Disclaimer: Dragonball Z belongs to the wonderful Akira Toriyama! *throws herself at his feet* You're my master!
A/N: Hehe, again so many reviews… You're spoiling me, do you know that? (Not that I mind of course)
Just for your information: Today I got the results of my three tests for the graduation that I had to write in March. And even though math wasn't really THAT good (it was pretty bad actually) I got already enough points to graduate… So not much can happen, when I'm going into the oral test in a bit more than one week!!! But that doesn't mean that I won't study and write my stories instead, that just means that I can be more relaxed…
@ Cornbread Me: You're right… As I already said before, English isn't my first language, it's German and I've just learned English in school and I have never been that good in it. I first re-learned it through reading and writing fanfics. But thanks for telling me my mistake. I'll try not to make it anymore, even though my grammar book says that I can also use 'as'… Mmh…
Mmh… No questions that aren't already answered… Well, then I guess I can just say: Have fun with the next chapter!
Oh, and in case you haven't noticed, yet… The Prologue of "History of Takeo" is out!
BTW, in case you wonder, I've rewritten this chapter today (06-08-02), because I forgot to mention something, or better someone.
Chapter 29: A wedding and a surprise guest
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Two months had passed since little Takeo was born. It was a warm summer afternoon in June. The sun was shining, no cloud was to be seen and everything was prepared for a special day at Capsule Corporation. In the large backyard of the main building several lines of white chairs were built up on the green grass with an aisle in the middle, all decorated with white and red roses and garlands in the same colors. In front of everything stood some kind of altar, also completely held in white.
A few people were already sitting on the chairs and other guests were arriving. And in the middle of everything Bulma Briefs was frantically running around, giving lasts orders or taking care of other things. Right now, she was talking to an elderly man, who was dressed completely in black, the priest. Suddenly she looked at her wristwatch and cursed under her breath. Just thirty more minutes and there were still so many things she had to do… "Excuse me, father," she said politely. "But I also have other places to be."
The older man smiled gently at her. "It's okay. Just do what you have to do…"
Bulma smiled back. "Thanks…" She turned around and walked over to another woman, who was holding a small baby in her arms. "Hey Videl!"
"What is it, Bulma?" Videl asked, having slight problems with the hyperactive wriggling baby in her arms.
"Can you please welcome the guests, while I'm inside and check on the others?"
"I would, but what can I do with little Takeo here?" she wanted to know, slightly raising the baby.
"Mmh…" Bulma looked around, searching for anyone who could look after a small demi-Saiyajin without getting into too much trouble. But unfortunately they were all inside, taking care of other things. Suddenly her eyes rested on a tree, where a certain Saiyajin Prince was leaning at, scowling over the fact that he was again forced to wear one of those uncomfortable suits. She smirked. "Give him to me. I think I found someone who could look after him." Quirking an eyebrow at the older woman, Videl reluctantly handed over the baby. "Thanks…" Bulma said and walked over to Vegeta. Videl just stared after her, shaking her head, before she had to welcome new guests.
"Vegeta," Bulma said, all too sweetly for his liking, as she stopped in front of him.
"What do you want, woman?" he asked, not even opening his eyes. It was torture enough for him to wear this suit or attending the wedding of those brats, at least that's what he tried to tell himself, and the last thing he needed was the woman to annoy him.
"Here!" She shoved Takeo into the arms of the unprepared Saiyajin, who just glowered at her, as he held the small bundle, whose tail had already wrapped itself around his arm. "Watch over him. We others have more important things to do." For example looking after the brides!
Vegeta growled and watched the woman walking back into the house. What was she thinking, leaving him with this small brat? He held the boy at arm length and scowled at him. But the next thing he knew was looking into an almost exact mirror image. Already at the young age of two months, young Takeo was able to copy this scowl, glowering down at his grandfather. Vegeta couldn't help but letting a small laugh escape his lips. This boy was truly a member of his bloodline.
Amused, if a baby of two months could already be amused, by his grandfather's sudden change of mood, Takeo started to grin, like just a member of the Son family could, and started to squeal happily. Laughing again at the resemblance to the other part of Takeo's family and carefully looking around that no one was watching, Vegeta brought the boy again closer to his body, but not too close for anyone to become suspicious.
