"No, Bulla. I'm not – just…no!" Pan eyed the skimpy little outfit in her hands. Calling the flimsy material clutched in her fist, clothes was a little farfetched. It was basically just small pieces of cloth placed together to look like clothing. There was no way in hell she would walk out in this, even if it wasn't off the premises.

"Oh, come on! I'm sure if you showed up in that, my dad wouldn't be able to keep his hands of you." Pan sent her a look, "Okay, fine…fine. I have another idea, since I knew you'd most likely scrap this one early on."

"I'm almost afraid to ask." Pan mumbled as Bulla dragged her from the room.

"Oh hush, it'll be fun!" Bulla sent a smile over her shoulder.

"What will be fun?" Pan asked skeptically, one eyebrow arched.

Bulla slowed her pace almost to a complete stop. She turned to face the dark-haired girl behind her. Pan was eyeing her suspiciously. The bluenette knew that if she told Pan where they were exactly going, the brunette would refuse. Sometimes, Bulla had to stop and question if Pan was a full-blooded female, because, she hated the one thing that all women love. Shopping.

The younger female saiyan despised shopping. The aspect and act of it. It was less of a headache for Bulla to drag her father, who after their last shopping trip hadn't been very cheerful on their trips, along than it was the dark-haired girl. Videl and Chi-Chi had hated it because the only young female in their family was about as tomboyish as they came. She never got her hair fixed, never went for manicures or pedicures, and when all the women went out shopping or for a spa day – Pan almost always chose sparring with the men over everything else. So, Bulla was going to have to divert her attention and pray that Pan didn't recognize the route they were going to be taken. Maybe she could knock Pan out, just till they got to the mall. No, she couldn't do that. It would draw to much attention.

"You'll see." Bulla finally responded, cryptically.

Pan started to protest. Not very keen on the idea of not having the slightest clue on where they were going. But, Bulla quickly sensing it, started dragging her behind her again. Successfully stopping any protest the younger female may have had.

Vegeta scowled as he watched his daughter drag a somewhat reluctant Pan behind her from a top the building. And honestly, he wasn't entirely certain why he was scowling. He just…was. Ever since the incident, as he had dubbed it, in the GR, he had constantly been on edge. His instincts slamming against his skull to take what was his. To claim her before someone else would, despite him knowing there was no other saiyan competition. It was maddening.

Just catching the faintest of her scent in the air after she left a room or when she showered, was making his skin crawl with desire. More than once, he had found himself braced against his bedroom. Head rested against the cool metal, hands clenched in fists besides his head as he struggled with his inner self. It wasn't just the tantalizing smell of her heat that was driving him mad, it was the salty scent of hurt that bothered him most. Especially knowing that he was the one causing her to hurt. It was like a stab to the heart.

Never, not even once, had he assumed that the Pan would go through a heat. He had thought her blood was too diluted with human blood for her body to take from the saiyan's biological background. Sure, she had the saiyan's strength, agility, stamina, speed, and power – but, she had never shown any symptoms at the common age. It was strange for a female saiyan to go through the first heat in her life at such a later stage. Pan wasn't a teenager anymore, but she wasn't entirely an adult either. She was at the awkward stage in the middle where you still wanted to treat them like a child but they could go out and purchase alcohol and make their own life chooses.

Something must've triggered it. That had to be it. And, he had a strong notion it had been him. He was foolish for not recognizing the signs earlier. In all his life, he had assumed that set pairs were more myth than truth. His parents hadn't even been set pairs, yet, it was apparently common in royal blood. He had never believed in it and because of that, he had only just barely skimmed the surface of what it meant when he had the most mortifying conversation of his life. But, there was still that small nagging in the back of his mind – what if they were true and he hadn't informed Bulla properly? So, he had just summed up in as few words as he could what a set pair was and then sent a flushed Bulla away before disappearing into the GR to beat out his own embarrassment. Never again would he be forced to be so humiliated.

And now, because of his neglect to inform the only other female saiyan of her potential heritage, he had gotten himself into a mess. One that he didn't have the slightest idea on how to clear it up. There was no way to sever the bond between them and, even if there was, he wasn't too keen on doing that. Just the mere thought of it had a growl rushing past his lips. So, no, he couldn't have broken the bond even if there had been a way. There was the option that he could simply avoid her, but that could potentially cause some disasters effects. It could cause his craving to reach a level that he couldn't control and lead to him doing something that he knew he would regret. Not to mention that would, without a doubt, cause Pan more pain and that thought just didn't set well with him. He was officially caught in between a rock and a hard place, with no hope of moving anytime soon.

Then, on top of not knowing what to do with his current situation, there was the fact of, he had no idea how Pan felt about all of this. Yes, she had kissed him. Responsively so. But, was that Pan's actual doing or, was it the effect of her heat? That girl had been through enough as is, and there was no way in hell he would ever force himself onto a woman, specifically not Pan. Women were meant to be treated with respect. That had been one of the very first rules his father had taught him. They were always meant to be treated like the queen they were, even if it wasn't royalty, she was the queen of her domain and that's how she needed to be treated.

