At the gala Pan stayed near Bulma, but was blessed when Bura showed up. Bura smiled for her and waved as she caught Goten's hand and pulled him with her towards them. Bura said, "I wasn't sure if you were coming," she said and Pan smiled sweetly for her. "I'm still very tired from working so much." Bura arched a wicked brow with a sly smile as her mother kissed Goten's cheek and she whispered, "It wouldn't have anything to do with getting no sleep with my brother would it?" Pan blushed, but shook her head. "No, I, well, I had plenty of sleep with your brother." Bura frowned. "Had?"

Pan nodded, "Yeah, had." Bura puffed her face and said, "Well, it won't be had for long. I don't know what happened, but we're going to fix this." Pan shook her head and Bura said, "Goten will you go get us some drinks?" He looked at her and nodded and cantered off while Bura caught Pan's arm and pulled her along. Pan shook her head, "Bura please, we can't, him and I, we already-"

Bura carted them over to her brother, but just as she went to grab her brother's shoulder another hand caught him and pulled him away. Bura's eyes went wide and Pan stiffened at the sight of the young woman who had just caught him up in her hands. Serena. Pan gaped as the young woman smacked her lips to his and kissed him soundly and suddenly flashes went off as cameras took their shot. Pan felt Bura pull her around and they stepped away from the scene as questions were suddenly pouring out of the photographers.

"Serena does he mean anything to you?!"

"How long have you been together?!"

"Is she your date for the evening?" Trunks groused at her and she winked, "I heard down the grapevine you were bringing Pan instead of me." She spoke softly so he was the only one who heard, but Bura felt Pan's hand tighten on hers as he replied, "There's no one else, but you. Let's get some privacy…" Pan felt her hands tighten and Bura shook her head, and said, "You are staying here with me, don't you dare leave." Pan rolled her shoulders and turned away, "I need air."

Bura shook her head. "No, we are going to figure out why-"

"Son Pan," someone smoothly called and Bura's eyes widened over Pan's shoulder as Pan turned to eye their intruder and then her heart stopped, while they both froze. Sharper Jr. His smooth blond hair and brown eyes, were striking. He eased closer and she smiled for him and he said, "I thought that was you, Bura," he greeted. Pan smiled sweetly as did Bura and she pondered, "Sharper, how are you? Your father?" He nodded, "All is well, ah, I really cannot concentrate with that dress you're wearing. I must say you look," he cleared his throat, "wonderful." Pan's head tilted and she heard Goten come up behind her. "Bura, Pan," he said. Bura's hand squeezed hers and Pan returned the gesture. And they left her. "Ah, well, thank you," she said. "You look sharp as always," she laughed at her punny joke as did he. Unlike his father, he had a better sense of humor. He set his drink down and waved a hand, then offered, "May I take you for a dance?" And she nodded. "Please." And his large hand touched her bared back and she felt a shiver run through her. He smiled as he pulled her into the circling dance. "It was rumored you would be attending with him," he said and she arched a brow, and asked, "Which him?"

"The one you've been caught in the paper with," he said and she scoffed. "Mr. Briefs is nothing, but a family friend." He pulled her close, his lips bushed her ear, and she blushed. "You looked happy, not lustful as I know you to be," he said softly. She tilted her head to look at him, Sharper, whose father had gone to school with hers, knew her family rather well. She and Sharper had been classmates and she had fooled around with him while still in her early years of college. He was one of the few she had actually slept with and she looked at him, and admitted, "I thought I was happy." His eyes widened and she smiled for him. He merely chuckled and smirked at her. "How innocent you are sometimes," he observed and she sighed. "Yup," she agreed.

He kissed her knuckles and she blushed. "Sharper, you shouldn't-"

"What? Appreciate that you could knock me out?" he reasoned. Her laughter fell out of her. Yes, Sharper was not quite the romantic she had heard him rumored to be. And once he had found out she was Satan's granddaughter he had fallen head over heels for her, knowing she could easily push him away. He traced his lips along her knuckles and then kissed the inset of her wrist. In the same spot that Trunks had and her heart skipped. He smiled at her, "There she is, that wicked woman I know." But her reddened color caught him off guard. "I need to get more air, excuse me," she excused as she escaped him and huffed her way to a private hallway.

