Ok, here's the next chapter. This might be a little confusing because I wanted to talk about Pan's birth so that her relationship with Trunks could be fully understood. The first chapter was merely more of a prologue rather than a chapter, touching base on their friendship and little bit of Gohan's return, but it'll get more and more in detail as time progresses. I also want to address some questions that my friend Autumn had, and maybe some other people were wondering too. Damn, Autumn, you and your goddamn questions.

Question: How does Trunks know he likes her from just looking at her?
Answer: Well, you'll see in this chapter, sort of. It'll make more sense I hope.

Q: How did Gohan come back from the Other World?
A: Well, Autumn, let's put it in terms you can understand. He can do that, he's a pimp. No, that'll be explained in the next chapter. I know, I already wrote it.

Q: How did Gohan know what they looked like if he never got to see his family?
A: Well, dumb ass, in the last chapter, and I quote, "His smile grew wider when he realized that he'd be seeing his family again..". Hint: again. And plus, being up in Heaven, or The Other World, he can see what's going on a little bit, can't he? And looking at Pan, with those black eyes of hers, who else's kid could she be?

Special Thanks to Reviews from:
eminem-fire-pimptight
inca-dove

At least two people care! Although one is my best friend....

~Important~
I changed some things for this chapter that will remain this way throughout the fic:
*...* doesn't indicate flashbacks anymore. I will simply put however many years before that the event took place, if I feel a flashback is necessary.
(A/N:..) is still my Author's Notes
-...- is still thoughts
~*~ indicates a scene or setting change

Disclaimer: Nothing of DBZ, or anything related to DBZ, is mine except for the concept of this fic. Now, finally, on with the goddamn chapter!



Chapter 2

Almost 18 years earlier...
"I think it's going to be a boy," Videl said as she stretched out her legs under the table in Bulma's kitchen, her now swollen legs because of the weight of her pregnancy.

"You thought wrong," Gohan said as he smiled down at her, sitting in the chair beside her. He lowered his gaze from her eyes to her huge belly. Videl was 8 months pregnant then. "It's going to be a girl. And we're going to name her Pan. Son Pan." He smiled with pride, thinking of his unborn child. He and Videl had only been married for a month before she got pregnant and now they were expecting a child. It all went so fast for him, but he enjoyed every minute of his new life, despite the constant chaos the Androids were causing. It seemed like they never stopped hurting and killing people, and it only made Gohan worry more and more that bringing a child into this less than orderly world would be dangerous, but he had faith that the psychotic beings would be destroyed in time. Trunks was making good progress in his training and Gohan was getting stronger also. And who knows, maybe his daughter would join them in the fight one day. He smiled at the thought as his wife frowned at him.

"A boy would be easier to raise don't you think?" Videl said, suddenly worried and sensing that her baby would be born soon and not in a month on it's due-date. "For me at least. Girls are always.... what's the word... girly.... and I'm everything but that."

"Don't be silly, Videl," Bulma said, getting into the young married couple's conversation as Trunks sat silent, like he usually did, beside his mother. He found that as a young teenager, it didn't make much sense to butt into an adult conversation, especially when they were talking about Videl and Gohan's baby. Even though Gohan was his best and only friend, he found that when adults get to together, there was no place in their conversation for a 14 year old. "You'll be a great mother, no matter what sex the baby is."

"You're right," Videl sighed, defeated. "But just in case it is a boy," she turned to Trunks then. "what do you think we should name him, Trunks?"

Trunks looked up into the eyes that matched the color of his own, surprised that she was talking to him. She was always nice to him, of course, and he liked her a lot, but it was weird to be included in the conversation, because he so seldom was. "Uh, well..." he thought long and hard and then, "Maybe you should name him after Gohan... or his dad.... everyone talks about how good a fighter and a person he was..."

Gohan smiled at the thought. It would be nice to have a living memory of his father, and what a great way to do it. In his son, if he had one. "That's a good idea, Trunks. We could call him Son Goku, Jr. or something of the sort. But I don't think that'll happen." He sat back in his chair and smiled wider. "It's still going to be a girl. Son Pan. And maybe her middle name could be Chichi, after my mom." He looked sad then, and his smile quickly faded as Bulma sighed with equal sorrow.

