Disclaimer: You all know that I don't own Dragonball Z, so why do I have to repeat it again. And again. And again….
A/N: Wow, already 816 reviews… who knows… maybe I'll hit the 1.000 mark when this story is finished… I just want to tell you that I've still four chapters planned (including this one). But I'm slowly starting to think that I won't be able to finish this story by the end of this week… Four chapters in seven days? It could be possible, but I don't think that I'll manage that… Then there's still the fact that I have to write a sermon for our graduation service and as hard as it is for me to say, it's more important than this story, because it's for school. But I'll do my best!!!
By the way I plan on making this chapter a bit more humorous than the others, even though I don't think I'm good with humor…
@ Princess of Light: First of all thanks to you for visiting my homepage! I'm glad you like it! And you want me to get Pan and Trunks of Takeo's timeline together in this fic? Well… I don't know… *lol*
@ person: Congrats for being the 800th reviewer! And don't be so mean to Kali…
@ Ed: Don't worry, the story's not over yet. As I already said there are still coming four chapters, including this one.
Chapter 24: Return of… who?! [A/N: When you want to know, who 'who' is before you read the chapter, take a quick look at chapter 9 "The party"! But it might spoil the surprise. But maybe you already know, whom I'm talking about.]
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It was morning. Two small birds were sitting outside in front of the window, fighting over some small worm one of them had found in the still from the morning dew damp earth. But how do they say? When two fight, the third will be lucky [A/N: is that right so? I haven't found a translation of this proverb.]. A third bird came flying towards them, stealing the worm, flying away. The two other birds seemed to exchange looks and then followed the third one loud chirping flying into the sun.
The morning sun was already high above the trees, warming the land with its strong sunrays. Nothing seemed to get in their way. Not even the curtains of the bedroom, where a young dark haired woman was still lying, soundly asleep. But not for much longer. Those merciless beams found a gap between the curtains, now finally being able to tease the young woman, causing her to stir.
For the second time in two days Pan woke up a bit disoriented. She had been sleeping somewhere else. Again. But where? Carefully she opened her eyes, letting them gaze around the barely lit room. Then suddenly everything came back to her. This was her room in her parents' house. She was home.
Finally home…
Suddenly she felt something move next to her. She turned her head, just to see Trunks slightly snoring lying in her bed, one arm securing draped over her stomach and his head halfway buried in the pillow, his lavender hair spilled all over his face. Pan had been right. He was really adorable when he was asleep. And he was hers, finally, not Pia's, but hers, Pan's. So many things had happened since she first got back from the States. She had been happy, unhappy, extremely unhappy and now again happy, what she planned to stay for a long, long time.
She turned to the window and saw the sun shining through the small gap of the curtains. To do this she had to turn her back to Trunks, but it didn't seem to bother him at all, because he immediately pulled her closer and snuggled his face into her hair. Pan put her hand over his, suddenly noticing where it was exactly lying. Their hands were resting exactly over a small ki. A small ki that would grow and be her son. Their son.
It was still hard to believe that she and Trunks were going to be parents in not more than eight months. But it was true. The first proof of that was the tiny ki in her belly and the second proof was the young man, who was sleeping in the small guestroom downstairs. Takeo. If he was already awake? She expanded her senses, trying to feel him, but didn't succeed. She frowned. He seemed to be permanently wearing the ki-shield. She was sure, if Trunks hadn't come to LA and she did have to raise Takeo alone, this would have been one of the first things she would have given to him. As harsh as it sounded, wearing a ki-shield would've been the only way to keep the others from discovering him. Being part-Saiyajin his power level would have been unusually high and she knew that the others would have immediately come to investigate the source of this new ki. Thinking of it now, this would have been the cruelest and most egoistic thing she could have done. Forcing her own son to hide, so that his own family wouldn't find out about him. Pan shook her head. Even if it was her other self who did this to him, she also felt responsible and felt the need to apologize. She would have to talk to him today.
