Chapter Eleven

Pan returned to Bra's lab in a daze. What the hell did I just get myself into? I mean sure he's cute but . . . he's a jerk.

"Did you see that? She just demanded for him to date her and he did!"

"Who does she think she is?"

"Yeah, taking our . . . what is he?"

"Does it matter? He's dreamy!"

"She doesn't work here, she's an outsider!"

Thus Pan discovered why Trunks and Zarah were forbidden to date other employees as she was surrounded by angry females. Pan fazed from sight.

"Where did she go?" One asked shakily.

The rest were just dumbfounded.

**

Bra mixed herself some more soda glumly. She wasn't surprised when Pan slipped in almost guiltily.

"Bra . . ."

Bra sighed, "Let me guess. You stormed all the way to his office and demanded he go out with you."

Pan winced and rubbed her arm.

"Yeah, that's about right."

"And he accepted," Bra watched Pan nod, "All right. When did you tell him the date was?"

"Tomorrow," Pan squeaked.

Bra was silent for a long moment.

"Bra?"

"All right, listen me Pan. I love my cousin but he lives by different rules than we do. When he threw you out of the restricted area he was being nice," Bra picked up a random invention to fiddle with, a habit she picked up from her mom.

"I'll talk to him about mellowing out about saiyan law."

"Saiyan law?" Pan's eyes widened.

"Yeah, you'll need to learn those if this relationship becomes serious," Bra smiled, "Or you could do what my Uncle 17 does."

"What does he do?"

"He let's himself be surprised," Bra chuckled nervously, "Um . . . Oh, very important, don't fight him."

"Why?" Pan lifted a brow, "Don't think I can take him?"

"Pan," Bra gave her a stern look, "You could end up stuck with him for the rest of your life."

"In one date?" Pan was skeptical.

"You don't know who you're dealing with," Bra cursed at her cousin internally.

This was exactly the reason Bra wanted to wait to set them up. Things had been going so smoothly, Pan was becoming a warrior, Zarah was opening up about dating, and Bra had hoped to speak to Bardock about instructing Pan about saiyan tradition.

Then Sasoli literally barged in and ruined everything. Sure she thought that they would suit and be a great couple but nothing was fool-proof. The last thing Bra wanted was for them to hate each other but be unable to leave due to an alien bond.

"He's just another guy with super powers," Pan shrugged her shoulders, "He shouldn't be any harder to handle than my uncle or Trunks."

"Pan," Bra closed her eyes, "He . . ."

"I can handle him," Pan lifted her chin stubbornly.

Bra nearly winced at Pan's stubborn expression. The quarter saiyan might as well have announced at the top of her lungs "I am going to do this on my own, in my way, so don't even try to help me."

"Pan, just promise me one thing," Bra gripped her friend's shoulders.

"Ok," Pan became uneasy, Bra was never ruffled by anything.

"Don't challenge him or let him challenge you to lunafair," Bra told her in a stern voice.

"That's two things--"

"Promise me," Bra was very insistent.

"Ok, I promise," Pan agreed.

Bra sighed with relief and gave Pan an ironic look, "You came to spar didn't you?"

Pan nodded.

"It's a good thing your fast learner," Bra lead her to a hidden room, "You're going to need everything I can offer."

**

Ava groaned as she rolled over only to run into her mate.

17 twitched before reluctantly opening his eyes.

"What time is it?" 17 checked his internal clock, "It's almost noon?"

17 rubbed his eyes and glanced around to find his wife still sleeping. Concerned he felt for her pulse, she had drunk in a typical saiyan fashion and was paying the price.

"Well, you're alive," 17 whispered softly, "and this is a first. I never thought I would see you sleep in."

17 planted a quick kiss on her brow before covering her naked back with a fur. He had a hang over remedy to create before she decided to kill him.

**

Zarah tapped his pen on his desk restlessly, he couldn't concentrate.

Pan kept entering his thoughts, and every moment he thought about it the more convinced he became that she was going to be the one.

A horde of women had stormed into his office demanding that he go out with them. He, of course, reminded them he could fire all of them on a whim and they left. No spine at all.

Terry had tried to call him again and he had merely hung up on her. She was manipulative, trying to seduce him. She was probably trying to get a better pay check.