"I wish you would have talked to her before she died," Bulma said, looking down at her cup of coffee as if Chichi was going to appear in it. "Poor thing. She was so devastated those few years after Goku was gone.... she just couldn't handle it."

Gohan nodded. "I know. I should've talked to her." Should've. Could've. But didn't. He'd been 8 when Goku died and 2 years after that, the Androids came and killed all the other Z-Warriors and after that, he just lost control. He gave up all hope when his father died and losing the rest of his friends didn't help either. He just wandered around aimlessly without caring about anything anymore, leaving his mother to worry about him all of the time until she literally worried herself sick. It was like a piece of him had died and then her death (which occurred when he was 12) didn't help either. He barely talked to her at all and without warning she just died. He cried endlessly, feeling guilty for not paying attention to her and nothing ever washed that guilt away, not even the next few years with Bulma and Trunks, who soon became his only friends and everything in his life.

But he was still depressed beyond words until he met Videl. They were both 18 at the time and they immediately fell in love. She was an orphan too, except that both of her parents had been killed by the Androids and she had no one to take her under their wing when they died. And soon, Gohan felt his life change so fast with Videl there to light it up and fill it with meaning again that he almost couldn't believe what his life was like now. But he was happy now, especially since he had formed a strong friendship with Trunks and found Videl without giving up hope. He thought of ending it all, but in a way, Trunks and Videl had saved him, and he always would be grateful to them.

The room grew silent as Bulma and Gohan thought about the good times with Chichi and the rest of their dead friends, while Videl and Trunks just sat quietly. Trunks didn't remember any of them because he had been so young when they died and Videl didn't know them at all, but they both knew how hard it was for Bulma and Gohan to recollect on the past, having lost all of their friends during this hard time under the Androids' rule. And because of them, all 4 of them thanked each day that they were alive and had escaped the fate that had met almost everyone on Earth.

Gohan got up then and ushered Trunks out of the dome-shaped house so that they could go training, as they did everyday. Gohan kissed his wife goodbye and told her that he loved her, as he always did, making sure that she knew, so if he ever left her unexpectedly, that would be his last words to her. And with a smile and a wave, Gohan and Trunks left the house and flew to the deserted area where they trained everyday, both of them unaware of what would soon come.

~*~

Gohan was shouting at Trunks to push his power as far as it would go, Trunks doing as he was told, his white and blue Capsule Corp. shirt and pants, along with his lavender hair waving from the force of his ki. Gohan desperately wanted Trunks to become a Super Saiyan, so that he could have a better chance in beating the Androids. Ever since he'd experienced all of his friends die, and heard Videl's tragic story of her parents' death, he'd been filled with hatred and rage and he wanted more than anything to kill them, so that Trunks could grow up and have kids without being afraid for them to go play outside.... like he felt about his unborn child.

"C'mon Trunks!" he shouted, and Trunks winced at his tone. He never liked it when Gohan yelled at him, he felt bad when he couldn't please his friend. And he hated the horrible feeling in his ears caused by his loud voice. He cursed his Saiyan heritage for giving him the sensitive hearing. He had once taken pride in being part of a race of courageous warriors, but that faded when he got that ringing sensation in his ears that hurt so much. "I know what's wrong. You're scared. You're afraid to face them because you're afraid of dying."

Trunks looked at him, still concentrating hard, but managed to say, "That's not true, Gohan!"

"Yes, it is!" Gohan pretended to be angry with him. "You're afraid! You're a coward, Trunks! That's what you are! You'll never be worth anything unless you face your fears! Stop being a coward, Trunks!"

Trunks turned to Gohan, hatred and anger filling him, his good side disappearing for a moment. The last thing he ever wanted was to be a coward. He lunged at Gohan and punched him with all the rage he'd felt towards the Androids and their evil deeds. It was so unexpected that it caught Gohan off guard and he flew a couple feet and hit a huge rock, shattering it into pieces.

