Hmm, this would have been updated earlier this evening, but the second I was ready to upload fan fiction started to be a jerk to me and wouldn't work -tears- anywho, here it is…
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. If I did, I'd already have a car. I don't own the italics during Marron's part either, they belong to Ashanti and whoever else collaborated in that song. (What's come over me)
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long. It's just…you don't understand! This was the hardest chapter I've had to write, it was like pulling teeth. So, if you read it and you're like, 'gah, get to the good stuff already' don't yell at me. It has to be in here. It's building character development, and you'll appreciate it all the more in the end. Treat this chapter like you would the beginning of a novel, tolerated long enough to get to the interesting stuff.
Anywho, I hope it doesn't suck too much. And next chapter Marron's leaving Trunks! Woohoo!
What's come over me?
"You mean it? Never?" The words came out in a way that made it hard for her to believe he was trusting her speech. She shook her head, a coy smile playing on her lips, head wondering why the news was so shocking.
"No, I never have." Her voice filled his ears as she stretched back on the couch, leaning her body in a way that made his eyes wander and his train of though falter for a second.
"Not when you were younger and the weather was nice out? Never?" He didn't seem to be capable of accepting the information that she was offering him, as his green eyes glinted carefully studying her face. Apparently he believed she was lying, or something as drastic, perhaps playing a harmless ploy on his easy character-flaw of gullibility.
"Honestly, Gabe. You can go ask my dad if you don't believe me." She pointed her finger to the figure in the other room. Hair still styled up, glasses in position, body tilted over a pile of papers in deep concentration. His interest sparked at the mention of him from a party in the other room, but he didn't look in their direction, knowing explaining how he'd heard his name would be easier imagined than done.
"No, I just wanted to make sure you weren't pulling my leg." He studied her for a few more seconds and, being satisfied, nodded his head wildly.
"I'm not." She finally offered, a little taken back by the way his head was bobbing, the glint in his eyes that was saying he was searching for adventure again, easily making her squirm.
"Fine," He stated, coming to a decision already. "I believe you." He lifted his body up from the chair in which he'd been positioned, diagonally from her, and pushed his feet in her direction. His arm reached out, his hand silently offering her help from her comfortable position on the furniture.
"What do you want?" She questioned cautiously, taking his hand with a weary eye.
"Well, for starters, I'd like to know why your parents were cruel enough to deprive you from the simple joys of childhood." She giggled, finding it hard to explain without explaining. She couldn't very well say, what's the point in wasting my time on something like that? I know how to fly, stupid. That would only lead to catastrophic explanations and confusion. Better to avoid the heavy load of questions all together.
"Sorry, I guess they're unimaginative and uneventful, horrible alien impersonators that took over my real parents' bodies when I was a baby and have been boring me to death ever since."
"Ahh, their evil plan nearly succeeded," He whispered in her ear, causing a shiver that was both inviting and unpleasant to creep up and down her spine. "But never fear, Gabe Henson is here to rescue you."
"And not a moment too soon. So, lover boy, what are you proposing to rectify my complete inadequacy in the subject of child play and having significant fun?"
"The doctor is ordering a dose of friendly winds and some running along the beach."
She smirked, laughing at his crazy attempt at a French accent. "Really? And all this time I thought you were a writer." He was still holding on to her hand, guiding her through the living room and past her ever curious father.
"Yes, but I am a man of many talents. Therapist, friend, associate, writer, doctor, soul mate…Just take your pick, my lady and I will mold into whatever you want me to be."
"Why don't we stick with the traditional Gabe Henson for now and see where the fates lead us." She answered back, just as slyly as he had attempted to be seconds before. He'd been trying, unsuccessfully, for the past month to goat her into admitting she wanted something more from him than what she was getting. And why were things always moving so fast with him? Why did he have to find adventure at every corner, and risk embarrassment at every turn? And why did he insist on being the one for her when she'd told him time and again that she didn't need a 'one', she'd found the love of her life once and he'd found someone else?
Worse, yet, she just couldn't bear the thought of hurting him. Along with the fact that, though she hated to admit it, his persistence was wearing down her walls. She found herself wondering at times, if maybe she could let herself go. If maybe she could fall in love with him because she'd never have anything better, because she'd never wanted anything more, and if she was looking for the best…to put it bluntly…this was as good as it got.
Gabe was perfect in the very essence of the word. Every piece of her mind screamed of him as flawlessness, everything except the thing that clung onto Trunks as the epitome of excellence - the only thing that couldn't be improved upon. Why was she so fixated on a symbolism of a man whom she could never lay her hands upon? Why was she so damn curious about a question to which she would never know the answer nor even come close to understanding the equation? Everything was so confused and muddled inside her head that it seemed as if she were at a stalemate with her mind. As if she weren't making any kind of improvement, only more of a decline, and she was becoming more and more frustrated with the fact that the harder she tried to fall out of love, the harder she fell.
