:*: Happy New Year :*:

New Years eve was in full swing at the Son residence with the arrival of family and friends. Chichi, Goku, and Goten had arrived hours earlier to help set up and converse with one another. Videl, Chichi, and Pan performed the maternal role and took care of the cooking while Goku and his two sons stayed out of the way and rearranged the living room to set up the foldout table and chairs. Goten often popped into the kitchen to be the female's food tester. He and Pan clinked their spoons together in celebration of perfecting her mother's stuffing recipe.

After eight pm, Krillin was the first to show up with family in tow. Marron and Eighteen joined the females in the kitchen and assisted with carrying the platters out to the table the boys had set up. The Briefs were the last crew to show up, fashionably late as usual.

In the midst of conversation with Marron and Mai, Yamcha's daughter, Pan twisted around as she felt someone's fingers feather her neck. "Bra!" She threw her arms around her best friend, happy that she had finally made it. "And only an hour late!"

Bra smiled proudly. "I'm getting better and better aren't I." Since this was a family occasion, the three girls kept their attire to a semi formal look. Bra was dressed in a white long sleeve with a belt clasped under her bust, dressing up her wardrobe a bit. Underneath she wore black leggings with black heeled boots. Pan thought she looked great she always did. Meanwhile, Pan wore a tight black v-neck with dark jeans and dark grey flat boots. Marron wore a dark blue form fitting shirt with baggy sleeves that cuffed at her forearm. She too wore jeans and flat boots.

"Now look who brought the party with him!" The girls heard Yamcha call out. The males whooped and whistled as Trunks held up a large bottle of Hennessy as he made his way to Gohan. Since Trunks was the last person to show up, the family was now able to pour the first shots, kicking off the promising night.

"That's just like you to make an entrance." Pan smiled up at him as he made his way towards them after taking his shot.

He and Goten both wore button ups. Trunks' was a midnight blue with the first couple of buttons undone and his sleeves rolled to his forearms. He stuck his tongue out at her. "You're just mad because your dad won't let you drink here."

"You're only nineteen why are you allowed to drink?" Pan inquired. Her dad knew that she drank when she went out, but whenever she came near an alcoholic beverage at a family occasion he always gave her a look of I'm watching you.

"Simple. Men have a penis, women have a uterus. Men get drunk they can do whatever they want. Women get drunk there's a possibility of them getting knocked up."

"Oohh the baby argument." Pan rolled her eyes and laughed with him.

The crowd gasped when Bulma snatched the bottle from Goten who was preparing a second round of shots. "I don't think so Goten. Haven't you ever heard of Ladies First!" The women crowded around, Bra and Marron included, cheering and crowding around Bulma as she handed them shots.

"Come on, Pan!" Videl dragged her surprised daughter by the hand and over to the middle of the crowd.

After an hour of eating and drinking games that followed the shot rounds, a tipsy Videl, with the assistance of her mother in law and Bulma, stood on a chair and tapped a fork to a glass for everyone's attention.

She cleared her throat as all eyes were on her. She looked beautiful. Her hair was in a high updo, and she wore a tight maroon dress that rested just above her knees. Yamcha made a mental observation of how fit she was. His mental note manifested as a flirtatious smirk, earning a nudge from Gohan. Yamcha averted his eyes from her. "Great choice, bro." Gohan laughed it off.

"First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Bulma Briefs for allowing Gohan, Pan, and I to have the New Years celebration at our house this year." Bulma waved her hand about modestly. "Secondly, I would just like to say how thankful I am for having such a grand family. Look at all of us. Aliens, humans, it doesn't matter. We all love each other. Sure we get mad sometimes, but when someones in trouble, I know that we're always able to count on each other to pick us back up again. And last but definitely not least, I just want to say I love you to my beautiful daughter, Pan, and my handsome, loving husband." The crowd exhaled a long 'aw' and applauded as Gohan helped her down from the chair and kissed her tenderly.

Trunks wrapped an arm around Pan's shoulders. He could tell she was tearing up. She looked down and blinked repeatedly, trying to make the water go away. Luckily, the music began to play and the dancing began.

"Come on, Pan!" Bra and Marron grabbed her hands, dragging her away from Trunks. The hustle was playing, and there was no way they could NOT join in to the choreographed dance.

Trunks was happy to see her smile and laugh along with everyone as they danced in sync, even if it only lasted for a moment. He seized this opportunity to speak with a certain male. He felt his palms sweating at the thought of what he was about to do.