Trunks looked stunned and the crazy side that he'd felt moments before diminished as he hurried over to Gohan. He pulled him out of the rubble by the only arm that Gohan still had left, the one left from a battle with the Androids, and looked at his friend, afraid of his reaction. But Gohan only smiled as he wiped away a trickle of blood that rolled down his forehead.

"I'm sorry, Gohan," Trunks pleaded. "I just... lost my head..."

"I know, kid," Gohan said as he wiped dust and rock particles off of his gi. "That's exactly what I wanted. Although I hadn't expected a blow like that, I was hoping it would drive you to becoming a Super Saiyan. Use that anger the next time we face the Androids." He smiled then and ruffled Trunks' lavender hair as the younger boy stared up at him, relieved that he wasn't angry. "You pack a hell of a punch, kid."

Trunks smiled and they walked back to the place where they once were to start training again, but suddenly a question that had been gnawing at him for as long as he could remember was alive again and he couldn't help but ask, "Gohan, what was my dad like?"

Gohan looked startled and surprised by the question. He was totally caught off guard, and he didn't know what to say. He could tell him the truth, that he was a cold, brutal, man who had softened up a little bit and become a good guy, but he figured that wasn't anything he didn't know already.

"To tell you the truth," Gohan started. "I didn't know him that well, but I know that he was a cold-blooded killer for a long time... a long, long time.... he tried to kill my father before..." He knew Trunks knew that already by the look of impatience on his face. "I know you know that by now, but there's not much else to say. He wasn't always on the opposite side, and he was useful in the fight against Frieza and the Ginyu Force.... " He sighed, not knowing what else to say. "I guess if you wanted to describe Vegeta in one word it would probably be cold. That's what he was. He probably never even told your mom he loved her.... but that's just because he was still hanging on to traditions he was taught on Vegeta-sei... that emotions like love were useless in becoming a great warrior.... he was probably scared of it. I know that seems stupid to think he was afraid of marriage and kids when he was one of the strongest men in the universe.... but he was Saiyan.... and that's all a Saiyan thinks about is being strong and conquering races that were 'beneath him'... that's all a Saiyan lives for... battle."

Trunks nodded. It was understandable, but not reasonable and justified. After all, Goku was a Saiyan and he didn't have any qualms about settling down with Chichi. And Gohan was half-Saiyan and totally content about being with Videl. If Vegeta was such a powerful man, why did marriage and kids intimidate him so much? He didn't know, and he never would, but for now, he was satisfied with what Gohan just told him. His mother had never bad mouthed him when she told him stories of Vegeta, but it felt good to hear something that wasn't that disappointing and heart breaking from someone who was never close to him. "Thanks, Gohan.... for telling me that. It's nice to know that someone who never liked him didn't make him seem like a totally bad guy."

"I was just being honest," Gohan said, matter-of-factly.

"But it meant a lot to me. Thank you."

"Your welcome." Gohan grinned and rubbed the back of his head in the innocent Son gesture he'd inherited from his father, despite the great deal of maturity he'd gained and the great deal of naivety he'd lost since the Androids came. He was beginning to return to his normal self slowly, but still, he had too much maturity now, that he'd gained too early in life, even at 23. His heart would never heal from the blows of his traumatizing past, but he wouldn't let that stop him now, not when his life seemed to be beginning again.

And suddenly, they both turned when they heard a building crash into pieces and they both instantly knew. The Androids. They'd come again to wreak havoc on any existing humans they could find.

~*~

Both friends gritted their teeth in anger and flew over to the fallen building just in time to witness a little girl get vaporized by the black-haired Android 17, with his blonde twin, 18, laughing her wicked laugh next to him, the laugh that had become all too familiar with the remaining Z-warriors, and it only made Gohan get even angrier watching them.

"Well, well, well," 17 said, in his menacingly evil voice that sends chills down one's spine. "If it isn't Gohan and uh..." He scratched his head, trying to remember the younger one's name.

"Trunks," 18 finished for her twin brother.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Haven't you two done enough damage in the past 13 years?" Gohan asked, looking angry and annoyed. He was thankful for the anger his Saiyan half gave him in every encounter with the Androids.