~*~
At the same time somewhere else a man with spiky black hair, dressed in a black suit, stood in front of a mirror, fighting with his bow tie. "Come on you damn thing…" He fidgeted again a bit at it and finally let out the breath he had been holding the whole time while trying to tie it, when he finally succeeded. Grinning he turned around to the other occupants of the house. "So, what do you think?"
"You look great," he suddenly heard a raspy voice saying, before anyone else could say something. He turned to the door and saw an old woman sitting on a floating orb. "But we have to go now. We're late."
"Okay Baba," the man beamed. He looked at his friends and waved at them. "I'll see ya tomorrow!" Not waiting for an answer, he ran out of the house and took off into the sky, followed by the old woman.
~*~
A young woman was standing in front of the window, watching as slowly the guests arrived. She was wearing a long and simple white, from her waist flowing dress of pure silk. Her shoulders were free, but there were broad straps at her upper arm, going down in a V-neck. She was wearing white gloves, and on her head was a white long veil, which was also covering her face and most of her long hair that was going down her back.
Next to her stood two other young women, dressed in beautiful dresses. But theirs were tight and baby blue and had spaghetti straps. The women's blond hair was stuck up into a bun, with just letting her bangs and a few other strands hanging out. They, too, were looking outside.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" one of the blond women asked.
"It's me, Bulma," came the muffled answer. "Can I come inside?"
"Sure, the door is open," the woman in the white dress now answered, after she had turned away from the window.
Bulma opened the door and quickly closed it behind her, making sure that no one else got a chance to take a look inside. A huge smile spread over her face and she felt tears in her eyes, when she saw the young woman in front of her. "Oh my god, honey… you're really beautiful…" she said and hugged her.
"You think so?" she asked uncertainly.
"Oh yes," Bulma said confidently, when they pulled apart. "Goten's jaw will definitely hit the floor, when he sees you…" She sighed and got a dreamy look in her eyes. "I still can't believe that my little girl is getting married… I'm getting old and soon I'll become again a grandmother!"
"Mom," the young woman, Bra, whined.
Bulma wiped a few tears away. "I'm sorry, Bra… It's just… Seeing Pan with a child makes me also want to see you with one… By the way, where is she? The ceremony starts in twenty minutes."
"In the bathroom," Marron answered and checked the clock at the wall. "For quite some time already…" she added uneasily.
Bulma went to the door to the bathroom and knocked at it. "Pan? Are you okay?" She waited, but there was no answer. "Pan?" she called again, but again nothing happened. She tried to open it, but it was locked. Looking worriedly at her daughter and the other women, she asked, "Can please one of you break the door open?"
"Sure…" Bra said nonchalantly and pushed the door open. She frantically looked around, just to find out that the window was open and that… "Pan's gone!"
"What?" Almost all color was drained of Bulma's face. Pan cannot be gone! How could they hold a wedding with one of the brides missing? This would give the movie Runaway Bride a completely new meaning! "Bra! You stay here in case she comes back!" she ordered, trying to remain a calm appearance. "Marron, you and Angela check out the other rooms, like kitchen, living room and so on and I go to the boys. Maybe they have an idea where Pan could be."
The three women nodded and Marron and Angela followed Bulma outside, while Bra stayed in the room. She sighed. How could Pan do that? Trunks would flip, when he found out that his bride had run away… Again! This was supposed to be their happiest day in life and then she just disappeared! Oh Dende, she just hoped that Pan had just gone to take some fresh air and would be back in time… That meant within the next fifteen minutes!
~*~
On the other side of the Capsule Corporation main building three men were waiting impatiently in a room for the ceremony to begin. One with spiky black hair was pacing from one side to the other, chewing nervously on his already short fingernails, making it actually impossible to chew on them, but the man didn't notice nor care. Another one with lavender hair was sitting on a chair, his head buried in his hands, taking deep breaths in the attempt to calm down and make the nausea go away. It didn't help him much that the third man with the short black hair, who was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest, was glaring staggers at him. All three of them were neatly dressed into black suits.
Their heads jerked up, when all of sudden Bulma opened the door and stepped inside in a hurry. "Has anyone of you seen Pan?" she asked worriedly, not noticing the states of at least two of the three men.
"Pan?" Trunks' head jerked up, momentarily forgetting his sickness, staring wide-eyed at his mother. "What about her?"