And the more she tried to love the right person, the worse things got…Goten and Trunks had just walked in the house. Her hand was still resting with Gabe's and she felt a guilty sort of burn in between her fingers as she looked at Trunks' face. Gabe had stiffened slightly, still not forgetting the night she'd run to him in the rain admitting her deep rooted love for a man fourteen years older than her. A man whom used to baby-sit her. A man who completely ignored her existence, from what Gabe could tell, and took her friendship for granted - assuming it would always be there. A man who had no right to look at her the way he was looking at her now - anger a jealousy a pure admittance of his mind's thoughts. Gabe's fingers tightened around her hand as he pulled her along, the smile never lifting off his face.
"Hello Goten…and Trunks, I presume?" His eyebrows lifted curiously and he was sure Trunks read his anger in the way he gripped Pan's hand again.
"Hey, Gabe." Goten answered lightly, as if seeing him were a usual occurrence in his everyday life. This only served to make Trunks more upset than he already was. His blue eyes lightly traveled from Goten to Pan and then, finally, onto Gabe. Reluctantly he answered.
"That's right. It's nice to meet you, after all the talk this one's done about you I thought I'd never see the day." He was reluctant with his words, and it was clear he was only being nice for the sake of being nice. His eye's lingered on Pan's as he said 'this one's' and they were dancing between amusement and annoyance. She squirmed again and tried to pry her hand away from Gabe but he wasn't letting go.
For some reason, unknown to Gabe, Goten was watching Trunks closely and clutching his fists open and closed. He supposed it was the fact that Pan was Goten's niece and he loved her more like a younger sister than anything, and he was sure Goten could clearly see the anger in Trunks' face. Anger that could be lighted from nothing but pure jealousy and the want of his little 'sister'. If Pan thought she couldn't have this man, she was clearly mistaken. But Gabe wasn't going to take the chance of her figuring that out. He'd invested too much time with Pan to watch this man snatch her from between his fingertips. He'd tried too hard to break whatever curse Trunks had put over the girl's heart to capture it so intently. He wasn't about to watch everything fall apart in front of his face for some envious eyes from an unrealized man who couldn't discern his true emotions, let alone accept them.
"Yeah, I think I've heard just as much about you." Undoubtedly more, Gabe's mind added with a twinge of hatred lingering at the tips. "And I was beginning to wonder, myself, if I'd ever see you in person." He could hear Pan's nervous chuckle by his side. No doubt picking up on all the heavy tension in the room.
"So…Gabe and I were just…leaving. We'll….we'll see you guys later I guess." She chuckled again and he could feel bits of perspiration form in her palm. A sigh erupted from his throat as he realized her discomfort and, having no desire to make her in any way inconvenienced, gave up on trying to beat out Trunks. His macho game ended as quickly as it started as a genuine smile overtook his features.
"Well, it was pleasant running into you gentlemen, but as Pan informed you, we have to be going." He shrugged slightly, as if disappointed by the news, and then looked to her silently asking if she were ready.
"Where are you crazy kids off to?" Gohan piped up, finally lifting his head from his papers long enough to notice the murderous stare his daughter's boyfriend was receiving from her overprotective 'best friend'. Pan chuckled to herself again, but this time not out of nervousness. It was clear, to her, that Gohan knew where they were going. His hearing had picked up on every bit of their conversation, as she was sure he hadn't even tried not to hear, but she was glad that he at least had the decency to pretend he'd allowed her privacy with Gabe.
"Well, Gabe discovered that I'd never flown a kite. I guess we're going to do just that." She shrugged, looking to Gabriel for some support in her case, he had never told her flat out exactly what he'd planned to do. He nodded her questioning into truth, and gave a small tug on her hand.
"Yeah. I think we'll go down to the beach and give it a try. You don't get many windy days like this one." He shrugged from what could only be equated to nervousness and began to walk as Pan's feet traveled ahead of his, telling him he didn't need to stand in the heavy atmosphere of the room any longer.
The second the door had shut behind them, Gohan couldn't resist the urge, a playful smile curved onto his lips as he turned in his chair to fully face Trunks.
"What was that about?" He wiggled his fingers in between the place where his brother and Trunks were standing back to where his daughter and her boyfriend had been seconds ago.
"What?" Trunks asked, as innocently as possible, looking to Goten for support. The man only snorted and turned away from him, anger and annoyance clear in his face. "What?" Trunks repeated again, this time taken back, true emotion in his voice, and directing the comment to Goten, not Gohan.
