Dresses and Lessons

I've said it before, and it bears repeating, I DO NOT OWN DRAGONBALL/Z/GT however, if you'd like to fight me for whatever I do own, be my guest. By California law you can't take a 14 year old to court. Good luck with that.

"A Friend Can Be Whatever Happens to Be Close to You. This Includes; Stuffed Animals, Younger People, Older People, Siblings, Animals, and Even Dolls. Anything That Will Listen When You Cry Is A True Friend. Don't Forget." – Unknown

Well, she thought, at least I won't have to come back to this place till tomorrow. Looking around to make sure she had all she'd need for the half hour drive to Capsule Corp. She closed her eyes. There wasn't much she needed, but to be sure, she ran through a mental list of what she assumed she'd need. Should I dig up my old Malibu Martina dolls? She looked over at the teddy that was carelessly tossed onto her tousled bed. Mr. Smithies was his name. She'd had him since she was 4. Of course, she'd never let anyone know that. If they knew that, she'd be terrified to step foot outside.

She had decided earlier to let her hair down. It was just above her waist, and dark black. She was wearing a pair of jeans that had a rose embroidered up the side of the left leg. She was also wearing a blue spaghetti-strap tank top, and tennis shoes. She wasn't sure what the little girl would ask of her, but she'd try and be prepared for whatever this whimsical girl could ask for. Knowing little girls they could ask for anything. And being as she was rich, she could get anything her pretty-pink-heart desired. A pony, a doll house, a puppy, or even a car!

For a moment she felt a spark of jealousy. That small ember had often haunted her at moments like this. Sliding her key into the door of the old grey Beretta, she threw her teddy-bear backpack into the passenger side, and then got in herself. Cruising along, she changed the station to a country one (farfetched, I know). They were playing Emerson Drive "Looking over My Shoulder". Since she knew the words to this one she began to hum along. It was only one of her Favorite songs.

"Don't look back. I've gotch'a covered!" she sang, rolling down the window to let her hair blow. It was a rather warm day, so there wasn't much to worry about. Of course there were storm clouds growing in the distance that ruined the picturesque calm of the day. She was driving out of it, coincidentally. She looked back long enough to see the storm clouds that were a dastardly grey.

The path leading to the estate was embellished in roses, lilies, and lavender. Apparently they were the young girl's favorite colors. She stopped to smell one remembering the quote "Stop to smell to roses". Of course, she was the type of girl to just dwindle along. She'd done it since she was eight or nine. Leave it to her uncle to teach something like that. Her family was so bizarre. Hopefully it wasn't just her family that was like that.

Taking a deep breath she ventured up toward the door. Before she could knock she heard a male voice yell 'I'll get it', and so she waited for an answer. She tapped the door, after a few minutes. And sure enough, a lavender haired man came to get it, scooping up a little girl in his wake. She was a pretty little thing. She had her hair in little pigtails with small beads hanging throughout them. She had on a pair of blue shorts, and a green flower shirt, with a pair of tennis shoes as well. The shoes had the picture of Malibu Martina on it.

"Thank you so much for filling in for me. I really don't want to leave her behind with Achilles. He's not very trust-worthy these days. Umm, I can stay by for about another hour, but I have to be at the meeting at six. She needs to take two pills at five, they're on the counter. And her bed-time, since it's the weekend, is at 10." He brushed some of Angelina's hair from her eyes and looked at Pan.

"She's sick, isn't she?" He nodded at her and she brushed some hair from her eyes. Shifting her weight to her left foot, she followed him inside. "So this is the Brief's Manor?"

"Yes. My father built it about thirty seven years ago. My sister was born here, and I grew up here. I'm not so certain that I'm ready for my own home, but hey, I have a company, a daughter, and money. No one ever said that to be a billionaire you had to be prepared." He smiled shaking his head, and looked at Angel. "I just hope that I get a son to pass the company too, I'm not so sure that Angel would be able to take over for me. Besides, she's only little yet, and mom taught me when I was 10."

"That must have been hard…" she thought about this a few moments as her mind took in all that was around her. She'd have to keep a very close eye on Angel, or she might never see her in these halls again. As if reading her thoughts, Trunks answered.

"There's security monitors all o over the place. Mom never did take risks. If you happen to lose Angel, just come in here, and type AGL, and it'll bring up where she was last spotted and her new location." He looked at her after saying this. "That being said, I should warn you that Angel is very quick."

"I figured. My mom told me they used to have trouble catching me too." Trunks paused a moment and looked at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He shook his head and picked up Angel, sitting her on his shoulders. At this time she had on her Miniature Detective suit. She took off her hat and set it on his head. Pan giggled a bit at the gesture. "Well, I've been meaning to ask about your name. Your name is Pan Vidalia Son, correct?" She nodded. "Well, I looked into it, you know, did some snooping to see if you were legit. Well, I noticed that you were related to Gohan Son. Is he your father?"

"Yes. He is. Why? Is that a bad thing?" Trunks shook his head and took her arm leading her to another room. The room was full of metallic objects, and smelled of it too. There was something about what she saw that threw her off. "Why am I here? What is the purpose?"

