12- Bonding
"Trunks!" Goten whined, almost ready to either bang his or his best friends head against the table. He had been talking for minutes, and he was sure Trunks hadn't heard a word he said! His eyes were glued to his phone as he texted something.
"Trunks, would you please answer your boyfriend before he has a heart attack," Marron rolled her eyes before taking a sip of her drink. Goten nodded in agreement and she couldn't help her small giggle. Trunks and Goten had been best friends since forever, and they always joked about them being "boyfriends", since their bromance was so strong at times. Marron had even told Goten that if he ever cheated on her, that it had best be with Trunks or else she would kill him.
"Hm?" Trunks raised a brow, finally looking up as he slipped his phone into his blue CC hoodie. "I wasn't ignoring you," he told Goten.
"Yah you were!" The dark-haired man pouted. "You were too busy texting," he sulked, grabbing his drink. "Come to think of it, they only time you ignore me -the most important person in your life-" Trunks and Marron both rolled their eyes at that statement. "Is when you have a girlfriend."
Marron raised a blonde eyebrow as she glanced at Trunks. "Do you have something to share with us?"
"No," Trunks said nonchalantly, focusing to keep his face straight. No way could he tell them that he was dating Pan, at least not yet, he couldn't.
"The who were you texting?" Goten prodded. "Inquiring minds want to know."
"One of my employees," Trunks shrugged a shoulder.
Goten narrowed his eyes. "Liar..." no way could an employee ever make Trunks that zoned out or smile at his phone!
There had to be a girl involved, since it was the only time Trunks seemed to act like that. Goten just wondered who it could be. His mind flashed to the night of his wedding, and he remembered what he overheard his brother and father talking about with Vegeta. They had said Trunks and Pan would bond... Could the girl Trunks be talking to be Pan? Goten couldn't be a hundred percent sure, but he had noticed that for the last few months his niece had been extremely peppy and his best friend rather distracted...
He wondered what Trunks would do, if he he asked him if the person he was texting is Pan... And if there was something going on between them -which the more Goten thought about it, the more sure he was that there were- he felt kinda hurt that Trunks didn't tell him. Though, Goten could understand why Trunks might not have told him... He was Pan's uncle, and his best friend. Things could get messy...
However, Goten knew what type of man Trunks was, and he knew that if Pan really was the one he was texting, then he would definitely take very good care of her...
"Hey Papa..." Pan poked her head inside of Gohan's study.
"Hey Panny," he smiled, glancing up from his computer. "What are you up to? I thought you and Bulla were going shopping?" He knitted his dark eyebrows together behind his glasses.
"We actually decided to postpone it..." Pan scratched the back of her head, starting to feel slightly nervous. "So um... I was texting Trunks..."
"Oh?" Gohan tried not to sound paranoid as he turned back to his computer. He felt his heart beginning to race. She wasn't about to tell him she was in love with Trunks, was she? Kami, please no... It's still too early!
"And I was wondering if I could go hang out with him? We thought it would be cool to do some window shopping, plus I promised to help him find a gift for Bulla's birthday..."
"You two have been hanging out a lot lately," Gohan murmured softly.
"Yeah," Pan nodded, not denying it. She had made several excuses lately as to why she always needed to go see Trunks for some reason.
"I assume you two have gotten pretty close, huh?" Gohan raised a brow towards her.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I guess we've really bonded..."
Gohan froze for a moment. He knew Pan had no idea of how much she said to be the truth. Her and Trunks really were bonding, and it would only be a matter of time before they started dating...He wondered if he was actually ready for that.
"Okay," he managed to put on a smile for his daughter. "You two have fun!"
"Thanks, Papa!" She grinned, leaning over to kiss his cheek before she turned to bounce down the stairs.
The summer months passed quickly, and soon it was fading into fall. It had become common to almost everyone to see Trunks and Pan together, though no one but Bulla still knew the fact that the two were actually dating now.
Soon, it was October 12th, Pan's 17th birthday. Trunks smiled as he stepped inside of her cozy home. Already, his parents and Bulla were there. Pan didn't want a big party, but rather just a simple dinner with family and friends.
"Where's Dad?" Trunks asked his mother curiously when he saw him nowhere in sight.
