24- In the Rain

A lot could happen in a year. Trees withered and bloomed in a never-ending cycle. Babies were born. People fell in love. Things grew.

In the year's time that Trunks had known Pan, she had grown and bloomed into a beautiful and confident young woman. It had taken some time, and many months of him, his mother, and Chi-Chi being there for Pan and supporting her. She was loved and happy, and you could see the way her eyes lit up when she smiled. She felt safe, safe enough that she could run to the store on her own now to pick up a few things. She still didn't like to be by herself for too long, but Trunks never minded going with her whenever she needed to go somewhere.

Once Pan had started homeschooling, it hadn't taken her long to finish school. She didn't take university classes or go in search of anything. Instead, she went with Trunks and helped him in protecting the city. Before Trunks knew it, several other people were doing the same thing. Pan and the others called themselves Rangers, and Trunks had somehow become the unofficial leader of the group. Probably because Capsule Corp had made them a division under the company, and Trunks and Pan were always the ones who talked to Bulma about things.

Trunks watched with a small smile as Pan talked to a few other female rangers. The other women were a little bit older than Pan, but she got along with them well. Trunks was glad she was allowing other people in and opening up.

Pan waved goodbye to the women before she turned and looked at Trunks. The sight of her running over to him sent his heart pounding. She would be eighteen soon, and she had truly grown up into a beautiful young woman. She kept her dark hair short and cut just above her shoulders. Her body had filled out, and she had the curves of a woman. Sometimes, her skin looked so smooth that Trunks had to clench his hands to stop himself from touching her.

"Trunks!" She reached him and grabbed his hand. Intimacy was a natural thing for them. Holding hands, hugging, arms around each other. It was them.

"Are you ready?" He asked with a smile.

"Mhm," she nodded. "Let's go patrol!"

It was a beautiful day, even if it was cloudy. The summer air was warm, and the breeze was cool and comforting. Pan walked with Trunks, hand-in-hand, as they patrolled a section of West City woods. She loved days like these, days that were peaceful, and she could enjoy Trunks' company.

Pan glanced over at Trunks as they walked. He was a lot taller than her. The top of her head just barely passed his bicep. His lavender hair was pulled back into a ponytail, the front part of his bangs was out, and they barely touched his shoulders. His blue eyes were bright and focused ahead. His nose was long and sharp. There was a small dent in the middle of it, a sign that it had been broken once before. He had high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. He wore a dark muscle shirt that was tight around his broad shoulders and biceps. He had a slim waist, and Pan's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was staring.

With warm cheeks, Pan focused her attention ahead. Trunks was the kind of attractive that made others stop in their tracks when he passed. Pan had witnessed many women run into things by being distracted by him, and she was one of those guilty women. Trunks never seemed to notice the effect he had on others, or at least, he never commented on it. He never mentioned anything about finding anyone attractive. Of course, he'd always complement Pan whenever she got a new outfit or did her hair a different style, but he was never more than polite.

Pan wondered what Trunks thought of her. She let out a small sigh, knowing that he probably saw her like a little sister.

"Are you okay?" Trunks looked over at her.

"Yeah," Pan plastered a smile across her face. "It's just a quiet patrol."

Trunks turned slightly and raised an eyebrow at her as a grin twitched across his lips. "Wanna fly?"

Her eyes widened, and she nodded. "Yes!" She let go of Trunks' hand as she jumped up. Her Ki caught her, and she shot into the sky, Trunks right behind her.

They flew over their patrol area, and Pan smiled down at the blooming trees. She could see deers down below, grazing on grass in herds. The birds were chirping and fluttering. A river ran through the area as well, its water clear and blue.

They stopped above the river, both of them floating several yards above the trees and looking around. Their eyes were wide and searching, their ears straining to hear anything unusual.

Pan curled herself up like she was sitting as she looked around. She loved flying and being above the ground to see everything.

"This is the place where Cell arrived in the other time machine," Trunks commented.

