AN: The tournament museum is reference from my Life With You story Part 15.

Son Family Week 2019

Family Album

Goten

"What's going on?" Goten approached his parents who were very cozy with each other. He jumped between them wanting to share in the affection. Goten settled on Goku's lap, giggling as his father squeezed him.

"I'm finishing the family album." Chichi turned the album to a blank page. "Your Dad and brother have been helping me. Once we finish, we'll leave for dinner."

Goku took the remaining pictures out of the box and spread them out. Most of the pictures left were taken after his second revival. There were a few he didn't recognize since they were taken after his death.

Goten studied the pictures. Though the ones taken after his father came back to life were his favorite, there were some he like during his first seven years. "I remember this one." Goten reached for a picture. "Mom, Gohan and I went to a museum where there were pictures of you."

"Me?" Goku knew of only one place that held pictures of him but he looked at the picture to be sure. Chichi, Gohan and Goten stood before a large portrait of Goku fighting Jackie Chun. "You three went to the Tournament Museum on Papaya Island?"

"When Goten was five," Gohan returned to the room, "I mentioned going to the museum as a kid." Gohan ruffled his brother's head. "After that, Goten wouldn't stop begging to go."

"Mom didn't want to," Goten added. "Something about Mr. Satan."

Goku and Gohan knew her reasons but for Goten to understand, Chichi only said, "Mr. Satan has made his money taking credit for something he didn't do. I didn't want to see it on full display. Also, some of the memories I made there were difficult to handle at the time."

"I convinced Mom we can go during the off season for tourists to Papaya Island," Gohan added.

"I see," Goku understood Chichi's reluctance to go back to Papaya Island. Besides him being dead a second time, the last time they went it was a week before his death during his fight with Raditz. "Did you enjoy it, Goten? The Shrine of Fighters was my favorite thing to see."

Goten nodded excited. "I like that, too! Especially the shrine dedicated to you, Dad."

Papaya Island was not like Mount Paouz. Goten's home in the mountains was quiet, the air smelled fresher, the water tasted cleaner and there weren't a lot of people. Goten's nearest neighbor was over five miles. Here, people were everywhere. Goten hadn't seen this many people except in West City visiting Trunks. It was a little scary to the five-year-old from the country.

Goten squeezed his mother's hand. "It's so crowded, Momma."

"Don't worry, Goten," Chichi assured him with a warm smile. "It's safe and we're almost at the museum."

Their hotel was only a mile away so the three walked. When they reached the tournament arena, Goten nerves eased since there weren't many people in line. Gohan was right. There were less people visiting now in the offseason. It wasn't a long wait for the three to purchase their tickets and venture to the tournament grounds.

"It's very different than when we were here, Gohan." Chichi was annoyed as she read the pamphlet. "When we went, we were allowed to go everywhere. We could visit the competition halls, the mess hall and even the main arena. Now all that is closed off."

Goten didn't like to hear that. He saw the pictures taken when his mother, father and brother visited years ago. He wanted to tour those areas, too. "Can we still see the Shrine of Fighters, Momma?" Goten asked. "I wanna see Daddy's shrine."

Gohan read over his tour pamphlet. "Looks like it's the only thing we can do."

Goten held his mother's hand as they walked to the Shrine of Fighters. When they entered, there were lines to different areas of the shrine. Goten noticed his mother said nothing to the line of people entering the portion of the shrine dedicated to tournaments before his Dad competed but when she saw there was a shrine dedicated to Mr. Satan, the line was long and there wasn't a line leading to the Shrine of Goku, his mother was infuriated. "Disgusting! How pitiful."

Goten wondered why his mother became angry whenever Mr. Satan's name was mentioned. When he asked his brother about it, Gohan would smile and say, "Mom doesn't like it when people take credit for other people's hard work and sacrifices." Gohan never explained what their mother meant.

Goten shrugged. Maybe one day he'll understand.

Goten awed at the portraits on display in the Shrine of Goku. Goten's seen pictures of his father but those were in photo albums and frames on the wall. These portraits were life size and taken when Goku competed at the tournament.

"Wow, Momma!" Goten released his mother's hand as he rushed to a portrait of Goku vs Giran. "Daddy was small like me when he fought that big dinosaur."

"Yes," Chichi's eyes were only on her late husband. "He fought a lot of people bigger than him."

Staring at the pictures of his father against Giran, Nam and Jackie Chun, Goten thought about himself. If his father was strong at a young age and so small, then perhaps he could be really strong, too. As he contemplated this, a group of seven entered the shrine. Goten would've ignored them except he noticed the tall man of the group staring at Goten. Goten looked at himself wondering if he had food stains on his clothes but found nothing. While the group with him looked at the photos, the man kept his eyes on Goten. It was uncomfortable to the child to be stared at especially by a stranger.

