“Why don’t I come in with you?” Trunks asked, holding her hands as they stood on the lighted porch in front of her door.
“I don’t think it would be such a good idea. I have no clue how he’ll react.” She replied. “Plus, we’ve been gone for so long, who knows what ideas will be running through his head.”
“Pan…” He said, pausing a bit to admire her appearance under the warm porch light. “It’s only eight o’clock. It’s not like you’ve been gone long enough for us to have…”
“I know, but he’s a father. Trust me, he’ll overreact.”
Trunks stroked her chin with his thumb caringly as he tilted her head upward to his eye level. “If… if we do get married, then this will only be the first of thousands of appearances we’re going to have to make together as a… as an item… a couple. It’s better we start with your parents… so they can get used to the idea.”
Pan sighed, pulling out her keys and unlocking the door. “Just… let me do all the talking. Please?”
“Yes sir.” He joked.
Pan unlocked the door and quietly stepped inside, Trunks following closely behind her. The room was almost completely dark, being solely illuminated by the light of the television screen which sat in the living room to the right of them. Pan sighed in relief when she saw her parents cuddled up together and asleep on the sofa. Maybe they could deal with this at a later time.
“You’re home late.” Gohan spoke with his eyes still closed, causing Pan and Trunks both to jump, startled. “Goten called. He said Dende told him that a day in the ROSAT would have to be enough. He also said to be up at Dende’s lookout by seven tomorrow morning.”
“Okay… thanks.” Pan answered, quietly.
Videl stirred in her husband’s arms as she woke up… alerted by his deep voice speaking with someone. She sat up groggily and looked towards Pan, slightly confused at why Trunks was standing behind her, gi and everything. “What have you been up to?” She asked her daughter.
“Uh… what do you mean?” Pan asked nervously.
“You’ve been gone for seven hours. What were you doing?” Videl asked.
“Well… uh.. T-Trunks was giving me a gift.” She stuttered nervously.
“Really? What did you get?”
“Umm… he bought me Sloshy’s.”
“As in the ice cream place you guys always used to hang out at?!” Gohan asked, poking his head up from the program on TV. “That’s a pretty expensive ‘welcome back’ present.”
“He bought me a puppy too… She’s over at his house.”
Gohan looked back up at his daughter, taking note of the nervous looks on both of their faces… especially on Trunks’ face. ‘Why would he buy her a puppy? A man only buys a woman a puppy if they’re…’ Gohan snapped out of it, a fatherly, protective, light going on in his head. “Is everything… okay?”
Pan twirled the ring around her finger nervously while trying to hide it at the same time. “Daddy… can I… talk to you outside?”
“Sure.” He agreed, following her through the kitchen and out the back door.
Pan sat down on the slightly damp, wooden step. Her gaze instantly drifted upwards to the stars… as if they held some sort of answer, or script on how a conversation like this was supposed to go. Unfortunately, they didn’t. “Daddy… a puppy and the ice cream parlor wasn’t the only thing Trunks bought me.” She said, pulling her sleeve up and holding her left arm out so he could see the shiny stone and golden band perfectly as they reflected in the light from the kitchen that was shining out onto the little wooden deck. “He also bought me this.”
“Why?” He asked, his ki rising as Trunks looked out nervously from the kitchen table beyond the sliding glass doors. His tone became one of contempt. “That’s a little steep in price just to welcome back a friend.”
“Why would any man buy a woman a ring like this?”
“I don’t know… but I certainly hope it’s a friendship ring.” He said, jaw slightly clenched.
Pan took it off of her finger and handed it to her father. Gohan inspected it closely, turning it in the light. On the inside of the band, were three words, inscribed into the gold. “True Love Waits…?” He read out loud, “Why…?”
“He asked me to marry him.” She confessed quietly.
Gohan exhaled sharply, but said nothing. What was he supposed to say? He didn’t even know what was going on. He was, however, hoping this was all some sort of dream that he would eventually wake up from. This morning, he was a husband and the father of two children, now his daughter just gave him news that could change everything…
“Daddy… I…. I have something to tell you, but you can’t get mad at Trunks, it wasn’t his fault…” She started, twitching her fingers nervously.
“You broke your promise.” He interrupted, realization hitting him like an unkindly brick wall.
Pan looked away and toward the ground. Suddenly, the excitement and sorrow she had experienced earlier that night change to shame, covering her like a cold blanket. More tears… more emotion welled up in her again. Taking interest in the dirt under her feet, unable to look her father in the eyes, she continued, “I know you’re ashamed of me…”
“No.” He interrupted, grabbing her chin gently and forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Panny, I could never be ashamed of you. We all make mistakes. I just… I’m surprised…”
“But you were so proud when I made that promise…”
“Pan… your mother and I never… I mean, we didn’t want to have… sex before we were married because we didn’t want to end up hurting ourselves or creating a life before we were ready.” He started, choking out the words like they were the hardest on earth to say. In a way, they were. “But we came close to making the same mistake several times.”
“Really?” She asked, surprised to hear such a confession from Mr. Spotless himself.