"I get the distinct impression that you harbored a quantity of malicious intent for the young man who was just standing in my living room." Gohan mused, looking back down to his papers, the devious glint never leaving his black pools.
"That's ridiculous, I've never even met the man before." Trunks tried to shrug it off, walking past Gohan and into the opening for the kitchen.
"My thoughts exactly." Gohan muttered, as Trunks was just barely able to pick it up.
*
"All right, so just take the string like this," He paused wrapping the string of the kite around his hand in the manner he wanted her to copy. "And give it a good push off the ground." He pushed the flimsy paper up and smiled, looking intently into her confused face. "I can't believe you've never done this before." He spoke, finally, astonished with the fact in itself.
"I just don't see what's so exciting about it." She responded, looking at the kite intently as it caught onto the wind. "I mean, so what? You're running around with some paper attached to a string?"
"Oh, you make it sound so appealing." Gabe teased, beginning to run a little, to keep the kite in the air. "Come here. You've got to try it." Pan sighed and lifted her body from the stone she'd been sitting on, afraid to admit that she found the idea of flying a kite slightly…curious. Maybe even a little fun…but just a little.
"All right, now what do I do?" She stood in front of him, waiting for step-by-step directions." He shoved his hand in front of her, offering the reel of string.
"Just take it and run. When you feel it's appropriate, let more string out." She cautiously took the reel from his hands, examining it as if she'd never seen such a peculiar object in her life.
"Run, Pan, or it's going to fall." He informed her as her feet responded automatically with his command. The wind took hold of the kite and she found herself chasing it, running like an idiot to keep a piece of paper properly in the air. One side of her wanted to scream at how stupid it was, and the other, more playful side of her wanted to laugh at how amusing it promised to be. The kite dipped and her heart raced, for a second she felt as if she were losing control and the diamond paper would fall to the sand. But she picked up speed and the kite never even came near the ground. A smile spread over her face as she ran in circles, looking up foolishly at the form of her delight.
"Are you having fun, Miss Son?" She heard Gabe's mocking voice ring in her head as she ran around him again. She nodded, never breaking eye contact with the kite, never loosing speed.
"Only a little." She called out, reluctant to admit that the prospect of keeping something in the air, of moving it around while it flew, of controlling something that way, was slightly amusing. If she didn't already know how to fly, and if she didn't have superhuman powers, this would be one of the best experiences of her life.
But that was silly. It was just a stupid kite. A piece of diagonally shaped, paper-thing plastic that was attached to some decorative string to make little kids think it was pretty. And she was honestly enjoying something so trivial. She was vaguely aware of the movement Gabe's foot had made to invade her little circle, but she was so lost in her thoughts that she noticed to late. She took a tumble over his shoe and fell face first in the hot sand.
Soon the kite was landing on her back and she sighed, pulling herself up, a bemused look on her face. Quickly that look took one of more anger than puzzlement, and her hands found her hips, along with the reel of string and all.
"Why'd you trip me?" She demanded, fighting the smile that wanted to overcome her features at the childishly guilty look that played on his face.
"I'm sorry, what?" He unsuccessfully pretended not to know what she was talking about, in a sad-failed attempt to trick her.
"You heard me." She stalked up to him, a dangerous 'anger' in her eye.
"Yes, I heard you. But I've yet to come up with a reasonable explanation. Until I figure it out, I think I'll play dumb." Her hand struck out as he finished his statement, softly nudging him to fall, which he did, his sandy brown hair mixing with the small pebbles on the beach.
"Ouch, Pan!" It hadn't really hurt, she knew, and he reached his hand up to draw her body down with his. She willing collapsed onto him while laughing to herself. He always seemed to find a way to make her smile. His fingers started to twirl at her waist and she found herself laughing more. What was he…oh, he was tickling her.
She tried to hold in some semblance of control as his fingers worked around her stomach, making her laugh harder despite herself. Finally, with tears sliding out of the corners of her eyes, she had the strength to stick her arm out as well. Her fingers found his gut and began to work, making him join the fit of laughter she was already filling the beach with.
"That's enough." She softly pleaded, seeing he wasn't going to stop when her fingers headed.
"Say uncle." He commanded and she was more confused than ever.
"Why?" He chuckled and tickled her sensitive sides one last time.
"Because that's what you say when you give up." He shrugged. "You're so deprived."
"Oh, shut up."
*
…I already have a love, he's all I know and all I trust. But lately I've been falling out of love. I find myself so deep in lust. And every time he's here with me, I look into his eyes so desperately. But now it's not his face I see. Tell me what's come over me…
An impossible rush of emotions flowed over her as her puffy eyes stopped on a picture of someone she'd rather not be thinking about at the moment. She wasn't sure what she felt. She wasn't sure why she felt it. And, worse of all the insecurities that were filling her head these days, she wasn't sure if she could fight it.