Goten felt a tug of his hand and his mother saying, "Come on, Goten."

Goten followed his mother and brother to the area where photos of the 22nd tournament were on display. Goten loved seeing the pictures of his father. Even though the photos on display were screenshots of fights, Goten was happy to see glimpses of his father's fighting prowess in action after hearing so many stories about him from his mother and brother.

Everyone in his family could fight except him. Some mornings Goten would see his brother sparring alone in the yard. For Gohan, he did it to keep in shape and not to get stronger. Goten asked his brother if he will teach him how to fight but each time he asked, his brother would get a weird look on his face. He looked very sad when he turned him down.

"You don't need to learn how to fight, Goten," Gohan would tell him. "It may look fun seeing me spar outside but it's not as fun as you think. Fighting has consequences."

Since his brother turned him down, Goten considered asking his mother. She was strong and was a former fighter, too, but Goten overheard stories how his parents argued over Gohan fighting. He thought if he asked his mother will say no.

"I wish I saw Dad and Krillin fight," Gohan remarked with a laugh. He stood in front of the photos showing highlights of their fight. "They both studied under Master Roshi and that time was probably the closest Krillin will have gotten to beating Dad."

"No," Chichi disagreed. "Your Dad played with Krillin throughout that fight. He could've ended it sooner but he wanted to see how much stronger Krillin got. Your Dad only got serious when he was in the final match."

While staring at pictures of Goku fighting Krillin, Goten felt he was being watched again. He turned his head. It was the same man from earlier. Why was he looking at him? It was unnerving. Goten's eyes widen in fear when he saw the man talk to the group with him. Suddenly, they all were looking at him.

Goten moved closer to his mother when he saw the group coming to them. "Momma." Goten grabbed the skirts of his mother's dress and hid behind her. His mother looked at him confused before turning to the approaching group. Goten was scared but he was also mad at himself. If he knew how to fight, he could get in front of his mother. If these people approaching were bad, he could protect her and not hide behind her skirt.

"Hello." Chichi kept a hand on Goten while talking to the group. Gohan stepped closer to Chichi.

A man pointed at Goten. "I'm sorry if we scared him but I noticed that little boy behind you looks like Son Goku." He pointed to the photo of Goku on the wall. "Is he a relative?"

"This is his son, Son Goten." Chichi touched Gohan's arm. "His oldest son, Son Gohan. I'm his widow, Son Chichi. Who are you?"

"Oh," the man was crestfallen at the news Son Goku had passed. The man knelt to Goten and smiled kindly at him. "I'm Koji. I saw your Daddy at each of these tournaments. He was the best fighter I've ever seen."

Goten stepped away from his mother's skirt. "Really?"

Koji nodded. "Yes. The fight with him and Jackie Chun was the most amazing fight I've seen. When he turned into a giant ape, I was blown away! It was awesome! I didn't know martial artists could trained themselves to transform into animals! I would've changed into a lion or dinosaur but the giant ape was cool, too."

"Giant ape?" Goten frowned. What was this man talking about? "Are you sure you're talking about my Daddy?"

"Mr. Koji is mistaken, Goten. I think he's confused with a martial arts fight he saw in a movie." Chichi pointed to Goten and shook her head at Koji.

"Oh!" Koji caught on. "Right. I'm so sorry! It was a movie I saw. Your Daddy couldn't transform into a giant ape. That's for TV shows and movies." Koji was glad Goten grinned at him, thinking he made an error. "After that tournament, I came to the next two because I knew your Daddy will compete. I have to say the last one your Daddy competed in is my favorite." Koji stood with his group. A woman and five kids. "I met my wife at the 23rd tournament."

"Oooo! Momma and Daddy met again at that tournament, too!" Goten shared with Koji. "After Daddy won, he ran off to marry Momma!"

"Your mother is an amazing fighter." Koji laughed. "She had your Daddy running around the ring. She was fearless. I thought she could've beat him."

Goten gasped. He looked up at his mother eyes wide and mouth open. He knew his mother was strong but he had no idea she was that strong. Gohan always told him Daddy was the greatest fighter in the universe. If his mother almost beat him in a fight, how strong was she? Why didn't Gohan tell him?