"Where do you think?" Bulma rolled her eyes. "As soon as him and Goku saw each other, they took off."
"And the birthday girl?" Trunks raised a brow, now looking at Bulla.
"In here room," she gave him a secretive grin. "Why don't you go get her?"
"Yah, tell her to be quick too," Lapis added with a grin. "The food will be done soon."
Trunks ignored Lapis and Bulla's soft snickers as he made his way up the stairs to head to Pan's room. Honestly, it was nice having them on his and Pan's side, but sometimes their teasing was too much.
He gave a light knock on Pan's door before he opened it slowly. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her. She was sitting on her bed, looking at the ground at first but then soon looking up at him. The long-sleeved shirt she had on was tight-fitting and had pink, white and purple floral designs scattered over it. Her skirt was high-waisted and only came down to her thighs. It flowed and was a dusty pink rose color, matching the flowers on the shirt. And her socks... They came all the way up to her thighs.
"What...?" Pan asked when Trunks hadn't said anything. "Does it look weird?" She blushed darkly, "Bulla's making me wear it since she bought it for me as a birthday present..." she muttered.
"No," Trunks told her with a small smile as he stepped inside her room and shut her door quietly. "You look beautiful, Panna," he told her.
Her eyes lit up as she grinned. "Really...?"
"Of course," he smiled, offering her his hand. "You always look beautiful, Panna."
She took his hand as she stood up, and soon she was wrapping her arms around his waist. He was quick to wrap his arms back around her. It had been a week since they last saw each other due to busy schedules on both their ends. Sure they texted daily, and there were a few late night calls when they weren't too tired, but nothing beat the actually seeing one another.
"I've missed you," Pan mumbled.
"I've missed you too, Princess..." he leaned his head down, brushing his lips against hers gently. There was nothing more he wanted than to pick her up and lay her down on her bed, so he could kiss her more and show her just how much he missed her. Instead, he pulled away.
She let out a soft whine, "I wish we were alone..."
He grinned, resting his forehead against hers. "How about you come to my apartment tomorrow to 'hang out' and I'll show you just how much I missed you...?"
She giggled as he lowered his head more, peppering a few light kisses on her neck. They were enough to send a shiver down her spine.
"I got you something," he grinned, straightening himself. He took out a small box in his pants pocket before opening it for her to see.
"Trunks..." she gasped. He had gotten her a pair of pink opal earrings that were in the shape of a star. It even had a necklace that came with it!
"Can I...?" He asked, taking the earrings out.
"Of course!" Pan nodded, brushing her dark hair behind her ears. She made sure to be still as Trunks carefully placed the earrings in her ears. It felt so intimate, and she couldn't help the blush that covered her cheeks. Once he had the earrings in, Pan held up her hair so he could clasp the necklace around her neck.
"They're beautiful..." she told him with a gentle smile. "Thank you..."
"Of course," he grinned.
A knock on her door pulled them apart and Pan opened it with a small smile. She was greeted with a grinning Bulla.
"You two done?" She raised a blue eyebrow.
"For now," Trunks told his sister.
"Come on," Pan told the siblings, motioning with her head towards her door. "We better be heading downstairs."
The two siblings followed her down the stairs, and as soon as Pan's foot hit the ground, she was scooped up in a tight hug. "Pan-chaaaan!" Goten was crying dramatically. "My baby niece...seventeen?" He was sniffing as he rested his head on top of hers and squeezed her tightly.
"Go-nii-" she wheezed with wide eyes. "T-too tight!"
"Honey, stop suffocating her," Marron scolded, pushing Goten back some. He let out a pout as his wife swooped in between him and Pan, and hugged the birthday girl herself. "Happy birthday, Pan-chan!"
"Thank you, Mar-nee!" She hugged her back with a grin.
"Oh, Trunks, Goten you're here!" Videl smiled from the kitchen doorway.
"Uh-oh," Goten muttered. "V-nee is wanting us to do something. I can tell by the look in her eyes," he told Trunks with a frown.
"Haha," Videl rolled her eyes as she walked over to the group. She wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders with a smile, and Pan grinned, leaning against her Mom. "But you're right, I do have something I need you two to do."
"Ugh, told ya!" Goten's shoulders sagged.
"Yah! Think of it as a gift to Panny, since it's her birthday," Videl frowned.