She sighed, closing her eyes again, remembering everything that had happened the day before. Contrary to her belief, her parents had been overjoyed to finally see her again. Trunks had been right. They didn't blame her for what she had done. They were just happy that she was back. There had been a lot of crying. She, her mother, her grandmother… and she could even see tears in the eyes of her father. After they had spent almost a half hour on the front lawn, Vegeta 'announced' that they should finally go inside, since this 'weak display of human emotions' was making him sick. Her grandmother had wiped the tears from her eyes and then ushered everyone inside into the living room, as if it was her house, and then, since it was already evening, disappeared in the kitchen to prepare, only Dende knows how she always did it, a huge feast to feed all Saiyajins, who were present at that moment. The whole evening had gone by quite peaceful. Just quite peaceful because there had been a new attempt of Gohan to kill Trunks, after finding out that he had not just impregnated his little girl, but also dared to propose to her! But luckily for Trunks, ChiChi had her frying pan ready, setting her son into place, before the father of her unborn great-grandson had to take a plane directly to the afterlife. After this feast the of Pan so long-awaited play of twenty questions began, meaning that she had been bombarded with questions from all sides of her family, be it old or new, so that it was already past midnight as she could finally go to bed. Trunks and Takeo had also stayed here, to the request of ChiChi, but the rest had gone home.
"He's moving…" she suddenly heard a voice from behind her, tearing her out of her thoughts.
Pan grinned, not that Trunks could see it. "Idiot," she said softly and turned around to face her fiancé. Fiancé… Still a word she had to get used to. "He's just a month old, he can't move yet."
Trunks raised an eyebrow. "Really? But I thought I felt something… Whatever… Maybe it was just your stomach rumbling."
"Trunks!" She punched him playfully in his abdomen, but sending him over the edge of the bed in the course of doing it.
"What was that for?" Trunks whined.
Pan crossed her arms over her chest, smirking triumphantly. "That was just for being the idiot you are."
Much to her surprise, he suddenly copied the smirk. "Still the little bratty Pan, who sneaked out at night, just to visit her poor friend in his office." As he said that, he got up and walked up to her again, pulling her out of the bed and close to him.
"I thought that I was more mature than you'll ever be…" she said seductively, completely aware of their closeness and his reaction on it. But she, too, felt her body reacting to it. Damn the Saiyajinblood. Was it again time for a full moon?
"Maybe… maybe not…" he mumbled, starting to gently nibble at her neck.
It would have gone further, if it weren't for the fact that they were interrupted by a loud growling noise coming from Pan's stomach. She blushed furiously. Damn this Saiyajinblood! "Uhm… I think you could be right with my stomach…"
"Okay…" Trunks said a bit disappointed, but at the thought of food his face lightened up again. "Then later… we still have the rest of our lives…"
Pan let out a small whimper, as Trunks let go of her. But he was right. They still had the rest of their lives and food was now more important.
As they walked into the kitchen, they were greeted by the scent of waffles and pancakes. ChiChi was standing at the stove, while Gohan, Videl, Takeo and much to their surprise also Goten and Bra were sitting at the table. And what surprised them most was the fact that Goten and Takeo began to snicker lightly, as they came into the kitchen and even Gohan had a smirk on his face and they could see a mischievous glint in his eyes, while the three women seemed to have no idea of why they behaved like this.
"Good morning!" Pan greeted them cheerfully and sat down at the table next to Bra, followed by Trunks.
Takeo and Goten looked at Trunks, exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing, the reason why to everyone in the room, except of one person [A/N: and me of course *lol*] unclear. "What's wrong with you?" Trunks asked confused. "Do I have something in my face?"
"Don't worry bro," Bra said. "I too have no idea what's going on. They have been like this the whole morning. Goten woke me up extra early today, because there was something he had to talk about to your future-father-in-law and son."
"Trunks," Gohan now said, because it didn't seem like the two other Saiyajins will calm down anytime soon. He shook his head inwardly. Of course, Goten's idea was brilliant, but he thought that they were both grown-up men and wouldn't act like two schoolboys. "Goten and I want to talk to you after breakfast and Takeo has to talk to Pan. So don't fly off, okay?"
Pan and Trunks exchanged a confused looks, before both answering with, "Okay."
After breakfast Takeo and Pan went into her room, while the other three men disappeared in Gohan's and Videl's bedroom. "It's good that we are alone…" Pan said uncertainly, sitting down on her bed. "I-I wanted to talk to you anyway."
"You did?" he asked surprised.
Pan nodded. "First of all I feel the need to apologize for my behavior. In both timelines. I've been a coward to just run away. And then I want to say sorry for my other self, for making your life like it is, for making you wear the ki-shield, holding you away from your family and for making you feel guilty for having your father's eyes…"
Takeo smiled at her. "Don't worry about that… It's okay, really… In the future you, Angela and even my best friend Junior, even though I think that my mom would kill me, if she found out that I'm still meeting him, are my family."
