A DragonBall Christmas Tale

6: Goten’s Gift

That night, Bra couldn’t sleep. Christmas was the next day, so she was way too excited. She loved the attention and presents Christmas brought so much that some might have called her a spoilt brat. But it wasn’t just that. Christmas was the only time that Vegeta let down his cold-angry-prince guard, and almost acted like a normal father/husband. Bra could still remember the look of pure love on his face when, at the age of two, she’d given him a painting she’d made for him. The picture was framed on a wall at Capsule Corp., but it went into a cupboard when anyone came to visit.

By 3am, she’d had enough. Bra climbed out of bed and silently left the room. She descended the stairs, and saw that Piccolo was ‘asleep’ in the dining room, cross-legged, floating two feet above the ground. Bra went to the living room instead, where the Christmas tree flashed like a beacon.

Under the tree, were nineteen stacks of presents; one for each person (Puar’s had been included in Yamcha’s pile. Nobody really knew what to get the floating cat-like creature anyway). Bra could see the presents she had bought for everyone; all wrapped the same way – red paper with green ribbon. Then she noticed the pile of presents for her. With a mischievous grin, she sat down next to them.

As the youngest member of the group, Bra felt it her duty to peak at her presents. After ten minutes of shaking and poking, she was disappointed to find that the most important present was missing: the one from Goten. She was seriously considering going through the rest of the presents to look for it, when she realised how stupid and selfish she was being.

Bra retreated to one of the couches and sat down. She remembered that she had placed all the presents from her into boxes before wrapping them. She hated wrapping odd-shaped presents, but her action also discouraged peaking.

Too bad nobody else thought of that. Bra now had a rough idea of what most of her presents were. Bra was almost embarrassed she realised that a lot of the things she had bought were clothes. Oh well, I have a great taste, and a pretty good idea of what size everyone is. 

Bra yawned. She laid down on the couch, and finally went to sleep.

 

                                                 * * * * * *

 

That was how Goten found her when he rose at about 4.30. He was disappointed to see that she wasn’t under any mistletoe, but then realised that it probably wouldn’t have counted. Besides, Bra was asleep.

In his hand, Goten held the little box, which he had just wrapped. He shook his head as he tidied up Bra’s gifts to make it less obvious she’d been through them. Then, he placed his present on top.

Goten sat down next to Bra. She stirred in her sleep, and, as a result, placed her head on Goten’s thigh. He smiled at her, then started to doze himself.

 

                                                 * * * * * *

 

At about 6.30am, happy cheers echoed through the cabin. In an odd change of role, Vegeta had to calm down and restrain Bulma. She didn’t like to be woken up.

Goten woke just before Bra, and quickly moved so he wouldn’t startle her (and so her father wouldn’t beat him up).

Eventually, with everyone downstairs, it was time to open the presents. Even Piccolo and Vegeta seemed excited, and they were.

In her rush to see if her guesses had been right, Bra didn’t notice the new present until later. She had been right with all of her guesses, but there were three presents she’d had no idea about.

One, from Pan, turned out to be a new pair of boots. Bra hugged her friend in thanks. Trunks gave Bra a mobile phone, something Bra had not expected. The final ‘surprise’ gift came from Piccolo (that was a surprise in itself). The gift was a pretty bracelet made out of shells, one of which Pan and Marron also received. 

When asked where he bought them, Piccolo muttered something that could’ve been, "I made them myself", but no one was too sure. The girls didn’t care. They ran over and gave the Namek a hug, and for a moment, Piccolo’s vivid green face was tinted slightly purple.

Bra decided to clean up the mess she had made ripping open her presents. As she did, she put her hand onto a small box. The gift was unopened. 

"I wonder who this is for," she thought, aloud, looking for a tag. She did not have to open the tiny card that said ‘B-chan’ on the front to know who the gift was from, but she opened it anyway.

"These aren’t as pretty as you, but they’ll have to do. With love, Goten." Bra didn’t know if the attempted rhyme was intentional or accidental. She didn’t care either. Bra tore off the wrapping.

Goten walked up behind her as she opened the box. He was close enough to hear her quietly gasp. He moved closer and asked, "Like them?"

Bra turned around, shocked. "Goten, they’re beautiful! But they must have been so expensive."

"Nah. I wanted to get you something nice."

"You’re so sweet. Thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck.

Goten smiled. "Looks like you’ve caught me under the mistletoe."

Bra glanced up. "Do you get a point for that?"

"No, I don’t think so."

"Then step back a little." Goten did as he was told. Then Bra moved to where he had been standing. "There we go."

