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Chapter 6

A few days passed by since Pan's return from Planet Luud. Trunks avoided her by spending most of his time in the Gravity Room, training until he would collapse from exhaustion. A few hours later after one of those gruelling training regimes, Trunks woke up feeling groggy. He looked at the time, it was 3am. Even though they were deep in space, they kept to earth time on the ship for some form of normalcy. Goku was lying across the bed as usual with one foot on Trunks' chest. I wonder how Chi Chi puts up with his sleeping habits. Trunks moved the small Saiyans foot and got up. I'm starving.

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After finishing his meal, Trunks decided to watch a movie as he was now wide awake. About halfway through he heard a faint noise and decided to investigate. When he got to the lift he realised it was coming from the observation deck. I should get Goku to check on her. I don't want to risk being alone with her. He faltered for a few minutes and sighed. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to check if she's ok."

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She was lying on the bed right up against the wall with her head covered. If Trunks wanted to get her attention, he would have to climb on it and he preferred not to. "Pan…" He called out before realising she was crying in her sleep. Maybe I should get Goku. He turned to leave, but froze when she called out his name.

"Trunks…" Pan whispered. She was dreaming that she was a doll, calling out to Trunks and hoping he would save her. She didn't want Doltaki touching her. She wanted Trunks to get this mad man away from her, but he couldn't hear her and kept walking away until he faded into nothing…"Trunks, please don't leave me, I need you. Help me!" She sobbed.

This time he didn't hesitate, lifting the covers and getting in beside her. He held her in his arms. "Pan, wake up," He whispered, shaking her shoulder lightly. "I'm here Pan, wake up!"

She wrapped her arms around him her head resting on his chest. "Safe…Trunks…" She opened her eyes realising she was lying in Trunks arms.

He felt her relax and tried to move, but she tightened her hold on him.

"Please stay with me." She implored

"Pan, are you awake?"

"No…"she whispered. "Please don't go; I don't want to be alone."

Dende help me. "I'll go and get Goku; he can stay with you, ok?"

"No Trunks! please stay for a little while. I really missed you."

"I missed you too kiddo…"

"Did you just call me…kiddo?!" She sat up, glaring at him.

"Err…yeah I think it's kind of cute, don't you?" He moved his hands behind his head and smirked up at her.

"Cute! No I don't! I'm not a child Trunks! Why would you say that after…" she sighed dejectedly. "I think you should go! I changed my mind; I would like to be alone now." She gestured for him to leave.

"Don't get upset Pan, I think it suits you. Besides it's not that bad." He sat up on the edge of the bed.

"Call me whatever you want Trunks, I don't care! I wasn't a kid when you kissed me right? I was grown up enough for that! You could just come out and say what you really want to!"

"What do you mean? I never meant to kiss you, and the second time you asked me, then told me to forget about it!"

She bit her lip. I knew I never stood a chance with him. He'll never love me; I'll always be a child in his eyes. "Go! I really don't want to be around you right now!"

He sighed, "Pan…"

"No Trunks! You…urgh! I thought you were different. You were so sweet and considerate to me before. She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. "You told me you would explain what was happening between us! You could barely keep your hormones in check and now I'm a kid!? What changed in the time I was away huh?"

"Nothing changed Pan, it was nothing ok!" he lied. "I had a lot of time to think, and I realised that what I was doing is wrong. I have a reputation to protect and being seen with you like that would just be career suicide!" Dende, I can't believe I'm doing this to her. "I don't want you asking me for such things again, what's done is done. Forget about it, from here on out we move on and you will listen to me because we can't always be worrying about what you're going to do next! I'm tired of having to deal with your childish ways, that's why you were not supposed to be on this mission!"

"You're such a jerk! Get out and don't ever speak to me again!" she sobbed "I can't believe you! How could you! Get out!' she screeched, slapping him.

He stood up, rubbing his cheek. "Did you just smack me?!"

"What's with all the commotion?" Goku asked entering the room. "Are you ok Pan? Trunks what's going on?"

"Ask her!" Trunks replied glowering at Pan before walking out, leaving a stunned Goku behind.

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What in Dende's name…Goku looked perplexed. "Pan!?"

"He's such an ass Grandpa! When I was on Planet Luud all I thought about was him, and that he wouldn't give up until I was safe. It kept me going! It prevented me from breaking down when that freak Doltaki turned me into a doll." She sat on the bed with her head in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Now he's literally telling me I'm a child, who should know her place and behave or be sent to the naughty corner!"

Goku chuckled and sat down next to her.

"It's not funny Grandpa!"

"I know, I know." He has a lot to deal with Pan. His stressed out, and he was really worried about you. He's having a rough time on this mission." Goku wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Give him some time ok, I'm sure he never meant what he said."

"He can take all the time he needs, because I'm not speaking to him. He called me kiddo!" She fumed. "I mean seriously!"

Goku burst out laughing. I guess he doesn't need my help after all. He's doing fine on his own by sticking his foot in his mouth.

"What's so funny?"

"I thought t-that he w-would know b-better t-than to c-call you…" he looked at Pan and cracked up again…"K-k-kidooooo!"

"Yeah you would think," she pointed her nose in the air, folding her arms over her chest. "He deserved to be slapped!"

"You slapped him! I'll see you later ok." Goku was still laughing as he left. "She slapped him!" Maybe I should take notes for Vegeta…now that should be fun…

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Trunks sat on the bridge looking out at the stars. He wasn't tired and had nothing else to do, his cheek was stinging. "She really slapped me with Saiyan strength. I must've hit a nerve." He massaged his cheek with his fingertips.