Goten fidgeted for a second before he sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
Trunks rolled his eyes at his friend, a light, amused smile twitching on his lips. Goten loved his niece, there was no denying it. He was a great uncle, even though he was a tad bit overbearing at times.
"Could you two go outside and arrange the picnic tables Bulma brought into one row? Since the weather is so nice, we'll be eating outside."
"You know you're husband is like, right there," Goten pointed to Gohan as he walked up to the group.
"I had to decorate," Gohan informed his little brother with a frown. "So you two can arrange a few picnic tables. Pan-chan, do your charm!" He smiled at his daughter.
The teen nodded, giving a quick salute before she turned to face the two men. She battled her eyes before her lips formed a pout. She tilted her head ever so slightly. "Pretty please...for me...?"
Trunks swallowed hard, his eyes widening. Pan had used that trick on him and Goten before, but that was years ago when she was a child! Her doing it now...was rather hot...
"Come on," Goten grumbled, sulking towards the backdoor.
Trunks shook his head to clear his mind. He couldn't be thinking those things- at least, not now. As he followed Goten, he happened to glance over his shoulder at Pan. She had a rather pleased smile on his face, like she knew what she had done to him. He let an amused huff out of his nose as he turned around. He was so focused on Pan, that he hadn't even seen the fact that Gohan had witnessed the exchange with sad eyes.
Soon the picnic tables were set and the food was placed. Everyone gathered around happily, and Pan was glad she was able to sit beside Trunks. Bulla and Lapis sat on the other side from her, and across was Goten and Maron. Her and Trunks had exchanged a few secret glances, but it wasn't enough for her. She crossed her legs, letting her skirt rise up and fall down her thighs a little more. She acted innocent, but she could see Trunks' eyeing it from the corner of his eyes. As the meal slowed down, and everyone began talking more, he carefully placed his hand on her thigh. It was enough to send her heart racing. He gave it a gentle squeeze as he sent her a small smile.
"Okay!" Gohan got everyone's attention. "First off, thanks for coming, Videl and I truly are blessed to have such amazing friends and family who love our Pan-chan as much as we do!"
"Papa," Pan mumbled, a little embarrassed. She frowned when Trunks removed his hand, but she knew that since everyone's eyes would be on her, it would be best to not be suspicious.
"So, since it is Pan's special day, we think that everyone should share a special memory of they have of Pan with us!" Gohan grinned.
Pan felt her face flushing. She could only imagine what everyone's memories could be...
"I'll go first," Gohan spoke. "As soon as Videl told me she was pregnant, I was excited and eager, but I was also terrified. I had no idea of how to be a dad, but as soon as they placed that little pink bundle in my arms, I knew everything would be alright. I might not know how to handle certain situations -thankfully Videl has been here to handle them-" there was light laughter at that comment. "But I'll always be here for you, Panny. No matter what," he told her gently.
"Papa..." Pan blinked back some of tears.
"Okay, I'm going next," Videl stated. "There's so many special moments I can chose from!" She smiled giddily. "The first time I felt you kick inside of my stomach, or the day you were born. For almost 18 hours you caused me so much pain, but it was all worth it when they placed you on my chest, headful of black hair and everything," she gave her daughter a gentle smile and she returned it. "But the first time I heard you say, 'Mama', I cried," Videl admitted. "You're the only person who has heard my heartbeat from the inside, Panny, and I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mama..." Pan sniffed as Bulla handed her a tissue. Trunks wrapped an arm around her shoulder, giving her a gentle pat with a soft smile.
"Can I go now?" Goten asked excitedly.
"Oh no," Chi-Chi told him. "Your father and I deserve to go before you."
Pan snickered at Goten's pout.
"Okay!" Chi-Chi smiled, "some of my favorite memories of Panny... Is how she'll run over to the house and tell me all about her day. I love it when she shows me some of her new dance routines and when she helps me cook. As my only granddaughter -for now anyways-" she eyed Goten and Marron, who quickly avoided her eyes with light blushes. "You have a very special place in your grandma's heart!"
Pan giggled softly, "you have a very special place in my heart too, Grands. Thank you."
"What about you, Goku?" Chi-Chi asked her husband, who had yet to stop eating.
