10- Finding Happiness

Trunks was the happiest he had been in a long time. His morning had started wonderfully already. He woke up beside Pan and watched her sleep peacefully. When she started waking, she greeted him with sleepy kisses.

There was something magical about Pan's kisses, at least, to Trunks there was. He could probably spend all day kissing her, but when their stomachs started grumbling, he knew they needed to get up and get breakfast.

Pan held Trunks' hand all the way down to the kitchen, and he couldn't stop his grin. Finally, she was his. He felt as if an impossible dream was coming true.

"We'll look at that," Bulla snickered as they walked in. She eyed their hands, a wide smirk spreading across her face. "Are you two dating?"

Bulma gasped and turned to look at them with wide eyes. Her eyes grew even wider as she saw their hands.

Trunks bit back a sigh. It was best to just get it over with, "yes, we are."

"How wonderful!" Bulma gushed in excitement.

"Hear that?!" Bulla leaned back and called to someone inside the kitchen. "You owe me extra- remember that!"

"Dammit!" Goten huffed as he walked out of the kitchen. "You're going to break me, Bulla! I'm going to stop betting against you!"

"Ten?!" Pan gasped. She let go of Trunks' hand and ran over to her brother and hugged him tightly. "I didn't know you were back!"

Goten grinned and picked Pan up with a tight hug. "I just came in this morning."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back yesterday?" Trunks demanded as he raised an eyebrow. Goten hadn't mentioned a thing when they talked.

"I wanted to surprise you, best friend!" Goten's grin widened. He now had Pan in a head-lock as he dragged her over and hugged Trunks tightly. "Ah, my baby sister-" who elbowed him in the gut to make him release her- "and my best friend!" Goten wheezed. "Congratulations!"

Bulla snickered, "you sound like your congratulating them on a marriage, Goten."

Trunks saw his mother's eyes start to shine, and he held up a hand. "Hold it!" He told her. "Let Panna and I enjoy dating for a while before you say anything about that."

Bulla snorted then, "please, Pan and I have had your wedding planned for years."

"Bulla!" Pan gasped in horror as her cheeks turned pink.

"Oh, really?" Trunks found himself smirking.

"Of course," Bulla continued, even though Pan was shaking her head. "I am the maid of honor, of course."

"I'm starting to rethink that," Pan muttered.

"Hey!" Bulla pouted.

Trunks chuckled as he took a seat with Pan. Goten sat down on his other side, and soon the conversation was flowing about South City and what all Goten had done. He had worked at a cafe, a mechanic shop, and even as a bouncer to a club. He enjoyed the hot weather of South City, but he missed home more.

Goten was smiling as he talked, but Trunks knew something was up. Something was bothering Goten, and Trunks wondered if it was the reason he came home so soon. Whatever it was, Trunks was going to find out.

Goten sighed as he fell onto the bench to cool himself down. Trunks fell beside him and leaned back. Both of them had just got done sparring, and Goten had loved it. It had been a while since he had been able to really spar. No one pushed him as much as Trunks did.

It really was good to be back and around the people that knew him best.

"I wonder where Panny ran off to," Goten said. She had been sparring with them earlier before she had disappeared.

"Bulla came in and snatched her away," Trunks snorted. "There's not a doubt in my mind that she's demanding Panna to tell her everything that happened last night."

Goten snickered and raised an eyebrow, "do you want to spill the details to me? But please, if you two did the nasty, don't tell me," he cringed.

Trunks rolled his eyes, "we didn't have sex. We just kissed and talked. I told her about the bond like you said I should."

"And?" Goten pressed.

"She had some questions about it, but she accepted it. She seemed happy about it," Trunks said with a gentle smile.

"You seem happy too," Goten commented. He was glad his best friend and sister had finally found each other.

"Yeah, I am," Trunks said, "but you don't."

"I don't what?"

