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Videl heaved a sigh as Gohan gently lowered her into a deck chair. She appreciated his concern, but it was frankly getting ridiculous. She's pregnant, not a cripple! It was worse when she refused him though, like in the early days of her pregnancy. It was almost like it flipped a switch in him.
The morning after she'd told him, she'd found herself completely wrapped in him, even more so than usual. All through her morning routine, Gohan hovered, never taking his eyes off of her, and when she was heading to work, he tried to stop her leaving! He didn't let her go until she promised to not do anything too strenuous. She was ashamed to admit she'd snapped at him, only registering the kicked puppy look on his face after she'd gotten to the station. When she got back, they'd talked it out, and he'd agreed to give her a bit more space.
She still found herself entangled in him in the morning, but he'd kept his word. It was weird though. His hands would get all fluttery, like he wanted to do nothing more than scoop her into his arms, and his tail lashed behind him, encircling her wrist, leg, waist - whatever it could reach when she got close. His tail was an ever-present reminder of the fact that he wasn't fully human, as well as the almost strangled keens and whines he made when she got back from work and didn't let him drag her to bed.
As her pregnancy progressed, Gohan acted weirder and weirder, almost like it pained him to not be able to have some kind of physical contact with her at all times. When her baby shower rolled around - hosted by Bulma at Capsule Corp. - she realized why. According to Vegeta, it contradicted every Saiyan instinct in Gohan's body to keep any space between them. During Saiyan pregnancies, the women are far from helpless, but they were practically attached at the hip to their mate, their families always close behind.
So, Videl relented, and noticed a major uptick in Gohan's attitude. He wore a dopey grin all day long, his tail and arm wrapped firmly around her, his hand resting on her swelling belly. At first it felt smothering, but as she moved into her second trimester, she appreciated his support. The rest of the Saiyans in the group acted much the same. Though they didn't try to touch her, they all hovered when in the vicinity.
It was no different now, the eyes of the Saiyans darting back and forth from her to whatever else they were doing. Chi-Chi told her that Goku and Gohan had acted the same way during each of her own pregnancies. Videl had long accepted her husband's family - her family - and all their inhuman quirks. This was just one more (admittedly frustrating) thing in the pile.
Gohan handed her drink to her, settling into the chair next to her. He wore lazy smile, and she could hear him purring. He happily watched their family and friends mill about the deck of the Princess Bulma, and Videl knew the slight helicoptering was worth the serene content painting his face.
Of course, peace never lasted long with the Z-fighters. It's been a couple years since Buu attacked, they were long overdue for yet another world-ending threat. She never would've expected a hairless cat god and his effeminate attendant but, then again, she'd lived with an overgrown piece of bubblegum and currently lived with a half-monkey man. Not much surprised her anymore.
They said they came in peace, calling themselves Vegeta's 'friends'. But while the older Saiyan seemed to know them, it was not friendly recognition. He was terrified, and it was setting all of the Saiyans on edge. The humans were blissfully unaware, chatting with Beerus and Whis happily, but Videl had spent the past five months pressed up against Gohan, she knew something was up. His tail was puffed up, and wrapped around her tightly, though not to the point of discomfort, and at any given time he made sure he was between her and the two strange aliens.
She was surprised to hear about a 'Super Saiyan God', and so was Vegeta. Her blood ran cold when Beerus threatened to blow up Earth, but Gohan took it worse. While everyone was on edge and prepared for a fight, Gohan was snarling, baring his teeth. He'd pulled her firmly behind him, his tail wrapped around what was left of her waist several times. Instead of his usual flawless stance, he was crouched slightly, hands curled like he'd claw either of the intruders if they got too close.
(She found it hot but would blame it on the hormones if asked.)
Bulma, sweet, sweet Bulma, suggested the dragon balls and delayed the impending destruction of the planet. Gohan retreated back to Videl's side, though he was still on edge and snarling at the two deities.
It was certainly a sight to see, Shenron groveling. And she'd never admit it, but she nearly fainted with relief when they were told they could achieve the transformation. She'd never been more thankful for her pregnancy than when they just barely had enough Saiyans for the ritual. The ritual, which Gohan insisted on being on the recieving end of.
