Hey guys! Here's the next chapter, and we're starting with them being in court. This takes place maybe around 4 days after the last chapter, just so you all know. Okay, that's it, I hope you like it!

~Lady Branwen~

***I thought I gave Charles a last name, but I couldn't remember it or find it in the story, so I made one up again here. If you guys know what it is, let me know and I'll change it, thanks!

I don't own DBZ

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Girl of My Dreams

Chapter 16

"Do you have a lawyer present?" The judge asked Gohan.

It was the day of the court hearing and everyone Gohan even remotely knew had shown up. Goku, Chi-Chi, Ox King, Master Roshi, Trunks, Vegeta, Bra, Puar, Oolong, and Baba to name a few. All of the Z fighters were there, even Dende who disguised himself the best he could so that no one would recognize him as God. Videl and Trunks sat next to him because they were also being tried in court.

"Yes, she's here," Gohan replied. He looked across the table at the other side of the room where Charles was sitting. Pan sat behind him sullenly.

"Well, is she in the courtroom or what? We don't have all day you know," the judge said testily.

At that moment, Bulma walked into the courtroom, briefcase in hand. "Sorry I'm late, your honor," she said. She walked past the gates and sat down next to Gohan nearest the aisle.

"What is this? You're not a lawyer! You are Bulma Brief."

"Be that as it may, I am here today to represent my good friend. I understand that this is acceptable and it would also be acceptable for Gohan to represent himself if he so chose."

The judge sighed. "Fine, let's get on with it. Mr. Hahn, please start with your opening comments."

Charles' lawyer cleared his throat and stood up from his seat next to Charles. "Your honor and people of the jury, this is a clean cut case." His voice was deep and he wore a charming smile on his face to disarm everyone. "These people," he turned and gestured to Gohan, Videl, and Trunks, "kidnapped my client, Charles Miller's daughter. There is proof, even from their own neighbors that Mr. Miller's daughter was seen there suddenly, without any forewarning. There is also more indisputable proof that they kidnapped her. Their counter suit against my client is frivolous at the least. But, we will prove that soon enough." He walked back to his seat and sat down smirking.

Bulma glared at him over her glasses, then got up and walked over to the jury. "Some things were done by my clients that may seem at first to be wrong, but throughout this hearing, you will be told the reasons why they did them. There are reasons why Pan, Mr. Miller's daughter, was taken from him and I am sure that most of you would agree that had you been in my client's position, you would have done the same." Bulma nodded to the jury, then to the judge and sat back down. She leaned over to Gohan and whispered, "Short and sweet. I wanted to save my speeches for when we summon the witnesses." Gohan nodded.

"Mrs. Brief, please call up your first witness."

"I call upon Videl Satan, your honor."

Videl walked to the bailiff, swore in, then sat down on the podium. Bulma stood up and walked over to Videl.

"Mrs. Satan, what happened to you about 14 years ago?"

"Objection, your honor," Mr. Hahn cut in.

"Your honor," Bulma said, "I'm asking this for a reason that will be made clear later on in the hearing."

"Overruled. You may continue."

"Thank you. Please answer the question, Mrs. Satan."

Videl shifted nervously. "I got pregnant."

"By whom?"

"Gohan."

"Can you say his full name and point him out to us?"

"His name is Gohan Son. He's sitting over there," she said pointing to Gohan. He smiled at her lovingly.

"And what was the baby? A boy? A girl?"

"A girl."

"What did you name her?"

"I named her Pan."

"Is she here in court today?"

"Yes."

"Point her out please."

Videl lifted her finger up and pointed to where Pan was sitting, wide-eyed and afraid. There were nervous whispers in the courtroom and the judge called order.

"Objection! There is no proof that my client's child is the same as their child."

"That brings me to Exhibit 1. DNA results that were taken from Pan to prove who the real parent is."

The bailiff walked over to Bulma and took the package out of her hand and gave it to Judge Swartz. He opened the envelope and took out a few papers and looked them over. "I would like the jury to take note that the DNA results prove that Pan is the daughter of Gohan Son and Videl Satan."

"What happened to your daughter?" Bulma asked.

"I was afraid that my father would be angry with me. I had had Pan out of wedlock. I gave her up for adoption about a week after I had her." Tears welled in Videl's eyes just thinking about all the mess she had caused.

"Do you know Charles Miller?"

"No. I've just met him a few times recently. I don't really know him."

"And how would you describe him?"

"He seems to be kind, but you'd have to be really dumb not to notice that he's always thinking about something else."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, he just always looks like he is plotting."

"I have no further questions."

Bulma sat back down.

"Your witness, Mr. Hahn."

Mr. Hahn still sat in his chair, leaning back and thinking what to do about this new development. Finally, he got up and walked over to Videl and stood looking at her for what seemed like forever. "Mrs. Satan, what exactly happened? These past couple of months when you allegedly kidnapped my client's daughter, I mean. Tell me what you know happened." He leaned his arm against the podium.

"Well, I was sitting at home one day and Gohan came rushing in the house telling me that he wanted me to meet someone. I was in the kitchen and I walked out and into our living room and saw that he had a girl with him. When he introduced us, he told me that he name was Pan. She looked so much like us thought I was sure that she had to be my daughter. We offered to let her stay with us and we gave her a room to sleep in. Then a few days later, Mr. Miller showed up and claimed that his daughter was with us."

"And she was wasn't she? What did you tell him?"

"I didn't know for sure if he was actually talking about the girl in our house. He never said any specific name, but he did demand to be shown around." Videl glared at Charles, she was still mad at him for that. "Then Pan was taken away and when I saw her again, she told me that Charles had taken her from our house. She told us that he had put her in the trunk of a car and kept her in a hut in the country and did terrible things to her." Videl looked at Pan sadly and Pan began to cry softly.

