Ooooh, thank you to everybody that reviewed, I appreciate it very very much.





Chapter Six: Of Discovered Stalkers and Midmorning Waltzes



"...Pan's getting married."

Silence. His grip on the receiver stayed the same, his breath didn't quicken or stop in his throat. His heartbeat remained constant, his eyes remained focused, his facial expression the same. Everything was normal - except for the fact that the woman he was destined to be with is going with another man, but other than that - everything was fine.

"Say that again." Trunks asked, closing his eyes, but then reopening them to glance at his desk. *I get it. Where's my calender? It's April the first right? April fools...* He searched under a mass of paper work he had been working on prior to the phone call and found his desk top calender. It was a day-to-day calender with a comic for every day, but right now he wasn't in the mood for laughing.

May 24

*Damn.*

"I said, 'Pan's getting married'." Marron repeated worriedly into the phone. "Trunks, are you okay? Trunks - talk to me."

Click

He gently placed the receiver back in its cradle and leaned back in his leather swivel chair. He didn't want to talk right now. He doubted that he would ever want to talk about it. Quite suddenly Trunks had a sweep of despair wash over him. Out of no where he wished for his mother to talk to. He wished she would prance right into his office and demand to know what was going on. Just like in the days when he first became CEO, and often cut work and had to have Bulma watch over him like a hawk. But that was years ago. Bulma didn't need to pop in and make sure her son was working. She didn't have to go seeking for her son's problems, knowing that he would come to her if it was serious. This was serious. But Trunks couldn't bring himself to dial home to talk to her, and he didn't trust his body enough to even attempt to stand up.

Pan - his lover. The one he was positive he would live with for the rest of his life. She was gone - out of his grasp. Or was she? Engagements aren't final. He still had a chance. It was a slim one, yes, but he could still win Pan back. And this thought, made Trunks smile.

***

Pan lightly twisted the ring on her finger. It was a simple, yet elegant ring that Zach had given her, and she felt guilty for wearing it. Wearing it was like declaring to the world that she was in fact engaged, which was not true. Pan had hesitated at the proposal. She doubted that Zach had ever proposed to someone before, and she knew that if the tables were turned, she would be devastated if someone responded negatively. But how could she say 'yes'? It wouldn't be fair for her to except the proposal when she wasn't sure what she wanted yet. There were a few things she had to work out first before she could answer him. He understood. Zachary asked Pan if she would just wear the ring while she contemplated the idea, and Pan had agreed after some persuasion.

The walk home had been cold and tiring.

"Pan, where are you going?" Zach asked, his hand on the door to his car, noticing that Pan wasn't walking in his direction.

"I just need some time to think. I'll walk home." Pan said with a forced smile.

"Pan, it's freezing out and you're in short sleeves. Let me drive you-"

"I'm walking. See you later, Zach." Pan muttered, turned on her heel and began to march in the direction of her apartment. By the time she was halfway down the street she had already heard Zach start up the engine of his car and drive away. It was going on nine o'clock, and the sky was darkening by the minute. Pan pulled her arms around herself for some sort of warmth since the temperature was quickly decreasing. *This was a well thought out plan. Now I'm cold and soon I won't even be able to see where I'm walking. Pan, you are an idiot.* Pan continued her walk, enjoying the time alone with her mind, despite the disagreeing surroundings. *What am I going to do? You've really got yourself messed up this time. Zach is practically your fiancee, but you love someone else.*

"Not that is matters..." Pan whispered to herself. "I don't think he loves me anymore. After today..." Pan trailed off letting the numbness that was already nipping at her skin, enter her mind, allowing her to discontinue any thought on the matter.