Bulma found herself being stared at by three demi-Saiyajins. "She's gone and we can't find her anywhere…" she told them.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean with she's gone?" Gohan asked exasperated and turned to Trunks. "If you have done anything to make her run away, I'll…" he growled, letting Trunks squirm under his glare.
"Listen, all of you," Bulma said firmly, placing her hands on her hips. "We don't know if she had run away. She could've just as well gone outside to get some fresh air. Fact is just that she sneaked out of the bathroom. So, what I want to suggest, is - Trunks and Goten, you two go outside and to the priest, waiting for everything to begin. Gohan, you follow them, but you wait at the beginning of the aisle, since you still have to walk Pan down there. In the meantime I'll tell Bra to get ready and then help Marron and Angela looking for her. Understood?" The three men nodded and left the room, followed by Bulma.
~*~
The woman in question was sitting where she didn't want to be found - on the roof of the Capsule Corporation main building. From there she could perfectly overlook everything that was happening in the back yard, but no one could see her. Her knees were drawn up, so that the long white dress was gently flying in the wind, just like the veil on her head. This was the dress of her grandmother and it fitted her perfectly. It was really beautiful. It had no straps, but around the décolleté were white roses out of cloth, just like at the veil. She was also wearing white gloves that were going past her elbows, a white pearl necklace and she had her hair stuck up. Just two long strands hung out in front of her ears and her newly short cut bangs.
Everyone had been looking forward to that day. Bra's and her marriage. It had been a rather spontaneous decision to make it a double wedding, after Goten had proposed to Bra a few months ago, but Bulma as well as ChiChi couldn't help but make one big party out of it. But now she was having doubts… Could she really do this? Could she pull this wedding through? Would she be able to stay with Trunks for the rest of her life?
To be blunt, she was not just having doubts. She was scared… like shit! What if it didn't work out between them? Statistics say that every third marriage ends up in a divorce. What if her and Trunks' wedding was even this third one? Of course, there was still the bond, but that didn't help much in calming her down. Her other self in the other timeline could also live without Trunks. But she also had to think about their son. Takeo. Would it be better not to get married in the first place than letting him go through the divorce of his parents? She didn't know. And she had just a few more minutes to decide over her future…
~*~
The man and the old woman on the floating orb stopped in midair right over CC. "Okay then, you know the rules," Baba said.
The man nodded grinning. "I know… Remember, this is not my first time doing this."
"Good, then give them my best wishes. I'll see you again tomorrow!" Saying this, she turned around and flew away, leaving the man alone.
He smiled and slowly started to descend. That's when he saw her, sitting on the roof all alone. Worried as to why she was there, since the wedding would start in a few minutes, he flew towards her.
~*~
Pan just stared down at the place where the wedding should be held. Trunks and Goten were already walking to the front and her father was standing at the beginning of the aisle. But her father wasn't alone there. Vegeta was there, too, obviously waiting to walk Bra down the aisle. Just until a few minutes ago he had been looking after her son, before her mother took the baby again. She let a small smile appear on her lips. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, Pan knew that Vegeta adored his grandson.
Being too deep in her thoughts, she never heard how two feet set down a few meters behind her. "Are you having second thoughts?"
This voice tore Pan out of her thoughts. This voice… She knew it… But… that wasn't possible… She quickly turned her head to look behind her and her eyes went wide, when she saw, who was standing there. Her eyes immediately misted over. "Grandpa?" she asked barely above a whisper.
Goku smiled down at her. "Hello Panny…"
"Grandpa!" she now yelled, letting the tears of joy running free, and flung herself into his arms, burying her head in his suit. "It's really you…"
"Yes, Panny… It's me…" He carefully peeled her off of him and held her away at arm length. "Wow, look at you… You've grown… And you look beautiful in this dress… Almost exactly like your grandma did at our wedding…" he told her proudly.
"W-what are you doing here?" Pan sniffed.
He grinned and scratched the back of his head. "Well, do you really think that I would want to miss the wedding of my youngest son and my granddaughter? So they gave me a day off…"
"Just one day?" she asked disappointed.
"I know, this isn't much…" he agreed. "But those are the rules of the afterlife… But now let's stop talking about me… Why are you up here? Shouldn't you be down there?" he asked, motioning to the backyard, where everyone was now gathered, even Bra.
"I…" Pan hesitated.
