Disclaimer: I don't any part of Dragonball.
Note: Thank you all so much for the reviews! Well there is only one more chapter left. I was originally going to have this one be the last chapter but I decided that there was to much in the left so I broke it into two chapters. I have the last chapter written, I just have to type it and edit it. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter and I can't wait to read the reviews.
Love's Pain
Apologies
Trunks sighed as he looked out the windows in his office. The last four months were finally taking their toll on him. He was tired and nothing in his life made much since anymore. He had finally come to the conclusion that he would always care for Pan but it was a useless dream for him to chase. She had Lucas now and it seemed that she loved throwing that little tidbit in his face. He had tried to move on. He had gone on some dates, but he found himself comparing every girl he met to Pan. Unfortunately for him none of the girls could live up to his image of her. Trunks was still angry at Pan for what she pulled after their night together, but even that anger was fading away to resentfulness. Well it was until the party the last night. Trunks could not believe that Pan would throw that back in his face. He could still hear her taunting words in his mind and it made him want to break something, preferably Lucas.
"I need to get out of here. It's not like I'm going to get my work done anyway. Especially not with the way I have been today." Trunks mumbled to himself as he picked up his black suit jacket off the back of his chair. He packed up his papers and turned off the computer on his desk. Turning off the lights, Trunks walked out and told his secretary that he was going to finish his work at home.
Trunks walked out to his car and pulled away from Capsule Corps before his mother could find and stop him. He drove around Satan City for hours, just losing himself in the sound of the outside traffic. Trunks was pulled from his thoughts by the sounds of his phone ringing. He quickly answered it without bothering to look at his caller id, thinking that it was the office calling him.
"Hello"
"Trunks?"
"Yeah. Gohan is that you?"
"Um, yeah. Listen I need you to stop by my house whenever you can. There are somethings I need to talk to you about. I would have come by your office but your secretary said you had left for the day."
"I needed to get out of that glass prison. Anyway, I am about thirty minutes away from your place, so I can just come on over now. Is that good for you?"
"That is perfect."
"Just out of curiosity is this about work? I mean do you need to use one of the labs here?"
"No, it has nothing to do with Capsule Corps or work. It is about Pan. So I'll see you in thirty minutes. Bye." Gohan said before he quickly hung to phone up.
Trunks looked down at his phone in shock. He could not believe that Gohan had dropped that little bomb on him and then hung up on him. Trunks immediately scrolled through his phone book for Gohan's number wanting to call him back to get more information out of him. Trunks put the back to his ear after he hit the call button, but he was met with the annoying sound of a busy signal. He knew that they had call waiting so that could only mean Gohan had left the phone off the hook on purpose. It was his way of forcing Trunks to meet with him. Throwing the phone in his passenger seat, Trunks swore and turned his car around speeding off towards the Son residence.
"Gohan, why did you leave the phone off the hook? What if someone was trying to get a hold of us?" Videl said walking out of the kitchen to stare at her husband. The beeping noise was getting on her nerves and it had caused her to ruin the soufflé she had been cooking. So the sight of her husband rubbing the back of his head and smiling sheepishly at her was causing her to become more disgruntled. Videl rolled her eyes at her husband's antics and waited for him to reply to her questions.
"Well you see, it is like this. I called Trunks and asked him to come over and I wanted to make sure he would come."
"Okay, well that still does not explain why you left the phone off the hook. You ruined my cooking, you know."
"I left it off because I did not want Trunks to call back. It is important that I talk to him and I really need to do it in person."
"What is so important that you could not say it over the phone?" Videl asked in irritation. Gohan had not really answered her questions and it was driving her daft.
"It's about Pan."
"What about her? Is she hurt? Does she need me? What does this have to do with Trunks?" Videl asked getting worked up. She had quickly switched from being irritated to being worried and Gohan's calm attitude was not helping her any. "Gohan, tell me. What is wrong with Pan?"
