Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed! I can't believe I have 90 reviews! I'm glad you like my story so far and I hope you'll like the rest of it (not implying that this is the last chapter of courseee) RR pleasee )

I Love You Chapter 17 Realization

Trunks drove mindlessly around the city. Deciding not to get drunk again, he headed for Capsule Corps, hoping his sister was there. Fate must pity him because she, luckily, was home. However, she wasn't alone. Goten was there with her.

Shit.. Does Goten know of any of this?...

Quickly, he went into the living room, where his sister and his best friend were talking and laughing quietly. "Ahem.." Trunks coughed to get their attention.

Goten and Bra looked up from their moment and saw Trunks standing by the doorway, looking distressed.

Goten spoke up first. "What's up bro?.. You look stressed or something.. Care to talk about it?"

Trunks didn't answer him. Instead, he begged silently to Bra that he needed to talk to her. She however, did not follow it. She said softly, "Whatever you want to tell me Trunks.. Goten should know too... so will you explain what happened last night?"

Trunks sighed softly and nodded. He sat on the couch, while Bra and Goten were sharing a loveseat. He started to tell them the events of the day before and why he got drunk and everything. He even told them what had happened earlier that day, with the breakup and all. He did not mention however, his talk with Vegeta. That, he left out. But the sight of Pan and Ryan, he wanted to ask Bra about so he mentioned it.

In the end, everything was silent. Goten broke the silence first. "Do you love my niece Trunks?"

The question startled him. First Father, then Goten.. Who's next, Uub and Marron?

Trunks fidgeted in his seat, not knowing what to say. "I..I don't know.. I just know that.. I felt like hurting Paris... for calling Panny a bitch..." Should I tell them what Father told me?...

Bra interrupted. "Trunks... You have to figure out first, if you love her or not. And when you decide that you do... You better tell her... What if she falls in love with Ryan? And yes, they are in a relationship right now... And I hate to be the one to tell you this... but... Ryan is in love with Pan... She told me herself that's what he said. And I believe her words."

Trunks felt his heart get heavier and heavier as Bra was talking. Goten added, "It better not be an infatuation Trunks... You had better truly love her... because if one day she comes crying because of you... I will forget we were ever best friends and kill you. But I hope it'll never come to that..."

Goten's words struck Trunks hard. Do I love Pan?...

"There's something else I didn't mention to you guys... After breaking up with Paris... I came to C.C and Father was waiting for me... But he didn't want to fight. Instead, we talked. And he told me that Pan and I are bonded. And that we have been ever since she was born. And he said the bonding will show pretty soon... But I still don't know if I truly love her or not..."

Goten stated out loud, "If you guys are bonded, there has to be some connection of feeling towards each other... Like... Soul mates..."

Trunks suddenly had a thought. "Wait.. If we're talking about how I'm supposed to decide if I love Pan or not... How does she feel?... What does she feel towards me?... Does she... I mean... Is she... In love with me?..."

Bra gasped and Goten held his breath.

Trunks stared at the two. "Does she? Does she love me?"

Bra sighed sadly and nodded slowly. "Of course she does you idiot... So just imagine.. How much you've hurt her with the whole Paris ordeal... And yes, she is a strong girl... But she's a girl in love... and she can only take so much..."

Trunks drew in a breath and thoughts began to run across his mind. She loves me... Pan loves me... I hurt her more than I know... When she was only helping me by telling me about Paris, I snapped at her... I..I told everyone I was in love with Paris.. Right in front of her... How can she keep it all inside? And.. Gasp... the.. fortune cookie... the perfect match.. Soul mates..

Suddenly, Trunks stood up abruptly and ran out of the living room, and out of the house. Bra shouted, "Trunks, wait!" But he didn't stop. He ran outside and flew off. Bra sighed and turned to look at Goten. She didn't say anything but just rested her head on his shoulder. He didn't say anything either, just sitting there with his love, hoping for the best for his friend.

With Trunks...

Trunks flew out of Capsule Corps. He didn't know where he was going to, but just followed his instinct, his heart. I hurt her... I hurt her so much...

Strangely, he was in the city. He landed somewhere where no one could see him and walked around the sidewalk. Then, he spotted a huge theater. For a strange reason, something in him told him to go inside. And so he did.

He didn't know who or what he was looking for, but it was just a gut feeling that he had to be there for some reason.

Then suddenly, a door near him opened and a certain saiyjin girl walked out.

"Pan..." He breathed.

Pan was in line for some popcorn when suddenly she heard someone calling her name. She looked around and didn't see anyone in particular that she knew. It was driving her crazy. Ever since Trunks came earlier to talk to her, she couldn't stop thinking about him. You have a boyfriend Pan, don't think about "him". But why can't I? Sigh... Dumb question... You love him Panny...

Trunks hid behind the wall, not wanting to be seen. He didn't know why. He knew he had to talk to her. Pan...

Unconsciously, Trunks' ki rose slightly of distress.

Pan was still in line when she suddenly felt it. She gasped and looked around slowly. She couldn't pin point exactly where he was but she knew he was in here somewhere. Where are you Trunks...

Trunks had his back against the wall, so many thoughts clouding his mind. He sighed in frustration and let out a low growl unknowingly.

All of a sudden, he jerked his eyes open when he felt a touch on his shoulder.

Pan felt her heart jolt when she saw his intense eyes staring back at her.

"Pan?..." He whispered.

Pan removed her hand from his shoulder and whispered back, "Trunks, what are you doing here? I.. How did you know I was here?"

"I..I didn't know Pan..." Trunks stuttered. "I just... Followed my heart...."

