goku’s fist impacted with Goten’s stomach, pushing in to the wrist and the air was slowly pushed out of his lungs. Goten grounds his teeth, grabbed hold of his father’s arm, and swung his whole body up to slam his legs into Goku’s shoulder. The two tilted to the side as Goten’s weight threatened to unbalance Goku. Goten saw his chance and flung his free arm up over his head, palm up. His hand glowed softly with ki right before he released a blast straight up into the air. The force of the ki ball pushing off him slammed Goten down hard, causing Goku to lose his balance completely. Goten made sure to twist the arm holding his father’s fist against his stomach so that his elbow was driving hard into the saiyan’s side when they landed causing Goku to give a small yelp of pain. He couldn’t help the smile that lit his face, Gohan, Vegeta, and no doubt even his father would be proud of that move. He looked his father in the face to see the saiyan give his a small grin as if to congratulate the move, but his own smiled didn’t last long as Goku curled his legs up and snapped them around his neck. He gave a small yell as he was yanked back, his face slammed hard into the unforgiving stone cracking it as his body bent in an arch.

Goten winced and went flat on his back. Don’t get cock he told himself, reminding himself who he was fighting against. It would take a lot more than one good hit to take his father down and make him stay that way.

Goku rolled over and straddled Goten’s waist that smile still on his lips as he aimed a punch down at the demi-saiyan. Goten caught the first fist then the second and the two pushed against each other, both grinding their teeth as they strained. The two were alike in so many ways, if Goten allowed his hair to go wild he’d pretty much be his father’s clone. Take away his father’s larger power level and the only thing Goku had to his advantage was experience.

Goten lifted his head and slammed his forehead against Goku’s in a savage head-butt, both fall back stars dancing across their vision by the move. He hadn’t expected it to hurt as much on his part!

Goku shook his head to rid himself of the stars; he quickly did a back roll away from his dazed son. As soon as he’d completed the roll he snapped his head up to see Goten grimacing and starting to sit up. Not allowing his youngest time to recover completely he snagged Goten’s foot and stood up.

Goten let out a startled yip as he soon found himself being spun around in circles. The world turned into blurs of colors that all bled into each other as the paces got faster and faster. He yelled loudly as he was released to going flinging into the atmosphere.

Goten slowly pulled on his ki to slow his flight, but no sooner had he managed to halt himself than he was twisting and turning in a mad torrent of motion avoiding his father’s well aimed kicks and punches. He saw a break and dove for it and soon both men were striking as much as they were blocking.

Goku caught his son’s fist and yanked back his own as Goten’s slapped it away. He was pleased to see his son had been keeping up his skills, he seemed to have improved some-what over the last couple of years. He uffed as Goten got a good kick into his rib. yup, defiant improvement. He let out a yell and levitated up slightly over Goten’s head, clasping his hands together, and bringing them down to slam them on Goten’s shoulder. He watched the demi-saiyan plummeted towards earth to crash into the stone ring, rocking the ground with his impact. He stayed in the air, watching as the dust cleared, and waiting for Goten to reappear. He blinked and gasped, trying to move out of the way as a ki blast zoomed up at him. It nicked his side, tore the shirts off his back, and scorched his left side and shoulder, making the flesh there red and angry.

Goku hissed in pain and clasped a hand over the wound. Forcefully opening one eye, that had been sealed shut with pain, he looked down at his youngest son hovering just a few feet below and to the side of his current position. He couldn’t help the smile or the small laugh that make its way free from him. "Not bad Goten," he praised. He let go of the wound and straightened himself in the air; his hand began to glow at first softly than with sparks of power.

Goten’s eyes widened as his father released a series of medium-size globes of ki that hovered around him like obedient pet dogs. The line of his mouth tightened as his gaze met his fathers. A bead of sweat slid down the side of his face.

With a roar Goku charged, the globes of ki zoomed off in all different directions to circle around Goten.

Goten snapped his head around trying to keep track of the ki blasts, but he was soon forced to focus on his father as Goku charged back into combat.

The two spun in the air throwing kicks and punches, the ki balls circled as well, but kept a respectful distance away from the two. They rose higher and higher into the air, clouds soon drifted about them blown by strong winds.

Goten gasped and jumped back as one of the circling ki balls zoomed up between he and his father. He cursed as Goku had also jumped back, but right into a bank of clouds completely hiding him. Goten turned in circles looking for the saiyan, but all he could see were the circling balls of ki. His attention was snapped to the side as another ki blast zoomed at him. Goten instinctually batted it away, but no sooner as he done that than Goku jumped out of the clouds behind him and wrapped his strong arms around his waist, trapping his arms to his sides. He let out a startled cry as they started plummeting from the sky; the ki balls circled them moving up over their heads as they fell.

Goten suddenly knew what his father’s strategy was, why he’d created so many ki blasts and not used them right away, though the information did him little good at the moment. A ki blast zoomed down and struck him square in the chest, accelerating their decent, then another, and another, scorching his shirt, burning his skin, blasting the air from his lungs, and making them both zoom towards the stone ring at incredible speeds.

Both saiyan and demi-saiyan grasped breathlessly as they impacted Goku on the bottom with his son held in a crushing bear hug. Goten was given no time to recover as the remaining three ki balls crashed down hitting him solid on the chest one after another. The impact carried though him to Goku, though not as severally, and with every impact a grunt was draw from the saiyan. When the last blast hit, Goten’s eyes widened then slowly slid half shut as he stared blankly up at the clear sky. I’ve lost was his finally thought before darkness swallowed him whole.

It was several seconds before Goku found the strength to move. He gently rolled the unconscious Goten off him, then slowly rolled over on his hands and knees. He coughed and watched as red blood splattered on the broken stone below him. Slowly he reached up a hand and wiped his lips, the coppery taste of blood coasted his mouth. He sat down on his butt and looked over at Goten, his son was batter, bruised, and bloody, but would only suffer minor injuries that would heal within a few days. A sad light filled his eyes as he looked at the demi-saiyan. He reached over a hand and petted his son’s black hair. "Gomen Goten, you tried," he told the boy. "I’m proud of you," he smiled warmly still petting the KO boy’s hair. He looked up as a shadow fell over him to see Vegeta standing before them.

The prince’s face was unreadable as he held eye contract with him. Goku smiled softly. "That’s one down, Vegeta."

"Hn," snorted Vegeta looking to the side, Goku could have almost sworn that a small smile had tugged at the corner of his lips. "You took an awful lot of damaged from a pup of your own blood," said Vegeta still not looking his way. "Are you getting soft Kakarot?"

Goku smiled and shook his head. "Goten… has been getting stronger, I didn’t know he’d gotten so much better."

"He ranks level two in super saiyan form," said Vegeta causing Goku to snap his head up to look at him.

"Soo ka," said Goku looking at Goten again with pride. "I didn’t know."

"Of course not," said Vegeta causing Goku to snap his gaze back up the prince who now wore a frown. "You weren’t there."

"Vegeta…" whispered Goku feeling like the prince had just given him a powerful blow right to the chest that hurt far more than any of Goten’s strikes.

Vegeta bent down and scooped Goten up. "I’ll take care of him, you rest up for your next match," said the prince walking off with the demi-saiyan’s head resting against his chest.

Goku bowed his head. Even though he’s won, he suddenly felt like he’d lost.