She'd tried very hard. For at least a month she'd tried. But things weren't working the way they should have been working and she wasn't feeling the way she should have been either. She was feeling tired, worn down, and completely cut off from society. Pan was still ignoring her like she was the plague - she really couldn't blame the girl much - and Goten hadn't talked to her since he flipped her life upside-down. Not that she needed to see him to think about him.
She was thinking about him at that moment. He was with her fiancé as she thought. And the thought of them being together only brought her back to place she started in. Distraught and falling into broken pieces. For as much as she had tried - every day, every second of her life since that second he walked out of her living room - things hadn't gotten better. They had only gotten worse.
She felt farther from Trunks than she ever had. And she was more than sure he was running to tell Pan every detail of their relationship. But, with some odd turn of fate, it didn't matter to her anymore. The thought of Trunks and Pan only brought a small feeling of discomfort instead of the roll of thunder and lightening it had stirred within her only a month before. How could things drift so far away so quickly? How could she be so void in only thirty days?
And her wedding was nothing more than a mere week away. The thought filled her heart with crazy thumping and forbidden despair. She had honestly tried, she kept telling herself. And things weren't going the way she'd planned. When Goten had walked out of her living room it had left her in turmoil and complete peril, it had left her empty and terrified and dazed, and she was lost as to what to do next. She had promised herself that, no matter what emotions stirred within her soul, she would love Trunks. She would try harder, she was smile wider, she would kiss deeper, she would love Trunks.
They had had the most intimate moments this past month and it had stimulated nothing within her. It had changed nothing. It had rectified nothing. She was still terrified, dazed, and empty. More empty - void - than anything else. She had spent countless nights staring into his eyes, his crystal depths, desperately trying to conjure something that wasn't there. Desperately trying to make him into something he wasn't. She'd spent countless nights trying to love him. To make herself comfortable with him. To make herself want him. But just as many times as she tried, his face disappeared before her eyes, his azure gaze dissolved into deep chocolate and his lips were no longer his anymore.
Maybe it was lust. Maybe she only wanted to feel what Goten was, within her, near her, beside her. Maybe she only wanted to taste his lips once. Maybe she was crazy for something she didn't have simply because she didn't have it. Maybe it was wrong…no most indefinitely it was wrong. But it didn't matter because….because she liked it. As painful as it was for that thought to run across her head. She liked it. It was wrong, she had a love. And he was everything she'd ever trusted, ever known. But she wanted something else. And she liked it. That feeling that welled inside her stomach and chest, that undeniable, unavoidable, explicit want that filled her body and soul. So what if it was wrong, she liked it. She wanted it.
And her wedding was nothing more than a mere week away. What was she going to do? She couldn't very well say, in front of a room full of people, that she was going to love one man when she was already feeling like she could only love another. This was crazy. She sunk deeper into her chair, too tired to cry, too weak to fight it anymore. She was in love with her fiancé's best friend. And what could she do about it?
Nothing really. Goten was Trunks' best friend. And she couldn't very well tell Trunks that she wasn't ready to marry him, eight days before she was supposed to marry him. Not only would it be inconsiderately selfish and unimaginably crude, it would be embarrassing. For him and for her. To have to tell family and friends things weren't going to work out. To have to look into his eyes and admit that she didn't love him, after months of professing just the opposite. But…wasn't it selfish and crude to marry someone when you really loved their best friend?
Maybe she needed more time to think this out. No, there wasn't a maybe about it. She did need more time, she simply didn't have it, though. She didn't have time. She needed to make a decision and it needed to be a quick one. It needed to be one she wouldn't regret for the rest of her life. One that wouldn't make her ask 'what if' after every turn of the corner. Constantly wondering if she should have done something else for as long as she lived. But she didn't know what to do.
Could she really bare seeing Goten live his life without discovering what he'd meant by what he'd said? Could she risk her entire future - her comfort, her caring fiancé, her best friend - on finding out what Goten had meant? And what if Goten didn't even know? What if she called everything off for a statement that was misinterpreted. But…what if she didn't call things off, and he'd meant what he said? Meant it in the way she heard it and understood it? Then what? It would be too late to change her mind then and she'd be left with a man she didn't love with all her soul.
And when had she decided that she didn't love Trunks with everything she had? It seemed like she'd been going through these same motions over and over in her head. Forever maybe. Even though she knew it had only been a month. Only thirty days. And already she was about to flip her life in a way of which she could never make things change back again.
