Chapter 35

"Is it done?" Pan asked as she came into the lab where Bulma, Bardock, Gohan and Dr. Briefs were working.

Bardock grunted, moving away from the time machine, "Almost. We just need to adjust the time setting so you don't end up too far in the past."

"Aha!" Their attention turned to Bulma who grinned triumphantly at the device in her hand. "Don't worry, Pan. You should be home in a day or two. We got the smartest people working on this baby."

Bardock grinned at his sister before getting smacked by her. Pan smiled at the blue haired scientist, "Thanks, Bulma. This really means a lot." She walked out with her brother following her.

"You sure you want to do this?" Bardock asked as they stood next to Pan's suitcases. "And are you sure you want to bring all of those? You don't even know what age you're going to be when you go back."

Pan shrugged as she turned to her bags as well, "You never know. If I do end up being the same age, I don't want to waste too much of Mama's and Papa's money."

The mention of their parents softened Bardock's face into a smile, "You'll be sure to tell them I miss them, okay? And that I'll be back soon?"

Pan nodded, smiling slightly, "I will, I just won't be able to explain why you're not there with me."

"I did come here for a reason."

"Yeah, to fight Buu," Pan said. "That's over and done with, Bardock. You can go home now, no one's stopping you."

"I know," Bardock replied. "But there's just something I have to take care of, okay? Please understand, Pan."

"I'll try," She huffed with a small smile.

Like Bulma had said, the time machine was finished the next day. Pan wasn't expecting to go so soon, but it was inevitable, though she could not hold in her tears when everyone came to see her off.

She sniffled, giving Goku a hug first, "I'll see you on the other side, okay Grandpa?"

Goku smiled, hugging her back tightly, "Yeah. I hope to see you again, Pan."

She chuckled, pulling away, "Of course you will, Grandpa."

She hugged Goten next, squeezing him to her, "It's been fun, Goten."

Goten clutched onto her shirt, his eyes stinging with unshed tears, "Do you really have to go, Pan? I'll miss you."

Pan swallowed thickly, nodding, "I'm sorry, Goten, but I have to. I'll miss you too, Goten. I promise to play with you in the other timeline too."

Goten nodded feebly after Pan pulled away, ruffling his hair. She then turned towards her grandmother, hugging her tightly as well, "Thank you so much, Grandma. You've been so good to me these past several years."

Chi-Chi sobbed lightly, hugging her back, "Anything for my granddaughter." She ran her hands through the younger girl's dark locks.

Pan pulled away, her jaw quivering immensely. She raised her chin to Vegeta who nodded in return. She then gave Trunks a hug, "I'll see you, kiddo."

Trunks pouted, "Will you play with me too in your timeline?"

Pan laughed wetly, "In my timeline, you're older than me. But I can ask Trunks if he'll let me spar with him sometime."

The younger half saiyan nodded with a smile, "That would be cool."

Pan smiled back before turning to Bulma, catching her in a tight hug, "Bye, Bulma. I'll miss you so much."

Bulma let out a few tears as she hugged the time traveler back, "Oh, I'll miss you too, sweetie. It was nice to have someone to talk to all these years."

Pan pulled away with another smile. She said her goodbyes to Roshi, Krillin, Piccolo, 18, Marron, Yamcha, Ox-King, Puar, Oolong, and Buu. She finally went to the man she spent the least time with, "Goodbye, Hercule."

Hercule stared at her, his eyes wet. He cleared his throat gruffly, "In your timeline, am I still the champ?"

Pan grinned happily, "Always, Hercule."

She was suddenly engulfed into his burly arms, and she closed her eyes at the warmth and familiarity he gave off. As much as she loved her Grandpa Goku, it was her Grandpa Hercule she was closer to. He was the one she could talk to without having him distracted or wanting to train all of the time. She didn't care what anyone said about him, she loved her Grandpa Hercule.

"Bye, G-pa," She whispered into his shoulder.

She felt his chest rumble, "Goodbye, Sweet pea."

She swallowed her sob and pulled away. She went up to her father who already had tears in his eyes. "Papa, don't cry."

Gohan wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into her hair. Pan clutched his shirt tightly, trying to hold on. Out of everyone, it was going to be the hardest to leave her father; he was the one constant she had in her 7 years of living in this timeline. He grew up with no one his own age and didn't have many friends, just like her and Bardock. She was his friend and he was hers. She didn't want to leave him.

"Bye, Pan," Gohan whispered shakily, his arms shaking around her.

"Bye, Papa," She sniffled. "I'll see you soon, okay?" She felt Gohan nod before she pulled away and turned to her mother. "Bye, Videl."

Videl smiled sadly, gathering the other girl in her arms. She let the fact that Pan didn't call her by her real title. She would soon have her own little girl to call her that. "It was great meeting you, Pan. I'll miss you so much."

"You too, Videl," Pan sighed, rubbing her back. "You too."

They pulled away, smiling at each other. Pan smiled at her brother, "I'll see you soon, right Bardock?"

Bardock nodded with a smile, giving her a small salute, "You betcha, Pan. I'll see you when I see you."

Pan nodded back, "Okay, well," She inhaled shakily, "I'll see you guys." She floated up to the seat. She punched in some numbers before setting off. She waved to everyone as she disappeared before their eyes.

She landed on the other side with a loud thud. She winced when the hatch opened. She blinked suddenly when her clothes felt a bit baggy on her. She jumped out of the compartment with her things and looked around in awe. She was in Capsule Corp. but she could tell the difference from the other timeline and her timeline.

She heard footsteps coming towards the room quickly. She braced herself for the berating she would get.

Bulma appeared before her, her eyes widening in surprise when she laid her gaze on the girl, "P-Pan? You're here?"

Pan nodded timidly, playing with her suddenly long sleeves. Not much time had passed, she assumed, since she had gotten younger. She bit her lip, "I'm sorry for jumping on board with Bardock without telling anyone and not coming back right away."

Bulma smiled, shaking her head and engulfing the girl in a tight hug, "We were so worried but it didn't take us long to know that you probably went with Bardock. Your parents will need to have a stern talking with you though."

Pan nodded once more, hugging the other woman back. She then pulled back, "How much time has passed?"

"About two years," Bulma replied, leading the now 13 year old girl out of the room. "Why? How much time has passed on the other side?"

"7 years, Bulma," Pan sighed in relief, "I thought I was gone longer."

"Where's Bardock?" Bulma asked once she noticed the other twin wasn't there. "Did he stay there?"

"Yeah," Pan said. "He said he had something to take care of before he came back."

"He would say that," Bulma chuckled. "Good news for you though, your parents are here. GOHAN! VIDEL! GUESS WHO FINALLY CAME BACK?"

Pan paled, halting her tracks, "Bulma, why?"

Bulma shrugged, "Sorry, kiddo. Best deal with it now."

Gohan and Videl appeared at the doorway with questioning gazes before they landed on Pan. "Pan!" They exclaimed in relief, rushing towards their daughter.

Pan smiled as she was crushed to her parents. She was getting a lot of hugs today. "Hi, Mama. Hi, Papa."

"Why would you do something like that?" Gohan asked once he pulled away, holding her face in his hands gently.

"It better be a damn good explanation, Son Pan," Videl demanded softly as she stayed hugging her.

"I'll explain later," Pan closed her eyes, letting the feeling of home wash over her. "Right now, I'm just really glad to be back."