“Yeah… In fact, if it weren’t for your nosey, ten year old uncle and his habit of spying on us while we were saying goodnight, you might have had an older sibling.”
Pan laughed, mostly out of tension and the awkwardness that both of them were feeling at that moment. “But you didn’t…”
“No, but I know hard it is to wait sometimes.” He said. “Just… tell me… why? And when? Last time I checked, Trunks held the same status with you as your uncle. Don’t tell me this all just happened today. I know you were gone for a while, but if that’s what you spent all these hours doing then…”
“No, Daddy. It’s sort of ironic… but the promise was broken even before it was made.”
“You mean you weren’t even sixteen when he…!”
“No! Dad! That’s not what I meant!” She said quickly, trying to prevent him from going Super Saiyan.
“Then what did you mean?!” He yelled.
“It’s kind of a long story...” She began.
“I have time…” Gohan said, staring out of the corner of his eye at the innocent-looking and weaker demi-Saiyan who was sitting at their kitchen table and wondering how much energy it would take to kill him and if he could do it without Vegeta killing him in turn.
Videl looked up sharply as she felt her husband’s ki surge upward. She smiled softly, knowing that the next few months were going to be full of wedding plans and preparations. Trunks, however, was not smiling. In fact, he was white as a sheet, sweat drops falling slowly down his face as he stared out at Pan and Gohan who were still talking. He gulped as he felt Gohan’s ki go up and the glare come from the corner of his eye.
“Well, he’s sure worked up about something.” Videl said, pouring herself a cup of tea at the kitchen counter.
“Yeah…” Trunks answered dryly, wondering how much longer he had to live.
Videl smiled at the scene in front of her. She remembered seeing the exact same look on Gohan’s face so many years ago when they told her father of their engagement. Her father, however, was considerably weaker than Gohan. Trunks wouldn’t stand a chance if Gohan decided to attack. For some reason, Videl was finding it all rather funny. “Do you want some tea?”
“No thanks.” He answered plainly, his attention drawn to the father/daughter talk going on outside the glass doors in front of him.
“Are you sure? I have tension tamer. It might do you good. You look really stressed.” She chuckled.
Trunks looked over at her, unnerved by the seemingly evil laughter that came from deep within her throat. “Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”
Videl poured more hot water into a cup and put the tea inside. “So… when’s the big day?” She asked, handing him the cup.
“Huh?” He asked innocently.
“I’m not as oblivious as her father, Trunks.” She said sitting down next to him. “I saw the ring. I knew from the beginning that all of these conservative ‘investments’ you were making had to do with a woman. I also saw the hug you gave her yesterday afternoon. That was not the hug of two friends.”
Trunks swallowed his tea hard. “I… I don’t…”
“You don’t have to be afraid of me. What am I going to do, pour your tea down your pants?”
“I wouldn’t put it past you.”
Videl smirked, being as mischievous as the young Saiyan sitting with her at times, the thought did cross her mind. “I don’t get it though… When did this happen?”
“Honestly, Videl, I don’t remember that much about it. It happened seventeen years ago. I’ve been in love with her ever since.”
Videl nearly dropped her cup. Deciding to wait for Pan’s side of the story, she went back to drinking her tea. ‘Seventeen years ago?! He must really love her.’
“Daddy?” Pan asked, looking at her father’s still features, concerned. “Daddy, you haven’t said anything in a while…”
“I’m just thinking, Pan.” He said quietly. “Are you pregnant?”
“No, thank goodness.” She answered.
Gohan shook his head thankfully. “He’s fourteen years older than you.”
“I know…”
“He’s closer to my age than to yours.” He interrupted. “He’s this big-time CEO with the reputation of having a different girl on his arm every week. He’s irresponsible, and fickle.”
“Dad, he’s not like that. You know him. How do you know…”
“He’s Vegeta’s son! He’s only had one serious relationship in his entire life! How do you know that he feels the way about you that he says he does?!” Gohan shouted.
Pan looked at her father, expression sunken, “He remembers…”
“Huh?”
“He remembers everything… that happened in the past. When I sprayed him with the formula, he fell into the lake. The water washed out the formula before it could take effect. He remembers… That was seventeen years ago. He’s waited all this time for me…”
“He waited? What about Marron and all of the other girlfriends he’s had?”
“Dad, he wasn’t sure of his feelings. He didn’t know if he could wait seventeen years. His break-up with Marron is what made him certain that he…” She trailed off, thinking that her father wasn’t really listening to her.
“He waited for you all this time?” He asked, solemnly.
“Yes.”
Gohan looked out into the stars, his brow furrowed in concentration as his mind tried to process everything that was happening. Trunks… his long time friend… was in love with his daughter… and wanted to marry her. As he thought back, memories surfaced, clues that should have alerted him to there being something more between them than plain friendship. The way he had insisted staying with her while she was on her way to the wormhole, the concerned look on his face when she landed, not knowing whether or not she was alive, the way he looked at her when he saw her in a towel… Gohan sighed… the truth burning deeper into his heart with each thought. He really did care about her… “Pan, I don’t know if this is such a good idea. Are you sure you feel the same way or are you acting on some sort of attraction? Maybe you just need…”
“I love him.” She interrupted.