"Seem happy. Is something wrong, Goten?" Trunks asked quietly. "I was just in South City with you before I came home. You seemed happy there. The way you talked was like it would be another year before you came home."

Goten let out a sigh. He wasn't really surprised that Trunks knew something was up. They had been best friends for over ten years. Half of the time, Trunks knew Goten better than he knew himself and vice versa.

"Trunks," Goten let out a heavy sigh. "Do you remember when I came out to you?"

He nodded, "yeah, right after graduation."

"And do you remember what you told me?"

Trunks raised an eyebrow, "I said okay, and then asked if you wanted to get some pizza. Why?"

Goten let out a laugh and shook his head. "It's just that you didn't react any kind of way back then."

"Yeah, because whether you like women or guys, or both or none, it doesn't change the fact that you're my best friend, Goten," he said.

"You're the only person I've come out to," Goten admitted quietly. "I mean, family and friends, wise. Though I can tell that my parents know. My Mom had dropped hints, but neither one of them have ever said anything. I'm sure Panny and Gohan know too, but again, they haven't said anything."

"Because nothing needs to be said, Goten," Trunks told him. "You're parents aren't going to stop loving you suddenly. Neither will Panna or Gohan. Who you like does not change how they feel about you."

"I know," he said quietly. Still, it felt nice to be told that. To be reassured that. There were a lot of people out there who still didn't accept it.

"I met a guy," Goten confessed. "I was dating him when you came down, but I didn't introduce you because it was new to him. He hasn't told anyone, and his family didn't suspect it as mine does. I was serious about him, but to him, I was just someone to test the waters with," he sighed.

"What an asshole," Trunks huffed. "What's his name? I'll ruin his life if you want."

Goten looked at Trunks, who's face was completely serious, and he threw his head back with a laugh. "It's okay," he told Trunks. "It did hurt, at first, but I hope he finds what he's looking for. I felt like I couldn't really be mad at him. I mean, I went to South City to do the same thing. I wanted to experiment and find out what I like," and he had wanted to do it away from his family. He knew they wouldn't have judged. "I just wanted to find myself."

"And did you?" Trunks raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure," Goten admitted. "I definitely learned a lot about myself. I think the last part I need to find here."

Trunks smiled and nodded his head in agreement. "I'm glad you're back, buddy."

"Yeah, I'm glad your back too-" he elbowed Trunks. "After running off to get away from my sister."

"Hey, I had no choice!" Trunks huffed. "I did it to protect her."

Goten snickered, "you sure didn't waste any time when you came back, though."

"Waste any time on what?" Pan asked as she leaned over the back of the bench.

"Getting with you," Goten laughed.

Trunks just huffed, but he smiled as he met Pan's gaze. She smiled back and wrapped her arms around Trunks' shoulders from behind as her chin rested in his head.

"What were you two talking about?"

Goten thought that this would be as good as a time as ever to see Pan's reaction. "I was telling Trunks about the guy I dated, and he threatened to ruin his life."

"Why?" Pan asked. "Was he a butthead? I'll beat him up!"

"See-" Trunks laughed. "Panna will punch him while I punch his bank," he smirked.

"Wow, you two belong together," Goten snickered.

"Mhm," Pan smiled, her cheeks growing pink. "What are you going to do now that your back, Ten?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, you can work with Panna," Trunks said.

"Work with Pan where?" Goten raised an eyebrow. The last time he heard anything, Pan didn't have a job.

"I bought her a flower shop."

"You bought Pan a flower shop?" Goten deadpanned.

"Hey!" Pan acted like she was choking Trunks, but he was laughing. "I didn't want him to!" She told Goten with red cheeks. "He went behind my back and did it!"

Goten shook his head at his best friend, "you are so whipped."

"Look at her face, though," Trunks smirked as his hand came up and squished Pan's red cheeks and made her pout deepen. "She's too cute; I can't help myself."

"I don't know. She looks like a toad to me," Goten snickered.

