Disclaimer: I don't own it. It's not mine. That ends this interrogation.
A/N: I'm not in the mood for a/n's so I'll leave you with these three thoughts: 1) I did write Gabriel's poetry - who else would you silly billies? 2) This is a filler chapter, read it, store the info, move on. And 3) I'm in a strange mood that's like - kinda really mad and at the same time really really happy. So when you read my author response and take offense, don't. just know that I was feeling silly. That's all.
That's not a bad idea
"It never happened." The girl stated determinedly. She crossed her arms to emphasize the point and spread her feet apart to show that she was firm. He ran his fingers through purple strands and sighed dejectedly at her statement.
"It did happen, Pan." It was after dinner and Pan had requested to speak with Trunks alone. They were standing in the backyard, close to the woods because she wasn't sure which members of her family were going to pry and all of them were acting pretty suspicious. Mainly Chi-Chi, who passed Trunks the food last and glared at him every chance she got, as if she knew something the others didn't.
"No, you don't understand, Trunks, it never happened." She reaffirmed the statement with a nod of her head and he rolled his eyes. They were discussing that night and she was adamant about getting him to say it had never happened. And he was just as adamant about talking about it, working through it all.
"Pan, we need to discuss this because it did happen and that's the only way we're going to get past it." Here she interrupted because she was impatient and she didn't want to hear the rest.
"Trunks-" But he cut her off before she could get another word in.
"Listen, I've been miserable without you this past month. And I just want to talk about this thing so that I don't loose you forever,"
"Trunks, we've talked about that already. You're not going to loose me. Besides, there's no reason for me to go anywhere, nothing's happened between us. Nothing changed-"
"Pan, I'm not-" She had cut him off again. If they continued on like this they'd create a new language.
"Okay, let's talk about it," She met him half way, though the tone of her voice suggested this wasn't going to be the kind of talk he had in mind. "You were miserable, I was miserable, and we were both kind of out of it. You didn't know what you were doing and I don't think I did either. You were thinking of Marron," He opened his mouth to object but she continued on and her next words shut him up. "And I was thinking of Gabe." His face fell, but he quickly regained his expression and nodded his head.
"What I mean is," Pan continued on, noticing his momentary lapse of expression. "I was upset and so were you and things happen. But that most certainly did not happen. Because it's easier this way. And because it was a mistake. So, listen, you don't want me to remember that forever and be semi-hurt by it. And I don't want to. It-never-happened." She repeated the last part firmly, and slowly so that there was no disputing it and for a few minutes there was silence. Silence to absorb what had just been said and the new changes that were occurring in their relationship. Silence for each of them to get things straight in their head. And then they smiled at each other.
But Trunks' was an uneasy smile because he knew what Pan did not. Despite how much she wanted to live in a fantasy world where their relationship had not evolved - escaladed, or whatever it wanted to be called - he lived in the real world. And in the real world he knew things would never be the same. Even if she could somehow act normal around him, he could never forget. It could never be a distant memory for him. And…was there something wrong with that? The thought made him anxious, and nervous all at once. He didn't know what was going on inside of him.
If she could pretend it didn't happen, and she had all but told him she was in love with him, and he couldn't even forget it for one moment, what did that say about him? He didn't want to think of the possibilities and it was then that he decided she was right. It never should have happened, therefore, it never did. It was too complicated to go into and he certainly didn't want to analyze these new questions. He'd rather pretend, like Pan was doing…and was there something wrong with that?
Before either of them knew it, they were back in the house joining the conversation with the others. They were acting normally and it was as if it had never happened. Before either of them knew it another month had passed and they were 'friends' again, and closer than ever before. Because they had been through the rain and thunder together and made it to the sun on the other side. Though, Pan wasn't quite sure the storm was over, and every now and then one could see Trunks glance at Marron with longing eyes. They were normal, they were fine, because they pretended to be. But, as most lies do, it was bound to bubble to the top. Bound to be exposed or to interfere, because no amount of pretending could erase the past - or the consequences that came along with it. And, for Trunks, the consequences were more than he bargained for…
*
"Put those boxes over there." Marron commanded, pointing a finger at the large table that sat in the center of the room. The men carrying the boxes nodded and headed in the direction her finger was pointed, following her instructions. "Thank-you. Could you lift those," She pointed at two large boxes situated on the floor. "And carry them there?" Once again her finger was traveling to where she wanted them to go as she continued to direct the moving of things.
