Authors Note: Thanks for all the reviews, much obliged to you all. here's Chapter Ten. Quicker than expected, but hey, I'm off work for a week, I have time on my hands, aren't I good to you? Hope you enjoy this instalment of CU, it has a little sting in the tail at the end. JD x

By the way, for those of you who may not have seen my profile, I've decided to try my hand at being a Beta Reader, so if you'd like my help in any way, please feel free to ask.

Caught Up

Chapter Ten; A Half-Wit Named Meredith

This was another nightmare, it had to be. There was no way Pan had just unknowingly told her parents she was pregnant and dug her own grave. Just. No. Way.

But upon opening her eye's, after squeezing them tightly shut against the impending doom, this was all but a nightmare, this was reality at it's harshest. Shit really didn't hit harder than this. She sighed.

"Say something, please?" She all but pleaded, idly playing with a lose thread on her trousers.

The silence was killing her. The longer they stayed that way, the longer Pan's mind continued to torment her on how stupid she was for opening her fat mouth in the first place.

This silence though, she concluded, was only the calm before the storm. The pensive phase where her parents took time to mull over the conversation. Come up with her punishment.

Even if she was twenty-two years old.

After what seemed like a painful eternity, Gohan cleared his throat loudly. The tension in the room was clearly evident and before he spoke, he drew in a deep breath.

"Your pregnant.." He stated, releasing the breath and chancing a glance at Pan who nodded dumbly.

"Well this is just perfect, isn't it?" He said rhetorically before throwing his hands up into the air, then letting them drop so they slapped against his thighs. "Here's us pitying you because we thought you had money problems! And all the while you were hiding because you were pregnant?!" His voice rose to a controlled yell and Pan flinched under his gaze.

This was the side of her father she hoped she'd never have to see. He was usually a very calm man, but given the right motive, could turn on you in a second, and as much as she hated to admit it, she knew she was about to receive a lethal dose of his temper.

"If my memory serves me right, did you not tell me that you were careful Pan? That you used protection?"

She opened her mouth to protest but his face contorted into a look that said 'Shut it, you've said enough.' She bit down onto her lip and nodded for the second time. She felt like a child once more, being reprimanded for not doing as she was told, and of course, not having the opportunity to voice her own opinion because she was to young to have anything relevant to say, but she did. And her father being so stubborn and assertive was triggering her own temper.

"So not only did you shamelessly offer yourself to a man you claim to hate, but you were to stupid to use protection? And now your pregnant. I though I'd taught you better than that Pan, where's your self-respect?"

That was it. He'd lit the match and ignited the fire.

"Wake up Dad this is the 21st century, people get drunk, people make mistakes. Whatever deluded image you have of me, get rid of it, please? Maybe that way you might stop looking for perfection and start seeing your daughter!" She vented, feeling her finger nails dig into the palms of her hands as her anger continued to rise.

This was not the sort of talk she needed. She'd spent the last week or so torturing herself over this whole pregnancy, without the one person she trusted above others, and depended on treating her like she was a common tramp. Of course he was disappointed, but running her down was not going to help the situation any.

"I don't want you to be perfect Pan," He shook his head. "I just wish you'd be a little less-"

"Of a failure?" She cut in.

"Pan!" Her mother stepped into the conversation, making herself heard for the first time since the argument had started. "We would never say anything like that, your our daughter.."

"Not in so many words."

The reply came not from Pan, but from Gohan. Pan winced. He'd agreed, he'd actually agreed that he thought she was a failure. She swallowed hard and felt tears sting the back of her eye's, but she fought them back.

"Gohan!" Videl's head now snapped across the look at her husband, she was as shocked as Pan as she took a hold of his arm and began violently shaking it so as to capture his attention or shake the ludicrous thoughts from his mind.

He only glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to his daughter.

"You think I'm a failure?" She asked sadly. Eye's glistening with tears she refused to let fall.

"No Pan, no your not!" Videl answered, shooting a glare at her husband.

But unlike usual Gohan did not back down. Videl's efforts were useless, this was one battle she was not going to be able to steer her own way. She could only look on in horror as her husband slowly began to destroy the bond between him and his daughter, the pained look in Pan's eye's reflecting just that.

