Chapter Seventeen

The door opened and Gohan entered the house calmly.

"Ok," the demi-saiyan sat down, "Now that they're . . . What does it entail?"

"Gohan?" Videl wandered into the kitchen having hard her husband's roar of frustration.

"What's happening?" Goku appeared, due to his instant transmission.

Bardock and the newly mated couple said nothing.

Gohan took a deep breath to stay serene.

"You have a new grandchild," he glared at Zarah.

"Videl! You're pregnant?" Goku grinned and hugged his daughter-in-law.

"Uh . . . no," Videl was grateful as Goku set her down.

Goku cocked his head quizzically at Pan, "You?"

"No dad," Gohan sighed, "Pan is . . . married to Zarah."

"What?" Videl was dismayed and happy, "When did this happen? Why weren't we invited to the wedding?"

"Really," Goku slapped the young man on the back and into the table, "Congratulations! Oops! Sorry."

Zarah eyed the sheepish male with interest as he rolled his shoulder and got off the floor leaving the destroyed table where it lay. This was the famous Kakarot, his new relation, and new teacher if he could arrange it. Maybe he would find out what made Kakarot such a invincible fighter . . .

"There wasn't a wedding," Bardock corrected his granddaughter-in-law, "They joined in saiyan terms. Zarah, son of 17 son of . . ."

The older saiyan frowned as an interesting question came to mind.

"Zarah, doesn't your father have two? The one who spawned him and the machine that makes up his parts?"

Zarah's gaze became thoughtful, "I had never thought about it but for the sake of simplicity, Dr. Gero is my father's creator. For though Gero didn't donate any material, biological or otherwise, to my father's being, the scientist is nevertheless the reason my father exists."

Before they could explore the origin of Android 17 any further Videl jumped in.

"Machine? Scientist?" She frowned as she regarded the young male in front of her, "If you are the son of an android then you can't be entirely human."

"Human?" Zarah's brow lifted, "I am saiyan."

Videl gasped as she finally recognized the saiyan in front of her. She had met him eighteen years ago when she was pregnant with Pan. He had only bee about five years old when he had approached her . . .

Videl paused to rub her temples, trying to ward off an upcoming headache when she spotted him.

The mysterious little boy saiyan that was somehow related to Trunks and Bra. What was his name? Zarka? Zarpha?

He was looking at her curiously but his eyes also held confusion.

It was strange to see her coloring almost exactly duplicated on this boy though his hair was obviously spikier and his eyes were a shade lighter than her blue.

His head tilted slightly and his bangs almost ran into his eyes, "Why do you feel like two people?"

Videl blinked at that.

"I don't know what you mean," she answered after a moment.

His dark brows lowered, "You have two different energies in your body. Why?"

Videl frowned in thought when realization made her smile, "I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant?" The little boy inched closer.

"Yes, I'm going to have a baby," Videl laughed as his expression screwed up quizzically, "There's a baby growing in my stomach."

He looked at her critically, "So you're not just getting fat?"

Videl's mouth dropped open.

"N-no," she stuttered, trying to suppress the sudden surge of anger. He's just a kid, he doesn't know any better, she sighed to herself.

She nearly jumped when she felt a small hand on her abdomen.

"Is the baby a girl?" The boy looked up at her.

"Yeah," Videl nodded, startled at the boldness of the small saiyan.

He nodded, "She feels like Sasoli and Bra. She will be a fighter."

Videl felt a chill slid down her spin.

"What makes you say that?"

"She is saiyan, it's in her blood," the kid grinned toothily at her, "or at least that's what my mom says."

Videl couldn't help but return the boy's grin, it was so light-hearted and mischievous, "What's your name?"

"Zarah, yours?"

"Videl."

They studied each other with interest, Zarah was interested in a future sparring partner while Videl wondered what kind of person he would make when he was older.

Videl was in shock, the adorable little blue eyed boy had matured into a man and he had married her daughter.

"Would you like to spar?" Goku grinned, delighted when Zarah's blue eyes lit up with challenge.

"Dad," Gohan rubbed his temples, "This isn't a good time."

Goku cocked his head to the side as he mulled the situation over in his head.

"I have to go tell your mom," Goku lifted a finger to his forehead.

"No! Dad-" Gohan sighed exasperated with everyone as his father disappeared.

Pan jumped as something furry circled her wrist. A quick glance revealed the culprit to be none other than Zarah's tail. She looked up to see Zarah staring at her intently, he flicked his eyes to the door. His message was clear: Let's get out of here.

"Not so fast," Bardock intoned gravely, making Zarah squirm in his seat.

"Bardock, I have every right-"

"You cannot expect to thwart tradition and not face any consequences," Bardock interrupted flatly.

Zarah donned a mutinous look as he pulled Pan closer to him and moved his tail form her wrist to her waist.

Bardock and Gohan frowned at the possessive movement, though, for different reasons. Bardock was more concerned with the fact that they had not deemed Zarah appropriate for Pan while Gohan didn't like anything the boy did to display his claim on Pan.

The door slammed open as an out of breath Goten appeared in the doorway, "Gohan!"