"Apparently not," 17 said, grinning maliciously. "You're still here."

Trunks and Gohan growled in anger and they both powered up, Gohan powering up into a Super Saiyan. He turned to Trunks at his side and decided that he wasn't ready for this yet. He wouldn't be until he turned into a Super Saiyan at least.

"Trunks," Gohan said, returning his eyes to his opponents. "Go home. You're not ready."

"What are you talking about?" Trunks looked horrified. He couldn't possibly believe he would be able to do this by himself. "You can't do it alone. Especially now that you only have one arm. I can help, I really can." He was pleading with him, wanting him to reconsider. He wanted to be able to help him if he could. He hated feeling helpless.

But Gohan shook his head. "I won't let you die. I won't. Now go home. You're not ready for this yet."

Trunks shook his head, feeling tears threaten to pour from his eyes. "I'm not leaving. I'm going to help you."

"I'm sorry you feel that way." Gohan brought his elbow up then and smashed it hard into Trunks' face, knocking down to ground, unconscious. "Sorry kid," he whispered, then returned his attention to his opponents, who were both grinning and looking so evil it sent a chill down Gohan's spine that made his whole body quiver.

And as he got into a fighting stance, he prayed silently that if he died, Trunks, Bulma, Videl, and his child that was still growing in his wife's womb would be safe from these horrible tyrants. He also said a message to father, hoping that he could hear his voice and he'd be filled with courage again. But he didn't. And he had to face 17 and 18, alone.

~*~

Trunks stirred awhile after. He didn't know what had happened for a minute, only that it started to rain. He sat up and while his eyes were focusing it all hit him again like a bolt of lightening. Gohan was fighting the Androids... and he knocked him out to protect him. But as he looked around, he saw that he was at the same place that they'd first saw them and he didn't see Gohan, 17, or 18 anywhere. And then he felt his heart sink in terror. He couldn't be... could he? No, Gohan couldn't die. It wasn't possible. But he knew something was wrong when he heard a soft moan a few feet in front of him, and as he ran to his friend's side, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He knew it was all over, but his mind wouldn't let him accept it, not until he saw him.

And the state that Gohan's body was in had confirmed it. There was a humongous hole in his stomach and his leg was bent back in an unnatural angle, his gi torn and frayed everywhere, and his body was burned in places where ki blasts had hit. It was such a disgusting sight that Trunks wanted to through up, but he didn't have much time to think about it because he was using all his strength to hold back the tears that were threatening to flow. Then he saw Gohan's chest rise a fall, and his eyes lit up. Maybe there was a chance!

"Gohan?" Trunks said, kneeling at his side. "Are you ok?"

"Does it look like I'm ok, fool?" He smiled. His voice was as gentle as it always was, only a little hoarse. He wasn't angry or annoyed at the question. He was disappointed in himself, if anything.

"I'll take you to Mom," Trunks said, looking hopeful that he'd make it. "She can work miracles, I swear. She can heal you, I'm sure of it."

Gohan shook his head and it was even more difficult to talk, "I'm not going to make it, kid. By the time you get there, it'll be too late. I'm fading fast..." He interrupted himself to cough up blood and he winced as the pain grew even more intense. "Take care of everyone for me.."

Trunks shook his head, and the tears slowly began to fall as he looked at his friend with despair. "You can't give up! You can live, Gohan. Just hold on!"

He picked him up but Gohan stopped him before he could take to the air. "I'm not going to make it, Trunks. I don't have much time left. I just want you to know that I'm proud of you before I go. You were the best friend any guy could have, and I was lucky to have you.... you helped keep me alive..." He seemed to speak slower and slower every second as Trunks cried. "Take care of everyone for me.... don't let the Androids triumph... Remember the anger you feel at them right now.... remember the anger you feel every time you think of the father you don't remember... beat them, Trunks.... kill them... for me..." Trunks was sobbing uncontrollably by now and he started to feel an all new hatred for them now that his only friend in the world was dying. "And be good to my daughter.... or son..... I don't want my child to feel abandoned by me... be there for my baby.... and don't let Videl name it something stupid..." Trunks smiled in spite of himself. Even when he was dying, he was cracking jokes. And a moment later, his chest rose and fell for the last time, and Trunks cried even harder as he held Gohan in his arms.

