Learning to Live Again

By: Faye_Valentine00

Faye_Valentine00@hotmail.com

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Disclaimer: I still don't own DBZGT or anything associated with it.

Please read and review. Your opinions mean a lot to me.

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"Trunks?!" I had not seen him since my wedding day but he didn't look a day older.

"Hi Panny." His use of my childhood nickname made me smile slightly but my current sitsuation made me feel eons older then I should. To my surprise, he stepped through the door and embraced me tightly.

"I've missed you so much. I am so sorry about Robert." He released his hug and walked me over to the couch while I was still stunned.

I felt heartless as I looked at Trunks because I could not even cry over the loss of my husband any longer. I just started at him blankly. I felt completely numb.

"Why are you here?" I didn't mean to sound rude but he'd just shown up after years.

"Well..." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "I'd been trying to think of an excuse to come over and see you when your father called me. After talking to him, I decided to just come over."

"My father CALLED you?!" I was furious. My dad had no right to talk to other people about me, even if it was only Trunks.

"Only because he worries about you, Pan." He sounded annoyed but I was not going to drop it that easily.

"It doesn't matter, Trunks. I'm not a child! He doesn't need to be calling everyone under the sun when he thinks that I am not acting the way that he thinks I should!"

"Pan, He just thinks that you need to get out more. He says that you barely ever leave the house. Thats not like you." His voice sounded so comforting but that just made me mader.

I don't know why but something inside me snapped and I jumped to my feet, turning to face him fiercly. "You don't understand Trunks! NOBODY understands! My husband is dead and there is no way to bring him back. No dragon balls, no NOTHING! I can't just go back to the way I was! I am not going to forget about him!"

In my rage, I spun around to leave the room. I could not believe that my father would stoop so low as to call Trunks to get me to cheer up. And Trunks... he was supposed to be a friend! Why couldn't he understand?!

Just as I reached the doorway, I felt Trunks grab my arm and spin me around. I tried to fight free from him but he grabbed me tightly by both shoulders and forced me to face him.

"You can't walk away from me that easy Pan. I---"

"SHUT UP TRUNKS! You don't understand anything." My voice was dripping with venom and I tried to shake loose from him again but his grip just got tighter.

"No Pan! You don't understand! Robert is the one who died. NOT YOU!" his eyes bore into my intensely.

I open my mouth to yell at him again but no sound came out. His words sunk straight into my heart and my eyes locked with his. I watched his expression change from anger to empathy. Before I could stop it, hot warm tears began to stream down my face, When I was once again able to speak again, my voice came out low and meak.

"It's not fair Trunks. It should have been me, not him." Heavy sobs kept me from saying anything else and for the first time in my entire life, I felt completly helpless. It seemed as though the true realization and finality of Roberts death was just setting in.

Once he was sure that I was not going to lash out again, Trunks wrapped his arms tightly around me. I don;t know how long we stood there crying in his arms but I didn't stop until I had no more tears left. When I calmed down, he led me back to the couch and sat down with me.

I ended up curling in to a ball and laying my head in his lap like I had done so often as a child. We didn't speak for a long time. I lay there staring at the wall as I sifted though the memories of how my life had been since Roberts death. Trunks, being the wonderful man that he was, just stroked my hair softly and remained quiet.

"Trunks?"

"Yes." Something about his voice was so comforting to me.

:Thank you. I really needed a friend to talk to." I rolled over on my back so I was looking up at him and gave him the best smile that I was able to muster.

He reached over and took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. "You're welcome, Pan. I'm hear anytime you need me okay?"

"Alright."

"Pan. I do need to ask you one favor though, okay?"

His sudden serious expression made me a little nervous but I just nodded and allowed him to continue.

"I need a new member for the Capsule Corp marketing team and I want you to take it." Something about the tone in his voice told me that he would not be taking no for an answer.

"But I-"

"No buts. Please? Consider it a favor for an old friend. I need your help."

Deep down I was pretty sure that he really was not all that needy for a new employee but the fact that he was practically begging made him really hard to refuse.

"Alright. I guess I should do something."

Trunks' imediate smile took me by surprise. He looked like he had just won the lottery. "Thank you, Pan. I hope you'll like that job. Come in on Monday morning at 9am and we'll get you all set up."

I couldn't help but smile at Trunks. I sat up and wrapped my arms around his neck tightly. "You're just as wonderful as ever Trunks. Thank you."

"Its nothing." He stopped to think a moment and then turned back to me again. "Hey Pan. What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing."

He rolled his eyes in an annoyed manner and sighed deepy before continuing. :When was the last time that you went outside?"

"I don't know... Maybe a week ago." I shrugged.

He looked shocked. "You?! Wild little Pan-chan has not been outside in a week?!"

I nodded and he sighed again. "No wonder your Gohan called me." I sighed and rolled my eyes but he ignored me and continued. "Go get dressed."

"What?!" I had no clue what he was talking about.

"Go get dressed. We're going out tonight."

"Trunks, I really don't feel l-" His sharp gaze took the words right out of my mouth.

"Hurry. I'm hungry."

Knowing that I had absolutly no chance of getting out of a night out with Trunks, I sighed and headed off to my bedroom to get ready.

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