My first EVER fanfic , never finished. This got dramatic fast.

Gohan frowned. He was studying in his room, with the window slightly ajar. The smells of the outside and daylight poured inside. But he was bent over his books, trying to learn. "I wonder if…" He scribbled some more in his notebook.

Just then, he heard some laughing outside. "Huh?" Gohan said, looking up. He opened the up window more so that he could look out it.

Chou Zhu was giggling by the window. "Again, Tien, again!" He laughed. Tien came into view from the left. "Alright then…" He picked his friend up and threw him. Then he sent a weak blast sending Chou Zhu flying and giggling again.

On the second throw of watching, Gohan frowned and stood up. "Mom?"

Chi-Chi was there immediately at the doorway. "What is it Gohan?"

"Can I take a break and go outside to play?" Gohan asked, looking back out the window.

"Oh I guess. But hurry back and finish your homework, Gohan. We don't want you to fall behind again," his mother smiled.

Gohan looked back at her and nodded, "Yes ma'am." Then he slipped out the window.

"Use the door next time!" Chi-Chi called after him, head stuck out the window.

Outside, Gohan walked up to Tien and Chou Zhu. Chou Zhu looked over. "Oh hey Gohan!" He said, still giggling.

"What are you guys doing?"

Tien turned toward him and laughed. "Nothing much. Just messing around."

Gohan smiled. "Oh cool can I play?"

"Well I don't know if Goku would allow that sort of thing," Tien rubbed the back of his head, "Much less Chi-Chi". He looked back towards Gohan's house.

Gohan's face dropped. Tien walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Some other time," he said, "Come on Chou Zhu."

Tien walked off back the way he came and Chou Zhu floated after him. For a second, Gohan imagined Tien as his dad and Chou Zhu as himself.

Then we walked sadly back to the house, closing the window shut behind him as he went in.

After school, Gohan went back outside and climbed a tree in his yard; actually it was the only tree in his yard. He sat there for awhile, frowning. He flashed back to the time Goku saved him from the river when he was five, to the time he was rescued after Raditch took him captive.

He thought about the promise Goku had made to go fishing with him after he fought Vegeta. He never did. Even now, his dad was training off on the other side of the planet.

"Well he can't help it, he has to protect the Earth," Gohan said aloud.

"Who can't help it?" Said a voice from below, "Gohan? Is that you?"

Gohan pulled back some branches and leaves and peered down to see Krillin standing there, looking up at him. "Krillin! What are you doing here?" Gohan said.

"Well I had hoped I'd find Goku here, but I just heard he was out again," Krillin looked embarrassed.

"Oh," Gohan sat back, letting the branches mask him again.

Krillin blinked. "What's the matter?"

Gohan wiped at his face, sniffling a little bit. "Nothing,"

"Well don't say 'nothing', you look like you've lost your best friend, Gohan."

Gohan turned away, although Krillin couldn't possibly see much of him from where he was on the ground. He played with a bit of his clothing. "When's the last time you saw Dad, Krillin?"

"A few weeks ago, maybe," Krillin scratched his head, trying to remember, "Why, do you need something?" he asked, still very confused.

"No, but…" Gohan had a little fit with himself in the tree, unsure whether he should spill the sensu beans or not. "It's just that Mom and I never see him anymore. Ever since Vegeta showed up he never has time to be here. I just wish he cared more," he finally confessed.

"Don't say Goku doesn't care, Gohan, of course he cares. He cares more about you and Chi-Chi than anyone else," Krillin tried to reason with him.

"Yeah, I know he cares." the 7 year-old backtracked, "It's just that…"

Krillin suddenly pulled back the branches of the tree, climbing up onto Gohan's branch. "Look, why don't you talk to him? I'm sure Bulma's dad can hook you up with a phone while you get yours at your house fixed," he gave a smile as he was explaining it.

Gohan seemed to brighten up a bit, "Great idea, Krillin! Why didn't I think of that?"

