31- Back Up

Late Winter

Gohan let out a tired sigh as he held a cup of coffee in front of him. It was early into the morning and nearing dawn. Neither he nor Goten had slept any. They had stayed up talking about Vegeta-Sei. It sounded just as beautiful as Gohan always imagined it to be, and he hoped to go there someday himself.

Goten also talked about Bulla, who Gohan was surprised to find out his brother was courting her. It made Gohan think of Marron. He hadn't seen her around lately, though he knew why. He had never told Pan that he had gone back the clearing that day Marron had visited. He had wanted to ask Marron to stay for supper, but instead, he overheard the girls telling each other goodbye. Pan had been upset, and Marron was too, though it was apparent she was trying her best to be brave. She had told Pan that she would be back soon, and Gohan hoped she would be. He couldn't explain what it was about Marron that made him interested, he simply was.

"Do you think Trunks can get back up to help us?" Gohan asked quietly.

"I do," Goten nodded his head confidently. "The Saiyan King is a terrifying figure throughout the universe, but he loves his children. I know that if Trunks were to go to him and ask for him help, he'd give it."

Gohan felt his shoulders relaxing. The earth had an army, but it was a rather small one. Most of the soldiers were in the South at the moment with Yamcha as well. Gohan had been so sure that he could keep the planet peaceful that it hadn't worried him that only a few soldiers were still at the castle guarding it.

There was a loud bang outside the door, and Gohan stood up quickly at the same time Goten did. They shared a wide-eyed look, and Gohan was fearful that North had started their attack early.

The door opened with a loud bang, and it was no soldier from the north standing in the doorframe. It was their mother. Tears were streaming down her face as she panted and looked at her sons. Goten let out a strangled gasp, and he rushed forward so quickly that he almost tripped. He caught himself quickly, and with a few long strides, he reached Chi-Chi and grabbed her into a hug. She was sobbing as she clutched the back of Goten's shirt.

Gohan let out a heavy sigh as he watched them. He had missed Goten tremendously, but he knew his hurt was only a fraction of his mother's. They stood there, hugging and crying for several minutes before they leaned back. Chi-Chi was sniffing as she cradled Goten's face, and with her thumbs, she wiped away his tears.

"Look at you-" her voice was coarse as it trembled. "You're so grown up."

Goten let out a shuddering breath. "Hi, Ma," his lips trembled.

Gohan reached over to a nearby table and grabbed several tissues before handing them to Chi-Chi and Goten. They gave him grateful smiles before the wipes their faces. Chi-Chi sniffed several more times, and Gohan gently grabbed one of her elbows as Goten did the other. They led her over to the couch where they sat down.

"Where's Panny?" Chi-Chi asked softly.

"She's in the infirmary. Trunks is with her," Gohan said. "Did you hear what happened?"

"Only part of it," Chi-Chi sighed. "I was told delegates from the lands had stormed in and demanded a lèse-majesté, then I heard three royal votes overturned it, and one of the votes was by the missing Prince. I also heard Pan fainted. I came back as soon as possible," she sniffed. "What happened?"

"Lord Koba is demanding to marry Pan. I would say it's surprising that Lapis and Koba got the delegates to side with them, but it's not," Gohan sighed. "They demanded a lèse-majesté, as you know. Pan came in, and she was reasonably upset. I couldn't do anything because I wanted to keep my head. I know Trunks won't let her go, and so I stayed quiet. Pan stormed out, and the chaos began," he said slowly. "All of the delegates were demanding that Pan marry Koba because it's what's best for the kingdom. The next thing I knew, Goten comes storming in with Pan and Trunks behind him. He reveals himself, allowing the lèse-majesté to be overturned, and Pan fainted from shock, I think. She's okay now. Dr. Brief came and gave us an update hours ago before he went to bed and said that Trunks was making her take it easy."

Chi-Chi let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I was afraid this would happen. I guess your act is over, huh?" She asked Gohan.

His eyes widened in slight surprise. "What?" He gasped.

"Oh, come on," Chi-Chi huffed as she stood up. She turned around and faced Gohan and Goten. "I am your mother!" She stated proudly as she placed her hand over her heart. "I know you two. You-" she pointed towards Gohan. "Have been acting for years, so Lapis would believe that you're nothing but a little lost puppy, and I know you know the truth about your father. And you-" she turned to Goten know. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say you were on Vegeta-Sei all these years. No doubt trying to find information about your father's death."

Goten let out a gasp, and he turned to look at Gohan with wide eyes. "She's good," he whispered.

Gohan felt his lips twitching. "She's our mother," he said proudly.

"You're darn right, I am!" Chi-Chi placed her hands on her hips. "And I'm not about to let anything happen to my children! Gohan, get as much as the military gathered up as you can. I contacted Yamcha just a while ago, and he's on his way. He should be here within a few hours. Goten-"

He jumped up. "I'm going to get Trunks and go back to Vegeta-Sei," he said. "We'll get back up and come back here."

Chi-Chi nodded her head, approvingly. "Make sure there are guards with her before you leave. I don't want her left unattended at all."

"Yes, ma'am!" Goten said before he dashed out of the room.

"Mom," Gohan stood up. "You should go be with Pan," he said. "Stay safe and-"

Chi-Chi shook her head. "I have old friends to go visit."

"Old friends?" Gohan asked in disbelief. How could she want to visit old friends at a time like this? "Mom-"

"Gohan, honey," Chi-Chi patted his chest gently. "I've been watching Lapis for a while now as well as the delegates on the Royal Court. Tien and Launch have been tracking these guys for years, and you wouldn't believe the dirt they have found. Embezzlement just barely scratched the surface. It's time for me to call them in."

Gohan gasped and looked at his mother in surprise. "You're amazing," he whispered.