Mr. Hahn looked at Pan then to Charles who sat ignoring the crying girl behind him. "And then what happened, Mrs. Satan?"

"A few days after she came back, Charles showed up with the police and accused us of kidnapping her. Charles took her with him and he accused Trunks Brief of initially kidnapping Pan and Trunks was arrested."

"And after that?"

"My husband went and took her from Charles' house. She had been unconscious when Gohan got her back to our house and she was starving when she woke up. We had to feed her. Then two days later, Charles returned with the police again and she was taken from us. My husband was put in jail until I could bail him out."

"So you admit that your husband did, at least this third time, kidnap Pan from my client's home?"

Videl pursed her lips, then burst out, barely able to control herself. "She wanted to be with us. She has had a terrible life, she would be better off with us."

"Ma'am, even if that were true, that does not give you any right to kidnap someone else's child."

"She's my child! I finally got her back and found out what has happened to her and I hear that she has had such a crappy life! I want to protect her from the scum who did that to her. Is that so wrong? I'm family, real family. I care about her safety and well being. He doesn't!"

Mr. Hahn sighed. "Thank you, Mrs. Satan. I have no further questions."

The judge leaned over to Videl and said, "You may step down now. Mr. Hahn, please call up your witness."

"Your honor, I call upon Robert Miller."

Charles' brother strode up to the podium and was sworn in before he sat down heavily in the chair. He was just as heavy set as his brother, with the same beady eyes and cunning look on his face. "Now Robert, may I call you Robert?"

"Sure can."

"Robert, can you tell us a little about your brother Charles?"

"Well," he leaned his elbows against the wall in front of him. "Charles is quite a nice guy. He tends to our little plot of land. It's really his, but he shares it with me because I can't get any work. He's always helping people out. He shares with me a lot. He's a kind soul."

"And what about his daughter?"

"Oh, she's just as sweet as he is. Nicest girl you'll ever meet."

"You know who his daughter is, don't you?"

"Yep."

"Please point her out for us."

Robert pointed to Pan. "That's her."

"Thank you. How long has she been staying with your brother, sir?"

"All her life as far as I know. He got her when she was real small. She was a baby when he got her. Sweet thing she is." He licked his lips as he looked at her. Videl jumped in her chair and pounded her fist on the table, staring Robert down. Many people turned to stare at her little outburst, including a shocked Robert, but he sure knew better than to do that again!

Mr. Hahn cleared his throat and continued, "So, would you say that your brother has been more of a parent to her than anyone else because she's lived with him all her life?"

"Objection!" Bulma stood up. "He's leading the witness."

"Sustained. Mr. Miller, disregard that last question."

"From what you have seen of how your brother interacts with his daughter, how would you say he treats her?"

"Oh, quite good! For living there on a farm, she's treated like a princess. She does have to help work on the farm though, but she gets paid for her work. If she don't work, she doesn't get paid, but she still gets treated like a princess. My brother just loves his little girl."

"Thank you, no further questions."

"Your witness, Mrs. Brief," Judge Swartz said.

"Hello Mr. Miller," Bulma greeted.

"Hello. Don't you look pretty today?" he said. A loud and ominous growl was heard from Vegeta and echoed off of the walls. Robert visibly gulped.

"Th-Thank you…" Bulma said absently because she was still looking at Vegeta. "Wow, I never thought that he cared abot me THAT much…" She shook her head and said, "Mr. Miller, have you ever seen your brother, Charles, hit his daughter?"

"Well, a few times, but it wasn't hitting, it was spanking. It was when she was little and she used to get into trouble. Nothing wrong with spanking, though. A lot of people do that."

"So, you say that you've never seen him actually hit her other than spanking? You didn't see him hit her with any objects? And please remember that you are under oath."

"Nope. As far as I know, he hasn't hit her."

"What did he do to her when she was bad? Recently, I mean. You said before that he spanked her when she was little. What does he do now?"

"He grounds her. Sometimes he locks her in her room because she has a temper and has broken expensive things when she got mad."

"What?!" Pan cried. Charles turned around and glared at her and she sank back into her seat quietly. People closest to him that were in the jury eyed him suspiciously.

"Has he done anything else to her other than locking her in her room?"

"Not really. She couldn't watch TV or talk on the phone."

"Well, that sounds normal enough to me. How frequently did you visit your brother?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe twice a week, but sometimes it would be more or less."

"How often was Pan grounded, do you know?"

"Not that often," Robert replied. He sat back into the chair and folded his arms across his large stomach. "Only every once in a while."

"Have you ever noticed anything out of the ordinary on Pan? Bruises? Gashes? Anything like that?"

"A few bruises, but your bound to get some of those on the farm. Charles never let her near any of the machinery so I don't think she ever got cut."

"Hmm…" was all Bulma said. She brought her hand up to her face and smoothed a hair out of her face. "How often was she locked up? Was that mostly every time she was grounded, or did that only happen in extreme cases?"

"Well, see, she just recently started breaking things, maybe like a year ago. She only gets in trouble every two months or so, probably not even that."

"Okay," Bulma replied. "Thank you, I have no further questions."

"You may step down now, Mr. Miller. Please call up your next witness Mrs. Brief."

"I would like to call Mrs. Francine Maktahi to the stand."

Francine slowly stood up and made her way like a turtle to the podium. Charles watched her intently as she was sworn in and took her seat.

"Hello Mrs. Maktahi," Bulma said.

"Please, dear, call me Francine."

"Okay, Francine, please tell the court what your relation to Mr. Charles Miller is."

"I'm his neighbor."

"Okay an-"

"But I am also his mother."

Bulma stood frozen and stared at Francine. Whispering was again heard in the court room and Mr. Hahn immediately started talking to Charles.

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