Pan looked up startled. "Why would I, I mean your mother, kill you, if she found out that you're meeting your best friend…"
Her son laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well, uhm… you see… uhm… It's a long story and not that important anyway… Back to you… I don't feel guilty, really, I don't. I'm just wearing my sunglasses to protect you, I mean, you know what I mean… In the last years they've become like a second skin for me and I even start to miss them, now that they're broken. As to the ki-shield… I know it will sound strange, but it's kind of funny wearing it. It could be handy, when no one knows how strong you are or when I sneaked out to play with Junior…" Instinctively he clasped his hand over his mouth, watching as his mother's brows furrowed. "Oops, I guess that was already too much information… Hehe…"
Pan just shook her head. But now she at least knew one thing: If her son ever met a boy called Junior, she had to keep a close eye on that boy. There must be a reason for her other self obviously forbad Takeo to see him. "Takeo… Please tell me. What is your life like in the future?"
"I already told you the most of it two days ago at the café. But I think the most important thing is that I'm working for Capsule Corporation, in the lab to be precise. Since Bulma is still spending a lot of time there, you can say that she's my boss. You must know, Gohan and Vegeta had gone to Namek to gather their Dragonballs and to wish for Videl and Bulma to age as slow as them," he told her.
"Why just mom and Bulma? What about grandma?" Pan asked confused.
Takeo shook his head sadly. "Ju… Uhm, Bulma told me that she didn't want to age slower, since her children were all grown up and she wanted to be with Goku again. She died when I was twelve years old." He remained silent for a moment, sensing that those news had shocked his mother. "Whatever… Bulma had discovered who I am and together we built the time machine, so that I could go back to keep you and dad from breaking up. And now I'm here."
"So it was practically Bulma's idea to send you back?" Pan wanted to know.
"Yes, it was hers. You should've seen her, when she found out that I was her grandson." He laughed. "Okay, but now enough of me. Goten told me to tell you to get dressed in your short leather skirt, a low cut black top and your black boots. He said that those were the clothes you wore at the party at CC."
She looked at him questioningly. Why would Goten want her to wear that? "Why?"
A mischievous grin spread across her son's face. "That's the fun part of the whole thing…"
~*~
"NO!" came the shocked yelp out of Gohan's and Videl's bedroom. "No! You must be kidding! No! There's no way that… that… that I wear it! Never! Just over my dead body!" Trunks frantically waved his hands in front of his body, walking backwards to get away from Goten, who held a wrist watch in front of his face. He desperately wanted to flee the room, but Gohan was standing in front of the door, blocking it. He already had to mess with him twice in the last two days and he didn't feel the urge to mess with him again.
"Oh yes, you will, buddy…" Goten stated grinning. "Don't you remember what you said a few weeks ago at the party? I quote: The day that I see our little Panny wearing clothes like that, including that navel piercing, I will dress in your brother's Saiyaman costume and help the police. Unquote. And well, much to everyone's surprise, it was out little Panny who was wearing those clothes." He grabbed his best friends arm and put the watch around it. "And now Gohan will teach you the poses."
Goten walked to the door, replacing Gohan, who was now standing in front of Trunks. "Okay, Trunks. Watch," Gohan said and began doing poses that would eventually outshine those of the Ginyuu Forces.
Trunks groaned. What had he done to deserve this?
~*~
A few minutes later they all, except of Gohan, Goten and Trunks, stood outside, including Vegeta and Bulma, waiting for something to happen. But just two of the people knew what would happen. Mother and son. Pan and Takeo, both having matching smirks on their faces, stared at the door, waiting for the others to come out. Pan almost couldn't stop laughing, as Takeo had told her what Goten was planning and happily agreed into changing into those clothes.
"Pan, come on, you know something, don't you?" Bra wanted to know. "Tell us…"
"Sorry Bra, but that would spoil the surprise," Pan said, laughing lightly.
At that moment Goten stepped out of the door, grinning like an idiot. "And now Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Saiyajins and humans, I have the honor to present you… The return of… The Great Saiyaman!" he announced and motioned with his hands to the door, where now a shadow appeared.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. What was this all about? Did they interrupt his precious training time for telling him that Kakarotto's eldest spawn decided again to become this stupid superhero? But much to his surprise, Gohan came out first, dressed in his normal clothes. But behind him he dragged another person, wearing the Saiyaman outfit. The Prince suddenly had a hard time holding his laughter back, as he realized that 'Saiyaman' was his son. He wondered what trouble the brat had gotten into, so that they would force him to do that!
