Author's Note: If you didn't read the "Author's Note to end all Author's Notes" before this…go read it now. Otherwise, I'll hunt you down and beat you with my computer chair.

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Life's Little Lesson
Chapter 9: When the Earth Stopped Spinning
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Pan sighed as she floated in a sea of pink and white bubbles. Sinking deeper into the steaming water, she traced the raised mark at the base of her neck. Vegeta had left her alone amid a sea of tangled blankets and with her best friend knocking at the door. While she felt guilty for lying about Vegeta's absence and not picking Aiko up, it had been the only plausible solution.

'Her wedding is tomorrow, all hell would break loose if everyone found out Vegeta and I…I can't hurt Bra like that…'

The thought of Vegeta brought tears to Pan's eyes and there wasn't anyone that she could talk to. Bra had always been there, but how does one go about telling your best friend you slept with her father? Pan shuddered imagining the scene that would ensue. Then there was her Uncle Goten, she'd told him about every heartbreak, hell, he'd gone to New Namek to get the dragon balls for her. Of course, as soon as he found out, Goten would be running off to tell Bra, Trunks, and her father.

'It's not like I'm a baby anymore, Dad can't tell me what to do. Not like that will stop him from trying to kill Vegeta. Not like he could or I'd let him, but, it's somewhat hard to defend someone that left you the morning after.'

Aiko's whimpering brought Pan out of her trance and she quickly wrapped a towel around herself and raced out of the bathroom. Skidding to a stop in the next room, she steadied herself when she noticed Trunks cradling her…rather their…daughter.

"I tried the phone and no one picked up, so I decided I might as well let myself in. Sorry if I scared you…"

Holding the baby in one arm, Trunks slipped the diaper bag over his shoulder. Flushing slightly when she realized she was still in her towel, Pan grabbed her robe from off her bed and slipped it on over the towel. Turning to face Trunks with robe cinched and towel in hand, Pan looked at him skeptically.

"It's my fault, if I'd been paying attention to the ki levels in the house I would have noticed. Besides, it's your weekend…what?"

The last word was a little harsher than she had intended, but Pan went weak when she noticed Trunks trying to get a closer look at her neck. Quickly letting her hair down from its tight bun, she forced a smile and motioned to the door. Sighing with relief as he left her room without another word, she quietly closed the door and sank down onto the carpeted floor.

"This is going to be harder than I thought it would be…"

***

Vegeta let another ki blast fly towards an imaginary opponent. Sweat glistened on his face, and his training suit was soaked through. He'd been training non-stop for the last 8 hours, not even letting up to ease the empty feeling in his stomach.

'I love you…'

He brought his fist down hard up against the nearest tree and watched as it broke into splinters, trying to rid his mind of the thoughts that were plaguing him. The image of Pan's lithe body against his, the blood trickling down his neck where she bit him, the hauntingly metallic taste as they kissed filled his mind. With a loud growl, Vegeta made little work of the mountain on the horizon. Even the cloud of dust couldn't shake the memories that were filling his mind…Pan's memories.

'I'm just as good as Goten and Trunks…I'm not a little baby anymore…'

'Please Grandpa…please come back…don't leave us, leave me…'

'I can't believe you SLEPT with her! Of all the people…'

"Damn it! I'm the Prince of Saiyajins…I should be able to control the bond with my…with my…mate!"

Grabbing his towel from off the ground, Vegeta wrapped it around his neck and wiped off his face. Walking stiffly over to a close stream, he bent down and scooped a handful of water into his hands. Sinking onto the damp, grassy bank, Vegeta tugged on his hair in angry desperation and looked up at the clouds.

"Ai shiteru…baka onna…"

***

Cursing his shaking hand, Vegeta finally set it firmly on the doorknob and went to swing the door open. Uttering a string of incoherent words under his breath as he was met with resistance, Vegeta softly hit his forehead on the door out of desperation. Pan was throwing all her weight up against the door, refusing to let him in.

"Go away…I don't want to talk to you right now."

Vegeta felt a pain in his chest at her icy words; Pan had never spoken to him like that before.

"Now Woman, open the door before I force my way in. You know I can."

"Seeing as you left me here all by myself to face Bra…"

"…what did you…"

"That isn't the point! You let me wake up all alone…with all these different emotions coursing through my body. Damn it, Vegeta, we're bonded and you treat it like this is nothing…I guess like father like son…"

Pan lessened her pressure against the door, opting instead to rest her chin on her knees and wrap her arms around her legs. Tears were trickling down pale cheeks, her eyes growing more bloodshot and red. She didn't utter another sound in protest as Vegeta gently opened the door, quietly stepped into her room, picked her up, and set her on the bed. Touching his lips to the bridge of her nose in silent apology, Vegeta sat down beside a very distraught Pan.

"You're not the only one with problems, Little One, don't for once think that I would forget you."

"Asshole, you're making it hard for me to stay mad at you."

A small smile lit her pale features for only a moment before Pan broke down into silent sobs. Giving into her pride, she sank against Vegeta's chest and closed her eyes as he began to trace small circles along her back.

"I know you miss that idiot warrior and that my brat meant something to you…"

"You loved Bulma, but couldn't express it, you still feel guilty about never telling her you loved her…"

Placing his cheek on the top of Pan's head, Vegeta breathed in deeply and pulled her closer. He'd never felt so close to a person, he'd only had a single bond with Bulma…could only feel her pain. This was so different, as if Pan was coursing through him, knowing that she could feel what he felt. Breaking from his thoughts, Vegeta yielded to Pan as she pushed against him and slid off the bed.

"Promise me that you'll never leave me again?"

Her voice was soft, eyes downcast, finger twirling nervously at a strand of ebony hair. Stiffing and letting out a small cry of surprise as Vegeta gently kissed her, Pan heard the comforting response echoing in the back of her head. Breaking away with an impish glint in her eye, she stepped back widening the distance between them by a few inches.

"I'll put this off until after the wedding for you, but don't think I'll deny anything. I refuse to shame the woman who is carrying my child…"

"You…you got me pregnant?! How in Hell did you manage that? Aiko's going to be two this spring and I don't need another child…God…you bastard, you did this on purpose…"

Vegeta clamped his hand roughly over her mouth quickly silencing Pan's ranting. Smirking, he pulled away and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Sometimes, Little One, I think you worry too much…"