"This friend of mine was someone I'd known almost all my life, and I'd never thought of her as a girl. She was always just hanging out with me and Trunks, pulling pranks on our parents, and was the third voice to our 'Truth' games. But a year ago, I saw her as someone else. She had just broke up with Trunks, and things were unbelievably awkward between the three of us. I started to see her as the beautiful, wonderful, sweet person I never knew was there. Of course, she rejected me, but then again, what girl that dated Trunks hasn't?" He paused for a moment as a small chuckle filled the room.

"Anyway, I bugged her for six months. I was constantly asking her out, and I had become the annoying next-door neighbor who never leaves you alone. I was there when she woke up in the morning, and my cell phone bill was filled with calls to her. She probably told me to go away at least five times a day, but I never gave up."

Marron smiled as she tried not to laugh.

Goten winked at her. "Finally, seven months ago, I knew she was falling for me. But I couldn't convince her. It took a while, but finally, six months ago, she gave in. I told her I'd do anything to prove to her I was worth it. And she took that literally."

Krillin eyed Goten suspiciously. If Goten was doing what he thought he was doing, he knew there'd be a whole ballroom of shocked people in nice evening wear. He nudged 18 in the ribs and shot her a warning look. She gave him a death glare in return and he turned meekly around and watched what just might be his future-- well let's just say Krillin cared not to think about it.

Trunks just sat there knowingly. He had known Goten was going to do this since he came up with the idea for the ball. And even though it killed him to listen, he did. Because Goten had made the ultimate sacrifice for their friendship, there was nothing Trunks could say and not feel completely guilty.

Chi-Chi tried not to cry. Her little baby was giving a beautiful speech about the woman he loved. He grew up so fast…

Pan listened to the muffled sounds of Uncle Goten's speech. She was in the back room, getting ready for her part of Marron's surprise. She had promised her uncle she would help out with his little speech, and since Marron was one of her best friends, she had no problem cooperating.

"She had an interesting way of wanting me to prove myself to her. We all met over in the Briefs' living room, and she told us all about it," he continued. "She wanted me to live in America for six months, and if I remained faithful to her for that long in a foreign country, she'd give it a whirl.

"I knew the first day I had nothing to prove to her. In fact, I was there for an entirely different reason: to help a friendship stay alive. But that's another speech." He motioned to the wall behind him. "My niece, Pan, was also a part in this little play. She was asked to go undercover and follow me around. Pam and I met on the plane. She looked nothing like Pan, sounded nothing like Pan, and you can see for yourself why I was confused."

He turned around and Pan stepped into the room, in her blonde wig. She was wearing one of Pam's dresses, the big floppy hat, and the glasses.

"This everyone," he announced, "is Pam. My friend from America who turned out to be my little Panny.

"You see, Marron came to visit me for a week two months into this thing. The day she left, she went and visited my brother Gohan. On the way home, her air car went down, resulting in a broken arm, a broken leg, and a concussion. Of course, I was back here as soon as possible. But when I didn't see Pan, I thought she had been in the car with Marron. I was told the truth, and couldn't believe how stupid I'd been."

Pan smiled and stepped off the stage to sit with her parents. Goten had told her the full extent of his plan. She had told her parents, but no one else. Marron was a good friend of hers, and she was glad her uncle had picked her.

"So I stayed here until Marron got better, or I planned to. I stayed two months longer than expected. I went back for six weeks. And in those six weeks, I talked to Trunks and Bulma. We discussed the idea for this little get together here, and we planned this speech and what is to come after it. So before I end this, I have to thank my second mother Bulma, and my best friend Trunks. This wouldn't be possible without you two, and I love you guys so much. Okay, well, the band's going to play another song and I'll be back." He stepped down, waving at the applauding and whistling guests.

When he sat back down at his table with Marron, she smiled questioningly. "What was all that for?" she asked.

"What, you didn't like all those beautiful things I said about you?"

