Our story begins with a girl in Satan City. She walks the crowded streets as if she were one of them but like most people in the world she hid a dark tale of her life. She approached a book store where a friend would meet her at, "Chen Mei Hou!" She jumped as she opened the door hearing Gohan yell. Her stomach turned as he turned holding Pan in his arms, "Chen!~" Pan smiled reaching for her. Chen smiled racing toward the little girl, "Pan my lil hero.~" She embraced the little girl as she ran into her arms. Gohan sighed heavily seeing the cute moment, "Chen, you forgot to come in last night. You're my top student and we had a review over the finals." She looked at him annoyed, "Son, I was at work. Bulma called me into work on some new Capsules. I promise you that I will pass like every other exam. Isn't that right Pan?"
"Chen smart!" She threw her fists in the air laughing. Gohan narrowed his eyes at the young girl. It was true there was a study met last night but Bulma never called her in. She volunteered to help with the Capsules, "As long as Bulma can vouch for you, I'll give you credit." his smile burned inside her brain. She kissed Pan on the cheek and continued her search for a book.
"What?! What do you mean? You dare not believe Chen? She was with me last night working. We came across new Capsule that can possibly store a Hospital. Yeah. See you later." Bulma hung up the phone with a heavy sigh of relief. "Chen, when are you gonna tell them?" She peered over her glasses and smiled, "I have no clue what you speak of." She continued taking data as Bulma impersonated her, "Oh, Mrs. Bulma. Please don't tell Gohan about my feelings or who I am." Chen held her chart to her chest, "Oh, that. I hope I never have to." the air felt heavy for a moment until Chen smiled brightly at Bulma, "We've reached an increase on the mass and volume. Maybe it'll work this time. Just a few minor changes and we'll be able to place a hospital in the desert." She raced over to her computer, "Goten and Trunks are taking a vacation after Finals. Maybe you should join them, Chen." Bulma mentioned the two who refused to be near her. They use to be so close but Bulma slipped telling them about Chen's life, "They can't stand the sight of me. Spending anytime with me would cause further problems."
"You were only a few days old with Vegeta found you in there. You looked about five but acted like a infant." Chen remember everything about that day. She was grateful to Vegeta but, "The only thing I recall is darkness while I was there but Trunks acts as if I'm a killer" Chen shivered remembering the fight they had and how aggressive he got. "I get it though Dr. Gero created Cell, and android 21 and he worked for the Red Ribbon Army. They had the world in their hands but Goku and the others were able to fight with all they had and won. Now, Goku and Vegeta are training with Whis. We found proof that I'm human and not an android but they refuse to believe me. We were growing apart anyways it was bond to happen one day." Chen spins in her chair rolling to another computer as Bulma bit her lip.
Chen walked home with her books and lab coat in her arms. She lived in apartment near the school with a roommate who happened to be obsessed with, "Great Sayianman!" she rolled her eyes hearing her scream, "Ming Shufen, keep it down our neighbors will hear you." She laughed seeing the 23 year old in the getup. Ming was lively and out going. "You seem to be in a good mood ,Chen. Did you guys meet up again?" throwing her books on her bed and sighing made it obvious. "How was it?"
"Like the rest. We talked about school and the finals. Why do you care?" she smirked at the dork wearing the embarrassing onsie. "I kind of ship you guys now. You've had a thing for him since our freshmen year and you babysit Pan. You have his daughter's blessing. Now all you have to do-"
"I'm not making a move on a single father. Videl died giving birth to Pan and she was huge role model for girls everywhere. I can't compete with that and I won't." Chen closes her door after seeing Ming's sadden expression. Why would Ming care anyways? Chen already knew she reported to Bulman about her condition, "Chen, Hurst is going to join us tomorrow for dinner. That's if you come home." Chen felt her heart drop. Hurst Yong, the boy who took her place beside Goten and Trunks. He knew what he was doing and he did it with pleasure. Hurst was second place thanks to Chen and had become jealous of her. Sports, mathematics, physics, you name it and Chen is above Yong. To push her to madness he began to see Ming and refused to meet her at his place and insisted on meeting her there. Chen tightly hugged her pillow wanting to start over in her life. To have a chance to press restart.
Gohan waited in his classroom patently for Chen so they could talk about her study, "Mr. Son , what are we waiting on?" He laughed nervously, "Sorry I spaced out."