But another hand caught her and she whipped around to find Vegeta. Her eyes widened, surprised he was here, and confused as to why he had not ridden with her and Bulma to the event. She shook her head. There was too much going on too soon and she said, "What?" He said, "Do you know why you were sick earlier?" She frowned at him and pulled her arm away. "Of course, I've been feeling under the weather and Bulma's reckless driving." And then she heard laughter coming from down the hallway. Her head rose and Vegeta said, "Pan," he called and her eyes fell upon the scene that was unfolding before her. A room door opened and closed and Trunks pulled himself out of the room and Serena was on him.

Pan froze, she felt her feet turn her away and she went to leave. Her heart had begun to pound and then an arm caught her, pulling her back around. Vegeta stood next to her, pinning her in place. "Where are you going?" he demanded so lowly no one heard, but her. She cast her gaze away and softly whispered, "He's coming, with that girl, please Vegeta-"

"It isn't what you think," Vegeta countered roughly, loud enough that Serena's laughter paused and Trunks' head snapped up finding his father holding Pan firmly in place. "Really? How am I," she stopped, this was not the time to be acting like a scorned lover, but she couldn't stop the emotions, the pain she felt.

"Pan?" She didn't look at Trunks when he called her, instead, she slipped herself away from Vegeta once more and turned away. Trunks scrambled after her. Pan fought against Vegeta when he caught her up again and Vegeta saw his son's face, covered in lipstick kisses and smeared rouge as he walked up to them. "Pan," he said. Trunks looked at her and finally saw her, raw, bare, and hurt, after all, she too was a woman, no matter how strong she was. She was shaking and he reached out to her and she smacked his hand away. "No," she said firmly.

Serena came up behind him and stroked his jacket. He shoved her touch off of him. "Don't touch me!" he snapped so loudly his voice echoed down the hallway. And for the first time Serena jumped. He turned to his father as Pan tried to pull her arm away. Trunks said to his father, "Take her and her father home. Tell him I will speak to him Monday about his employment." Serena's eyes widened. "You wouldn't really-" Trunks whispered at her threateningly, admitting a secret he had been holding back, for he knew it was too soon to know Pan as he knew her. Six weeks was not long enough, but he knew he would not lose her, tonight was supposed to be the night where he would woo her if she showed at the event, but this girl, this brat ruined it. He said, "You just pissed off the only woman I have ever loved. Of course I will take your father's job." Serena gaped at him and Vegeta felt a cruel smile curl his lips. His shadow covered the young woman as Trunks turned away, facing Pan once more. She stood there shaking and with shaking hands she pulled her clutch out and pulled out her phone, all while Vegeta was still holding her at her bicep. She dialed a number and when a voice asked, "Hello?" Trunks frowned at her, "What are you-"

"Pan," Trunks began as he reached for her, "Don't!" she yelled. He paused.

She was so suddenly taken over with emotion she couldn't control the tears that streaked down her face. "Grandpa," she said, her voice trembling, "come get me, please." And in a small rush of air, Goku stood before her, his eyes worried, his arms coming out to her. She fell into them, her tears falling uncounted. Goku saw Vegeta's hand clasped tightly around Pan's arm and Vegeta had never seen Goku's eyes darken so quickly and for the first time, Vegeta's hands shot up, submitting himself. And then with a pop they were gone.

Trunks gaped and threw his hands to his head, before all of a sudden Goku reappeared and Trunks gulped at the sight of his expression before he realized Gohan was with him. He pointed a finger at Trunks and asked, "Did you make her cry?" he asked in a voice so low, the timbre shook Trunks to his core. He stammered, "We, uh, I just-"

"Answer me," Gohan said lowly. Trunks took in a steady breath and his expression hardened as he gathered himself. "Yes," he admitted. He straightened himself and prepared himself, for he had seen it before, and here it came. Gohan's fist. It wasn't hard enough to send him flying, but it was enough to knock the wind out of him and for Serena to scream. Gohan stood above him and looked at Vegeta's angry scowl. "I can't say I wouldn't do the same for Bura," Vegeta admitted. Gohan nodded, touched his father's shoulder and then they were gone. Serena stared at where Trunks had collapsed to his knee and gaped at Vegeta. "What, what just happened? Are you serious? Who? Who was that?!" Trunks growled out an order, "Get her away from me!" Vegeta caught the back of her dressed and reeled her out of the dimly lit hallways and then Trunks straightened himself and fluffed his tuxedo before he slicked his hair back and with a swollen jaw and lip he confidently walked back out to the event, he would deal with Pan later.