A/N: Thanks a lot for your reviews! I appreciate really every single one of them and remember, no review is pointless, because just through them I know that at least some people like my stories!
Chapter 13: The wedding
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A young woman was standing in front of a large mirror. She carefully straightened her long white and wide-flowing dress at a few places and gently placed a white veil attached to a silver diadem on her head, smoothing her long aqua colored hair back in the course of doing so. First when she thought that everything was perfect, she dared to raise her head to take a look at her mirror image. She tried to smile, but it somehow seemed fake to her. This should be the happiest day in her life, and yet, something – someone – important was missing.
She turned around surprised, when she felt the gentle squeeze of a hand on her shoulder. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn't seen the person approaching in the mirror. "You're beautiful, honey. Once Goten sees you like this, I doubt that he'll ever let you go again."
She smiled again, but still it didn't feel right. "Thanks, mom…"
Bulma stroked a strand of her daughter's hair back. "Oh Bra…" she said soothingly. "What's bothering you?" When Bra turned her head away to hide the tears that were threatening to fall, Bulma sighed. "Honey… We've all talked about this and agreed. In her letter, she told both you and Goten to get married."
"I know… But it's still not the same without her…"
"Of course it's not the same without her, but didn't she also tell you that she would be here in mind? We just have to accept her decision, Bra. Whatever the reasons of her decision may be, I'm sure that they are strong reasons," her mother tried to calm her down.
Bra wiped her tears away and looked out of the window. Everything was prepared. The whole backyard was decorated with roses in the colors white and red, several lines of white chairs were standing in front of some kind of altar, also held in white. It seemed that all guests had arrived already, for most of the chairs were already taken. In the front lines the Son family was sitting, along with Mr. Satan and hers. At the end of the aisle, at the altar, three men were standing. The priest, her soon-to-be husband and the strong reason why Pan couldn't come home. Bra knew that it was unfair to blame him, but sometimes she just couldn't help herself. She had just a vague idea of what had exactly happened between them, since neither Trunks told anyone anything specific nor Pan mentioned it in her last letter. Everyone hurt and no one would ever find out the true reasons for this, because the two only persons who could tell them exactly that won't.
Bulma's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "It's time. We should go now. The guests are already waiting."
Bra nodded and let herself be led out of her room, down the stairs into the garden. The warm sun shone down on her face and she had to blink a few times to adjust to the glaring light. A smile appeared on her lips, when her father turned around and his jaw almost hit the floor upon seeing her – a sight that was not often seen of the otherwise so stoic Vegeta. Once she was standing next to him, he took her arm, his head holding high, the pride of being the bride's father clearly being visible on his features.
Bulma just wanted to give the sign for the wedding march to begin, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hey, do you want to start without me?" a cheerful voice asked her.
The heads of those sitting in the last lines turned around, but no one was more surprised than Bulma and Vegeta. She hesitatingly turned her head, before a huge smile spread over her face. "Goku! Is that really you?"
"Yep, it's me, still dead, but it's me. Did you really think I would miss the wedding of my son? Especially if his bride is going to be the daughter of Vegeta?" Goku told her.
Vegeta just snorted, but at the smirk on his face you could see that he was at least a bit happy to see his once arch-rival again. Bulma, on the other hand, was obviously happy that her childhood friend came back from the other world just for this wedding. "Oh Goku," she hugged him tightly. "It's so good to see you. I'm sure Goten will be so happy, oh, and Gohan and I can't even imagine what ChiChi's reaction will be!"
"Hey, didn't you forget someone?" the warrior asked confused. "What about my little Panny?" Upon seeing their faces fall, he was even more confused. "Did I say anything wrong?"
"Sorry, Goku… It's just that Pan can't be here… We'll talk later about it, okay?" Bulma said, forcing a smile on her face. This was the wedding of her daughter and she wouldn't let anything ruin it. "Why don't you go and take my seat in the first line? ChiChi is sitting next to it. Don't worry about me, I just find myself another seat."
"Okay," Goku smiled, though he desperately wanted to know, what exactly was up with Pan. In the afterlife he just got the message of his son's wedding through coincidence, because the northern Kaiou had taken a quick look on what was happening on earth. "Thank you, Bulma." After he said this, he walked up to the front line. On his way there, he suddenly thought he saw something and turned to look to his right, where a small forest was on the compound, but shook it off as nothing, turning his attention back to his family. Gohan, who was sitting on the other side of ChiChi with Videl, looked at him with wide eyes, when he noticed him. His father just grinned down at him, putting a hand on his shoulder, before he sat down next to his wife, who was already crying. After having pulled a tissue out of his pocket, he held it in front of her face.
