Chapter Three
"Hey, Gohan, did you know your daughter was keeping company with a lazy bum?" Goten called out as he entered his brother's house.
"Who?" Gohan asked, brow furrowing as he looked at Goten. He sat at his desk, reading some papers. "You?"
Goten threw him a look. "No. I was talking about Trunks."
Gohan shrugged. "Well as long as it's not any other lazy bum other than you two, I don't mind."
Goten leaned against Gohan's desk and crossed his arms, ignoring the fact that he was crumpling some of his brother's papers. Gohan rolled his eyes and gave up trying to do any work.
"Alright, spill it," he said, leaning back in his seat.
"There was something there," Goten said thoughtfully. "I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something between them."
"Pan and Trunks? I don't think so, Goten. He used to babysit her. He's at much older than she is and I don't think he looks at her in any way other than another kid sister," Gohan said rather quickly.
Goten was surprised at the briskness of the answer, all the more whetting his curiosity. He knew he was on to something. He may not hold a doctorate as his older brother did, but he knew a cover-up when he saw it. It also didn't help that Gohan had no control over his facial features whatsoever. Goten could see he was worried over his only child. He should have taken statue lessons from Vegeta.
"I don't know, Gohan. You weren't there."
"I think that you have an overactive imagination," Gohan replied.
"We'll see," Goten said smugly.
Gohan looked sharply at him, but Goten only pasted an angelic look on his face. Before he could pursue the matter further, Videl came in, with a pile of books in her arms. Being the gentleman his mother raised, Gohan got up to help her.
"Oh hi, Goten!" she greeted when the pile had lessened enough for her to see him. "Sorry, but it's only leftovers tonight."
"It's okay," he said. "Mom's invited everyone over to eat."
"Really? Then we better go over there and help her."
There was no arguing with Videl, so Goten and Gohan followed her out the door. The conversation had turned to other matters, and Goten forgot about Pan. But Gohan did not.
Gohan watched as Trunks greeted his daughter with a brotherly pat on the shoulder. Pan could barely conceal her annoyance. It was obvious to Gohan that she'd been expecting more.
A kiss perhaps?
Trunks made his way through the room and Gohan watched as Trunks hugged Marron, kissing her cheek. Looking back at Pan, Gohan saw her face go blank. She looked away, but her eyes conveyed her pain. Gohan stared at her, his own heart aching for her. He also felt a knot start to form in his stomach.
No, Pan. Please don't let it be true...
Pan took a deep breath and looked up. Immediately, her eyes met her father's. She frowned. Judging by the intense way he was looking at her, something was on his mind. He quickly smiled but he couldn't quite cover up the turmoil in his eyes. He looked away then and busied himself with pouring drinks, but Pan already suspected something was going on.
Dinner came and went in the same loud, boisterous manner as it usually did. Everyone praised Chichi's cooking and moved on to their respective activities. The women retreated to the kitchen to clean up while the men went into the living room to play their games. It was not because they were all old-fashioned and they believed each gender had their place, but it was more an economical decision. When last the men were allowed into the kitchen, Chichi had lost a whole set of dishes to what Goten called 'creative cleaning'.
Smiling at the memory of Chichi chasing Goten and the others with a rolling pin, Pan followed Bura through the doorway.
"You won't believe what Vegeta said today," Bulma said, scrubbing a plate with a bit more force than necessary.
Pan grinned at the familiar words. Every time the women gathered to have their talk, Bulma always began with the same statement. The arrogant Saiya-jin prince and his strong-willed wife seemed like the most unlikely couple in the universe, but anyone could see that their relationship was as strong and steady as a rock.
"Want to go for a walk?" Marron asked Pan and Bura.
Bura glanced at her mother, Marron's mother, Pan's mother, and grandmother. They were deep in discussion about their husbands' many bad habits and traits. She grimaced.
"Nothing would make me happier," she replied.
The three younger women excused themselves and shot out the front door. The cool night air was refreshing and the night sounds of the forest were relaxing. Pan took a deep breath and smiled.
"There's no place like home," she sighed.
"I wish I could travel like you," Marron admitted wistfully. "Instead, I'm stuck at home with mom and dad all the time with nothing to do."
"It's not so bad," Bura argued. "I like spending time with the parents. Although with Trunks..."
They laughed. Bura loved her older brother as much as he loved her, but it didn't stop them from bickering.