***

"You're too much..." Pan whispered with a sigh before repositioning her purse and bending her knees to pick up the flowers that had been left at her doorstep. She pulled them to her nose and inhaled the sweet fragrances. *I love flowers... huh, red? This guy knows me well... I hope it's a guy-" Pan shrugged, tucking the flowers under her arm and unlocking the door before dashing inside. She kicked off her shoes and slid into the kitchen who's floor was still lubricated due to the polish she had to put on when she spilt her orange juice. Dropping all of her junk onto the table, Pan grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the cupboards. Pan had lucked out in the gene-pool when it came to height, so she needed the extra boost the chair provided to reach the top shelves where her vases were kept. She peered around at the small assortment that were in the cupboard, and quickly chose a real crystal one - the best one she owned. Flicking the water switch on and filling the vase halfway, she carefully set the red flowers in them, then positioned them on the center of the table.

"There we go." She said to herself, scooping up the wrapper the flowers had arrived in. She was about to toss them into the garbage when she saw a small piece of paper among the crumbled cellophane. She tugged it free of its scotch tape hold, and opened the tiny card.

Live?

That's right. She had left the 'Dare to Live' angel out for him to take, and as it seemed, he had taken the token of her gratitude.

I can not live without her, and she can not live, for she is trapped in a gilded cage

Pan felt her heart twitch and her lips turned into a frown. This guy doesn't know anything about her life. How could he say-

"Kami no. I know that handwriting!" Pan dropped the card onto the table and it landed right beside the scraps of the silver paper she had used to wrap her own gift. "No, no, no..." She cursed. Gathering whatever sanity she had left, Pan skidded out of the kitchen and over to the hall closet. Throwing things her and there, she searched deep within until she found what she was looking for. The silver paper. It was the exact silver paper. She unfolded it and found the card it had originally come with still attached. It was dated a year ago on her birthday - from Trunks. Somehow her body moved without its mind's knowledge and she was back in the kitchen, comparing the two wrappings. They were identical. It was then that Pan noticed there was a line written on the back of the flower card that she had missed.

Let me open your cage. Dare to be Free

"Trunks..." Pan whispered, tears welling up. "I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not. Trunks...?" Pan placed the note down slowly and looked over at her ring that was glistening on her finger. "I've got to tell him."

***

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." Three pairs of eyes shot up, and then sadly back down upon realization of who had entered. "Well, nice to see you too." Bra said, tossing her bag lightly on the arm of the chair before taking a seat herself.

"Sorry, we're just really anxious to see Pan." Goten said, excusing them from their cold tone.

"She's the one that called us all here, you would think she would have the decency to be here on time." Trunks commented coldly.

"Trunks, don't be like thaaaaa-" Marron started but finished off in a slight scream, grabbing anything near her as waves of nausea and pain hit her. Unfortunately, the nearest thing near to her was poor Goten's head.

"Yikes! Marron, let go of the hair!!" He squealed, as his wife grasped tightly onto his ebony locks and yanked. She slowly lightened her grasp and pulled away, breathing in deeply to calm herself down.

"Sorry, hun." She whispered.

"Mare, are you okay?" Goten asked concerned at his wife. She was looking down at her stomach and biting her lip.

"I think... it may be time..."

"Now?! Uh, okay, just stay calm! No need to panic, everything will be okay." Goten leaped from his chair, only to have Marron yank him back down again.

"I think it'll still be a while yet... lets wait for Pan."

"What?! But Mar-"

"We're going to wait for Pan, understand?!"

"Yes dear." Goten replied with a pout.

"As I was saying, Trunks, don't be like that to her."

"Marron, she's going to tell us she's engaged. I've been spending the last month trying to get her back, am I supposed to be feeling peachy about this?" Trunks asked, anger and sadness mixed into his tone. An awkward silence settled the four friends seated around the table at the café, but it was peacefully interrupted by the familiar chime of the bells that were perched above the door. This time four pairs of eyes turned to the door to see the newcomer, and thankfully this time it was Pan.

"Sorry I'm late guys." She said, quickly walking over and taking a seat. The café was empty aside from them since it hadn't opened as of yet. "Hey, Marron, you're looking kind of pale."

