ArmyWife22079 – Sorry *Hides* I'm afraid I did it again hehe
LVR4Trunks-n-Vegeta – Ahhh all you questions will be answered soon. Some in this chapter :) Here ya go!
Violet Ace – You're welcome. And thanks! I hope to update as often as I can.
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msanimegeek– Pan and Gohan will come later hehe. Find out below! It's all good :P
famoso– Indeed! Thank you :) More on Goten and Bra below and Trunks' reaction! Pan and Gohan will talk soon hehe.
seoulandheart – You're welcome :) And thank you so much. Here ya go!
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KaitAstrophe95 – Thank you XD Yep she will. Poor Trunks lmao :P I couldn't agree more XD
Kasumi Michaelis – Here ya go!
Chapter 17
Goten checked his appearance reflecting off the glass doors as he waited for the lift to arrive. He felt like a teenager going out on his first date ever! Never had a female unnerved him as much as Bulla Briefs did. It excited and also petrified him all in one go. Every fibre inside of him sent up warning signals whenever she was around, heck even when he just thought about her. But, whenever he looked into the depths of her blue eyes, or witnessed that confident, seductive smile of hers, he couldn't help throwing all caution to the wind. She would definitely be his undoing…
She was a demanding little minx with a fiery personality. Yet, she was also sweet and caring. Intelligent and sophisticated. No doubt at first glance people took her for a bimbo who liked spending money, and could get whatever she wanted. But, there was so much more to Bulla Briefs than meets the eye. And, he had every intention of finding out!
###
He rapped his knuckles softly on the door before it swung open, revealing a very surprised young women. He knew where she'd be thanks to Trunks…
"Goten!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Well…" He averted his eyes, looking at the ceiling and then past her. "I was sort of passing through town, and I thought I'd stop by and say hi." He shrugged… "Hi…" He met her gaze and his chest thumped.
"Hi…" She fidgeted, not sure what to do or say. She had never before felt like a stammering idiot in front of the opposite sex.
"So, you busy. I can-"
"No! I'm just helping Trunks with some paperwork." She stepped back. "Come in… I'll just sign off a few more requests, the rest can wait."
"Are you sure?" He was already following her inside, though. "Won't your brother be angry with you?"
"I doubt it, if Pan keeps her end of the bargain that is…"
"Huh?"
"Oh, she was breaking some rather big news to Trunks this evening. Who knows? She's probably already told him…"
"What news." Goten was intrigued.
She smiled knowingly. "You'll find out soon."
"You're not going to tell me?" He pouted giving her his best puppy dog eyes.
She rolled her eyes and laughed boisterously. "How cliché! Never thought you'd be the type."
"Well, you have a lot to learn, Miss Briefs…"
"Hm…" She raised an eyebrow. "Well, Mr Son… This is one secret I can't forgo. I must admit, I am quite proud that I managed to keep my tongue tied for so long." She chuckled as she began looking over some documents.
"Something tells me I have a lot to learn, too." He sat in the chair on the opposite side of her desk.
"Indeed…" She looked up and winked.
###
"This place is huge!" Goten exclaimed as he walked beside Bulla while looking around the immense grounds, and large domed shaped building.
"You've been here before, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I have. Just to Trunks' place though. I never got the chance to look around." He rubbed the back of his head.
"This is my favourite place in the whole compound." Bulla led him down a pathway to a secret rose garden.
"I've never seen anything so beautiful! Other than you… that is." He muttered the last part, but she heard it all the same.
"My mother's pride and joy, other than me and Trunks of course. There's a rose named after each member of our family. Open spaces are for any additions. She waved her hand around and sneaked a glance at Goten's awed expression.
He stepped forward taking in every colour and scent. Heading for one of the strategically placed benches and sighed as he sat down… closing his eyes.
"I'm surrounded by blue and it feels so serene."
She sat down beside him. "You like it?"
"What's not to like, it's exquisite!" He whispered turning slightly to face her as she sat down beside him.
"What made you choose this bench?"
"A hunch… I guess."
"You know my mother is blue, too?"
"I know… but there is a distinct difference. When you look close enough."
She gasped. All her life, everyone she came across… even her own family, always compared her to the infamous Bulma Briefs. Always quick to point out their similarities…
"You really are Pan's family." She chuckled amused.
"Huh?"
"Nothing…" She shook her head and looked at him with a playful glint.
"Not nothing…"
"It's just… with my brother. She sees him, you know? Like you see me…"
He nodded in understanding. "I like what I see."
"As do I…"
"We can be good together, Bulla…" He took her hand in both of his.
