Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Apologies for the long wait. I've been extremely busy with school. I recently just finished a research paper for English4 and a Chemistry Project. I have exams coming up soon and I have a Pre-Calculus project due soon, so I'll attempt to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks for understanding.

Chapter 14-Revelations

Trunks watched as his mother got up and departed the living room in silence, leaving him with the all too familiar emotion known as guilt dealing him a gut-wrenching blow. He hadn't intended on hurting her feelings-that was the last thing he wanted to do, especially since he was already aware that his father had taken up that job- but what exactly was he suppose to tell her? That Eighteen has been blackmailing him for a while now? Or that the only reason he was married to Marron in the first place was courtesy of Eighteen? Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as it sounded. Even complicated didn't seem to exactly fit the bill. He knew for a fact that there was just no way he could get out the situation Eighteen oh-so-kindly threw him in. And what made everything even more worse was the fact that she knew that as well.

He mentally cursed as he shook his head. If this party wasn't for Bulla, he honestly wouldn't have shown up. What other reason would he contain, anyway? The thought to just stay in his apartment crossed his mind plenty of times, but he couldn't to that Bulla. She deserved to have his support as much as she deserved to be happy. Even if he was stuck in an unpleasant situation, he still would be sure to show her that he'd support her. Even if it killed him, which unfortunately seemed liked it would.

"It's nice to see you, Trunks."

His eyes snapped open and his body stiffened at the cool voice that ceased his thoughts. That was the last voice he wanted to hear right now, and the last person he wanted to be around. She was the reason for majority of his troubles. Speak of the devil. "It's a shame I can't say the same," he replied coolly, not bothering to throw a glance in her direction.

Eighteen's smirk widened as she unfolded her arms and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, amusement in her eyes. She was standing by the arc of the door frame where the kitchen and living room connected, her icy, blue eyes fixated on him. "That's really no way to treat your mother-in-law."

Trunks scoffed as he released a short, bitter laugh. "What do you want? In case you haven't noticed, I don't want to be anywhere near you."

Eighteen tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes closed as she replied, "I just stopped by to say 'hello' and of course, remind you about a payment that's due this week."

Trunks raised an eyebrow as he turned around to face her, his lavender eyes void of any emotion. "And if I don't?"

Eighteen opened her eyes and began walking towards him to stand in front of him. Once she was standing in front of him, she bent over forwards, their faces merely inches apart. "We both know the outcome of what would happen if you did something so foolish such as that, don't we?"

Trunks clenched his jaw, but said nothing in response as he continued to hold Eighteen's gaze. He was getting seriously tired of this-Eighteen and her schemes.

"Am I interrupting something?" A cool, feminine voice called out.

Both Trunks and Eighteen's head turned toward the source of the voice only to see Pan leaning against the doorway of where the kitchen and living room connected, her black orbs staring at the both of them intently. "Last time I checked, I'm pretty sure Bulla's engagement party was taking place outside and not inside."

Eighteen pulled her face away from Trunks, standing up straight. She then adjusted her body so that she was now facing Pan completely, her voice betraying nothing as she spoke. "Trunks and I were just having a little chat here. Is that a problem, Pan?"

Pan smirked, her arms folded across her chest. "Only if you want it to be." She turned her gaze on a still speechless Trunks, before Eighteen could retort. "I was sent in to get you." It was complete lie, but they didn't need to know that. As far as she was concerned, they had no idea she was in the house in the first place. Anyone else being in the house was probably the last thing on their minds, at least that was what she depicted from their conversation...that she eavesdropped on. It wasn't as if it was intentional or as if she did it deliberately...okay, so it was intentional. But really, who could blame her? Trunks has been behaving strangely ever since he and Marron got 'together' and she was not stupid enough to let a opportunity to get some answers slip through her fingers.

She was also perfectly aware to the way Eighteen was studying her. She could tell the older woman wanted to say something, but was probably-most likely- thinking of the pro's and con's about opening her mouth.