"No, it's not that. But there was something a little fishy about that big long speech. What do you have up your sleeve, Son Goten?"

He pointed to himself in mock innocence. "Me? Up to something? How could you ever think of something like that? Seriously? I have a little surprise for you that you might just like. Now before I have to go back up there, I have to go talk to my parents for a second. I'll be right back babe." He kissed her cheek and walked over to the table where Goku, Chi-Chi, Krillin and 18 were sitting.

Marron sighed and fiddled with the straw in her drink. Goten was up to something big; that speech wasn't so sweet and well thought out for nothing. He wanted to butter her up. So when she saw Trunks, she waved him over.

"Hey babe, what's up?" he asked, taking Goten's empty seat.

She smiled sweetly. "Trunks. You know what 'Ten has planned, right?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you babe. So turn off the sugary attitude, will ya sweetie?" he asked with that same smile.

"Fine," she said, scrunching up her nose. "See if I ever play Truth with you again."

He laughed before standing up and leaving. "Bye Mar."

The band stopped playing, and Goten walked back to the stage. "Okay, now. Time for what this ball was planned for. Marron Chestnut is this wonderful woman I've been rambling on and on about all night. She's the gorgeous blonde sitting there in the blue, and no, not that one, that's her equally beautiful mother." He smiled, defeated, and 18 rolled her eyes at him. "But now, for the serious part. Marron, you are my sun, my sky, my earth. I spent six months proving myself to you, and I think I've succeeded. You are the most amazing person I've ever met, and I grow to love you more and more every day. From the little things you do like hum while you brush your teeth and the way you smile when you wake up in the morning to the big things, like how you put up with my eating habits and always try to make everything perfect. You make life worth living and I couldn't imagine it here without you. When you step into a room, you make it light up. Everything became better in my life after you finally accepted you and me. Marron Chestnut," he paused and got down on one knee and pulled a box out of his pocket, "will you complete my happiness and marry me?"

A hundred people gasped and a hundred jaws dropped open. Chi-Chi began bawling and Krillin almost joined her. Pan beamed, repeating the phrase 'Aunt Marron' over and over in her head. Bulma laid her head on Vegeta's shoulder and gripped his hand. 18 cracked a grin. Trunks laughed at everyone's reaction, and even though he envied Goten, he didn't have one ounce of hate in him.

But Marron just sat there, frozen and hypnotized, looking at the stage, with Goten on one knee, then changing direction to the crowd of waiting people. Tears sprang to her eyes as she finally got the nerve to nod her head and smile at Goten.

Goten couldn't think of anything else to do but laugh hysterically and jump off the stage. He ran straight to Marron and lifted her up in a huge hug. Marron began laughing, too, as she tried to struggle out of the hug.

"'Ten, don't you have to go up and say something?" she managed to ask.

He glanced back toward the stage. "Oh yeah. Stay right here. I love you," he gasped in a frenzy of excitement. He ran back up and let out a chuckle before speaking. "I guess that went well. Thank you all so much for coming, and, uh, enjoy the rest of the night." He waved and stepped down. He ran back to the table and sat down. "Hi," he said breathlessly.

Marron laughed. "Are you going to be okay? I mean, you look so adorable, and you're all flustered, and, and, are you okay?"

He nodded and leaned in for a kiss. "Yeah, I'll be fine," he whispered.

She smiled before leaning in for the kiss. There was a loud thump on the table, and the couple looked up and laughed when they saw a teary eyed Krillin and a slightly grinning 18.

"Mom, Dad," Marron said happily. "Hi."

Krillin threw his arms around his daughter. "My little baby's getting married!" he cried.

Marron patted his arms. "It's okay, Daddy, it's okay." She looked up at her mother, who had a small smile on her face.

"Congratulations, you two," she said warmly. "Come on Krillin, other people have to hug Marron." She pried her husband off her daughter before pushing him back and hugging Marron herself. "You're still my little baby," she whispered in Marron's ear.

Marron nodded and kissed her mother on the cheek. "I know Mom, I know."

18 stood back up and gave a small hug to Goten. "Take care of her," she said threateningly.

Goten smiled. "You know it," he assured.

18 smiled at the two before leaving with Krillin.

"Hey Goten?" Marron asked worriedly.

"What's the matter babe?"

"Where's Trunks?"

Goten glanced around before he spotted Trunks over at one of the back tables talking to his father. "He's over there."

Marron stood up and pulled Goten's hand. "Come on, I haven't seen him almost all night. And plus, I have to talk to him." She dragged him through the crowd, stopping only to receive congratulations from several people. Finally, she plopped down in the chair next to Trunks. "Hey loser."

"Hey Mrs. Son. I'd say congratulations, but I want to be different. I approve," he said in a deep voice.

Marron laughed. "Hear that 'Ten? We can get married now, Trunks approves."

Goten sighed in mock relief. "Good, I thought he wouldn't let us."

"Funny," Trunks snorted. "But I'm really happy for you two." He stood up and pulled Marron with him.

She fell into his hug, and when she pulled away, she dragged him toward the dance floor. "Come on Trunks, let's dance." She smiled at Goten. "Don't worry 'Ten, I'll be back." She led Trunks to the dance floor, and they began a slow step.

"I'm glad you two finally were able to get through this," Trunks said.

"Yeah. It was really hard. But you were always there. Thank you so much for that."

"It was nothing, really. Now, how does it feel to be engaged?"

Marron titled her head. "I don't feel any different, as a person. I think it's more of a feeling, like you feel happy or sad. I'm getting a really good feeling, though. I'm glad he finally asked me."

Trunks smiled. "I'm glad you're glad. Have any ideas for a wedding?"

"A wedding? Oh, I almost forgot about that part," Marron admitted. "Knowing Goten, it'll be small with a lot of food. I just need him, our parents, and you guys. But I do want to invite some other people."

"I'm glad I'm invited. Now, I want to talk about you and me. I can't deny I have feelings for you Marron, but I'm prepared to try and forget about them. I realized that your heart belongs to Goten, and there's nothing I can really do about that. So I want you to forget about all that romance I wanted in this past half year. I just want exactly what you wrote in that letter; to be best friends and have everything go back to the way it was before we dated. Can we do that?"

Marron laid her head on his shoulder. "I think we can."

Three hours later, Marron slumped against Goten in the limo. "Did you have fun tonight 'Ten?" she yawned.

He wrapped an arm around her. "I had the best time. What about you?"

"You finally proposed. Of course that made the whole night. And plus, Trunks and I sorted things out, and now I think things will finally be back to normal. But hey, what about the actual wedding? Have any ideas?"

"Hmmm. Well, I was thinking you, your mom, and my mom could take care of the little things, like the dresses, the cake, the decorations, and all that stuff. But I don't want to think about that right now. It took enough to propose."

"Were you nervous?"

"Terrified. I practiced that speech for weeks. But I think it went rather well, don't you?"

"Except for the part where you lost it, I think it went over pretty well. I loved it."

"I spent weeks perfecting that speech. It really meant a lot to me that it told everything. Especially since everyone was going to hear it. I was constantly changing and adding in things. But the end product was exactly what I hoped it would be."

Marron nodded. "It was amazing 'Ten. I'm really glad things are absolutely perfect right now. They couldn't get any better."

"Oh I think they could," Goten whispered as he leaned in for a kiss.

And Cinderella and Prince Charming lived happily ever after.

THE END!!!!!!!!!! I feel like five billion pounds of bricks have been lifted off my shoulders right now. I mean, I've been working on this since February, and I thought it would never get finished. But anyway, thanks to my faithful readers who stuck with me. Much love to you all, and I hope you'll be there for my next one, which will be out sometime mid-July. Don't forget to review for the final time, and I'll see you all around.