"Your father was part of our research team." Pan stood and gazed a moment longer. "Yes, hard to believe. He got fatally ill testing something; I believe you were only a year at the time. I remembered it, because I took care of him while my mom was pregnant with my sister. We nursed him back to health, but he eventually quit. We were left with his last project. He had made it for you, he was going to show you on your sixteenth birthday, but since he quit he left it behind. Mom modified it a bit though, so it won't work like what he had intended." He looked at his watch, then at Angel, kissing her quick, and ran off. "Sorry, I have to work!"

"What an abrupt ending. C'mon Angel, I need you to show me to your room." Said Pan looking into the room, closing the door behind her.

"Ok. Now here's what ya hafta do. You go put this on. It's my mommy's dress. It'll look really pretty on you. And you also hafta put on her jewelry."

Pan thought about this a moment and took the dress realizing it'd be way too small. "Umm, I do believe it's too small for me."

Angel looked up from pouring tea to the imaginary guests seated around the small plastic table. "Well, I guess your ok in what you have now." She looked and counted heads. "I think that everyone is here. Mr. Weddle's is gone though. Mr. Weddle?"

Pan sat on her knees and looked around the pink room. She tried not to giggle at the young girl who had pink everywhere. How could Trunks stand this? Amused, she picked up a teddy bear and set him at the table. He had on a tag that said "Mrs. Sutu" so she assumed, naturally, that she would like to join the tea-party.

"Mr. Weddle?" echoed the young girl. "I don't see—hey! Mrs. Sutu!" She looked at Pan and sat down. "Would you like some tea, Miss Son?"

Pan nodded going along with the little girl. She hadn't been a kid in almost 10 yeas, and it was all washing back to her in a tidal wave, in which she had no paddle. She blinked back tears at the childhood she had. It wasn't exactly perfect. Looking at the girl she had a strong urge to stroke her hair, but too many people took that the wrong way, so she avoided it.

"Yes, I would like some tea. So how is the weather today, Miss Briefs?"

"Oh, my name is Miss Mora," but she didn't seem to care. She blinked at Pan as she folded her legs under her small frail body. "My mommy and I share a name. Daddy has his own. The weather is rainy, though." She gestured out the window. Pan looked too. "See?"

Pan smiled, and picked up the young child running out the door. Being as the rest of the staff was at work, she wouldn't get in much trouble. Leaving the door open, she took the young girls hand and twirled her around in the rain. Angel looked up at her superior.

"Miss Son, what are you doing! Dad will go crazy! I'm not allowed to get wet!" Pan smiled at her protest, and grabbed an umbrella for her.

Pan kicked off her shoes, and curled her toes in the soft grass. It was cool as ice, and as wet too. "Did your dad say you couldn't have fun? Just about every kid loves dancing in the rain. And being as he's not here, you can get away with it now."

Angel concurred and took off her shoes too, and copied Pan tossing the umbrella aside. "Miss Son…there's someone in the window."

Angel gasped when she noticed who it was. Pan looked over and did the same, jaw slack with shock. He had taken off his tie, and was bare-foot too. She looked at him and grinned. His white shirt was soaked all the way through showing his muscles. She wasn't supposed to be falling for her employer! Even if he's the most eligible bachelor in all of West City.

"Mr. Briefs, y-your home early." Pan stuttered in fear of getting yelled at. Gosh knows it happened a lot to her.

"It's ok. Angel, why don't you run along, honey, and get in some dry clothes? I want to treat the new member of our team to something nice. That's you Kitari." Pan smiled and looked at him. He was grinning now. Lifting her chin he looked into her eyes. They were a deep indigo, he noticed.

"What was that for?" Pan inquired.

"You've been on my mind all day, and I wanted to know what your eye color was. I had thought it was black, but I was wrong. They're the same color as my ex-wife's."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment…" she asked silently taken aback. She was falling for him, and if she wasn't mistaken, so was he. Was he doing it purposely? Pondering this a moment, Angel barreled out of the house, and tumbled into the grass, rolling, and landing at her father's feet.

Pan would think that being the head of a company; he had to be aggressive all the time. That wasn't true though…The little girl was wailing, so he picked her up, and held her in the hollow of his waist. He coo'd her maternally, and she calmed down. Pan was shocked at her discovery. So Headstrong Mr. Briefs did have a soft side! Coughing ever-so daintily, she stroked the girls' hair a bit, and pulled away as if he were a bulldog stalking a bone. "It's ok. She needs a motherly influence on her." He stated softly, noticing she was still whimpering.

That was beautiful, she sighed. Shaking her head as to clear any thoughts of her employer naked, she changed into something that was baggy, but sophisticated. The only thing she had, that was formal, actually. This would be one hell of a night, and she was going to share it with the most eligible man in town!

Spitfire Spaghetti chapter 4 is called Spitfire Spaghetti, and basically, Trunks' ex-wife comes along to the mix and adds to the tension of the room. As if there wasn't enough!

The long, tall, blonde sighed, and pulled his hand. "You're not walking around with another tramp while my daughter is still under your roof."

"Your daughter? I believe I had some part in her existence!" He bellowed back. Pan watched from the sidelines in shock, with a palm over her mouth. They really didn't get along. What would it take to keep this child safe? At what lengths would he go to to save her? What lengths would Pan got to to save the child she'd become so fond of?

Please read and review. And I hope you enjoyed Dresses and Lessons or Chapter 3 of Proverbial Head Over Heals.

Kaity