"All right, boys," She said after a few more orders and several minutes. "I think that covers everything. Thank-you for your help." She smiled pleasantly at them and they continued to stand there, looking at her and grinning back. She continued to smile for a few more seconds before she cleared her throat uncomfortably and looked away. "Uh…you can leave…" She told them finally. They cleared their throats as well and, right when one of the men was about to speak, Bra intervened.
"I think they're waiting for a tip." She said with a hint of amusement in her voice. Marron was so scatterbrained these days she hadn't been able to figure it out on her own.
"Oh, of course." Marron shook her head absently and reached for her purse. It wasn't in sight… "Hey, Bra, where'd I put my-"
"Your purse?" Bra asked smartly, holding it up. "You'd better pull yourself together before tomorrow, you've got to be with it for the wedding. It is your big day."
"I know, I know." Marron nodded, reaching out and taking her purse from Bra. She opened it and reached inside before she remembered that she didn't have any money with her. "Ugh, I'm so out of it." She sighed and looked back up to the men, an apologetic smile on her face.
"I'm so sorry, guys. Could you just see my hus-see my fiancé on your way out? Tell him I owe you tip money…tell him I owe you a good tip. He'll take care of you." They nodded happily at her addition of 'good' tip and hurried down the stars. Marron could hear Bra's teasing laughter in the background.
"When are the others getting here?" Marron asked, looking around and ignoring the teasing she knew was coming on. "I can't set all this stuff up alone. And Goten and Trunks certainly aren't going to help." Marron smiled absently as she thought of Goten, staring off into space.
"You need to worry less about the others and more about you. You're so-" Bra was about to tease her mercilessly but Marron interrupted before she could get the words out, shutting the young girl up by reversing the situation.
"You know, this could be you in a few months." She said suggestively, knowing Bra was afraid of commitment of any kind. "I mean, if Ubuu asks, it's not like you're going to say no just because you'd rather not rush it. You'll be too speechless and excited, like every other girl, to refuse marriage."
"Please," Bra rebutted, shaking her head and exaggerating the word for good measure. "I'd tell him no in a heartbeat. He knows I'm not ready for that kind of commitment, even if he knows if I were to get married it would be to him. Besides, he's not ready either. We're perfect for each other." She smiled proudly and shoved her nose in the air.
"That's what you say right now. But if he asked, ring and all, you'd be so speechless you would only nod and put it on. All women are suckers for weddings, and after tomorrow, you'll be thinking: hey, that's not such a bad idea." Marron smiled as well, countering Bra's move with a tilt of her own head.
"Well, I'm only here because they made me come." A voice from the doorway said grumpily and was immediately recognized as Pan. Her mother was behind her and smacked the back of her head before passing her and walking into the room, followed by Chi-Chi.
"Ouch." Pan said, smiling as she spoke the word to let her mother know it hadn't hurt at all. "Besides, it's true. I hate weddings and I guarantee you I won't think it's such a good idea and want to do it when the thing's over."
"You just have no idea." Marron smirked proudly as they all began to work, opening boxes and setting things up for the reception. The tables had to be set, the candles in place, the tablecloths arranged perfectly, the napkins folded, and the menus looked over. They had a busy day ahead of them and then it would be time. Marron and Goten were getting married in less than twenty-four hours and it made Pan sour to think she'd be related to that blonde in a matter of…less than fifteen-hundred minutes.
After Bulma and Eighteen got there, they each set out discussing - in Pan's opinion - 'girly' things and started working. Marron was babbling on and on about where she and Goten were going for the honeymoon and all the women were listening and imagining it was them all over again. Except Pan and Bra, and even Bra had that dreamy-eyed expression on her face. Pan was beginning to think Marron was right and after this wedding Bra was going to want to have her own. If the look in her eyes was anything to go by, Ubuu was in trouble.
