The Meaning of Love

Disclaimer: *Clears throat* I don't own Dragon Ball Z *bows*

Pan moaned in pain. She shifted her leg slightly to the right, and she raised her arms to cover her eyes from the sun. Her back ached like Hell, but then, she felt warmth. Warmth that she should not have felt. Warmth and comfort that should not be there. Without opening her eyes, she moved her arms around. Searching for the small bundle.

She shot up quickly, paying for her mistake with a searing pain that cut violently through her back. She whimpered silently. But despite her pain, she got up off of the four poster bed, and dashed around the room looking for Atien. She looked under the drawer, and bed and she turned the baskets over looking for him.

The door shot open, but she didn't care.

"Atien!" she cried. She suddenly collapsed to the ground as the pain became too unbearable.

Strong, warm arms wrapped gently around her. He spoke. The voice was deep and masculine.

"Sssshhhh. Calm down. Calm down. Everything's taken care of."

She turned around, and grabbed hold of his shirt. "Where's Atien?! Tell me you didn't kill him. Gods, tell me you didn't!!!"

The man opened his mouth, when, all of a sudden, a gurgling noise was heard from the door way. Pan looked up, to see the small babe with black hair and blue eyes. She smiled happily, and crawled quickly forward, before scooping the small child into her arms.

Tears of joy coursed down her pail cheeks. The baby boy smiled, and giggled at the attention he was receiving. But Pan set him down as violent coughs wracked her body.



Again, she felt strong arms wrap around her, and she feels them heave her into bed again. Soft warm blankets were pulled up to cover her small fragile body from the winter cold. She looked up into ice blue eyes. But unlike ice, they were warm, and soft.

Lavender hair sat atop his head, and she remembered something. A name, but she couldn't recall it.

"Trunks?" She managed.

Trunks smiled. She remembered him. He nodded. "Get some rest. You were injured badly."

"But why help me? I'm not of samurai blood."

"Neither am I. Besides, you helped me once, and now I return the favor." He stared at her. She had grown more womanly and even more beautiful since their last meeting. "Close your eyes, and rest now. You should get some sleep."

Pan hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. Trunks got up to leave, but she grabbed his hand. Startled, he turned to stare at her. Their gazes slowly moved to their hands, and they pulled away, blushing. Atien clapped his hand, from his perch in a basket full of towels, and giggled as if sensing their embarrassment.

"Yes?" Trunks asked rather quietly.

"Please, just make sure Atien doesn't get into any trouble."

Trunks nodded. Then a realization hit him, if this was her child, she must already have a husband, but, where was he? His eyes saddened. But why, he couldn't quite say.

"And Trunks?" he turned to look into Pan's eyes. "Thank you." She managed, and then, her eyes fluttered closed, into a deep sleep.

Trunks sighed, and slowly, but attentively, reached out a hand, and he brushed away some of the hair on her face. She mumbled something, and he width drew his hand. 'Tell me how one so young, can end up with a child? And tell me, where if your husband. Should he not have been with you? Should he not have protected you? Please get well so that I may ask you these questions Pan. You've not changed you kind ways one bit since we last met at your manor.'

Trunks got up, and picked up Atien, from his small play pen. "Alright squirt. Let's go get you some food."



Atien reached up a small chubby hand, and pulled at Trunk's lavender hair. Then giggled quietly. Trunks winced. "You have one good arm there kid."



*_* Pan *_*

Red. That was all she could see. She couldn't breath. She struggled, flapping wildly trying to get to the top. The sticky liquid pulled her down. 'I'm drowning in a sea of BLOOD!' she thought horridly. She kicked violently trying to surface. She couldn't leave Atien. If she did, then he would've lost everything.

"PAN! PAN! Wake up! PLEASE!!!"

She turned her head around. Someone was calling her. But who?

*_* Trunks *_*

He had just finished feeding Atien, when, the baby started to cry. Hushing and trying to sooth it, he rubbed it back. But to no avail. Atien kept crying. Then, one thought struck his mind. "Pan." He gasped breathlessly.

He dashed out of the room and down the corridor to Pan's room. She lay on the bed none moving. He put Atien down, and quickly ran to her side. Atien to was crawling to get to Pan. He checked her pulse. There was none.

Horror struck him like a bucket of cold water. "PAN!" he shouted. "Wake up Pan!" He took his fist, and began banging her chest. Trying to get her heart started up again. "PAN! COME ON!!! PAN! PAN! Wake up! Please!"

Pan took a huge breathe of air as her eyes flew open, and she started coughing. Trunks swept her into his arms out of happiness. She was shaking. Atien pulled himself onto the bed, and crawled into Pan's arms. She opened her arms to receive him. Trunks held her and quietly stroked her hair.

"Shhh. It's okay. God, your okay now."

