I WILL WAIT FOR YOU

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball and I'm not making money off this.

Authors Notes: Alright, it seems something was rather unclear in my first chapter. Pan is intending to come out of the ROSAT every day and then re-enter. Sorry if I didn't explain well enough, but this chapter should clarify that all, I hope. Not much else to say other than thanks for reviewing. There's been quite a few reviews for what I didn't even consider a good story. Again, I'm not very used to writing romance so please bear with my clumsy efforts and as always – please review.

***

Trunks lay on his back among the moist scrub, staring at the sky. Already he missed Pan. "Quit being so selfish," he scolded himself. He only had to wait a day before he could see her again and she would have to wait a year. He looked at his watch, Pan would be re-emerging from the Room of Spirit and Time in twenty three hours and eighteen minutes. He tucked his hands behind his head resting. His ki was relatively low, he assumed nobody would be able to find him. Technically he should be at work by now, but he thought this warranted a break.

Without warning a huge ki flared up. Trunks jumped up with a start. He didn't need to concentrate on who it was or where it was coming from, that was already blatantly obvious. Trunks forced his ki down, hoping to hide from the wrath of an angry father. Luck was not on Trunks's side today.

*

Pan took in a deep breath and opened her eyes. She could feel a faint ache in her muscles, but nothing she wasn't used to. It was only her second day here so she let herself go easy yesterday. The only reason she was actually training was to stop herself going mad from boredom and solitude and if she was going to give up all these years of her life the last thing she wanted was to become a bitter and antisocial character. Realising that ten years of philosophy wasn't going to get her anyway she rose and started on a more intensive warm up than yesterday. "Three hundred and sixty four days till I can see Trunks." she said.

*

"Trunks, have you seen Pan?" The voice was deathly calm. Trunks's eyes flitted back and forward trying to avoid Gohan's stare.

"No. Why?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, that's what I said."

"You're positive, because you know that if I find out you're lying to me I will tear you from limb to limb."

Trunks gulped, he knew it wasn't an empty threat. "Gohan, Pan probably just went to school early to catch up on some work or something. Don't worry about her, she can take protect herself."

"Yes, she can, but sometimes she doesn't know when she needs protecting." The implications of Gohans words were not lost on Trunks, but he chose to ignore the not so subtle insult.

"Look, Gohan. I haven't seen her, OK. If I do I will let you know."

"Thank you."

"Sure."

"Trunks why are you out in the middle of nowhere? Aren't you meant to be working?"

"Uh, well, yeah, but no. I guess, well, umm, its like this." Trunks didn't get a coherent sentence out before Gohan looked him over suspiciously once more, catching Trunks's eye just to let him know that he was fully aware something was up. Then Gohan took to the sky, leaving with the same speed he had arrived with.

Trunks let himself lean backwards against a tree and slid down it. "Gohan's going to kill me," he muttered.

It didn't seem like much time had passed before the sun began to fall low in the sky casting long shadows around Trunks. He hadn't moved from his secluded spot. Although his unusual behaviour would surely cast him into a suspicious position he didn't care. He had needed the time to mull over the last two days events. They had taken place in a flash and he seemed to have no control over them. They should have been the most crucial moments in his life, but somehow they hadn't taken their full impact up until now. He could hardly believe that Pan would be living an entire year in the course of this single day. It was incomprehensible and whenever he tried to comprehend it his brain just ran in repetitive and pointless loops.

A beep from his watch indicated to Trunks that it was seven o'clock. Taking this as his cue he jumped into the air and flew home at a very seduced pace.

When Trunks arrived home he could hear his parents arguing inside. Although it was not an unusual occurrence in his household he did consider the topic rather peculiar. If he didn't know better he would have sworn they were discussing him. He walked in the door and both his parents stopped arguing and looked at him. He muttered a greeting and walked through the room in silence, feeling two pairs of eyes firmly locked on him. When he left the room he could hear the caucus begin again. This confirmed his suspicions and he figured that Gohan must have called.

While approaching his bedroom he passed Bra in the hallway. "Hey." he said rather glumly.

"Hey." Bra continued down the hallway as if nothing was wrong, but she secretly watched Trunks over her shoulder, wondering what he and Pan were up to. She was of course aware of Pan's absence, but not really sure if she should be covering or not. She hesitated for a second before turning abruptly and running after her brother calling after him.