"You what? Are scared? Panny, everyone is scared and has doubts, when the big day has arrived. You do love Trunks, don't you?" Pan nodded, still looking down to the others. Bulma was now almost running around, waiting for her to finally arrive. It was time… "See? Then I don't think there's anything to hold you back… Do also think about your son… I do also mean the one from the future. He came all the way back in time just to get you and Trunks together…" Goku told her, smiling cheerfully and took her hand. "Come on, Pan… They - Trunks is waiting for you."
"Okay, grandpa…" Pan answered smiling, suddenly feeling a lot better. That was one of the reasons, why she loved her grandfather so much… With his cheerful, careless and always optimistic way to see the things, he always managed to lighten up her mood and give her courage, when she needed it the most.
They smiled at each other and then slowly started to descend to the ground, landing behind them. "Hiya!" Goku greeted them, getting their attention. "Look whom I've found on the roof!"
Gohan, Bulma, Bra and Vegeta turned around surprised. They all hadn't heard this voice for almost nine years! "Goku!" Bulma exclaimed stunned, while Vegeta just smirked at him.
"Dad?" Gohan asked, not really knowing what to think or else to say.
"Yep, it's me… But now take your beautiful daughter and walk her down this aisle. We'll talk later. There's a wedding to celebrate after all," Goku said cheerfully.
"Goku, wait…" Bulma stopped him, before he turned to go to the last line of chairs, where a few seats were still free. "In the first row is my seat. Sit down there…"
"Okay Bulma, thanks…" He smiled at her and then went to the chair, Bulma told him to. When he arrived there, he saw the reason, why she wanted him to sit there. He cleared his throat, trying to get the attention of the woman, who was sitting there. "Excuse me, is this chair still free?" But the woman was too occupied with crying into her hands than noticing the man standing next to her, so Goku simply decided to sit down. He grabbed into his pocket and pulled out a tissue, holding it in front of her face.
The woman noticed this and gratefully took it. After she blew her nose, she said, "Thank you…" and looked up, just to meet up with a face that she thought she wouldn't see again for a very long time. "Goku?" she asked disbelievingly.
He grinned at her. "Hello ChiChi," he said softly.
ChiChi was speechless. Goku was here! Her Goku was here! The last time she had seen him was nine years ago and then he had the body of a small child! "Is it really you?" she finally managed to spit out.
Goku nodded smiling and took her hand, squeezing it lightly, while raising his other hand and putting a finger on her lips. "Not now… Later… The wedding will begin any moment."
As if on cue, the wedding march began to play, letting all heads turn to the aisle. Especially the ones of the two grooms, who had been talking to the priest the whole time. The first ones to walk down the aisle were Marron and Angela, since they were the maids of honor. They were walking alone, because Trunks and Goten had decided that they would be each other's best men. They smiled at them and they smiled back. Trunks could almost feel his heart pounding against his chest, as he spotted Pan at the other end of the aisle. He looked over the guests and his eyes rested on the first row. Smiling, he nudged Goten in his rips, who had just been able to stare down the aisle. Surprised, Goten turned around and followed his friend's gaze, just in time so that his eyes met the ones of his father, who winked at him. He almost hadn't recognized him in that black suit, since the only time he had seen his father wearing something like this had been Gohan's and Videl's wedding. But the hair and at last the golden halo convinced him that his father actually came to the double wedding of him and Pan.
Then suddenly all heads turned back to the aisle, as the first bride was on her way to the front. Pan… Trunks thought lovingly, as Gohan walked her down. His heart stopped beating as soon as he saw her. God, she was beautiful… He smiled at her, all the nervousness and fear he had felt before was gone. Pan raised her head and smiled almost shyly at him. Their eyes never left each other until they stopped in front of Trunks and after one last warning glare Gohan gave Pan to Trunks.
After Pan had settled in at Trunks' side, Vegeta and Bra started to make their way down the aisle. Goten's reaction to Bra was similar to Trunks' reaction to Pan, just that he was a bit more nervous than his friend, if even possible. He was marrying Vegeta's princess after all and knew better than to mess with the Prince of all Saiyajins. Getting a similar glare from him like Trunks had already received from Gohan, Goten took Bra's hand and they all turned to the priest.
The rest of the wedding was rather uneventful. The priest had said a few words to each couple, touching their mothers to tears with them and finally the moment, everyone had waited for, came.
"Pan Son," the priest said, "do you take Trunks Briefs as your husband, love him and honor him in good times and in bad times until death does you apart?"