Pan snapped at him. "I can't believe I missed you!" She huffed, causing Goten to laugh.

"How do I look?" Bulla asked as she stepped out of her closet.

Pan let out a low whistle as she looked at her best friend. The dark red dress Bulla had on was tight against her curves. The straps were thin and tied behind her neck, leaving her tanned shoulders bare. The dip between her breasts didn't leave much to the imagination. Her blue hair was pinned up neatly with a few blue curls framing her face, and the sparkling heels she had on gave her a few extra inches of height.

"You look hot," Pan told her with a grin. "Seventeen has no idea what he got himself into. Aren't you two just going to the movies?"

"Yes," Bulla grinned. "But I'm going to show off the most I can. Are you and Trunks going anywhere tonight?"

"No," Pan shook her head. "He went out with Goten."

"Seriously?" Bulla raised an eyebrow. "You let your boyfriend go on a date with your brother before he went out on one with you?"

Pan snorted, "They just went to the skatepark they used to hang out all the time. Plus, Mama and Papa are coming home tomorrow. I need to pack."

Bulla let out a gasp, "that's right! You're leaving tomorrow," she pouted. "I'll-"

"Don't you even think about it canceling your date!" Pan told her seriously. "I'll be here in the morning, plus, it's not like I'm never coming back," she grinned.

"You're right," Bulla smiled with a nod. "Still," she sat down beside Pan and let out a sigh as she wrapped her arms around her. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," Pan chuckled. "I look forward to hearing all about your date! When is he supposed to be picking you up?"

Suddenly, Bulla's phone dinged, and she jumped up with an excited squeal. "Right now!" She did one more turn. "Still good?"

"Perfect!" Pan gave her two thumbs up. "Have fun!" She followed Bulla out of her bedroom and waved to her as she dashed down the stairs.

Pan laughed and shook her head as her best friend disappeared. She was happy for Bulla and excited too! She knew her friend had been dreaming of this for a while, and Pan hoped it was everything Bulla hoped it would be.

With a stretch, Pan headed back to her guest room. She had already started packing earlier, and now she just had a few more things left to do. She was both excited and sad to be going home. She had missed her parents tremendously over the last two weeks. Phone calls and FaceTime just weren't enough! But, now that Trunks was back, back and dating her, she would miss him just as much. She had enjoyed being so close to him over the last week.

Pan glanced down at her phone and smiled at the new screensaver of her and Trunks. It was still hard for her to believe that they were dating. That he truly liked her as she did him. For the first time in all of her eighteen years, she had an actual boyfriend, and it was with the one guy she wanted, too.

Pan was excited for the new chapter in her life that was waiting for her. She had called her Mama not too long ago and told her that she knew everything about her and Trunks' bond. Chi-Chi had listened quietly as Pan talked and then apologized for not telling her sooner. Pan wasn't upset though, she could understand where her parents were coming from, and she was thankful that they were losing her make her own choices now that she was an adult.

When Chi-Chi commented that she was happy for her and Trunks, Pan felt her worry leave her. Life couldn't get much better.

Pan was near all the way packed and had just gotten dressed from her shower when there was a gentle knock on her door. She opened it with a smile, already knowing who was on the other side.

"Hey," Trunks leaned down and kissed her. "I brought pizza-" he held up a box with a grin.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Pan teased as he slipped inside. "How was the skatepark?" She asked as she hopped on her bed.

Trunks sat down beside her and opened up the pizza. "It was alright. I remember the tricks being a lot easier when I was younger," he grinned.

"Are you going to miss me when I leave tomorrow?" Pan asked as she grabbed her a slice of pizza.

"I always miss you," Trunks mumbled. "At least now I can see you whenever I want," he brightened up with a grin.

"You'll see me so much you'll get tired of me," she teased him.

Trunks leaned over, his lips pecking hers quickly. "I could never get tired of you."

Pan just smiled as her face grew hot. She was the same way with him. She would never get tired of Trunks.