"Don't…leave…me…Don't…go…"

Pan sat up in fright, wondering whom that voice belonged to and why that person was even in her room. But then she glumly remembered that the voice belonged to Trunks and that this wasn't her room. Arching her back, she stretched her arms and yawned widely. It was still dark and she could just barely see Trunks's silhouette. After much conflict, the two had agreed that they would remain on their own sides, but Pan's curiosity steadily escalated and before she knew it, she was sitting on the cold floor, staring at Trunks.

"Don't go…" He whispered again in much anguish. Trunks's face was damp and he turned about restlessly in the pile of blankets as though he was trapped. In any other case, this would have been dreadfully funny, but the tormented look on his face was enough to soften anyone's heart. Even Pan's. And by now everyone knew that Pan was incredibly stubborn, especially Trunks…

Bulma had died, she remembered her father saying. To lose your mother…how horrible. And yet, Pan didn't give this a second thought and she continued to ridicule and pester the poor boy. She frowned regretfully, but of course, she was never one to blame herself.

'He started it,' Pan argued. 'He should have known better than to get me all riled up like that.' Satisfied with her answer, she got up and was about to return to the couch when she heard a whimper. A whimper. So pathetic and sad and helpless. It was like when you saw a puppy dog by the streets, tired and hungry and unwanted. And it cries to you, begging for a little food, maybe a warm bath or a place to sleep. It whimpers for help and you just want to go and hug it.

This was exactly how Pan felt now. Except it wasn't a puppy that needed her help, it was Trunks. Sighing deeply, knowing very well what a great burden she was about to take, she solemnly promised to be nicer to him. If only a little. After all, everyone deserved kindness. And this included playful pets and overconfident princes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A soft knock on the door disrupted the princess of her pondering and she got up from the floor. Pan had been up now for quite a while, thinking about anything that came to mind. After the night's occurrence, she found that she was not able to return to sleep.

Brushing back her tousled hair, she walked to the door and pressed her ear against it.

"Who's there?"

"Hi, Pan. It's me. Open the door." She frowned as she heard her father's cheerful voice.

"I can't open the door, because someone locked it," Pan muttered.

"Oh, yeah…Heh, heh…" She rolled her eyes as her father laughed sheepishly and she could just imagine him, standing in front of the door with a single hand rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

She heard the gentle click of the key being turned in the lock and she stepped aside from the door, enabling her father to enter. Gohan walked in, accompanied by a breakfast tray and a lively smile. He leaned over to peck his daughter on the cheek and he placed the tray on an old table that looked as if it might collapse with the mere weight of it.

"So, how did you sleep?" He asked. Then taking in his daughter's dust-covered hair, disheveled clothing, and angry expression, he mentally kicked himself.

"Great, just great. After all, who doesn't love sleeping on a pile of dust and tattered material? Oh, and the hard springs that dig into your back are such a bonus," Pan said scornfully. Gohan sighed and delicately brushed some filth from Pan's raven, at the moment gray, hair.

"I'm sorry, Pan."

"Everything's under control now," Pan mimicked her father's earlier words.

"Pan."

"I'm sorry, Daddy, but…but this isn't how I imagine it." Pan complained pitiably.

"I know, Pan. I know," Gohan briefly hugged his daughter and turned towards the door. "Well, I just came to drop off some breakfast. Good luck, Pan, I know you can do it." Pan listened to her father lock the door. Clicking her tongue loudly, she crossed her arms and looked at the so-called 'breakfast' with great disapproval. Buttered toast? She loved her dad and all, but sometimes…

"You're on my side." Pan heard. Whirling around, she glared at Trunks whose complaint was muffled by an old pillow that concealed his face. Her mouth opened wide as she thought of the perfect comeback, but then she remorsefully recalled her promise. Damn promise…

"I had to open the door for my dad; he brought us breakfast." It felt weird being nice to Trunks. Although Pan was a very argumentative person, she was never this cross with someone before. And then just replacing her earlier attitude and suddenly being nice, it felt very strange indeed.

Trunks lowered the pillow from his face and recklessly threw it aside, just barely missing Pan. He scratched his head and threw aside his blankets also; this time involuntarily hitting Pan, who had the sudden urge to slap him.

