A/N:    So, here is the promised chapter. I won't say anything except thank you for your reviews!

            Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Fateful letters

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So, there she was now… So close to home and yet so far away.

Pan was standing on a branch from which she had clear view to her old home. The black clothes she wore and the new moon just added to the effect that she completely disappeared in the darkness, became one with it. The lights were off in the house of her parents – no wonder, since it was way past midnight. They were home. Pan could feel it. In their bedroom, fast asleep. It had only been a day since she last heard her parents' voices. This was the last stop, the last before she would turn her back on this house and this country for good. She tightly clutched the last white envelope to her chest. She had already delivered the others, protected by the darkness, while at her new home it was still day. No one had noticed her until now and she would keep it that way. They would first know that she had been home, when it was too late for them to do anything. A cruel, but the only way to tell them, what had been on her heart for the last months and to say her final farewells. No, no word about Takeo, Pia or where she was. The less they knew, the better it'd be for them.

After what seemed like hours, Pan eventually jumped from the tree and slowly, but as elegant and quiet as a cat, she made her way to the front door. Forming a small ki ball in one hand to see some things more clearly, she took with the other hand a single key out of her pocket and carefully unlocked the door. Fortunately for her, the door didn't make any sound as it swung open. Immediately extinguishing the small light in the palm of her hand, she walked the well known way to the kitchen, looking around in the course of doing so. Not much had changed in the last years as far as she could see, so she also didn't have any problems to find her way around. In the kitchen she gently placed the envelope on the counter in front of the window, for her parents easy to find.

After placing one last kiss on her fingertips and letting them linger on the envelope for a few seconds, she left the house again, locked it behind her and walked the few yards until she left the paved path that was leading to the house. There she stopped to look back one last time, trying to remember every single detail of it lying in the dark. "Farewell," she mumbled, before she took into the sky.

~*~

Videl was quietly humming to herself, obviously being in a good mood despite the early morning hours, as she walked out of her and Gohan's bedroom down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Well, why shouldn't she be in a good mood? Her baby had called the day before and hearing her daughter's voice for the first time again after a year lightened her spirits. Once being in the kitchen, she quickly proceeded to the window to let the fresh morning breeze in. It was finally getting summer. Gone were the cold hard winter days and with summer being close, it also wouldn't take long anymore until Pan would be home again.

She first noticed the envelope on the counter, when she accidentally brushed it with her hands. Videl looked down at it confused, finding the words 'Daddy and Mommy' written down neatly in her daughter's handwriting on the white paper. With shaking hands she picked it up, looking at it from each side. It was sealed. "Gohan!" she shouted, her voice quivering, not knowing what this should mean. "Gohan!"

"Yes, honey… What is it?" her husband asked, when he finally stood, if still a bit sleepily, in the doorframe to the kitchen. Videl raised her hand holding the envelope, holding it up for Gohan to see. "What's this?" Gohan walked up to her and gently took it out of her hands, also observing it closely. "But… but that's Pan's handwriting…" He looked up to meet his wife's eyes.

"Please, open it…" Gohan did as he was told and just a minute later he wished that he had never done this.

Dear Mom and Dad,

… Now I'm sitting here and want to write this letter for you, but I somehow don't find the words to voice what I want to say… Well, I think I'll start with this… Do you remember, eight years ago, when you found a letter in the mail? A letter addressed at me? At this day, with this one fateful letter everything started… And with the one you're reading now, everything ends. What I want to say with this is… Please believe me, I really don't want to hurt you and I'm just doing this to keep that from happening…

I'm not coming home.

There, I said it. It's out. I'm not coming home. Please Mom, don't start to cry, and Dad, don't destroy the house… This was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my whole life. But it's only for your best. In the last year I've really messed up. I can't tell you how and what I've done so bad that I won't be able to come home. You just have to believe me that it's impossible. Things …happened… that just shouldn't have happened. And I can't say that it had just been my mistake. Other people also added their two cents to this whole thing. You most likely would be so hurt and disappointed, if I told you what has happened. That's the reason why I'll not return.

But, things slowly start to smooth away again. Where I am right now I have friends who've helped and still help me. I have work, a place to live… And despite the fact that I miss you, all of you, terribly, and it hurts so much, I can't deny that I am also happy.

I know I've made a huge mistake, but I don't regret it completely. I can't tell you why and I ask for your understanding that I won't tell you why. There must come a time for a child to grow up, and last year, I learned the hard way what it means to be an adult, what it truly means to take responsibility for my actions. But I've also grown – as person. You probably wouldn't recognize me, if you saw me. Young, tomboyish and carefree Pan Son becoming a grown-up responsible woman.

