With a soft, barely noticeable thud, Goten landed them on the lush patch of grass right out in front of the house at Mount Paozu. Just as he put Melody down, Chichi's keen hearing had her throwing the front door wide open.
She darted down the steps and caught them both in a massive bear hug all at once.
Goten let out a surprised squeak, getting squished into the embrace alongside his girlfriend. Chichi was hugging them like she wanted to crush the life out of them—in other words, just like usual.
Goten: "Mom... we can't breathe!" *he protested weakly.*
Chichi: "Are you denying your own mother a bone-breaking hug?!" *she asked, sounding intensely emotional.*
Goten: *He groaned—there was no escaping for him. Chichi's hugs were always a potent mix of love and pure, unfiltered force. He knew better than to resist.* "No… just… less choking, please..." *he managed to say through his squished face.*
Melody: "Missed... you... too, Chichi," *Melody managed to breathe out.* "Star... ving..." *she added with no small amount of difficulty.*
Chichi: *She immediately released them, taking a step back and giving them a thorough, hawk-like once-over.* "You're both covered in soot, dirt, and scratches!" *she huffed, crossing her arms like an upset mother.* "What on earth have you two been doing?!"
Goten: *He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, looking strikingly like his father in that moment.* "Saving the world?"
Melody: "Collected special items for new Dragon Balls..." *Melody added under her breath.*
Chichi: *She huffed again, motherly disapproval written all over her face.* "And that included fighting?! In Hell, no less?! Are you two trying to give me a heart attack?" *She stepped forward again, grabbing Goten's chin and turning his face side to side.* "Your cheek is bruised!" *She pinched the bridge of her nose with a heavy sigh.* "Get cleaned up, both of you, while I prepare dinner." *Chichi shooed them briskly toward the house.*
Goten let himself get pushed and prodded by his mom, far too tired to put up any real resistance. Melody followed close behind, trying—and failing—to hold back a fond smile.
Goten: "Yes, Mom," *Goten muttered half-heartedly, taking Melody's hand in his.*
Chichi was already too busy pulling fresh ingredients out of the fridge to notice the two of them sneaking into the bathroom together.
As Goten promised, he and Melody shared a relaxing, warm bath to wash off the grime of the Underworld. They enjoyed the quiet moment—ensuring they kept their chatter low so Chichi wouldn't catch them—and finished getting cleaned up well before she checked on them.
A short while later, as they sat down together on the living room couch wrapped in each other's arms, Chichi was happily humming a tune at the stove.
Goten nuzzled his face into Melody's hair and took a deep breath, letting her familiar scent wash over him. It grounded him, reminding him that they had truly made it through another brutal ordeal. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his thumb gently tracing the outline of her waist.
Goten: "Tired?" *he murmured softly, feeling his eyelids growing heavier by the minute.* "I could sleep for a week…"
Melody hummed in quiet agreement, her own eyes heavy as she curled up closer against him. His warm body and steady heartbeat were just as soothing as his scent, and she let out a small sigh of total satisfaction.
Melody: "Mhm..." *she mumbled, her fingers tracing mindless patterns across the bare skin of Goten's arm.*
He was radiating heat like a personal furnace, but right now, he was her favorite kind of blanket.
Chichi finally finished setting up the hefty dinner spread and had to gently wake her son and his girlfriend, who had both swiftly drifted off to sleep. After a quiet, delicious meal, Chichi sent them both off to bed—insisting on two separate rooms, completely unpersuaded by any subtle protests.
Neither could get comfortable alone. As soon as Goten was sure his mother was in the bathroom cleaning up for the night, he quietly snuck into Gohan's old room and slid under the covers with Melody.
The second Goten's body hit the mattress, Melody cuddled up against his side like a clingy koala, her limbs wrapping around him like vines. He chuckled sleepily, shifting to make room before burying his face in her hair—letting her scent envelope him entirely. Her skin was soft and smooth against his, fitting perfectly into his arms as if she were made just for him.
He closed his eyes, already half-asleep. He loved this—having her in his arms, feeling her steady heartbeat against his chest...