And then, with a loud scream, Trunks was filled with overwhelming rage. He hated the Androids, but now even more so, and he didn't think that was possible. As if to show the rage Trunks was feeling, the rain began to pour harder, mixing in with his tears and leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. But he didn't care, all he ever cared about was his mother, Videl, and Gohan and now he was gone. And soon Videl and Bulma would be too, and so would he. It wasn't fair. None of it was. Why should he have to suffer because of someone else's mistake in creating those monsters? What did he do to deserve this horrible punishment? His best friend just died and it wasn't fair at all. He hated it. Everything. The only time he wasn't reminded of the horrible shape the world was in was when he was with Gohan. And now he was alone. He had to face them alone. It wasn't fair, and his sorrow showed in his eyes along with anger as they changed from the deep blue that they usually were, to a new shade of green while his ki rose and his hair turned to a golden blonde. He could feel it stand on end as his body was engulfed in golden light. And he stood panting, finally a Super Saiyan.

~*~

Bulma and Videl's reactions to Gohan's death were similar to his as he walked somberly into the house carrying his dead body, still a Super Saiyan, as tears rolled down his cheeks. Bulma and Videl came running into the room when they heard the door shut, and they were shocked when they saw him. Not only was he a Super Saiyan, but Gohan was... dead.

"He died..." Trunks said miserably, choking as he cried. "He died in my arms.... those damn, merciless Androids!"

Bulma and Videl began to cry now, Videl even more so than Bulma. Videl ran over to Trunks as he sat the body down on the floor, not knowing what else to do with it. She laid her head on his chest and cried out his name over and over again. She had just gotten married 9 months before and she was 8 months pregnant and now a widow. She felt as if her heart would break as she cried out Gohan's name, refusing to believe that he was dead and wished it would've been her to go except him.

Bulma was sobbing as she held Trunks in her arms, trying to get Videl up off of the floor, but she wouldn't budge. She clung to his dead body like a child, as if it would bring him back to life if she held onto him a little longer. Her shirt was already soaked with his blood, but she didn't care. All she wanted was Gohan back, but she couldn't have him. And when his body disappeared to go to the Other World, she cried even harder, choking herself on her sobs, as did Trunks. She didn't understand what had happened, but Bulma had to reassure her.

She pulled away from Trunks momentarily and picked up Videl from the floor. "Shh.. it's ok, Videl. He just went to the Other World."

"It's not ok!" Videl screamed. "It'll never be ok! Gohan's gone and I'm carrying his child! What am I supposed to do without Gohan? How are the Androids going to be defeated if he's not here? How am I going to support a baby without him? How can I live without him?"

She was hysterical as Bulma held her. "I'll help you take care of the baby. You'll be fine."

"I'll help too," Trunks said as he wiped away a river of tears. "And I'll kill those damn Androids if it's the last thing I do!"

Videl and Bulma looked astonished at first, but Videl seemed a little relieved and grateful as she went to pull Trunks into her embrace. And they all stood there, crying and staring at the place where Gohan once lay, not knowing what else to do with themselves.

~*~

It was another hour before everything quieted down a little bit. Videl was in Bulma's bedroom, relaxing, or so she thought. She didn't want Videl to get too upset in her condition.

Trunks was sitting in a corner looking out the window when Bulma came into the kitchen to fix them dinner. She noticed him staring out the window and asked him, "Are you hungry, Trunks?"

Trunks shook his head slowly. "I'm not hungry."

Bulma sighed and fixed dinner for Videl, but she hardly even touched it. All she did was sit in Bulma's bedroom and cry, and by 8 o'clock that night, she was exhausted. Bulma let her sleep beside her, but Trunks never slept. He sat on the roof of their house, not bothering to change his clothes that were soaked with rainwater, tears, and Gohan's blood, and watched the wind blow the trees and wished that he could hear Gohan's voice again... to hear him laugh one more time.... to train with him again... to see him scratch his head in that stupid way again. Everything seemed to crash and burn that day, and it wasn't fair. At 14, he felt like his life was over.

