Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Down at Tokyo Bay Hospital, a blond haired blue eyed nurse was doing some last minute filing. She hardly ever scanned through the contents, one because she really wasn't allowed to, and two because it made her work day longer and her time getting home farther away. Nothing was going to stop her from leaving on time today. She might have sparkly blue eyes, but they were fierce and could make your spine run cold. She did control the nurse unit, and sometimes, she controlled the doctors.

Her name was lost many, many years ago, only given an assigned number. She was Android Eighteen. She wore that name proudly although it was more of an infection than a badge of honor. But here she went under the alias of Nurse Deborah Chestnut.

What a blah name. It was Krillin's idea.

It had been a slow day today, not too many patients and the ones they already had were still living and fine, or they had died and it had not come as a big shocker from the state of their conditions. And because one of the front desk ladies called in sick, Eighteen was there to do her work.

That bitch better be sick.

Basically what she had to do was file, sort, and sometimes make reminding phone calls and act like mommy to get these damn incompetent humans to make their appointments and not get horrendous diseases and diagnosis, making her work days more hectic and longer.

She picked up file after file, reading the name, and placing it where it needed to go. This went on for an hour and a half. When she picked up another file, this one pink from which meant infantry, she had almost gotten it in its proper cabinet when it clicked in her head.

Son, Pan.

Hmm. Eighteen flicked it open with her fingernail. Oops, it accidentally opened. She skimmed over the contents and a smirk tugged at her lips. The devil on her shoulder was scheming; the angel was stuck in traffic somewhere. She read over the contents. Pan had just found out that she was pregnant and had scheduled an ultrasound for that Friday. And although there was not a note of reminder, Eighteen felt it was in the goodness of her heart to remind Pan so she won't be late to her appointment.

She picked up the phone and dialed Trunks' number and knew that Pan had practically moved in, like her daughter Marron had practically moved in with Goten. She saw Pan used Trunks' insurance but gave them her cell phone number. But of course, Eighteen did not "see" this cell phone number. She dialed Trunks' home phone number and got the answer machine.

In her sweetest and nearly foreign voice she said, "Hi, I'm trying to reach Pan Son? I'm Deborah with Tokyo Bay Hospital. You didn't give us a number so we used the number on the insurance card you gave us. I just wanted to confirm if you would still be able to make your ultrasound appointment this Friday. We would like to have an ultrasound done while you're still in your first trimester. Well, give us a call. Thank you."

After she was done, her angelic conscious returned and told her what she did was wrong, but hey, Pan never told her she was pregnant, and she wanted to make sure Trunks knew if he already didn't, not that she doubted Pan would tell him; she just wanted to put a little spark in there, since Pan hadn't told her she was pregnant and she hadn't heard it from her daughter either. She was feeling left out.

Well, now that she had her daily dose of tormenting done, it was back to work.

He would rather face Baby, Freeza, Cell, Majin Buu, and every other mad, evil creature than have to do this.

Then again, he had chose to come here. He wasn't forced to. And there was no one here to keep him here, either.

How long had he been here? An hour? Three hours? Who knew? The salespeople had come over to him at least four times to see if they could help him with anything. He kept telling them he was just looking. His feet were planted in front of the display case, not moving at all. The only thing that moved on his body was his head, moving side to side to see all the shiny and expensive pieces of jewelry.

Guys shouldn't be allowed in these damn stores because they had no idea what the hell they were looking at unless it was watches, but watches weren't what Goten was looking at.

He was looking at engagement rings.

Oh the horror.

He and Marron had only been dating a few months, but after all the drama they had been through, he knew the re was no one else for him. She had put up with all his drama. She had been with him through thick and thin, flat and fat. If there was one person who was meant for him, it was her. And he was terrified that he loved her. He had been heartbroken, not that he would admit out loud, and he was afraid that he would be again. He had nearly convinced himself that he was not meant to find love and be happiness, but Marron just had to shove her foot in that door to keep it from closing, and she made him fall in love with her.

So it was her fault.

And he knew, could just feel it, that he would never find someone like her. If she left, that was it. But she wanted to stay. Why she wanted him was part of life▓s mysteries, but she did. He couldn't have kids without treatment so he wasn't useful in that department. He wasn't rich like Trunks and couldn't take her away to trips around the world like Trunks could do for Pan, but Marron didn't care. Marron loved him for who he was.

