There'd been a feeling of emptiness. Gohan… Cold, dark and lonely. Gohan clenched and unclenched his fist, grabbing at what felt like gravel - then he realized he was lying down. The ground was cold and jagged, puncturing small dents into his skin. Gohan… A shiver made it's way up his spine, jerking his consciousness back to reality.

Upon opening his eyes, he realized the darkness and the cold hadn't been a figment of his imagination. What he saw felt almost surreal. The fog surrounding him was thick, covering anything outside a seven foot radius. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, taking in his mysterious surroundings. Gohan…

It finally registered, that voice calling him. Gohan tensed his body and quickly stood up, scanning every direction for any sign of danger. But all he could see was the blinding fog. Don't worry, you're not in any danger. There was that voice again.

"Who are you?" he asked, unsure of which direction to look to when speaking.

A small dark patch appeared in the fog about ten meters away… perhaps seven, it was hard to tell. The patch gradually began to take the form of a human figure as in continued to speak. "I just came to thank you," the voice said. It got closer and Gohan was able to make out the clothing. The form was male, wearing a gold, sleeveless karate gi with a navy blue T-shirt underneath. Dressed similarly to Goku, but smaller in size.

These mist covered mountains

Are a home now for me

But my home is the lowlands

And always will be

"Never mind that, Goken" Gohan said. "Are you alright?" His voice was filled with concern. Although Goken looked alright, he knew it was only a matter of time before the Firebird would come through - "

"I'm dead, Gohan," Goken replied. "I guess the answer to that question would depend on what perspective you're looking at the situation from." A smirk crept across Goken's face. Gohan didn't know why, because while it was strange to see Goken smile for the first time in years, he was happy to see it. His expression was weak with exhaustion, but it also hinted at happiness and most of all, relief.

"Haha, yeah," Gohan chuckled. There was an awkward moment of silence, as he processed the information. The Firebird was dead, and so was Goken. Oddly, he didn't feel any remorse and judging from Goken's behavior, he didn't seem too upset either.

"Anyway," Goken said, breaking the silence, "I just wanted to say thanks."

"For what?" Gohan asked. "For killing you? I mean…"

"No, for killing the Firebird. It was hell being a part of that demon, but it's taught me a thing or two. Sometimes, revenge isn't worth it. And the best way to solve my problem was to show you my point of view, from what I was going through during your training. I mean I'm not Saiyan and -"

"I know all about that," Gohan interrupted. "Kamisama told us. And for what it's worth … I'm sorry."

"Yeah." Goken looked down at the ground and scraped the it with his foot.

"So I guess this means I have to break the news to everyone," Gohan said regretfully. "Not that they don't already know you're dead. It's pretty much a given, especially if the Firebird's dead. Well, on the bright side, at least you get to meet Dad."

Through these fields of destruction

Baptism of fire

I've watched all your suffering

As the battles raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms

"He already has." A third voice spoke loudly and clearly. It's firm but gentle tone bore a sense of authority and paternal love, which could only mean it was …

"Dad…" Gohan's eyes began to water. "Is it really… really you?" Goku's form appeared beside Goken. Gohan couldn't control himself. It had been too long since he last seen his father, and there he was, standing just a few feet away. Gohan wrapped his arms around his father's waist and shoulders tightly.

Goken always thought of his brother as big and strong and nothing in the world could even scratch Gohan. But after seeing him beside their father, it clicked that Gohan was only around fifteen years old and Goku was so much bigger, practically dwarfing Gohan. And then it clicked. Goken felt foolish for actually realizing it now, but Gohan was only a boy, a boy who looked up to his dad just as much as he looked up to his older brother - Look up to my brother? Have I ever seen Gohan as a father figure…? Goken was confused, he didn't know the answer to that.

Goku pulled Gohan gently away, holding him by the shoulders, looking straight into his eyes. "You've done an amazing job without me," he said. "An amazing job in school, in taking care of your mom and your brother. And I need you to be strong and keep this up. Only this time, Goken won't be with you."

Gohan wiped the back of his hand against his nose. "I know," he said, "but he'll be safe in the afterlife right?"

"I'm not staying here in the afterlife either," Goken interrupted.

"What?" Gohan asked, "Then where are you going?"

"I've been given a second chance at life," Goken began. "In the afterlife, the gods have separated my soul from the Firebird's soul. He's in the underworld right now, paying for his crimes. They've determined that my course in this life was unfair, and they want to give me a second chance. They said it's up to me whether or not I want to take it."

"That's terrific! So that means you'll be coming back to stay with us, right?" Gohan couldn't believe it. All along he believed that by destroying the Firebird, he'd have to destroy his brother as well. It was a fact that always made him think twice about doing it. But here Goken was, being given a second chance at life!

"That's not quite the case," Goku explained, seeing a shocked expression unfold on Gohan's face.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I'm given a second chance at life," Goken repeated, "I'll be living in a different world, a different dimension, and I'll have a different name. It's a completely different life and identity for me."

There's so many different worlds

So many different suns

And we have just one world

But we live in different ones

"Oh … I see…"

"They told me the decision is entirely up to me, so I don't think I'll be taking it." Goken said.