"Marron's baby is coming real soon, so talk fast." Bra said, fidgeting with the table cloth. "Oh, well, by all means, go. Don't you dare let me keep you here! Go!"

"I'm staying." Marron replied stiffly. "Talk." With a dejected sigh and a glance at Goten which confirmed her suspicions that it was fruitless to argue with her, she began.

"Man, I really don't know where to start..."

"You're engaged, congrads, lets go." Trunks said standing up from his chair and reaching for his coat. Bra and Goten looked surprised at Trunks while Marron just glared.

"I'm not engaged." Pan said defensively.

"What was that?" Trunks said, in a deathly serious voice. Pan nervously looked around at them, took a deep breath and repeated herself.

"I said, 'I'm not engaged'." Trunks slowly sat back down and looked at her, his eyes showing a mixture of emotions none of which Pan could place.

"Then what's this?" Bra asked, holding up her hand and letting the simple diamond ring be seen by everyone at the table.

"Well, yes, Zachary asked me to marry him, and I said I needed time to think, but he gave me the ring anyway while I thought it over." Pan explained.

Trunks took his eyes off of Pan when she turned to him. His feet had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the entire world. What had she just said? She wasn't engaged. The words were like music to his ears. Pan was still within his grasp. She was still available for him. He still had the chance to re-snatch her up. Still had the opportunity to find out what had drove her away before and fix it. But... she could say 'yes'. The possibility was still there. He didn't know her feelings towards Zachary. One thing was for certain though, whatever drew Pan away from him, Zachary didn't have.

"Have you made up your mind?" Bra asked, leaning towards her friend. Pan looked at her nails for a few seconds and sighed.

"I think so. I wanted your impute first though guys. I mean... Zach's nice. He's sweet and I know he'll make me happy. Not overly jumping for joy, loving each day happy - but happy. The average married woman's type of happy. I can learn to love him"

"If that's enough for you. Since when do you settle for anything below the best?" Marron asked venomously. "You've never given up Pan, and know you're settling for the booby prize."

"And what's the main prize?" Pan asked annoyed. Silence engulfed the café once again. "Goten... Now." Marron squeaked.

"Goten's the main prize?" Bra asked, looking up from her nails.

"Noooooow!" Marron moaned , Goten nodded and grabbed his wife by the waist, pulling her to the door. "Wait, what about the café? We open in an hour." Marron cried worriedly, while clutching her stomach in pain.

"I've got it." Trunks chimed. "I can take care of it. Pan will help, right?" He asked, turning towards the raven-haired woman. Pan looked into his face, his jaw slightly outward, his eyes softly pleading and Pan found herself unconsciously nodding. Marron nodded quickly, her fists turning a ghostly white from grabbing Goten's shirt so tightly. Goten bent down, scooped his arm to Marron's knees then bended then so that she was in his arms completely, and once this was accomplished, he flung the door open and took to the sky towards the hospital. The door swung closed, the chimes ringing then the room returned to silence. Dead silence. Bra was the first to make any sort of movement.

"I'll go to the hospital." She said, pulling out her cell phone. "And I'll call everyone so that they know. You two just do your part." She ordered, skipping happily along. She snuck out of the door and walked slowly down the sidewalk, trying to get a glance at the two demi-sayians inside. When she reached the shop's window, she side-glanced to see them both still sitting where she had left them, neither one of them apparently talking and both just staring at each other. "Dende... can't you help us out? These two are complete morons." Bra muttered, taking her eyes away from them and concentrating on dialing numbers and walking to the hospital.

***

He could feel her dark eyes burning into him. It was like having the sun glare right down on your bare skin - comforting, yet dangerous. He wasn't looking in her direction, he couldn't see her face, but he knew that she was looking at him. With what though? Hatred? Confusion? Lust? This made Trunks smirk devilishly, wondering exactly what was going through Pan's mind. Deciding however that it could not be lust or else he would no doubt have her all over him (Pan always got what she wanted) Trunks thought it would be best to just get down to work.