"I do," Pan answered confidently, smiling at Trunks.
The priest nodded and turned to Trunks. "And you, Trunks Briefs, do you take Pan Son as your wife, love her and honor her in good times and in bad times until death does you apart?"
Trunks smiled back at Pan. "I do."
"Okay, and now to the other couple." The priest cleared his throat. "Bra Briefs, do you take Goten Son as your husband, love him and honor him in good times and in bad times until death does you apart?"
"I do," Bra said, looking lovingly at her soon-to-be husband.
"And you, Goten Son, do you take Bra Briefs as your wife, love her and honor her in good times and in bad times until death does you apart?"
"I do," Goten answered, taking a quick side glance at Vegeta, who was looking at him with an unreadable expression on his face.
"The grooms may now kiss the brides," the priest announced and not even second later, both couples were engaged in a loving and soft kiss, earning cheers from all guests, including a loud wail of Takeo, who had been woken up by the sudden noise.
~*~
The next day Goku had to leave again, much to the disappointment of everyone else. They all were there to say goodbye, even the two couples, even though they should already be on their honeymoons, but since both Pan and Goten wanted to spend a bit more time with him, Bulma had been able to postpone their flights until this evening. The picture was pretty much the same as the one, when they had said goodbye to Mirai Takeo, because just the closest family members were standing around him, including Vegeta this time.
Right at that moment ChiChi was clinging at Goku's neck, who was now wearing again his trademark orange gi, sobbing. She didn't want to let him go. Again! "Come on, ChiChi," he said, soothingly rubbing her back. "This goodbye is not for forever. Just remember that I love you."
"I love you, too…" she sniffed, as she let go of him. She forced a smile. "Promise me that I'll see you again?"
He gently caressed her cheek and gave her a soft kiss on her lips. "I promise."
"Goku?" came a raspy voice from behind them. "Are you ready? It's time for you to go."
"A few more minutes, Baba," he said quickly and turned to Goten and Bra. "Well, I think it's time to say goodbye, son. Take good care of your mother for me, okay?" he asked and pulled his son into a hug.
"Don't worry, dad. Goodbye," Goten said, having tears in his eyes.
Then it was Gohan's turn. Goku put his hand on his son's shoulder and smiled at him. "The same goes for you, Gohan."
"I know, dad. Farewell," Gohan said, smiling sadly. No matter how often his father dies, comes back, dies again, comes back and then goes again, he was sure he would never get used to it.
"Grandpa?" Pan asked, biting her lower lip, while holding her son in her arms. "Do you really have to go?"
"Oh, Panny." Goku embraced her. "You know that I have to. My time on earth is up and I just came back to see you and Goten getting married. And I'm happy that I did it, so I got the chance to see you all grown up and meet my little great-grandson. And now, stop crying." They pulled apart and he wiped her tears away. He ruffled through little Takeo's spiky hair and then looked at Trunks. "Look after them, promise me that."
"I will, Goku. Goodbye," Trunks said, putting his arm around his wife.
Next to them stood Bulma and Vegeta. But while Bulma was having tears in her eyes, Vegeta expression remained indifferent. "Oh Goku… It was so good to see you again, but we'll miss you," Bulma told him.
"I'll miss you all, too, but as I already said to ChiChi, this goodbye is not final," he told her, when he also hugged her. Then the last person Goku had to say goodbye to, came. "Vegeta," he said.
"Kakarotto," was Vegeta's reply.
"Too bad we didn't get to spar, I would've loved to do that, but there wasn't enough time… But enough of that. Vegeta, I ask you to take care of your and my family. Will you do that?" Goku wanted to know. It seemed like Vegeta had to think about it, but eventually nodded. Goku grinned and took a few meters into the air. "Okay then, see ya! We'll meet again after you die!" After looking back at his family and friends one last time, he turned around and flew away, followed by Uranai Baba, still hearing them yelling "Goodbye!" in the distance.
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Hehe, why do I get this feeling that to the end the chapters get longer and longer? Mmh… Well, now there's just the Epilogue to go… I can't believe that this story is going to end…
Whatever, I hope you liked that chapter and hey, what is a DBZ fanfic without Goku appearing in it? I just had to bring in him! But please review and tell me what you think of this chapter! Thanks a lot!!
Eternally yours
ChibiChibi