“Are you sure?” He asked.
“Yeah. I’m sure.” She answered, her voice breaking with emotion. “I wasn’t sure before, but I am now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Do you know how humiliating it is… to love someone you never thought could love you back? When we were in the past, he finally saw me in the same light I had looked at him in for all these years. He told me he loved me… then he showed me he loved me. Today, he proved it. Dad, I’ve been in love with him since I was a little girl. He’s warm, handsome, caring… He’s fun to be with… I love him.”
“So you’re going to marry him?” He asked, a look on his face that could break her heart.
“I don’t know, but I’m leaning towards it. I have an entire year to think about it while Goten and I are in the ROSAT, so it won’t be such a drastic decision.”
Gohan breathed deeply, pulling her into his arms. Looking up to the stars, silently cursing Dende for pulling his little girl into the arms of that particular man, yet thanking him that he was at the same time. They were taking things slowly… thinking things through and she wasn’t pregnant… It seemed that they had things together by themselves. “You know.” He spoke into her ear, holding her in his arms like he did when she was a small child. “No matter what you decide… I’ll accept it. After all, if you really do love each other, I couldn’t really do anything about it anyway.”
Pan smiled and hugged her father back. “Thanks Dad.” She whispered.
They stood there for a moment, Gohan not wanting to let the young woman in his arms go. When he did, she knew she would return to the arms of the other man in her life… the one she was about to start a new life with. This killed him inside, even though he knew that this day was coming. Before he knew it, he would be walking her down the aisle, giving her away to him for the rest of her life.
“I think we should go inside now.” She said.
Gohan sighed and pulled away, releasing her. For a moment he simply stared at her, wondering silently where his little girl went. “Okay Panny.”
Trunks stood up, nearly knocking the table off its legs as the two made their way back in from the porch. Pan walked up to Trunks and took his hand, glancing back at her father and smiling.
“Gohan…” Trunks began.
“You have ten seconds.” Gohan warned, wearing the meanest looking expression he had in him. “Ten… nine…”
Trunks’ complexion went completely white once again as he tore his hand out of Pan’s. Without even protesting, he ran out the door and flew into the air.
“Daddy!” Pan said, scolding the now laughing Gohan.
“I’m sorry honey, I couldn’t help it. He looked so scared.” He laughed.
Pan growled lightly as she took off into the air after Trunks. Inwardly, she was laughing though. Mostly, she was grateful that her father still had a sense of humor.
“Are you okay?” Videl asked, coming up from behind her spouse and wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Yeah… I’m just glad she’s happy.” He answered.
The next day, everyone gathered at Dende’s lookout to say goodbye to Goten and Pan as they left for a year of training in the ROSAT. Every thing seemed normal when Gohan and Videl arrived with Goku Jr. It was still early in the morning and Goten and Marron hadn’t shown up yet. Pan, however, had left their home at sunrise. She told her parents that she wanted an early start, but it was obvious that she was headed to Capsule Corp first.
Gohan smiled as he saw his old friend walk up to greet him. “Good morning Gohan.” The soft-spoken Namek said, extending his hand to shake Gohan’s.
“Good morning Dende. Have you seen Pan?” Gohan asked.
“She and Trunks went to go take a walk in Mr. Popo’s arboretum. They should still be in there.” He answered.
Gohan thanked him and walked over to the small glass dome that had recently been built to the right of the throne room near the edge of the lookout. Videl followed, just in case Gohan’s temper about Pan’s could-be engagement to Trunks would flare up again once he saw them together.
Abruptly, Gohan stopped in his tracks, causing Videl to bump into him. “What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I think it’s going to be a while before I get used to that.” Gohan remarked, trying to restrain himself from interrupting the couple underneath a tree inside the glass dome.
Videl smiled as she looked inside. The two seemed… comfortable together, to say the least. Trunks had his back to the tree, Pan sitting snuggly in his lap, her head rested against his chest and eyes closed… as if she was falling asleep. Trunks had his arms wrapped loosely around her waist, holding her hands in his and playing with her fingers. They were smiling… content with their surroundings.
Videl took her husband’s arm and led him away from the arboretum, giving Trunks and Pan a few more minutes of privacy. ‘And she still doesn’t know if she’s going to marry him? She doesn’t know what she’d be missing if she says no.’ She thought, pulling Gohan to a reasonable distance away from the view of the two love birds.
“Pan… have you made up your mind?” Trunks asked the sleepy-eyed girl in his arms.
“No, not yet.” She answered.
“Well… what answer are you leaning towards?”
“Trunks…”
“Sorry.” He said apologetically.
Pan yawned and sighed… ready to go back to slumber land. It would be so nice… sleeping in his arms for the rest of her life… “I’m leaning towards just staying right here forever.”
