January 1, 2011- I figured I would start keeping track on how long it takes me to write each chapter. Frankly, other than Basic Training, I'm a little disappointed at how long it took for me to add more chapters. I appreciate your patience! Though I will forewarn that I will start to slow down once again, as I will be moving to Japan shortly =D. February 5, 2011- Almost done, now that I'm finished with classes, this should go faster. I whole-heartedly apologize for all those spelling errors in the previous chapters. Apparently, I never ran spellcheck and just uploaded them. Not this time!
I swear to Dende, I am going to kill this man. Goten stared at Trunks silently, watching as him and Amaya joked around, as if they were having the time of their lives. He couldn't stand how fake Trunks was acting now that he had gotten what he wanted from Pan.
"Goten, thank you for inviting me over."
"Of course he was going to invite you! You're my brother's fiancee and it is a family picnic! Speaking of family, where is that niece of yours?"
"I'm right here, Packie had a few finishing touches to put on his culinary creation here."
"Be jealous." Goten chuckled to himself as he watched Pan walk in the backyard with her hand engulfed by Packie's. Pan pointed to the table and Packie bowed, bringing a pan over to it and putting it down. "Oh Videl, you're looking lovelier than ever!"
"What a pain." Pan sighed, watching Packie stroll over to her mother and kiss her hand.
"So, are you feeling better?" Goten asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, a whole lot better. Being away from that man has helped me." Goten chuckled, and held out his hand as Packie came back.
"Goten, tell your niece that she should be nicer to me and stop beating me up."
"I beat everyone up."
"Yes, but it hurts!"
"No it doesn't. Goten, Bra wants you." Pan said softly and he nodded, walking over to her. "This is their first home together, but don't say anything about it."
"Of course. Why is your boss staring at me like that?" Packie muttered and Pan shook her head. "It's starting to creep me out a little."
"Probably just seeing who I came with."
"Who else would you come here with? Really? That's just obnoxious and still a little creepy. Like, who does he think..." Pan put a finger up to Packie's lips and shushed him.
"Quiet down. You're always getting riled up for no reason."
"When it comes to you, I always get riled up." Packie leaned down and planted a kiss on Pan's lips, and Trunks shook his head.
Apparently the one brother wasn't enough, she's going to go for both! Although, in fairness, he is a little headstrong and probably did that on his own free will.
"So, they are dating?" Amaya asked and Trunks shrugged. "I thought she was married or engaged to someone."
"She was, but he passed away before she came back. That was the reason she went back to Boston a couple months ago. That is his brother, who came to make sure Pan was all right."
"Hey now, I do think you can cut that nonsense out!" Goten smiled, crossing his arms.
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't help the fact that I love your niece." Pan punched him again and he groaned. "Oh cut that out!"
"I must say that it is nice to see you happy for a change." Trunks had walked over and Pan stared at him. The air between the two was rather tense, and Goten couldn't help but stare at his friend, wanting to break his neck. "Packie, always good to see you."
"You too! This is quite a big family gathering you have here! You've seen my family get togethers, there is only the..." Packie stopped and shook his head. "Never mind. Do you mind if I go harass your parents?"
"Go ahead." the three of them watched as Packie walked over to Pan's parents, getting in on a conversation between the two of them and Amaya. "So, what do you want exactly?"
"Oh come now, we're going to start off on a foot like that?"
"I think it's warranted that the two of you should stay as far away from each other as humanely possible. You were always..."
"I don't think that has to be brought up at a time like this, Goten." Pan stated, motioning to the table filled with family members. "I mean, if you're going to rant, you can at least pick a better place and a better time."
"Seriously, you are pretty retarded."
"An insult coming like that from either you is hypocritical at best. I don't want her around you and I better not catch you around him."
"Why can't I come over here to apologize?" Trunks looked at Goten, who snorted. "Oh, I know that my apologizes haven't meant too much over the last few months, but the office has been quite boring without Pan. In fact, my life is pretty boring without Pan being around."
"Hm, is that your form of apologizing?" Pan stated and Trunks chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, I know how to apologize. I need to apologize to you, you're still my best friend besides this guy. You have my word that you will never be bothered by me again, accept as your boss of course. It's pathetically bad how I need you back at the office." Trunks chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I had tried hiring someone to take over for you, but it was simply awful."
"Who do you think takes care of all of my business organization? I do it, and I also balance the bills that those idiots on tour used to rack up. I won't do anything for you anymore."