This was the woman he wanted to marry. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. They had known each other all their lives, and it seemed to be destiny at that. To spend eternity together. Not just them, but everyone. It seemed that their fate had been written in the stars and they were all meant to stay together, forever.

So why was it so hard to shop for just one ring?

Goten knew why. He wasn't picky, but he wanted this to be the best ring he could afford. He had been at two other jewelry stores and had looked at those selections before he moved on. He would most likely return to those stores to look again.

"Sir," said a woman who approached him, "Would you like to look at our catalogues for engagement rings?"

Goten's eyebrows perked up. "Catalogues? Yeah, sure, let me see them."

The woman retrieved several catalogues and put them on the counter. Goten flipped through them. He wanted one that would match Marron perfectly. That she would love. One that was simple and clean, and took your attention, without being too flashy. He knew she liked white gold, so that's what he was looking at. And then one caught his attention. He knew it was perfect, and it was right in his price range.

"This one," he said, pointing at it, "I want this one."

So now that he had made his selection, he had to order it. It would take about three days for the ring to get in. Goten paid the down payment for it and left. As soon as he reached his car, his phone jingled.. He opened it when he sat behind the wheel and started his car.

"Hello?"

"Hey Uncle Goten," said Pan.

"Hey Panny, what's up?"

"Nothing much. Hey, are you busy right now?"

"No, not really. Do you need something?"

"Do you think you could stop by Mom and Dad's? I have to tell everybody something."

Now he was concerned. "Yeah, sure. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I just got some news to tell you and everyone."

"Oh...okay. Well, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Okay, thanks."

And she hung up. Did people not say goodbye in New York?

And finally it struck him. News? Oh no...

She and Trunks were getting married.

When Goten approached a red light, he banged his head on the steering wheel. If Trunks and Pan were getting married, then that meant Goten couldn't propose yet. You couldn't be engaged when someone else was. He didn't want to take anyone's thunder, especially not his niece's. He was happy for her and his best friend. He would just have to wait.

So would he pick up the ring in three days, or would he get his money back and pay for the ring another time?

The car behind him honked, signaling to him that the light had turned green.

Trunks and Pan had come up with a plan. He would tell his side of the family and she would tell hers, and they would split up the rest of the Z team between them. He had called Bra and Uub and told them to be at his parent's house. Bra didn't even ask why when she said yes.

He pulled into the winding driveway of the Briefs' Manor and parked in front of the house. He turned off his car and sat in the driver's seat. It was now or never.

He got out of his car and walked up the steps and pulled the heavy doors open.

Show time.

Pan recognized everyone's cars in her parents' driveways. Her mother and father's, Marron's, and Goten's. She could handle this. She was strong. And they wouldn't hate her. They would be happy for her and support her.

Okay, then. After he mental pep talk, she opened her car door and marched up the porch steps and knocked on the door. Her mother answered and smiled and kissed her daughter.

"Everything okay, Pan?" she asked in a whisper.

Pan smiled at her. "Yeah, everything is fine. Everyone here?"

"Yes, they're all in the living room."

Her mother led her into the living room. When Pan answered, the chit chat they were having died away. Her father and Piccolo were squished together on the love seat. Marron, Goten, and Hercule were on the long couch. So everyone was there.

"Hey, everybody," Pan said as she went over to her father to give him kiss and a hug. They greeted her back. She could tell they were on pins and needles about what the news could be.

Better get this over with.

"Well, you all know I have something to tell you," she said, clapping her hands together, "So, um, well..."

When there was a family meeting at the Briefs', it was in the kitchen where there was food. Trunks was greeted with the smell of meat and broth. When he entered the kitchen, he saw everyone was standing around. His mother was talking with Yamcha and Vegeta had his arm around her waist. Trunks saw she was wearing a toboggan instead of a wig. Bra and Uub were seated at the table engaged in conversation. It immediately stopped when he entered the room.

"Where's Pan?" his little sister asked.

"She's over at Gohan's," he answered.

Her mother smiled and clapped her hands together. "So? What's the special news?"

Trunks licked his lips. Do it just like a band aid, right off.

"Pan is pregnant with twins."

"I'm pregnant with twins," Pan said.

Everyone's jaw dropped. Her mother put her hand over her mouth. Her father blinked a few times.

"You're...pregnant?" he repeated.

She chewed her lip and nodded. Oh no...Oh no oh no oh no oh no...