"Trunks!" Bulma called, somewhat frantically.

Trunks jumped back in the house through his open window and ran to find her in her bedroom. "What's wrong, Mom?" But he knew as soon as he examined the room further. Videl was lying on the bed, panting with Bulma holding her hand. She was in labor.

"Get a doctor," Bulma said, as she tried to coach Videl through her contractions. "I don't think she'll make it to a hospital in time. Hurry!"

Trunks ran out of the house and got the nearest doctor. The doctor was an old pro, and probably retired, but at least she knew what she was doing. And Bulma wasn't wrong. It wasn't long after that that Gohan's baby girl was born, right there in Bulma's room. Videl named her Son Pan Chichi, just as Gohan wanted.

~*~

Trunks came in later that day to see them. Videl smiled when he came in, happy to see someone. She was holding her daughter and smiling wide. All the depression from the night before seemed to vanish.

"Hey, Videl," Trunks said as he neared the bed. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Videl said, then lifted her daughter towards Trunks. "Do you want to hold her?"

"Sure..." Trunks said in response, a little hesitant.

He walked over to her and took the baby gently in his arms. She had big black eyes and soft black hair and she seemed to smile when she saw Trunks. He smiled back as she gripped her whole fist on his thumb, surprised at the strength she had even as a baby.

"It's funny how life works, isn't it?" Videl said, and he looked up. "One minute, I'm depressed and sure that life was no longer worth living, and then, I'm so happy it's unbelievable. One minute, Gohan's dead, and the next, our daughter is born. It's not fair he's dead, but I'm happy he gave me Pan. He gave me something to live for."

Trunks smiled and gazed at the little girl in his arms. "He gave me something to live for too." And then, he lowered his tone so only Pan could hear him, even though she didn't understand him, "I'm going to be there for you, little Pan. I'm going to defeat those Androids so that you never have to worry about anything. I'll be the brother you'll never have.... I'll always protect you. You'll always be safe, little Pan. Always. I'll never let you down." And he never did.

Back to the Present...
The next week of Trunks' life went by very slowly for him. He was so confused he didn't know what to do with himself. Whenever he saw Pan, his heart just melted and he felt tongue tied, like he was just now going through puberty at 32. He tried to force images of Pan out of his mind, to stop thinking about her in that new light and to start thinking about her as the little girl he watched grow up again, but it didn't work. Every time he saw her, the feelings would grow stronger, and by the end of the week, Trunks was going crazy.

Gohan spent that week watching over his family, not yet revealing himself to Trunks, the only one that would be able to see him. He would sit around and watch how they lived now, watching over their daily activities, especially those of Videl and Pan. But more than once, watching them brought back memories, making him feel terribly lonely. But he enjoyed it anyway, and watching how strong Pan was when she trained with Trunks, filled him with a new amount of pride for his only child. It always surprised him that she was so much like her mother and that she looked so much like a Son. Watching her made him hate the Androids even more for killing him without being able to see his daughter grow up, but he was thankful for Trunks, and he knew he always protected her.

In Pan's point of view, the week with Trunks acting weird and a little distant was very confusing. She couldn't figure out what was wrong, and when she asked him, he was quick to say that he was fine, but she knew better. She'd been like his little sister ever since she was born, and she followed him everywhere as soon as she learned how to walk. Her life always revolved around Trunks, and she could hardly remember when she didn't tag around with him everyday. When she was little, she would even sneak into Trunks' room at night when she had nightmares instead of staying in her house next door and going to her own mother for comfort. Trunks never cared, he was determined to keep his promise to himself and Gohan and always protect her. He'd always been her best friend, for her entire life, and his weirdness for the past week worried her. She hadn't seen him in two days, he wouldn't even look at her, and she felt that she did something to him, which made her even more frustrated and sad. The last thing she wanted was Trunks to be mad at her, and she didn't know what to do. So instead, she drowned in her frustration one day sitting on a rock and looking at the scenery ahead of her, deep in thought, without knowing that Trunks was a couple feet behind her.