"Not now Goten," Gohan waved his brother away.

"But Gohan--"

"Goten! I am in the middle--"

"Of introducing family," Ava and 17 stepped in the door.

"Howdy," 17 tipped his imaginary cowboy hat.

**

Terry glanced up in shock as her prison door swung open.

"You are, as of now, released from custody," the cop intoned emotionlessly, "You are free to pick up personal items at the front desk."

"Wait," Terry followed him, "Why am I released?"

"Enough testimonies back up your story of being an innocent bystander."

Terry quickly exited the prison and gathered her belongings. After all, she had places to go, people to see, and a boss to marry.

"Poor baby," she giggled, "he must have been lost without me."

**

"Zarah," Ava seemed to be confused at her son's presence, "Why haven't taken her back to your cave and marked her?"

Zarah reddened at his mother's remark and ducked his head embarrassed. Pan was just confused, did he have to smear blood on her cheek too?

Bardock stiffened, which made Gohan tense, at her implications. So Zarah had not yet marked Pan . . . Things were not so cut and dried then . . .

"Princess Ava, I cannot believe you allowed this union to take place."

"Why would I stop it?" She shrugged.

"We did not approve of him," Bardock snapped, surprising everyone present.

They had never known him to lose his temper, he was always calm and steady. He must be really upset at this turn of events.

"You were well aware of this when Pan challenged him."

"Right, she challenged him," Ava pointed out, "Thus, she activated her right to pick her own mate. She entered the fight of her own will. However, if you demand recompense we are prepared to deliver."

With a regal bow Ava waited for Bardock's answer. No one saw the secret smile she sported. If Bardock accepted her compensation then it would be too late for him to--

"We?" 17 cocked his hip, "I thought Zarah had claimed adult-"

Ava lost her smile and elbowed her mate in the stomach to shut him up but the damage had already been done.

Everyone's eyes turned to Bardock as the older saiyan boomed with laughter. Zarah pulled Pan closer to him with alarm, even he did not know what this would mean and he had a funny feeling it wasn't going to be easy or pretty.

"As always, Princess Ava, you are a mother who wishes to protect her offspring," Bardock smiled when she crossed her arms, "How clever, I can see Zarah didn't only get his brains from his father. You know the consequences your son would face and sought to take responsibility for him. You found a loophole for us not having approved of him and declared Pan as responsible for herself so she would have to accept her place as his mate. All the while increasing your net of protection for your family."

"It would have worked," Ava glared at 17, "Besides, Bardock, why should you complain? You are now part of our family."

"Not quite."

17 winced at his wife's glare, "What did I do?"

She stuck her nose in the air and left the building but not without hooking her tail around 17's wrist. 17 was confused when she stopped abruptly and sat on the ground facing the meadow.

"Sit 17," she sighed, "We're in for a good show."

"What do you mean?" He sat next to her gingerly.

"Zarah has won the right to mate Pan but he hasn't marked her. We are going to see if he can hold on to it."

**

Pan felt chills running up and down her spine. The cause? Simple, Zarah's tail was tightening and loosening on her waist. The action was as unnerving as it was soothing especially since everyone had fallen silent after the departure of Zarah's parents. Then her dad and great grandfather started whispering to each other with her uncle looking increasingly nervous.

Hesitantly, she placed a hand on his limb and started to explore the fur with her fingers. She had been curious about his tail ever since he had uncurled it from his waist. She watched her intended go still at the stroke of her fingers.

He turned to her slowly, with great deliberation as if trying to avoid detection of his new relatives. His look made her breathless as he pulled her even closer. . .

"Pan!" Bardock barked out, "Don't touch his tail! Zarah! Release her!"

The couple snapped apart with Zarah annoyed and Pan blushing, though she didn't understand why she should be embarrassed. It was just his tail!

I have every right to touch her, Zarah fumed to himself, We are one.

Gohan watched them quietly, no longer angry or frustrated since he now had the upper hand. Things were not as permanent as Zarah thought they were and Gohan was about to fulfill every father's dream.

Goten fidgeted nervously, this wasn't going to be pretty.

Zarah watched the other males carefully, they seemed to be a bit smug but why?

"Gohan?" Videl touched her husband's shoulder, she had overheard their little private conversation and she was a bit alarmed.

"Videl, take Pan outside and explain what's going on," Gohan didn't take his eyes off Zarah.

Videl quickly led her daughter outside despite her protests to stay.

Zarah rolled his shoulder and stood to face the new obstacle head on.

"Zarah son of 17," Bardock announced his name as if he was on trial, "You have broken tradition thus you must either forfeit your claim on Pan or face the consequences. What is your choice?"

"I will accept the consequences," Zarah said without hesitation.

Gohan grinned, "Goten, call dad and tell him his spar is back on."

"But Gohan-" Goten tried to plead.

"Now Goten."

Goten winced and went to the phone.

"Spar?" Zarah lifted his brows, "Why are we going to spar now?"

"The consequence to what you have done," Bardock stated simply, "is you must defeat all male members of our family."

End of Chapter Seventeen