Disclaimer. I do not own any of the Dragon Ball characters nor the series.

CHAPTER TWO. THE TRIP.

Last time in "Surprise".

The door of the control's room slammed open and Trunks ran into the room. "Pan!"

She jumped on the chair and turned her head around, looking at Trunks in surprise. "Trunks!"

He smirked crossing his arms over his chest. "Surprise!"

He ran to the control panel but she pulled out the key, putting it into her top. He cursed and grabbed her shoulders looking at her top, and then he blushed. "Give me that key, Pan!"

She struggled in his grip and blushed following his gaze. "You wouldn't dare…"

He blushed even more. "Of course not."

The ship blasted off sending Trunks to the other side of the room. He stood up rubbing his head. "Are you crazy, Pan? We are getting back to CC now!"

She paled for a moment and shook her head, placing her hand over her chest.

He narrowed his eyes and walked to her, but another shaking made him sat down in the other chair. "This is another one of your whims, Pan! You don't know what you are doing. Give me the key 'cause I don't want to break the lid of the panel. My mom just improved the ship and you surely know I DO know how to pilot a ship without a key. Even if it's dangerous or hard, I'm sure I'll do it… so, you don't have a choice!"

She frowned. "You are not stopping me, Trunks. I want my grandpa back. You should be ashamed! You were supposed to help me! Don't you want him back?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Of course I want him back! Don't be silly, but you can't do this alone!"

She crossed her arms stubbornly. "You are here, aren't you?"

He tightened his lips. "But I'm not planning to stay. I have many things to do at CC. As soon as the ship leave the atmosphere I'm going to fix this to return to Earth!"

She looked at him angrily. "If you don't want to be here, fine, but you don't have the right to make ME return. I'm not a teenager any more!"

He frowned even more. "You act like one, Pan, so I'm treating you like one until you act like an adult, which I don't think you are."

She smirked. "What if your theory fails? What if you are wrong?"

He smirked back. "Then, I'll have to use that key."

She blushed, pressing a hand to her chest. "Never."

He blushed and turned his head to the side. "Don't worry. You'll give it to me."

WEB OF LIES.

Bulma woke up to the sound of the ship and swung her legs to the side of the bed, grabbing a robe in the way. She put the robe on quickly. Vegeta wasn't there so she guessed he would be by the space ship.

She tripped with her shoes in her way out the room and cursed out loud, rubbing her toe, and then she ran downstairs headed to the spaceship.

Vegeta was there, leaning on a wall with his arms crossed and a big smirk on his face.

She gritted her teeth glaring at him. "You could have waited for me!"

He raised his eyebrows at her and chuckled. "If I have done that I wouldn't have been able to see the ship leaving."

She opened her mouth in shock and turned her head around, looking frantically for the ship. "WHAT? Oh, shit!"

She looked at Vegeta and placed her hands on her hips. "What happened?"

He chuckled evilly and buried his eyes on her. "What do you think it happened? The brat left with the other brat! As if it was so hard to guess…"

She cursed out loud, muttering how inpatient and ungrateful were Goten and Pan to come in the middle of the night and take the ship. She walked to the yard, shooting daggers through her eyes and looked at the complex, yelling at the top of her lungs. "TRUNKS! Get your ass down here immediately!"

Vegeta followed her outside and laughed harder. "Don't be stupid, woman. The brat is not here. They left together."

She froze in her spot and turned around slowly. "What?"

Vegeta twisted his mouth, trying to control his laughter and looked at her mockedly. "Didn't I tell you the brad had left with the other brat?

She almost fainted and grabbed Vegeta's arm. "You m… mean that… Trunks went with them?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, holding her waist. "No… Only Trunks and Pan."

Bulma gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Th… they… again?"

Vegeta frowned. Was that impossible for her to understand? "YES! Again! What is what you don't understand?"

Bulma blinked, holding onto his arm, then she paled. "Oh my God!"

Soon everyone were at CC. Bulma was red with anger and embarrassment while Vegeta had fun looking at everyone's faces.

Goten had said it was a project and some models were going to be there for an advertisement shooting. Pan had told him that Vegeta wanted to go to Namek and he would take Bulma in a kind of honeymoon, but Bulma didn't know.

Pan had told Bulma that she and Goten were going to Namek to wish Goku back and she would tell her parents that she was in a camp and they will find her letter later.

Gohan was not red, but green of anger. She left a letter explaining she wanted to go to Namek alone and she would come back as soon as she could and she didn't want anyone going to Namek to bring her back.

