Disclaimer: You know, in 109 chapters and a prologue, I've yet to actually give a real disclaimer.

A/N: Well, this is it. The last two chapters. Forgive me if I'm not too chatty.

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Petrified Tears
chapter 109



They leaned against the wall in the kitchen, deadpan faces and tired hearts, the setting sun casting them in red and yellow shadows. Trunks propped his arms on his knees, staring at the tile between his feet. Beside him, Pan hugged her legs, playing absently with her bandana, focusing every ounce of her attention on twining the old fabric between her fingers.

"I'm sorry," she whispered quietly. He glanced over at her, offering her a troubled smile, as if to say it was alright.

"I know. It's not your fault."

They lapsed back into silence, sitting like statues, carvings of stone. Unmoving. Someone moved into the kitchen, got something out of the fridge. Turned to look at them curiously before sensing the tension and hurrying into the living room.

The silence stretched on, taking too long. It was unbearable-words needed to be said. But it was worse when someone spoke.

Trunks watched the shadows of the clouds as they moved across the wall, drifting through a sea of crimson and orange. He sighed silently and leaned his head back against the wall.

"When does your flight leave?" he whispered to the ceiling, eyes staring straight up but seeing nothing.

"Tomorrow morning," she mumbled in response.

He hauled his head back up, looking down at her as she sat there huddled between him and the corner, scared and small, drained of everything. Blindly, his hand sought hers, grasping it clumsily, gently pulling it away from the bandana. Fingers gripped his tightly, refusing to let go, but her hand and arm were limp. Smiling to himself, he let their hands rest on the ground between them. His gaze moved back to the window.

"Trunks?"

He blinked and looked back at her. She hadn't looked at him once since he'd convinced them both to sit down, had only stared at her hands, pulling off her bandana and using it to distract herself, unbraiding her hair to hide behind.

"I'm…I really wish…I mean…"

His face softened into a smile. "It's alright Pan."

"No…I really…" She drew in a shaky breath and smiled up at him. "I really wish I knew how I felt. I don't want…"

He smiled and let go of her hand, wrapping an arm around her, letting her huddle against him.

"It's alright, Pan," he whispered into her ear. After a moment of shy hesitation, he pressed his lips to her temple. "I understand."

She didn't say anything, moving her head on his shoulder until she was comfortable. She'd folded her arms across her stomach and now her fingers searched for his, intertwining in an awkward way that somehow felt right.

"How long do you think you'll be gone?"

"Not long I hope…I…" she paused for a moment, shifting against him again, looking blandly at his chest. "We were a trio for three years. Did almost everything together. Jack and I both know it wouldn't be right if I wasn't there for Molly to freak out on. And I need to figure myself out…I don't…I don't think it will take nearly as long as four years…but…"

He nodded. "Just don't disappear on me again, Panny, alright? Not like before?"

She looked up at him, smiling timidly. He smiled back, pushing her hair from her eyes.

"If I do I can't keep the dress Grandma gave me," she replied, a tired attempt a humor. He squeezed her with a quiet chuckle, letting his hand fall into his lap. The silence was tolerable now, not quite so pregnant anymore. For a while he'd thought she'd fallen asleep, but she shifted again, wrapping two arms around him, tucking her legs against his with the self-conscious movements of the wide awake.

"What are we?" she whispered into his shoulder as he shifted his arm around her, letting his hand rest against her hip.

"Alive," he replied, only to feel her fidget in response.

"No I mean…what are we?"

Trunks blinked, looking down into blue eyes that never seemed to end. He smiled and pushed a lock of hair from her eyes.

"What do you want to be, Panno?" he asked gently.

Her eyes moved away and a quiet blush glissed across her cheeks and nose. She closed her eyes, nuzzling her nose into his shoulder. Slowly, her eyes opened, her voice small but curiously strong.

"With you."

Trunks blinked, surprised, his face soft but still blank. He shifted his weight, turning against the wall to face her better, his own legs tucking up a little to cradle her against him.

She blushed again and gripped at his shirt, unable to meet his eyes but still looking up at him. His hand lifted, cupping the side of her face, his thumb gently and slowly stroking the soft skin at the corner of her eye. Her face was warm, but more from her own body heat than from the blush that was already fading. He smiled, kissing her forehead before dropping his face near hers, sitting forehead to forehead, his arm sliding back around her waist, holding her just to hold her.

"I never in a million lifetimes thought you'd say that," he whispered, his eyes looking directly into hers. "Thought that you'd want that."

"I've wanted it for a long time," she admitted, meeting his gaze shyly. "I just never let myself do more than dream about it."

He smiled, closing his eyes, satisfied in feeling her so close to him, content in just knowing that he could have a few days with her, that for a little while at least, she'd be his. Content didn't always mean happy, but he was. He could be, with her.

Her hand lighted on his arm, fingers drawing lazy patterns on his bare skin. He felt her eyelashes brush against him as her eyes closed, felt her breathe beneath his fingertips. He opened his eyes, brushed his nose against hers. She smiled, silent laughter on her lips as she peeked up at him through her lashes. He nuzzled her nose again, his heart pounding with the knowledge that she would even let him, that she was letting him. Pan laughed with him, shifting to press a kiss to the end of his nose, blushing lightly but too happy to realize it.

He pulled her closer, tucking his face against hers, just for a moment, before soft skin brushed against his lips, featherlight and hesitant. All too soon the sensation passed, adrenalin rushing through his bloodstream as he looked down at her, her head resting against his shoulder, eyes closed, as if she didn't want to see his reaction, the only proof that he hadn't imagined it the slight smile on her lips.

He smiled, settling back against the wall in his former position, two arms wrapped around her. With a sigh, he rested his head on top of hers.