Then, he did something she was not expecting. He grabbed her hand and intertwined their hands once again. Just like before, it was a perfect fit. Pan gasped. What's he doing? This is exactly what he did last time...

Then, Pan pulled back and backed away. "I..I uh... Gotta go... Ryan's waiting for me..."

She slowly walked backwards then turned around to go. Trunks called out to her, "Pan, no. Don't go..." She turned around, sadness flashing through her eyes, and shook her head. "Ry..Ryan's waiting for me Trunks... I have to go... I'll talk to you tomorrow..." Then she turned back around and briskly walked away.

Trunks' head drooped down and whispered the one thing Pan caught before out of hearing range that made her stop in her tracks. "I love you Pan..."

Pan gasped silently and slowly turned back around and stared at the man she was in love with. "T..Trunks?" Trunks looked up with the saddest eyes imaginable. "I..I love you Pan..."

Pan slowly walked up to him and did the unthinkable. She slapped him across the face. "Y..You... Jerk..." She said quietly. Tears were threatening to come out. Then, she ran out of the theaters.

Trunks stood there, mouth open. His hand unconsciously went up to his stinging cheek. Then, something caught his eye. More like someone. Pizza boy...

Ryan, worried that Pan was late, went to the snack station and didn't see her. Suddenly, he heard a slap coming from behind a wall and went over to check it out. He stopped abruptly when he saw who it was. Then he saw Pan run out of the theaters, leaving Trunks alone. He walked to where Trunks was standing.

"Ryan, right?" A voice asked. The voice appeared to be Trunks.

Ryan simply nodded. Then, he asked, "I saw Pan run out... What happened? Is she okay?"

Trunks had a far off look on his face. "No. I'm going after her." Before he turned to go, he felt someone grab his wrist. "I'll go." Trunks got out of his grip and shook his head. "I love her. I made a mistake of letting her go without even knowing, I'm not doing it again when I know it this time." Then, he ran off to the direction Pan went.

He loves her... And she loves him... Ryan smiled sadly. She's always chose him from the start... I will always love you Pan... Then, he slowly walked out of the theaters and to his car.

Meanwhile, Bra, Marron, Goten, and Uub were talking about the whole situation. When Trunks left, Bra called up Marron a few minutes later. Immediately, the couple came together and the four sat in the living room, contemplating. Bra had filled Marron and Uub in on everything so all they could do was to sit and wait. Goten gritted his teeth. "I swear, if he hurts her.. I'll.." Bra put her hand on his shoulder. "I don't think she's going to be the only one hurt right now..." Goten sighed warily and layed back on the couch. Marron whispered, "I hope they're okay..."

Meanwhile, Pan had flew off to the one place she could think of. The 'secret' place Trunks showed her when she was younger. He had said that no one knew of that place except for him and herself. It was a high cliff where you can see the entire city and the sun.

"Trunks," She whispered, "what are you doing to me?..."

Then, she felt an all too familiar ki walking slowly behind her. She didn't bother to turn around though. She continued to look out into the night sky. She felt him sit down next to her but didn't make eye contact.

She broke the silence. "How did you know I was here?" Still staring into the sky, she asked silently.

Trunks turned his head towards her slowly and said back, "It was an instinct..."

Pan finally made eye contact with the man next to her, tears silently falling down her cheeks. Trunks came closer and wiped her tears off with his thumb. "Pan... I'm so sorry... For everything... I'm sorry for not believing you about Pa.." Pan silenced him with her finger on his lips. "No.. If being with her made you happy, I shouldn't have interfered..."

Trunks shook his head and got closer to Pan, their faces inches apart. "No Pan... She's not my one and only... She never was... I guess it was just all in my head... I don't think I ever truly loved her... There was something about her that wasn't right that I couldn't quite get. And you were right about her... She was cheating on me... And I broke up with her today. I was missing a piece of my heart... A piece that you've had since you were born... I never realized that until now... I love you Pan... I think I always have... I guess I just wasn't ready to admit it... and I'm sorry for hurting you because of my stupidity.."

More tears fell down Pan's face and she fell in his embrace, sobbing into his chest. She hit his chest with her fist repeatedly. "I hate you..." Trunks just held her, as if she would disappear in a moment, and soothingly rubbed her back in circles. Pan pulled back and looked at Trunks with love in her eyes. Trunks put his hands on her shoulders and said firmly, yet gently at the same time, "Pan, if you will find it in your heart to forgive me... Will you be my girlfriend?..." A slight blush appeared on his cheek.

Pan smiled through her tears and nodded. "Of course I forgive you... But... Ryan..." Her smile faultered.

Trunks smiled slightly. "I think he understands Pan..." With a knowing look in his eyes, Pan trusted him before answering back, "Yes, I will be your girlfriend... But you're still a jerk.."

Trunks put his hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt.

Then, he turned serious and his face came closer with her's. "Pan... I love you.." Pan lifted her head up to make the gap between them smaller, then Trunks sealed it with his lips on top of her's. Pan melted in the sweet kiss. She's never felt this way before with anyone. Trunks was thinking along the same lines. This feels so right... Pan moaned softly. Then, they slowly pulled apart and stared into each other's eyes, their foreheads touching. Pan whispered softly, "I love you so much Trunks... I always have... And I always will..."

It was the most beautiful moment. The sun was just setting over the horizon, as they shared another kiss.

Ah! Not that much of an ending... I'm sorry! This story is almost done... Although there is one more little "bug" to take care of... (You'll see..) And thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm so glad you're enjoying this story!! RR please

Ti next time!