But Pan, she stood up to him, tried to fight him . . . She liked Bra, and Bra wouldn't be friends with anyone who was beneath her notice.

If nothing else she intrigued him. A saiyan female who wasn't related to him . . . a rare find.

"Zarah?"

Zarah snapped to attention at the sound of Trunks voice.

"What happened?" His lavender haired cousin was surveying the damaged door.

"Oh, Pan barged in here earlier. Don't worry I called the necessary people to fix it," Zarah waved dismissively.

"Where is your secretary?" Trunks raised his eyebrow.

"She didn't show up to work," Zarah shrugged, "I don't like her. She should be fired on account of this gross misconduct."

"Done," Trunks nodded, Bra had called him earlier enlightening him of the hell their cousin had been enduring. He had agreed to fire her on the account of stalking but this was a more solid case. Trunks didn't have to wonder my Zarah kept this to himself, a warrior always took care of his own problems.

"Really?" Zarah was surprised by the turn of events.

Trunks nodded.

Zarah grinned at him, "Ok, I'll get some people to track her down and give her the news."

"Right," Trunks paused in the doorway, "Good luck with adult rights."

Zarah nodded and for once the two cousins got along without anything to ruin the moment.

**

"So Pan where is the date supposed to take place?" Bra rubbed down her sweaty body with a towel.

"Oh," Pan thought quickly, "Tell him to meet me at . . . what's a good restaurant?"

"Pan, he doesn't do well in public places," Bra informed her, "Unless someone he trusts is there, you risk him . . . How to say this? Upholding the warrior code."

"O . . .k," Pan gave Bra a weird look, "How about a picnic?"

Bra winced, "Well, if you don't mind him bringing a deer or two for you cook."

"Then maybe he can eat at my house?" Pan frowned becoming annoyed with Bra.

"Oh no," Bra shook her head, "Bad idea. You'll practically say 'Take me I'm yours!' if you do that."

"Then how about his house?" Pan threw her hands in the air in exasperation.

"House?" Bra winced, "He lives alone, Pan, but if you're comfortable with that then it should work. Yeah, he'll think you're weighing his ability to provide for you and you don't run the risk of him getting the wrong message on the first date."

Pan was incredulous, "Wrong message?"

"Oh Pan," Bra giggled, "Don't get the wrong idea. Zarah is completely honorable, it's just he feels the need to take care of problems in the fastest possible way and if he likes you, then he's going to want to claim you."

"Claim me? I am not a piece of property!" Pan snapped.

"You can claim him, Pan," Bra smiled at the look of disbelief on Pan's face.

"I can?"

"Yes," Bra nodded, "So what time do I tell Zarah you'll be coming to his . . . house?"

Pan chewed her lip nervously.

"I'm not sure if I am sure I want to be completely alone with him. Maybe, we can go eat with his parents?"

Bra blanched, "Bad idea."

"Why?"

"Well, in the eyes of his family he is presenting you as a future ma-wife and they will test you," Bra winced at her near slip of the tongue.

The last thing she wanted to explain to her friend was saiyan mating rituals.

"What kind of tests?" Pan studied her friend curiously.

"I don't know," Bra led Pan into the stairwell, "You won't have to worry about Sasoli though."

"Why not?" Pan scoffed, "I would think she would be the first to try to make me fail."

Bra smiled, "I believe you already passed her test Pan, when you didn't back down from her."

"Really?" Pan blinked, "So I won't know when I'm being tested?"

"Probably not," Bra smirked, "It's all about who you are and what you're willing to fight for."

"Hmm," Pan chewed that over for a little, "I think I would like to meet his parents."

"You don't mind the wife thing?" Bra lifted a brow.

Pan shrugged, "Let them think what they want, besides, anything is possible."

"More than you know," Bra sighed.

**

Terry sat curled in a ball of misery.

"Why haven't you rescued me?" She whimpered, "I called you . . . why haven't you come?"

**

"Mother!"

17 jumped with alarm at the sound of his daughter's voice echoing in the cave. Ava was still dead asleep and the last thing he wanted was for her to awaken with a killer hangover.

"Sasoli," 17 shushed his daughter, "Your mother is sleeping."

The young saiyan became alarmed, "Asleep?"