She sighed, running her fingers through her hair and coming up with a decision. She couldn't do it. She wasn't going to tear apart everything she'd built up for four weeks worth of over analyzing and confusion. She wasn't going to break up a life long friendship between two people simply because she was unsure and had cold feet right before her wedding. This was normal behavior, she'd read about it - even studied it once - for a bride to feel like she was making a big mistake before she walked down the isle. After all, if she didn't question things then she'd know she was fooling herself. Because nothing was perfect. Not this, not her, and definitely not Trunks. Not even Goten was perfect. She just…
She wasn't going to call off this wedding. That would have been a huge mistake, she decided. She was just being stupid. Silly, incredibly silly. And even if she wasn't…no, she was…but if she wasn't…? If she wasn't being silly, it didn't matter. Because Trunks loved her and she had no reason to dispute that. As long as he was completely devoted to her, mind, body and soul devoted, it didn't matter. She could learn to love him again. Learn to be happy with him again. She was, after all, moderately satisfied with him. Always had been. So, things would be just fine. As long as there was no reason to challenge his love for her….
"Things will be just fine." She repeated aloud, for good measure.
*
Pan pulled her hair back, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. She couldn't believe she was doing this. And for what? She pulled the bottom of her dress down, trying unsuccessfully to cover more of her leg. She was going out like this? For him? Or was she doing it for him? She was in a dress, something she swore she'd never do if she could help it. Well, not really swore…but she hadn't ever just gone out in one before. It had taken three strong women and three powerful scowls to get her into the last dress she wore, and even then she was only in it for thirty minutes.
But this time was different. It was for Gabe…or that's what the voice in the back of her head was whispering to her. Her conscience knew it was really for him…for Trunks. He was sitting downstairs. He was scowling and hating the fact that she was going right back out with Gabe, again. He'd stuck around her house all day, just wondering when she'd get back and she really wasn't sure why. Maybe it was his overprotective I'm-not-really-your-brother-but-I'll-pretend-to-be, arrogance that had him acting like he hated the ground Gabriel walked on. Maybe it was the fact that she'd spent more time with Gabe lately, more time than she had with Trunks. Jealousy seemed to fit the description of what he was, but she wasn't at all sure. And that's what made her do it. She wanted to be sure. She wanted to know.
And if he was jealous, an evil side of her wanted to egg it on. She liked the thought that he was affected by what she did with her time; even if he was only bothered because she was his friend, and it meant nothing sexual at all. At least he cared in some way and that made her happy. But…happy enough to wear a dress? She sighed, supposing it was the combined influence of Trunks and Gabe that got her into this dress. And what a dress it was.
It fit her nicely, sleeves dipping off her shoulder but just slightly so. The black fabric hung loosely, but not too loosely, and every curve was accented in it's own special way. The scoop-neck made a modest plea for attention, and Pan felt very uncomfortable in it. It was one of the many dresses she'd been given for Christmas gifts or birthday gifts from Bra, or Bulma, or her grandmother. They were forever trying to make a 'lady' out of her.
All right, it was time. She mentally prepared herself, walking out of her room and towards the stairs. She placed her hand on the stair rail, walking casually down the stars as if nothing were different. The dress swiveled around her knees as she stepped off the last step and turned into the living room. Her breath caught, she was anticipating the worse.
Though her mother and grandmother had already seen her, had already confirmed that she looked 'lovely', she wasn't at all sure what the men would think. As she rounded into the living room it went deftly silent and Pan watched as the three men that were sitting in it got to their feet.
"You look…absolutely gorgeous, darling." Her father's voice rang through the air. "I'm not letting you out of the house like that." She flushed, glancing at her father briefly before returning her gaze back to the face of the one person whose opinion mattered more than anyone else's.
Trunks was sure his mouth was hanging open in a fashion that made it visibly clear what his mind was thinking. He was just as sure that soon Gohan would be breaking his fragile bones, after noticing the look. But he couldn't help it, couldn't wipe the shock off his face. Saying she looked simply 'beautiful' didn't do her justice at all. She was absolutely, completely ravishing; so gorgeous he couldn't find the words to describe it. As her eyes locked on his he promptly shut his mouth, trying to hide his astonishment and adapting a look of indifference instead.
He was most certain she saw through him tough, and the smile that played on her lips after that was enough to make him want to do things to her he shouldn't be allowed to think at all. A guilt waved over him, and whether it was because he felt he was betraying Marron or had wronged Pan, he wasn't sure. He diverted his eyes to the wall nervously.
"Yeah, you look nice Pan." Trunks responded, knowing nice was the understatement of the century.
