Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.

It's been a while, but I'm back!! Hopefully I haven't gotten rusty.

A/N: The Trust Pact has been changed to PG-13 due to something later in the fic that I forgot I was going to put.

::Thoughts::

"Speech"

change of time and/or place

change of point of view

The Trust Pact Chapter Three: Saturday

Regular POV

Videl woke up around 8 o'clock the next morning. She sat up and looked over at Gohan, a smile gracing her lips.

::I had real fun for the first time in a long time yesterday. I hope this works out. I haven't had a good, true friend since…ever,:: Videl thought with a frown.

She stood up, getting some clothes and quietly walking to the bathroom. She dressed, brushed her teeth, and brushed her hair, pulling it into a ponytail. By the time she left the bathroom a few minutes later, Goten had come in, and was currently jumping on his brother's stomach to wake him up.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" Goten exclaimed. "C'mon, Gohan! Wake up!"

"It can't be time for time for school, yet. Let me sleep, Goten," Gohan mumbled against his pillow.

"There isn't any school today, Gohan," Goten said.

"Then go away!" Gohan replied. ::Sometimes this kid bugs me,:: he thought.

"But you gotta have fun with me and Videl today!" Goten argued.

Gohan groaned and finally gave in, sitting up. Goten, grinning about his victory, walked out of the room. Videl blushed furiously, seeing the older demi-Saiyan, once again, without a shirt. She didn't even know he took his tank top off last night. Gohan got off the bed, walking to the bathroom with a gi in hand. He came out just as Goten walked back into the room to tell them that breakfast was ready.

Videl followed the two of them to the kitchen, taking that time to notice how the gi somewhat showed off his nice, tight…

::No! Bad Videl! You will not think of him like that! You're lucky he wants to be your friend! He'll never want to date you!:: Videl's logical side yelled to her heart and gut instinct.

Videl managed to tear her eyes away from Gohan's backside before anyone noticed her looking.

After breakfast, Gohan suggested that he, Videl, and Goten go swimming. Both Videl and Goten agreed enthusiastically.

After changing into swimsuits, the three of them walked to the lake behind the Son house. Gohan and Goten pulled off their t-shirts and jumped into the clear, deep water. Videl hesitated, especially when Gohan turned to her.

"You coming in, Videl?" he asked with that goofy grin of his. Videl mumbled a yes, blushing fiercely. She slowly removed her shirt, revealing a black two-piece. Her blush intensified as Gohan stared a her, his jaw dropping.

Gohan's POV

I tried not to stare, but Videl was just so…beautiful. Now I know why she wears baggy clothes all the time. The guys in school would be all over her. For some reason, that thought makes me mad. For some reason, I know she would never, not in a million years, let another guy see her in a bathing suit. Maybe she's starting to trust me a little bit.

"Hey, Videl! You look pretty!" Goten said, snapping me out of my trance. I blushed, turning away from Videl.

Videl's POV

I relaxed as Gohan took his eyes off me. I did feel a bit of satisfaction, though, knowing he thought I looked good.

Regular POV

Videl jumped into the water, joining the two boys. She was amazed by the fact that the water was this warm. It was only April, after all.

Seeming to read her mind, Gohan said, "There's underground hot springs all over the mountain. The water stays warm all year, even in winter, because of them."

"Oh. That's cool," Videl said, treading water. She dunked her head to wet down her hair, and when she came back up, she couldn't see Gohan or Goten.

"Guys? Where'd you go?" she called out. Moments later, she felt a hand latch onto both of her ankles, pulling her under. She resurfaced, mad as a hornet, seeing the boys laughing at her.

"I'll get you for that!" she said, pushing Goten's head under and tackling Gohan. Goten came up first, shaking out his hair. Gohan came up just in time to get sprayed full in the face.

"Hey!" Gohan shouted, shielding his eyes. Videl laughed as he picked Goten up, throwing him into the water. Gohan grinned at her. The two of them started splashing each other, Goten joining them.

The three of them stayed in the lake for almost three hours, playing Marco Polo, having breath-holding contests, or just swimming.

"I'm gonna go get something to eat. Want to come?" Goten asked the two teens. Both Gohan and Videl declined, saying they would come later. Goten shrugged, walking back to the house, bringing his shirt with him.