Gohan looked over to Goten. Then at his wife.

And then he smiled that Son smile and jumped up.

"I'm gonna be a grandfather!"

Her mother squealed. "I'm a grandma!"

"Oh dear Dende," Goten said, "That makes me a Great Uncle. I feel old."

And Pan just stood there. They were taking this much better than she had expected.

"Does Trunks know?" Marron asked.

"Of course he knows," Pan answered, "I was the first to tell him." Kind of.

"I've gotta call Bulma!" Videl said as she ran towards the phone.

"Mama, no!" Pan stopped her. "Trunks is telling them. I told him to call when he told them."

Videl stopped herself, biting her lip. "My baby's having babies."

"And twins?" her father laughed, "That's karma, Panny. Remember?" He put on his little Pan imitation. " 'I'm never having kids'. And now you're having two!"

Her mother pressed a hand to her daughter's belly. "How far along are you?"

"Nine weeks."

"Wow," Marron said, coming over to feel Pan's belly, also, "And Trunks is the father?"

"Of course he is! He's the only one that I..."

"Ah!" Both Goten and Gohan covered their ears, "I don't want to hear it! Don't want to hear it!"

The kitchen phone rang shrilly and Videl snatched it up faster than one could blink. "Hello? Bulma! Yeah, we just heard! I know, right? I know! I know! Aaaaaaiiiiieeeeee!" She jumped up and down like a teenager and Pan knew Bulma was doing the same.

They stayed there and talked, and of course Bulma and Videl were on the phone, making plans of grandmotherhood. Marron called her parents and told them.

"No offense," Videl said when she pulled Pan aside, "But I was kind of hoping that you would be married before you told us you were pregnant."

Pan frowned. "I know, trust me, I do, too."

And then Piccolo spoke for the first time. "Well, like mother like daughter."

Pan looked over to him. "What?"

Behind Pan's back her mother made a motion with her hand across her neck, but Pan saw. Piccolo caught his mistake and didn't say anything. Pan looked at her father, who avoided his gaze and played with his hair. She looked back at her mother.

"What was he talking about?" Pan asked again, sternly.

Videl had a guilty look on her face and she fidgeted her hands like a guilty child being scolded for making a mess in the kitchen. "I was...pregnant with you and your father and I got married."

Now it was time for Pan's jaw to drop. "You were pregnant with me? You told me that you in Dad met in high school, fell instantly in love, got married, and I was the result of that love!"

"And it's true," Gohan said, "Just...not in that order."

"So, you lied to me all my life?"

"Well, we didn't want you to think that premarital sex was okay."

"Too late now, isn't it?" Goten said.

Pan pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "You learn something new everyday."

Marron had beat Goten home. He saw her car in their driveway. The news of Pan's pregnancy was still a shock to him. Pan had said she wasn't sure about marriage and wanted to wait. Goten was still contemplating whether or not he should pop the question. Perhaps he should wait.

And when he opened his door, he saw something that made his stomach drop to his knees and his arm hair stand on end.

There was his current girlfriend, Marron, seated on the couch and across from her was his ex-girlfriend, Paris with her son on her knee, chewing on a toy transformer.

What the hell...?

They both turned to look at him. Marron had a fake smile plastered on her face. She clearly wasn't comfortable; he couldn't blame her.

"Look, honey," she said, emphasis on the 'honey' part, "We have guests."

He turned pale. "I, uh, see that."

And then he noticed that Paris was crying. Her eyes were red and moist. She gave him a distressed look. "Please," she pleaded, "I don't know where else to go."

Goten and Marron looked at each other. Marron stood up, taking control of the situation since Goten didn't seem to have any idea what to do.

"Let's get you into the guest room," she said, leading Paris and her son away to the room that Pan stayed in, "Get some rest."

And Goten stood there. What the hell just happened?

To be continued...

(A/N): Oh the drama! What's Goten to do. Well, I read a few pregnant Pan fics, and realized that some of them revolve solely around her pregnancy and made it very boring. I don't want this to be one of those fics. The scene where Pan finds out her mother was pregnant before getting married came from an episode of "Grounded for Life". Goten and Marron are my second favorite couple on DBGT. I'm thinking about making a fanfic based around them. I just need to come up with a good plot, any ideas? So Paris shows up out of nowhere and Goten wants to propose. You'll get to see the ring in the next chapter. Please review. I especially love long ones. Ja ne!