It was a little after dark when they finished, and Pan could literally see the change in Marron's face. It had stopped glowing and become some strange shade of pale, making her eyes look bluer and her cheeks pinker. On her, the unearthly nervousness looked beautiful and Pan wanted to slap her. She'd been more angry with Marron since she and Trunks decided the incident hadn't happened than she had before, or even than she had when Marron was engaged to Trunks. It was strange, the girl had done nothing but try to be friendly since they had had their big fight, and now it was like the fight had just happened. They were back where they started off, as if they'd made no progress, only Marron didn't know it. And Pan didn't know why.
She and Trunks had been getting along better than ever and Pan assumed it would be the other way around. She assumed she'd be getting along with everyone else, just not Trunks. It was around that thought that the boys made their way into the room, huge grins on their faces and looking like best buds.
"Can we help with anything?" Goten asked, smiling slyly and walking into the room to survey. Marron rolled her eyes and slapped him softly on the shoulder, walking past him to straighten out a tablecloth.
"There's nothing left to help with. If you had come, I don't know, maybe ten minutes earlier you could have hung the banners but…" Marron paused, giving him an appraising look, "Something tells me you two already knew that." Trunks and Goten laughed softly to themselves and, as Pan looked over at him, she could spot the sadness in Trunks' eyes. She could see where his smile didn't quite meet up and she could pinpoint the exact place where his features gave him away. She wondered if anyone else noticed.
But if they did, they didn't say anything, and she certainly wasn't going to point it out. It only made her want to hit Marron all the more. But she shouldn't want to, she had quelled that need in her. She wasn't in love with Trunks like she used to be anymore; and she didn't want him to love her the way she used to any more. She'd grown out of that quicker than a preteen outgrows their jeans.
Really, he meant everything in the world to her, but she was used to the unrequited thing. She was comfortable with the fact that he wasn't interested and she didn't want him to be. She didn't want anyone to be. That was her final decision.
Her mind stated it but her heart and body obviously disagreed. For, even as she thought it, she was heading over to Trunks and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked down at her and smiled, knowing she saw through his mask right into his heart. Knowing she knew what the others did not. And, without thinking, he let one of his arms wrap around her waist and held her there. For some reason, she made him feel comfortable in the least relaxed situations. And he valued that.
For some reason, ever since the 'incident' - as Pan so fondly referred to it in her head - they had become closer knit. Without either of them realizing it, friendly hugs had become a frequent, and casual touches had grown to be normal. Before, Pan would wonder why should Trunks randomly gave her a hug, but these days it was almost expected. One could only guess on whether either of them had noticed the change or just slipped contentedly into it.
"Anyway," Bra started, eyeing her brother and Pan with an inscrutable look. "We've finished and all of you should be heading home. We've got a big day tomorrow." She took control, looking around with warning glances to everyone.
"Ah, we've got a busy night planned." Trunks smirked and looked at Goten with a devious glint in his crystal eyes. Pan sighed and moved away from him, shaking her head, just as Marron snapped around and gave them both disapproving looks.
"You're having a bachelor party?" She questioned indignantly, huffing and squinting her eyes at them. "How dare you?" She continued on without waiting for a response.
"I'm sorry?" Goten asked, playing innocently dumb. "Isn't that normal? I am about to be tied down for the rest of my life." His eyes widened and closed before he smiled brightly and winked at her. She snorted and turned back around, still shaking her head.
"Well I'm surprised you're jealous, Marron. It used to be a rare occasion." Trunks teased and Pan could hear the sliver of jealousy in his own voice. A slight trace of venom. She widened her eyes and tried to keep herself calm, crossing and uncrossing her arms before letting out a sigh.
"Bra's right, I'm going home." Pan offered, making sure to keep the contempt out of her own voice as she spoke up.
"Wait one second, dear." Her mother told her as she straightened the last piece of silverware busily.