"I don't know, Goten… I've never been in a serious relationship, and every time I came close to having one, I end up hurt."
"Do you think I would do that to you? If you do, I want you to know that I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you, or make you sad."
She searched his black eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and utter devotion. It scared her to think this man was willing to risk it all for her. He was laying his cards on the table without thinking of the outcome. At least that's what she thought he was doing.
"I've never been good at the long distance thing. I must tell you I'm very bad with communication."
He smiled and squeezed her hand. "I'm not asking you to make any changes for me. Where you lack I will be there to pick up and vice versa. This is as new to me as it is to you, Bulla. I must be honest when I say that I've been battling with indecision about what to do. And, it's only when I'm with you that I'm sure… As sure as I'll ever be that given time I can fall in love with you as I want you to fall in love with me. And, I am willing to do whatever I have to, to give it a chance."
Butterflies… And tingling nerves… She would risk it, too… for him… For the chance to love this amazing man, and to be loved just as equally. All her adult life she had been searching, and now she had finally found a reason to believe that fate wasn't just a myth.
###
She sat and waited as she watched different emotions crossing his face as he repeated the same phrases over and over. His eyes glued to the floor.
"Oh my stars!" He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe…
"Trunks…" She stood up and walked over to him touching his head, "Trunks, look at me." She traced her fingers down the side of his face, stopping under his chin and forcing his face upwards.
It was then that he saw reason, and he's eyes filled with unshed tears as the reality of it all came crashing down. He, Trunks Briefs was going to be a father, and the woman he loved more than life itself was giving him this precious gift.
"Are you okay?" She wasn't sure what to make of the situation."
"Yeah…" He choked and bit his lip.
She made to step back, but he stopped her, placing his hands on her hips and slowly brought his face towards her abdomen. He buried his nose in the soft fabric of her dress. He breathed heavily as his body started convulsing before the flood gates opened. She held him firmly as tears streamed down her own cheeks, feeling perplexed as she didn't know why he was reacting this way.
He squeezed her sides and nuzzled her belly. Before pulling away just enough to breathe easily and talk. "Hi baby, you don't know me yet, but I'm your dad. I love you so much, and I promise to be the best father I can be to you, and the best husband I can be to your precious mother. She doesn't know this, but this very minute she has made me the happiest man alive. Right now, I am bawling my eyes out and probably will until I meet you when you're born. Kami, I will probably still be sobbing when I see your face… My baby… My baby…." He looked up at her, his face a mess and his hair dishevelled. "Oh Pan… there are no words to fathom the extent of my happiness, or to describe my love for you right now."
"You okay with this… I know it wasn't planned, and I don't want you to think that I tricked-"
"Stop! He stood up and took her into his arms. "That is not what I am thinking. Okay I am a bit curious as to how?" He sniffed, trying to regain some of his composure. "Well, I know how… obviously. The how is oh so glorious!"
"Trunks!" She giggled pinching his back.
"He chuckled…
"You remember when I was sick and on antibiotics and we, you know? When I was feeling better…"
"Oh… that time when-"
"Yeah and you did the thing…"
"Mhmm…. And when we-"
"Yeah…" She blushed darkly.
"We so have to do that again!"
"Trunks!" She could feel him poking her.
"What! I can't help it…" he grinned, leaning back slightly, so he could look at her. So, because of the meds…"
"The pill was useless then, and the doctor never mentioned-"
"It doesn't matter! All that matters is that you… Wait! How long have you known? That was a while back." He narrowed his eyes.
"Promise you won't be upset… I found out 2 months ago… I was afraid to tell you. After that massive fight we had about getting married and my father…"
"Say no more… what's done is done and to be honest, nothing can kill this high I'm on right now."
"Is this what you want?"
"I want you and I want this baby…" He leaned down and captured her lips.
###
Trunks and Pan listened to the sound echoing throughout the room. Trunks felt a sense of pride swelling within him.
"I made that!" He smiled broadly.
"You must be so proud!" Pan rolled her eyes. He was ever the doting father to be.
"Shh…" The doctor hushed them and frowned as she concentrated.
Trunks and Pan whipped their heads towards her, and could feel the air being sucked out of the room.
"There. She pointed to the monitor. See there… two more… Camera shy aren't ya…? She chuckled. The heartbeats gave you away though…"
"Two more what?" Pan breathed her face losing colour.
"Two more embryos, Miss Son…"
Trunks looked at the doctor, and then at Pan before looking at the monitor. Repeating the process a few more times before passing out…