Yet he remained impassive, seemingly unaware of the damage his words had caused, for pure anger had over-ruled his compassion at that moment, anger mostly being driven towards a certain son of Vegeta who had no business doing such a thing to his daughter, but he would pay dearly, in time.

"I think I'm going to leave.." Pan croaked, breaking the momentary silence. If she didn't make a move now she was afraid either her or her father would continue this bout and stoke the fire further.

"Pan no," Videl pleaded, tentatively taking a hold of her arm.

Pan pulled it free and shook her head. "I'm sorry Mom..Dad.." She mumbled, a sense of shame washing over her. Things could not possibly get worse from here. "I'll call.." She added quietly as she headed for the door.

In that moment Gohan's body tensed up and he immediately regretted ever opening his mouth. He wanted to call her back, yell some more, anything but let her walk out of that door. But he couldn't. He was still to angry, to much in shock to rectify the situation, so he simply let her go. His only daughter, the daughter he'd practically told he was ashamed of her. It was a far cry from the truth of course, but he'd said it none the less.

With a defeated sigh turned on his heel, not wanting to see the lost look in her eye's anymore as she left the house. But before he had chance to walk away a hand placed itself on his shoulder and gripped tightly.

"Gohan, why?"

He shrugged. "What would you have me do Videl? Congratulate her?" He replied bitterly.

Videl sighed and took a few steps forward so that she could face him. "I'll go get some blankets."

Gohan cocked an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because you mister, are sleeping on the couch," She explained with a look of disdain.

XXX

Trunks rolled over in bed and smacked his lips loudly in an attempt to get some of the moisture back into his mouth. He'd no doubt slept the majority of the night with his mouth agape, and morning breath was just disgusting. Chuckling lightly he stretched out an arm and gently probed his fingers through the blonde hair that was sprawled out onto the pillow case adjacent to his.

A soft moan escaped the lips of the women beside him before she opened her eye's and smiled at him brightly. "What time is it?" She asked coyly as he brought her hand up to his lips and placed a soft kiss there.

"Why I think it's around ten sweet, why do you ask?" He rubbed the sleep from his eye's and shifted closer to her snaking an arm around her waist.

Meredith raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you at work?" She asked.

Trunks shrugged and kissed the tip of her nose. "I don't know. I booked a day off though," He told her yawning loudly and stretching his aching muscles.

Meredith immediately sat up, a wide grin kissing her lips. Trunks smiled back and nodded his head ever so lightly in approval. She had failed to pull the sheets up with her when she rose, and Trunks got a lovely view of her breasts.

Meredith did not seem to notice this though and bounded down on top of him wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Aww baby, you took the day off for me?" She squealed in delight.

"Mmm.." Came the muffled reply as Trunks fought for air. If he didn't make it, he would pass a happy man. Death by breasts. Smiling inside Trunks relaxed back into the sheets, allowing himself to be exquisitely smothered.

"Your just the sweetest, you know that? I'm so lucky.." She sighed giving him a final squeeze before sitting up once more, this time grasping a handful of the sheets, using them to wrap around herself before she climbed out of bed. Trunks drew in a breath and pouted.

"Oh Mr. Brief's!" She exclaimed covering her mouth with her hand. "I see sergeant major's standing to attention this morning, you naughty boy!" She purred.

Trunks cast his eye's downwards and chuckled as he saw to what she was referring to. Upon leaving the bed, she'd relieved him of the sheets as well, revealing exactly what he thought of her state of undress.

"I think you right Mer," He nodded. "Maybe you ought to get back in bed and show him who's boss." He winked.

Meredith giggled and reached over the bed to peck him lightly on the lips.

"As much as I'd love to, I can't," She began, prompting Trunks to groan loudly. He wasn't feeling up to relieving himself. Acts like that, need only be reserved for men who didn't have the necessary help.

"Pretty please?" He pleaded with a pout.

Meredith firmly shook her head.

"I've got to go an get your breakfast sweetie."

"But I'll make breakfast. Once were done here, of course."

He scrambled over to the edge of the bed and lightly tugged at the sheet's that covered her.