Krillin brightened as well when he saw Gohan's mood lifted, "Oh it was nothing, really," he laughed a little, leaning back.

Before he could realize nothing was behind him, he fell right out of the tree and onto his back.

Gohan's head popped through the leaves of the tree. "Krillin! Are you okay?"

Krillin sat up, "Yeah, I guess I just lost my footing there for a second."

For a moment, both just looked at each other. Then they laughed.

Gohan climbed down and hopped to the ground with ease as Krillin watched in wonder. "Thanks again Krillin!"

With that, Gohan blasted off.

"He's definitely your son, Goku," Krillin said, standing up and watching him go.

Bulma watched a frog in the lab. For awhile it had just banged on the glass with its fists, jumped up and down, and even croaked so loudly they needed a sound proof glass to cover over its tank. But now, it just lay on its back, panting.

"I know this guy's evil, but can we put him somewhere else besides Earth? I mean he's just getting all worked up here and doing literally nothing else," Bulma crouched down to eye level with the still panting frog.

"Captain Ginyu isn't safe anywhere but here, dear. Besides, we can study his genes that give him such extraordinary power." Dr. Brief replied, with clip board in hand as he scribbled notes about something on a projected computer screen.

"I guess," Bulma said, tapping the glass of the tank to try and get Ginyu on his feet again. "Still, it's kind of weird knowing the guy that possessed me on Namek is now living out his days as a captive frog. What a life," she mused.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Bulma stood up. "I'll get it," she put her clipboard down on top of Ginyu's cage and walked out of the lab.

Moments later, she was at the front door of the Capsule Corporation house. Opening the door, she found an excited Gohan.

"Hey Bulma, mind if I use your phone? I just want to try to call my dad and see if he's around," he said grinning. "I haven't been able to talk to him for weeks."

Bulma blinked, "Sure, go right on in," she stepped out of the way so that Gohan could walk inside. "The phone's down the hall, to your left."

"Thanks!" Gohan's voice floated back to her as he ran down the hallway.

He skidded into the room, looking around. His face lit up when he found the hot magenta phone just under the window. He walked over and picked up the receiver. "Alright. Mom told me his number is…"

Gohan dialed and stood back, holding the phone up to his ear with both hands.

The phone rang for awhile until it cut to the answering machine. Gohan frowned and hung up, dialing the number again. This time the phone rang four times before someone finally answered.

"Bulma?" Said a voice over the phone; Gohan grew very excited. "No it's me, Dad. How've you been?"

"Oh, Gohan," replied Goku as he recognized his son's voice over the phone. "Now's not really a good time, son."

Goku was on the other side of the planet, training in an academy of elite warriors. One of which was Yamcha. "Coming Goku?" he smirked, standing in the doorway. Goku covered the receiver. "In a second, Yamcha, tell Master Roka I'll be there soon."

"I'll stall for time," Yamcha said with the same smile on his face, walking out.

Back at Capsule Corp, Goku's voice came over the phone once again. "I'll see you in a few months Gohan."

"But-"

"Love you." Goku hung up. He then picked up his knapsack and ran out the door. "Hey Yamcha! Wait up!"

Gohan hung his head. "Love you too Dad," he muttered as he hung up the phone.

"Everything alright in here?" Bulma said from the doorway behind Gohan.

Gohan spun around faking a big smile. "Sure is, Bulma, he said he'd be home soon."

Bulma seemed to buy it. She smiled, "See? Nothing to worry about. I bet he and Yamcha are having the best time training together." She sighed, "I wish I was having that much fun."

Gohan swallowed, but faked a weak smile and nodded. "I better get home before my mom freaks."

He made his way hurriedly past Bulma and out the door.

Bulma tapped a pencil to her chin. "Hopefully Gohan's not coming down with anything," she worried for a second. "He's been acting so weird lately."

A croak broke her train of thought, and she realized she still had Ginyu's tank with her. She shot him a shifty-eyed look. "Not that you'd care, would you?"

Ginyu swallowed, beads of sweat coming down his frog face.