"Really?" Pan raised an eyebrow. Trunks had told her all about when he had gone to the past, and they had discovered another time machine - the machine that Cell had used to travel there by killing the Trunks from that timeline. In this timeline, Trunks had killed Cell while he was still in Gero's lab, and then another Cell showed up, again from a timeline where he had killed Trunks with another time machine.

"Does Bulma still have the time machines?" Pan asked curiously.

"Yes," Trunks said slowly. "The one Cell arrived in is damaged beyond fixing. The one I used was only meant for one round trip, but I used it twice. It got burned out, and my Mom, she's never bothered to make another one. She'd too scared it might fall into the wrong hands."

Pan nodded slowly. "That's a wise decision. I can only imagine what would happen if someone like Axel got his hands on one." She shuddered slightly at the thought.

Thinking of Axel no longer frightened her, but remembering all the terrible things he could do did.

"Pan," Trunks' voice was quiet and slow. "If there was a way for you to go back to your timeline and not have to worry about Axel, would you do it?"

Pan turned to look at Trunks, but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring off across the river. His blue eyes seemed so far away, but there was something uneasy in them.

"No," Pan answered quietly.

Trunks looked at her then. His eyes were swirling with relief and surprise. Pan wanted to reach out, grab his face, and kiss him. She wanted to feel his lips against hers, and the thought caused her to grow warm.

"No?" Trunks repeated, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You wouldn't?"

Pan shook her head. "The Dragon Balls are gone in that timeline, and so is Piccolo. I wouldn't be able to wish my family back. Too many bad memories are there as well. And most importantly, my new family is here. Mama, Bulma, and you. I don't want to leave you, Trunks."

Trunks opened his mouth to speak, but a rumble overhead stopped him. They glanced up to see the sky had started to darken on them. A soft drizzle began to drift down, and Trunks grabbed Pan's hand as they flew down to the ground. There was no cover in sight. The river and fields stretched out before them. They took off in a run towards the woods, and by the time they made it under a large tree, it was pouring, and they were soaked. Raindrops fell between the tree leaves, still splashing them but they were at least shielded enough to not be under direct rainfall.

Pan looked over at Trunks, and her eyes widened as she saw him staring at her. His clothes were wet, and they clung to him in ways that made Pan's heart pound. She could only imagine the way her clothes were sticking to her.

"I don't want you to leave me either," Trunks said, continuing their conversation. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, Angel."

Pan's cheeks grew warm. Trunks was looking at her so intently. His arms were down by his sides, his fingers twitching like he wanted to reach out. She walked forward until she was in front of him. She prayed she wasn't reading the atmosphere wrong and she wouldn't end up humiliated.

Slowly, Pan reached out for Trunks' wrist, and she placed his hands on her hips. She heard him suck in a breath between his teeth. "Every day, I am so grateful and happy that I came here," she said as she placed her hands on his chest. "I got a chance at a second home. I got Mama and Bulma, and I got you, Trunks."

Pan could feel Trunks breathing heavily. His grip had tightened on her hips. He leaned down, his forehead pressing against hers. "I love you," he whispered before his lips pressed against hers.

The kiss was shy at first. Trunks' lips barely brushed against Pan's, but it was enough for her eyes to flutter shut and her grip to tighten on his shirt. Trunks let out a sigh as he pressed his mouth against Pan's firmly. Then they were kissing, really kissing.

Trunks walked forward until he had Pan pressed up against the tree. She was clutching him as his tongue slid across her bottom lip and dove in. He tasted like the cold rain and cloves. Pan wound her hands around his neck and locked her fingers. Trunks had curled one of his hands into her damp hair, and the other was pressing against her back, holding her against him.

They pulled back after what felt like forever. Pan's eyelids were heavy from the drizzle of rain. The water was cold, but she felt as if she were simmering. She unclasped her fingers and brushed them along Trunks' jaw so she could cup his face.

Pan smiled at him, feeling the happiest she had been in years. "I love you," she told him. "I love you, Trunks, and in this timeline with you, there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

He smiled at her brightly. "My Angel," he whispered before he leaned down and kissed her again.

Trunks felt heavy as he walked down the hallways. His head pounded, and his chest felt tight.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Trunks glanced up in surprise to see his mother frowning at him.