Videl was all nervous and Chichi was hysterical. Vegeta was proud of the brat and her silly lies, but Bulma… she was angry, hurt, offended and disappointed. Pan had used her and not only that, she had lied to her just to do what she wanted to do.

Bulma even thought of building a remote to retrieve the ship, but when her parents reminded her of all the things she had done when she was younger, the anger disappeared. Right… she was younger than Pan she had travelled alone with Goku, and later with Yamcha, her ex- boyfriend. She had lied, tricked and manipulated everyone to get what she wanted. She couldn't blame Pan, nor judge her.

After the initial rage, Gohan sighed. Pan was like that… and she wasn't a child… she had done the same in the past… Probably it was better that she travelled with Trunks than alone, that if Bulma was right when she said that Trunks didn't plan to go… he hadn't packed a thing and he hadn't showed any interest in the space ship.

Probably everything was a trick that Pan had played on everyone but, why Trunks? Maybe something went wrong and Trunks ended in the space ship, or maybe he tried to stop her. After Goten' words that was the conclusion, as Goten mentioned that Trunks had asked him about a meeting with Pan. It seems Trunks didn't know the truth either.

THE TRIP.

They had spent all day arguing until their stomachs yelled for food. Pan didn't want to argue more, so she cooked dinner and both ate in silence. Trunks called CC lab and told Bulma what had really happened. To his surprise they weren't as angry as he had thought… with him at least. Gohan had talked to him begging that he protected his "little girl". Bulma insisted that she wasn't angry and she didn't have a problem with the trip but she would have a couple of words with Pan when they returned. Videl on the opposite told Trunks that in the first chance, he changed the route back to Earth.

Pan's parents and Bulma wanted to talk to her, but she had locked herself in the bathroom. Trunks knew she was just avoiding them.

Pan smirked while changing her clothes, if he wanted the key he would have to fight her. She slipped the control key inside her bra and then straightened her clothes. She walked out the bathroom when she heard Trunks saying Good bye.

She stepped in the kitchen and blinked. Trunks was wearing the same clothes, and then she bit her lip, he had nothing else with him. She sighed and sat down beside him. "Look, Trunks. I don't want to fight. I'm sorry you ended here but, I need to do this."

He looked at her and cleared his throat.

They talked for a while. He wasn't angry with her, he was just upset because she had played with his mind, she had told him a bunch of lies and she had won… until now.

She stood up and grabbed his hand, pulling softly. "You need to change, come on Trunks. Let' see what we can find."

He let her drag him to the bedroom. After a long time Trunks accepted some sweats and the training spandex Bulma had prepared for Goten, they were almost the same size after all. He would have to thank his mother for taking note of every single detail in her famous Things-to-do lists.

TIDYING UP THE SHIP.

She passed him hurriedly with a wet mop in her hand. "Move"

He looked at her in awe. Move? He wasn't 10 years old. Why the heck was she talking to him like that? "Excuse me?"

Pan ignored him and started cleaning.

Trunks opened his eyes wide. "Excuse me, Pan?"

She narrowed her eyes a bit while mopping the floor. "Fine, you are excused, now Move."

Trunks just couldn't believe it. He was going to complain when she hit his shoes with the mop. "Sorry. I'm in a hurry."

Trunks didn't know what was happening. He was confused, upset and finally he let out a chuckle. "Woa, Pan! Careful! Calm down, it's not lik…"

She placed her hands on her waist and interrupted him. "You know I like to live in a clean place."

He stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Live? We are not living here Pan. We live in Earth, remember? This is only a space ship. You don't need to clean everything, everyday!"

She narrowed her eyes. "Right. We are not living here, but this is gonna be my home for the next months and I want it clean."

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her intensely, and then he spoke slowly. "Pan… you are not going to live here… we are returning to Earth as soon as I…"

He trailed off looking at her chest, where she had the key.

She felt her ki rising in anger. She wasn't coming back to Earth until she found the Dragon balls. Her eyes followed his gaze and she raised a hand, pressing it against her chest. "I'm not going back until I wish my grandpa back. And you are not getting a hold in this key. Did you hear me?

He raised his eyebrows sceptically and walked forward.

Her legs moved against her will and she backed. Confidence had left her. She looked at his hands and then at her chest. "What are you doing?"

He smiled wickedly and stepped closer. "Nothing."

She held her breath and pressed her hand against her chest. "Stop, Trunks."

He arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Give me the key, Pan."

She turned around quickly, ready to run away but she bumped against the wall. "Shit."

Trunks moved fast and pressed her body against the wall as his arms rested on the wall, at both sides of her head. "You are trapped, Pan."

Somehow, his voice sounded hoarse and sexier than ever. She shivered, closing her eyes.

His mouth came closer to her ear and he whispered. "Give me the key, Pan."

She leaned against his body but when his words reached her mind her senses woke up and she threw her head back hitting his forehead. "No way!"

He pulled away raising his hand to his nose as she ran away. "Ouch."

He shook his head while he rubbed his nose. "Damn it. I knew it wouldn't be that easy."

STARVING.

Later that night, Pan was humming in the kitchen while cooking. Trunks walked in and sat down in a chair.

He looked at the pot. "I'm starving."

She smiled moving the food in the pot with a turner. "So am I"

His mouth watered and he grinned. "Looks delicious, Pan. I know you are as good as Chichi."

She pursued her lips together in a lopsided smile. "Yes, I am. She taught me, you know? And yes, this meat is delicious."

When she finished cooking, Trunks was desperate to eat. She poured all the food in one plate and sat down across from him. She smiled and started eating, while he opened his mouth in awe. "You aren't giving me any?"

She chewed happily. "Nope."

He frowned and stood up, walking to the fridge. "Greedy."

Her lips twisted again in a cocky smile. "Well, you refused to help me clean when I asked you… lazy"

He poured a can of pre-cooked meal in a pot and grabbed a spoon. "Lazy? I was tired! I was checking everything was fine in the ship!

She grinned. "Wasting your time, Trunks. Your mom checked everything."

He turned with the spoon still in his hand. "I see… this is some kind of punishment… you are vindictive, Pan… but you are going to pay for this."

She burst out laughing. "What? Is that a threat? Awwww be careful, Trunks. You could hurt me with that spoon."

He threw away the spoon and phased to the table, grabbing her arm before she could react. She yelled but it was too late because he already had thrown her over his shoulders.

She started kicking furiously. "Put me down, Trunks."

He chuckled while chewing. "mm… I can't… om nom nom… Pan, I'm busy…"

"Don't you dare to touch my food, Trunks"

"Too late…nom om nom… Pan."

She powered up but it was useless, because he powered up too. After eating half of her food he put her down and turned to the stove. "Don't worry. I will share MY food with you, Pan."

She gritted her teeth and threw the plate at his head, walking out the kitchen.

He chuckled picking up the plate, but he regretted it, knowing he was stronger than she was.

He opened the door softly and glanced at her. Her face was hidden under the blankets and her back was moving. He bit his lip. Was she crying? Fool, that's what he was… a fool. He came closer and sat down in the end of the bed. "Pan, I'm sorry."

She stopped moving and raised a hand, pulling down the blanket.

He looked at her in confusion. Her face was red, her eyes were bright, but no… she wasn't crying… he raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, trying not to laugh, but he noticed and pulled the blankets down. "What are you doing?"

He took her by surprise and she tried to hide his spandex. "Nothing!"

His eyes popped out and he snatched his spandex. He looked in horror at the words written in the back of his spandex… "WHAT?"

She covered her mouth trying to hide her big grin. "What are you talking about?"

He stretched his hand showing the spandex. "This! Why did u write this?"

She awed and smiled. "Because it's the truth, Trunks. You are a jerk"

He turned around, throwing the spandex on the bed. "I didn't hear that. This is just a nightmare.,, I'm not here with this kid."

She opened her mouth in a big O. Kid? Nightmare? She wasn't a kid. Then she turned around and started crying while her hands squeezed the pillow. She was going to prove him wrong.

TWO WEEKS LATER.

Trunks sighed, even with Saiyan technology it was a long trip and Pan refused to give him the key. She had changed, emotionally and physically. She had grown up but she still was childish, adventurous, romantic, even if she didn't admit it… emotive, stubborn, caring, temperamental and spontaneous… God… hadn't she realised she was too old to be jumping over him like she did in the old times? He shook his head… no, she hadn't.

He shook his head again… but he had… He dismissed his thoughts sipping an orange juice and trying to focus again in the notes his mother had given him.

The spaceship had reached Namek in just 6 days, but New Namek was so far away, not even Goku had sensed the Namekians Ki. He had to ask for help, and once with the location of the sector he had sensed them.