"Videl calm down. Nothing is wrong with her that has not been wrong for months now. Goten called me earlier and said that Pan had been over at his place, and that she had flipped out on him and Parisu. They finally managed to sedate her and when they did she cracked and told them everything. I think that we will be seeing the old Pan very soon."
"Oh Gohan, that is wonderful. All I want is for Pan to be happy, but it would be nice to have my baby back. But what does that have to do with Trunks?"
"Well it seems our daughter is still in love him. She was using Lucas. I am hoping that Trunks still loves Pan. I have this feeling that he is the only one who will be able to get through to her. But before I tell him this I need to know if he still loves her. The only way to do that is to see his reaction to me asking him about his love. That is why I left the phone off the hook. I'm sorry I messed up your cooking. Come here and I promise to make it up to you." Gohan said grabbing his wife's waist and bringing her in for a passionate kiss. Videl giggled at her husband's actions and pushed him off her so that she could go back to her cooking.
Pan felt as if she had been walking for hours. Her mind was not any clearer than it had been when she left Goten's and Parisu's. If anything she was starting to feel more messed up and more confused. Realizing that she was standing in the middle of the park, Pan walked over to a swing and sat down. She used her legs to push herself back and forth a few times, enjoying the simple feeling of swinging again. It was something she had not done since she was in high school. In fact the last time she had been here doing this was her senior prom, when she and Bra had come out here to talk afterwards. Thinking about Bra brought back the painful words Goten had said to her. She had never meant to be so mean, it was like someone else was inhabiting her body. She had only wanted to push Bra away so that she would not be reminded of Trunks. Then Bra had confronted her saying everything that she did not want to hear. So Pan lashed out at her and alienated herself from her friends. Even Uub wanted nothing to do with her now.
Pan ran her fingers through her hair becoming more frustrated by the minute. 'Dammit, when did I let my life get so out of control. Uncle G was right. I can't keep my heart closed anymore. I should go on and call Lucas and start fixing this mess I have made of my like.' Pan was brought out of her thoughts by a voice behind her.
"I knew I would find you here." Pan whipped her head around to look at her unexpected guest. "You are so predictable. Whenever you want to think or talk you always end up at the park." Bra said taking a seat on the swing beside Pan.
"What are you doing here?" Pan asked for once without spite or anger in her voice.
"Your father called me. He said that I should find you and that we needed to talk."
"Oh" Pan said as she and Bra lapsed into uncomfortable silence. The two girls, both incredibly beautiful, sat side by side swinging in rhythm. The two girls, one with deep blue hair matching her crystalline eyes, the other with hair as dark as midnight only surpassed by her obsidian eyes, sat waiting for the other to make the first move. The blue haired girl stopped swinging and turned to stare at her black haired friend. It was funny how life had brought them to this point.
"So." Bra said gaining Pan's attention again.
"So." Pan responded. She knew what she needed to say, it was that she was not sure how to say it.
"Bra" "Pan" They said together.
"You go first." Bra told Pan, falling into silence again.
"Um, Bra. I'm sorry." Pan said meeting Bra's eyes and quickly looking away. "I know that there is nothing I can do to make up for the way I've treated you, but I am very sorry. You were one of my closest friends and I ruined that. I understand if you don't ever want to see me again, but please forgive me." Pan begged meeting Bra's eyes again pleading for forgiveness.
"Pan, I'm sorry too. I should never said those things to you. I was just hurt and angry." Bra said leaning over in her swing towards Pan.
"You don't have to apologize for anything. I would have done the same thing, if I had been in your shoes." Pan said meeting Bra in the middle and hugging her long estranged friend. Both girls stayed in the other's arms, letting one comfort the other. When they finally pulled apart, Pan laughed wiping her tears away.
" What are you laughing about?" Bra asked trying to wipe her own tears away.
