"Hi Trunks! So good of you to come, please, make yourself at home!", Videl chirruped, holding in one hand a couple of coasters, and in the other a huge bowl of hot potatoes!
Pan appeared from the kitchen." I'm sorry mother, but that whole 'I'm a posh dinner hosts who serves very posh food' thing doesn't wash with anybody, especially when it's coming from you!I mean somehow I just can't envision you in a posh gown serving canapes and champagne!". Pan gave Trunks a knowing look and smiled. Trunks smiled back.
"Pan! Where are your manners? Don't stand there like a lemon, see Trunks to his seat!"
"But mother", she replied, "he's been here before, he knows where the dining room is"!
"Yeah, well, PAN! Just see the guy to his seat, okay! Hold on, I smell something burning..." Videl was looking pretty flustered as she ran to the kitchen, where smoke was now seeping slowly through the oven door!
"She's always like this when we have guests, It's like she..." Pan was interrupted with a peck on the cheek. She blushed as she escorted Trunks by the arm into the dining room.
Gohan was sitting down, reading, as usual. He didn't even notice Trunks and Pan ermerging from the hallway.
Gohan looked up."hey Trunks, so good to see you...where's Bulma-San and Bra-Chan?"
"They, er, couldn't come", said Trunks, lying. His family would be happy to attend the dinner party, if they had known about it...
Videl entered, bringing with her her best china plates."It's a shame they
couldn't come, otherwise it could have been a real family-type gathering!" Gohan
was quick to notice that Videl had just laid out six dinner plates, instead of
four.
A lot of hugs and greetings ensued, as the dinner guests (and a v.exhausted Videl!) took their places at the table. "It's just like Videl to go totally OTT in the food department", Gohan thought. There was barely enough room for plates and such, with all the food on the table. Videl had really gone all out, and she looked ready to drop off to sleep any second!
(this is just some of the dialogue from the dinner table, a la That 70's Show'!)
Chichi: So Pan? Seeing any nice boys lately?
Pan: Well, actually...
Chichi: Duh, what are we going to do with you? When I was your age
I was already...GOKU! Elbows!
Gohan: Now, mother, Pan's in no rush...she's barely twenty...
Pan: Actually dad, I am seeing someone
Videl: Really? Well when were you planning on telling us?
Pan: Sooner, but i guess now's the right time. You see, for the last two
months i've been seeing...
Goku: TRUNKS! Could you pass me the potatoes?
Trunks: Here you go, Goku (passes the potatoes to Goku).
Chichi: Trunks! Are you seeing any nice young girls?
Trunks: As a matter of fact I am (plays footsie with Pan under the dinner
table!)
Videl: Really? you should have brought her along. After all, there's
plenty of food for everyone!
Goku: Not if I get my hands on it first! (chucks a whole chicken onto his
plate!)
Chichi: GOKU!
Videl:Never mind, there's enough for everyone! As I was saying, you
should have brought her along, Trunks. So, tell us, who's the lucky girl?
Trunks:well, um, I...can't say! She's...special (Pan chokes on a bit of
chicken!)
Chichi: Are you all right, honey?
Pan: Fine, I guess!
Videl: Come on, Trunks, don't be a spoilsport!
Trunks: Ahem (clears his throat). Are you ready for this? Her name is...
Goku: PAN! Could ya pass me the salt?
Pan: Yeah sure (passes the salt and secretly squeezes Trunks' knee!)
Videl: Where were we? Oh yeah, I remember (pause) There's pie for desert!
Goku: Desert? Sweet!
Trunks: Dude!
(okay okay, so the last bit seems pretty silly, but i've jus' seen 'Dude, where's my car and I thought it would be funny! Anyways, the conversation goes on like this for a while until Goku has eaten all but desert!)
"Here's desert!" Videl exclaimed. She place a large apple pie in the center of the table.
"Desert? Sweet!" said Goku.
"Remember Goku, this time leave some for the other guests!" Chichi advised.
"That's okay! I'm prepared this time!" Videl managed to say, whilst buckling under the weight of the largest pie known to humanity! She dropped it before Goku. He stared at it for a few seconds (well, til his brain registered it was indeed a very large pie!), before quite literally diving in with his bear hands!
"Goku, er...I'll let it pass!" Everyone stared at Chichi as she took out her knitting!
"Attention everyone!" Pan said suddenly. She stood up, dragging Trunks with her.
"Come on Pan, at least let me finish my slice of pie!"
"No!" They had everyone's attention, as Pan slowly began to talk."For the last few months, Trunks...and I...are..."
Constantly being interrupted by Goku, it seemed, as he suddenly piped up " Any drink to wash down the pie?" Pan promtly poured him a drink!
"As I was saying..." Pan carried on. "For the last few months I...I mean we were...are...A funny thing happened to me recently...Trunks...and me...you know how you're always saying, Dad...that..."
"Pan! Does this have a point?" Gohan interrupted. All eyes were on poor Pan, she could feel the heat rising up her back, wasn't Trunks supposed to be helping her out?
"Well, er.." Pan continued.
"We're in love"! Trunks interjected. The room was suddenly silent, and the atmosphere was so intense you could cut it with a knife (don't blame me!I'm hopeless with metaphors!) Gohan was the first to say something.
"I had a feeling something was going on". Everyone suddenly turned to Gohan. "But I dismissed the idea as soon as it popped into my head, because well, how do I out this...?"
"The age difference?" Pan added. "Well, so what? It isn't even an issue, as far as we're concerned. However, we want to know whether or not everyone else feels the same!"
Everyone sat in silence for a while, not quite believing what had just happened, each with a solemn expression. Then Goku laughed.
It was like brain measles or something, because Chichi also laughed, followed by Videl, who had just quickly downed a glass of Chianti! Then the solemn expression on Gohan's face slowly dissolved into a smile, and eventually he too began to laugh. Now the only people who weren't laughing were Pan and Trunks!
Nobody said anything more of the new revelations, and pretty soon it was time for Goku a Chichi to go home."Well", said Chichi. "It was a LOVELY dinner, Videl. I'm so glad you married my Gohan!" She grabbed her knitting and added "the evening's been interesting, to say the least! Well, we've got to go! Byee!"
"Thanks for the food, Videl. See you all soon!"Goku made his way through the door after his wife.
Trunks and Pan were now alone in the dining room, which was now amass with soiled dinner plates and the like.
"Interesting to say the least..." Pan repeated what she had overheard Chichi saying at the door. Trunks smiled, and drew his arms around Pan's waist as he kissed her cheek softly (aww!). Pan pulled from her pocket her bandana, which Videl hadn't wanted to wear at the dining table. Trunks delicately tied it up for Pan, and leant down to kiss her cheek.
He saw Gohan watching them in the corner of his eye, and quickly backed away from her.
"Well, I guess I had better be going. See you soon Pan" he walked towards Gohan, gave a weak smile and passed him to get to the front door.
"Wait!" He heard Gohan's voice. "Trunks, before you go...I wanted to say. You both have my blessing".
Pan, who was standing behind her dad, suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears, overjoyed, she hugged her dad.
"Thank you. You don't have any idea what this means to me and Trunks".
"Okay, so I guess i've got to be going now..."
Gohan interrupted him"Unless you want to stay here for the night. After all, you've always been a member of the family!"