Trunks chuckled, placing a light kiss on her shoulder. “Trust me, I wouldn’t mind it if you did. I don’t think Mr. Popo would appreciate us sleeping on his flower bed though… and I think the bugs would get annoying.”
“Trunks…” She began hesitantly.
“Hmm?”
“Why… why did you ask me to marry you?” She asked, turning her head to the side so she could look him in the eyes.
“Because I love you.” He answered simply.
“But… why do you love me?” She asked again. He sighed, trying to think of the words to fit his heart’s intention. “I know I sound silly, but it’s something I have to know… before I answer you… something I want to think about while I’m in there for the next year.”
“I love you… because… you’re you.” He answered carefully.
“That’s not a real answer.” She said, laughing lightly.
“I love you because you’re the most beautiful, intelligent, fun and strongest woman on the earth.” He started before asking, “Do you want honesty?”
“Of course.” She answered, suddenly apprehensive about his next words.
“Honestly… I might not have seen you this way if it weren’t for your trip to the past… but I would have been an idiot to miss it. ‘Kara’ opened my eyes to Panny… and for seventeen years, the foremost thought on my mind was how much I missed you. For seventeen years, I saw Panny grow up into this gorgeous woman… who could kick me into shape when I was lazy, but also remind me that there’s more to life than just constant work. Suddenly, one day, I opened my eyes and realized that you were the one for me. If I didn’t have you, I knew I would die a lonely, miserable man.”
“You’re trying to guilt me into an answer, aren’t you?” She joked.
He laughed lightly, “No, but I want you to know how much I need you while you spend the next year deciding our fates.”
“And our ages…?”
“Will you drop the age issue?” He said, kissing the top of her head. “I don’t care about that. When I fell in love with you seventeen years ago, you were a twenty-five year old woman. You’re still that woman… except now, I’ve grown up a little bit more as you’ve stayed the same. Besides, after you come out, we’ll only be thirteen years apart, not fourteen.”
“Wise answer.” Pan said, sighing as she sunk back into his arms and relaxed. “So… when was this ‘one day’ when you woke up and realized we were meant for each other?”
“The day I broke it off with Marron. Your training was ending. I spent the night talking with you and when I woke up… you were in my arms. That’s when I realized just how much I enjoyed waking up with you.”
“You know… I never bought that ‘force of habit’ bit.” She said.
“What do you mean?” He asked innocently.
“When I woke up, you had your arm around me. You made some lame excuse about it being a force of habit…”
“Oh… you remember that?” He asked, smiling mischievously.
“You…”
A knock on the glass interrupted her. She looked up to see a slightly disturbed looking Goten. He obviously had not talked to her parents yet.
“Time to go…” She said sadly.
Trunks sighed and inhaled the scent of her hair one more time… trying to imbed it into his mind. To him, she would only be gone a day… but one, long day was torture enough. He carefully got up with her and escorted her outside the arboretum where Goten stood, dumbfounded at the sight he had just seen.
“Hi, Uncle.” She greeted cheerily.
“Hi…” He replied softly, giving his long time best bud a sideways glance as they walked past him.
“Are you ready?” She asked.
“Yeah, just about.” He answered unsurely.
Pan looked around. It seemed that no one else was going to show. She silently wished that her little brother and Grandfather were there to meet up with her, but she would see them in a year, after all… and they would remain the same.
“Tell Grandpa to come back up here after we’re out. I want to test my training.” Pan told her father as she hugged him tightly around the neck.
“I will Panny. Take care and don’t let Goten push you too hard, okay? You’ve got your senzu beans, right?” He asked.
“Yeah, Daddy. They’re in my pocket.”
Gohan smiled and kissed her on the top of her head.
“Goten, you’ll be home in exactly one day, no longer?” Marron asked, seductively purring in his ear.
“Are you kidding? Pan is going to have to knock me unconscious to keep me from leaving that room the moment I step inside.” He replied, resting his forehead against hers and looking at her deeply.
Marron leaned up and rested her lips on his for a moment, knowing how long it would be to him before they connected again. The only upside to this would be the “access energy” he would have as soon as he got home. “Well, you be sure and get a lot of rest before you leave the room. I don’t want you coming back wounded, tired or sleepy, okay?”
A smirk formed on Goten’s lips, knowing exactly what she was implying. “I’ll rest up for the trip home on the day we leave.” Goten reluctantly pulled himself away from his wife’s arms and turned around to grab Pan and leave. His jaw immediately hit the ground when he saw exactly how Pan was saying her goodbyes to Trunks.
His arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground, he pulled her up eye-level with him and kissed her deeply and lovingly. She returned it, knowing this would be the last time in a year he would be able to “plead his case” and therefore wanting to remember every detail, sensation and taste.
Goten looked on in astonishment… wondering what two aliens had abducted his niece and friend. He wasn’t quite sure whether to go up and punch Trunks’ lights out or be glad that they’re together. He looked back at Gohan and Videl. The solemn look on his brother’s face and the proud look on Videl’s face clued him in to the fact that they probably already knew… but when?