"Uhm," he finished his bite. "During the Grand Tour one time, she punched this metal dude really hard and knocked him out. That was pretty cool."
"I remember that," Trunks snickered. "That was on M2, right?" He raised a lavender brow.
"Yeah, that's where we met that freak Baby," Pan shuddered. Even though Baby had been an easy feat for her Grandpa and Trunks, the creepy robot still gave her nightmares.
"Oh!" Goku spoke with wide eyes. "And Panny's first tournament, can't forget that."
"That's when I beat Go-nii," Pan snickered at the memory.
"Hey!" The said man pouted. "That's because I let you."
"Are you sure?" Trunks raised an eyebrow, "because I happen to remember that she punched your gut pretty hard."
Goten rolled his eyes dramatically as everyone snickered. "If we're going in line, then it's my turn!" He grinned. "Okay," he rubbed his hands together.
"Go-nii..." Pan warned. She just knew he was going to say something embarrassing.
"One time when Pan was five, she drank some expired milk and I told her she was going to die. She cried for like five hours straight after that," Goten admitted.
"Goten!" Chi-Chi scolded.
"That wasn't funny!" Pan told him, "you terrified me!"
"Okay, okay," he snickered. "When Pan was around ten, I think? I brought a girl over to the house, and this was before Marron and I started dating, right? Well, of course not only was Pan over at the house but Trunks was too," he gave his friend a look.
"Oh I know where this is going," Trunks smirked.
"And the two of them made that poor girl believe that our house was haunted and that I still wet the bed!" Goten said dramatically.
Bulla and Marron were laughing so hard, they were snorting.
"It's not funny!" Goten whined.
"I knew you and Marron had a crush on each other so I was just helping you out," Trunks shrugged. It was then he realized that he still had his arm around Pan. Carefully he took of off her, not wanting to cause anyone to think anything.
"I just liked embarrassing you," Pan grinned.
"Well, one of my favorite Pan memories is when she belted out that rap at my bachelorette party," Marron grinned.
"I remember that!" Bulla grinned, "all the girls were stunned but it just happened out of nowhere!"
"I was in a good mood," Pan snickered. She was maybe a little tipsy too, but she wasn't about to admit that in front of her parents. Thankfully, Marron nor Bulla was either.
"What about you, Bulma?" Marron asked the woman sitting next to her.
"Hm... Well, I have a lot of very nice memories of Pan," she smiled at the young woman. "But there's one I remember clearly. Her and Bulla were about five and seven at the time."
"Oh boy," Bulla muttered.
"And Trunks was suppose to be keeping an eye one them while I finished up some work, and suddenly, I hear Trunks just screaming."
"Ugh, they about gave me a heart attack," Trunks sighed.
"They did me too when I ran outside to see them nowhere in sight!" Bulma pouted at her son.
"Did you have to tell everyone about the time I almost lost them?" Trunks pouted back at her.
"Yes, yes I do," Bulma nodded. "Trunks and I looked for them all over outside," she continued her story to everyone. "I was so scared I would have to call Gohan and Videl and tell them that their child is missing! But, I looked inside first, and when I got to Bulla's room, both girls were in the middle of her floor playing dolls."
"Looks like we were quite the handfuls," Pan grinned up at Trunks.
"You're still a handful," he told her lowly with a small smirk.
"What's your memory about Pan, Vegeta?" Bulma asked her husband.
"Don't got one," he grunted between bites.
"Come on, yes you do!" Bulma gave his shoulder a poke. "You have to at least say something."
He glanced up at Pan, and he was aware of just how close his son was to her. He knew they were bonding- hell, they were probably already dating! "She's an okay brat," he shrugged before starting to eat again.
Bulma groaned, "seriously?!"
"Thanks Vegeta-sama," Pan grinned. "I know I'm your favorite Son."
"That's true," he grumbled with another shrug.
"Your turn, Lapis!" Bulla told her boyfriend with a smile.
"Uh..." he began, glancing at the teen. "I'll never forget when Bulla and I started dating. Pan marched right up to me and threatened my life if I ever made Bulla cry. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry so I just kinda stood there while she looked pleased with herself."
"Awwwh!" Bulla cooed, wrapping her arms around her best friend. "That's my baby!"
