A.N.~I can't believe how much attention this story as gotten. Heh, yeah, I'm the one who brags how I have a following. Yep, you guys defiantly keep me going. ^_~ Since FF.net has been acting up I don't know when this chapter will be uploaded. Newayz, hope you like it…and yes….there's just a little bit of action. *Blinks* And I mean just a little!

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Life's Little Lessons
Chapter 6: A Little Fresh Air

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Pan awoke to a tangle of bed sheets and the screaming cries of her baby. Quickly recovering from her fall off the bed, she stumbled to her daughter's crib. Picking the baby up gently, Pan sat in the nearest chair hoping her rocking motions were soothing. Closing her eyes, she tried to ignore the headache that was threatening to make her head explode. As Aiko quieted, Pan drifted off.

***

Pan stifled a yawn and blinked, trying to shake away the world's fuzzy edge. It was the fifth time Bra had tried on a wedding dress and hopefully it would be her last. Pan grinned at the image of her blue-haired friend. In the last couple of years Bra had become quite the fashion guru, the whole world waited on baited breath for her next design. 'It's almost fitting that she can't find the perfect wedding dress. Of course, she will be modifying it….no doubt in that.' Pan yawned again and this time Marron heard it.

"A little boring for you, Pan? Mmmm…I guess after planning your own wedding this isn't the most exciting thing for you. I, however, am learning so much. I'm sure I'll put my knowledge to use when Trunks and I tie the knot. Of course, that will be after you two have divorced." The blonde's smile was too sickening sweet for Pan to stomach.

"When did our marriage ever stop you before?" Pan snapped back. She smirked when Marron's face paled and everyone turned to look at them. "I should have figured you'd try to upstage Bra…you always manage to make yourself the center of attention. Now, if you wouldn't mind shutting up I have a baby to take care of." Pan got up, walked over to Bra, and whispered something in her ear. Her friend nodded and Pan quietly left the room, picking her baby up with her.

"Hmph!" Marron loudly huffed, gaining a scowl from Bra. She smiled widely, feigning apology.

Bra growled low in her throat and pushed passed Marron. "You will remain civil while in my house! Understand? Pan has been my best friend since I can remember and just because my brother went and fucked up their marriage will never cause a change in our friendship." Quickly cutting Marron off, Bra continued. "You're lucky I'm even letting be a part of my wedding…you look at Goten one more time and I swear I'll blast you into the next dimension!" Mimicking her father's smirk, Bra turned on her heel and picked up her favorite wedding dress from the pile.

Marron jumped up and started walking to the door. "I know when I'm not wanted!" Her voice wavered, hoping to gain sympathy. When the only response was blank stares, she looked over at Bra one more time, but was silenced with a wave of the younger girl's hand.

"…and you wonder why you weren't picked as the 'maid' of honor. You make me sick Marron…too bad it took you sleeping with my brother for me to figure it out!" Bra's eyes glazed over as Marron opened the door and slammed it behind her. Trying to lighten up the scene, she tried to laugh the confrontation off. "Happy faces everyone we've got a wedding to plan! We can start the rest of the fittings now…Pan will be back in a minute."

Everyone nodded in agreement and followed after the soon to be bride. Vegeta slipped through the room, unnoticed by the wedding party. Smiling softly, he noted for a moment how the crazed look in Bra's eyes looked a little too much like a look Bulma used to get. 'I'm getting too soft…too damn soft…'

***

Pan hummed softly and waited for Aiko to finish feeding. She smiled softly as the baby pushed against her chest. "All right sweetie," Pan said in a sing-song voice, "I guess you're done. Wanna take a nap with mama? I think we could both use one…."

"Didn't you know it's dangerous to run around topless, Brat?" Vegeta smirked as Pan jumped and hurriedly covered herself up. When she picked up Aiko from the soft grass, Pan held the baby up to her face, trying to hide her deep blush.

"What do you want?" Her voice was strangely gruff and surprised both of them. Clearing her throat, Pan bowed her head in apology. "Excuse me Vegeta, I'm just tired…that's all." When she looked up again, Pan noticed he wasn't there anymore. Feeling a soft blowing on her neck, Pan jumped and nearly dropped the baby.

Vegeta smiled inwardly as she stiffened. He placed one hand on her stomach as the other swirled a strand of her hair around his finger. To quiet her whimpers, Vegeta pulled her up against his chest and placed his cheek up against hers. "Hush little one…"

Closing her eyes Pan took an uneasy breath and wished that Vegeta was talking to Aiko. She leaned her head back on Vegeta's shoulder relishing in his warmth. "We…we…really shouldn't….it…it….it just isn't right." Pan hated herself as the words left her mouth. Her mind was shouting a loud 'no' while all her body could think of was getting Vegeta out of his training suit. She mentally cursed herself as the older Saiyajin turned her around to face him. With the unusually quiet Aiko between them, Vegeta's eyes grew strangely soft.

'Damn it! Let her go…walk away…NOW! Stop being such a pathetic excuse for a Saiyajin…stupid…weak….' Vegeta's thought were interrupted as he felt a familiar ki approaching steadily. Quickly disappearing from sight, he left a flustered Pan to explain the situation, alone.

'I just need a cold shower….' Was the Prince's only thought as he retreated to the bathroom, '….damn you! Stop thinking about her…think about Napa…Frieza…think about Kakorot and that loud harpy mating!' Vegeta's eyes snapped open as the cold water hit him. Growling loudly with frustration, he fell up against the shower.

***

Pan turned around quickly to face Bra. "Hey…sorry I was so long…I didn't get much sleep and was hoping the fresh air would wake me up." Pan hoped she'd sounded believable. 'Last thing I need is Bra thinking I'm a whore for wanting her father…stupid…you're not supposed to be thinking about him!'

"It's all right," Bra said warmly, "I showed Marron to the door, hope you don't mind. I know you would have rather done it yourself…consider it your wedding present to me." Bra's smile got even wider when her friend laughed. She hadn't heard Pan laugh in days. "Well, hurry up! We have a wedding to plan…and I just lost a bride's maid!" The girls hurried inside arm-in-arm giggling like mad.