"Honestly Trunks, your insatiable," She laughed, swatting away his hungry hands and taking a step back from the bed. "Besides, I've seen what your idea of breakfast is, and if you think you can keep eating that junk and keep your physique, your in for a nasty surprise," She added in a light condescending tone.

Trunks turned onto his back and rolled his eye's. If only you knew.

"It's my day off Mer, can't we cut the health foods for today, please?"

If he ate anymore of her idea of food he was going to go crazy. What sort of right minded person ate baked organic eggs, and cantaloupe fruit cups for breakfast? Certainly not Trunks, well, not by choice anyway.

"But baby, you know I'm only looking out for you!" She whined. "I want my boyfriend in tip-top shape."

"Mer I train almost everyday," He argued, rolling onto his side and propping his face up onto his hands. He should have known even before he started this debate that he was going to lose, Meredith was very stubborn, and of course, being a daughter of a business man, used to getting her own way.

But all the same, it was worth a try.

"I know but there's no harm in taking extra measures, oh, and I found those Jammie Dodger's in your desk Trunks. I threw them out, do you know how many e numbers are in those things?" She told him with a disapproving shake of her head.

Trunks felt himself go completely flaccid. This girl could be a complete turn on, and turn off when she wanted. He didn't really consider himself to be a superficial man, but his reasons for choosing Meredith as a girlfriend did seem to reflect that, she was definitely a pick for looks and not her personality, or food preference.

"Your not going to relent on this, are you?" He asked.

"Oh Trunks your such a drama queen," She quipped. "Lighten up, I'm only looking out for you best interests."

"Right," He replied. "My best interests.."

"Your so silly!"

Trunks laughed falsely through clenched teeth. "Aren't I just."

XXX

Pan checked her watch for what seemed like the millionth time and growled. What the hell sort of time keeping was this? If she waited around much longer she was going to miss her appointment, and where was Trunks? Mr. CEO?, Mr. Organised?, Mr. On-top-of-things? Well if she knew that they'd be halfway to the clinic by now.

It was Thursday, and the day of Pan's first appointment with the midwife concerning the unborn child in her stomach. Trunks' unborn child. The child he wanted to be there for. Well that was what he had said anyway.

"You should have known better Pan.." She told herself, locating her shoe's by the front door and slipping them on. No matter, she would still make her appointment, and she would bring Trunks along as planned, even if by force.

Grinning manically to herself she locked up her apartment and took off into the sky's towards his house, he was not at Capsule Corp, that much she surmised from a ki scan in that direction, so quite obviously he was still dozing in bed, unaware he was late for anything.

Turning off in the right direction, Pan picked up the pace, a smile still gracing her lips as she thought of all the different ways in which she could torture him for breaking his promise. After all the years they'd been frie- acquaintances, he had to know that if there was one thing in this world that Pan hated above anything else, it was a liar. He was to pay for that mistake.

Spotting his building she soared lower then touched down onto the ground. Straightening out her dishevelled hair she stalked up toward the door and knocked harshly, then rang the bell repeatedly.

"Open up Trunks! I know your in there jackass!" She yelled, this time flapping the letterbox harshly. If all else failed she could just throw rocks at his windows, that would sure wake him up.

Through all her knocking and yelling, Pan had failed to hear the car pulling up behind her, or the footsteps approaching her.

"Excuse me?"

Pan wheeled round, her eye's flashing angrily for a second, before they softened and she smiled dumbly.

"Hi," She mumbled, feeling her cheeks flush.

How long had this women been standing there?

"Can I help you?" The women asked a little impatiently placing a hand on her tiny waist.

Ah, Pan thought. This must be the infamous Meredith.

"Yes," Pan replied. "Is Trunks home?"

Meredith cocked an eyebrow, and shifted her bags to the other hand as she dug in her pockets for her keys. Ignoring Pan for a second, she stepped forward and unlocked the front door.

"Can I ask who wants to know?" She turned to face Pan once again and placed her bags on the floor beside the door.

"Who am I? Oh where are my manners, I'm Pan," Pan replied extending her hand. "You must be Meredith, right?"

The other woman nodded almost suspiciously and reluctantly took Pan's hand.

"Delighted to meet you," Pan said in a sugar-coated voice, she then retrieved her hand and let it fall back to her side.