"Are we waiting on Chen again?" Hurst stuck his nose up as Ming glanced at the door waiting for her also. Gohan began to sweat a bit, "Yes Mr. Yong. We have about five more minutes until class actually begins." Hurst looked at his watch and clicked his tongue but smirked knowing why she may not come. Ming recalled Chen waking up extra early and hogged the bathroom but didn't know why, " , Chen was up extra early. Maybe she's felling sick?"
Chen walked the street side holding Pan's hand and some flowers. "Does daddy know?"
"Probably not but it's nice to visit mommy on her birthday right?" She smiled and Pan jumps around, "Right!" her heart ached with every step she took. Videl was important to Gohan and to lose her made him feel weak and lost. Chichi and the others helped him raise Pan. Pan adored her father and grandparents but not as much as she adored the stories they told her about Videl. "Grandpa said that daddy super strong but not as strong as mommy." Pan looked confused about everything but she was only 4 and telling her what happened wasn't Chen's or anyone's place but Gohan's. "We're here." she smiled seeing the beautiful flowers Mr. Satan set up, "Grandpa!" Pan raced to his arms, "Pan?" He hugged her tightly, "How's my favorite granddaughter?"
"I'm your only granddaughter, Grandpa." She laughed as his rough beard rubbed on her face. Chen stood back and smiled as Satan saw her, "Why Miss Chen Mei Hou I haven't seen you in a while." he laughed nervously. Pan walks over taking the flowers from Chen and places them in the center of the grave. She takes Chen's arm and drags her to the grave, "Come pray with us. Grandpa come on." They each clap their hands together praying for Videl. Pan seemed to pray extra hard as she began to grunt, "MOMMY, HELP DADDY FIND HAPPINESS!" Satan and Chen look at the girl in shock. "Pan, Daddy has his favorite girl. You're best girl in his life. He's super happy."
"No, he's not Grandpa." She looks at them crying, "Daddy tucks me in and goes to the living room on some nights. He cries wishing for help. He wants mommy but she can't come back. Daddy loves Pan but...Daddy misses mommy and mommy is gone." Tears weld up in Chen's eyes. "Pan." she hugs the young girl close to her, "Daddy is so happy. He has you to take care of. He enjoys every story he reads to you and every play date you two have. Daddy loves you more than I've seen anyone love another person." She wails in Chen's hugs. Satan joins in, "I promise you Pan, Chen is right. Daddy is so happy to have you." Chen felt her body become warm and fuzzy. She looked up from their hug. She froze for a moment feeling as if she saw a woman smile. So warm and gentle with tears of happiness and then vanished, "PAN!?" They all turn seeing Gohan breathless with his bag on his shoulder, "Daddy?" Chen dusted off Pan and sent her his way, "Why are you here? You should be wit-" He stopped his sentence after seeing Chen beside Satan, "Where were you?!"
"With Pan."
"Why weren't you at the University?"
"Because I was with Pan." He grits his teeth as Pan drags him to Videl's grave, "Look! Chen and I picked mommy's flowers for her birthday." Satan whispered, "She'll be come a strong woman like her mother and have a kind heart like you." She slightly laughs, "You say that as if I raised Pan as her second mother." He raises an eyebrow and walks off. Gohan joins Pan in a prayer then hugs her tightly, "Mommy would be proud of you. She couldn't wait to meet you. She counted the days until it was time." Pan hugged him tightly hiding her face, "Baby girl, you ok?" Chen walked over petting her head, "Pan, tell daddy what you said."
"No, he'll get mad." Gohan looked confused at Chen. "No he won't. I promise you." she leans away revealing her snotty face and tears, "When daddy tucks me in I sneak down stairs and hear you cry for mommy because she's gone and you miss you her." His face turns to a bit sadden as he realizes her misunderstanding, "I do miss mommy but I don't cry for her, Pan. I cry tears of joy realizing she gave me you." He hugs Pan tightly as Chen smiles at the happy family.
"I passed." Chen hands Gohan her exam papers. "You sure did. I underestimated you Miss Chen."
"Like always but I'm just happy to be able to actually earn money at the Capsule Corp." she stretched her arms to the sky feeling relieved. Gohan held his brief case and coat in his arm, "Does it make it appropriate to ask you for dinner?" she stopped looking at him for a moment. He smiled walking past her, "Wait what?"
"Would you like to have dinner?" Gohan repeated himself refusing to show his red face. Chen blushed along with him realizing what this meant. Her heart rate increased as it settled in her brain, "Like an actual dinner? Just us?"
"That's how people ask each other out right?"