"I'm sorry. I know I said I was going to apologize, but all I kept doing was talking." Trunks looked at Pan, who kept her arms crossed. "What is your opinion on letting that one know?"
"Um, hell no. I'm not one of those people who need to confess things. I'm pretty good at feeling like an asshole, but not nearly as big as you probably feel."
"I always feel like an asshole but I stopped caring."
"The both of you are ridiculous."
"Goten, shut the heck up."
"So, we will be having a rehearsal dinner soon. The months have been flying by." Trunks stated, sitting down at his desk. Goten chuckled and shook his head, looking out at his niece as she designed dresses at her desk. "I always let her do that, she's so damn fast and on task, that there's never anything for her to do!
"I swear she does it just to create more work for you." Trunks nodded, taking a ship of his water. "I see you haven't been drinking."
"I still drink, just not as much and definitely not around Pan. Besides, Amaya has been popping in and out of my office non-stop lately, so I can't really be drinking unless I feel like getting screamed at for an hour. It's embarrassing to be yelled at in my own office."
"Well, you are surrounded by two women who do nothing but yell." Goten crossed his arms, staring at his new band resting on his finger. "Not used to wearing jewelry."
"Hm, be glad that Pan and I broke up years ago or you probably wouldn't be wearing that." Trunks stated, only getting a smirk in return. "Congratulations. I do hate that you and my sister had to keep the wedding so low-key; I wanted to there." Goten frowned and looked at Trunks. "I know it isn't your fault, Goten. My father has an unhealthy hatred for your father, which just makes it trickle down the line. She is happy, you are happy and it gets her away from me."
"Why the hell don't you move out of your parents' house then?"
"I don't feel like it."
"Wow. How old are you again?"
"Old enough."
"I know why you were still living with your parents, but I think you should move out now."
"It's too late for that speech. I already got myself an apartment that was big enough for the two of us. I wasn't going to buy a house. What if we get divorced or something? She isn't taking my house." Goten sighed and shook his head. "Your niece made me paranoid, and I made Amaya sign a pre-nup. It isn't my business that I would lose. It would be my mother's business."
"That's not a very trusting thing to do."
"I don't care. I told you, she has made me the way that I am."
"Hm, nice try. Oh, someone has a visitor." Goten stated and Trunks looked out from his office as Packie walked in to see Pan.
"How are you feeling?" Packie smiled, cupping her chin in order to get a smile back from her.
"Just the usual sickness, that's all." he put the box down on her desk full of the goodies that she wanted and Packie shook his head, crossing his arms. "Don't hate on me because I like junk food."
"I'm not hating on you because you want junk food. I just don't like the fact that as good as I cook, all you want is junk. So, taking in consideration that you will probably be hungry later, I put some real food in there anyway."
"Thank you! I will eat it all."
"Hm, and I will have more for you when you come home." Packie sat down on the other side of her desk, and cracked open his energy drink. "You do realize that I am here to help you, right? Whatever you ask of me, I will be around to help you with."
'Thank you Packie and of course I know you are."
"I will stay as long as you want me to. In fact, even after I piss you off to the point where you don't want me around, I will be around. That's what family is for."
"Thank you Packie."
"Do you have any plans on telling that boy that he got you pregnant?" he said softly and Pan shook her head, smiling at him. "Oh Pan, i'm sure when the child is born that two and two will come together for him."
"By the time that happens, I will hopefully be out of this town again or just away from this madness altogether."
"Fine, if that is what you are going to do then I think it is only right that the two of us get married and throw off suspicion about the child."
"Hell no. I belonged to your brother and that was all, Padraig."
"I understand and I apologize once more."
"Hm, that man certainly has been around lately, hasn't he?" Trunks took another sip as he looked at the two of them. "Did she say anything about the two of them?"
"No, neither one of them has mentioned anything about being together. I know Packie has his own house on the same island as Pan does, but he won't move in. I would like it if the two of them got together, that way she can forget you and then the two of you can definitely move on without a hitch."
"Clearly both of us have moved on. Hm, I hope the both of them remain happy. If you will excuse me for a moment, I do have to talk with the both of them." Goten nodded and sat at Trunks' desk while he watched him walk into Pan's little office space.
"Good afternoon Trunks, how are you?"
"I'm well Packie. How are you?"
"I'm good. I wanted to bring food for my little Pan here since she hasn't been feeling well." at the mention of that, Trunks frowned. Sayians weren't known for getting sick, and for her to hide being sick, it must have meant that it was rather uncomfortable for her.