Trunks heard the cries and turned around and found himself face to face with his sister. "Where's Pan?" she demanded.

"I don't know."

Bra grabbed her brother's sleeve and pulled him down the hallway and into his room. She threw him towards the bed and shut the door behind her. She pulled up a chair to her brother and sat staring at him, unwilling to break the silence.

Eventually Trunks gave in. "Bra, what do you want?"

"I want to know what you and Pan are up to."

"Why do you think I would know what Pan's doing?"

"Because you two are always together. Besides, you're not yourself. You disappear for a day then come home higly depressed."

"So?"

"And all this just happens to occur on the exact same day Pan goes missing?"

"Yes."

"Aha! How did you know Pan was missing? I'm probably the first person you've talked to today."

"After Gohan."

"Oh," Bra said, sounding very disappointed.

"Look, I'm sorry Pan's missing, but I'm sure she is fine."

"OK, sure you keep telling yourself that. Just remember if Pan needs a cover then I'm perfect for the job, but I don't work without information." With that Bra triumphantly marched out of the room, frustrated that she hadn't found out what Trunks was up to. She just knew that something was going on, she just hoped it wasn't what it looked like. Sure Pan and Trunks made a cute couple, but he was way too old for her.

*

Pan kicked out at an invisible enemy and continued the perfectly formed combination. All this time to herself had made a lot of difference, not only to her strength but her state of mind. She had gotten used to the solitude very quickly, but the silence was something else. It was simply too quiet. Often she would yell into the emptiness, willing the sound to last and echo around her ears. She blamed herself though, it was lack of preparation. If she had considered the fact that she would be in utter quiet for an entire year then maybe she would have had the sense to bring a walkman at the least. When she was mentally preparing herself for the task ahead she had only considered the loneliness. However, through the past months she hadn't felt truly alone because she knew that while Trunks was around she could never be alone. Trunks was here in everything except for body and at night she would fall asleep with the fatigue attacking her mind and Trunks soothing her brow. Trunks had always chased away the demons in her life when she was a child and now that she was finally growing up nothing had changed.

*

"Gohan, I'm not lying to you. I haven't seen Pan." Trunks said, almost backed up to a wall.

Videl broke into the argument, obviously more trusting than Gohan. "Look Trunks, it's alright. We are just really worried about her. She has never disappeared without telling us where she is going before and she seems really close to you so we figured she might have said something."

Trunks thought fast. He couldn't maintain that he hadn't seen her forever or they'd probably get the entire police force and go completely insane while waiting. He had to think of a cover and fast. "Umm, well the last time I saw her, she said something about..."

"About what?" Gohan demanded.

"Er, about going away."

"Going where?" Gohan almost screamed. "You're going to need to be more specific Trunks."

"She said that she was thinking about going for a holiday, just to get away from it all. You know." What was that, he asked himself. He had to restrain himself from slapping himself right then and there.

"On a school night?" Gohan asked as if Trunks had just given a chilly weather report on HFIL.

"Well, I guess so."

Videl once more tried to defuse the situation. "Come on Gohan. If Pan's gone for a holiday then I'm sure she'll contact us soon. She's a strong girl. She'll be fine. If we haven't heard from her by tomorrow afternoon then we'll start looking."

"No way. I'm looking for her now. Trunks, you are coming with me." Gohan said.

"And so are you Vegeta." Bulma cut in, speaking for the first time.

Vegeta was standing in a far off corner, his arms crossed trying to look completely disinterested in the situation. "No, I am not."

"Bulma, it's OK. I'm sure that Gohan and Trunks will be able to find her." Videl said, uncomfortable about the imposition her husband was putting the entire Briefs family in.

Gohan agreed with his wife, although for different reasons. Vegeta was far too arrogant and was likely to just make any existing situation worse. "Yeah, she's right Bulma."

Bulma felt a bit like she was being ganged up on here, but decided not to take it any further and simply shrugged it off.

Gohan leaned over to his wife and whispered, "I'm going to go ask Dad to help."

Videl looked at him accusingly, but said nothing. She'd already put everyone out enough.

