Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of the characters in this story.

A/N: Hello Everybody! Sorry for the LONG delay, I had computer problems and had to save the money up to repair everything, but I'm back! I just want to thank you so much for not giving up on me and thank you so much for your support!

The Morning After

Waking up the next morning was like coming out of a dream. I nestled myself deeper into my pillow and closed my eyes, recalling the events from the past twelve hours. Once the photographers were satisfied with their shots, I was more than relieved to drag Trunks away from them and back into the main hall. We goofed around on the dance floor, trying to stay hidden from Jezelyn in the middle of the crowd. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end; she found us after the third dance. I persuaded her that we had been searching for her and thought she might be dancing, then left them to mingle the rest of the night. As much as it hurt to leave his side, I didn't want to be the cause of her starting rumors and badmouthing his name and his family's company.

Now I began my search for Bra. I hadn't seen her since the photo shoot. She had slapped on her fake smile and put on a show for the press as she was always expected to, but afterwards she kept her head low as she got away as fast as she could. Ugh I was such a bad friend. I should have been at her side to help her out with whatever was on her mind. She was nowhere in the ball room, that was for sure. I headed through the back door to get some fresh air, after a while the room left a salty taste in your mouth. I leaned against the stucco building and inhaled deeply, holding it as I heard familiar voices nearby.

"I don't want to talk about it right now, I can't exactly see straight and I'm really pissed off. Just go, Bra."

Uh-oh. That was definitely Goten, although it's rare for him to use that tone since he never really gets upset. Her response was just a few sniffles. I cringed as I heard her fight back a sob. I peeked around the corner and watched Goten walk into the parking lot and get into his truck which Valese was driving. At least he had a designated driver. Once they drove off I took my spot at her side and held her close. She spent the night at my house and we talked for hours. Topic: Roy Stevens. She confessed to the drugs and the oral sex that took place in order for her to get the drugs.

"I was addicted," she sobbed into her pillow. "I couldn't stop."

I was in absolute awe. Had I been so absorbed in my own petty problems that I didn't even notice my best friend was being sexually abused and was addicted to drugs? She then went on to tell me how lonely her childhood was. Sure she had every luxury a king could ask for and nannies to care for her, "But when you're seven years old with scrapes on your knees, all you really want is your mom or your dad to kiss it and tell you it'll get better. Not some damn nanny who scolds you for getting tears on your new dress." She said sourly. Apparently Roy and her grew up with the some pain, with little attention from the people they loved most. That's what made her so attached to him. Bra, I'm so sorry.

Now I laid in my bed, staring at Bra as if she was proof that everything had actually happened and it wasn't a dream. Her face looked so tired and puffy, I wanted to do anything I could to make her happy again. I eased out of my bed and tiptoed out of my room and downstairs into the kitchen. After fifteen minutes I whipped up a pretty nifty breakfast, if I may say so myself. Ham and eggs, one of Bra's favorites, crescent rolls, and hash browns.

"Why is my brother texting you?"

A fork fell to the floor as my heart leaped into my chest. "Bra you can't walk into a quiet room when I'm focusing! Damn, scared the hell out of me!"

She snorted a laugh and tossed me my phone, tucking her hands into the front pocket of a sweater she must've taken from my closet. Her hair was up in a messy bun with her bangs all over the place. "What's this?"

"It's for you, now sit down and eat."

She grinned. "What? Pan Son cooks? Hm maybe I don't want to eat this..." She sat down and hesitantly took a bite. "Mm... Pretty good Pan-chan. Not bad, not bad."

"Who died and made you a critic?" I took a seat next to her and took a bite. "Mm I should cook more often." She chuckled at my vanity.

"Aren't you gonna read it?" She eyed me teasingly after a few bites.

She must've noticed me shuffling my phone between my fingers on the table. Funny, it didn't say I had a new message... "What did it say, Bra?" I exhaled, obviously she had read it.

"He wants you to call him when you wake up." A grin spread on her face as she watched a faint blush redden my cheeks as I tried to fight back a smile. "Call him!"

Ugh I couldn't do it anymore. I smiled as I pulled away from the table and had my ear to the phone as I walked out of the kitchen for privacy.

"Whoa, you actually wake up this early?" Trunks' way of saying hello apparently.

I glanced over to the grandfather clock near the front door. "It's nine o'clock. You think I'm some slob that sleeps all day?"