"You sure did," Goku sat down in one of the vacant seats behind Trunks.

"I can't do this anymore Goku." Trunks slumped down further in his chair. "If I'm not worried about her taking off unsupervised, then I'm worried about what will transpire next between us, especially now that I know how she feels about me.

"Did she tell you how she feels? Is that why she slapped you when you called her a kid?"

"N-no she didn't tell me, well not in so many words. It's just a suspicion."

"I hope you manage to sort this out! She is very upset with you. The reason she stowed away was to prove she's not a child, and you hurt her feelings when you called her 'kiddo', especially after you shared such intimate moments with her.

"Yeah I know, I'll go apologise after she calms down a bit."

"Good luck…"

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"I'm so thirsty…" Pan dragged her feet along the hot sand as she was too weak to fly. I have to keep going. I will prove to them that I should stay. I can't believe Trunks still wants me to go home! "We should get Goten, we could use his strength and Pan can go home where it's safe," she mimicked Trunks. Sometimes I wonder why I love that jerk when he doesn't even care about me!

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"Where do you think she could be Goku? We don't even know if she has enough water, it's so hot out there and with those Giant Antlions…What if she doesn't have enough energy to fight them off and where's Giru?!"

"Calm down Trunks, let's go look for her ok," Goku was already levitating in the air.

"How can I be calm after the way I treated her and all the things I said! I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her."

"Well, don't just stand there feeling sorry for yourself! Put your shirt on and let's go!' Goku yelled, frustrated at Trunks' constant rambling.

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"We should reach Planet M-2 in about half a day. Well the systems are checked and my stomach is full, I think I'll go train for a while." Trunks informed Goku.

"Ok…"

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Trunks opened the door to the Gravity Room, staring at a very tired and sweaty Pan. "Oh, I didn't know you were down here. I thought you were in your room."

"I was bored and decided to train for a while, I'll see you later." She brushed past him walking toward the lift.

"Pan, wait!"

"Huh…" she turned around and he swept her up in a bone crushing hug, her feet were dangling in the air. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "What's this for?"

"I've missed you so much, ever since you disappeared on the Para Brothers ship! I'm sorry for acting like a jerk and for all the other things I said to you."

"It's ok Trunk. We all have our moments as long as you remember that I will slap you if you do it again!" She giggled. "I'm happy you decided I could stay, and I promise I will try to behave." She grinned while crossing her fingers behind his head.

He chuckled setting her down on her feet, still holding his hands at her sides. "Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes. "I will always be there to protect you, even with my own life." he whispered.

"Trunks, there's something I…" she bit her top lip, closing her eyes. "Trunks I l…"

"Shhh," He placed his thumb on her lips to silence her. "Please don't say anything."

"Why not, it's how I feel?"

"No you don't, you're confused and too young to know. Don't say it; you'll end up hurt and upset, I don't want to do that to you."

"What are you talking about Trunks?" she looked at him puzzled. "I was going to tell you that I like how you always look out for me and…"

"Oh…sorry I have a lot on my mind you know. I thought maybe because we…never mind, sorry." He let her go, walking over to the control panel.

Oh my Dende! Did he find my diary? Does he know? I would die if he knew how I felt. "Why would you think I was going to say something else?"

He turned to face her again. "Well I thought that after the kissing and all. That you were like, in love w-with m-me." He waved the statement off, a tint of pink across his nose and cheeks.

Pan laughed nervously. "Don't be silly Trunks, what do I know about Love?" Thank Dende he never found my diary!

"Yeah, I suppose I am being silly." He whispered looking down at his feet. I should watch what I say to her. The last thing I need is for her to know I read her most intimate thoughts. "I think I'm going to skip training, I'm not really in the mood."

"Ok…" she went to hug him again. "I'm glad we're ok now, I hate it when we fight."

Oh no, please…please not now! Her scent mixed with the salty smell of her sweat invading his senses. "Pan, let go…"

"Err I can't Trunks, you're holding me to tight!"

"Sorry… you go on up, I'll see you later." He released his hold on her, breathing heavily. She was about to leave when he spun her around crushing her lips with his. He bit her bottom lip, kissing her along her jaw. "Pan…I can't…oh Dende…Pan, I want you so bad." He trailed kisses along her neck before capturing her mouth hungrily."

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"Trunks, you need to stop now!' Goku yelled.

Trunks didn't respond and continued kissing Pan, a low purring sound emitting from his chest.

"That's enough!" Goku grabbed the back of Trunks' shirt, flinging him across the room. He landed against the side of the ship with a loud thud.

"Grandpa I, I…" Pan didn't know what to think all she wanted to do was run, but there was nowhere to hide on the ship.

"Trunks growled staring at Goku with venom in his eyes. "How dare you!"

"Snap out of it Trunks!" Goku steered Pan behind him. He's getting worse.

"I will fight you Goku! Let her go! She will be mine!" He growled, crouching into a fighting stance.

"I'm not going to fight you Trunks. You're not in your right mind at the moment. Pan go to your room, quickly." Goku instructed while keeping an eye on the sexually driven Saiyan. "I suggest you stay here until you've regained control of your senses Trunks! I'm going to lock you in here for now." Goku returned to the middle deck. Leaving a howling Trunks in the Gravity Room.