Pan still shook. Shocked from her near death experience. Silent tears slipped down her cheeks. She had never experienced a dream like that. Never in her life. And the last time that happened….

"Did you know, you stopped breathing?" Trunk's voice brought her out of her remembrance.

Pan nodded to confirm that she knew. The door burst open, and in burst a hysterical lady. She had cerulean colored hair, and the same colored eyes. Her kimono was an elegant light purple. Her beauty shone so brightly, and she looked almost too young to be in her mid thirty's, but still slight wrinkles were evident.

"Trunks, are you okay? I could hear you screaming……rooms…." She didn't finish as she lay her eyes on Pan. "Who's this? Trunks your father shan't be happy about you bringing home a girl."

"Mother," Trunks let go of Pan, and Pan sat behind Trunks unsure of who to trust. But regardless, Atien crept from her hands, and onto Trunk's lap, and stared at Bulma curiously. Before Trunks could continue, Bulma squealed in delight.

"I'm a GRANDMOTHER!!!!!!!" She picked up Atien and started to cuddle him.

Pan stared perplexed. "Ummm….I…..ummm" She couldn't mutter a word.

Trunks closed his eyes in embarrassment. He got up and strolled over to his mother, and plucked Atien from her arms. Pan got up out of bed, and winced as the pain returned. Trunks put an arm around her waste to steady her. Pan smiled, and said a meek thanks, before taking Atien back into her arms.

"I beg you pardon miss, but, I am not with Trunks. He merely saved my life, and is now tending to my wounds. And speaking of which, we should be going. I wouldn't want to invade into the privacy of you home."

Pan moved to get out of Trunk's embrace, but he held fast. "Hey!" she yelled.

Bulma moved inform of her. "Oh no you don't. Trunks has never brought any girl home. Especially not an outsider. And I don't intend for you to get away. Besides, you are wounded, and I can't just let you waltz out of her hurt."

Trunks finally let go of Pan, and he nodded. Turning her to face him. "You saved me once, and I intend to repay the favour. It is only hounourable."

Pan smiled. "Thank you."

"Ahem. As much as I hate to break your little moment…." They turned to Bulma. "We should get you cleaned up, Pan is it?"

Pan nodded.



Bulma continued. "Well then, leave the child with Atien, and come with me. I shall show you to the hot springs, and you shall bathe whilst I find you a proper kimono."

Pan hesitated a moment. She looked down as Atien, and said softly, "You be a good boy for Trunks okay?" Atien gurgled in response.

She handed the him over to Trunks and followed Bulma out to the hot springs. Trunks stared after her. What a strange girl he had found. Her name meant bread, she was probably 16, and already had a year old child, not to mention, she was even beautiful covered in mud, and dried blood. And she spoke of honour and loyalty, yet she was not a samarai.

Trunks shook his head. 'Wait, Mother…hot spring…some one she thinks is my fiancé…..'

Trunks paled, and with Atien in his arms, he followed them to the hot springs.

*_* _*_*

Dark eyes peared through the hole in the rice paper. So, she had found a home. He stared at the girl with pure silky skin.

'You shall not get away Pan Son. Not over my dead body. You shall not get away. Both you and the abomination shall perish by my hands. Beware. You're little Prince won't protect you forever.'

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!!! _ I know Ididn't updated on Cinese New Years like I promised, but my sister stole my connection! Then, well, I like crashed my computer and accidently deleted all my files. And now, I'm sort of sick with the flu. Life sucks. Well…..I don't really have a life. Unless fanfiction.net counts. Of course it counts! ^_^

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!! Well, It was on Monday, and this is a little late. Oh well.

Thanks to the following reviewers, and any one who reviewed…though my e-mail account is down, so I wouldn't know any ways.

JUNE ~ I finally updated. Omg it took forever. Glad you like ^_^

Ladybug ~ ^_^ Wow. You're reading both my stories. Broken Promises will be updated soon. As soon as I'm feeling up to it. I gotta rewrite chapter six. It's messed up, and I'm sort of sick right now.

Trupan ~ don't you just love the suspense? ~_*

Blue-crystal dolphin ~ man. Continue you Inu Yasha fics. They're awesome.

V son saiyan ~ all in good time my friend. All in good time shall the answers be revealed.

Lonely grey angel ~ Thanks! Glad you like. Oh yeah, Pan's lips were blue, because she lost a lot of blood in the middle of winter. Freaky I agree _

THANKS TO ANY BODY WHO ADDED ME TO THEIR FAVE'S LIST. I SORT OF LOST TRACK AS TO WHO IS AN INU YASHA FAN, AND WHO'S A DBZ FAN. I ALSO LOST TRACK AS TO WHO I'VE ALREADY THANKED. SORRY!!!

_'