And you will never see it…

~*~

Vegeta got up as early as usual to train, though he somehow had this feeling that something was off this morning. Shrugging this off as an effect of turning soft on this mudball, he entered the code for the GR and went inside, its doors closing behind him. He walked up to the main console, where he saw it – an envelope carrying his name. Curious as to why someone should write him, since he had never before gotten any mail, he ruthlessly tore it open, unfolding the letter, which he found inside.

Dear Vegeta

Yeah, I know it sounds strange, since probably no one ever called you that, except of maybe Bulma, but I just knew no other way to start this letter. Whatever, I just wrote this letter to you to say thank you. Thank you for the time I was allowed to spend with you. Be it just sparring, or maybe talking, though the latter was the more rarely case. Thank you for always being loyal to me and treating me like you did. You never held any prejudices against me like the others had. You always said that I was more Saiyajin than any of the others. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. About one year ago I would've said yes, but now, after everything that has happened, I'm not so sure anymore.

Thank you for giving me advice when I needed it, though I did not always listen. Now I sometimes wish that I did, but I just can't go back in time to change the course of events. This would probably work out for another me, but not for me in this timeline. And somehow, I wouldn't have wanted them to be changed. Otherwise I wouldn't be the person I am now.

Thank you for your discretion. You could have just told the others about me, even after things started to heat up, but you respected my request and kept quiet. And I hope you'll still do it. Please, do also tell no one about this letter. That's important for me.

And in the end, thank you for just being you, Vegeta, my friend.

It was an honor to have known you…

Pan

After having finished reading the letter, Vegeta tore it into a few pieces, before burning it with a small ki blast. Something that resembled a frown was to be found on his face, when he watched the tiny remnants of the letter slowly floating to the ground, where they crumbled to nothingness. That was it. Even though the brat hadn't mentioned anything in that way in her letter, he knew that she wouldn't come back. Not now. Not ever. Another part that was true Saiyajin. Once she had taken something in her head, she would follow this path.

~*~

Bra and Goten had found their letters a bit later that morning after they got up on their windowsill. One for each of them. The moment both of them had laid their eyes on the two envelopes, they had gotten a bad feeling and a silent agreement had been made between the two of them that each would read his letter alone in solitary.

Bra had gone into the bathroom, carefully locking the door behind her, where she sat down on the edge of the bathtub and hesitantly opened the envelope. She already felt tears in her eyes, before she had even finished reading the first line…

Bra,

You've always been my best friend, and as best friend I hope you understand my decision. This letter is my final goodbye. Yesterday I just called to hear the voices of my parents one last time, before I wanted to deliver those letters. You told me that I don't know what I'm doing, but it's exactly the contrary. For the first time in my life I know exactly what I'm doing. I know you're angry with me, and maybe even worried, especially now that you know. I just ask myself, when you found out.

I guess it had been after I broke up with him, after turning your advice into action. If you blame yourself for the outcome of this whole thing, stop. The reasons for my decisions to leave and not come back have nothing to do with your advice. This is just between him and me, just like he'd already said at the press conference. And believe me, it wasn't easy for me to go. I love you, Bra. You are my friend and my sister. And I'll always see you that way.

Please, don't do anything you'll regret. Don't call off your wedding, no matter what some people might say. I'll tell Goten the same thing. I'm sure you'll be a beautiful bride and I'm really sorry that I won't be there to be your bridesmaid. I know how much you would've liked it dragging me from one shop to another in search for a dress. I hope, no, I'm sure that you and Goten will be happy together. I just regret that I won't be able to see your children… Any mix between you and Goten will be perfect, I think.

Oh Dende, there are still so many things that I wanted to tell you, but I just can't remember what.

Please, don't show anyone this letter, not even Goten. I don't want them to ask questions, which answers could hurt them. I think it is enough when you, your father and brother know about 'it'.

Goodbye, Bra…

Your friend,

Pan

Sobbing hard, Bra wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and slowly got up from the bathtub, putting the letter back into its envelope, before she left the bathroom, walking back to her and Goten's room at CC. There she found her fiancé sitting on their bed, the letter tightly clutched in his fist. He looked up, when he heard the door open, got up and immediately gathered Bra in his arms, letting her cry into his chest. He, too, had tears in his eyes, but he was taught to not let them flow, and so he blinked them away, every time they resurfaced again.