Her face fell as the words traveled off his lips. Nice? She only looked nice? She wasn't sure whether she believed that was his true emotion or not, but it didn't matter. She'd put so much energy and time into looking her best. In the hopes that maybe, just maybe he would think of her as something more than a baby, and the only thing he had to offer her was 'nice'? Her lips twitched at the corners as she continued to stare at him, mentally murdering him for the way he was behaving. He was supposed to be the one flustered, he was supposed to be the one uncomfortable. He was supposed to be seeing her for who she really was for the first time in her life. This was supposed to be her magic moment and she got 'nice'. A glower was about to take over her features but her faithful uncle chimed in to restore her broken confidence.
"Nice? That doesn't begin to cut it, Trunks! All this for Gabe?" Astonishment was clear in his voice as she blushed, quite delightfully, noticing the angry shade of red Trunks' cheeks were turning.
"Yes." She answered pleasantly, relishing in the way Trunks frowned. Goten raised his eyebrows suggestively at Pan while her father growled low in his throat.
"I don't know why…but I got the impression that tonight was special for him." She grinned again as she heard Trunks snort and roll his crystal eyes deep into his head. Goten gave him a side glance, anger present in most of his expression, and Pan silently wondered why he was being so hostile towards Trunks this evening.
"What kind of special?" Her father questioned wearily, looking as if he might be sick. "You don't come home with any holes where they don't belong, any kids, or any bad habits - habits you didn't have before you left. Understand me?" He announced ominously. Pan tried to laugh and hide the embarrassment she was feeling from his speech - she'd never been given 'the talk' before a date before - but the laughter got caught in her throat.
"Don't stay out too late." Goten teased, wriggling his eyebrows again, glancing from Pan to Trunks who was trying to force the laughter out as well. Seeing he wasn't going to be successful, he gave up and settled for the scowl that was easiest to rest on his face.
"Just don't go out." She heard him mumble, and part of her couldn't resist commenting. That part of her that had dressed up in order to see him smile with delight or cringe with jealously. That same part of her that had felt belittled and hurt when he responded to her attire as merely 'nice'.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that Trunks. Mind repeating?" She knew his smirk was resting on her lips, but she couldn't help it, she couldn't fight it off.
"Um, nothing love." He shook his head, fighting unsuccessfully against the blush that covered the place underneath his eyes. She could see the reluctance there, finally she could see the uneasiness. It was jealousy, there was no doubting that. And there was even a little anger. The question wasn't what was there, but why was it there? Why was he jealous and angry, why was he behaving this way? A part of her wanted to dance and celebrate, already believing it was because a part of him wanted her in some way. If only for possession sake; she knew saiyans were very possessive of what they deemed to be 'theirs' and she didn't mind being his at all, even if it was just 'his' friend. But a more sensible side of her mind told her she was being silly and Trunks didn't want her in any kind of way.
It didn't matter, though, because her heart was fluttering. All he had to do was say the word and she would drop all her plans. Just repeat that request loud enough to be sure she heard it, and she would stay home. He wouldn't have to ask again, if he'd only just ask her to stay, and not the air close to his face while mumbling beneath his breath.
Her eyes lingered on his for a moment longer, silently pleading with him. Just one question. Repeat it, Trunks. She mentally willed him to ask her not to leave but his lips never parted again. The doorbell was ringing and she broke her eyes from his to glance in the direction of the entryway.
"Gabe's here, I don't want to keep him waiting." She walked over to her father and quickly kissed his cheek, doing the same with Goten and Trunks - letting her lips linger slightly longer on the lavender haired saiyan's than was necessary. Just ask. Her mind repeated as she headed for the door, gripping the knob slowly, looking back to give him the final opportunity.
"Pan," Trunks called after her as she read the emotion in his eyes. They were asking her not to go. They were pleading silently for her to walk back in the room, back into his life. But his voice betrayed the emotion, speaking a dull, "Have a nice time." She nodded, not bothering to hide the disappointment in her onyx optics as she opened the door.
"God Pan." His breath caught in his throat as she stepped into his direct view. "You look…you look like an angel. Mere words wouldn't do you justice, couldn't describe how lovely, how perfect you are." His elegant voice rang through, tentatively reaching out to capture her in a warm embrace. He thought better of it, however, as he neared her body. "I don't think I'm worthy to touch such a creature." He whispered into her ear, noticing the slightly hurt look in her eyes as she realized he wasn't going to follow through with the hug.
"You're being ridiculous, Gabe." She tired not to seem too pleased with his words as she shoved him out of the door. "Quick, before daddy decides he wants to harass you." She whispered, smiling over herself at the compliments - words she'd hoped her demi-saiyan in the other room was going to fill her ears with. "Where are we going?"