Laughing, Goten turned to Yamcha. "Hey, Yamcha. I’m about to win this game. Watch and weep my friend!"

Goten pulled Bra close to him and kissed her. Not on the cheek, not on the forehead, but on the lips. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and watched them. Vegeta had been chasing Goku (Goku had taken the prince’s candy cane). They both stopped dead in their tracks, chins nearly hitting the ground.

Bra and Goten broke apart and smiled at each other. No one said anything.

Trunks finally broke the silence by stating, "That looked like fun!" He then grabbed Pan, and kissed her.

Goten and Bra started laughing. So did Bulma and ChiChi. Soon, everyone joined in, except Vegeta, who cried out in dismay, "My children are insane!" That only made the rest of them laugh even harder.

Goku put his hand on Vegeta’s shoulder. "Think of it this way, Vegeta: If they get really serious, and get married, we’ll be related!"

"NOOOOOOO!"

 

                                                 * * * * * *

 

Once Vegeta had been convinced that he couldn’t change his children’s minds, the gang ate lunch. Actually, it wasn’t just lunch, it was a banquet. ChiChi and Videl had worked hard, but almost everyone had leant them a hand.

Marron, who loved to decorate things, had set the table beautifully the night before. Every place had a name card.

Marron laughed. "I must be a mind-reader. Look who I’ve put next to each other." Sure enough, Goten, Bra, Trunks and Pan were all in a row.

Ox-King was at the head of the table. Down to his left sat Master Roshi, Krillin, #18, Marron, Goten, Bra, Trunks, Pan and Videl. Gohan was at the other end. On his other side sat ChiChi, Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, Chao-zu and Tien.

"Now before we eat," said Bulma, "let’s have a moment to be grateful."

"For what, woman?" demanded Vegeta.

"Daddy," Bra pleaded.

"Oh, alright!"

"Everyone join hands."

Goten winked at Bra as he took her hand. She squeezed his hand in recognition. Vegeta reluctantly took Bulma and Piccolo’s hands, and was simply glad that he hadn’t been put next to Goku.

There was a moment of silence, then Master Roshi announced, "That’s enough. Let’s eat!"

He didn’t need to say it twice. They ALL attacked the food in a manner that very much resembled a school of piranha. Bra was touched when Vegeta stopped eating, and wrapped a napkin around his neck to protect the shirt she had given him. It was like she had always thought – Christmas brought out the best in him. He even laughed, slightly, when Bulma placed the paper crown from a bon-bon cracker on his head and said, "Hail, King Vegeta."

Two hours and 120 terrible jokes – that would barely raise a snicker out of, even, King Kai – later, the Christmas lunch was over.

Goku groaned. "I never thought I’d say this, but I couldn’t eat another thing!"

"Me neither!" agreed Yamcha. He’d had a little too much to drink.

In earlier years, the siesta after lunch had been the traditional time for the children to try out their new toys. But this time, the youngest child was sixteen, and the tradition was forgotten. This year, the siesta was couple time.

In the living room, Vegeta was asleep with Bulma curled up next to him; ChiChi was desperately trying to prevent Goku from hurling; and Videl was gently massaging Gohan’s neck and shoulders, without complaints from their daughter. Yamcha had ‘scored’ Marron, the only available female, as she had laid down next to him and fallen asleep on his leg.

Krillin and #18 had disappeared somewhere, and nobody really wanted to go and look for them (they were worried at what they might find). Master Roshi and Ox-King had engaged in a game of chess in the dining room, with Tien, Chao-zu and Puar watching. Piccolo was meditating.

Finally, on the staircase, Bra was snuggled up to Goten, and Pan to Trunks. The four of them were quietly talking. 

"Why didn’t you tell me how you felt, Pan?" Trunks asked.

Pan shrugged. "Dunno. I just assumed you wouldn’t feel the same way."

"And you two." Trunks turned to Bra and Goten. "How long has this been going on?"

"I don’t know what you mean, Trunks," replied Goten, innocently.

"You bought her jewellery for Christmas. You only do that for someone you’ve been dating for ages!"

"Not necessarily," said Bra. She draped her arms around Goten’s shoulders. "He was just being sweet. I swear to you, here and now, this relationship started today, about four hours ago." Bra smiled at Goten, and they shared a kiss.

"Aww," moaned Trunks. "You two make me sick." Pan elbowed him in the side. He turned to her. "But you, you don’t." He leant over and kissed her.

"Oh, everyone look at Mr. Hypocrite!" laughed Goten. The other three joined in. None of them had ever been more happy at any stage of their lives.