After standing there like this for a few minutes, he gently led her back to the bed, where they sat down. "You want to read?" he offered her, showing her his letter.

Bra looked up, sniffed and eventually asked, "May I? I mean, because Pan wrote some pretty private things in my letter that she doesn't want anyone else to know…"

Goten nodded softly, gently stroking a strand of aqua blue hair behind her ear. "She hasn't said anything like this… My letter also isn't that long."

"Okay." She took the sheet of paper out of his hand and started to read for herself.

Dear Goten,

I know, we've just talked yesterday, but I couldn't say the things on the phone I wanted to tell you. First of all, I love you. Despite the fact that you are my uncle and more than ten years older than I am, you were my friend and my brother, just like Bra is my friend and my sister. After grandpa died, you helped me through the hard time. You've always tried to cheer me up. That's what I'll miss the most of you… You're carelessness and cheerfulness… The traits of a typical Son.

Please, never give up those traits. They are what makes you what you are. You always see the positive way of things, so please try to see the positive in me not coming home. Like I also told dad and mom, I've messed up – so much that you will just be disappointed in me, if I return. I'm doing it mostly for you… You have to believe me that. So, don't get any stupid ideas like calling the wedding off. You and Bra will get married on June 1st, come fire or high water. If you still plan to call it off, think of this wedding as some kind of my last will for you. Even though I can't be there in person, sitting in the front row or standing next to you in some dress Bra forced me to wear, I'll be there in mind. I just want you to be happy, and you will just be completely happy, when you're with the one you love.

So, keep that in mind and one time in your life listen to me.

Goodbye uncle Goten…

Your favorite (and only) niece

Pan

When Bra lowered the letter, Goten put an arm around her and pulled her close, gently kissing her forehead, while new tears were running down her cheek.

~*~

At the Capsule Corporation office building this morning went like every other morning. Trunks was walking through the hallways to his office, was greeted (mostly) by his female employees. Once having closed the doors behind him, he sighed deeply, running with his hand through his hair and threw his briefcase on the desk. He not once noticed the white envelope that fell on the floor, when the briefcase landed on the desk.

As soon as he had sat down, his secretary entered the office, flooding his desk with folders that need to be looked through. Sighing again, he took out a pen and opened the first folder.

~*~

Gohan and Videl had sat down in the meantime, Gohan holding his violently sobbing wife in his arms, while reading the letter for her. "Mom, Dad, I love you, with all my heart. People say that home is where the heart his. This is true. You'll always have a big part of my heart and therefore is my true home with you. I'll never find another place, where I'll be felt as loved as at you. You've given me everything I needed and enough love for a lifetime. I'm truly sorry that everything worked out like this, but please respect my decision. I'll miss you so much… Don't forget me, because wherever I am, I'm still your daughter and you will always be my parents…" Gohan's voice started to falter, when he read those words, but after waiting a few seconds, he continued, reading the last part of the letter. "Dad, Mom, farewell. I'll never forget anything you've done for me. Your loving daughter, Pan. – PS: Tell grandma ChiChi and grandpa Satan that I love them."

~*~

Trunks groaned, when, in addition to all those folders his phone started to ring. He contemplated for a few seconds, if he should pick it up and in the end, decided it'll be better to do it. "This is Trunks Briefs… Oh, hey mom, what's up? What? Wait a minute… Slow down… News? What kind of news… Mom? Are you crying? What? Pan? What about her?" he asked, his voice suddenly betraying a hint of hope. "Okay, I'll be on my way…" He put the receiver back and got up, dressing in his jacket while doing so. He had just passed his desk, when he suddenly heard a rustle on the ground. He stopped and looked down, seeing an envelope with his name written on it. His heart caught in his throat, when he recognized the handwriting. How did it get here? Immediately dismissing this thought, he picked the envelope up and took the letter out, letting the envelope fall to the floor.

There are so many things that I want to tell you, but I can't find the right words to express all of my feelings... So, here are just a few of them, simple and short.

Sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But what you said to me was true. I can't expect you to forgive me, but I can ask you to move on, to forget what we had. Maybe you can someday remember us as the friends we used to be, before… I hope that I can do the same.

But I won't come back. I have a new life, that's the reason why I asked you to move on, because I did.

Farewell Trunks…

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So, what do you think? I must say, I personally like that chapter… Is still a bit sad, but I'm positive that the mood will become lighter soon.

Eternally yours

ChibiChibi