"Yes," 17 relaxed slightly only to tense at his daughter's next words.

"What happened?" Her blue eyes watered a bit, "Was she attacked? Is she recovering?"

"No," 17 rubbed her arms, "We went out on a date last night."

Sasoli sighed and shook her head, "You don't have to hide the truth from me, Dad."

"Sasoli," 17 tilted her head up so he could meet her eyes, "I have never lied to you. Why would I start now?"

"17!!!!!!"

Father and daughter snapped to attention to see Ava standing in the doorway of her room wearing an oversized shirt.

"Ava . . ." 17 picked up the remedy he had fixed and handed it to her, "Drink this, you'll feel better."

Ava narrowed her eyes at him before turned away, ignoring him completely.

"Sasoli," she regarded her daughter thoughtfully, "Aren't you supposed to be in Canada?"

Sasoli grinned, "Yes but I have news."

17 studied his wife carefully before shrugging, the prolonged sleep must have taken care of the ill effects of drinking. He set the cup down on the table for later use.

Ava lifted an eyebrow curiously, "Go on."

"Zarah's bringing a girl to dinner here tomorrow night."

"A girl?" 17 leaned against the table and thrummed his fingers along the surface.

A sneer formed on Ava's face as she remembered the girl from the bar.

"A saiyan girl," Sasoli smiled as the sneer left her mother's face.

"A saiyan?" Ava smiled as Sasoli nodded, "Then meat will for dinner."

The two females shared a look of pure female enjoyment while 17 just hummed while wondering when he would be able to get his wife drunk again.

**

"She wants to eat at my parents?" Zarah was perplexed, "Doesn't she know what that means?"

Bra rolled her eyes, "Yes but I think she is intrigued by the prospect of tests. Zarah, you have to remember that she was raised as a human and doesn't know very much about saiyan custom."

Zarah tilted his head, "I see."

Bra's gaze narrowed.

"I don't want you taking advantage of her, Zarah."

"Hn," Zarah smirked as he turned back to his computer.

"I'm serious," Bra slammed her hand on his desk.

Zarah didn't answer her.

"Zarah," Bra growled.

"You know, I love it when you growl. You do it so rarely," Zarah mentioned nonchalantly.

"I'll do more than growl at you if you take advantage of Pan," Bra sniffed at him.

"Fine, I will let her know if she comes in danger of becoming committed," Zarah rolled his eyes back at her.

"Good," Bra smiled, she knew her cousin would never go back on his word.

"But if she challenges me, Bra," Zarah leveled serious blue eyes at her, "I won't be responsible for my actions."

Bra felt a shiver run up her spine and nodded.

"Tell her to meet me here at seven pm. She won't be able to find my mom's cave without assistance," Zarah instructed.

"Oh Zarah," Bra smiled sweetly, "I didn't tell her about your unique residences."

"Bra!" Zarah curled his lip as she dashed through the door.

Oh well, he would just have to surprise Pan.

**

Goten walked past his niece's door only to backtrack.

"Pan?" Goten couldn't believe the state of her room, their were clothes strewn all over the floor.

In fact, it looked like she was going on a date.

"Uncle Goten?" Pan was holding two outfits, "What do you think is appropriate for a first date?"

"Oh I like the red- Wait . . . date?" Goten was astonished, "Since when do you go on dates?"

"Since a couple years ago," Pan rolled her eyes at her uncle, "So the red one?"

"Pan," Goten intoned seriously, "Who is this guy?"

"Jeez, Uncle Goten, you're starting to sound like my dad."

Goten was undeterred.

"Bra's cousin, all right," Pan threw her hands in the air with exasperation, "Are you happy now?"

"Zarah?" Goten was stunned, he had never heard of loner willingly go on a date.

"Yes," Pan held up the outfit in front of her, "I am going to eat at his parents' house."

Goten didn't know what to say, no one had ever had the privilege of knowing the location before, and now his niece was just going to waltz right to it.

"Does your dad know?" Goten's brow was wrinkled with concern.

"No," Pan shrugged, "I don't need his permission I'm an adult."

"But Pan," Goten rubbed the back of his head nervously, "His family lives--"

"With different rules," Pan finished annoyed, "I can take care of myself."