And being the daughter of Videl Son, and the granddaughter of Chi-Chi Son, she couldn't resist the notion of opening her mouth even more. "Something wrong, Eighteen?"

Eighteen regarded her warily for a moment before nonchalantly replying with a 'no', sparring Trunks one last glance, and then leaving the living room to head outside.

Pan made no move to turn her gaze towards Trunks for she could feel his gaze on her, studying her. She already knew he was planning on saying something, so she made no move to leave the living room, instead she closed her eyes and waited patiently. And she certainly didn't have to wait too long.

"You heard, didn't you?"

She could hear his emotions practically swirling around through that one question: the fear, nervousness, the despair, and the frustration. She felt no need to lie to him, so she simply nodded.

Trunks released a sigh, letting his head fall in his hands. How could he have not detected her? If he wasn't so caught up with Eighteen...He cursed himself mentally. Why did someone have to find out? Why now? He made sure to be cautious, extra cautious and the one person he didn't want to find out the most, found out. What was he suppose to do now? It wasn't as if he could lie in order to cover up what she may have heard. Pan wasn't one to believe almost anything. She wasn't gullible. "Pan...no one can find out about this."

Pan looked at Trunks in disbelief, her guise of indifference slipping. Was he serious? Did he actually think that she would-

"Pan." He called, ceasing her thoughts, "No one can find out about this." His voice was more serious now, and his blue eyes were now locked with hers.

"I'm not promising anything, Trunks." Pan turned to walked away, only to feel her a hand clutching her wrist. She released a short gasp, and almost instantaneously, her gaze met with his once more. "Trunks-"

"Pan," he repeated her name once more and placed both of his hands on her shoulders, causing her breath to hitch and her heartbeat to quicken. "This can't get out-"

"What's going on here?"

Both Trunks and Pan turned to see a raven-haired, demi-Saiyan. Pan was the first to respond. "Goten? When did you get here?"

"Uub and I just got here about ten minutes ago. Everyone's waiting on you two."

Pan delivered a short nod, seeing and seizing the opportunity to walk away from an unfinished conversation. "I was just heading outside." Ignoring Trunks gaze on her she continued, letting a slight smile grace her features before departing completely. She finally knew the cause of Trunks behavior, and with the information she just heard today, she had a good understanding as to what was going on-Eighteen was blackmailing Trunks. From the conversation she and Bulla had yesterday, she predicted, along with Bulma and Bulla, that Trunks was being blackmailed and for whatever reason, Vegeta was somewhat connected. Also, Bulla had informed her of the conversation she had with Marron one day and to her, it definitely supported the theory of Trunks being blackmailed. Now, it was no longer a theory. It'd also explain the reason as to why Trunks was so quiet when they coincidentally happened to meet up while they were heading for the Briefs' household. He hadn't said word to her, and neither did she. She originally thought that Trunks was upset with her, but after he and Eighteen's conversation...she strongly doubted that.

She jolted out of her thoughts when she felt someone grab her arm, blinking and then giving her head a quick shake, she looked up only to see Bulma. "Is something wrong?"

Bulma shook her head while leading Pan to the others, "Where's Trunks? Everyone's here now and I have an announcement."

It was then that Pan noticed that Bulma looked nervous as well as the trembling she felt still latched onto her wrist. She shot the older woman a curious look, her eyebrow raised. But before she could form words, someone else beat her to it.

"I'm right here, Mom."

Bulma looked back at Trunks and released a nervous sigh as she ran her fingers through her blue hair.

Few picked up on the habit Bulma did out of nervousness, Yamcha being one of the few. Worried, he called out,"Bulma, are you okay?"

Bulma held up a hand, shutting him up. She then exhaled before continuing, "I want to thank you all for coming and you all are probably going to be upset once you hear this, but please hear me out." She paused taking a moment to absorb all of the confused and worried looks she was receiving from some. "This isn't a real party... which means that Bulla isn't actually getting engaged... I was desperate to find out what was going on behind my back."

"Bulma, what are you talking about? What's going on?" The worry laced in Yamcha's voice wasn't hard to notice.