"Alright, Pan. Thank you for staying and helping me here." He turned her way and saw her nod, causing her hair to sway ever so slightly, but that slight movement made Trunks realize that he had never run his hands through her short hair and wondered if it was the same as he had done with her hair long. *Now look who's lusting. Keep on track.* "Do you know how to cook?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty good... when I want to be." Pan said absentmindedly.

"Oh, I can imagine..." *Get your mind outta the gutter, get your mind outta the gutter.*

"Okay. It's a good thing you asked us here early, we still have about an hour before we have to unlock the door. But, I guess we gotta set up the tables and start on the food, huh?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

"Since cooking and I mix about as well as my father and butterflies, how about I do the tables and coffee, and you do the specials?"

"Sounds fair."

"Great." Trunks said with a genuine smile. Pan returned it, bushed back her chair and dashed to the kitchen to begin her job. Trunks watched her go then began to take the chairs off the tables and place them in their rightful positions.

Trunks had just finished placing the last of the velvet-cushioned chairs to the ground, when Pan appeared from out of the kitchen accompanied by a tantalizing smell of rice and fish.

"Trunks? It's kind of quiet in here... I was wondering if you'd mind if I just put the radio on." Trunks turned his body so he was fully facing her and gave her a small grin.

"Sure Panny. Go for it." He whispered, keeping the grin on his face. Pan nodded and walked the distance to where the stereo system was located. She turned the necessary buttons on until she found a station she liked. She smiled back at Trunks and was about to go back into the kitchen when she stopped dead in her tracks. "What's wrong?" Trunks asked, his smile disappearing from his face. Pan glanced back at the system, while Trunks watched Pan carefully. *I wonder - oh.* Trunks paused and listened carefully to the music that was playing from the speakers. Soft, slow melodies that rained through the notes and then quickly changed to different upbeat tunes but still had the same sad melody. *Pan's favourite song.*

Pan smiled. She loved the song. Some people had a song that they really liked, but Pan honestly had a favourite song and this was it. She never tired of playing it, but with shock she noted, she hadn't listened to it since the break-up with Trunks. Her thoughts were interrupted by a pull at her waist as she felt herself being drawn closer to something - or someone. Pan looked up and realized that she was pulled tightly to Trunks' body, his hand wound snugly around her waist, giving her no room for escape.

"Trunks, what are you doing?" Pan asked, attempting to sound angry. *What are you doing, is the question! You want him back, don't you?! Now's your chance... tell him it was all a mistake. Make him fight for you - you don't want Zachary!* "He doesn't want me anymore..."

"What did you say?" Trunks asked, looking down at the raven-haired woman he had locked in his hold.

"Nothing." Pan said, blushing that she had said that statement aloud. Trunks slowly guided her body so that they began to sway slightly in the middle of the café. "What are you doing?"

"Dancing. It is your favourite song, is it not?" Trunks asked. Pan nodded, smiled, and let Trunks take complete control of their movements while he slowly guided them around the shop. "Pan..."

"...hmm?" Pan mumbled, having her head leaned against his chest completely relaxed.

"Why did it end? Please tell me. I have to know." Pan stiffened noticeably, but continued to let Trunks guide her around in the dance. She was ashamed. Embarrassed at why she gave up. But he deserved to know...

"I was afraid." Pan whispered, her voice sounding as if she had been crying - which she had not.

"Afraid of what?" Trunks asked gently.

"Afraid of this." Pan said, making a small gesture towards her heart. "And what it was feeling... I've never felt that before - in that way, and...." Silence.

"...and?"

"I was afraid I'd lose it." She finished. "But, now-"

"Now what?" Trunks asked, letting his cool, calm appearance slip.

"Now Trunks I know. I know. Trunks, I-"

*Love you. Forgive you. Like you. Adore you. Want you.* Trunks thought wildly, listing all of the possibilities that would be pleasing for him to hear.

"Trunks, I..." *Say it Pan. Say it.*

*...Pan?*

"I..."



To be continued...