"Ah, that is the question." He mused, placing his hand on her back to lead her towards his car, still unable to believe how dazzling the girl that was to be his company was. "And you only call me ridiculous because you're not seeing you from those glorious eyes of yours."
"Stop complimenting me, you're making my face hurt. It's not that great, it's only a dress." She tried to get him to change his mind, glowering as he tried to open her door - he knew she hated that - and stepping in defiantly.
"It's not the dress that took away every man in that living room's breath, Pan, it's the girl within the dress that did it." He shut her door, despite her protests of his chivalry, and walked over to the other side, stepping in. "You could wear a potato sack and I'd still be speechless. It's that smile of yours that driving me insane. Your attitude's different today, and it's written clearly in your walk."
"You sound like a poet sometimes, Gabe." She found nothing else to say, sighing with content for her surroundings as he started the car. "Tell me where we're going."
"Isn't that my occupation?" He challenged, choosing to ignore her question.
"Just drive." She stated, looking ahead with annoyance, only because he could be more stubborn than she was sometimes.
*
"We're here, love." He stated as she looked about, wondering if he were sure.
"Isn't there supposed to be some kind of fancy restaurant? Isn't there supposed to be something more than just…sand and water?"
"You've never been to the beach, Pan? I mean, didn't I take you to the beach earlier today? I'm sure you've seen one before."
"What I meant, Gabe, was…Well…I'm in this dress. And I just. I thought-" She cleared her throat, feeling foolish and trying again. "I was under the impression that…well." A sigh fell from her lips as she looked into her lap. "It doesn't matter."
His hand traveled to her cheek as he softly pulled her face level with his. "Always the romantic, are we?" He smiled warmly, knowing she was being completely earnest with her feelings and not wanting to set her off. "Well, I don't know, I think this place is special. If you'd follow me."
He stepped out of the car and moved quickly to her side, not wanting her to open the door for herself. He was going to break her of that particular habit if it killed him. It's not that he didn't want her to do anything for herself, just little things, certain things, women deserved to be pampered sometimes. He wasn't trying to be chauvinist and soon she was going to realize that.
As she stepped out of the car, her hand fell into his outstretched one, and he slowly led her onto the sand of the beach. They walked for little more than four minutes before he finally found the spot in which he wanted to rest. A simple checkered blanket was laid out on the ground along with a picnic basket and petals of white roses. She couldn't help but smile at the simplicity of it all.
He was suddenly forgiven, for a moment she thought his idea of a 'romantic' dinner was hopping into the ocean for a swim. But he was always shocking her, surprising her if it was with nothing but simplicity itself. She was suddenly glad this wasn't something big, glad she wasn't out with a room full of people surrounding her. There was nothing but her, Gabe, the sand, the water, and the stars. Whatever he had in mind, she was finding herself glad to be apart of it.
"Let's eat." He took a seat on the blanket, slowly pulling her down with him and spreading the food out around them.
*
Her back lay comfortably against the sand, brown eyes gazing intently into the stars. The food lay long forgotten, or eaten, and they had talked themselves into silence. Gabe was simply watching her now, looking on with interest as a smile danced on her face that made it seem as if she had a secret no one else knew. He lifted his head, moving it closer to her, and staring for long, silent minutes, at her childlike expression. A smile pursed his lips as he leaned farther over, hovering above her head ready to kiss her - an action he rarely took part in. To his surprise, no objection or response was uttered and his lips met hers - requited. When they broke apart, he pulled back and smiled, breathing into her hair as he did so.
She lifted her hands up and stuck them into the mass of hair on top of her head, allowing the midnight curls freedom to roam and scatter about the sand. Her head tilted to look at him, their eyes making contact for a second as she smiled. Then she straightened her head back up to face the sky. He moved his hands to the ends of her hair and played mindlessly for a few seconds with a few strands. Soon his fingers inched up, and he began to fun his hands through the rest of her hair, massaging it gently with content intrigue.
"I know you don't want to hear this," He began cautiously, speaking softly and regarding her face for any signs of whether she would shy away from him. Her eyes turned until they found his and rested there, waiting for him to continue, a sad tent to them. He kept talking despite her look, determined to get out everything he had to say. "But you need to, because…Because I love you, Pan. I love you and I'm beginning to feel that I'd do absolutely anything for you. I know you have your issues with this, and you don't want to believe what I'm saying. I know you love Trunks and I'm not asking for much, just the chance. Because I'm here and he isn't. Because I'm in love with you now and he's still pretending he can make it without seeing your smile in the morning, when it's obvious he needs you more than life.-"
"Gabe." She interrupted, not wanting to hear what was coming next. Not wanting to know anything more than what she knew. Not wanting to wonder if certain things he'd said were true, not daring to enter into territory that made her heart pause and flutter at the same time. He thought he loved her. But he didn't. He couldn't because he didn't know her. Not the real her, the one inside. She still hadn't told him so many things and here he was, pouring his heart out to her. Guilt was pounding into her chest triple time as he looked at her, mystical green eyes shinning through her, begging for the chance. His hands found her hair again and he began the gentle massage.
