I gasped, unsure of how I to react to this. Elijah....going to die? No, it was impossible....it had to be some sort of mistake...

"No," I uttered quietly, shaking my head in disbelief. "No....that can't be right."

"I'm sorry Pan." Videl whispered through tears, moving towards me with her arms outstretched. "There isn't anymore the doctors can do."

"No!" I shouted, my face pale with horror as I shifted away from her. "You're lying!"

"He has no more than three months." Videl cried, tears leaking down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

I shook my head fiercely, mouthing wordlessly to myself. Elijah couldn't die....he just couldn't. He was only three years old! And he had been so strong and powerful up until a few days ago. Videl had to be lying....it couldn't be true. But I knew when I looked into the depths of her eyes that this was not a joke...it was real.

Turning quickly, I ran upstairs to my room, hearing Videl's shouts echo in my ears. I ignored her, darting down the corridor to my room and slamming the door shut so savagely that the very walls trembled as if they shared my rage. I ran to my bed, attacking it in a fury of strong punches as I fought within myself to hold my tears at bay.

It was my fault. If I hadn't agreed to fight with him that day, he would still be healthy now. I couldn't believe I had been idiotic enough to allow a toddler to battle with me. And now....

I collapsed onto my bed, no longer able to hold back the tears. My anger and flown from me along with my punches and left me filled with nothing but sadness and depression. Tears leaked down my cheeks and spilled onto my pillow from the corners of my dark eyes, flowing onto my lips so that I could taste a salty and unpleasant sensation in my mouth.

I don't know how long I laid there, weeping in a pool of my own sorrow. But soon my eyes were red and sore, my throat hoarse and painful from emitting gasping sobs. I knew it was unlike my character to cry....but my body and transformed into a fountain of emotions faster than I had thought it ever would. Curling up in a ball against the wall, I tucked the blankets around my own limp form and shivered despite the gentle caress of the summer breeze streaming through my window.

After darkness had fallen, and not a trace of sunlight was left to linger in my room, the door creaked open and faint light seeped inside as the doorframe filled with my father's figure. Shoes plodded across the floor and stopped beside my bed, a rough hand fell against my back and stroked it tenderly, causing me to turn to meet Gohan's eyes, filled with sadness and regret.

"You shouldn't have answered that call." He said strongly and seemingly emotionlessly. "I'm sorry, Pan. I know words won't be able to make the situation any better, but I want you to remember that everyone else will be going through the same turmoil, and we all know how you feel. If you ever want to talk....all you have to do is ask."

"It's my fault." I blurted out. "I shouldn't have agreed to fight him that day."

"No, Pan." Gohan sighed. "It's not your fault. Elijah was already sick that day, and if we didn't find out then, we would have found out sooner or later. Elijah has been sick for a long time, so don't think even for a second that you are the cause for what happened."

Gohan's words made me feel a little better, lifting the intense feelings of guilt from my back, but not relieving my sadness.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently. I shook my head instantly in reply...why would I want to talk about it if it would only increase my grief?

"Then get some rest." He suggested, breaking to kiss my softly on the cheek. "I have a feeling we're going to need it."

(o)

"Shit!" Zara cursed under her breath over the phone. "God, Pan...I-I honestly don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything." I replied quietly, clutching the phone to my ear and sprawling out across my bed. "Just tell me why you haven't been answering the phone recently."

"I've been at some stupid country club with my parents." She muttered darkly. "I could go on about it for ages, but I'd much rather concentrate on you right now."

"No, tell me about it." I ordered. "It'll keep my mind off what's happening."

She rambled on about spoilt brats and wealthy dowagers forcing her into horse riding with them and having to wear pink. I silently thanked her for trying to help me feel better, but it wasn't working. Nothing seemed to be able to tear my thoughts away from what was happening.

"Listen, I better go." I interrupted as she began to start on the pointlessness of croquet. "We're going to visit Elijah in hospital soon."

"Ok," She said sadly. "You know....you can always call me if you want to talk."

"I'll take that into account." I smiled against the phone. "See you later."

I hung up and met my parents at the door. Gohan took my hand in his, entwining our fingers together and leading me after him out of the house. Videl walked on in front, carrying a fresh bouquet of flowers.