Trunks pushed his ki down so that she couldn't detect him and just watched her. He knew how badly she felt, but he just couldn't face her, not until he got his feelings for her under control again. Gohan's words the week before kept echoing in his head, "You can't help who you love". He knew he didn't love her... he didn't even think he liked her... but those weird feelings wouldn't be ignored. He didn't know you could get this confused until now. All he could think of was the little girl with the orange gi and short black hair looking up at him in fascination with those wide black eyes and the beautiful woman she'd become, with her orange bandanna, red shirt, and white pants, and those same black eyes that still look at him with a mild amount of fascination. He started to feel like a younger version of Master Roshi more and more for looking at her differently.

Just then, Gohan appeared right in front of Trunks' face, smiled, and said, "Boo!"

Trunks screamed and immediately put his hand over his mouth, but it was too late, Pan had heard him. She turned around and her eyes lit up when she saw Trunks. Gohan moved out of the way as Pan ran up to Trunks and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Trunks!" she said happily.

Trunks felt his insides turn to mush and she tightened her grip. "You act like you haven't seen me in years. It's only been two days."

"It feels like longer than that," Pan whispered in his ear, sending a chill down his spine.

Gohan smiled as he watched from the sidelines, with Trunks staring at him as if trying to make sure he was really there.

"I'm really here, Trunks," Gohan assured him, and pointed to the halo above his head. "I'm still dead, I just came back to a visit for a few days... or weeks.... or however long it takes to convince you."

"Convince me of what?" Trunks asked.

Pan pulled away from him and narrowed her eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about, Trunks?"

"I'm talking to your dad," Trunks said, smiling as he pointed over to Gohan.

"My dad?" Pan said, staring at the spot Trunks pointed to. "There's no one there, Trunks. Are you feeling ok?"

Trunks looked at Gohan with a confused look.

"You're the only one who can see me, dumb ass," Gohan said, grinning.

Trunks nodded in his direction and then turned to Pan. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure as hell don't sound like it," Pan said, concerned. "You just thought you were talking to my dead father. I think that calls for some concern."

"No, really," Trunks reassured her. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"You've been acting weird all week. What's up?"

Trunks hesitated as he glanced at his grinning deceased friend. He didn't know what to say to her, but he knew it wasn't going to be the truth.

"I can't wait for this answer," Gohan said.

"I just haven't been myself lately, Pan," Trunks answered, which wasn't a lie. He wasn't feeling like himself. He felt like Master Roshi. "That's all. I'm fine though. Don't worry."

Pan nodded, unconvinced, but she decided to humor him. At least he was talking to her again. She couldn't stand the silence. "Well then, let's go train!" She smiled and flew to the place where they usually trained, while Trunks stayed behind to talk to Gohan.

"Now what is it that you have to convince me of, Gohan?"

"That you like my little girl more than you thought you did," Gohan answered, matter-of-factly.

"I think you're confused, Gohan. I don't feel anything different for her."

"I don't know why you insist on lying. I know whether or not you're telling the truth. And you're lying to me right now."

Trunks sighed. - He knows me too well.- "Look, Gohan, I don't know what I feel. I don't want to feel differently for her, she's a kid."

"But you do feel differently." Gohan smiled again at Trunks' agitated behavior. "Don't you?"

Trunks sighed again and stared at the sky. "I thought you were dead. Why do you have to come back and torture me?"

Gohan laughed. "It won't be torture if you just admit it."

Trunks returned his gaze to Gohan and shook his head, without saying a word. Then he felt his hair being pulled, and someone knocking him down to the ground, hitting the back of his head hard. He looked up and saw Pan grinning in front of him.

"What's taking so long?" she asked, more jokingly than annoyed. "Are you postponing your date with death? Are you afraid of me?"

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Why the hell should I be afraid of a little girl?"

Pan crossed her arms and frowned at the "little girl" comment, but decided not to comment on it like she usually did. Instead, she took a more brutal approach. "I think you are scared of a 'little girl'. Just like your father was scared of Bulma. You're both cowards."

