A/N: Sorry this one took so long. Life was a little hectic around here. I will not blame my characters because mine all do what I tell them too and they like it. I am the ultimate control freak.

Thanks to all my reviewers. I know that there isn't much action, but this is a story about life and I wanted it to move at a pace I see as real. cdk

How To Carry On

By Catherine D. Kobasiuk

2 Years After the Gotens births

The din of voices could be heard coming from outside. Sunshine streamed into the kitchen illuminating the table and counter tops full of serving trays and dirty pots and pans. Yamcha bent over to remove 2 large roasts from the oven. The outside door flew open. " Yamcha!" Chichi called as she and Bulma came in the door.

"Ya, Chichi?" Yamcha grunted a reply as he lifted the two very large roasts out of the oven and placed them on top of the stove.

"Oh, do you need any help with that?" Asked Chichi.
"Let me put them on platters and you can bring one out to the table. I'll bring the other out." Yamcha said as he wiped his forehead on the back of his arm.

" Can I help with anything?" Asked Bulma.

" Sure let me get Chichi going here and then I have some stuff you can carry out Bulma." Replied Yamcha.

Yamcha quickly placed one roast on a platter and handed it to Chichi. " Careful now." He said as he opened up the door for her. He shut the door behind Chichi and went over to the refrigerator. He began pulling out chilled salads and condiments to put on a tray for Bulma to take outside to where he and Chichi had set up the tables for the party. They were really lucky that the weather was being so warm and dry. It meant that they didn't have to have Goten's Second Birthday Party in the house like they had had his first. The Son's house was a little tight when all their friends came to visit.

" Before I forget Yamcha, I wanted to thank you again for giving me ideas on what to get Goten for his birthday. I didn't want to rely totally on Trunks' judgment when buying a gift." Bulma laughed. " Though don't tell him I said that."

Yamcha nodded. "I figured you'd need a second opinion. Trunks might think he is 13 but he is still only 3."

Yamcha finished putting the stuff on the tray for Bulma." Here ya go Bulma, just ask Chichi where to put it." Yamcha smiled as he handed the heavily laden tray to his former girlfriend.

Just as Bulma turned around to head for the door it swung open again. "Where the Hell is the Food!" Shouted Vegeta.

"It is almost all out Vegeta, and hold that door for me!" Bulma barked in reply.

Yamcha laughed as he went back to the last roast still in the pan on the stove.

"Humph! You make a better scullery maid than fighter." Vegeta remarked with a smirk.

Yamcha placed the roast on a platter then looked up at the Saiyian Prince and grinned. "Maybe I do Vegeta, so tell me how the food is after you eat most of it, OK?" Yamcha teased.
" Oh and hold the door open for me too would you."

With that Krillan burst into the kitchen." Is everything ok here?" he asked.

" Ya, I'm the scullery maid and Vegeta is the door man. We're doing fine." Yamcha smiled widely.

Krillan chuckled. " You've got guts, Yamcha."

"Will you two idiots shut up and get outside! I'm hungry!" Vegeta shouted.

"OK, OK, here we go!" Yamcha led the way out the door.

: A little more than an hour later.:

SMASH!!

"Whoa Krillan! Don't break all the dishes." Gasped Yamcha.

" Sorry, I thought the counter was closer." Apologized the former monk.

" I should have asked 18 to help me. She would be more precise at least." Snickered Yamcha. He was pouring coffee into a carafe and putting it on a tray with a carafe of tea and one of milk.

"Hey!" protested Krillan. " Um, you don't think it was a bad idea for me to bring her today? Do You?" The shorter man nervously washed his hands off in the sink and dried them.

"Nah, not at all." Yamcha reassured." The only person who is actually threatened is Vegeta and who cares what he thinks, right?" He wiped off the outside of the carafe.

" Thanks, Yamcha." Krillan smiled. " What should I take outside?"

"Take out the tray with the cups and DON"T drop them." The taller man pointed to a large tray of teacups and glasses.

"HEY!" Krillan protested again. He gingerly lifted the tray and tested it for balance.

The kitchen door opened. The Ox King came in and held the door open so that Krillan could get outside. "Yamcha, Chichi wants to know what she should do." He asked

" Tell her to just round up Goten and get him ready for his cake. You can take out the coffee, tea and milk tray. I'll be right out with the cake." Yamcha told him.

"Alright." The very large man said. He then lifted up the large tray with the carafes of beverages and exited through the door Yamcha was holding open for him.

