Daddy's Girls

Everyone in the room was smiling, they just couldn't help it. Well, except Vegeta, but there were suspicions that he also thought the two babies that were boldly at the center of all attention were thoroughly adorable. Bra and Pan sat in the floor of a large living area in Capsule Corp surrounded by quite an enthusiastic audience of Bulma, Goku, Trunks, Goten, Gohan, and Videl. Originally the day was supposed to just be a small play date for the two young children, but somehow the entire gang seemed to end up here, enjoying the free joy given off my the happy baby girls.

Pan seemed to easily be the happier of the two, but that was probably a genetics issue.

Trunks and Goten sat closely to the two girls, playing and making faces specifically designed to cause laughter. Goku sat behind the two girls, somehow seeming like their protector, just is case, while also being the girls favorite person in the room. While Gohan had been leaning up against the far wall with Vegeta, he remained there after the Saiyan left all the while Bulma talked quietly with Videl as they enjoyed the peaceful moment around them, knowing all too well what the girls were like when they were farthest from the happy disposition they were now holding.

Pan's smile was a classic Son grin, but seemed to have touches of her mother's own face as well. She flipped her arms around giddily as Trunks made a new face for her pleasure, as he obviously favored the baby that didn't live in the same non-soundproof house that he did. But in her flailing, Pan hit Bra. Everyone froze as the tiny Saiyan princess toppled over backwards from her sitting position she was managing to sustain all on her own.

Goku lifted her in to his arms quickly, attempting to sooth the girl before she made a single noise.

But even Goku can't win every battle.

The blue haired baby began to cry, somehow sounding more angry than hurt, probably another genetic mystery... Bulma's head tilted to the side as she sighed in disappointment of how long her daughter had managed to last happy this time. The baby's temper was up to par with her father's and not a force to be reckoned with - even for Bulma. She took her child from Goku's arms, eager to have the poor thing removed from his strong grasp. Bulma shhh'd her daughter, bouncing her within the confines of her arms. She recognized Bra's angry cries though, and sadly knew there was only one way to make her stop.

"I'm gonna go give her to Vegeta. I'll be right back."

Faces around the room were all stunned at the idea of Vegeta being an answer to any child's cry, all except for two that is.

Gohan's face remained calm, never leaving his eyes from his daughter on the floor, now alone. Goku had risen to hand off Bra, and Trunks and Goten had sat up, rotating to turn around watching Bulma leave the room.

Pan's face crumpled in confusion as to why now only had she made her best friend cry, but she made her leave taking the attention from the room with her. The poor Son baby now left alone wondered whether any attention was ever for her, or just her pretty blue haired friend. Pan wished desperately she could rise to her feet on her own and walk away. Surely no one would notice, she thought, because everyone's attention still seemed to be directed towards the hallway where Bra's presence had wandered away in the arms of her Mommy. Hurt crossed Pan's face, happiness gone, loneliness replacing it. Didn't anyone want to delight in her still?

Gohan's face changed as an entertained curiosity fell upon his bright eyes, a tiny smile managing to appear on his lips. What was his daughter thinking about so hard? Maybe she just needed some sort of need met - Pan had seemed to avoid crying at all costs her entire life so far, making for an interesting game of guessing when Pan needed something. Gohan knew quite well that trait had to be from his wife.

But then Gohan saw an emotion of his wise little baby's face that registered quite well with his memories; she was hurt.

He had no idea how his daughter, whom couldn't even walk on her own, had seemed to express real and deep hurt through her face ever since she was born. Sometimes it astounded him, making him quite proud - he was sure that his Pan was much smarter than the average human baby. But sometimes, well most of the time, this face sent a hurt through his own body, as he suddenly became desperate to defend and repair his baby girl's wounded heart.

Still though, Gohan didn't move from his position leaning up against the far wall.

Pan started to move her head side to side, as if she was slowly saying 'no' to something, when her tears started to emerge, a sight rare to all. She looked at all her friends, even her Mommy who had their faces turned away from her when one face caught her eye, choking back any tears from falling. There up against a wall far away was her Daddy, looking straight at her with a small smile on his face. Pan's eyes opened wider causing a few tears to fall and as she got excited her body started to wriggle around when the other's started to notice again. All eyes turned back to the silently crying, dark-haired baby alone on the floor.

"Oh no, Pan! What's wrong?" Trunks was the first to reach out for her, but she hit his hand away and cried harder.

"Ha! Trunks, she just needs her uncle. See..."

But Goten was also struck by the partial Saiyan, and though she didn't truly hurt him, she sure could pack a wallop already.

"Yeah, good going Goten! Now she's worse! I've never even seen her cry before!"

"Me either, come to think of it..." Goku added, scratching his head.

Videl stepped forward, reaching for her daughter. And when the small hands swatted away her own mother all voices fell silent in the room, including Bulma, who had just re-entered without Bra. Videl's jaw dropped and she looked at her baby, still under a year's age, and with a stern look reprimanded saying, "Now just what is it you want Pan Son?"

The baby wobbled and flailed lightly, wetness dripping from her eyes silently when softly she spoke, "Da dee..."

Now jaws had dropped. Though Bulma managed to wear a sweet smile, knowing all too well what had just happened.

"What Panny?" Videl now crouched down to her knees looking at the girl, eyes wide.

"Da dee!" Pan shouted, still wet with tears.

Videl turned to Gohan, who still remained at the wall. His eyes had never left his daughter. His face looked like he'd just received the largest undeserved gift of his lifetime. Videl's jaw fell slightly as she looked at her husband, her own emotions attempting to make an appearance.

Her daughter's first word.

Daddy.

"Da dee! Da dee!" Pan repeated, still feeling scorned by every other person in the room.

Gohan pushed himself off the wall and stepped towards the center of the room towards the small angel he'd locked eyes with. He crouched down next to his wife as his daughter turned her small body to face him completely.

"Yes ma'am?" He spoke calmly, all eyes and ears at attention.

"Da dee!" She lunged forward, nearly falling on her face, but instead being caught by the more than capable reflexes of her father who lifted her into his arms as she latched onto his shirt without giving any indication of ever letting go.

"Gohan... Her first word!" Videl was glowing with pride before him, causing his own smile to grow in return. Not to mention the smiles of the audience they'd forgotten they were sharing the room with.

Gohan acknowledged his wife lovingly, then turned his gaze to the fragile girl in his arms whose tears had turned into a pleased smile of silent comfort. Her eyes met her father's gaze, they matched perfectly now, like mirror images.

Then Pan showed off an inside sentiment that had so far been strictly between only her and her father by opening her mouth to make her baby kissing face, and kissed her Daddy's nose in the only way she knew how. Pride gleamed from Gohan's smile as he waited his turn before returning a kiss to her own nose.

"Yes, Daddy's here."