"Damn," Gohan said, laughing. "That was wrong."

But Trunks didn't think it was funny. He quickly got up and stared at Pan in anger. She knew he hated being called a coward, but she took the risk anyway, and recognizing the look in his eyes to be one that says, "I'm going to kill you" she quickly flew away.

Trunks turned to Gohan then and said, "Excuse me while I kill your daughter" before taking off after her.

Gohan shook his head and smiled. He knew that Trunks was falling in love with Pan, and he knew that Pan felt the same way, he just had to push Trunks into admitting it to her, because he knew how stubborn Pan could be, seeing as how she has Videl's genes, and he knew she wouldn't confess her feelings for Trunks at the moment. It would have to be up to him if he wanted to give Bulma and Videl grandchildren.

He started to fly after them, thinking that one of them was probably half dead by now, and said, "Kids. When will they ever learn?"

~*~

The next week went by as usual, Pan and Trunks spent their days training in the usual place, except now they had Gohan watching them closely. He was still trying to convince Trunks to fess up to his feelings for Pan, but he never succeeded. Everyday Trunks would convince himself that it was nothing, and slowly his mind was beginning to think that, but his heart wouldn't accept it, and neither would Gohan. The feeling was getting stronger, and it was becoming harder to hide it, except with Gohan. He had a knack for knowing just what Trunks was thinking, feeling, and what he was about to say before he even knew it himself. And each day was getting more and more frustrating for both of them.

"Why don't you just admit it and stop torturing yourself?" Gohan asked him at the end of the week.

"Why don't you get off of the question and talk to me about something else?" Trunks said. He was beginning to get annoyed with his friend's constant encouragement of something he wasn't even sure he felt. Ok, of course he knew he was falling in love with Pan, but he was too stubborn to admit it, not even to himself, let alone Pan.

"Alright," Gohan decided to leave him alone for awhile. At least for a few minutes. "Let me ask you another question then. What are you getting her for her birthday?"

"Oh, shit!" Trunks exclaimed. "I forgot all about her birthday." It was the next day and he had nothing planned. "I guess after the party my mom's giving her I could take her out."

Gohan grinned. "Now you behave yourself when you 'take her out'. I don't want to be a grandfather yet."

Trunks frowned and rolled his eyes as Gohan laughed. Even after 18 years of being in the Other World, he was still the same old Gohan. Same funny, yet annoying, Gohan.

The night of Pan's birthday...
Pan struggled as she carried a passed out and very drunk Trunks into his room, which was a very difficult task considering she was almost as drunk as he was. She flung him onto his bed, and stumbled backwards as she looked at him. She wasn't that drunk, she could see clearly at least, and she knew she would never forget that night, nor what she had done before he passed out. She just hoped that he wouldn't remember.

-Why did I have to do that?- She thought, still concentrating on his sleeping form. - I hope he doesn't remember because I'll never live it down if he does. I guess.... I guess it was just temporary insanity that caused me to do it.- She smiled despite how angry she was at herself. - I do know one thing though... I will never forget tonight.-

She then tried to walk over to the window so that she could jump out of it and walk over to her house, but the alcohol soon caught up with her. Her vision was blurry and she stumbled into a chair and passed out, still hoping that Trunks would forget what she had done moments before. That was all she could do: hope.

*~*~*~*~*
I really got into that chapter. Hopefully, the other chapters will be as long as this. I don't know where the drunk thing came from, it just popped into my head one day and I decided to add it. I know it's confusing right now, but that's just to keep your interest, if anybody is interested in this story. Anyway, I'll explain what happened that night and what Pan regrets in the next chapter, along with an introduction of some new characters. And please review. I don't even care if it's flames, just review. I want to know what I did that was good and what I did that sucked and how I can improve. And if anyone has any ideas, let me know. I might use them. And please check out my other fics. There's "A Prince's Past", a fic about Vegeta and a possible G/V get together, and then there's my other fic, "The Utterly Impossible", which is going to be collection of different stories that would never happen in DBZ. I've been told the first story is funny. Anyway, please review. I'm begging!