Marron looked back at Videl shocked. Suddenly, all the pieces of Trunks’ little puzzle began to fall together. The house, the puppy… the answer was there. They knew it was a woman from the beginning, but who would have thought… Pan? Marron looked to Videl again, who mouthed “long story” to her. That would have to do until they could get a chance to talk without any men being present, but she was dying to hear this story.
They broke, and Trunks gently put Pan back on the ground, unaware of the scene they had made in front of everyone… including the earth’s guardian himself. He smiled, unsure of what to say in their last moments together.
“I’m sorry.” Pan said, breaking the silence. “I know you were all ready to come with me, but…”
“No. I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with you. Plus, I think you’ll be able to think this whole thing through better without me being with you.” He admitted. “But a year in there alone together…”
Pan laughed softly. “My father would have killed you for sure.”
“True.” He agreed, glancing up at Gohan, who was giving him a glare sharp enough to cut him into pieces.
“I should go now…” She said sadly.
“Alright… just promise me… promise me you’ll think this through?”
Pan nodded and placed another kiss on his cheek. She didn’t look back at him as she walked over to her shocked uncle. It took a little force, but she finally got Goten to move to the door, promising to explain the situation the moment they were inside. Trunks watched somberly as they walked down the long, white hall to the wooden door. Mr. Popo opened it, and they entered, disappearing into a thick wall of white light. The light diminished as Mr. Popo shut the door, leaving Trunks to wonder if she would ever come back to him.
Gohan and Videl flew Marron home in their hover car later that night. Now, they were just sitting in the car, in the midst of silence, their brains still trying to process all that had happened in those two days. It was getting dark outside, and stars were beginning to poke out from their mask of sunlight. Videl sat in the passenger’s seat, her elbow leaning on the door, her head rested in her hand as she stared out the side window, a solemn happiness written on her face.
Gohan’s eyes were glued to the road, a scowl set on his distinguished features. It wasn’t so much that he was against this whole thing… it just didn’t compute. The age difference… the friendly older brother/younger sister relationship that they had always carried… the availability of Trunks on the market of single women… Something didn’t add up. His scowl grew deeper.
“What’s wrong?” Videl asked.
Gohan just sighed, letting his wife know that he really wasn’t in the mood to speak of it.
“Gohan… talk to me. Please?”
“Videl, I-I’m just afraid that they’re not doing the right thing.” He admitted, keeping his eyes straight ahead.
“What do you mean?”
“They’ve never even liked each other before this. It doesn’t add up. One day, they were friends… acquaintances. Now, they’re engaged to be married. You and I started out as friends, but then we dated for five years and then and only when we were sure did we even begin to talk about getting married.”
Videl sighed, knowing that his overprotective side was surfacing again. “Something happened in the past, Gohan. I know we can’t remember it at all, but it was there. Somehow, everything changed. But you must be blind to think that they never even liked each other before this. What about the prom?” She asked.
“He was doing her a favor…”
“Fine, then what about the picture he has of her on his desk? Or the looks they’ve give each other when they’re near?”
“Videl… I’m not saying they don’t care for each other. But caring and loving are two different things.” He argued. “Couples get divorced every day because they mistake their affection for love.”
“Gohan… think about this for a minute. Try to remember all the time Pan’s been dumped. What have all of those guys had in common?”
Gohan’s face twisted in confusion as he thought about the answer to the question. “I don’t know… what?”
“They were all guys that met her one night and asked her out, or knew her from school. As soon as they found out about her strengths, they dumped her. Trunks already knows all of her big secrets. He’s been there with her since the day she was born.” She argued.
“I know that Videl. That’s what makes him a good friend. But I don’t think they should be rushing into a relationship just because of something that happened nearly twenty years ago. I mean…” He started, rubbing his temple with his hand. “I know how guys think. Pan even told me that she acted… different in the past. She wore effeminate clothing, wore a lot of makeup, underplayed her urge to fight and even slept with him. These are all things that are very out of character for her. What if… what if he’s acting on his memories of the past? Truth is, he could’ve fallen in love with this girl that was with him seventeen years ago, but is confusing his friendship with Pan for something more.”
“Gohan…” She said, “You don’t wait seventeen years for someone you only care about as a friend.”
“It could happen. Besides, he’s been with other women.”
“True, but try to think about it in Trunks’ perspective…”
“And what perspective would that be?”
“Honey… Seventeen years ago, they fell in love with each other. Suddenly, he found out that the woman he loved so much was the same little girl he used to baby-sit. Don’t you think that would bring doubt into any man’s mind? Of course he’s been with other women. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be with her. Now he’s sure. Look… you remember those two years we spent engaged before we got married because I wanted to finish college?”
“Yeah?”
“What kind of thoughts were running through your brain then? What did you do to get ready?”