She gratefully took it and blew her nose, before she finally looked up. "Go-Goku?" she asked more than a bit surprised.
"Hello ChiChi," he said softly.
Before anymore words between those two could be exchanged, the wedding march began to play. All heads turned around to see Marron, Bra's bridesmaid, walking down the aisle. She was wearing a long baby-blue dress with spaghetti-straps and held a bunch of flowers in the same color in her hands. When she had reached the end of the aisle, all eyes were expectantly resting on the young bride, whose father was walking her down the aisle – especially the eyes of one lucky demi-Saiyajin.
Goten's breath caught in his throat, once he caught sight of Bra. Oh god, she was gorgeous! Just… indescribable. She was truly looking like a princess, an angel. And in a few minutes she would be his princess, his angel. His heart was beating hard against his chest, his nervousness once again coming back with full force. His hands were cold with sweat and the collar of his tux suddenly seemed way too tight. He suddenly felt his friend's and best man's hand on his shoulder. He looked at him and then into the direction, Trunks was motioning with his head. His smile widened, if that was even possible. His father, he was there. A bit hard to recognize in the tux, but the hair and especially the golden halo floating above his head gave him away. Goku winked at him and after nodding at him, Goten turned his attention back to the beauty that he called his bride. Slowly, but surely, the nervousness washed away, replaced by the happiness of seeing Bra and that at least one of the two persons he so desperately wanted to be present at the wedding had somehow made it.
Vegeta couldn't be any prouder, as he was walking his daughter down the aisle, but he was also a bit… sad. His baby-girl had grown up and in a few minutes he wouldn't be the one to take care of her anymore and another man would take over that responsibility. In his years on Frieza's ship he would have never thought that he would someday have those feelings, but heck, he hadn't even believed in ever having a family he truly cared about. But those years were long over and he was still alive. Right now he probably was one of the oldest Saiyajinwarriors who had ever lived. And he was happy.
They stopped directly in front of the groom, where Vegeta took her hands and gave her a short kiss on her forehead, the only time he had actually done that, at least in public, and whispered, "You're beautiful, Princess." He shot Goten a warning glare and then put Bra's hands into his, before he walked to where his woman was now sitting. Bra looked after him with a smile on her face and eventually turned her full attention to Goten, her love, her mate, her everything.
With that, the priest began.
Trunks watched his sister and his best friend, as they gave their vows and couldn't help but feel a bit jealousy coming up. If things had just been a bit different it could be Pan and him standing there. But it would never be. They both had messed up the only chance to be with each other and he had to accept that. Her letter just confirmed it. She had moved on and asked him to do the same. At that moment, when Goten and Bra said their I do's, Trunks finally made peace with himself. Sure, he still hurt, but he was quite sure that time would heal the wounds. He never really blamed Pan for anything that had happened, he just blamed himself, but after having been able to think about this whole situation a bit more clearly after having received her letter one month ago, he saw that both of them had blamed themselves and that each of them had made mistakes. But with making mistakes you're learning and he hoped that he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He had to move on, just like she told him to do. If he wanted to be happy again someday, he had to close this chapter of his life and start a new one, in the hope to make things better.
When Bra and Goten kissed, he turned his eyes away from them to the small forest and yet didn't look there, for with his mind he was in his past, when everything had been easy and simple between him and Pan. When they both had still been best friends. Goodbye Pan. I'll never forget you or our friendship.
~*~
She couldn't believe she'd actually done this. She couldn't believe she was actually here – at the place she had sworn she would never return to. But she just hadn't been able to stay away, not when she so desperately wanted to see two of her best friends getting married. It truly had been a hard decision to make and now she was here, hiding in the secure shadows of the trees. When she wasn't able to stand next to her best friends, she at least had to watch it, even if it was from a safe distant. She owed them that.
Silent tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks and she raised her left hand to wipe them away, carefully settling two months old sleeping Takeo in her right arm. Due to this movement he stirred, but eventually yawned again and fell back asleep. No wonder he was tired, since it was night, where they lived.
A small smile graced her lips. Bra was so beautiful and she and Goten looked so happy. Everyone looked happy. At that moment she almost didn't regret her decision. Almost, that meant the fact that she wouldn't be able to talk to her grandpa, who had turned up so surprisingly for everyone. She would have to be satisfied with just watching him, being able to see him again after nine long years. But it was worth it.
