Chapter Thirteen

"Come," Sasoli motioned the suspicious quarter saiyan to follow her.

Pan lifted a dark brow as she entered the supposed residence. Her eyes widened slightly as she understood what Zarah meant, though this was no house in the conventional way it was most definitely a home.

Ava and 17 stopped whispering heatedly at the sight of her while Zarah had a pleading expression on his handsome face, though Pan wasn't sure who he was begging to show mercy. His mom or his dad?

Ava glanced at both her son and mate defiantly before eyeing Pan.

"17, if you don't test her then I will."

Definitely his mom, Pan gulped uncertainly as17 crossed his arms completely annoyed.

"I am not a saiyan," 17 noted coolly, "I will not comply with saiyan courtship rituals."

Ava locked eyes with him, "You had no objections when these courtship rituals concerned me or is that all void? Am I not attached to you? Am I free to pursue other males?"

17's eyes narrowed into sharp blue slits as he turned to face Pan with a seriousness that was rare for him to display.

"What is your name?" 17 cocked a hip, his hand going to his absent gun belt.

"Son Pan," Pan answered nervously, all attention in the cave seemed to be on her.

"I remember from our last introduction with Bra. I only asked to reconfirm your identity," 17 rolled a shoulder, "Tell me Son Pan, do you like to have fun?"

Ava and Sasoli immediately frowned at his question hoping that the android was not going to do what they were thinking he might do.

Zarah hid his grin, he knew his father extremely well.

"Yes," Pan answered hesitantly, what does this have to do with anything?

17 allowed a smile on his face, "What would you rather do, have fun or fight?"

All saiyans locked their eyes on Pan, intently curious as to what her answer would be. If she said fighting then she would win the approval of Ava but not 17. However, if she said fun then Ava would never agree to a union while 17 gave his whole hearted agreement. An almost devious question on 17's part since the answer would have to be carefully worded to appease both parents.

Pan could feel sweat forming on her brow, she could literally feel the weight of the saiyans' eyes on her, wondering if she would fail the first test of the night.

Pan didn't know she had already passed several.

"Fighting is fun," she answered honestly.

The whole cave held it's breathe as though the air was making way for an inevitable explosion.

17 remained silent for a long moment, "I agree. You've passed my test."

Pan relaxed immediately as she felt the stares wonder away except for one, Zarah's.

Truthfully he was intrigued, her answer was absolutely perfect and she had unwittingly satisfied both parents with one simple statement. An almost impossible task, he and Sasoli knew from experience.

"That's it?!" A female voice exploded startling Pan.

"Ava, you said to test her and I did," 17 walked past his wife, "You didn't say how."

Ava growled at him before turning to Pan.

"We eat."

Pan released a breathe and moved forward when Zarah put his hand on her shoulder. She glanced up at him only to notice he wasn't looking at her.

"Do not mind them, they like to be at each other's throats," a quick grin, "I am only beginning to understand why."

Zarah turned his head to face her with his grin still in place.

Pan's heart thudded beneath her breastbone.

A hand covered Zarah's and removed it from Pan's shoulder, "There is no need to be touchy, Zarah."

Sasoli hid her smile as her brother and future mate flushed.

"Mother's waiting," she faced both of them to give the words underlying meaning.

**

Bra was a nervous wreck.

She was pacing in her lab unable to relax when she knew that one of her best friends was walking into an extremely hazardous situation and she could do nothing about it.

But that wasn't what was bothering her, not really. She had missed something, Bra could feel it. Her instincts her screaming at her to act but why? And for what?

Zarah's blue eyes glinting in his office came to mind, and as always that did not bode well. He could be just like his dad when it came to something he wanted and he wanted Pan to be his mate, that much was clear . . .

Bra just didn't know how far he would go to make it happen and Pan was intriguing enough to him to tempt him.

Bra recalled the incident outside her lab when they had almost duked it out. She was willing to fight him, she wasn't afraid of him, and she was saiyan. From Zarah's eyes she was perfect and Bra agreed, she just wasn't sure how his family would handle it.