From the minute, he had jerked away, stopping things from going any further because of that doubt, he had been desperate to get back to her. To feel her luscious pale lips against his. To mesmerize the contours of her body and the warmth of her skin. He craved – no, needed – more. And, it was that notion that had him avoiding her at all possibilities. The fact was, he didn't trust himself. So, he had put as much distant between himself and her. Sensing for her energy before entering the kitchen, the only room in the house he frequented other than his bedroom. During the hours Pan was up and busying around the house, he left. Traveling deep into the surrounding mountains, where he attempted to beat out whatever pent up frustration he had. A few mountaintops had met an end at his fist and, a few new craters had been added. Still, it was isolated and away from the scent sweet filtering through the house. She was no longer in heat, and he suspected that she hadn't been in heat when they kissed. That it had simply been the aftermath of her first heat. Either way, her scent was still overwhelming.

He sighed as he turned away from the window and sat down in the lone chair in his room. All the lights were off, but the curtains had been drawn and blinds opened. The overcasting sunlight illuminated the room enough for him to see. After years of constant annoyance, mostly in the forms of Nappa and Raditiz, he had learned that he did his best thinking in a dark space. The blackness was calming. Temporarily sating the warm rushing in his blood and taming his temper. His blood had always run a littler warmer than most and he tended to lose his temper faster than most, or at least he had. Over the years, he had almost mellowed out. He was still the "arrogant prick" Bulma had often called him, even before they separated, but, he was more relaxed. Quiet.

Originally, he had hoped that sitting in a cool, dark room would allow him to think of ways to handle his current predicament. So far, he hadn't come up with much. Each thing he come up with was quickly shot down. Some faster than others. This only added to his irritation. What the hell was he supposed to do? It was so frustrating! Why couldn't things ever be simple? He slummed back in his chair, propping his elbows on the cushioned arms of the chair, and stared off into the darkness. Completely at a lost on what to do.

It didn't take Pan long to figure out where Bulla was taking her to. But, it had been too late to protest and she knew turning on her heels and fleeing wasn't an option. So, Pan simply toughed it out and trailed into shop after shop that Bulla pulled her too. Each shop was always the same. Bulla would enthusiastically pick out some new, more flattering clothes for Pan. Who in return, would simply shrug her shoulders and state she didn't need any new clothes. Bulla, then, would roll her eyes and chuck the piece of clothing at Pan and demanded she try it on. So far, the two girls had visited four shops and Bull had already handpicked Pan a new wardrobe. One that was apparently more stylish that the "lousy and bland" one she had.

"I don't understand why you're buying all this," Pan said as she lugged around the decorative shopping bags while Bulla peered in a nearby shop window, "It's not like I'm going to wear any of this stuff."

Bulla quickly turned on her heels, "You will wear these clothes. Even if I have to pick out your outfit every morning!" She warned.

"But, I –

"Pan, you're going to be twenty-two soon and the only thing I've ever seen you wear is faded jeans and hooded sweatshirts. You have a killer body! And, it's time you showed it off!" Bulla gave a mischief smirk, "Besides," She waved her hand, "How's my dad supposed to know you like him, if you don't show some skin for him?"

Pan's face went blistering red. She didn't know how showing skin would send the message that she liked him and the idea wasn't all that appealing to her. It wasn't that she didn't think she had a flattering body, it was the fact that she just simply didn't care what she wore. She chose comfort over fashion and always had. Even when she was younger and wore that orange bandanna, red halter shirt, and jeans. It was somewhat stylish, but, more importantly it was comfy. Bulla didn't see things like that. She didn't care how painfully high a shoe was, or uncomfortable an outfit was – if it was stylish and flattering, you better beat your ass she was wearing it.

"I don't know how walking around in cut-off shorts and halters is going to work." Pan sighed. Although, she had to admit, out of all the stuff Bulla had bought those had been her favorite.

"I just wanted to boost your confidence," Bulla wrinkled her nose as she examined a very tacky purse, "And, what better what to boost your self-esteem than clothes that make you feel good? You can't tell me, you didn't feel just a tad bit sexy in those shorts and halter, because you sure looked sexy!" She winked.

"I guess." Pan worried her lip between her teeth. Bulla was right, of course – she always was. She had felt just somewhat more empowered when she looked in the mirror after slipping on those clothes and saw the young woman staring back at her.

"That settles it, when we get home, you can try on one of your new outfits while I drag dad down to the living room for a demanded movie night." Bulla smiled. 'Phase 1 of my plan is complete, now on to phase 2.' Bulla thought as she led Pan to another shop. 'After we stop at this last shop real fast.'

Another short chapter, sorry guys! I promise the next one will be longer and I will hopefully get to post it sooner than I did this one.

Thank you guys for the reviews and comments! :D Keep them coming.

-TheCosmicOwll