"You could have called me and told me that, Pan! You know I would have gone ahead and given you the day off!" Trunks sighed, shaking his head. "Anyway, now I don't think it's a good time to ask you, now that I know you're sick."
"Go ahead and ask me. Your fiancee has asked me plenty."
"Well, considering that you were already making the dresses for her even though I didn't want you to, I wanted to know if you would play a few songs for me at the wedding reception." at the mention of that, a smile grew on Pan's face.
"Trunks, I would love to play my music at your wedding reception!" she started and then her face grew solemn, as did Packie's. "You forget that my fiance, my lead guitarist has passed away and I will never replace him. I will die before I replace him, even if it is for one day."
"You don't have to replace him, Pan." Packie said softly. "If you were to play my part, and I played his, it would not be a replacement. No one would be able to replace that boy, not even myself and I am his twin after all."
"That was insensitive of me, like usual and I apologize." Trunks rolled his eyes and hit himself.
"I will do it, you are my friend after all. Oh I will be back." Pan got up from her desk and ran to the bathroom. The last six months had been nothing but a living nightmare for Pan after that stupid one night stand, but she would be damned if she told Trunks that he had a second chance of ruining her life. Although it would make her laugh to see the look on everyone's face when she showed up as a mother during the wedding. Luckily for Pan, because she was already so small, she never appeared to be pregnant and probably only looked like she gained a few pounds. When she came back to the office space, Packie and Trunks were having a grand old time like they were the best of friends. "Don't become best friends with him Packie, you are my best friend."
"I don't see why he can't be a friend of mine, I'm a cool person." Trunks stated and Pan glared at him. "Do you really think I'm going to alter your friend here?"
"Trunks, go away." Pan rolled her eyes and sat back down at her desk. "What songs do you want us to play for you?"
"With that being said, I have to converse with the wife or she is going to have my head at her picture perfect wedding." Trunks sighed. "She should be coming in here momentarily. Hey Packie, can you excuse us for just a moment? I have one question that I need to ask Pan and would like to do so privately." Packie nodded and without being given permission, he walked right into Trunks' office. "So, when Packie says sick, what does he mean by that?"
"He just meant that I'm feeling a little under the weather, that's all. I mean, it happens to me all the time because of the way my immune system has been compromised from my actions. I know you're all worried because we don't get sick, but sometimes it does happen."
"Maybe sometimes, but in my lifetime I have never seen anyone get sick."
"My grandfather came down with a heart virus, if you don't remember that. You forget that Sayians are not impervious to all things."
"Well, since I do have some sort of a brain, would you mind describing me the symptoms?"
"You are an inventor, you are not a doctor." Pan chuckled. "Don't worry about it, I probably just had some bad food at the bar last night."
"You were out drinking?"
"Is that a problem? I have proven to be a high functioning party-goer, not like you."
"Hahahahaha, chuckles." Trunks sighed and crossed his arms. "I was only trying to be nice and ask about my friend."
"Well, don't worry about my, I'm quite all right."
"If you say so."
"I do."
"Dende damn it, Pan! You are looking quite horrendous! What is the matter with you today?" Packie stated, walking into Trunks' office where Pan was laying down on his couch. Trunks was out to lunch and Pan thought it would be the perfect time to take advantage and use his furniture.
"Ugh, that is rude of you. Packie, I'm fine."
"Bullshit you are fine! You're paler than ever and you look like you're going to die! We are going to the hospital!"
"No, no we are not. I just need some rest. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in I don't know how many days."
"Duh, it's called having a child kicking your ass every night! When Trunks comes back, I'm taking you home." Pan just nodded, not wanting to argue with him. "So you do agree with me? Sweetheart, I have your best interests in mind and you know that. The last thing I want is for something to happen to you or any little family that you're starting. I mean, you really do look like a vampire who has starved themselves of blood for a few weeks!"
"Good Dende, what is the matter with you?" Trunks fell to the side of the couch and put his hand on her forehead. "Holy shit, you are burning up something fierce! Pan, I'm going to be a hundred percent honest with you, you look like shit. Your lips are really, really cracked and you have no color what-so-ever. Why didn't you tell me you were feeling like this? It's been going on for some time!"
"She won't listen, and..."
"Packie, I will hurt you." Pan sat up and groaned, rubbing her stomach. "I will go to the hospital, are you happy?"
"I am!" Packie grabbed her things and held out his hands toward her. "Right to the hospital we go and there isn't anything you can say about it!"
"Yes sir."