"No, he gave his word," Bra mumbled to herself, "I can trust him."

A different pair of blue eyes flashed in her mind and Bra came to a dead halt.

"Someone needs to help Zarah," Sasoli bowed mockingly at her.

Her words rang in Bra's head.

"Oh no," the words barely escaped her lips, "I didn't get a promise from Sasoli . . ."

Bra was out the door and flying to the ground floor, grabbing her purse on the way. Her cousin usually didn't meddle in personal affairs but thus far had shown she was willing to dabble when it came to Zarah.

"You should be happy," Sasoli released her, "I just sped up your plans by couple of weeks."

Sasoli could be a devious creature if she wanted to be. Bra had seen her work with the New York gangs and they had honestly believed she was one of them. Like any Briefs, Sasoli could accomplish anything she put her mind to and her eyes were on Pan.

Bra hit the ground floor running barely restraining herself from blasting through the walls much like her father would have done. Poor daddy, no one understands you.

"I can make it," Bra smiled as she spotted the front entrance and raced around the corner.

With a surprised cry, Bra ran into a body at full speed and the only thing that stopped them from falling was his fast reflexes.

"What's the rush, Bra?" A concerned masculine voice inquired curiously, "Are you ok?"

Recognizing the voice, Bra stiffened and slowly lifted her head to meet warm black eyes.

"Let go of me," blue eyes narrowed.

Strong hands released her without hesitation, his eyes were puzzled but still concerned.

"Bra, what's wrong?"

"I don't have to tell you anything," Bra sniffed and picked up her purse from the ground.

"Bra," he sighed, "What do you have against me? What did I do?"

"You know very well what you did, Goten," Bra slipped her purse strap over her shoulder and turned to leave.

Goten's hand closed over Bra's forearm making her look at him with surprise. Since when did Son Goten have a spine.

"This has gone on long enough," Goten pulled her closer so he could look into her eyes, "We need to talk."

**

Pan sat at the table nervously.

She really didn't know what to expect after the warm welcome she received.

"Come," Ava motioned for Pan to sit by her and Sasoli across from 17 and Zarah.

Zarah nodded slightly in her direction to let her know it was ok before taking his seat. Pan smiled lightly in response before sitting by the full-blooded female saiyan.

Ava's lips quirked as she noticed the action, it's only a matter of time before she's his.

"Tell me, Pan," Ava pretended not to notice the looks from her family, "About Bardock."

"What about him?" Pan frowned quizzically.

"Describe him to me."

"Um, he about six feet--"

"No," Ava shook her head, "I know his physical appearance. My brother knew him better than I and know I want to know him."

"Well, he's kind--" Pan started.

"Is he?" Ava lifted a brow.

"He's loving--"

"I see," Ava interrupted again.

Zarah frowned as he realized what his mother was doing while 17 just looked on puzzled.

"He's smart--" Pan gritted her teeth as Ava interrupted her again.

The saiyan was pissing her off.

"Wouldn't he have to be?" Ava leaned back into her chair lazily, "He was a scientist on our home planet and a genius by saiyan standards."

Pan listened fascinated, she had never really heard about her Grandfather's native planet before.

"This I know," Ava announced bored, "Tell me something I don't."

Pan's lip curled, "He's not just a thing to talk about the company's dull. He is my Great Grandfather and a warrior, I will not stand by and listen to you dismiss him as nothing important."

Everyone was shocked at Pan's outburst. Sasoli and Zarah tensed warily watching their mother carefully for any sign that she was about to attack the quarter saiyan. 17 eyes were alight with amusement.

The black fire in Pan's eyes were met with Ava's as she straightened in her chair. Pan didn't back down from the older saiyan but kept their eyes locked, though a bead of seat could be seen on her forehead.

"Zarah," Ava called, not looking away from Pan.

"Yes?" Zarah tensed a bit more in anticipation of her orders.

"When are you going to mate this female?" Ava blinked at everyone as they fell over, "What?"

End of Chapter Thirteen