Disclaimer: I AM GIANT PINK DUST BUNNY!

A/N: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know..."HOLY SHIT! SHE FINALLY UPDATED!" *shakes head* Sorry, I had finals two weeks ago, and not only have I been dealing with the new semester starting, but my Lord has gotten me addicted to Escaflowne. Along with several other anime series...so yeah. Basically, I don't have an excuse. I've had this chapter mapped out in my head for a while, just haven't gotten around to writing it down. Anyways, it may be a while between chapters just out of sheer laziness and fear of finishing...I've spent so much time on PT, that it's like a part of me I'm afraid to leave behind.

Don't bother listening to me, I'm ranting. Go ahead and read the chapter. It isn't long, but it's better than nothing.

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Petrified Tears
chapter 78



A still portrait of lovers, their faces scant breaths apart, eyes half-lidded and half-shut. That crucial instant before the lips met and feelings were reciprocated.

Bulma would have danced for joy, if she wasn't aware that no one had paused the tape, and that the two caught on camera had been sitting in the twilight of darkness unmoving and lost in that very embrace for more than a minute.

Next to her, Videl had leaned forward in anticipation, both waiting for the two to kiss, as if it were a daytime drama or a romance novel, rather than their children.

Another heartbeat passed. Videl lost her cool.

She rocketed forward, gripping the sides of the monitor with both hands and shaking it.

"Damn you, kiss each other already!" she cried, in turn making Bulma fall out of her chair.

Almost as if Trunks and Pan had been able to predict Videl's outburst, the two drew away, Trunks saying something the cameras didn't pick up, Pan falling out of his arms laughing hysterically.

The two mothers sighed as Bulma switched off the tape.

"Gohan is not going to like this," Videl sighed, stepping back and shaking her head. "He doesn't want Pan to grow up."

Bulma nodded, running and hand back through her aqua-marine hair.

"I talked to Bra; she and Goten came down here a few nights ago while the two were working late. Goten doesn't want Trunks near Pan at all, apparently. He doesn't mind that they're friends, but he doesn't want to see Pan get hurt. Which is probably what Gohan is going through."

Videl looked over at Bulma curiously. "How do we feel about it though, Bulma? I mean…there's 14 years between Trunks and Pan…"

"Age doesn't matter to Saiyans. You know that just as well as I do; you've aged, and Gohan could still pass for the high school students he occasionally tutors. Trunks just got a head start on aging as far as he and Pan are concerned; and since she has half as much Saiyan blood in her veins as he does, they're probably well matched." The older woman sighed again and looked down at the blank monitor. "It doesn't matter how we feel, Videl. You and I will love them both forever, we're their mothers, we don't have a choice. What matters is how they feel…"

Bulma paused and the two women exchanged glances.

"But knowing my son, he'll never tell her."

"Nor Panny him."

Bulma smirked and grabbed her purse.

"Then let's go play matchmaker."

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A/N: Can't say I didn't warn you. But hey, better than nothing, right? Anyways, that's all for now...hopefully more soon. Oh! And about the contests I hold at my site (www.angelfire.com/dbz/storytellers), they are coming to a close. Entries for both are due by the 14th of this month. Meaning, 11 days from now. I have one entry between the two contests; if I don't get more entries, I'm cancelling the challenges. Forever. Just thought you might want to know; and there will be no deadline extensions this time.

-Panabelle ;P