"I'm going to come with you, if you don't mind." Pan looked at Trunks and shook her head. "What? Why not? Pan, that isn't fair to do something like this to me all over again!" she looked at him and could see that for once, Trunks was genuinely hurt by her actions. "I am not about to let you just walk out that door, Pan. If something happened to you and I wasn't there because I actually stood back and listed to you again, I would never forgive myself. I would honestly just kill myself." Pan held out her hands to him, to make him copy her movement, and she pulled herself into his arms.
"I'm perfectly fine, I'm telling you."
"Dende, you're body is so cold, but you were burning up only moments ago. There's no way you're all right, Pan!" he rested his chin on top of her head and looked over at Packie, who looked down at the floor.
"Trunks, it's a natural procedure! Since you are so worried about me, you may come along and you can call my uncle to have him meet us there as well. Wait, you have a rehearsal to go to!"
"I don't care about that right now. I have about three of them coming up."
"Oh no, don't do that." Packie stated and Trunks looked at him. "You know my girl will be the one who gets the blame on that one!"
"Pfft, she's not going to because I will resort to being the asshole that I normally was to Amaya. Let's go, no fighting me." Trunks pointed toward the door and Pan sighed, following his orders. The three of them sat quietly in Packie's car, Trunks stroking Pan's hair as she rested her head up against him. "So, what is the matter with you exactly? You said it was a normal thing, so you must have some idea of what is going on?"
"I've got the flu."
"How the hell does a Sayian get the flu? That's impossible!"
"I guess it isn't." the hospital became a party when Goten got there, asking a million questions just like Trunks had.
"Don't bother, she hasn't said anything other than the fact she has the flu."
"I don't feel good! I don't really feel like talking when I should be resting instead."
"You should have thought of that before coming to work like an idiot!"
"Ah Pan Son, it's a pleasure to see you again! I take it is time for your appointment?" Pan nodded and the nurse looked at the three men, sighing. "Well, OI'm going to take Pan back with me, the three of you can meet us up on the fourth floor momentarily. We don't allow anyone to see our patients until they are all set up."
"What kind of a strange rule is that?" Trunks looked at Goten, who simply shrugged. Packie sighed and crossed his arms, making the nurse smile.
"Well, I remember you. You're the only one currently allowed with her."
"Thank you." Packie followed the nurse and Pan to the elevator and Goten grumbled.
"Of course that would happen. I'm her family and i'm not allowed to go up there with her. What is on the fourth floor anyway? Isn't she just coming to get medicine for the flu or is she actually checking in because she does look like she's about to keel over."
"Excuse me ma'am, can you tell me what is on the fourth floor exactly?" Trunks asked a passing nurse, getting a confused look in return.
"Why, that's the maternity ward, sir. That's where all patients are brought to either give birth or where they are recovering from giving birth. So who is the lucky one about to become a father?" she asked and Trunks knew his face had drained of color.
"Apparently my niece and her boyfriend!" Goten felt around for a seat and shook his head.
"That is a little bit of a head spin, isn't it? Come on, we're going to the fourth floor. No one will stop me once they realize who I am." Trunks chuckled and the two of them walked to the elevator.
"So, I'm thinking right about now they figured out why you're here and why you're up on the fourth floor."
"I'm sure they did, but because you are the one in this room with me, they would never think someone else was the father."
"Oh they might when that baby is born, I'm sure. If he looks anything like Trunks, then you're lie is going to come to a big, fiery explosion, as will your life." Pan stared at Packie and he simply shrugged. "I'm just calling it as I see it."
"i know you are and I hate that the most about you." Packie excused himself and walked to the waiting room, spotting Trunks and Goten.
"Well, well, well." Goten cleared his throat, crossing his arms as he stared at Packie. "The two of you wanted to keep that a secret, did you?"
"Frankly we did. She had plans on not saying a word and then skipping town to head back to Boston. Of course, I don't find it wise nor proper to leave without saying something to your family, however, that was Pan's intentions. She was to leave after your wedding and that is all I will say."
"How long have you too been..."
"Sleeping together? I can't really see how that should concern you, Trunks. I proposed to Pan not too long ago, and I'm pretty sure that everything is fine." Packie stated coldly. "I for one do not have to explain myself or my actions and I will leave any explanation your friend has for her to explain." Trunks and Goten were taken off guard by his sudden attitude, and it made Packie chuckle. "I'm not always nice, guys. I do what I have to do."
"I don't think you understand that the life of my niece is my business and just because you're some dickhead that she chose to bring into her life, doesn't mean I have to listen to anything you say."