*
"So, are you nervous?" Pan could hear Bra gush from the other side of the doorway. She was standing right outside the girl's changing room and she was already in her dress. She wasn't in the mood to stand there and watch Marron in her 'blushing bride' mode - it should be illegal to allow a slut to wear white on her wedding day - so she was waiting for the ceremony to begin. If she poked her head far enough she could see Goten standing up the isle with his suite on. A part of her was pleased, a bigger part because that meant Trunks wouldn't get Marron, but the majority of her was betrayed and upset.
This shouldn't be happening this way. Well, it shouldn't be happening at all, but if it had to happen, it shouldn't this way. Not while Trunks was still in love with Marron and pretending to be fine with the whole thing. Not three months after Goten and Marron got together. Not while Pan was still resenting the elder girl and crying on the inside because it had to happen. She didn't know when she'd feel better about the inevitable, but the only thing she could wish was that the music never started and the bride never came out.
Unfortunately for her, the music began at just that moment and Bra came hurrying out of the room. Trunks came from the other end and they both stood there, waiting for their cue. Pan caught a side glimpse of Trunks, who was also staring at her - a strange glint in his eyes that wasn't easy to read - before quickly looking away. She could still feel his gaze on her, however, as the organizer cued Trunks and Bra to begin walking and they passed her. Next came Ubuu, who carefully took her elbow and began to lead her down the isle.
Really, she didn't know why she was in the wedding party at all. If it hadn't been for Goten talking her into it she never would have agreed. But Goten had been there for her on more than one occasion when she'd cried but was too brave to ask for a hug. He had been there for her to give her advice during her schooling and throughout other tragedies in life and it would have been plain wrong of her to refuse him this. She loved him too much.
Before she knew it 'here comes the bride' was playing and Marron was walking down the isle. The rest of the wedding persisted uneventfully until the part where the question about objections was asked. That was the tensest moment Pan had ever stood through in her life - it seemed as if everyone wanted to say something, but no one had the guts. And there was no objection. Pan wrinkled her face, disappointed, and zoned out as the rest of the proceedings took place.
The reception was almost just as boring. She hung by Trunks the entire time, watching to make sure he didn't have more than his share of champagne. She really didn't trust him to be sane after such a big event. But he didn't take more than what was normal and he kept trying to smile at her as if nothing was wrong with him. She saw right past it.
"Will you stop trying to convince me that you're all right?" She frowned into her glass and then raised it up, taking a small sip. Goten and Marron were parading around the dance floor, making eyes at one another, and she and Trunks were the only ones left at the table. Bra and Ubuu were outside the building walking through the gardens.
"I am okay, Pan." He smiled in a way that would have satisfied anyone else. But she wasn't anyone else, she was practically his other half. She knew him better than the back of her hand and she wasn't taking that for an answer.
"No you're not, Trunks. You miss her." She told him rebelliously. "You miss her and you're miserable because of it."
"I'm not miserable, I have you." And it was true. He wasn't completely out of the loop because he had her there to comfort him even though she didn't know she was comforting. And, because she was so good to him, he didn't want her to know what kind of pain he was in. That seemed to be the least he could do at a time like this. And the pretending helped him to deal as well. He had found, since that 'incident' with Pan 'never happened', that pretending made life simpler. In a way, he was running from his problems instead of dealing with them, but in a way he was waiting them out until they got better.
But something about seeing the wedding had hurt him and he was giving that distant look again. He was wondering if it was all over for him and the thought made him tired. Because he wanted it to be. The thought of dating, of starting over, of meeting new people and getting to know them all over again tired him out. The thought of falling in love again scared him and it made him queasy at the same time. And if anyone understood that better than him, it was Pan.
He was exhausted and completely sick of any thoughts that included the rest of his life. He was planning on being alone forever because it was too much to deal with trouble that was known as dating. It didn't help that he was richer than most men could imagine and more famous than he should be. That women threw themselves at him every chance they got and, in all honesty, he was a shy man. He wasn't a charmer the way most women imagined him to be. And he wasn't a smooth talker. Women expected that from him because of his status and it usually screwed him up from any decent girl he could have had. He was getting bags just thinking about 'finding a wife'. He'd rather not.