"What?! Why not?" Gohan asked.

"Because that means all my memories of this life will be replaced. Mom, you and Dad mean so much to me, I can't imagine not even remembering you. I just … I can't do it!"

"That is a foolish reason," Goku said. "Do you think that's what we really want? For you to throw away a second chance at life?"

"I don't know. I just don't want to forget."

"You'll have new memories," Gohan said, trying to encourage Goken. "You'll have a much better life with a new family, new friends. How could you say no to that?"

Goken's lip began trembling and tears welled up in his eyes. "Because I'm gonna miss you guys…"

Gohan sniffed, and choked back more tears. He gave Goken a hug and said, "Listen to me. You're going to be alright. And if you're ever scared, lonely or afraid, remember that me, Mom and Dad will always be with you."

"I don't understand. How?"

Gohan took Goken's wrist and placed it on his own chest. "Because blood is thicker than water."

Now the sun's gone to hell

And the moon's riding high

Let me bid you farewell

Every man has to die

Neither of them could control the tears any more. The two brothers stood there in embrace, each one crying their own river of tears, holding on to each other as if their lives depended on it. Goken hadn't always liked Gohan, but he realized in the end, that despite Gohan's torturous training, Goken's thirst for revenge and the Firebird's attempt to destroy their family, the two of them had been through too much for Goken to want to leave now. His mother was probably on earth, crying herself to sleep and he wanted to comfort her so much. And Goku; Goken had only just met his father and already he had to say goodbye.

Goken knew his family would be there to support each other and that they were encouraging him to take up the offer on life, but he just wasn't ready yet. "I promise…," Goken tried to say in between sobs, "I promise in my next life, I'll make up for everything bad I've done in this life." Gohan was crying to hard to say anything. His face wet and red. All he could do was nod. "And in the end, when I'm done," Goken continued, "I'll come back here and see everyone again. I… I promise!"

Some day you'll return to

Your valleys and your farms

And you'll no longer burn

To be brothers in arms

"All isn't lost, Gohan," Goku said. "Life moves on and eventually, we have to learn to let go."

"I know," Gohan replied, releasing Goken. "But this isn't going to be easy."

"No," Goku said, "but here's something to make it a little easier." A third form slowly materialized beside Goku. It was a mere child, barely reaching to his knee. The toddler had hair similar to Goku's and big bright eyes that started adoringly at Gohan.

Goku picked up the child in his arms and rocked it back and forth. "I believe your mother is expecting this child," Goku said. "Here." He slowly passed the child carefully to Gohan. It wrapped it's arms around his neck and made small gurgles. Gohan gently swayed back and forth running his hand along the child's back as it's eyes slowly closed. "It's your new baby brother. I think your mother will like the name. Goken thought of it."

"It's Goten," Goken said. "Tell Mom she can keep the name if she wants."

"Goten," Gohan said to himself. "Thanks Goken, I think I like it."

"It's time for us to go," Goku said, putting a protective hand on Goken's shoulder. "Take care of Goten. And don't worry about Goken. He'll be fine, I'll make sure of it."

"Perhaps one day, if you come back," Gohan began.

"When I come back," Goken corrected.

"Yeah, when you come back, you'll be able to meet Goten."

"I don't know how, but I promise I'll make it back here. I may not have my memories of this life, but I know …"

The fog became thicker, until it turned into a blinding white light engulfing Goku and Goken, leaving Gohan alone with little Goten in his arms. The light felt warm, comforting him from the sadness of his departing father and brother. "… Blood is thicker than water."

* * *

Gohan awoke in a hospital bed, for the second time in two weeks, surrounded by worried faces. Piccolo, Vegeta, Bulma, Juuhachi Gou, Kuririn, Yamcha, Trunks and Chichi were all standing there with relieved looks on their faces.

Chichi brought a hand up and covered her mouth and then hugged her son. "Thank god you're alright," she said. "The doctors had no idea when you'd come out of your coma. You just began moving a few minutes ago so everyone came in to see how you were doing."

"I'm doing fine," Gohan replied, and then he noticed his mother was in a hospital gown too. "Oh my god, Mom are you alright? What happened to you? What are you in here for?"

Bulma put a cool, reassuring hand on Gohan's shoulder and explained gently. "It's okay honey, your mother just gave birth to a new baby. He's in the nursery right now." Gohan looked at Chichi.

"Is that true?" he asked, his heart suddenly began racing.

"Yes it's true," Chichi said smiling. "It's not Goken, but … but I've learned to let him go. I know he's in a much better place and I know your father will watch over him."

Gohan smiled. "Yeah he's definitely in a much better place. No matter how he looks like, no matter what his name is, Goken will always be one of us." Chichi smiled and nodded in deep agreement.

"And you know what I'm going to call the baby?" she asked changing the subject.

Gohan smiled back, ignoring the tears of joy that rolled down the corners of his eyes. "Goten," he replied.

Chichi gasped. "How do you know?" she asked, putting her hand to her mouth."

"Goken told me," he replied. And then they hugged and started to cry.

But it's written in the starlight

And every line on your palm

We're fools to make war

On our brothers in arms

THE END

Poetic lyrics from the song "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits