Disclaimer: Why do people even make these? Like they really matter. Oh well, just in case they do, I don't own any part of Dragonball/Z/GT. One can only wish. At any rate, on with the next long overdue chapter of this story.

Chapter 3: Falling

****************************************************************************************************************

Far away from the rest of the world outside, situated in a small grove of mountains lay a house. This house can be considered quite beautiful as far as houses go. Being an old-fashioned kind of guy and a romantic at heart, the builder of this home chose to go with a Victorian style house with a lovely veranda that wrapped itself all the way around the perimeter of the house. Each upstairs bedroom also has a balcony with an amazing view of the mountains and hills that dot the landscape. On one side of this charming house, a couple of the occupants can watch the sun rise up over the horizon each glorious morning. While on the other side, a single resident can view the magnificent spectacle of the sun going down to hide behind the mountains that guard the west. The owner and residents of this grand and once love-filled home are none other than Son Gohan and his family.

Long after the sun had set that day, Pan, a sobbing mess, lay flung across her bed as she tried to regain control of her breathing. In her mind, this day had to have topped the charts as the worst day of her life thus far. She could still hear all the screaming and arguing that had earlier filled the house as it now filled her head. Her gentle, mild-mannered father had kicked her mother out of the house and most likely out of his life forever. It was official, they were going to get a divorce. Apparently, they had been drifting apart lately. However, it was nothing that could not be fixed with some quality time spent together. But, Videl's actions earlier that day had driven a stake of irreparable damage into their relationship. Pan just could not believe it. Her family, part of the strongest family in the world, maybe even the universe, had crumbled. The strength that was often carried into battle would not be strong enough this time to save them all. Matters of the heart are quite a different battle.

Pan eventually broke from her disheartened contemplations of her shattered family life as she heard someone tap on her bedroom door. Pan looked up from hear tear soaked pillow to call out "who is it?"

"It's daddy, sweety," came the reply.

"Oh, ok, come in," responded Pan.

The door was pushed open slowly to reveal a thoroughly upset and exhausted Gohan. He looked like he had been to hell and back. And perhaps he had.

"Pan, how are you holding up? I know this is a lot to take in. I'm doing my best to hold up myself. Things will get better, so don't you worry, ok?" Gohan said in the most soothing tone he could muster up at this point.

"I guess I'm doing alright. I just don't think I can forgive mom right now though. It's her fault that this all happened and I hate her for it," Pan whispered. She felt so emotional at this point that it took all the pride she had not to burst into tears again in front of her father.

Gohan could almost feel the waves of despair and sadness that seemed to radiate off of his only daughter. However, he knew all about Saiyan pride and didn't dare contradict her declaration of being alright with the situation. Instead he said, "I know you don't like your mother much now. I, I don't really know what I feel towards her now myself. Promise me one thing though, just don't hold it against her forever, ok? I mean she's still your mom despite her bad judgement."

"I don't know how you can still be compassionate toward her dad. Look what she did to our family. I felt sorry for her at first because she felt so bad about what she did, but then I realized just how much she hurt you and me. She betrayed us dad," Pan spat out and looked at her father with anger shining in her red, glazed over eyes. As soon as she said it though, she realized her father probably didn't want or need to hear anymore arguing. "I'm sorry dad. I just got carried away there. I'll consider forgiving her, if that's what you really want," she said, letting the anger and hatred fade from her voice and eyes.

Gohan, relieved that his daughter had calmed down a bit and was willing to think about everything rationally, gave Pan a hug and said, "yes, that's what I want. I think you'll agree in the long run. Anyway, the real reason I came up here right now was to let you know that Bra called. She said you never showed back up a CC like you were supposed to. She was getting worried about you. I told her that some family matters came up and that you would call her back when you had the chance."

"Thanks dad for telling her something. I don't think I could have talked to anyone a while ago anyway. I feel better now though, so I think I'll go wash my face and go over for a while. We were supposed to be working on a science project. Is that ok with you dad?" asked Pan.

"Yeah, sure. That's fine. You can stay the night there too, if you want to," Gohan said. It would probably help Pan out to be around friends right now he though.

Pan hugged her father once more and thanked him. "I'll be back sometime tomorrow then. Are you sure that you're gonna be ok dad?" Pan asked as she began packing a few things into her backpack.

"Yeah, I'll be just fine. Don't worry about me," Gohan lied. With that said, Pan took off for CC. Gohan watched her till he could no longer see her in the sky. He had told her that he would be alright. He thought he would be at first, but after talking about it and trying to hold up for Pan, he realized that it would be a long time before he was over everything. On the outside, he was beginning to look calm and reserved once again. However, on the inside, his heart and soul were breaking. He was in so much pain, maybe from the broken bond he mused.

"I have to do something to get rid of all this pain. My head and my heart hurt too much to even think about anything else," he muttered to himself. With that in mind, he left the now broken home too.

****************************************************************************************************************

Ok, that's all for now. Next chapter: How will the Briefs take Gohan and Videl's splitting? What will Gohan do to forget Videl? How will Bra and Trunks help their hurting friend? And will the science project ever be completed? All this, next time on Forever?.