And then he thought about how empty his place was. He'd just moved into the house that he had built for him and Marron - despite the thought inside his head that told him that was stupid - and every time he turned around he was thinking about her. It was her dream house, not his. He'd tried to give it to her and Goten as a wedding gift, but they wouldn't hear of it. Marron said she felt bad enough about having him pay for and have a house built on her behalf and then leaving, she didn't want to take it from him completely. And she wouldn't listen when he tried to say he didn't want it.
So he walked around the place and listened to the echoes all night. It was barely furnished because he'd canceled most of the orders that were supposed to be delivered. It had three bedrooms and a master and, really, what was the point? He'd never have a family. He'd never have a wife and he'd always be alone. Why did that thought fill him with emptiness where, a year before, he was filled with joy?
He was thirty-six now and he could hardly believe it. Thirty-six years of his life he'd wasted. One on a woman who was now his best friend's wife. The rest he'd spent with a girl that was almost young enough to be his daughter - but not quite - and too good for him to ever love. He didn't know it then, but the 'not quite' was going to be his downfall. It was her voice that disrupted his thoughts and brought him sailing back to reality.
"You have a shadowed resemblance of me. The girl I used to be died a few months ago." She smiled dryly, obviously lost in a world of her own, and he felt his heart wrench again. Again he felt that urge to cradle her until her pain went away, to kiss her brow and cuddle her. He told himself that it was just his fatherly instincts kicking in, but the back of his brain argued that he wanted to do more than kiss her.
And that strange instinct to love her was taking control of his head again. Some kind of need to make her feel wanted and cherished, even if it wasn't true. A need to make it true. And he was left confused. Left to deal with what he didn't understand. And words from the only woman he ever truly loved echoing through his head…And suddenly what she'd said so long ago made him question himself. Suddenly, those words didn't sound like a bad idea…Why didn't she-?…he stopped himself before he could think the whole thought, believing it to be momentary insanity.
Pan looked at Trunks with wonder, her eyes searching his face with curiosity. He'd been lost to her for a while now, somewhere deep in his own world. And it was unlike him to leave such a depressing comment unanswered. She smiled slowly, wondering what he could be thinking about and yet, knowing he was thinking about her. The girl that was glowing and swirling around the dance floor like an angel. Pan's heart swelled because she knew that would never be her. She would never smile and forget her troubles and be that completely happy. She'd never get married and have love because she refused to let herself have it after what she'd been through.
And she was vengefully jealous. Marron was partly right, she was sitting there thinking this marriage thing wasn't such a bad idea. If only she had thought that almost a year ago. Before Gabriel had ruined the last remaining piece of her heart. That piece was truly the only thing she'd had left, the only strength in her that would allow her to let herself go again. It was crazy to say it, but she really was ruined.
"Well, whoever I have, she keeps me sane." He finally responded, taking her by surprise because he hadn't challenged her or told her that she'd be the same again. That it was just a phase and would pass. He hadn't given her that 'I'm-older-than-you-so-this-is-how-it-works' speech to let her know that she was still the same girl. She let her lips upturn into a smile before she stood up, offering him her hand.
"Dance with me, Mr. Briefs." It wasn't a question, but a command, and before he knew what was happening she'd pulled him to his feet and he was twirling her around. And he was comfortable, in fact he'd never been more comfortable.
That only solidified the thought in his mind. Made him want to do what he'd just been thinking more than ever. It made perfect sense. It was the only thing that was even remotely comprehendible in his life. He wondered why it had taken him so long to think of it. Why hadn't he considered it long before now? When he was at home and he couldn't stand the silence anymore and he had to call her to keep from going insane? Why hadn't he thought about it then? Maybe it was the champagne thinking, but he truly hadn't had that much. Not enough to make him want to do what he was thinking. He wasn't sure there was enough alcohol in the world to get him to do what he was considering…
"Ah," He smiled as the song ended and let the thought slide away from his head. "You're a lovely dancer, milady." She beamed up at him as they took their seats again.
"What were you thinking about? You looked so lost - sort of happy." She asked the question with semi-hesitation because she wasn't sure she wanted to know what he was thinking at all. She had a good idea of what he was going to say and she didn't like the thought.
