Disclaimer: ummm... yeah, still don't own them. I do own the characters Kai and Sayo. That's something, right?


Chapter Five: Haunting Regrets

"Mommy, I want food." Sayo's voice broke through the morning silence. Pan turned from the windows to look at the little boy standing in the doorway. Hair twisted this was and that, left cheek pink and creased, one hand rubbing his eyes while the other carried his stuffed pet, he was the perfect picture of pure innocence.

A small smile playing on her lips, she stepped forward to hug her child. "I'll get breakfast ready and you go wake Kai up from bed, alright?" At his nod, Pan continued. "What do you want, love?" Placing him back down on the floor with a gentle kiss to the top of his head, she watched as he ran from the room.

"Pancakes and bacon and cereal!" was all he said before disappearing up the stairs.

Heaving a heavy sigh, the young woman made her way towards the kitchen, lost in her taunting thoughts once again.


'She's back. After five years, she's finally home… and my child. I missed five years of my child's life. How could she?' Anger flared for a moment before his conscience kicked in and mocked him.

'You were the one who didn't want her or the child. You turned you back on them when they needed you… when she needed you. She left because… because there was nothing else left for her here. She was pregnant, sixteen, and her family and friends had abandoned her because she refused to abort. What did you ever do for her?'

'I… I loved her.'

'Loved her? Ha! What a load of crap coming from you, Briefs. What a load of crap? You didn't love her. You wanted her. There's a difference between love and lust. You apparently can't tell them apart. You lusted after her. And once you had a taste of her, you dumped her faster than you could blink. You dropped her as if she was a toy that you'd gotten tired of. That's not love.'

'That's not true. I did love her. I've loved her even before I slept with her.'

'Keep telling yourself that, loverboy, if it makes you sleep easier at night. You and I both know it's nothing but lies.'

'It's not lies. I truly did love her.'

'Then why'd you fail her when she needed you the most? Why were you silent during her pleas… her cries? How could you have stood there, watched as each and every person she had loved penalize her and turn their backs. How could you say that you love her if you couldn't even admit it all those times she had asked you? And how could you let her leave when you knew you had her… especially if you love her?'

'…'

'That's what I thought.'

'Aren't you suppose to be helping me?'

'I am. You're just too stupid to realize it.'

'Why am I listening to you?'

'Because you know I'm right. And had you listened to me back then, you might have been happy with the one your heart currently yearns for, the one it's been yearning for all this time. Probably even married with more kids on the way. But noooo…. You didn't want the baggage that came with her at that time. A baggage you helped create, if I may remind you.'

And with that comment, Trunks fell silent once more.


'Was I wrong to shun her the way I did? Was I wrong when I stood by and supported the ultimatum that force her away for five years?'

'Was it worth losing your only daughter for your decision? Was it worth not knowing the precious child she carried?"

'I just wanted what I knew was best for her.'

'And in turn, you all let her believe that she was on her own. You gave her the choice between her family and her child's life. You didn't do what you knew was best for your daughter; you did what you thought to be the best because you're the adult and she's the child. What none of you ever realized was the she was never a child to begin with.'

'She was too young to have a child by herself!'

'And had you stood by her side, she never would've been by herself!'

'…'

'Look how well she turned out! If you had been by her side, you could've helped her along this path. Made things easier for her inside of harder. But no, you all just had to be right even if you're wrong.'

'But…'

'But nothing! You didn't see that she wanted the child, that she'd fight to see it through. That child was created out of love and he was raised out of love. There was no way she was going to kill it. You knew that when you set the ultimatum. You should've known that she would never condone to killing an innocent if she could prevent it. But apparently you didn't know your daughter well enough.'

'Was I wrong?'

'Was it worth it?'

'… no, it wasn't.' came the soft reply and it echoed hauntingly in the quiet room, almost mockingly.

'I didn't think so…' was the last taunt before falling silent and leaving Videl Son to contemplate in regret.


'My best friend… she was my best friend and I abandoned her at her tie of need. What kind of friend am I?'

'Very good question. What kind of friend are you? She's stuck by your side through thick and thing, hell and high waters, and at the first hint of trouble, you went against her.'

'I didn't mean to. It's just that… she's… she was too young to have a kid. And with my brother!'

'What were you mad at her about? The fact that she got 'knocked up' young or that she got 'knocked up' first? That she found love when you were still looking for it? Or that she achieved what she wanted, no matter how short a time period?'

'I was never mad at her!'

'Then why did you abandon her all those years ago?'

'Because… because she was leaving me behind!'

'You failed her because you thought she was leaving you behind? Well, guess what? You pushed her away in your fear of being left behind! You made the fear a reality! She never would've left you behind no matter what happened and you know it! You made her feel cheap and insignificant because you were jealous of her!'

'No, I wasn't!'

'Yes, you were. You always were! You got the boys because of your looks; she because of her personality. And when she got pregnant, you saw her faults and you ran with it. It gave you the chance to point out her faults and you did! You let one mistake override her entire worth.'

'Fine! Yes, I was jealous! But that didn't mean I didn't love her. I did! I loved her like a sister!'

'Oh yes…you loved her… just not enough.'

"I'm sorry… so sorry…" was the chant sobbed as Bra Briefs buried her head within the confines of her pillow.


A.N.: And that's all folks… for now at least. I'm going to have to rethink where exactly I want this story to go because, right now, I have absolutely no idea where it's heading. I seem to have lost sight of the direction about two chapters ago. So bear with me just a while longer as I try to find the muse that began this fiction with me. Thank you all for reading.

P.S.: shh... the new story I'm currently working on should have a tiny preview coming up shortly... just between you and me... lol