“Well, I wanted to get a good job and start saving up. I bought you a ring, we bought a house… I remember that I was scared and at times, unsure of what we were doing… but I knew I loved you and that I wanted to be with you. There were times when it seemed like our wedding date would never come… Waiting for you became one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Time seemed to pass so slow on some days…”
Videl smiled and placed her hand on his, which was resting comfortably on the shift stick. “And isn’t that what Trunks has been doing? Preparing? Making wise investments and conservative decisions so they’ll have a future? Gohan… he loves her. I think we’ve all known that for a while. It’s obvious he’s been getting ready to settle down. I think we should be glad that she’ll be with someone who can appreciate her strengths and not fear her heritage. Plus, Trunks knows exactly how much stronger you are than him. Trunks is exactly the type of guy we were hoping she’d marry. He’s strong, rich, nice, handsome and smart… and he won’t hurt her.”
“But he’s so much older…”
“I’m not going to complain… not after seeing her come home from so many dates in tears after having her boyfriend run away from her in fear. If that’s the way boys her age are going to treat her, then maybe she should have shopped outside her age bracket much earlier and saved herself some heartache.”
Gohan sighed deeply and returned his eyes to the road. He remembered some of those nights… hearing her cry through her bedroom door. Sometimes, she would let him in to comfort her, but she knew it broke his heart for him to see her like that. It was her blessing and her curse… to have such strength, only to have the people she cared about scared away by it.
Once, he remembered, after things were going well with a boy, she’d brought him home to meet her parents and grandparents. The boy had lasted in their house for an hour before he was scared off by her Grandfather’s large appetite and her Uncle’s ability to fly. Gohan remembered going up to his daughter, studying her blank expression as she watched her boyfriend run to his car, dropping and stepping on the bouquet of flowers he had bought her as he stumbled with his keys as he tried to unlock his car door. The look on her face was enough to make Gohan want to snap the boy’s neck in two. “There goes another one.” She had said, lightly laughing as turned towards her father with an amused mask over her pained and humiliated expression. He wasn’t fooled for a second… but she ran upstairs and slammed her door before he had gotten a chance to talk with her… leaving a few fallen tears behind her on the floor below.
Videl was right… The expression that she had on her face up on Dende’s lookout did nothing to resemble the expression she had with any other man. He wouldn’t dump her for such ridiculous reasons, or fear her if she suddenly became stronger than him. If anything, he would spar with her… which would probably make her extremely happy. If Trunks would make his little girl happy, then he should be happy for her. “If he hurts her in any way…”
“I know… But you’ll be lucky if she leaves anything left of him for you to fight.” Videl said, yawning as they continued to drive towards their home.
“Uncle? Uncle?” She asked, her voice volume increasing. “Uncle?! Uncle!”
“What?!” He shouted.
“You wouldn’t answer me!”
Goten laughed a little, putting his hand behind his head as he looked at her innocently. “You know, Panny… I think this room is really beginning to play tricks on me.”
“Why?” She asked.
“Because…” He started, laughing more and more. “I could’ve promised anyone that I just heard you say that you were engaged to Trunks! Isn’t that ridiculous?!”
Pan watched as her Uncle had a laughing fit, a sweat drop of annoyance rolling down her face.
He fell off of his chair, having laughed so hard, he lost his balance. “You and Trunks!” He laughed. “That’s hilarious!”
“Uncle, this is serious!” She yelled, attempting to reach above the man on the floor’s laughing.
“That was really clever though. You really had me going! How’d you get Trunks to kiss you like that?!” He asked, his laughter subsiding, only to pick up again.
Pan sighed in frustration as she rolled up her sleeve. She wasn’t sure why she brought the ring with her, but Trunks had insisted on it... probably so that she would have something to remember him by. Goten looked up at her hand as she proudly held it out in front of him. His laughter faded and he stood back up, taking her hand and studying the large, bright stone.
“T-that looks real.” He commented.
“It is.” She said, watching his expression change several times. “So what do you think?”
Goten looked at her skeptically. “Why…?”
“Because he wants me to marry him… and because he loves me.” She added… a warm, unfamiliar rush sweeping through her. “He loves me.”
“N-no… you can’t get married to Trunks.”
“Why not?!” She snapped defensively.
“You’re… He’s… This… this isn’t happening! Tell me you’re not getting married to Trunks!” He shouted.
“I don’t know yet! I haven’t given him an answer. I wanted to talk to you, since you know him better… and I thought being in here would give us a chance to. Why is this so hard to believe?!”
“Wow… Then this is… serious?” He asked, unbelieving at what she was saying.
“Yep.”
“My niece is getting married to my best friend?”
“Maybe.”
Goten paced around the room, his brow furrowed in concentration. “I take it… this happened sometime on your trip?”
Pan looked up… astonished that he would’ve picked up on something like that, yet suspicious at the same time. “How did you know?”
“I… I’ve seen it in his eyes for a while. I knew he had feelings for you. Before you left, you two were friendly… comfortable with each other like relatives. Now, you’re in love? I know Trunks… he doesn’t just jump into serious relationships like he used to. So, I just figured the facts… You weren’t involved with him before you left and it’s been only a day since you’ve been back. So, something must have happened to you in the past.”