"Hey what do you mean laugh?!" Pan pointed at Lapis.
"Tyke," he called her because he knew it aggravated her. "You're not even 5'."
"I may be small, but I'm mighty and I can still kick your butt!" Pan declared.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Goten started chanting.
"There will be no fights," Chi-Chi told her son, making him pout.
"Yah, there doesn't need to be a fight," Pan said. "Cause I'll win."
"Whatever you say, Tyke," Lapis snickered.
"Okay, my turn!" Bulla grinned. "There's so may things I could say," she admitted. Her and Pan had shared a lot of adventures together... but all of them would either embarrass them, or get them into trouble... "Okay, when I was a third year in high school and Pan was a first year, there were the girls who weren't be so nice to my Pan-chan-"
"WHAT?!" Goten shrieked loudly. "Why didn't I hear about this?!"
"Goten, will you shut up and let me finish my story?!" Bulla huffed. She flipped some of her blue hair over her shoulder. "Anyways, they were jealous of Pan because of how good of a dancer she was and because of how beautiful she was. And when I found out, I came unglued."
"I honestly thought you were going to go super that day," Pan admitted with a small smile.
"Oh trust me, I was close!" Bulla nodded, wrapping her arms around Pan. "Nobody messes with my Pan-chan!"
"What did you do?" Trunks asked curiously. Even though the situation had already passed, he couldn't help but feel mad himself.
"Oh I beat them," Bulla shrugged. "Not enough for bad damage, but ya know. I also blackmailed them, saying that if they ever dared to even look at Pan again, they would face the wrath of Capsule Corps Heiress."
"Those girls still don't talk to me," Pan snickered. "But you know you didn't have to do that, B-chan. I could have handled them."
"I know, I know," Bulla waved her off. "But I like being able to protect you."
"Okay Trunks, it's your turn," Goten told his friend. He was almost curious about what Trunks would say.
"Hm..." Trunks wandered. He had so many stories to tell, especially now, but none he could share out loud. "During the trip out in space, she hid the overdrive key from me in her shirt so I couldn't bring her back to earth," he began.
"Hey!" Pan pouted, "it wasn't my fault Go-nii wasn't on the ship on time."
"Then," Trunks continued as if she hadn't interrupted. "She got kidnapped by giant bees."
"They thought I was their queen!" Pan whined.
"You made me dress up as a bride!" Trunks reminded her with narrowed eyes.
Pan crossed her arms with a huff. "Well Grandpa and I couldn't do it!"
Everyone was mostly amused by Trunks and Pan's little friendly quarrel. It created a nice atmosphere.
"Do you know how many gray hairs you caused me during that trip?" Trunks teased with a soft laugh.
Pan laughed back at him, "well at least they blend in well with your lavender."
Trunks gave her a flat look and poked her forehead. "Why do I even hang out with you?"
"Because you-" Pan had to stop herself from saying 'love me'. She wasn't sure if they were at that point yet, even though she knew she had extremely strong feelings for him... "know your life would be boring without me!"
"Well that's true," Trunks admitted with a grin.
"Awh, you two are so cute," Marron commented towards Pan and Trunks, unaware of the slight panic that bubbled up in them because of it. "Better watch out, Goten. Pan's going to steal your best friend," Marron told her husband.
Goten, who had been happily snacking on some chips suddenly stopped as he almost choked. "WHAT?!" He shrieked. "Pan, stay away from my man!" He pointed to his niece as Trunks rolled his eyes.
"What's wrong, Go-nii?" Pan teased with a sly grin. "Upset because Trunks likes me more now?"
"Bulla, are you hearing this?!" Goten gasped, looking at the bluenette. "You're Pan's best friend!"
"Oh please," Bulla rolled her blue eyes. "I'm not scared of Tru-nii, I know that I will always be Pan's number one."
"Okay, okay," Videl spoke up from behind Pan. She turned to see her mother holding a cake with seventeen candles. Carefully she placed it in front of the teen before kissing her head. "Make a wish, honey."
Pan sighed as she watched the candles dancing flames. She was content in her life. She had a loving family, great friends, and a wonderful boyfriend... Her wish, was for everything to remain exactly like that once everyone found out her and Trunks were dating. With a release of breath, her candles were extinguished.
