This beautiful piece of @betaruga‘s is the Favorite Angst winner in the 2017 Gochi Awards. Since this art tells a clear story on its own, for the accompanying fanfic gift, I opted to write what might happen in the following moments. Hope you like it, betaruga :D
Goku let Chi-Chi slide out of his arms before burying his head into his pillow. As Chi-Chi’s soft body slipped away from his grasp, her hard words echoed in his mind.
It had all happened so fast. He started his return to Earth with the best intentions of enjoying another tournament and seeing his wife, son and friends for one day.
One day.
And now he had the rest of his life, due to the sacrificial gift the elder Kai had bestowed upon him in response to the threat that was Babi Dee and Majin Buu. He had a second chance at life - and a second, seven-year old son. And a wife reminding him that his sacrifice had been in vain.
The sex could wait. After seven years, what was one more day? Chi-Chi always knew the right thing to do. Even if his body was itching for it with her scent filling the room, it wasn't the right time. Maybe he was hoping the act would distract him from having to process these overwhelming changes. Gohan had grown so much and changed over the years. Chi-Chi had changed. Everyone had. And then there was Goten...
The more Goku thought about things, the more overwhelming it became. During the tournament and the fight with Buu, he really hadn't had a chance to process all he'd missed over the past seven years. It hadn't felt that long at all in Other World. But the evidence on Earth harshly reminded him that much had occurred in his absence. Life went on without him. And Chi-Chi had missed him - had been waiting - for all that time.
Chi-Chi’s breathy sigh drew Goku's eyes to her pillow. She lay there in a dark pillow of black hair, her closed eyes shielded by long lashes as her chest rose and fell with every shallow breath of approaching slumber. Goku hadn't realized how much he'd missed this.
He'd missed her.
He was lucky to have married a woman willing to forgive him and lovingly welcome him back home after such a long absence.
Only with Chi-Chi could he pick up right where he left off. Only with Chi-Chi could he truly have this second chance. Only with Chi-Chi could he return to an Earth that was completely different and rest knowing he would never leave it again until it was absolutely necessary. Goku knew Chi-Chi meant what she said about not forgiving him if it happened again, and he knew she was right. But Chi-Chi also told him she was happy to have him home.
Goku turned his gaze to the shadows on the ceiling before letting his heavy eyelids slide shut. With Majin Buu defeated, Earth was safe again. His family was safe again. He was home, exactly where he wanted to be, and in no rush to go anywhere. Goku let out a long exhale as he smiled at the simple comfort of Chi-Chi’s warm energy becoming familiar again beside him.
He'd try for the sex again in the morning.