Pan’s mouth was opened wide. It was amazing what Goten had just picked up on… something that even her father, one of the most renowned scholars on earth had missed. She sat down on the corner of one of the beds and sighed. “Uncle… while I was in the past, I met up with him… inadvertently. I made up a false name for myself and everything so you, Marron and Trunks wouldn’t know who I was. I never meant for it to go any further than an innocent date or two… but it did. Trunks fell in love with me… something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child. We continued to see each other, even though I knew I shouldn’t. To him, I was Kara Oakie…”
“Kara Oakie?!” Goten interrupted, laughing loudly. “Is that the best you could come up with?!”
Pan slapped his arm. “Shut up!” She yelled, the sound coming back amplified due to the room’s strange effects. “I was in the middle of the story.”
“Sorry.” Goten said, successfully stifling his laughter to a slight giggle.
“So anyway… to him, I was Kara Oakie… a lie. I felt bad, but I let the relationship continue… a lot further than it should have. Unfortunately, the day I finally broke it off with him, he found out I was… well, me… the eight year-old he baby-sat for. He said some harsh words to me… but in the end, I guess I deserved them. I sprayed him with this stuff Bulma gave me that would erase everyone’s memories. I sprayed everyone who had met me, including you, Marron and everyone who was there when my identity was revealed so I wouldn’t ruin the time line. I thought that was the end… and I was content with leaving my experimental relationship with Trunks behind in the past… where it belonged. When I got back though, Trunks told me he fell in a pond… and that the water had washed out the spray before it could take effect. He remembers everything that happened between us and he asked me to marry him.”
“And you don’t know if you’re going to say yes?”
“No, I don’t know.” She said. “I wanted to hear what you had to say first. You know him better.”
Goten sat down on the floor and put his head in his hands. Suddenly, everything made sense. The feelings Trunks had for her, the things he bought for this ‘mystery woman’, the secrets… but he was Trunks, and she was Pan. Never in Goten’s life did he ever imagine such a match. “Pan…”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think he’s good enough for you.”
Pan’s expression sank. “What do you mean?”
“He’s going to be constantly working. He might not be there when you really need him to be. He’s never really been in a serious relationship besides with Marron and he doesn’t take responsibility very well.” He argued… trying to soften the blow. “I’m afraid he’ll end up hurting you…”
“Were you ever involved in a serious relationship before you got married?” She asked, interrupting his sentence.
“Just with Paris.” He answered, feeling a little beaten at that particular argument.
“You know, he said that his feelings for me was the reason he broke up with Marron when he did…”
Goten’s expression changed curiously as he scratched his head. “Well… um… he has been a pretty loyal friend… and if he says he loves you…”
Pan chuckled a bit. “And suddenly your opinion changes.”
“So what are you going to do?” He asked.
Pan sighed and collapsed back on the bed. “I don’t know…”
Sounds of screaming and the occasional disapproving grunt was all Trunks could hear in his current state. He was sitting in a chair, his mother with her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, squeezing much harder than any normal human could. His father was sitting across from him, frowning at the show of affection going on in front of him. Finally, Bulma released Trunks from her death grip and returned to her seat, a large smiled still plastered on her face as if it were glued there.
“Well, I’m glad you took it well.” Trunks said, still recovering from the attack made on him by his mother.
“I can’t believe it!” Bulma squealed. “And all this happened seventeen years ago?!”
“Yeah… about then. I guess it’s a good thing our memory spray had a defect…”
“We should improve on that.” His mother noted, suddenly switching gears to the inventive side of her brain.
“Mom… I only built the time machine to make sure that Pan would get sent into the past. I never thought we’d actually use it for anything else.” He fessed up.
Bulma looked at him sadly. For a moment, Trunks thought he was in trouble. “Ooh! My son is so romantic!” She yelled, getting up and hugging him again. “I can’t believe you went to so much trouble just so Pan would fall in love with you again!”
Trunks forcibly tore his mother’s arms from around him. “Mom… is this… I mean… It is Pan. She’s considerably younger than I am. You don’t think this’ll get the business in trouble or anything, do you?”
“Of course not!” She yelled, causing both the Saiyan men at the table to cringe. “CEO’s marry younger women all the time!”
“Okay… I was just checking.”
“So… you really love her?” Bulma asked, dreamy eyed. Trunks had a feeling she was about to go off into her own little world in a minute…
“Of course I do…”
“I mean really, really love her?”
Trunks chuckled slightly. “Yes Mom, I love her very much.”
“Ooh!” She squealed. “I can’t wait for the wedding! I can’t believe we’re going to be related to Son and Chichi and Gohan and Videl… I can’t believe that cute little girl who used to run around here all the time is about to be my daughter-in-law!”
“She hasn’t even said yes yet. I wouldn’t do any planning if…”
“Planning!” She interrupted. “We have to get on that right away! Let’s see, we can use the reception area at the Corporate building for the reception… and of course, we’ll need a cake…”
“Chocolate…” Vegeta chimed in… saying the first word he had said all night.
“And dresses…” Bulma trailed off… “I’ve got to tell your sister! She’s going to be the Maid of Honor, after all.”