I scowled at her back. The flowers only made me feel worse.

(o)

Goten was having an intense conversation over his mobile phone when we arrived at the hospital. He noticed my parents and I making our way towards him, escorted by a plump nurse who waddled when she walked and waved us into a door to his right, continuing to speak softly into the phone.

Elijah was in a new hospital ward, entirely on his own. It was surrounded with flowers and get well cards, sent from friends and family members. My heart clenched in my throat when I noticed that most of the cards were labeled 'deepest sympathy' instead of get well.

Elijah wasn't going to get well at all.

"Pan!" He cried, holding out his arms to me. Putting on a brave smile, I ran into them and held him tightly to my own body, holding back oncoming tears. His body felt so fragile and weak against my own, and when I broke away from him I noticed that his cheeks were pale and thin, his clothes loose and disheveled as he lay amongst layers of purest white blankets.

"How are you feeling?" I asked anxiously.

"A bit funny." He admitted. "But I be ok. What about you? You look sad."

"I am sad." I whispered as sudden realization struck me. "Has your parents told you what's happening to you?"

"They said that I was going to go to a nicer place which was far away from here soon." He said brightly. "But I didn't want to go because I wouldn't be able to play fighting with you anymore. But Mummy said I would be able to see all of you from this special place, so I suppose it doesn't really matter."

My eyes swelled with tears, but I held them back, for his sake. This could, after all, be the last time we saw each other. Each day opened with a fresh chance of his life being torn from mine. I hugged him again tightly, holding his body to my own.

"I love you, Elijah." I whispered into his hair.

"I love you, Pan." He whispered in reply. "Always."

I left the hospital feeling even worse than before. I had long since planned out the coarse of my life, and I had always seen him there with me, growing old with me.

Without Elijah...that future was lost

(o)

"Pan, we need to talk." Videl said suddenly one night during dinner as I toyed with my meal. This was unusual, since my Sayian blood often left me with an appetite. But I didn't feel hungry anymore...

"You remember Bulma and Vegeta?" Gohan asked. "And their children, Trunks and Bra?"

I dropped my spoon and looked into my father's eyes. I had no idea what this had to do with anything....but I nodded truthfully nevertheless. Of course I remembered the Briefs family! They had always been close to us, and apparently Trunks had babysat me during my younger years. Though it had been a good four years since we had last seen them.

"They live in Capsule City, much closer to your school." Videl continued airily. "In the same area as Zara."

"Yeah, I know." I replied curiously, wondering where this conversation would lead.

"Pan, how would you feel about staying with the Briefs these summer holidays?" Asked Gohan, causing my mouth to drop open in shock.

"What!?" I cried, leaping to my feet.

"They live in a very big mansion, with plenty of rooms and lots of space to train in." Videl said hurriedly. "You'd be much closer to Zara and all your other friends from school. Vegeta even has a anti-gravity room you could use to train in!"

"But....why?" I asked with irritable uncertainty.

Videl and Gohan exchanged a shifty glance before Gohan mumbled. "We think it would be better for you, emotionally wise, to get away from all of this. It would be easier for you just to move away for a short while...until all this is over."

"But..." I trailed away, unsure of what to say.

"I called Bulma already, and she says it's no problem. They're expecting you in three days."

I fell back into my chair, unable to take the overload of change that was seeping over me. Elijah was dying....they were sending me away.....what had happened to my perfect summer?

"Pan, we know what's best for you." Gohan said sternly. "Bulma promised to look after you, and I gave her my permission to allow you to go into the city on your own during the day, as long as your home by whatever time suits them. And you can even stay at Zara's place every now and then."

"Can you understand, Pan?" Videl asked almost pleadingly. "We don't want you to have to go through this. It could effect you emotionally and make you unbalanced."

"I know." I answered, smiling sadly. "Anyway, I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

(o)

A/N: Hope you liked the first three chapters. A little sad, I know, but it will get better once Pan arrives at the Brief's. I hope you can see how this is going to turn into a love story, and constructive criticism is welcomed. Please ignore all spelling and grammar mistakes, and keep in mind that I am the girl who got 3/20 on her last spelling test.

Thanks for reading, please review!