"I know, Pan. But I really do. I want to spend the rest of my life-"
"Gabe!" She cut in, giving him a look that shut him up. He had to know, before he said the rest of this, he had to know who she was. Who her father was. Who her father's father was…or, more accurately what they were. "There's something I have to tell you first…" This was just great. How was she going to start? 'Hey Gabe, remember when I showed up at your house in the rain and we shared our first kiss? Of course you do. Well, remember how you asked me how I got there without a car? Yeah, well…' She snorted inwardly, not very likely. But oh, well. She'd have to try. "Remember earlier today when I told you my parents were aliens? Yeah…I was only half joking…"
A/N: allright, please leave a review and tell me what you think. Do you guys like Gabe? (Don't worry, next chapter focuses on Trunks and Marron's break up and then the one after focuses on Gabe leaving Pan, so he won't be around for long.) knowing that, do you like 'em? Oh, I had this particularly naughty idea about the T/M fight, in which our favorite demi-saiyan dreams about a certain raven-haired tomboy in a way that makes Marron 'challenge his love for her'…-evil smirk- but I dunno it I'll do it.
Well, my thanks and appreciation go to: bella, Animechick, Simon, Hanamaru285, Cherry Son (hoping you're feeling well, dear ^.~), VegetaGirl101, AnimeFreak-TrunksPan-luver4evr (be nice to your mum dear), Truten-VegaPanny, qui, bec126, DBZChicky501 (glad you enjoyed the part with Vegiehead), chibigoten124/SSJ3MysticPan, YunaAngelofHell, dbzchic2789, Dark Anjel, Pia Bartolini, dbz obsessed, nicki-gurl, Dragon Priestess (every favorites list I make it to means the world to me, thanks lovie!), ~*vintage skater*~, lalala, Jezika, Animechick, mystic, Kaji Hikage, Butterfly Monkey Babe of, Andrea Meiouh
Juunanagou4ever: thanks love, I really appreciate all of your constructive criticism, I like to know exactly what you guys think of the chapters and such. I hope you're enjoying the portrayal of Gabriel, and that's it's not boring you too much.
Deidra/camille: come now, don't blame Marron for that whore incident. She wasn't thinking clearly, had a bit of a nervous breakdown, lovies.
Luna star: I'm glad you're enjoying. I think the age difference is what makes T/P's as well, but I didn't always feel that way. (though now I can't understand why). Give me a couple more chapters before the T/P really starts to show. I have to go through the whole grieving process that breaking up brings on and then I have to give them time to develop and change. But it's going to be worth it in the end. At least, I hope so.
SorrowBehindTheMask: the pain is coming, be patient deary. I'm getting to the climax [highest emotional point] of my story in these next few chapters (heh, it lasts that long -blush-)
black diamonds: -blushes, face is flushed- you give me too much credit, really. But thank you, all the same! ^-^ I use Microsoft Word, but I believe YunaAngelofHell already answered the question. I hope you got through this G/P part without dying. -hugs-
Deidra: everyone's a lil mean to Trunks every now and then. ^-^ he'll come to his senses soon.
Pia Bartolini- thanks, your review means the world to me! I try to make things as human as possible. Glad to know it's coming off as such
A/N part 2: Whew! That was a lot! Thank you guys so much for your reviews, they meant the world to me. If I missed anyone, or put anyone's name twice it has nothing to do with favoritism or the lack there of, only a simple mistake. Until next time lovies! [ignore my dialect, it's Harry Potter's fault. Just watched the Chamber of Secrets. And I'm playing at/co-owning this Role Play Game about 5th year: feel free to come down and join if you know how to RP and you like Harry Potter. Don't hesistate to ask/tell your friends. It's a very new game, just started]
Also, for those of you wondering when the hell the romance is going to begin: patience is a virtue. If you know me, you know I'm a star for beating around the bush. But lucky for you guys, unlike First Kisses, this is not a 'get together' fic - meaning it ends when the 'get together'. I go a bit beyond that. They get married and you see life past that point, but, as is expected, there is a catch. ^_^ I just love being the author, means I can do whatever I please and you can't stop me! -shrinks away- don't stop reviewing please! It means the world to me. Oh, and Dark Anjel, please don't take me kidneys! I needs me kidneys! ;-)