Well, here's the first chapter! It's a bit deep and serious for a first one, but I couldn't have prevented it, this chapter told itself to me entirely. I promise things will lighten up! But there also will be some deep things in some upcoming chapters, you've been warned. Sorry for the wait and the short introduction for this story, but this chappy is fairly long, so hopefully it will hold you till the next one. :) I hope you like it, and please review!
"So, I've decided some things." Pan said, sifting through the invitation cards, sitting across from Trunks at her kitchen table. He was sifting through a box of cards himself. She cocked a brow.
"I'm listening." He said with a smile.
"It's a hard choice to make, between Marron and Bura, but I've got to make it. I've decided to make Bura my maid of honor, and in compensation, I'm going to have Marron do my bridal shower. Sound good?"
"Sounds good." He grinned. "So who's this?" He questioned, holding up a card.
"Don't ask me." She answered with a shrug. "You should know by now neither of us know half of these people." She sighed. "But they're important people to our parents, and so we will have to act like we hear their names daily." He nodded and put it back in the stack.
"So," She said hesitantly. "how's the honeymoon plans coming along?" She prodded innocently.
"Just fine." He grinned. "And that's all you'll know for now." She made a pouting noise. "I'll tell you enough time beforehand."
"I know, but I'm dying to know where." She bounced in her seat impatiently. "Will I like it?" She questioned, but he only smiled an 'I'm-not-telling' smile. "Ok, fine!" She said, going through the invitations in silence. A few minutes later Trunks burst into laughter, and she looked up with an irritated, cocked brow. "What?"
"You're dying to know." She tossed her head to the side with one of those looks and rolled her eyes. "Yes, you are; I can tell."
"I'm just curious so I can know what to buy to take with me, that's all." He smirked and shook his head.
"It's killing you." He pointed out, and she put the lid on the box and got up. "Admit it!" He said playfully, getting up himself. "C'mon, Pan." He said, folding his arms, sending a playful smirk her way.
She turned her nose up at him and poked her head in the fridge, attempting to look occupied with other things. He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch, the same one that got scratched up in the accident the previous summer. Now, in early February, he had yet to get a new one. The clasp had also become broken since then, and it dangled funnily most of the time.
"I gotta' run." He said, grabbing his coat off the back of the chair and slinging it on over a navy sweater. She emerged from the fridge, the acting over, and a disappointed expression crossed her face.
"Really? Right now?" She asked. "You just got here a little bit ago." He grinned and pecked her on the cheek.
"That 'little bit ago' was an hour and forty-five minutes ago." He joked, stepping into the entryway. "I'm coming back for dinner, I promise." She grabbed his waist and gave him a quick kiss before he left through the door.
She walked to the kitchen window and watched him get into his car and drive off, then looked around herself. No one else was home, and the house was in need of a clean, so she decided tidying up a bit wouldn't hurt. Turning on the stereo in the living room she began picking up as a mellow, afternoon radio tune played.
Two hours later, the living room, dining room, and kitchen spotless, she sat down with a bottle of soda. The front door opened and she could hear car keys jingle.
"Pan?" Her mother's voice called out. "Pan, are you home?" She stepped into the kitchen and sat her purse down. "Hey there." She gave Pan a smile, then looked around. "Thing's look nice around here." She pointed out. "Did you clean?" Pan nodded while taking a sip of Pepsi.
"Aww, thanks sweetie." She flashed a Son smile, something that had rubbed off on her through the years of living with Gohan. "I've got some groceries, wanna help?"
"Sure." Pan put her soda back in the fridge and followed her mom out to the car. Her mother popped the trunk, and several blue plastic bags rippled noisily in the wind.
"It's freezing out here!" Pan hugged herself and clattered her teeth on purpose. "Is this it?" She questioned, grabbing most of the bags. "Anything up front?" Videl shook her head and closed the trunk, slipping her keys in her camel-coat pocket.
"So how did it go with Trunks?" She asked, closing the door behind them and following her daughter into the kitchen. She sat the bags down on the table chairs and raised a brow.
"Ok." Pan said pleasantly, dropping her load on the counter and emptying them into cupboards. "He still won't tell me where we're going on our honeymoon." She added poutingly.
"Oh, Pan, why do you hate surprises so?" She smiled. "I would have liked to have had a honeymoon period. And you can trust Trunks; he won't take you camping or something like that." Pan threw her mother a face. "…that is…" She continued. "unless you'd like to go camping."