His mother had a theory where it was thanks to Goku. As soon as he had returned she had questioned about the location, the sector and the close galaxies. His mother had done a great job adding new technology to the space ship; it had the best human technology and the advanced saiyan reactor with combined equipment, allowing the ship to be fast and resistant.

Vegeta had recommended that it would be wise to improve the ship adding a regeneration tank and the capability to set the autopilot back to earth with cryogenic – sleep in tanks.

The space ship was big and his grandfather had increased the power of the gravity chamber to 800 when it was 100 originally and 500 at home. The main room was in this storey too. Downstairs, in the first floor was the improved bedroom, with twins bed instead of the original single, so they would have room for four places, in case they would come back with Goku or someone else.

The bedroom had an attached bathroom. The kitchen had a huge fridge, stove, oven and a counter. The shelves were full of capsules with food. His mother had storage more, knowing in the first trip Goku ran out of food and now it would be three saiyans to feed. She improved the solar cells in the ship so it would have more power than the original design.

PLAIN TRUTH

Pan laid down on the bed, she still had a big crush on Trunks, but he didn't know it or maybe he wanted to ignore it. He seemed shy, but she didn't know why. Trunks had been calling Bulma in the last few days, still concerned about CC.

She sighed. Here she was, in the space, alone with the most handsome and great man in the universe and she still didn't know what to do… should she try something?

She thought she had moved on, but spending all day near him proved her wrong. She still liked him. She didn't know when it had started, but she had a slight idea… and it had been a long time ago, when she was a child.

As the years went by, she got over it and moved on, although she always thought he was the most handsome man on Earth, and the strongest too… besides h er father and her grandfather.

When she grew up she tried to date some boys, not as handsome as Trunks, but nice and good looking. Back then, she felt like a looser. Boys never asked her out more than once and it was because they were afraid of her strength; and then she saw him again and travelled with him and her grandpa to space.

She loved adventures and she wanted to go to space, and she did… A year later she ended with a big crush on Trunks and a broken heart. The adventure was over, her grandpa had left with Shen-Long and Trunks simply disappeared and buried himself in his office.

It took her two years to get over her grandfather's absence and a bit more to move on. She was convinced Trunks was just a crush, an infatuation. She started dating again, but soon she understood it was useless. The story was repeating itself… over and over… and no one asked her out more than once. One day she stopped crying and decided she wouldn't cry over a boy again.

Shit… what a curse… just when she thought everything was fine she had to steal a spaceship and get into some space crazyness… with no other than Trunks.

Damn… everything was a lie, the plain truth was that she didn't get over Trunks. A couple of weeks alone with him and she was over heels for him again… crazy in love… She was sick of it, maybe she needed to get it out of her chest. She could always tell him…

She shook her head slowly, wishing her Grandpa or Dende could help her. If she just knew what to do…. Maybe they could send a signal or a message but, how would she know what the signal was and its meaning?

LET'S TALK ABOUT CRUSHES.

He laid down on the bed in front of her and put his arms behind his head. "Are you worried, Pan?"

She smiled softly and nodded her head.

He narrowed his eyes a bit, turning onto his side. "Why?"

She shrugged and shook her head. "You wouldn't understand it."

He buried his gaze on her face and straightened a bit, bending his arm, so his elbow was on the mattress and his head on his hand. "Maybe I would. Tell me, what's worrying you?"

She glanced at him, blushed and returned her gaze to the pillow she was holding. "Just… someone I like… that's all"

He raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Oh… I see… you have a crush."

She gritted her teeth. "Yes and so what? I knew you wouldn't understand."

He chuckled. She had grown up, absolutely. "Aw come on, Pan. I understand. Let's talk about crushes… tell me."

She glared at him in silence.

She looked at him pouting and chuckled, pulling her legs up. "I wish… but no, he is just a… friend."

He nodded and waited some seconds, still in thought to reply. "Does he know you like him?"

She chocked in her breath and started coughing. After some seconds, when she remembered what was happening, she laughed. "Of course not! I wouldn't let him know!"

He chuckled again, amused at her childish behaviour. "Why not? Maybe he likes you too."

She shook her head, breathing deeply. "No. I don't have a chance with him."

He straightened to a sitting position and crossed his legs, Indian style. "Of course you do, Pan. You are a great girl! I mean, if that's because you are strong then he is not worthy of your attention, not even mentioning your love."

She smiled bitterly. "It's not that… he's the only one that… I mean, he only sees me as a friend."

He raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's time you start acting more… um… let' say it's time you show him you care about him."