Chi-Chi's lips twitched into a smirk. "And don't you ever forget it," she told him. "Now, let's show these idiots that we are not a family to trifle with."

Gohan grinned and nodded his head. It was time for him to use some of the kingly power finally.

Trunks hadn't slept. His mind was too full of worries for it to calm down long enough to let him sleep. Thankfully, Pan had drifted off to sleep a few times. She was awake now, her head resting on his arm as they laid together in a bed in the infirmary.

"What are we going to do?" Pan asked quietly. She was looking out the window. Trunks had been looking at it for the last hour as well. He watched the night fade into early morning colors.

Trunks let out a heavy sigh. "I'm not going to let them get you," he promised.

"I know," she told him confidently.

"I'll go to Vegeta-Sei and get my Appa on our side."

Trunks could hear Pan swallow hard. "Will he accept that-"

"Panna, he already knows you're a human," he sighed and nuzzled his nose into her hair. "Of course, he doesn't know you're the Princess, but-" he shrugged. "It won't matter. I know it won't. I know my Appa will help us."

Pan let out a sigh and turned around in his arms before she looked up at him. "This isn't how I planned everything happening," she mumbled with a small frown.

"Yeah, me either," he said quietly. He would never tell her just how nervous he was because he didn't want to worry her. So, he smiled instead and kissed her. "As long as you're the one I'm marrying in the end, though, it will all be worth it. Don't you think?"

A smile tugged onto Pan's lips. "Mhm," she nodded slowly. "I hope this mess can blow over quickly without a fight," she said gently.

"Hey, stop worrying about it. It's not good for-"

The door opened up, and Trunks bolted up, ready to go in defense, and Goten froze. Trunks let out a sigh and relaxed his shoulders as Pan slowly sat up next to him.

"Ten," she whispered.

Trunks knew there was a lot Pan had wanted to say to her brother. They had talked about it for hours. It had been a big shock to find out that Goten had been under his nose for weeks now. Even more shocking to know that he was the one Bulla was dating.

"Hey," Goten smiled at Pan gently. "I-" he let out a heavy breath. "I just want to say that I missed you a whole lot, Panny, and I know you must have a ton of questions for me. I promise I'll answer all of them and any more you have," he said. "But right now, Trunks and I need to get back to Vegeta-Sei." His eyes found Trunks, "there's a rebellion coming. Do you think your Appa could-"

"He will," Trunks said confidently with a nod. He got off the bed and slipped on his boots. "Panna-"

"There are guards outside the doors," Goten said. "My Mom arrived not too long ago and ordered them not to leave her unattended."

Trunks nodded his head before he looked at Pan. "Don't go anywhere without them, okay?"

"I won't," she promised.

Trunks let out a heavy sigh as he looked at her. His eyes glanced down at her stomach for just a small second before he looked back at her. He swallowed his nerves down and leaned over to kiss her. "I'll be back for you soon," he promised.

"I'll be waiting," she whispered.

Vegeta frowned as he rubbed his eyes and looked at the paper sitting on his desk. It had been months since Marron had run away, and Eighteen was still pestering Vegeta about a damn wedding. He didn't understand why she was so pushy when her daughter hadn't been seen in months. Not to mention, they had called off the engagement with Marron, and Trunks was already engaged to his human girl.

Vegeta's frown deepened. He still hadn't met that girl. His children, wife, and even Endou all adored her, but he hadn't even seen her. He snorted as he picked up the letter Eighteen had written, and he used a bit of his Ki to set it on fire. He turned his chair and threw it in the fireplace.

There was a shift in the air, and Vegeta felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising. He turned just in time for Trunks to appear in his office, and Vegeta stood up instantly.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

There were dark circles under Trunks' eyes, and his skin was pale and clammy-looking. Vegeta hadn't seen his son look so terrified since the day Tarble had left.

"Appa, I need your help," Trunks' voice seemed strained.

Vegeta took a step towards him and grabbed his shoulders. Trunks towered over him now, but seeing the lost look in his eyes made Vegeta see him as a child again. "What is it?" He asked. "What do you need?"

A voice in the back of Vegeta's mind whispered Frieza, and he fought back his shudder. No. Trunks liked to play dangerous when it came to the tyrant, but he had never overstepped his boundaries since that fateful day.

Trunks let out a heavy sigh. "Panna," he said gently. "She's- she's the Princess on Earth."

Vegeta's mouth parted in surprise. "The Princess?"

Trunks nodded slowly. "There's a Lord from the North Kingdom who's about to start a civil war on Earth because he wants to marry her."

Vegeta let out a sigh. "And you want me to help you rescue her?" Trunks was silent, and Vegeta tilted his head. "I would have thought you would have already thrown a fit. I don't know how big this army is, but you can handle them, can't you?"

"It's not a matter if I can handle them or not," Trunks muttered as he stepped away from Vegeta. "I don't want to cause more stress for Panna."

Vegeta wanted to snort. His son was thinking before he acted. There was a first for everything.

"Appa," Trunks fell onto a seat and bowed his head in his hands. "I really need your help," he whispered.

There was something in the way that Trunks' voice broke that made Vegeta realize that he wasn't talking about helping him stop some human army. He was shaking, and Vegeta walked over and touched Trunks' shoulder gently. He had never been the best when it came to dealing with emotions, which was why most of the time, Trunks sought him out when he was worried. Vegeta wouldn't ask questions or prod, but at the moment, he knew he had to. He had to know what was wrong.

"Trunks," Vegeta made sure to keep his usual gruff out of his voice. "What's going on?"

Trunks took a deep breath before he glanced up at Vegeta. He had worried tears shining in his eyes, and he swallowed thickly. "Panna's pregnant."

"As a parent, my greatest fear is always anything that endangers my children."
-Derek Luke