A sweat drop rolled down the side of Trunks’ face as he saw his mother literally run like the wind towards his sister’s room. A few seconds later, even louder screaming and squealing could be heard. Trunks and Vegeta were both thankful that Bra’s bedroom was all the way down the hall at that moment…
Trunks turned awkwardly towards his father. The two men rarely talked… and Trunks could only remember one heart-to-heart moment that had ever happened between them, which was right before Vegeta killed himself in order to destroy Majin Buu. Still, this was an important decision and Trunks wanted his father’s view.
“So…” He began… wording his speech carefully. “What do you think of all this?”
Vegeta’s disposition remained the same, but he answered. “I find it… disappointing that our blood will be mixed with Kakarott’s and the infernal idiots he spawned...”
Trunks frowned, even though he expected that answer from his father. “I know you don’t like the Sons, but…”
“Don’t interrupt me boy.” Vegeta said sharply, causing Trunks to jump back slightly in surprise. “I don’t like Kakarott and his foolish brats. However, given the choices, she is the strongest female available and therefore, the most beneficial to our blood line. I think she will serve a great purpose in keeping our family line strong and creating powerful offspring.”
Trunks’ jaw dropped to the table. “You approve?!” He asked in astonishment.
“Isn’t that what I just said?!” His father snapped.
Trunks certainly did not want to question him further. He was surprised by his father’s answer, to say the least. After all the hate that boiled in Vegeta’s blood towards Goku, Trunks would have thought his father would be the one most opposed to the union.
“Father?”
“Hm?” Vegeta grunted.
“You don’t think she’ll say ‘no’, do you?” He asked, hoping his father would talk to him about this… and alleviate his doubt.
“She’d be a fool not to marry a member of the royal line of her ancestors.” He answered.
“Well… I mean… Saiyan’s have so many telepathic and telekinetic abilities… Isn’t there… some sort of bond that forms between a male and female Saiyan when they mate? Isn’t she like… marked as mine forever now? Never to leave my side and to always hear my thoughts?”
“A mark?” Vegeta asked, suddenly interested in what his son was saying.
“Yeah… like a bite on the neck or something? I bet the Saiyans have some natural mating instinct that keeps two mates together for life… like a Saiyan bond. If you can…”
“A Saiyan bond?” Vegeta shouted, chuckling at the same time. “A bite on the neck?! What do you think you are, a Vampire?! Did you think about drinking her blood too?!”
Trunks became slightly annoyed as his father’s chuckle became a full-blown laugh. “Saiyan… bond…” Vegeta repeated between fits of laughter. “You’ve been watching too many of those idiotic science fiction movies! I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous! I…”
“Father…” Trunks spoke, daring to interrupt, but annoyed all the same. “If we have no such instinct… then why have you remained with Mother all these years?”
Vegeta said nothing, but an evil smirk crossed his features. Trunks sighed and shook his head, catching him before he could say anything. “Never mind… I don’t want to know.”
The next morning, Trunks headed out the door. It was still early, but he wanted to get a good head start on the others. His stomach tickled with nervousness… today was the day. He flew up to Dende’s tower in record time. He landed, out of breath from straining his ki, and was immediately greeted by Mr. Popo.
“Do not be so nervous.” The wise man advised. “You will worry yourself sick this way.”
Trunks nodded in agreement… silently wondering what other thoughts the Namek and his assistant were able to read.
“We can read all kinds.” Dende said, making an appearance. “Especially when you think so loudly.”
Trunks chuckled nervously. “So… are they out yet?” He asked.
“No, but they should be soon. Why don’t you wait by the door?” The young guardian suggested.
“Thank you, Dende.”
Trunks obeyed and sat against one of the pillars leading in the hallway which led to the brown, wooden door. Within the hour, Goku, Gohan and Videl showed up with Marron and Goku Jr. Only a short time had gone by, but it seemed like an eternity to Trunks.
“Hi Trunks.” Gohan said, reaching out to shake his hand as a sign of good faith.
“Good morning…”
The creak of the door interrupted him. Immediately, all eyes turned towards the entrance to the Room of Spirit and Time awaiting its occupants to step out. A bright light prevented them from seeing anything other than two shadows standing at the doorway. Goten was the first to step out. His clothes were ragged with wear and his body scorn with cuts and bruises. Immediately, he spotted his family at the end of the hallway waiting for him.
“Hi guys. Nice to see you.” He greeted politely, before sweeping his surprised wife up in his arms and flying off the edge of the tower… never giving anyone a chance to even see him very well.
Trunks chuckled as he watched his two friends take off without a formal greeting. It was rather typical of Goten though. He turned his eyes back to the door way again… only to have his breath catch in his throat. There she stood… proud and straight. Her hair was considerably long… draping down her back to spite the fact that it was tied. Her clothes were torn as well. Her tired eyes, worn clothes, and wounded skin seemed to do nothing but make her even more beautiful than she already was. Trunks smiled nervously as she stared at him, unsure of what to do.
And suddenly, Trunks knew… the next words to come from her lips would change his life forever….