X x X x X

Gohan stepped outside as the hustle kicked off. His wife and several of the other family members had joined in, so he knew she wouldn't notice his temporary absence. The speech she made had hit a soft spot for him. He hoped that the cold outside air would help him pull himself back together. He wasn't alone for long, he presumed, as he heard the front door open and close behind him, followed by footsteps that stopped alongside him.

"Nothin' like a good ol' winter frostbite, eh." Trunks spoke into the silence.

"It's nice. Having everyone around. Just had to step out for a minute." Gohan readjusted his glasses, a nervous tick similar to the one Trunks had when he swept his hand through his hair. "I heard about your externship you won. Congratulations. The United States. That's quite a flight."

Trunks assumed it was his mother who was bragging about him to everyone. Due to his vast knowledge of business and his escalated GPA, he had been chosen to partake in a six month externship in the US. He didn't tell anybody about it because he was not sure whether or not he was going to take the opportunity. "Thanks, Gohan. That means a lot coming from you. You're a brilliant man, you know."

Gohan scoffed. "Now, now, Trunks. Have you had too much to drink already? It's only ten thirty."

"I mean it, Gohan. You have a high paying, highly respected career, you have a beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter, and you're still the lovable older brother Goten and I grew up with."

Gohan couldn't help the smile that slowly made it's way to his lips. "Thanks, Trunks. I appreciate it. From man to man." He extended his hand, Trunks met it with a firm handshake.

"Well, from man to man, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Anything."

Trunks rested his palms on the cold rail in front of them. "I'd like your permission to date your daughter."

The silence filled the air once again. Gohan fixed his eyes on the environment in front of them, deep in thought. "Now is not a good time for my family. My wife, I'm not sure if you know or not, but she is very ill." Gohan paused for a moment, his eyes now downward. He had told Goku and Chichi months before then his brother only a few weeks back. He wasn't certain whether or not his mother had spread the news.

"I have been roughly informed of her condition, and I just want to let you know that if there is anything that we can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

Gohan's serious eyes met Trunks' once again. "This is going to be very difficult for my daughter. The last thing I need her to be sad about is some asshole guy that forgets to call her or breaks up with her just when she needs someone the most."

"Gohan, I've cared about Pan for quite some time now. There's nothing more I'd rather do than be there for her, especially now. I know I'm only nineteen years old, but I'm head over heels for your daughter."

It was another long moment while Gohan thought it over. "You make her shed one tear, I'll manually remove every vertebrae disk from your spine."

Trunks laughed nervously. "You have my word."

Gohan and Trunks soon returned to the party, joining Goten, Vegeta, Goku, and Yamcha for a drink. Pan, Bra, and Marron joined their circle, joking with Goten and Trunks above the volume of the music. Gohan hadn't noticed any change in his daughter's relationship with her lavender haired friend, but apparently his mind was so wrapped up in his wife's matters that he didn't bother to think about it.

As the hour passed, it was time for the countdown. The group gathered with their partner's and friends, clad in their party hats and noise makers in hand. Trunks clasped Pan's hand in his, not caring who saw it.

They all grinned eagerly at the large television screen displaying the dropping of the ball in Tokyo. "...5...4...3...2...1...Happy new year!" Cheers erupted, and lips were pressed among one another for some, one of them being Pan and Trunks.

"Happy new year." He whispered in her ear.

Her beaming smile was all he needed from her in response.

"Excuse me everyone, may I have your attention?" The crowd grew quiet, all eyes on Trunks once again as he stood next to Pan. "First of all, I'd like to thank Gohan and Videl for throwing one hell of a party," Applause and cheers sounded and faded. "Secondly, I'd like to ask Pan Son," He turned towards her, lacing his fingers with hers. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

The crowd gasped and awed. Pan's eyes widened, her cheeks reddening from embarrassment. "You guys act like he asked me to marry him!" She laughed along with everybody. "Yes, Trunks." She nodded. He took her hands in his and pecked her lips as everyone applauded once more.

"Ah, my baby's such a romantic!" Bulma exclaimed. Vegeta reflected a smug curve of the lips in approval.

The party soon grew to an end as the families departed one by one. Everyone thanked Gohan and Videl and congratulated Trunks and Pan on their way out the door. The only guests left were the Goten, Pan, Marron, and the Briefs siblings.

"After party at my place?" Bra suggested excitedly. "I think your parents could use some alooone time, don't you think Pan?" The five glanced into the kitchen as her parents were engulfed in a deep kiss in the middle of cleaning up.

Pan shuddered. "Goten come with me." He followed behind her to the kitchen. "Dad, Goten and I are going to Bra's house, is that okay?" Since Trunks had now made their relationship public, she assumed her father would be rather reluctant to let her spend new years night with him with minimal parental supervision. She brought Goten to remind him that there was somebody there to 'supervise'.