"We should go on a trip," Marron said. "Just the three of us. Have some downtime without having to submit to all the my-husband-is-an-idiot talk or the warrior talk."
Bura nodded her assent. Although she was half Saiya-jin, she had no wish to fight. She was perfectly capable of doing so, but didn't find any reason to, much to Bulma's and--shockingly--Vegeta's relief. Marron, being human, had no hidden strengths and her father had not bothered to train her. Pan, on the other hand, loved nothing more than a good fight. She kept her mouth shut.
"So, tell us about your travels, Pan," Bura said, leaning against a tree. She ran a hand through the lavender hair she and Trunks had inherited from their mother's side of the family. Marron settled against a tree stump and looked expectantly up at her friend.
"Well, I met a lot of interesting people. And the places I've seen were just so breathtaking. Greece is a beautiful place filled with ancient ruins and..."
"Did you meet any nice guys?" Marron interrupted.
Pan chuckled. Some things never changed. Bura looked just as interested about the change of topic as Marron was.
"Many nice guys. Europeans, especially Italians, are very romantic people."
"Didn't you spend an extra week in Italy?" Bura inquired.
"Yup."
Marron and Bura giggled. Then, Marron sighed heavily, her sapphire blue eyes sad.
"I broke up with Shin two weeks ago. It just wasn't working out."
"I know he wasn't as exciting as my brother," Bura said slyly.
Marron blushed. Pan was thankful for the darkness for she felt her own cheeks heat. Marron and Trunks had dated for a while back when Marron had been sixteen. It had been brief, but hot and heavy. She remembered seeing them locked in each other's arms and being curious about how it felt to be held that way.
"I don't know why you keep on bringing that up, Bura," Marron complained. "Trunks and I are good friends now."
"I see you looking at him sometimes with those puppy dog eyes," Bura countered. "You can't truthfully tell me you don't still have feelings for him."
Marron shrugged, tilting her chin up in the air. She flipped her blonde hair airily. "There will always be a special fondness for the first boy you'd ever fallen in love with, but I'm over it now." She tipped her head thoughtfully. "I want someone who will bring me gifts and flowers without it having to be a special day. He'd just give it to me just because he loves me."
"Automatic flowers," Bura said. "That would be nice."
Pan listened quietly and hoped that they wouldn't turn on her next. She stared at the ground, lost in her thoughts.
"Earth to Pan," Bura said, rapping her knuckles lightly on the top of her friend's dark head. "So, have you fallen in love yet?"
"Yes," Pan replied softly before she could stop herself.
Marron and Bura leaned forward, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. Pan fidgeted uncomfortably but kept her lips pressed tightly together.
"With who?" Bura demanded.
"Do we know him?" Marron questioned.
"I--I..."
"GIRLS!!" Chichi called. "Come inside. It's getting chilly."
"Okay, Grandma," Pan called back. She started back for the house before the other girls could grill her some more. She shouldn't have said anything. Now they were never going to leave her alone until they found out who she'd been in love with.
The three went into the living room where the men were engrossed in a game of cards between Krilin and Yamcha. Gohan was sitting on the couch, his chin cupped in his hand as he watched the game thoughtfully, as he did all things. Vegeta was leaning against a wall, far apart from the others, his arms crossed. He looked for all the world to be uninterested in the proceedings if not for the way his dark eyes zeroed in on Yamcha's cards. Goten was cheering Yamcha on, while Trunks rooted for Krilin.
Pan smiled at the scene and felt an ache in her heart as she looked at the spot where her grandfather used to sit. Even after six years, no one dared to sit in the cushion, including Vegeta. They all missed him.
Gohan smiled when he saw his daughter walk in. He patted the seat next to him. Pan settled in on the crook of his arm. Despite the glasses he wore, he didn't look as if he'd aged at all since she'd been born. Pan leaned her head against his shoulder, once again glad she'd come home.
Bura went to stand by her father. Vegeta didn't move an inch, but his eyes greeted his only daughter with tenderness. Marron went to stand next to Trunks. Pan watched as she touched his arm to get his attention. Trunks leaned his head down close to her so that he could hear what she was saying over the ruckus. Pan scowled but quickly masked it with a tight smile and pretended like she was upset over Yamcha losing the card game.
Gohan fought back a sigh as he watched his daughter watch Trunks and Marron. Goten, the little idiot, was right for once.
His daughter was in love with Vegeta's son.