"Oh, no." Pan said, sitting down. "It's just—"
"Another thing to fret about?" Videl smiled knowingly and sat down next to her daughter, wrapping an arm comfortingly around her shoulders. "Panny, Panny." She said, and Pan leant her head on her mother's familiar shoulder. "Don't worry, everything will be just fine."
"I hope so, mom." She said desperately. "I want everything to be…you know…I just want it to be nice, and pleasant, and I don't want something to get messed up. I don't even have a wedding dress yet!" She sobbed tearlessly.
"Pan," Videl took her daughter's hands in hers, looking her straight and deliberately in the eyes. These eyes, her mother's eyes, were so diverse and yet always the same. They held comfort, concern, love, understanding, and so much more. Pan could never look away from those eyes, not that she usually wanted to.
"It will be all right. What can possibly go so wrong that you'd want to waste time and tears on them? Seriously." She smirked. "The limo's late, you wait. The wedding can't go on without you. The cake isn't exactly what you wanted, don't fret; it's still gorgeous. Your bridesmaid's dresses don't look like they did in the magazines. They're still pretty, and no one can tell. Besides," She winked. "You aren't the one wearing them." They exchanged grins.
"Honey," She took Pan in her arms. "Don't worry, it will all smooth over. You're just nervous. It's natural to be." She sighed. "I remember planning mine, and it wasn't the biggest affair either. We didn't even have a honeymoon! Or bridesmaid's! Or limo's!" She leant her chin on her daughter's head. "Panny, don't waste your time worrying, just prevent what you can, plan what you need to. You've got Chi-Chi, Bulma, Me, and even Eighteen working on this!" She laughed and released her daughter. "We'll make sure it runs smooth, ok? Just enjoy your day. Promise?"
Pan smiled and nodded. "I promise."
"Hello there, Trunks." Videl greeted cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Dinner's almost ready." She looked around and bit her lip. "Pan's taking a shower, but Gohan's watching TV in the living room."
"Thanks." He gave a little nod and walked into the living room, hands in his pockets. "What's up?" He asked, plopping down on the couch next to Gohan.
"Hey, son." He grinned from ear to ear, and Trunks gave a chuckling smile back. "It's a shame baseball's gone downhill." He clicked the TV off with a remote. "It used to be great, back when Yamcha was at his height." He gave a sly smile. "But he's gotten more into celebrity status versus sports star now, hasn't he?" Trunks shrugged.
"Yeah, it would seem so."
"Seem so?" Both men turned to the hall where Pan stood with a blue terry cloth robe on, and a towel wrapped around her thick hair. Her feet were shod in blue slippers with a star and moon design on them that matched the design on the left lapel of her robe.
"And why are you so nosy all of the sudden?" Trunks teased. Gohan smiled at the situation. Trunks and Pan really were meant for each other, and every day they were that much more the married couple that was to come. Trunks had nearly taken over Gohan's job of teasing her like that, but although it was reminiscently sad, it wasn't sad in the way that Gohan would want to prevent it.
They were a team now, the two of them, and Gohan couldn't deny it.
"And put some clothes on, missy." He teased again, folding his arms and giving her furrowed brows. "Do you think I want my wife-to-be walking around nude all the time?"
"No, you'll want that after we're married." She said with a teasing wink and a barely there smile that put glitter in her eyes. Gohan coughed and Trunks hid a sly smirk with a little blush. "Sorry, daddy." She apologized.
Gohan held up a hand of forgiveness and understanding.
"Well, I suppose I should make myself a little less nude, then." She said, trotting up the stairs. Trunks watched her go up, and Gohan chuckled. Trunks cleared his throat and looked at his father in law.
"Don't worry about it." Gohan grinned. "It's…well, I mean…there's…I understand." He gave the same warm smile that had always made Trunks feel safe and at ease around him. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about." He chuckled, then got serious. "Although…" Trunks swallowed and looked into his unblinking eyes. "Trunks, I don't want to ever find a tiger-striped nightgown lying around."
Trunks didn't move. He didn't flinch, blink, or even breathe. He looked at him, and couldn't recall whether he nodded or not.
Then, a funny thing happened. Gohan laughed. The chuckle that grew into a full hearted Son laugh made Trunks jump a good inch or so off the couch, and Gohan rubbed tears from his eyes.