It was a surprise, seeing as leaving her side had been like pulling teeth with him these past months, but she supposed he wouldn't feel she was safe until these two were gone. She'd heard in passing that Gohan could be the strongest of them all if he put his back in it, though he preferred his scholarly endeavors. He'd always waved it off with a sheepish chuckle before, but now he had nothing but stone-cold determination and rage. If anyone could give Beerus the fight he's looking for, it's Gohan, and he knows it.
He left her side for the first time in months, immediately being replaced by his brother and Trunks on either side. They held her hands and their fathers', who placed their own on Gohan's back. The ritual was one of the weirdest things she'd ever felt, next to dying. It was beautiful, but it didn't really register. She was distracted by the sudden energy drain and the glimpse of a cherry-colored Gohan before the other Saiyans formed a shield between her and the god and angel, despite their own drained states.
The first hit sent a shockwave through the air, shaking her to her core. Videl wrapped her arms around her belly as she stared at the small purple and red dots dance in the sky. Goten and Tunks were still on either side of her, their arms wrapped around hers, as would their tails be if they had them. Goku and Vegeta stood just in front of her staring up at the sky, their own furry appendages lashing in agitation.
She vaguely heard her father and mother-in-law fussing over her, but it didn't register, her eyes glued to what she could see of her husband. She winced as the crimson blur got hit toward the water suddenly, her stomach turning. Gohan was an amazing fighter, but against a god? She was nervous.
As the fight moved further into the clouds, Whis pulled up a holographic projection of what was going on above. For every hit Gohan managed to land on Beerus, he got three more back. Distantly, Videl heard sobbing and realized it was herself. She knew Gohan was their best shot... but couldn't Goku have done it?!
Just the thought made her gag, yet with every sonic boom that sounded around them...
Her breath got ripped from her throat when she saw Gohan take a wicked hammer fist to the skull, sent crashing to the Earth. He got knocked out of the God form and plummeted toward the waves. Beerus shouted something after him, and all at once the fiery aura blasted around him again, stronger before. The roar that echoed from his throat reached them back on the cruise ship, rippling over them like thunder.
He launched himself at the Destroyer, his fist connecting with his jaw in a resounding boom and sending the deity out of the atmosphere. The fight ramped up from there, and even Goku and Vegeta couldn't see anything in the projection above Whis's staff. The shaking of the entire planet was proof enough though, of what was going on. A clash between Titans. A battle of Gods. Eventually Videl couldn't stand it and bowed her head, desperately praying. (Ignoring the fact that Kami was standing mere feet away and her alien husband was currently a god and fighting another god.)
It couldn't have been more than twenty minutes - though it felt like hours - when a large crack sounded, louder and closer than before. Her head shot up and she saw a red and orange streak race through the air, crashing into the ocean.
"GOHAN!" The scream sounded almost as loud as the hit that downed him, and she raced to the railing of the ship, their family and friends not far behind. Goku kicked off, plunging into the water himself in search of his son. Videl felt overwhelmed by despair, but a soft sound got her attention. Boots, padding on the deck. She whirled around, her sorrow burning into rage. The god landed next to Whis, covered in blood and bruises. A pang of satisfaction echoed in her chest at the sight but was quickly drowned by her anger. "You-!" She started stomping toward the two celestial beings. She made it exactly three steps before another large roar ripped through the air behind her. Gohan. She spun around again, seeing him floating, only in Super Saiyan Two, glaring holes through Beerus. His eyes darted to her (and her proximity to the cat-like alien) and his frame started trembling. He bellowed, in between Videl and Beerus in an instant.
"KA-ME-!"
"Now that's quite enough, I'd say."
One second, Videl was staring into Gohan's glowing aura, the next, she was as far across the deck as they could be from the two deities. Beerus's wounds were all healed, as were Gohan's, and Whis had several to-go boxes piled around him. He tapped the now sleeping God of Destruction gently with his staff, and he started to levitate, snot-bubble popping.
With a quick 'thank you' and 'farewell', Whis and Beerus vanished in a beam of light, the only evidence of their presence the destruction of the Princess Bulma. Gohan bellowed at the clouds, his eyes narrowed to slits, tail thrashing wildly. The rest of the Saiyans (and humans) seemed to echo his sentiment. He turned back to her and swallowed heavily. His eyes welled up and he wrapped himself around her. She melted into his embrace, releasing her own tears into his chest.
She wouldn't leave his arms ever again if she could help it, and she knew he wouldn't either.