"You should see your face. You have black mascara streaks running down your face. That is a sight I never thought I would see." Pan said. "Here use this." She said handing Bra a tissue.
"Thanks." Bra grabbed the tissue from Pan's outstretched hand and used it to rid herself of her black streaks. "Better?"
"Yes much better. So you and Uub? When did that happen?" Pan asked starting to swing again.
"Well, I guess it started the night we all went to the club. I have always been attracted to him and after you left that night, we were arguing and I just kind of kissed him."
"WHAT! Are you serious? Did Uub kiss you back?"
"No, he um, stared at me like I had two heads. But over the course of everything that happened we just grew closer together. He is so gentle. It is cute, every time I kiss him in public he blushes. Even when I only kiss him on the cheek." Bra replied using her legs to start swinging.
"Well, I think that he is lucky to have a girl like you. He is such a great guy and what a body. And trust me that boy can dance like nobody's business." Bra blushed at Pan's comment about Bra's body. The two girls talked for hours catching up on everything that had occurred in the last four months. As part of a silent agreement they stayed clear of topics that included Trunks, Lucas, and Brolli. When Bra's phone rang the two girls said good-bye to each other.
Pan sat on her swing watching Bra walk away. Uub had called her and Bra was going to meet him for lunch. She had invited Pan to join, but she declined saying that she had other plans. Pan felt for the first time in months that part of the weight from her shoulders was lightened. She and Bra were getting their friendship back on track.
Standing up, Pan decided that it was time for her to quit stalling. She was not ready to face Trunks yet. She did not think she would ever be ready to face him, but she did know that she could do something about Lucas. Making up with Bra had given her the courage she desperately needed. Pan straightened her appearance, trying to look as if she had not slept in the clothes she was wearing. She left the park and headed towards Lucas's apartment.
Pan felt something akin to dread well up inside of her stomach as she waited for Lucas to open his front door. She had not seen him since she threw him out the night before. He was a nice man and he would make some girl real lucky but she was not that girl. Pan banged on the door again wishing that Lucas would hurry up and answer the door. She did not want to hurt him but she did want out. Pan was becoming impatient. She was about to hit the door again, when Lucas yanked the door open.
"What do you want?" Lucas asked coldly. He was hurt over the way she had acted. Pan stood frozen, her hand still raised in the act of knocking, as she stared up at Lucas. She felt her mouth go dry as she opened and closed it like a fish. Pan cleared her throat summoning her courage.
"Can I come in?" She asked finally finding her voice.
"I guess." He said begrudgingly. Lucas moved out of the doorway and let Pan enter. She awkwardly walked over to his couch and sat down. Licking her lips, Pan waited for Lucas to join her before she said anything.
"Listen Lucas, about last night. I'm sorry."
"Oh Babe, it's okay. I'll admit that I was hurt but I should not have pushed you the way I did." Lucas said getting up and pulling Pan up with him. He enveloped her in his arms. Pan felt her body tense as Lucas rubbed his hands up and down her back. Pan turned her head away right before Lucas could kiss her mouth. His mouth traced her jaw to her ear. Pulling away from her, Lucas leaned close to her ear whispering to her."Come on Babe, lets go to my bedroom and make up properly." Lucas said seductively trying to maneuver Pan towards his bedroom.
Pan pushed Lucas away from her. She had to stop him before it could go any further. Positioning herself so that she was close to the front door, Pan looked up to meet his gaze. "Lucas, I don't want to go to your bedroom."
"Okay then. We can just make up right here if you want." He said reaching for her.
"No Lucas, I meant I don't want to make up. I'm really sorry. You are such a great guy and all but you are not the guy for me. I have been using you for the last four months and I can't do it anymore. I never meant to hurt you. Please believe me." Pan said wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the sudden chill surrounding her.
"Is this some kind of joke? Pan, I love you. The last four months have been the best of my life. Please tell me, you are joking."