"Breakfast?" He asked groggily.

"Yes…breakfast," replied Pan with gritted teeth. She was not very fond of being hit with things, especially, dirty things. Growling softly, she once again thought of the promise. Why did she have to be such a nice person?

Trunks had staggered sleepily to the table, pulling over a rocking chair to sit on. Pan held her breath, waiting for the creaking, moaning piece of furniture to collapse under his burden, but it remained steady. Shrugging, she joined Trunks at the table just in case he forgot to save her a slice. Pan did not doubt that he would.

"You were talking in your sleep last night," Pan pointed out with no intention of insulting.

"Yeah, I was having a dream," he replied, shoving another slice of toast into the bottomless pit that he so shamelessly called a stomach.

"A nightmare apparently," Pan disagreed. Kindly disagreed, of course.

"What makes you think that?"

"Nothing. Except for the sweating, terrified muttering, and twisting around."

"Oh," Trunks muttered with an uneasy air. He was undeniably distressed, but Pan was thrilled. They were actually having a conversation! A strange and short conversation, but they were actually being nice to each other. Pan felt like laughing. Now, if they could keep this up for at least a day or two, they would be out of here in no time! Smiling broadly, she offered another slice of bread to the rather surprised Trunks. Well, there was a huge, abrupt transformation in her manner so she couldn't really blame him.

"Do you miss your mother a lot?" Pan asked softly, resting her chin on her folded hands, her elbows resting on the table, adding extra weight to the weak stand.

"Yeah, a lot," Trunks replied with sad eyes. "And she wouldn't have died if it weren't for those blasted doctors!" A fierce, almost frightening look, replaced his previous melancholy and it was an expression that even she hadn't yet earned to acquire.

Pan watched his face in interest; she knew how he felt. The lying doctors, the confused family, all the worried and stressful days…she'd been there, experiencing the pain that only the predicted death of a loved one could bring.

"I kind of know how you feel…" Pan admitted. "You see, my father, well…ever since I was younger the doctors were always telling us that he would die. They didn't even know why! They just said he would. And we were all so worried, but he never did. So a few years after their first assumption, I learned to ignore them and I still do." Her face had a profound expression upon it as she tried to explain it exactly how she felt it. Trunks, arms crossed, had long since worn a vacant look so she had much trouble guessing if he was really interested or not. But nonetheless, she continued.

"The thing that worried me the most is…my father believes them. He believes that he will really die, and…And I think that this will affect his health more than anything else and it scares me," She acknowledged.

Trunks couldn't believe it. What had happened? This girl, so aggressive, so feisty, who earlier persisted to agitate him was actually being nice to him, admitting her fear and understanding his. He didn't fathom what had caused such a sudden change, but he greatly appreciated it and he couldn't lie…For the very first time, since he had come to the palace, he almost, almost, felt comfortable.

A/N- Another short chapter I know, but…it's longer than the last. Hehe…Well, since I'm so busy, I'm going to try to get more short chapters out. As a reader, I know how annoying it can get, but I also know that the thing I love most is when the author updates at least every 2 days. If I write short chapters, it will be much easier to do so, so sorry for any inconveniences. ^_^ Ok, now for the fun part… Thanking the reviewers!!! Wow, I love you guys, I really never expected this story to do so well! Hehe…Thanks to chibigoten124/SSJ3MysticPan, eve, Hanamaru825, Jami-chan, Luna star, Kutie-Pan, juunanagou4ever, pan+marron= PARRON, Mkb14, B-chan and Syaoran's angel, Hikaru, saiyan moon fire, xoxodarkangels, sportzgirl22, Cat, Trunksluva!, Witchyprincess, Granny Adams, sayian princess, hotaru420, Murph4303, alex, GJ, kaaira, Trunk's girly girl, Chibi-Goten's-Gurl, Azn-Dreamer, Triple creasent, Bunny, jt, and BlueSilk for reviewing. If I forgot anyone, spelled anyone's pen name wrong, or if I repeated anyone's pen name, sorry, ^_^;

Also, I'm starting a mailing list ^_^. I hope this will be easier for all of you. Anyways, just tell me in a review and try to spell your email address right, lol. Okay, well, hope you enjoyed this chapter. ^_^