Bulma, Vegeta and Bra watched as the three burst off into the night sky, leaving a bright trail behind them. Vegeta made a low grunt and then walked off, probably to continue training. He could tell something was going on here and it wasn't Pan going on a holiday.

*

The sound of static echoed through the room. Trunks subconsciously ran a hand over his face, letting it rest there to block out the morning light. He had been up most of last night searching for Pan, still insisting that she had probably just gone on a break. Gohan had wondered why Trunks hadn't mentioned anything earlier but he maintained that he only remembered it afterwards. Gohan didn't like what was going on, but there was no evidence to prove that Pan hadn't just gone on a holiday. He had to admit that Trunks didn't seem to be hiding Pan in his back pocket. A small groan escaped Trunks's lips as he began to slowly wake up. As soon as his mind kicked into action though he was out of bed, into some clothes and out the window. Pan was about to complete her first year and he wasn't going to miss her brief intermission. With the excitement of a young schoolboy he zipped through the sky unable to contain his joyous grin. At the same time something worried him though. A year was a long time and a lot could change in that time. What if Pan hadn't coped with the solitude? She was too stubborn to back out, he knew that much. The thoughts sobered him a little, but he was still too excited to be depressed. He was going to see Pan.

He made a rather clumbsy landing, but that was of little concern to him. He rushed up to the Room of Spirit and Time, but when he came nearer he slowed his pace. Once more fear began to overcome him, fear of the uncertain. He wasn't given much time to ponder over this though for only seconds after he arrived at the doorway it opened.

Trunks took a cautious step forward before rushing up to Pan who stood in the doorway with a huge grin on her face. "Trunks," she whispered. They both took each other up in a very loving embrace, neither sure of what to say. To Trunks, Pan didn't look much older. A long silence reigned.

"How are you?" Trunks finally managed to get out.

Pan nodded, with tears forming in her eyes. "Alright." she croaked.

They held each other tightly once more, Pan rejoicing in the arms of the man she had missed so dearly. Although it pained her to do so she brought her hands up between them and gently pushed him away. "I'd better get back. Bring me a walkman or something next time will you?" she said quietly.

"What? Already?" Trunks could not believe his ears. She had been away from him for an entire year and all she said to him was 'alright' and 'I'd better get back.'

"If I stay then I don't think I'll ever go back. Time is no longer relative. Every second I spend here with you is hours that I should be spending catching up to you." Pan seemed to have regained control of her voice, now speaking quite clearly and confidently.

"But…" Trunks stuttered. It didn't seem right. He felt terrible trying to make her do something as she was definitely on the hard side of the bargain, but surely she could have a break.

"No, don't question it. Don't make me stay here too long, I've gotten myself used to the solitude now. I don't need to gain you again, just to loose you in the matter of a day. Besides, where would I go. I can't exactly just stroll in the door and announce to Dad that I'm a year older now."

"You wouldn't have to tell him." Trunks reasoned.

"No, I wouldn't. He just would know."

Both stood there speechless, not really sure what to say. Pan took this as an indication for her to leave and she casually strolled back towards the doors.

"Pan!" Trunks called out, just before she entered.

"Yeah?"

"Umm, I don't suppose I'm allowed to let Bra in on this. She would provide good cover."

"No way. The last time I trusted her with an actual secret it half way across the country within hours." Pan said with a slight touch of malice.

"Well…" Trunks ventured.

"Well what?"

"Could you ring your Dad then? I told him you were on a holiday and if you don't talk to him soon he's going to take it out on me. He's convinced we're up to something." Trunks hated doing this to Pan, realising her wishes not to regain contact with the world.

Pan choked back a laugh. "You got a phone?" she eventually said, rather reluctantly.

Trunks reached into his pocket and produced a cellphone. Pan moved a little closer to get it. She dialed her home phone number put the phone up to her ear.

"Hi Dad, its Pan here."

Trunks waited for the fit of hysteria.

"Just letting you know that I've gone on a holiday to sort out my life," she said winking at Trunks. "I'll be back within two weeks OK? Love you. You too Mum." With that she pressed a button on the phone and tossed it back towards Trunks who caught it rather shakily.

"Did you just leave a message?"

"Yeah, they're at work." Pan said, as if it were the most obvious thing ever.

"So call them there."

"I'd rather not." With that Pan continued on through the door, disappearing once more.

***