Finding your way home...... Part 2
By Saiyan Chaos

"Panny-chan, wake up. We don't have much time."

Trunks shook her shoulder, feeling guilty for placing that call. He realized, too late, that he should have spoken to her first. She was an adult, and it was up to her to call her parents. Even as an old friend, he stepped over the line.

"Trunks? What are you doing here? Oh.. Yeah." She grimaced, remembering him being there when she got home last night.

"Pan, look, You're dad is on his way over here." He braced himself for the explosion he knew was coming.

"You called him? What gave you the right? Look, Trunks, I appreciate that you were worried about me, but this is too much!"

She shoved the sheet off of her legs, and rolled out of bed, landing on her knees. Pushing herself up, she advanced on him, causing him to back up.

"I was not ready to talk to them! I needed to be alone! Dammit, you wouldn't understand!" She shouted as she went to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she grimaced, then grabbed a slice of pizza that Trunks left in the box.

"Then help me to understand, Pan! Your parents love you! They would support you in whatever you did! Why couldn't you tell them about the baby? Why did you have to run away? Did the father convince you to leave?" He demanded.

"Stop! You don't know the situation, so just stop! Don't even think of saying anything against him! The father is dead. He died in a car accident before I even realized that I was pregnant." Tears started to fall from her eyes, her first sign of softness. "It happened when I was in college. I never even had the chance to bring him home."

Trunks gathered her into his arms, trying to think of how to comfort her. Almost desperately, he started to rock sideways and rub her back in slow circles., comforting her as his mother used to comforted him.

"Shhh.. it's alright, Pan. I'm sure Gohan and Videl would have loved him.. Shhh .. please, Panny?" He begged. "It can't be good for the baby! Shhh...."

Slowly, her shaking eased, and she started to pull away. He loosened his hold, feeling a slight reluctance to part with her.

"I'm sorry.. I don't know what..."

"Hey, stop it. We're friends, and you needed a shoulder to cry on. Don't apologize for having feelings, Pan."

"Thanks, Trunks." She smiled weakly, grateful that he wasn't going to make a big deal out of it. "I don't know how I'm going to face my parents. They never even knew about Mike, but suddenly, they're going to be grandparents! Oh Dende.. I don't know what I'm going to do..."

"Do you want me to stay while you tell them?" He asked, not wanting to leave her yet.

"No. I'm a big girl now, Trunks. I don't need you hauling me out of trouble anymore." She smiled, taking the sting out of her words.

"I like hauling you out of trouble. But.. If you're sure, I'm only a phone call away, alright?"

"Thanks, I might just take you up on the offer."

She walked him outside to the stairwell, then watched as he ambled down to the street below. Feeling a bit dizzy, she grabbed onto the door jam, surprised to see that her hand was shaking. His arms felt too good, and she couldn't quite stifle the guilt. Mike had only been dead for five months, how could she think of Trunks that way?

Trunks, of all people! He was her uncles best friend, her childhood guardian against the boogey man! She wasn't supposed to feel attraction so soon, and especially not with him!

Pan sighed, and went back inside. If she was lucky, she might be able to catch a shower before her father came over.

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Gohan stopped at the diner, and looked around. It was not the best neighborhood, but it was by far not the worst. The people did their best to keep it neat, and gang's were not in evidence. The inevitable prostitute was not in site, and the drunks used a different street to rest their weary bones.

Spotting the stairwell to the right of the diner's entrance, he went up, taking the steps two at a time, curbing the urge to fly up the stairs.

:::My daughter.. alive, safe, FOUND!:::

He hadn't told Videl yet. He wanted to speak to Pan alone, first. Gohan still could not understand why she had left in the first place! He reached the top of the stairs, and knocked on the only door. Minutes later, Pan opened it rubbing her hair dry.

She was dressed in a loose red t-shirt and black sweatpants, with her hair cut short at about chin level. She was also /very/ pregnant, and staring at him with frightened eyes.

He didn't think, just reacted. Without blinking, he pulled her into his arms, crying louder than she was.

"I'll yell later, Panny-chan. Right now, I just want to hug you." He mumbled against her silky black hair.

It felt good to be in her fathers strong arms again. He smelled just like she remembered, that scent that made her think of Daddy. Aftershave, mixed with his own personal musk. She cuddled into his strong arms, laughing , just because she felt safe again.

"I missed you, Daddy." She said, sniffing a bit.

She pulled away, and led him inside, grateful that she wasn't home enough to make a huge mess. He sat down on the couch, and quietly took everything in. Finally, he looked at her again, noting the shabbiness of her clothes, the bulge of her pregnancy. His eyes narrowed on the shadows under her eyes.

"Where's Trunks? I assumed that he would be here." He asked, wondering just how the younger man knew where to find her.

"I sent him home. He's a good friend, but he doesn't have any place in this. Daddy.. I understand that you are confused. You didn't raise me to just.. well, make the mistakes I've made." she shrugged, and walked over to the window, gathering her thoughts. Finally, she turned back and sat in the chair opposite him.

"I was supposed to be married by now, but, you didn't know that. He was a good man, Daddy. I was going to bring him home during that last semester break. We were planning a wedding right after graduation, but there was an accident. He didn't feel anything, it happened too quick." Irritated, she wiped the tears from her eyes, before she continued. "I didn't want to be around anyone, but I finished school, pretended that nothing was wrong. Came home, found out I was pregnant, and basically, lost it."

"Pan.."

"No, Dad. You deserve to hear it. I did not want anyone's pity. I knew that that's what I would be facing at home, and I couldn't deal with it just yet. I can't remember exactly what I was feeling then, except that I needed to get away. The worst thing? I hated Mike for leaving me. I know he didn't decide to do it, but I still hated him, I felt like he betrayed me. I left, needing a complete break from everything that reminded me of my previous life."

"Even us?" His eyes were soft, understanding grief, but they were also hurt. How could his daughter want to leave them?

"Daddy.. It was not supposed to be forever. Just long enough to get my head on straight. I was almost ready when I called Trunks."

"You called Trunks? Why not us?"

"Because I needed to talk to someone else, before I decided how to approach you."

"Are you ready to come home now, Baby?"

"Maybe for a visit, but.. not to live yet. I'm sorry.."

"A visit is fine.. for now."

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