"Lucas, you don't love me. You can't because the person you know is not even the real me. It was all an illusion. I can't see you anymore. I'm truly sorry about everything. I only hope that one day you will be able to forgive me. Goodbye Lucas." Pan said quietly walking out the door. She started to run once she was outside, never once stopping especially when she heard Lucas yelling her name.
It was mid afternoon by the time Pan finally made it back to her house. She was utterly exhausted and she thought that she would cry at the sight of her bed. Pan stripped out of her clothes. She walked into her bathroom and turned the water on so that she could soak in her tub. Pan relaxed into the warm water, letting it sooth away the knots in her muscles. She stayed in the water until in turned ice cold and she almost fell asleep. Letting the water out, Pan dried off and walked back into her bedroom. She slipped between the sheets of her bed not bothering to clothe her nude body. Pan immediately fell asleep the minute her head hit the pillow. She was awaken only moments later by an intense pounding on her front door.
Trunks made it to Gohan's in record time. He was frustrated and irritated with Gohan by the time he reached the driveway. He had tried to call Gohan two more time and both times he got a busy signal. Trunks could not believe that Gohan would do this to him. It felt like an eternity before he reached the Son residence. All sorts of images were running through Trunks's mind. He was worried that Pan was hurt or worse. Even though he tried to tell himself he did not care, Trunks knew deep inside he did. Trunks knocked on the Son's front door, willing someone to open the door quickly. He was grated by Videl's smiling face. Her smile relieved him of some of his worry.
"Hello Trunks. Come on in. Gohan is in the living room. How are you doing?"
"Hey Videl. I'm good. How are you? You wouldn't by any chance know what this is all about?" Trunks asked kissing Videl on the cheek.
"I'm doing good and I'm sorry to say that I have no idea what Gohan wants to tell you. Why don't you go on in and talk to him and I will bring ya'll something to drink in a few minutes."
"Thanks Videl." Trunks walked into the living room to find Gohan flipping through several books. Trunks cleared his throat loudly telling Gohan that he was in the room. It only took moments before it dawned on Gohan that someone was standing in the doorway. He smiled and closed the books in front of him.
"Come on in and grab a seat. Give me one minute to put these away." Gohan said referring to his books. Trunks walked over to the nearest chair and sat down. Gohan's innocent attitude was grating on his last nerve. Trunks wanted to know what was so important with Pan that Gohan had called him the way he did.
"Gohan, if you don't mind I would really like for you to tell me what is going on. It's not everyday you call me, say something is going on with Pan and then hang up. You know, you really shouldn't do that to a guy." Trunks said threading his fingers through his hair.
"I know I probably could have found a better way to get you here but it was very important that I talk to you."
"Damn right you could have. Is Pan alright? She hasn't been harmed again, has she?"
"Pan is well Pan. The only thing that has harmed her is herself. Before we continue I really need to know something. Do you still love my daughter?" Gohan asked peering intently at Trunks. The rest of their conversation depended on Trunks's answer. Deep down Gohan knew that Trunks and his daughter were connected. In some ways he hated it because it meant letting Pan go. But it also gave him hope that if she would accept it, Trunks would fill her life with immeasurable amounts of happiness.
Trunks sat there stunned by Gohan's question. It just popped up out of the blue and left him speechless. For the first time ever, Trunks looked inside himself. The two months he had spent with Pan were wonderful minus the horrific nightmares. It felt like the starting of love. Then she was taken and he had never felt so scared before. He was sure that he loved her then. But she changed by Brolli. The girl that he was starting to fall in love with, was no more. He could not find her anywhere inside of the woman who tormented and irritated him now. She resurfaced briefly on the night they spent together. He could see it in her eyes as they made love. So did he love her?
Well does Trunks love her? Who is banging on Pan's door? If you want to know then you will just have to wait for the next chapter.
Alright now if you will just click on that nice button on the bottom of the screen then you can review and tell me what you think. Please review. Thanks bunches.