She rolled onto her stomach and began playing with the pillow. "No, I don't think so. He would just laugh."

He twisted his lip to the side, annoyed about Pan bashing herself. "Well, if he laughs you will have to erase the smile, kicking his butt."

She laughed and turned her head to the side, to look at him. "What if I tell you it's you? I would need to kick your butt too… What would you do?"

He burst out laughing. "Then, you wouldn't have a chance to kick my butt, Pan"

She forced a smile and asked again. "What would you do?"

He chuckled, moving his hair out of his forehead. "What would I do? Kick yours first, of course! Ha ha ha"

She gritted her teeth. "I mean what would you do if I tell you it's you?"

He blushed and stared at her in shock, and then gulped. "Me? Are you serious, Pan?"

She frowned and started tapping her fingers on the pillow. "Yes, you."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I think you are confused, Pan. I mean we are friends… I'm older than…"

She stretched up her hand and cut him off. "STOP!"

Then, she shook her head. "See? You rejected me… politely, of course. I told you that would happen."

He blushed deeper. Was she serious or it was just a test? Maybe it was just a comparison… "I didn't reject you. I just wanted to be sure you weren't confused."

She tightened her lips. Fine, she could always say it was just to prove him wrong. "Now that you are NOT confused… What do you say? Do you want to be my boyfriend or not? I want an answer."

He held his breath. Was she serious? "Look, Pan. I… don't know what you want. I don't even know what I want, it wouldn't be fair to…"

She cut him off with a yell. "I knew it! You rejected me again!"

He struggled with his own words, stammering as he forced the words out of his mouth. "No! I mean, who would reject you? It's just that…"

She swung her legs off the bed and buried her eyes in his. "Yes or No, Trunks?"

He lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry, Pan. I can't."

She held back her tears and stood up quickly, turning her back to him. "See? That's what would happen if I told him."

He released a breath of relief and stood up, walking forward and stopping just behind her. "Wait, Pan. This is just my answer, you don't know what he would say."

She shook her head. Damn tears… she had to control her emotions. "He wouldn't accept even a kiss, Trunks."

He bit his lip. He didn't want her to be sad. He grabbed her shoulders softly. "That's not true, Pan. No one says no to a kiss."

She turned around violently and held his gaze. "No?"

He smiled softly, caressing her cheek. "Of course not."

She lifted her chin and looked at him defiantly. "Then kiss me."

He stared at her in awe. Had he heard THAT? His upper lip started trembling. "Look, Pan. If this is a joke, I think it's time to cut it off. I'm trying to tell you that everything's going to be fine, but honestly, you are confusing me."

She frowned, crossing her arms. "I'm trying to prove how wrong you are, Trunks. I knew that was a lie."

She turned around ready to leave, but he turner her around roughly and crashed his lips on hers in a long closed mouthed kiss.

She gasped in shock, closing her mouth slightly. His eyes were closed and she couldn't help to close her eyes too.

After a few seconds, he pulled away blushing. "I'm right, Pan. No one would reject a kiss."

She frowned and stepped back, crossing his face with her hand. "I can't believe you kissed me just to prove your point!"

He let go of her and raised his hand to the offended cheek. She had hit him with saiyan strength. His eyes wide and his mouth opened in a big O. "I'm … sorry… I shouldn't have kissed you… I… I… Just thought… I'm sorry… it's just you…"

She groaned, pushing him away. "I'm not offended because you kissed me. Don't be silly! I'm offended because you did it only to prove me wrong. I mean, you didn't want to! You forced yourself!"

He rubbed his cheek, not knowing what to do but regretting the kiss. He looked at her frame walking away and he moved quickly. It was a reflex, he stepped in front of her. "I didn't force myself, Pan. I did it because I… I… I didn't think about it, I don't know why. You asked me to and I just… did it."

Her eyes watered and she avoided his gaze.

He cursed himself in silence and balled his fists. "I would do it again, Pan. It's not like you… it's not like you would be kissed only if you asked for it."

She blinked. Her eyes had watered but no tear had escaped. "If what you are saying it's the truth I want you to prove me wrong on that. Kiss me again, but do it like you want to."

He hesitated for a minute…

To be continued.

Author notes.

Thank you so much for your reviews: Trupan, Alexei girl, DragonBallZ reviewer, Saiyan hope, The-last-saiyan1991 and Mirai Vegeta. I'm thankful you took the time to write and I appreciate your comments.