"Your brother's a cool little dude," Videl said with a smile.

"Yeah, he is. He takes after his dad," Gohan replied, smiling back.

"What was your dad like?" Videl asked, hoping thinking about his father wouldn't upset Gohan.

"He was honest, a hard-worker, a loyal friend…and he was brave and fun…I miss him so much," Gohan said quietly. Before Videl could say anything, he added, "He died playing the hero. But that's not surprising. He's always been a hero." A smile spread across his face as he thought about his dad.

"How did he die?" Videl asked timidly.

"I can't tell you…not yet," Gohan replied.

"Oh…okay," Videl said. They floated in awkward silence for a few minutes before Gohan broke it by swimming toward the bank.

"C'mon," he said, grinning. Videl followed him as he lead her through a small patch of trees. It opened up onto another smaller but deeper lake, this one with a waterfall, about 8 feet high.

"Gohan, it's beautiful," Videl said quietly.

"I thought you would think so," Gohan said.

"I don't think there's anything I wouldn't give to live here instead of the city. It's so peaceful, so serene," Videl said, still gazing at the lake in wonder. She turned to Gohan, but he was no longer there.

"Gohan?" she called.

"Up here!"

Videl looked up, seeing Gohan standing on top of the waterfall. He grinned at her goofily, jumping off into the lake.

The demi-Saiyan swam to the edge of the lake, looking up at her.

"You should try it, Videl. It's fun!" Gohan exclaimed. Videl laughed at his boyish manner and agreed, jogging up the sloping grass to the waterfall. She jumped off, swimming over and surfacing next to Gohan.

"That was fun, Gohan! Let's do it again! A double jump this time!" Videl suggested, climbing out of the lake and running to the drop-off again, Gohan right behind her. They jumped, laughing as they came back up.

Gohan looked at Videl, noticing a stray hair plastered to her face by the water.

"Hold still, Videl," he said, reaching a hand out to brush it away from her face. Videl blushed lightly. Caught in the gaze of her eyes, he cupped Videl's cheek in his hand, and Videl dipped into it slightly.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered. Videl smiled in satisfaction.

Videl's POV

I told myself to look away, but I couldn't, not with those mysterious black eyes boring into mine. I told myself not to do something I would regret…but my heart and my gut were completely ignoring my brain's logic. I started to lean forward, and I noticed that Gohan was moving closer, too.

::Videl! Think of your mother!:: she mentally shouted at herself.

Gohan's POV

I saw panic flash through Videl's eyes as she swam away from me quickly. This confused me as well as brought me to my senses. I had almost kissed her! Videl swam to the bank, never taking her fear-filled eyes off of me as she climbed out. Wait-fear-filled eyes? Why would Videl be scared of me?

Regular POV

"Videl, wait!" Gohan called. Videl ignored him, jogging trough the woods. She picked up her towel and t-shirt, wrapping the former around her and entering the Son house. Keeping her voice steady, she told Chi-Chi that Gohan would be in soon before going to Gohan's room.

She closed the door, leaning against it and sliding to the ground.

::Why am I afraid of him? He's a good guy. He wouldn't hurt me, would he?:: she wondered.

"Videl, can I come in?" she heard Gohan call, feeling and hearing him knock on the door.

Gohan didn't hear an answer, but felt her go into the bathroom and heard the door close. He opened his bedroom door, closing it behind him. He walked over to the bathroom, knocking and calling her again.

"Go away!" he heard her say.

"Videl, open up! I wanna know why you're scared of me!" he called back.

"I can't tell you," Videl replied pertly.

"Videl, please come out," Gohan pleaded. He heard Videl sigh in exasperation as she opened the door, dressed in her normal clothing.

"Videl…I know I kinda almost kissed you, and I'm sorry…but that's no reason to freak out," Gohan said quietly. He looked at Videl, shocked, as he saw tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"Gohan, you don't know what I've been through in my life…the horrific things I've seen," she whispered, shuddering.

"Videl, I would never hurt you. I promise," Gohan said, tentatively hugging her.