"Pan?" Meredith frowned as if in thought. "I don't recall Trunks mentioning you, are you a friend of his?"

So Trunks had not told her about the baby then, shame on him, that just wouldn't do.

"A friend. Yes, you could say that," Pan agreed, trying to fight off the devilish smirk that threatened to creep onto her face. Mischievous thoughts began to race through her mind. It was to true that she hated Trunks for all she was worth, and this woman was sure set to follow him on the list of people she would not likely be sending Christmas cards to.

"Hm, are you sure? Trunks would have mentioned you."

Pan felt herself grow impatient as Meredith continued to study her. If this kept up, she would miss her appointment completely. Perhaps it was time to call out the big guns. This girl was a ditsy half-wit anyway, she most probably deserved to be punished.

"I'm Goten's niece?" Pan tried one last time for recognition.

Meredith smiled brightly and nodded her head. "Oh, I see, sorry honey," She chuckled, placing her hand on Pan's shoulder. "Your the little cutie with Goten and Trunks in the pictures? My you've grown some haven't you? Did you come to give him something?"

Was this stupid excuse for a women patronizing her? Such an act would just not be tolerated.

Pan laughed and slid her tongue over her front teeth before she spoke. "Not exactly," She began. This was the part where her mouth ran away with her. The last straw, so to speak. She was an impatient person by nature and this women was grating on her last nerve. "I actually came to remind him of something, an appointment."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but he has the day off today, can it wait?"

Pan felt her blood begin to boil and clenched the fists tightly at her sides, all the while maintaining a sickly sweet smile. "No, no it can't, you see.." She fished through her pockets and brought out the appointment card from her doctor and thrust it into Meredith's hand.

"Me and Trunks had sex a couple of months ago, and well now, now I'm pregnant with his bastard child."

Meredith's face blanched.

Pan continued. "So no, it can't wait..sweetie," Inside her head she was cackling manically as she noticed Meredith's face contort into a glare.

She looked positively livid as she screwed the card up tightly into her fist. And if that weren't enough, by some divine sadistic miracle, Trunks appeared at the foot of the stairs scratching the back of his neck absently. Blissfully unaware of the conversation that had just taken place.

Meredith wheeled around, nostrils flaring. "You!" She screeched droplets of spit flying from her mouth.

Trunks looked dumbfounded.

With a smug smile Pan stepped into the house. She wanted a clear view of the impending argument. Wanted to watch as Trunks got exactly what he deserved.

"Pan?" He turned his attention from Meredith briefly and cocked a questioning eyebrow. Pan snickered and shrugged her shoulders.

"Trunks!" Meredith's voice came into play once again and with a look of pure dread Trunks turned to face her once again. He looked utterly lost.

"What's wrong Mer?" He asked meekly.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?!" She yelled. "Why don't you tell me? You, you, pig!" With that said she drew back her hand and slapped him harshly across the face.

Pan's eye's grew wide and she clamped a hand over her mouth to hold back the laughter. This was just to good.

Beside her, Trunks brought a hand up to his cheek, which, even though hit by a mere human, still stung like a bitch.

"What the hell was that for?!"

"I don't care how much money you have Trunks Brief's, nobody.." She shook her head violently. "But nobody makes a fool of Meredith Blake, have your little hussy.." She spat snarling like a rabid dog before she tossed her key at him and turned on her heel to leave the house, slamming the door so hard behind her that the whole house seemed to shake from the impact.

Trunks looked to Pan and blinked. "What just happened here?"

Pan shrugged and between giggles, answered. "I think she just left you."

"No shit Captain obvious, but why?"

Once again Pan shrugged, her lips twitching into a smirk. Trunks seemed to notice this and sighed.

"What did you do?" He asked as though talking to a small child.

Pan feigned innocence. "Nothing! Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because I know you Pan, you must have done something, said something?" He asked again, this time a little more impatiently.

Busted.

"I told you. No-thing," She emphasised.

Trunks snarled and in a flash had her pressed up against the wall, hands out-stretched against it on either side of her face, just like he had the day she'd challenged him to prove her wrong about her feelings towards him.

"I'll ask again. What-did-you-say?"

Pan swallowed hard and attempted to push him away, fingers clawing into his chest. He didn't budge.