Bulma took a deep breath in an effort to calm herself down. Was she doing the right thing? Was this the right thing to do? Could she really continue on from this day forth, if she backed out, knowing that something was going on with Vegeta and that Trunks was being blackmailed? Before she knew it or even realized it, she was talking again, "Vegeta has been acting strange- no, far from strange...and Trunks, I know for a fact, is being blackmailed. If anyone knows about this...speak up."

Silence.

Pan looked at the older woman in front of her. The older woman was too distraught to even notice that she still had a hold on her wrist. She chanced a glance at Trunks only to find him looking at her. She didn't have to ask him what he wanted to know that he was silently telling her not to say a word of what she found out. But another glance at the blue-haired woman in front of her erased any chance of her doing what he wanted of her. After everything Bulla shared with her the day before, she couldn't possibly do that to her-Bulma. The woman was like a second mother to her. "Bulma."

Said woman turned around to face her, her blue eyes filled with hope. "What is it, Pan?"

"Trunks is being blackmailed by-"

"It's Eighteen." Trunks raked a hand through his lavender hair, not believing what was occurring or what he just said. He shouldn't have said anything, but if he hadn't, Pan would have. He had a feeling she was going to open her mouth, he just hoped that that feeling was just his paranoia. But apparently, that wasn't so. He sighed, knowing that it was too late to back out now. This was not what he had in mind for today.

"Eighteen's been blackmailing me for a while now. Seven months to be exact. That's the reason I've been dating Marron and eventually married her, was to keep Eighteen's mouth shut about what happened. Seven months ago, I walked in on Dad and Eighteen...you guess the rest... Eighteen threaten to tell Mom, if I didn't do what she asked. I've been paying her 5,000 zeni every month since then. I don't know what happened between her and Dad, but I never stayed around to find out-"

Bulma released a choked cry, not being able to hold it in anymore. She mentally chastised herself when she felt the tears streaming down her face. Everything made sense now. Everything. She felt a hand on either of her shoulders and looked up only to see Videl and Chi-Chi looking down at her with worry. It was then that she realized she dropped down to her knees at some point in time.

"Bulma," Videl started slowly, as if she would snap any moment now. "Are you okay?"

Bulma wiped her face with the back of her hand. She wouldn't fall apart here. Not in front of everyone else. She shook off Videl's and Chi-Chi's hold on her as she stood up and looked for the one person she wanted more than anything to rip to shreds.

Once she spotted that particular person, everything went spiraling out of control.

"You! This is your fault! I thought you were my friend! "

Eighteen stared back at Bulma, with a look of boredom and nonchalance. "It's not my fault your husband can't keep it in his-"

Eighteen was cut off when she felt a slap across her left cheek, her head turned slightly to the right. She turned her head back to see Bulma in front of her with her hand raised again to deliver another slap. Eighteen caught Bulma's hand effortlessly. "You can't hurt me. You're-"

Eighteen was suddenly sent flying backwards into a tree from a hard punch to the face. She spotted blue hair once more, but this time, it wasn't short...it was longer. She moved to sit up only to receive another punch to the face. This one contained much more force.

It was then that she noticed that her attacker was in her SSJ2 form.

"You! Look what you've done! I'll kill you, Eighteen!"

Eighteen barely managed to dodge a kick by flipping out of the way. And after seconds later of barely dodging a kick, a series of punches was being delivered. Not being able to dodge all of them, the majority of the punches made contact.

It wasn't until three figures stepped in that the fighting actually stopped.

Pan, whom was in her SSJ2 form, was restraining an extremely angry Bulla, who looked seconds away from ceasing her existence. Krillin and Marron was standing in front of her, their backs to her as they stood between her and Bulla.

Pan grunted when she received an elbow to the stomach, but continued restraining her blue-haired friend anyway. She already knew that if she let Bulla escape her gasp, she'd kill the older blonde. "You should go, Eighteen."

It wasn't an suggestion, noted Eighteen. It was an order.