"Come on, Trunks… what are you waiting for?" Goten taunted him.
Trunks growled, but obeyed nonetheless. "I'm…" He stretched his right arm to the left side, while his left hand formed a fist over his head. "An angel of justice!" He spread his fingers on the right side, holding his arms in a 90° angle. "I never forgive evil!" He spread both of his arms away from his body and began to trip with his feet. He then got into a straddle and supported his body with his right arm on the ground. 'Saiyaman's' next move was to cross his arms in front of his face, spread them again away and last but not least bringing his hands up to his helmet, forming a strange shape with his arms. "I am the Great Saiyaman!" How could Gohan just make such a fool out of himself? Trunks mused to himself. This whole thing is just stupid, stupid, stupid! He looked up, as his audience began to clap, thanking Dende that they couldn't see him blush under the helmet. Note to yourself: Next time, be careful what you say to your friends. It could end like this.
"Wow Trunks! That was great!" Pan told him, trying hard to hold back the giggles, as she walked up to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "And now let's fly into the city. Maybe there are some criminals who liked to be arrested by you," she said loud enough for the others to hear it, but then added in a whisper, "And when we're home again, I'll make it up to you…"
For the xth time that day Trunks heard himself groaning. Why me? With my luck there'll be plenty of criminals… But from the sound of it, he would at least spend a wonderful night with his soon-to-be-wife.
"Come on, dad! What are you waiting for?" Takeo yelled smirking, already floating in the air, along with Pan, Gohan, who was carrying ChiChi, Videl, Goten, Bra and Vegeta, who was carrying Bulma.
His son too? Debating why life was so unfair to him, Trunks took into the air, following the other into the city.
And they didn't need to fly for long, because there was already a bank robbery at the entrance of Satan City. Trunks tried to ignore it and continued flying, but a tap on his shoulder from his father let him stop. Vegeta smirked at him and motioned to the bank. "Don't you want to help them?"
Sighing in defeat, Trunks landed in front of the bank right at the moment as the robbers came running out. "Stop!" he yelled.
One of the robbers looked at him and started to laugh. "And who are you?"
"I'm…" Trunks took a quick glance into the sky and saw the others all staring at him expectantly. He really had to do this performance in public. "An angel of justice! I never forgive evil! I am the Great Saiyaman!"
"Go Saiyaman!" Bra rooted, still afloat in the air.
When he looked up again, he saw that the gangsters were nearly rolling on the street laughing. Angrily he stomped with his foot into the ground, leaving a huge dent behind. "SHUT UP! Don't you dare laughing at me!"
The robbers obeyed quickly, as they saw what 'Saiyaman' had done. One of them gulped. "Okay, Mr. Saiyaman… We're not laughing anymore."
"Fine," 'Saiyaman' growled. "And now bring the money back into the bank and then I will arrest you."
"Okay, okay… Just don't hurt us…" he begged like a pathetic weakling, what he was, but that wasn't important. He and his men grabbed their bags and brought them back inside, before coming out with their hands raised.
Just at that moment the police finally arrived. Trunks made sure that the robbers didn't do anything stupid and turned themselves in. But before the police could ask him any questions, he took again off into the sky, where the others were already waiting for him.
"Do you see, Saiyaman? It wasn't that bad…" Goten said grinning.
"Shut up and let's get this day over…" 'Saiyaman' hissed and flew away. The others just shrugged and followed him.
~*~
Many, many hours and many, many prevented crimes later Trunks flopped down on the couch in Pan's apartment. This day had been really exhausting and he just wanted to be alone with Pan, so she had suggested that they go there, so that no one would disturb them. He removed the helmet and leaned back. Suddenly he felt a pair of hands in his neck, starting to massage it. "Mmh, that's good," he murmured.
"Ooh, has the day been that hard?" Pan mocked him. "Shall I make you feel better?"
"Would be nice…" he said smirking. "Didn't you want to make my torment up to me?"
"Of course… I always keep my promises…" she told him. Pan walked around the couch and sat down in Trunks' lap, kissing him.
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Okay, sorry that this chapter took so long, but it's longer than the others! And then there was still the fact that I had to write a new chapter of The Treasure of Power!
As always I hope that you like this chapter!!
Eternally yours
ChibiChibi
PS: I've just downloaded the ffn-messenger… so, if one of you wants to chat, look if I'm online and then we can talk!!