But two times her heart almost stood still. The first time was, when her grandfather cast a look into her direction and the second time was, when Trunks did the same, just that it seemed like he was directly looking at her. She hadn't dared to move, not even to breath at that moment, out of fear that she might give her hiding place away. But nothing had happened. Shortly after the kiss, the now newly wed couple was surrounded by masses of people, everyone eager to congratulate them. Hugs and kisses were exchanged between them and Pan thought that this was her sign to go. She looked one last time back at her family and friends, her eyes resting a bit longer on Trunks, the man she still loved with all her heart. He was still as gorgeous as ever before and his eyes were still the same blue. She protectively pressed Takeo closer at her body, this time waking him up while doing so, a small squeal coming from him. Startled, she looked down at him, into his blue eyes, his father's eyes, before looking up again, only to meet her grandfather's eyes. She watched him saying something to her father, before he walked towards the forest. Her heart was beating hard against her chest and she quickly turned around, fleeing with fast steps until she would reach a place, where she could safely take off into the sky.
~*~
Goku looked up surprised from his conversation with Gohan. He thought he had heard something, something like a squeal coming from the same direction, where he already thought he had seen something. He quickly excused himself and then discretely made his way through the crowd to the small forest. He quickly walked past some trees, when he heard some rustling in front of him. Using a small part of his strength, he caught up to the person within the split of a second. It was a young woman with shoulder length black hair, obviously carrying something and fleeing from something. "Excuse me, Miss?" he called out, but the woman just fastened her steps. He sighed and phased out, just to reappear again directly next to her and gently grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn around. "Miss?" She looked at him with wide, from unshed tears glistening eyes and for the first time he noticed the small awfully familiar looking baby in her arms. "Are you okay?"
"Sure…" she answered way too quickly for his liking. "Uhm, could please let go of me, so that I can leave?"
He saw the desperate look in his eyes and reluctantly let go. She gave him a small grateful smile and turned to go, when it suddenly hit him. "Pan?" The young woman stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at him. "Panny, is that really you?" Upon her light nod, a huge grin spread across his face. "Wow, you've grown up. You're so beautiful! But what are you doing here? Why aren't you with the others? And who is that baby? Is it…"
"Grandpa, please," she interrupted his rambling. "I… this is complicated… I… can't go there. Not now, not ever. And this baby… His name is… Takeo. He's my son."
"Your-your what?" the dead warrior asked surprised. He scratched the back of his head. "Wow, who would've thought…" Grinning he extended his finger to the baby, which eagerly grabbed it. "Hello little one," he cooed. "So, and who's the father? He looks kinda familiar… Somehow a lot like… No way, don't tell me his father is Vegeta?"
Pan couldn't oppress a small giggle escaping her lips. "Vegeta? Hell, no… Do you see his blue eyes? His father… it's… Trunks. Just that he doesn't know that he has a son." She sighed. "Grandpa, please don't tell him. It's just… So many things have happened between us, not even the others know about it. They don't know that Trunks and I – had something. So, please don't tell them either. I'm sure they'll tell you what they know."
"Oh Pan…" He gently wiped a tear away that had escaped her eye and pulled her into a warm hug. "Don't worry. I won't tell them. Just answer me one question. Wherever you are, are you happy?"
She nodded against his chest, which was accompanied with a soft 'yes'. They let go of each other and both smiled. "You should go back… The others will miss you otherwise."
"You'll be okay?"
"Yeah…"
"Good." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Take care, Pan. Of yourself and your little son. I trust that you'll make something out of your life, be it with your family or alone. Whatever has happened between you and Trunks, it's between the both of you and you should do what you think is right. And if it's leaving your parents and family behind, so be it. I'll always love you, Pan."
Crying again, Pan threw herself again in her grandfather's arms, carefully to not to squeeze Takeo between them. "I love you too, grandpa. I love you and I miss you so much."
"Hush, it's okay, Panny. I'll watch over you." Goku soothingly stroked her hair, before they broke the embrace. He smiled at her, which she returned, before she turned around to go and eventually disappeared in the shadows. Goku looked after her until she was gone and then also left the small forest, going to back to the reception. He would now go there and act as if nothing had happened, waiting for them to fill him in on what they knew about Pan's absence, while he was carrying the secret of the truth in his heart. But he somehow knew deep down that someday Pan would find her way back home.
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Well, I think that was the last chapter with some sad T/P action for now. Now History of Takeo can really begin!
Eternally yours
ChibiChibi