"You." He responded simply, not loosing his smile. She blushed and looked down, wondering how she was supposed to take that bit of information.
"What about me?" There was a coy tint to her voice as she spoke, but only slightly for she knew she was living in childish fantasies.
"How we should have a date night tonight. At my place, you know, just us?" She could hear the sneak in his voice as he said it but she didn't challenge it. The offer had certainly surprised her, but it was more the way he said what he said, not the content of his speech. The way he'd worded the question made her want to laugh; it was like one of those movie scenes where the people sat in the car outside the apartment and one of them asked the other up for 'coffee'. She smiled softly to herself - as if that was what he had in mind.
When she didn't respond to his question, only looked at him with a curious grin on her lips, he felt the heat in his cheeks rise and he cleared his throat. "I mean, you haven't seen the house and…" She cut him off with a mischievous smile.
"You're going to give me a tour that will end up in your bedroom, aren't you?" Her voice had taken an accusing air, but only slightly as she grinned at him. It was a joke, but he obviously hadn't picked up on the message for he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and began to shake his head vigorously.
He opened his mouth, quickly contradicting, because it terrified him that she would think he was up to something like that. Never would he…, and before he got the whole thought in his mouth was calling out to her. "Pan, I…" She cut him off again, still grinning.
"Trunks, I was kidding." She laughed, shaking her own head as his blush deepened.
"I knew that." He protested defiantly, trying to cover his mistake.
"Uh-huh, sure you did." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'd love to. Let me just tell mom and dad what we're up to." Her eyes glittered as she said the ending and she lifted her eyebrows up and down teasingly. His eyes widened and he planned to protest again but she was up, off, and walking in the other direction before he could say another word.
After Marron had thrown her dreadful bouquet and some girl named Kristen wound up with it (Bra was the one that actually caught it but she made this horrified expression of detest and shot it back in the air again) and Goten had thrown Marron's garter into the air (at which time every bachelor in the room moved out of the way and it landed on the floor - Marron made a pouty face and Trunks hopped in to save her day, eagerly grabbing the thing to see her smile) and they had cut their ghastly cake, it was time for the reception to be over. Everyone had eaten, everyone had toasted, and everyone had danced. Marron had made her speeches, announced where the honeymoon would be at, and opened all the wedding presents. Goten made his speeches, kissed Pan on the cheek and told her she was still his best girl, and eaten all the cake. Really, the party was over, dead, beat into the ground. And people began to depart leisurely. Among them, Trunks and Pan.
Gohan watched with a dim face as his daughter headed off - despite his protest of feeling uncomfortable - to be with Trunks. Now Gohan knew they had some kind of barrier in their brains that forced them to look the other way when their feelings were concerned, but he did not. And he saw what was happening. And now he was more sure than ever that it would happen tonight. He would loose his little girl forever. He could see it in Trunks' eyes.
He didn't know exactly how Trunks managed to break Pan every chance he got, but he did. He could see that the boy didn't try - could tell Trunks only wanted the best for her - but Trunks was so screwed up that it didn't matter his intentions. What mattered was what happened. And it was never good. Gohan feared that this - whatever Trunks had planned for the evening - would be the end of her.
Pan was at the end of her rope and he knew those ends were frayed. Any second now she would fall apart and be vulnerable to irrevocable damage. Any second now she could become lost to him - to the world forever. And he hated watching it, knowing it could happen, and not being able to do anything about it. If a father couldn't save his daughter before she reached rock bottom, who could? And what was he good for?