Humming to himself Yamcha took out the cake that Chichi had made for Goten's Second Birthday. It was 4 layers and quite large. She had drawn all his favorite things in icing on the top. She had then written 'Happy Second Birthday Goten' around the side.

Yamcha took out the candles and placed 3 on the top, making sure not to mar the pictures, which had been created so lovingly on top. He was just about to light them and exit the kitchen when he stopped. Gazing down at the cake his vision blurred. Time stood still as images of Goku played thru Yamcha's mind. Unnoticed by Yamcha, Master Roshi entered the kitchen. The elderly man stood and watched his old student for a while.

Roshi finally spoke. "Uh son, don't ruin all of Chichi's hard work by crying on the cake."

Yamcha's head shot up. "Nani?" He looked at Master Roshi who held his gaze for a moment before he spoke.

" You did the same thing last year on Goten's first birthday." The old Master reminded him.

Yamcha blinked and swallowed back the tears in his eyes. " Ya, I did, didn't I." Yamcha took a deep breath and using a little spark of his Ki lit the candles. " I'm ok now."

Master Roshi smiled and nodded. He then held the door for Yamcha and followed him out of the kitchen.

:Much later that night:

"Oh boy, I think he is finally asleep." Sighed Gohan as he walked into the kitchen. " I didn't think Goten would ever calm down. What can I do to help?"

He looked around the kitchen, which still had dishes, which need to be cleaned. Yamcha and Chichi were standing by the sink washing and drying pots and pans.

"Actually sweetie, there isn't much left to do so why don't you go to bed yourself." Chichi replied.

"Are you sure Mom? I feel bad leaving everything for you and Yamcha to do." Gohan looked skeptical.

"Your mothers right Gohan, it is just a matter of washing and drying now and putting things in the cupboards." Yamcha smiled at the youth.

"I'll put things away then while Mom washes and you dry Yamcha." Gohan insisted. "You've already done so much today."

"So what was the verdict?" Asked Yamcha as he handed Gohan a freshly dried pot. " Did Goten have a good birthday?"

"Yes, he kept saying how much fun he had and how great his gifts were and how good the food was and all the things he did with Trunks. Gohan placed the pot in one of the cupboards and turned around for another.

"I am so glad" Chichi said. "Though now that everyone is gone I'd like to thank you again for all your help Yamcha."

Then Chichi grinned. " And especially for the overly extravagant gift or should I say gifts you gave Goten."

Chichi shook her head and continued washing the dishes."Really, I lost count of how many packages had your name on them. I would bet that a few without tags were from you too Yamcha."

Yamcha blushed. ' Um, well, I like shopping for little boys toys and I put my name on all my gifts so the unlabelled ones must have come from someone else."

"Hm, Really?" Chichi paused in washing to look at Yamcha questioning.

"YES. I labeled all my gifts." Yamcha insisted.

Chichi went back to the dishes. " Well then I wonder who else went overboard then?" Chichi pondered.

The remainder of the dishes and pots were cleaned and put away while Chichi, Yamcha and Gohan talked about the day's events.

"Alright Gohan, time for you to get some rest. Your brother will have you up at the crack of dawn tomorrow." Chichi bent over and kissed her first born good night.

"Ya good night champ." Yamcha said from his seat in the kitchen. He reached out and drew Gohan into a hug.

" Good night Mom you too Yamcha. " Gohan yawned on his way to his bedroom.

Quite settled like a blanket upon the kitchen and the little house. Chichi sighed and sank into a chair next to Yamcha.

"Kami, I'm tired. Are you staying Yamcha?" She asked.

"It is kind of late, if you don't mind I'll take a space in the living room like I usually do." Yamcha yawned and stretched.

Chichi chuckled. " I never mind you know that Yamcha. " The young widow looked up into her friends face and smiled. " What would I do without you, huh?"

Yamcha stood up blushing. " You'd do just fine without me Chichi, don't kid yourself."

Chichi stood also. " We'd probably get by, but it would be harder and not so much fun." She reached around and embraced Yamcha.

Yamcha froze.

"Thanks for being there for us and for being my friend too Yamcha." Chichi said as she hugged him tight. " I put clean linens in the living room closet with your sleeping mat, sleep tight." She instructed as she released a very still Yamcha from her hug. " Could you shut off the kitchen light when you are ready? " She requested as she left the kitchen.

" Uh, ya thanks and you too Chichi" Yamcha stammered.

He looked around the now sparkling clean kitchen and blinked. "Oh, ya, shut off the light." He muttered to himself. Shaking his head at his own foolishness he shut the light and left the kitchen to retire to his mat in the living room.

TBC