"I got you pretty good. Boy, I wish you could have seen yourself. Hehe." He grinned from ear to ear. "I honestly don't care what she wears…you know, for, uh, stuff…" He bit his lip, then changed the subject. "But I got you pretty good. You jumped a foot, Trunks!" His glasses drooped on his nose, and he pushed them back with a finger.
Trunks found himself chuckling nervously, then he leaned back with a sigh.
"I totally thought you were serious, Gohan." Gohan grinned, then looked at Trunks with a corner of his lip up appraisingly.
"Do you really want her to wear tiger stripes?" He asked, totally honest. Trunks shook his head, shot back into scared rabbit mode. "Oh, ok." Gohan smiled again. "I mean, if, you know…"
"Say no more." Trunks smiled and they let the subject drop at that.
"Now what might you two boys be discussing?" Videl stood in the doorway, a curious expression on her face. She looked at Gohan, awaiting the answer from him.
"And why are you so nosy all of the sudden?" He asked teasingly, copying Trunks' technique. He got a frown followed by hands on hips and a cocked brow.
"Dinner's ready." She said flatly, and Gohan smiled nervously. "Pan will be down in a minute, but I don't want things to get cold waiting for her." She added, smiling at Trunks. "C'mon, Gohan." She returned to a flat manner as her eyes fell on her husband.
"How come it didn't work for me, huh?" He whispered to Trunks as they made their way to the dining room.
"What?" Videl snapped.
"Nothing! Nothing at all, honey." Videl tossed her low ponytail over one shoulder with a 'hmph!'. "I suppose that didn't put her in the best of moods." He whispered again.
"What was that?" She asked sharply from the next room as they began to sit down. Trunks shook his head and scooted his seat in.
"I was just telling Trunks how I was so excited about eating some of your food!" He called, and Trunks could imagine oh so vividly Videl shaking her head in the kitchen while she picked up a dish or two.
She appeared with a good-natured expression on her face though, and sat a bowl of chicken and cream sauce on the table along with a plate of rice.
"Dig right in, Trunks." She said, handing him a plate and then Gohan. She grinned. "You're family now. Well, you always have been, but you know." He returned a smile. "Pan, are you coming?"
"Yes, mom!" Came a voice from upstairs. It seemed as if she was muffling the response with a pillow, but more likely she probably had something in her mouth like a hairpin or something or another.
Footsteps soon thudded down the stairs, and Pan appeared in the dining room with two bobby pins in her mouth, her hands knotting her wet hair in a sloppy bun. Her clothes had little wet patches on them from water uncaught by the towel, and she wiped a bead of H2O off her cheek with the back of her hand.
"Chicken and cream sauce! Awesome, mom!" She sat down across from Trunks and scooted her chair in eagerly, acting surely like a little kid, like the Pan Trunks had comforted during the storm. The reminiscent memory of that afternoon slipped through Trunks' mind as he watched her dive into the food, and he felt foolish; she probably didn't even remember.
He did. Very vividly.
"So, Trunks, how have you been?" Videl inquired. "We haven't seen you much lately since you've been trying to catch Capsule Corps. up. You're almost done?"
"Um, yeah. We've just got to finish up some research. Hopefully things will be back to normal next week or so. I'll be glad when that happens, I might as well just sleep at Capsule Corps." He laughed.
"He did the other night." Pan said with a mouthful. "The next morning he had the worst crick in his neck, and he was just about limping all day!" She grinned. "Next time send out for a sleeping bag, ok?"
"So how's your family doing?" Gohan asked, looking at Trunks through his scholarly glasses. "They're doing good, I hope?"
"Yeah, they're fine. My dad's been wonderful on letting me know just because I'm getting married, it doesn't mean I can slack on training." He smiled, more to himself. "Bura's dancing around and singing half the day away, talking to Donny the other half, and my mom's getting excited about some medical research she's doing."
"She and Donny are really getting married?" Videl queried.
"With the ring she has, I'm pretty sure. She flaunts it to the household robots!" He smiled. Bura's ring was huge. Donny, male model that he was, made sure of that. It was intricately fancy to boot. Pan hadn't wanted something like that, she just wanted a simple one, and Trunks had gotten it, with just one diamond in the center. Although the thick platinum band and 4-carat stone made it definitely higher in price, and had let him know he had gotten her the best. He had planned something different, but she, timidly, told him that any bigger a stone would be a bit too big, and would probably keep her from doing everyday things. He had had trouble enough getting her to wear a 4-carat.