"At least go talk with Grandpa Bardock before you go," Goten pleaded.

"If I didn't tell my dad I have a date why would I tell my Great Grandfather?" Pan gave him a dry look.

Goten was speechless.

Pan studied her short hair critically and tilted her head to the side. She always had her hair in the same style and wondered if she was in for a change. No, she shook her head, I am not going to change myself for anyone.

"You didn't tell Gohan?" Goten finally managed.

"No," Pan answered curtly, "and you're not going to tell Dad either or I am going to tell Grandma Chichi the truth about Paris."

"B-but," Goten sputtered.

"Uncle Goten," Pan calmly ignored him, "I am not a little kid. I can take are of myself."

"Just be careful," Goten winced.

**

"Zarah," Bra tapped her toe impatiently, "Have you warned your mom or not?"

Zarah glanced at her annoyed.

"Why should I warn her? Pan already knows what she is going to think so why let it be any different?"

Bra sneered at him, "Because you'll only get her hopes up to dash them against the rocks."

"What makes you believe that I can't fulfill my mission?" Zarah was on his feet and in Bra's face, "Of all people I did not think you would doubt me."

Bra pouted feeling guilty for the slight hurt in his eyes.

"Zarah it's not that I doubt you but this date with Pan is not a mission. This is not going to be a live or die scenario . . . You can't stake a claim on the first date for it to be a success. It might take several dates for her to want to marry you." Bra explained gently.

"How long?" Zarah tilted his head curiously.

"Depends," she shrugged, "It could take a couple of years."

Zarah frowned as he chewed the thought over before shaking his head.

"Too long."

Bra opened her mouth to protest when a knock was heard. Giving her cousin a dirty look she made her way to the new door.

"Where's your damn secretary?"

"Fired," Zarah grinned, "Didn't show up for work."

Bra rolled her eyes and opened the door, "Pan! You're early."

Pan smiled at her friend and tried to move into the office only to be blocked by Bra.

"Remember don't challenge him," Bra whispered and stepped out of the way.

Zarah glanced up and watched his soon to be mate enter. His heart accelerated suddenly as she came into view, she was wearing form fitting jeans along with a red top. She was exquisitely lean but . . . there was something missing . . .

Pan brushed off her friend's comment and turned to her date. He was frowning at her, or her body.

He came out from around his desk to stand directly in front of her while continuing to eye her uncomfortably.

"Hi Zarah," Pan started uneasily as his eyebrows went up.

"Already referring to me by name? Interesting," his blue eyes flashed with intrigue.

"Zarah," Bra snapped warningly, "She doesn't follow saiyan tradition."

"Leave us Bra," Zarah dismissed her, "This does not concern you anymore."

Pan glanced at her friend annoyed, he had a point. This was the first guy she had ever met that didn't seem either intimidated or infatuated with the genius, though being related helped. Still, this was her chance to have a somewhat normal date with a guy who wasn't going to dump her just because she was stronger than the average girl.

"I'll call you later Bra," Pan smiled confident in her ability to handle any male.

She didn't stop to consider that this wasn't just any male but a saiyan.

Bra bit her lip before waving her goodbye to both of them.

As soon as she was gone Zarah placed his hands on Pan's waist and pulled her closer.

"W-what-" Pan sputtered as one hand moved to her lower back.

"Where's your tail?" Zarah frowned as he searched for any sign of the appendage or remnants of the appendage.

"Tail?" Pan tried to squirm out of his reach, "I don't have a tail."

Zarah's hands stilled, "No tail?"

Pan shook her head, trying to ignore his hands but a telltale blush warmed her cheeks.

"Hn, interesting," Zarah released her and stepped back to study her again.

Pan swallowed uncertainly, why would he look for a tail? The only one she knew of having said limb was her Great Grandfather Bardock.

"Why did you ask?"

Zarah met her eyes, "I had thought that you might have had it hidden or removed. I did not think you would not have a tail altogether. Being only a quarter saiyan must not be enough to sustain one."

"So you're saying you have one?" Pan huffed, crossing her arms.

"Yes," Zarah relaxed his limb to let it drop behind him.

End of Chapter Eleven

AN: You guys flatter me! Thank you for all of your comments, they make me smile. : )