Hey everyone, back again with another chapter for you! Thanks again to everyone who reviewed so far and has continued reading! You're the best!! Anyways, you guys know the drill, this has been rated M for a reason so if this bothers you, please hit the back button now, everyone else, enjoy!
Vegeta paced back and forth in the hospital waiting room. All this waiting was driving him mad! All he wanted to know was if his mate and child were alright! Why wouldn't anyone give him any answers?
"Vegeta, you're wearing a hole in the floor."
Vegeta turned to look at Bulma who sat beside Yamcha and their son. It was funny, when his new mate was in trouble, it was his former wife he turned to for help. She had been the first person he called when they arrived at the hospital. Bulma had heard the genuine concern in his voice, which is why she had rushed to join him at the hospital. She had called the others on the way there from her cell. Even Gohan had shown up, his face twisted with worry. It was an emotion none of them had thought he could even feel after everything he had put her through. Everyone had made sure to keep Vegeta and Gohan as far away from one another as the small waiting room would allow.
Suddenly the doors to the waiting room opened and the doctor stepped in. The solemn looking old man approached Vegeta.
"Could I speak with you in private?"
A sudden thrum of energy rushed through everyone sitting there that set them all on edge. How bad could it be? It could not be a good sign if the doctor only wanted to talk to Vegeta. It suddenly made everyone fully realize the seriousness of the situation. Not only could Pan's life be in danger but so could the life of her child.
"What's happened to her?" Vegeta asked solemnly.
The doctor looked down at his chart, before looking Vegeta in the eye. Not a good sign.
"It appears your wife went into early labor. We aren't sure what set it off but we did manage to get it to stop. We've run several tests and the baby appears to be doing just fine."
"And my wife?"
"Fine also, but she's very shaken up by all of this. We will have to keep her here overnight for observation just to make sure it doesn't happen again. You can go in and see her but keep it brief and don't stress her out. You're lucky you got her here when you did, or you could have lost them both."
The doctor walked away, leaving Vegeta alone with his thoughts. When they had arrived at the hospital Pan had been in great pain and tears were running down her cheeks. In that moment he would have done anything to wipe that look from her face, if only she would stop crying. She had been so scared for their child, and Vegeta had lied to the doctors and said that she was his wife. In truth, that was the question he was hoping she would say yes to. He fingered the small velvet box in his pocket. He had purchased the ring long ago after their first night together. He had finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry him, when this happened.
Vegeta walked back out to the waiting room and all of their waiting friends.
"How is she Dad? Is she okay?" Bra asked, holding her baby boy close.
"She's fine. She went into early labor and they managed to stop it, but she has to stay here over night."
"Can we see her?"
Vegeta only nodded, following the mob of friends and family into Pan's room. He noticed Gohan was the only one who didn't move. Even now, he was still the coward. He couldn't even face his daughter. Vegeta smirked. He always knew Gohan was a wimp with a bad temper, but now, he was truly proving it. A part of him was glad he didn't go in. He knew how badly it would upset Pan, and she didn't need that kind of stress in her life.
It was past six by the time the others all left and Vegeta and Pan were finally left alone. Vegeta pulled a chair up next the bed and took her hand in his.
"How are you feeling my love, really?"
"Tired, scared, nervous….I don't know what I would have done if I had lost the baby…"
"You would have gone on to have more strong Saiyin children, that's what you would have done."
Pan turned to look Vegeta in the eye. Somehow, he had managed to say exactly what she wanted to hear. She counted herself lucky to have this wonderful, strong man in her life. She smiled at her mate, but it was a weak smile. Everything that had happened today had taken a toll on her. She had never been so scared in her life. Not even the threat of her father's beatings could make her more frightened than she had been today.
"I love you Pan," Vegeta said," I want you with me always."
At those words, Vegeta pulled his hand away from Pan's revealing the diamond engagement ring he had slid on her finger while they were talking. Pan's eyes went wide with unshed tears, and a deep joy that filled her heart.
"Marry me Pan. Be more than my mate and lover. Be my wife."
"Yes!"
Vegeta leaned over the bed and wrapped his arms around Pan. She had just made him the happiest man alive. He finally had everything he had ever longed for and never thought he would have. Their tender moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. Vegeta and Pan looked up to see Gohan standing in the doorway.
"Can I come in?"
Vegeta looked down at Pan who only nodded.
"I'll be right here if you need me," Vegeta whispered moving back by the door.
It was the most privacy he was willing to give the other man, after everything he had done to Pan. In Vegeta's mind, Gohan was still a threat to Pan and his child. But if Pan wanted to see her father, he couldn't stop her.
"How are you feeling?" Gohan asked.
"What do you want Dad?"
"I heard what happened, and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"To make sure I was okay? Or to see if I lost the baby?"
Gohan winced at those words. He had to admit, his anger had gotten the better of him that day that he demanded she get rid of Vegeta's child.
"I really did come to see if you were okay, and to say I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Gohan took a deep breath. There had been a lot of changes in the past months since he had last seen Pan. He would like to think he had changed for the good.
"I didn't come here to fight. A lot of things have been happening since you and Vegeta went off together. I realized that…I haven't been the best father to you since your mom died…that I've been taking a lot of things out on you that weren't your fault. I never meant for things to turn out like this Pan. I never meant to become this monster….I've been going to counseling, and anger management…I don't want to lose you."
"It's a little late for that now Dad. You should have thought about that kind of stuff before you were beating the life out of me. Before you tried to rape me!"
The words hit home as hard as Pan wanted them to. She wanted him to know how much he had hurt her over the years.
"I am so sorry Pan. I don't know what else to say or do to get you to understand how sorry I am. I'm sorry I beat you. I'm sorry I was such a lousy father. And I'm sorry you almost lost the baby. But most of all, I'm sorry I'm losing my little girl."
"I think that's the problem Dad. I'm not a little girl. I'm a grown woman who's having a baby, and you can't seem to understand that…"
"You don't forgive me then?"
"I forgive you Dad, I just….I don't trust you. It's going to be a long time before things are okay between us. You have to accept that I'm not a little girl anymore, and that I am capable of making my own decisions."
"Will you at least come home?"
"I have a home, Dad."
"Right. With him."
"That's the other thing Dad, Vegeta and I are getting married, so if this is going to have any hope of working, you need to show him some respect."
From his spot by the door Vegeta smiled. He was so proud of the woman his mate had become. She was so much stronger than she had been when all this first started. Suddenly Pan let out a scream of pain, and all the monitors around her began going off.
Want to know what happens? Come on back for the next chapter! Thanks for reading so far and don't forget to review!! Please be kind!!