A/N: One of my shorter chapters, I know. I considered combining this chapter with the next chapter but I decided that would have been too many events at once and it would have been long. So I just decided not to. Anyways, I'm really excited about next chapter so it should be up much faster than the rate I've been going but I'm still not promising. This one still might take a week. -sigh- Anyway, on to the good stuff:
author responses- my thanks and appreciation go to:
incoherence, DBZChicky501, Hanamaru285, DBprincess116, Swiss Cheese, karena, bella, Animechick, Dbzfan550, Jezika, Kaji Hikage, Deidra, Morgause Nokami, mystic, Camille, monkey_see_monkey_do, PrInCeSs Of LiGhT, dragon agility, ladybugg, Itsudemo Warai, amy, Beji, clb844, dbz obsessed- that was sweet, thanks, chibbi usago, trackee, KoreanChick, Akarat, vintageskater, caramel, maz, Lady*Venom, reviewer, Yokiko Pan, Miko-chan, trunks lover, erica, PannyGurlly, TorankusuGohan, qui, anonymous, Lynn, Silverdust-Aestis, lil-baby-azn-gurl, and v-chan ! ^-^
ShadowWind- thanks for the review and the encouraging words, I really appreciate it.
^-^ and you don't have to worry about me rushing Trunks and Pan together…though I don't think I have to say that now since that review was 3 chapters ago . never mind.
gecko- firstly, thank you for the review it made me smile ^-^ and then on to the comments. I'm glad you thought my 'romance' scene was well placed and I don't know what it is about romance being tragic these days. Just a fad I guess? I would say mine is getting happier but, eh, I don't know…sort of? And lastly, I didn't have Trunks and Goten use their powers because I figured that would be bad. But when Pan gets angry later on you'll see a bit of her saiyan strength kicking in. I just don't like to write those 'let's go out and kill each other scenes' I don't think the DBZ characters do that to one another - unless it's Vegita or Gohan…
Pia Bartolini- you've seen worse in Disney? Really…:-/ that's scary. But anyway thank you for that comment it made me really happy. You have no idea.
ChibiKari- Thanks for the review! she does hate Marron, but you have to remember how in love she is with Trunks. It was a point I was trying to make actually. She considers his feelings before her own and the immediate thing that entered her mind was how is Trunks going to feel (when Goten marries Marron). And besides, Goten and Trunks friendship was a bigger issue than Pan's feelings for Marron - they'd been best friends for years. I don't usually write Pan as the 'what about me' kind of character when I do T/Ps. -shrug-
black diamonds- I love you. Have I told you that you're my favorite? (don't tell the others…-shifty look-) You always make me feel like I'm famous -huggles tightly- I loved your long review, read it a couple of times, it meant a lot to me. Thank you so much!
Dark Anjel- …-is confused by chapter 10's review- … but thanks anyway.
MiraiGurl- it was not a lemon -is offended- no, not really. ^-^ it was a 2nd base scene and Trunks is offended (he says he would have lasted longer than half a page -is grumpy-). But, sure, I can skip the detail. I've never been good at putting detail, I only did it because a friend of mine says that if I can write about sex I can write about anything. So I wanted to see how far I could get…I blushed every time I typed 'breasts' you have no idea how modest I really am…
incoherence- bwahahaha! There will never be a last chapter. Ever! … I'm okay, really…meep! -runs away-
amy- the story goes on after they get together but there's a catch. With me there's always a catch. But don't worry, it'll be good…I hope…O.e
Chris- haha. The world does revolve around Marron…in her head…and everyone treat her accordingly. It probably was intended to make her seem like a bitch - you see, I hate Marron. But I try to be fair to all of my character and you know, so I can't just outright talk about her. And Trunks is deliberately made a drama queen. Because I enjoy it…I'm sick and twisted. You're not reading too much into it, everyone else just isn't reading enough into it - but that's cause I'm strange. My feelings about these characters are hidden throughout the story, I just won't share them because I might get bomb threats…oh, and the engagement ring is going to make a comeback. -giggles- (when I 'giggle' you should be scared…) Thanks for the reviews I loved them!
Whew, I thought I'd never finish. I'm not waiting this long to do author response again, it's too much. And by the time I respond to something 3 chapters ago, it doesn't matter anymore. x.x -dies- anyway - I've been at this for 2 hours. I'm done! Oh, if you didn't see your name and you reviewed - yell at me. Really, I don't mind. If I offended you when I responded tell me, yell, I don't mind. If I put your name more than once it was an accident…but you can yell too, I don't mind. And if you hated this chapter go ahead and yell, guess what…I don't mind! ^-^ don't forget to review! -can't believe she's saying that after all those reviews she just responded to…dies again-