"I'm going on patrol," Trunks said hoarsely. Where else would he be going with his sword strapped across his back?

"Oh no, you're not," she huffed. "You're sick!"

Trunks' eyes widened. "I'm not sick!" He declared as he ignored the tickle in his throat. He was just a little under the weather, that's all.

"I can see you are struggling not to cough, Trunks," Bulma huffed. "You're sick - just like Pan. You two came in soaking wet yesterday. Chi-Chi already made Pan go back to bed. Now you go -" she pointed towards the stairs.

"Mom, I'm 25, you can't - "

"Go upstairs, Trunks!" Bulma said sternly. "I will put this house on lockdown, don't think I won't!"

Trunks gasped at her. He knew better than to ask if she was serious. "You're crazy," he muttered instead before he stalked up the stairs back to his room. He huffed as he took off his sword and threw it in his bed. He didn't understand what the problem was. Even if he was sick, he could take some medicine and be okay.

With a sigh, Trunks slipped off his shoes before he turned and walked out of his room and headed towards Pan's room. Trunks opened the door slowly. Her room was dim, but he could see the outline of her in her bed. He walked in and shut the door.

"Angel," he called as he brushed some of her hair back. She was warm.

"Trunks," she sat up a little. Her cheeks were flushed, and dark circles were under her eyes.

"You're sick," he frowned.

"Looks like you are, too," she commented.

"I'm fine," he muttered. "Though Mom's making me stay home."

"Mama's making me stay, too," Pan said as she scooted over and patted the spot beside her.

Trunks crawled into the bed beside her, and she instantly clung to his side. "I'm sorry you got sick."

"Don't be," Pan said. "Plus, I get to spend the whole day with you."

"That does sound nice," Trunks commented.

He turned to face her. She was looking at him, her full lips spread out in a smile. Trunks licked his bottom lip unconsciously. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about their kiss and how Pan felt pressed up against him. He had wanted to kiss her for months, and after finally doing it, he knew there was no way he could stop.

They hadn't had a chance to talk about the kiss, though, or about them. They had flown home in the rain, and between their mother's fussing and everything else, there hadn't been time.

"You know," Pan's voice was a whisper. "We're both sick, so it's not like we could infect the other." Her eyes were glinting mischievously, and Trunks felt himself smirking.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.

Pan raised her hand and rested it against Trunks' chest. He wondered if she could feel how much his heart pounded at the simple touch. He reached up and cupped her warm cheeks. Slowly, Trunks ran his thumb over her soft lips.

Trunks leaned over and kissed her. She sighed against him as she returned the kiss. Just like the day before, her kiss was warm and sweet. Trunks could feel himself melting into it as he wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer towards him.

"Pan!" Her bedroom door swung open, and Trunks and Pan gasped in surprise as Bulma rushed in. "Where's Trunks?! He didn't run off, did - oh," she stopped mid-rant. Her blue eyes were wide as she looked at the two of them, still close and cuddled together. "Are you two - " she began slowly.

"We're dating," Trunks said. He glanced at Pan to see if she would interject, but her cheeks were red with embarrassment. She looked rather cute.

"Oh," Bulma nodded slowly. "Okay, well, I'll make sure to bring both of your medicines up together and the food trays. Sorry for interrupting."

Trunks narrowed his eyes suspiciously as his mother backed out of the room and shut the door. She had been way too calm about that.

"She took that well," Pan whispered.

A loud shriek echoed from outside the door. "CHI-CHI! THEY'RE DATING!" Bulma's voice was screeching as she ran down the hallway.

Trunks let out a loud groan as Pan began to giggle. "I guess it was a matter of time before they found out anyway, huh?" She looked over at Trunks.

He smiled at her softly. "Yeah," he nodded. "We didn't have a chance to talk about this yesterday, but I guess it's safe to say that you're okay with this? Okay, with being with me, I mean."

"Of course, it's okay with me," she told him seriously. "So we are dating, right?"

"Right," he nodded as he leaned over to kiss her again.