"I know, Gohan. I just can't seem to make myself believe it," Videl replied, hugging him back.

After lunch

Goten and Chi-Chi had gone over to the Briefs' house, leaving Gohan and Videl alone in the house. They were currently in the living room, working on their homework for the weekend. After they finished, Gohan suggested that they take a walk.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Videl said with a smile. They hadn't forgotten about the event earlier that morning, but it seemed like, since they had made the pact, there was hardly ever tension between them, and when there was, it disappeared easily and quickly.

They walked past the two lakes, and Gohan lead Videl through another small patch of trees to a field of wildflowers that had bloomed within the last week. As Videl gazed at the field in wonder, Gohan bent down, picking up a small flower. Its petals were similar to the color of Videl's eyes. He tucked it gently behind her ear.

"Beautiful," he whispered. Videl smiled, running a finger over one of the velvety petals.

"Thanks," Videl said, still smiling. Gohan smiled back, running a hand through her soft hair. She hadn't tied it up after the lake so it could air dry.

Gohan averted his gaze so that they didn't repeat the lake incident. He took her hand and tugged on it, taking her a good mile into his 'backyard' so she could see all of the lakes, fields, and streams.

As they walked back to the house an hour and a half later, it was starting to get dark. Gohan, even with his heightened sense of sight, didn't see something moving toward them through the grass, due to the fact that it blended in with ground, especially well at dusk. Gohan should have heard it, but he and Videl were talking loud enough to cover up the rasping sound rubbing its scales together made.

Gohan paused in what he was going to say, and then he heard it.

"Videl, don't move," he said, holding a hand in front of her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"There's a snake about three feet in front of us. It's a saw-scaled viper. It's really, really poisonous," Gohan explained in a rush. Now that they had stopped moving, it had stopped, too. But if either of them shifted their foot and inch…

::How could I forget about the snakes that come out at night? How could I be so stupid?:: he thought.

"Videl, don't move!" he repeated as Videl started to tremble.

"I can't help it," she said, fear in her voice. Gohan reached down, squeezing her hand tightly.

::If I take off with Videl, it could still be too slow. Light from a ki blast will make it bite, and it's closer to Videl. It'll probably go for her, no matter what I do. I can't risk her life,:: Gohan thought. He didn't end up having to think of a solution, though, because the viper felt one of Videl's trembles and lashed out, biting Videl's leg. Videl cried out in pain. Gohan kicked the snake out of the way, catching Videl as she fell.

"Oh, no! Videl!" he exclaimed. He cradled her in his arms, holding her close to his chest. He hurried back to the house, now only a short distance away. By the time he had her inside and on the couch, her pulse was beating rapidly, she was sweating heavily, and her fever was through the roof. Not to mention her ankle had swollen to nearly twice its normal size where the bite was.

"Gohan…it hurts…" Videl said quietly.

"Shh…you'll be okay," Gohan assured her.

"Gohan, I'm thirsty," Videl said, her voice cracking.

"Okay. I'll be right back," Gohan said, leaving the room for a moment. He came back with a glass of water and a bandage. He quickly tied the bandage firmly around Videl's leg, right above the bite, slowing the flow of the venom.

"Here, Videl," he said, holding the water in front of her. Too weak to lift her head, she opened her mouth, making Gohan lift her head for her. He did so, pouring some water into her mouth. She drank half of it before Gohan pulled it away. She would have to wait if she wanted more.

He put the cup down, leaving the room again. He came back this time with some soapy water, a cloth, and small, straw-like plastic tube. He washed the blood and pus off of the bite, grimacing when Videl whimpered in pain. After cleaning it, he stuck the straw in his mouth, sucking lightly on the wound. He pulled back quickly, letting the venom run out of the straw. He washed it out, gagging at the soapy but clean taste as he repeated the process. He did it over and over until it seemed like all of the venom was out. Now all he could do was wait to see if he had stopped the venom in time. No matter how fast he flew, Videl would die by the time he got to a hospital if there was still any poison left.

He crouched next to her, pressing his lips against her sweat-drenched forehead.

"Videl, you have to be okay," he whispered. His exhaustion caught up to him, and he fell asleep, his hand gripping onto hers.

End of Chapter Three.