Koji laughed at Goten's astonishment at his mother. "You are your Daddy's twin. It's amazing how much you look like him. I know you're young but are you taking martial arts classes?" Goten shook his head. He didn't hide his disappointment. "Oh, well I'm sure there's a good reason. Would be nice if we can get some real martial artists competing again instead of that fool Mr. Satan. I don't care what he says. I don't believe he killed Cell. If it was anyone, it was….." Koji caught himself in midsentence. He understood why Son Goku was dead. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Goten noticed Koji looked at his mother. "Why haven't you said anything? The world should be praising a real hero. Not a charlatan."

Goten looked from his mother to Mr. Koji. What was he talking about?

"It's the price I pay for privacy and peace, Mr. Koji."

Goten frowned. What did that mean? Goten looked at his brother. Did he know? Gohan had that weird sad face again. He probably did know and when he looked like that, he didn't tell Goten anything. Goten resigned himself to not knowing right now. Maybe someday he'll understand.

Mr. Koji did. "It's not much but let me show my gratitude. Let my family treat yours to dinner."

Dinner? Goten like that offer but seeing his mother's face, Goten knew she will turn him down. "That's kind of you but my sons eat like their father. It will be a very high bill."

Koji grinned. "Oh, I know all about that. My father owns Delicious Saikan. Your husband cleaned us out every time he visited! If we can't treat the family of the man who saved us all, we don't deserve to be in business. Please," Koji insisted, "have dinner with us."

Goten was very happy his mother accepted Koji's invitation. It turned into a fun night with Koji sharing more stories of his experiences at the tournaments Goku competed in. In turn, Chichi shared a few stories about Goku.

That evening, Chichi, Gohan and Goten returned to their hotel. While Gohan took a shower, Chichi helped Goten undressed. He was next to clean up. "Did you have fun today, Goten?"

"Yeah." This was a really good day. "I love seeing Daddy's shrine and talking to Mr. Koji and his family."

"They are good people."

"Momma, can you teach me how to fight?" In the past Goten was reluctant to ask his mother but hearing how much he looked like his Daddy from Mr. Koji and his polite nudge he should learn martial arts, Goten decided to take a chance and ask his mother. "I really wanna learn."

"Why do you want to fight, Goten?"

Goten expected his mother to say no but this question was encouraging. "Well, I wanna be strong like Daddy. I wanna be able to protect you."

"Protect me?"

"I was scared when Mr. Koji and his family came over. I hid behind you instead of standing in front of you. Daddy wouldn't have done that. Please, Momma." Goten begged. "Will you teach me?"

The longer his mother delayed answering the stronger the feeling became his mother will say no. Goten's hopes sank. He wondered if he will ever learn how to fight.

"If you don't mind having a stern teacher," Chichi smiled at him, "I'll be happy to teach you, Goten."

"Yeah!" Goten pumped his fist in the air and threw his arms around his mother in a fierce hug. "Thank you, Momma!"

"What are you doing with the camera, Goten?" Gohan stood in front of his mirror tying his tie. From his view in the mirror, he noticed Goten sitting on the bed playing with the family camera.

"I wanna take another family picture," Goten explained. "You have a lot of pictures with Mom and Dad. I don't. I wanna catch up."

"Boys!" Chichi called. "Are you ready? It's time to go!"

Gohan held the door open for his little brother. "Well, we can catch up before we go." Goten and Gohan left their room and found their parents waiting for them in the kitchen.

Goku sat at the kitchen table munching on apples from the fruit bowl. Chichi stood in the doorway shaking her head at her husband. "Goku, we're getting ready to leave. You're acting like you're starving."

"I am," Goku whined. "That snack we had earlier wasn't filling."

"Wow, Mom." Gohan stepped in the kitchen. His mother looked stunning in a white, halter dress. "Where did you get that dress?" It was a pretty dress but the way it showed off his mother's arms and back, it was not an outfit Gohan was used to his mother wearing.

"Something in the closet. I had it for years and….." Chichi looked slyly at Goku who grinned while munching on another apple. "I tried it on earlier, saw that it still fits and thought if I clean it, it will be perfect for tonight."

Goten stepped to his mother and held the camera to her. "Can we take a picture before we go? We can add it to the album."

"Sure." Chichi handed Goku the camera. He liked playing with it. It was the same mobile camera gifted to them from Gyu-Mao after Goku returned to life. Goku and Chichi had fun with this camera when their sons spent a few days with their grandpa. Now that she tight about it, Chichi thought she and Goku should do it again.

"All right. It's set."

The camera hovered in the air with the timer winding down as the Son family got in position. Chichi stood between Goku and Gohan while Goten stood in front of her. The family of four smiled as the camera captured another photo Chichi will add to the family album.