24- Seventeen

Early Fall

"Guess who?" A voice whispered in Pan's ear as hands covered her eyes.

She felt herself grinning as she reached up to place her hands over his. Even if she hadn't felt the shift in the air when he arrived, she would know who it was. She could recognize him by the sound of his footsteps, by his smell, and by his touch.

"My Saiyan," she answered.

The hands fell from her face, and Trunks wrapped his arms around her to hug her from behind as he reached over and kissed Pan's temple. "Happy birthday, Princess."

"Thank you," she smiled up at him.

"So, I have a very serious question for you," Trunks said as he continued to hold her.

Pan knitted her eyebrows together.

"You said there's no ball tonight, correct?"

"No," Pan shook her head. "But we're still lighting up pumpkins and filling the candy buckets. You can help if you want," she told him with a grin.

Trunks grinned back. "Well, this evening, after all that is done, would you like to come to Vegeta-Sei for the Day of the Dead Festival?"

Pan gasped and turned around in his arms. "Can I?!" She asked with wide eyes.

Trunks chuckled and nodded his head. "If you want to. My Eomma and Bulla both have been asking to see you again."

"I would love to!" She gushed with a smile. "I've wanted to see them again as well!"

Trunks smiled and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "But that's not your only present," he told her. "You'll get another one later," he grinned.

Pan felt her cheeks growing warm. "I have something for you as well."

Trunks blinked in surprise. "What? It's your birthday. You're the one that's supposed to be getting the presents."

"Well, it's more like a present to me," Pan admitted.

She grabbed Trunks' hand and led him towards the spiral stairs on the corner of her room that led up to her loft. Her heart pounded nervously in her chest as they walked up the stairs. She had been waiting until it grew cold to show him the surprise, and she hoped he would like it.

The stepped onto the loft, and Pan led him to the side where the two mannequins were set up. She looked up as Trunks gasped, and his eyes widened.

"Is this the fabric I gave you last Christmas?" He asked in awe.

"Yeah," Pan nodded. "I don't know your exact measurements, but I'm confident that I got it right," she said. "I've been waiting for it to get cold to show you."

"Panna, when did you do this?" He asked softly.

"I started on them last winter, but I finished this last Summer."

Trunks was silent, and Pan glanced at the mannequins. The feminine one had a tight-fitting black dress on with a low cut and a slit up the right leg. The masculine one had on a beautiful shinning vest made from the same velvet materials the dress was made in. It had diamond buttons, and a little pocket on the rightside with the most beautiful thread Pan could find.

"It's silly, isn't it?" Pan said when several minutes past. "I-"

"No!" Trunks said, and Pan glanced up at him and saw that his cheeks were pink. He caught her eyes and smiled. "Stay here," he told her. "Don't move."

In a blink, he was gone, and Pan tilted her head in confusion. She glanced around as her eyebrows knitted together. Where had Trunks gone?

Close to five minutes later, he returned, and he had changed into a nice, white button-up shirt, and his hair was pulled up into a neat ponytail. "Okay, let me wear it," he said.

Pan's eyes widened. "You want to wear it? Today?"

"Yeah," Trunks nodded with a grin. "You don't want to wear them today?"

"I do!" Pan answered quickly as she nodded. Her cheeks felt hot, and her heart thudded with excitement.

Pan had thought that nothing could beat her sixteenth birthday when Trunks had danced the whole night with her, but already he was making this year's birthday one she wouldn't forget.

Chi-Chi watched Pan as her eyes shined with laughter. She was sitting next to Trunks on a couch in the library, and she practically leaned into him as his arm rested behind the sofa.

"Okay, here's my present," Yamcha said as he handed Pan a box. He attempted to squeeze himself in the tiny space between Trunks and Pan.

"Cha-Cha!" Pan huffed at him and shoved his back.

"Fine, fine!" Yamcha muttered as he crossed his arms. With a sulk, he marched over to Chi-Chi and sat down beside her on the love seat. "I never got a matching vest!" He muttered under his breath.

Chi-Chi chuckled and shook her head. She wasn't sure what exactly fueled the little feud between Yamcha and Trunks, but it was hilarious watching them both mutter at each other.

"It's okay, Yamcha, I never got one either," Gohan sighed.

Pan rolled her eyes, but Chi-Chi could see her cheeks growing pink as Trunks chuckled. "I'm just special," he told them.

Yamcha began to grumble, "I'll show you special when I shove my foot up your-"

"Oh, Cha-Cha!" Pan gasped as she opened his present. "It's beautiful!" She said as she picked up the golden fabric.

Chi-Chi smiled as Pan started to gush about the fabric. It was hard to believe that she was seventeen now. Chi-Chi still wanted to see her as her baby, but Pan was growing into a beautiful young woman.

"I knew you would like it!" Yamcha beamed. "I bet it's your best present, huh?" He asked smugly.

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. Yamcha always liked to splurge on Pan and try to give her the best present. Being the Princess, there wasn't much you could provide Pan that she didn't already have, but they all tried to find her unique gifts. Gohan had gotten her a set of bath foams and soaps from Titan. Chi-Chi had managed to snag some books that hadn't been released yet so that Pan could read them early.

Pan giggled the same thing she did every year when Yamcha tried to ask whos gift she liked the most. "I love all of my gifts!"

"Did you get her one?" Yamcha asked Trunks as he raised a sky eyebrow.

"Cha-" Chi-Chi hissed as she elbowed her brother's ribs. She knew he had asked that to compare their gifts. Men were too much sometimes!

