Pan looked up at the skies and sighed. Rain. She had forgotten her umbrella. And then, a snap was heard, and a webbed umbrella popped up above her. "Son Pan," someone said softly. Her head turned and Nori smiled at her, she returned the gesture and he hooked his arm out for her to take it. "I only have one," he reasoned and she shook her head. "Of course you do," she teased and they walked arm in arm out of the Capsule Corporation and Nori asked as Pan closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the sound of the rain.
"Would you like to get some coffee?" he pondered and she eased her eyes open and eyed him. "Coffee is not allowed for a woman in my position," she countered and he chuckled. "Then may I offer the café across the street for us to wait out the rain?" She nodded. "You may." And he guided her across the street and into a small coffee café directly across from their building. It was known for having fresh French pastries and perfectly pressed coffee whether it was cold brewed or hot. He curled his arm around her waist as they crossed the street and Pan could practically feel eyes on them as they crossed and walked into the small café where they took a seat at a small window table.
Nori brushed the umbrella shut before they entered and walked up to the counter and ordered, "One black coffee and one steamed sweet milk with a chocolate croissant." And then he took a seat across from Pan and watched her as she eyed him.
"I see you didn't not forget what I enjoy here," she commented and he nodded. "This was our table, and our place. I haven't seen you here when I stop by." She shook her head. "I haven't had the time and I haven't been here since you left." He arched a brow, "You haven't brought anyone here?" he asked. She remained quiet, still eyeing him. "The father of your child?" he pondered. She felt herself inwardly cringe as she admitted, "My heart still skips at the thought of being with him." She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes and shook her head. She added, "You know I always thought I would be alone after you divorced me." Her hands dropped and she looked at him with a wry smile. "But in the end I was never really alone was I?" Nori pressed his chin into the palm of his hand and he said, "I was never good for you Pan. You know that." She nodded in agreement as the barista called out their order and he rose to get their drinks and the small pastry. "Yes, you weren't. You were too busy with work, and I could never provide a family for you," she reasoned.
Nori sighed. "You know that has nothing to do with why we divorced," he groused and she smiled at him. "You're sure?" she teased. He sighed and sadly said, "I didn't love you and I drove you into another man's arms." She tilted her head to the side and arched a brow, and asked, "Then why are you here, having coffee with me?" she teased him. He blushed and she said, "You knew I was pregnant, Bulma told you to look out for me didn't she?" His blush went another shade darker and she rose from her seat as she said, "So I will assume you know who the father is?" He shook his head. "She didn't say," he swore and Pan's eyes widened for a moment before she said, "He's coming here. He will be here in a few moments." She could feel Trunks heading their way and then the bell above the door chimed and she saw Nori's eyes widened as she turned away and slipped out of the coffee house, through the single side door near their table before Trunks could see her. She took up Nori's umbrella and escaped outside just as Trunks walked in to look around the private space. Due to the heater kicking on, it fogged the windows and the cold rain didn't help alleviate the misted windows. And because he could not see through them, he did not see Pan as she escaped the small café.
Nori froze at Trunks' eyes fell upon him and Nori forced a smile. "Mr. Briefs," he observed before Trunks walked to him and sternly asked, "Where is she?" Nori shook his head and said, "I don't know who you're talking about." Trunks rolled his shoulders and turned away and as he escaped back outside into the rainy weather he looked around and knew then that she was masking her ki from him. Hiding from him. After all, he had done nothing to hide himself as he had gone to ambush her small date with Nori. That was his plan until he blinked and she was gone. Trunks took a seat before Nori and he said firmly, "Where did she go?" Trunks pressed his ki in Nori and was surprised when the young man merely chuckled, he merely shrugged and said, "She's funny like that isn't she? You really can never tack her down."
Trunks arched a brow, and asked, "Don't you have a wife and children to get home to?" he groused and Nori nodded. "I do, actually I was enjoying a small snack before heading home." Trunks' brow arched higher as he noted the two glasses and how the sweet croissant had been torn in two for easy sharing. Trunks rose from the table and Nori closely watched him. "Mr. Briefs," he said with a small smile. "You will keep chasing after her," and Trunks eyed the young man.
He knew Pan had been with him. He had seen them walking arm in arm and his anger had boiled over when Nori curled an arm about her still tucked in waist. He needed to find out more about this man and before he turned away Nori's word taunted him. "Are you merely upset that she will not marry you?" Trunks slowly looked over his shoulder, back at the young man, and Nori's head tilted to one side and he waved an open hand to the seat where Pan had been sitting. Nori knew he needed to distract his superior C.E.O. to allow Pan more time to put distance between them. Trunks walked back and took a seat before the man and Nori said, "She did make me the perfect wife, and in the end I ruined her."
Trunks' eyes went wide and Nori's head tilted to the other side. That was Nori's secret, and it solidified Trunks' suspicions of him. "Would you like to know about our marriage?" Trunks remained quiet as Nori said, "I did love her. And you have the same frantic look that I had when I couldn't keep up with her. But one day, I realized I could keep up with her. Because she was kind, patient, beautiful, and caring and because she loved me." Trunks' lips parted and he said, "You really think I want marriage?" His eyes darkened and Nori felt his chest tighten as Trunks said, "She is pregnant with my child, it is my only concern."
"Her life, her well being is nothing to you?" Nori asked. Trunks said, "You don't need to know any more about my private affairs with her." Nori chuckled. "Meaning you have pushed her away already? You haven't been seeing her, I can tell by how many nights she has been sleeping at work." Trunks' eyes widened and Nori's lips curled into a broad smile. "Your expression tells me you love her," he reasoned. Trunks merely stared at him and Nori said, "Pan is very forward as I'm sure you know. And she is intimidating. You must tell her bluntly what she means to you or you will never be a father to that child within her." Nori rose and bowed to him and said, "Please excuse me as my family is waiting on me." Family. Trunks watched him go and although he agreed with what Nori had just said, his last word was the one thing that rang over in his mind. Family.
And Trunks knew then, as many times as he had been to her home, and her apartment she had never been there. So he walked away from Nori and headed towards the office building once more. Nori had expressed that she was sleeping at work and he raced into the building, passed the few stragglers that were leaving and he walked to Pan's lab and his breath left him. She wasn't there.
He slammed his hand into the wall beside him and cursed Nori. Because he had been right. He loved Pan.