Gohan gave her an objective stare, but thought it would be nice for him to have some time with his wife tonight. "Well, honey, what do you think?" His lips pressed his wife's forehead.

"That sounds fine to me. Aw, Pan I'm so happy for you." She embraced her daughter. Knowing that her daughter was aware of her illness, she was more relieved to know that she had somebody who cared about her to help her emotionally. "Goten, keep an eye out." She winked at him.

"Don't worry, V. I always carry condoms with me." He teased, earning a disapproving scowl from his brother and niece. "Just... kidding..."

X x X x X

The five teens settled into the Brief's home, making conversation in the living room. They didn't need anything for entertainment as long as they had each other. Conversation and laughter came so easily between them. Pan had her legs curled onto the couch as she leaned into Trunks, who had his arm around her resting on her hip. Marron, Goten and Bra sat side by side on an adjacent couch . Pan wanted so much for her uncle to see the love that Bra had in her eyes for him. She even began to wonder if he could see it but ignored it. Kind of like what she had done to Trunks. She felt her hand subconsciously grip his shirt as she thought about the seemingly long road it took for them to be together.

"Tired?" He asked softly, kissing her forehead.

"Yeah, a little." She didn't want to sound like a party pooper, but she had been awake since early that morning to help her mother clean and prepare for the day. Plus, the alcohol she ingested earlier had a sedative effect on her.

Marron, Goten and Bra sang goodnight to them as Trunks lead her up the stairs to his room.

In the privacy of his dark bedroom with the moon being their only source of light, Trunks rested on his side with his head propped up on his arm while he smoothed his hand up and down his girlfriends side.

"I was thinking," Pan circled her finger against Trunks' bare chest. "Our anniversary would be on January first. If either of us forgets the date, we're fucking hopeless." They laughed together.

"Take these off, freak." Trunks tugged on her jeans. He knew she couldn't be comfortable.

"Take them off for me." She challenged him, swiping the tip of her tongue against his lips.

Trunks smirked and leaned into her ear, his body leaning over hers. "You're gonna wish you never said that." He wanted to get a rise out of her. He wanted to test her boundaries and search for her sensitive spots. He knew tonight they wouldn't go all the way, the last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. His hungry lips nibbled her jaw and flowed down her neck as his hand fluttered down her side and to the front of her pants. With a flick of his thumb, the button was undone and the zipper was down. He sat on his feet in between her legs and pulled her pants from underneath her in one swift movement.

"You're awfully good at this." She giggled.

"You think that's impressive." He tested her, placing his hands on her knees and up her thighs. He toyed with the lining of her boy short underwear, and immediately felt himself react to the contact he was making with her.

Pan rose to her knees so she was now level with him and engulfed his mouth in hers. Her hands pressed against his chest, her fingers playing with his nipples. Their kiss was interrupted for a brief moment as he grunted when she squeezed. She grinned at his reaction.

"Pan..." His breathing was heavy. He was confused. Surely she didn't want to have sex tonight... Or did she? "I can only take so much..." He knew he was hard, and going blue balls for the night did not sound appealing.

Everything felt natural for Pan. She wasn't going to fight back these urges she had for him anymore. She had liked him for so long. She grabbed his hand from her arm and lowered it just below her belly button.

Trunks shoved her back from her knees and pulled the panties from her body. His hands smoothed her thighs again as he reached up to kiss her once more. He left a trail of kisses down her shirt and below her belly button, landing on her ultimate hot spot.

X x X x X

"So, now what?" Bra asked, mid yawn as she stretched her arms.

"Movie time." Goten snatched the remote from the coffee table as he began to browse the various genres.

"Good idea. I'll get blankets and pillows!" She jumped to her feet like a six year old and jogged up the stairs, offering Marron a chance to change into pajama clothes. Marron joined her in the race.

The girls changed into a pair of pajama pants and tight fitting t-shirts for the night. "Hm, I wonder if Pan wants to borrow something." The duo skipped across the hallway to her brother's bedroom door.

Marron jerked Bra's hand away just before she had the chance to knock. "Shhh, listen!" She whispered, holding a finger to her mouth. They definitely heard muffled noises from inside. Heavy breathing. Moaning. Their jaws dropped. "Oh my god!" They both mouthed silently, then trotted back to the living room, giggling along the way.

The girls sat on either side of Goten, who was eying them with great suspicion. "W-what's going on..." He realized the only time he had ever gotten nervous when he was surrounded by women was when those women were Bra and Marron.

"Oh, nothing." Marron shrugged, toying with the frame of her glasses. "Let's just say some people really know how to ring in the new year with a bang."