"I did," Trunks answered a nod.

Yamcha was snickering as he glanced around. "How big is it? I bet it can't beat fancy fabric!"

Trunks rolled his eyes and tugged at his vest. "I gave her a fancy fabric first."

Yamcha gasped, "you what?! Panny, will I get a vest out of my fabric?"

"Hm, I don't know," Pan said. Her hands were still stroking the silky gold material.

"I was going to save the present for later, but I guess I can give it to her now," Trunks said as he stood up. He motioned for Pan to stand up, and he helped her up. He took a small silver tube out of his pocket and handed it to Pan.

"You got her a lighter?" Yamcha muttered.

"I thought it was a flashlight," Gohan mused.

"You could say it's a bit of both," Trunks smirked as he looked at Pan. "Stay right there," he told her as he walked over to the curtains and shut them. The natural light that had been lighting up most of the room disappeared and Trunks walked back over to Pan. "Chi-Chi, will you shut off that lamp, please?"

Chi-Chi reached beside her and turned the lamp off. The room instantly grew dark.

Click.

Pan gasped, as did everyone else. The room was suddenly littered with thousands of stars! They were on the ceiling, walls, and floors. They shone so brightly, and the galaxies swirled around them.

"This- this is beautiful!" Pan whispered. She had a look of amazement and wonder across her face. Chi-Chi knew right away who had won the best gift for the year.

"Amazing," Gohan whispered.

"Where did you get something like this?!" Yamcha gasped at Trunks.

Trunks, who had been smiling as he watched Pan, turned to look at Yamcha with a smirk. "It's a secret."

The Town Square was bustling, and Goten watched in amusement as several children ran about playing. It was the Day of the Dead festival on Vegeta-Sei, and the Saiyans were genuinely celebrating life. Not for the first time, Goten wondered how different his life would have been if he had been born on Vegeta-Sei.

The planet and the culture were beautiful, and to sneak onto the planet had been easier than Goten ever dreamed it would have been. When the Saiyans arrived for a trade, Goten snuck aboard the supply cargo, and when they landed back on Vegeta-Sei, he had been able the escape. The gravity of the planet caused his breathing to become strenuous for the first few days, but soon he could walk around without getting winded.

An elderly couple who ran a supply shop took pity on him and let him stay in a spare room they had as long as he helped out. Goten worked there for a few years until he was old enough to join the army. It was nothing like he imagined it would be. Frieza was a cruel, malicious monster, and Goten quickly realized he would have to keep his identity hidden. That meant hiding his face as well since he resembled his father.

Goten had managed to make a few friends within the ranks, but nothing could have compared him for the relationship he developed with the Princess. It had been simple at first. She reminded him a lot of Pan, and he missed his sister more than anything. Soon though, Goten realized that he didn't feel a brotherly affection for Bulla but rather romantic attraction.

His relationship was still a secret, and it wasn't because Bulla didn't want to tell. She had assured him that her Appa wouldn't mind that she wanted to marry a soldier because as long as he was strong and Bulla loved him, the King didn't care. Although the King's opinion was a worrisome thought, that wasn't the leading cause as to why Goten didn't want the relationship public. If the people knew the Princess was dating, they would want to know just who she was dating, and Goten couldn't risk his identity being revealed yet. Bulla understood that he needed time, and he would forever be thankful to have her.

Goten felt guilty for not confiding the whole truth to Bulla about who he was actually. She had been so patient, even though Goten knew she was dying to know. He had things he had to do first.

With a sigh, Goten looked down at the candle he was holding. On this day, Saiyans lit candles for the ones that were no longer with them. It was mostly for the ones that had passed on to the next life, but Goten lit his candle for his family. For his Mother, who was the strongest woman, Goten knew. For Gohan, who was smart and kind, but so easily deceived by wanting to do the right thing. For his little sister, who he missed more each day. And lastly, for his Father, who Goten was sure was still out there somewhere.

"Wait!" A deep voice laughed behind Goten.

He turned his head to see the Prince running by, and it looked as if he was chasing a girl. Goten chuckled and shook his head.

"C'mon, slowpoke!" Laughed a soft voice.

Goten dropped his candle and turned around quickly. His eyes found the girl as he shook. She was running away from him, her dark hair flowing behind her as the Prince ran to catch up to her. She was short, just like Pan, and her hair was just as dark.

No.

No.

It wasn't her.

Goten's heart pounded against his chest painfully. His gut twisted. How could she have even gotten there? No. It was impossible.

"Goten?" A gentle touch on his arm made him jump, and he turned to see Bulla. She was wearing her usual disguise when out in the market, and she frowned at him. "Are you okay?"

Goten grabbed his chest. His heart was still beating too fast, and he shut his eyes tightly as he tried to calm his breathing. That girl wasn't Pan. Pan was on earth. She wouldn't be able to withstand Vegeta-Sei's air. Plus, why would the Saiyan Prince be chasing after Pan anyway?

"I'm not feeling too good," Goten opened his eyes slowly. He had believed that girl was Pan for a few moments. Maybe his imagination had made himself believe it was her because he missed her so much. "I think I'm going to go to my apartment and rest."

"I'll go with you," Bulla grabbed his arm.

"I don't want you to miss the festival," he told her gently.

Bulla pouted, "I don't want to go if you're not there."

Goten's lips twitched. "Okay," he said gently. He pushed the unknown girl to the back of his mind. That wasn't Pan, or at least, that was what he was going to keep telling himself.

"I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."
-Vincent Van Gogh