"But I think they're going to wait a bit, although with her acting the way she has been, I don't see how that can go on. I think they'll end up married this winter or so." He continued, on the topic of his sister. Videl nodded with a friendly expression on her face.
A little while later they were enjoying dessert, vanilla ice-cream with fresh strawberries.
"So how did the invitations go?" Videl raised a brow while she dug her spoon into the white mound.
"Ok." Pan answered for them both. "I never realized there were so many people coming."
"Well, there are a lot of people you can't ignore. Your grandpa and your father know a lot of people—saved a lot of people—and I'm sure they'd like to join in the celebration. The ox king knows some people, Bulma knows a lot, and then my—"
"I didn't think it was their wedding." Pan muttered, staring down at her melting ice-cream and slippery strawberries.
"Pan—"
"It seems Trunks and I don't even know half the guest list, let alone care about them coming." She continued, still looking down. Her mother raised a brow, and Gohan swallowed, feeling the tension.
"Who do you want then? Would you insist on being rude to people who hold you and your family in such high respect?" Pan stood up, slapping her napkin on the table, locking eyes with her mother.
"I don't know who I want!" She exclaimed. No one breathed. "I just know I don't—"
"These people, Pan, would feel honored to know you would invite them to celebrate with you." Videl, words cool as ice, chastisement sharp as a knife, looked at her daughter under an elegantly arched brow.
"Is this my wedding or a cotillion!?" Videl, her sharp reproachful brow replaced by an expression of astonishment, looked at her daughter. Pan bit her lower lip, stifling violent tears. She scooted her chair back and left the room at a dash.
Videl leaned back in her chair and furrowed her brows, casting her eyes downward in an expression of the deepest contemplation and letting out a dejected sigh. Gohan took off his glasses and leaned forehead on his hand, elbow on the table. He rubbed at his forehead thoughtfully, and caught Trunks' eyes.
He gave an approving nod, and Trunks left the room, following Pan's path. He found her on the deck, hugging herself stiffly against the cold or against her body-racking sobs, he could not tell which. Tears splashed down her cheeks, and her face held a proud expression that also held remorse.
Either she was too caught up to hear him fall behind her, or she didn't care to let him know she had. Whichever was the case, she leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
He buried his face into the curve of her shoulder, and he could feel her shiver with the cold. Her hair was still wet, thanks to its thickness, and it hit against his own fair hair like ice touching his scalp.
He turned her around to face him, and he grasped her cheeks with his hands, looking at her with understanding. Her lips began to quiver, and her face contorted and she sobbed. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms tight around her squeezing her protectively.
"Pan, it's all right." He whispered soothingly. "It's ok." He whispered, close to her ear, quiet as a breath, warm as a sigh. Her hands became fists at his chest, and she bit her lip determinedly.
"Trunks, I just—" Her words trembled, and his heart ached for her. The argument, however trivial and unimportant the subject had been, had been an argument, and it was something she felt was important. Of course she thought it was important, she never argued with her mother, and wasn't the type to mutter and complain.
"It's our day," She began, her voice evening. "and I just want it to be special." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry I argued. I'm sorry I got all upset in front of you. It was, I just…it came out that way. I wish I hadn't been like that; it wasn't important enough." He smoothed her hair, drawing her closer.
"I know, I know." He said, still smoothing her hair, comforting her like a scared child. But it was deeper than that; he knew it. He knew, that however simple this touch, it held the most deep, caring love he had for her. The love that would make him protect her with his life, fight for her until death could stop him—he would never stop fighting for less than death!
Her sobs lessening, her tears drying, he held her still, rocking just barely, side to side, stroking her hair, kissing her gently where he could.
Gohan stood upstairs, looking out the window, at his daughter and Tru—his son. He saw the gentle back and forth rhythm with which he rocked her, stroking her hair like he had done so many times himself to comfort her. Videl was doing the dishes downstairs, knowing she wasn't the one her daughter wanted comfort from this time. Knowing that rarely would her daughter ever come to her again for comfort. Not because of their argument, no, that would smooth over quite soon, but she had a greater comforter now, one that cared for her almost as much as she did, if not as much.
With a deep sigh Gohan sat down, adjusted his glasses, and pulled open a book, wondering when this melancholy feeling of losing his daughter would fade.