"Don't listen to what I say, I don't really care, but if Pan wants to leave this town, then we are going to leave and probably never come back. I don't need her constantly getting hurt by the same fool over and over." Trunks was about to say something, but he stopped as his phone rang.
"Hello." he answered gruffly, and Goten walked away, shaking his head. He knew that if he hadn't walked away that he would tear Packie's heart out of his chest and stomp on it.
"Where are you Trunks? You are supposed to be at the hall!" Amaya's voice pierced his ears and he sighed, only to have Packie laugh at him. "I don't care what excuses Pan and Goten have, but you are the groom! You are going to become my husband and you're not here!"
"Listen, Pan virtually fainted back at the office and I had to bring her to the hospital. It turns out that she is pregnant. Since we have five more of these rehearsal things coming, I thought that missing one of them wouldn't be such a big deal."
"You're there because the damn whore finally got pregnant? Are you kidding me? Are you the father of it, Trunks? Is that the reason why you're so worried about her and that thing she is carrying?"
"Well, I would say that was a bit out of line, don't you think? I said she fainted and I had to take her to the hospital. What kind of employer would I be if I just let my secretary stay on the floor while I went off to a big, fancy dinner to drink?"
"That's all you think this is? You think it's a big fancy dinner and that's all? Ooh Trunks, I swear to Dende when I see you I am going to tear your head off!"
"You can try my love, you can try." she hung up on him, and Trunks scratched his head, looking over at Packie. "What? Yes I just made her burst into tears."
"I really don't care what you did to that thing you call a fiancee. She could fall in a pit for all. Before you decide to jump me, I would hope that you had some common sense and thought about the possible repercussions of your actions." Packie stated and sat down getting an evil look from Trunks in return. Packie simply smiled and pulled a flask out of his pocket.
"I think you're the one who is underestimating me, Padraig."
"Oh, I highly doubt that. I know almost all I need to know about you." Packie took another swig and let out a sigh of enjoyment. When the door to the operating room opened, Packie looked over at the nurse coming out and smiled.
"Not yet sir, but she does want to see you." Packie nodded and followed the nurse back to Pan's room. When he walked in, he spotting Pan holding two babies and he looked back at the nurse. "She told me to say it."
"Of course, I understand quite well." Packie watched her walk out of the room and then looked back at Pan, sighing and smiling. "Well, congratulations on having twins, but your plans on trying to hide the truth is about to take a turn for the worst. They have purple and black hair, which I clearly do not have. I was also never born with a tail but I know the two of you were. So, that officially makes these children what? Three-fourths Sayian and one fourth human?"
"No, half Sayian. Think about it, they couldn't be full human or full Sayian when you have a mixture like that."
"I guess that's true. So, what are we about to do here?"
"What is about to happen is you're going to get out of this room to let the mother rest and you can send the father in here instead." a middle aged nurse remarked as she walked through the door like a bull in a china shop.
"I am..."
"You are clearly not the father. The man with the lavender hair sitting in the lobby is the father. So, get the hell out and send that man in!" Packie looked at Pan and she nodded.
"I have to face the music some time, why not now?" Packie nodded and reluctantly made his way out to the lobby while Pan laid the wins down in their bassinets. When the door cracked open again, Trunks poked his head in the door just as Pan covered the babies' heads with a hat.
"Twins? Congratulations! You must be excited." he smiled and she nodded. "Oh look, they have tails." he walked over, unsure of what to think and then stared at Pan. "So, Packie is the father, huh? I always knew that the two of you were closer then you let on."
"Well..."
"I'm also not stupid, Pan and I do know how to do math by the way. There's no way that Packie is the father to these children because he came a month or two after we slept together. Do you want to tell me the truth?"
"I gave birth a month early, Trunks. Why do you think I was feeling like shit?" she said softly and Trunks winced, looking down at the ground.
"Yeah, didn't think that would be a possible answer. I apologize."
"No apology necessary. Um, why don't you and my uncle get going and then you won't have to miss your rehearsal?"
"I'm pretty sure I might have blown whatever I had by coming here, but thanks for your concern. I will go though, because I feel that the more you continue to lie to me, the more it takes for me to hold my temper down. Goodbye Pan, I shall see you soon."
"Bye Trunks."
Author's Note-Well, it isn't as good as I wanted it to be when I was thinking about it, but for whatever reason, I am unable to do what I envisioned. It might be the stress of the job that I am training for or the fact that I am stuck away from my family for a few more weeks. Like I promised, I took care of the spelling errors, and I am starting the next chapter now. Happy SuperBowl!