"Trunks you better get off of me, now!" She threatened, digging her heels into the floor and putting her whole body behind her as she attempted once more to move him.

He scoffed and stepped closer into her so that his body pressed up against hers tightly. "Not until you tell me what you did. This has you written all over it!"

Pan growled and turned her face away from him. He was a little to close for comfort. Every curve of her body was melded into his and her skin tingled exquisitely. Taking a deep breath she cleared her thoughts and turned back to face him, voicing her annoyance.

"It's not my fault your girlfriend can't handle the truth," She hissed.

Trunks immediately stepped away from her, eye's narrowing as he brought a hand up just before her face. She could only look on in horror as he brought it down swiftly, only to stop mere inches away from her cheek. She swallowed hard and chanced a glance at him.

"Your not even worth it.." He muttered, letting his fist bang against the wall. "Get out."

Pan heaved a sigh and ran a hand over her face. Maybe she had taken it a little far? Not that she'd ever had any limits to her meddling, but the look on his face told her exactly just how far she'd overstepped the mark. Whether he genuinely liked this girl or not was irrelevant, she'd messed with his life. That in itself was bad enough.

She opened her mouth to speak but clamped it shut as he stalked away from her. Just great. She thought, feeling guilt begin to bubble in the pit of her stomach and reluctantly, she followed him, nervously wringing her hands.

"Trunks, I-"

"I don't know what you came here for Pan, but go away," He spat, not even making the effort to look at her. "To say I'm angry with you would be an understatement. You've pushed me to far this time.."

She all but ignored his words and cleared her throat before she spoke an indignant reply.

"To my defence, the girl was an ass anyway."

How the hell did he have the audacity to tell her she'd gone to far, when he'd spent the last three or more years pissing her off? He had no business at all to say such a thing.

"How so?" He challenged, turning away from her as he flopped down to the couch.

"If she can't except you and the shit that comes with you, she's not worth having, common knowledge," She replied with a satisfied smile. Oprah Winfrey eat your heart out.

Surely Meredith had only taken up with him for his luxuries in the first place. Most women did just that. Trunks was only considered a bank balance to the average girl.

"I don't need your psychology bullshit Pan, just leave," He huffed, his eye's flashing dangerously.

Pan rolled her eye's. This argument was beginning to get juvenile.

"I'm only telling the truth Trunks, quit sulking."

He turned to face her once again, eye's re-ignited with anger.

"Are you sure your playing with a full deck Pan? Have you already forgotten what happens when you tell the truth?"

Her lips twitched slightly as she desperately tried to calm herself. But it was futile, as a saiyan, anger was a natural attribute, and Trunks was doing a fantastic job of stoking it. He was not going to turn this whole thing against her, if it wasn't for him forgetting the appointment, this whole situation could have been avoided. In turn, he'd instigated it all.

"How dare you lecture me?!" She raged, getting to her feet. "Like a fool I sat at home and waited for you today. Believing you would hold true to your word."

"Come again?" He asked, a look of confusion washing over his face at how irrelevant her statement was to the conversation.

"Why exactly do you have the day off Trunks? Think long and hard," She replied in a condescending tone very reminiscent to the one his mother often used.

That was when the proverbial light bulb flickered. The appointment. Pan's damned doctor's appointment. He'd forgotten all about it. Even after he'd made so much effort making up some bogus lie to throw off his mother he'd not been able to remember it, no wonder she was pissed.

His face softened and he sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," He mumbled, ashamed not only because he'd forgotten something important, but his pride had taken a slight battering from having to apologise after all said and done. She'd done some messing up of her own today. She'd cost him his girlfriend.

Pan opened her mouth to reply but he beat her to it, getting to his feet. "I'm sorry for forgetting about today, but I'm not sorry for yelling, what you did was wrong Pan."

She held her hands up in defeat. "Fine, but I still stand firm about her being an ass."

"Fine." He agreed, before looking across to the clock that hung above his huge marble fireplace. "What time's your appointment?"

Pan turned her gaze toward the direction he was looking and blanched when she caught sight of the time.

"Um, now."

"Then we'd better get moving, hadn't we?"

She nodded in response and silently followed him as he made his way to the front door. Things were going to be mighty interesting from here on.