"I know you're a slob that sleeps all day."

"Haha chuckle all you want. I woke up and made your sister breakfast, I swear to God Trunks, if you joke about my cooking-"

"Easy easy, cooking jokes are out, there. Speaking of Bra, what the hell is going on with her?"

Uh-oh. Wasn't expecting that question. "She... she had a fling with Roy that ended badly." The scene from the night before replayed in my head. "Very badly."

"Na, don't give me that shit, Pan. You're her best friend I know you know everything."

"And because I'm her best friend I'm entitled to keeping all private information confidential."

"And because you're my girlfriend I'm entitled to knowing all confidential information."

My body froze at that statement. "Girlfriend? Um I don't remember you asking me to be your girlfriend." It was undeniable that my heart was fleeting at those words. He could probably tell that I had a huge stupid grin on my face.

"Ah shit." I heard him murmur to himself.

"And you can't do it over the phone, even you know how lame that is." I found myself doing laundry while talking to him. Odd how your body functions by itself while your head is in the clouds.

I had a feeling he had some evil smirk on his face now. "Fine. You just wait. And I don't want to here no shit from you when I do it, regardless of who's around."

A knot tightened in my throat. "Damn it, Trunks, never mind I don't want to be your girlfriend!"

He chuckled. "You're not getting off that easy. Bye, Pan." He crooned, taunting me.

***

Last night couldn't have turned out better. I sealed the deal with some of my mother's clients and, best of all, I got the girl of my dreams. Actually, according to her, I don't have her yet. But close enough. One thing that still bothered me though was that scene with Roy and Goten, and what the hell did Bra have to do with it? Roy and Goten stopped talking years ago, at least I think so, and Bra only knew him because she hung out with us during my senior year in high school. And, come to think of it, I still didn't get my kiss. Okay so last night could have turned out better.

It's only nine thirty in the morning and my head already hurts from thinking too much. I laid back down into my old bed at my parents house, tossing my phone from palm to palm. Bra went to Pan's last night which meant she most likely spilled her heart out to her. Pan knows what's going on and won't tell me until I make it official. Well, guess there's only one thing left to do.

***

"Ah, damn it." Numerous versions of him asking me to be his girlfriend began to play out in my head, each one ending in my dad having a heart attack, figuratively speaking of course. I shut the dryer door and re-entered the kitchen. Bra looked up at me, a curious smile playing on her lips. I pretended not to notice by grooving to a song as I sat down at the table.

"Yes!" She just about screamed with joy.

"Yes what?!"

"Pan, you never 'dance', and I use the term loosely, unless you're in a good mood."

"I wasn't even dancing..."

"A-a-a. It's all the same. Congrats sister-in-law." I must've looked like someone watching a train coming head-on. Sister-in-law? "Calm down, Pan, I was kidding."

Bra and I spent most of the day together by helping my mom out in the garden. Since it was getting cold we helped her put bark and other protective barriers on plants that needed it before they froze to death. After a take-out dinner my mom had bought to thank us, my dad took her home.

"Bye, Bra!" I shouted out the window, pursing my lips and blowing a kiss. She caught it and blew one back. As she reached the front door, someone pushed it open. I stifled a giggle in my chest as she was nearly hit by it. I just about choked on the giggle as Trunks came running out to us. My whole body stiffened as he ran around to my dad's window, relaxing his arms on the door. There is no way in hell he'd be crazy enough to ask me right now. I swear my face should have turned blue, I couldn't breathe.

"Hi, Pan." He waved boyishly to me, like we were still kids. "Here you go, Gohan. Mom says the basic plans are in here," he handed my dad a manila envelope, "And the shipping information is in here."

I slowly began to breathe again. My dad builds stuff for Capsule Corp. He's a freaking genius. This was just a normal business transaction, Pan, calm down. Phew. While my dad reached towards the back seat to put the stuff away, Trunks' eyes locked with mine and he gave me the sexiest fucking look I think I've ever seen. He chomped his gum slowly and gave me a sly smile as if he knew just how freaked out I was. I knew I was blushing, damn my white skin! I rolled my eyes at him and smiled, looking out my window to calm myself down. I don't know how I've managed to stay away from him for this long. They said their farewells and we pulled out from their driveway.

I didn't see Trunks at all for the next few days. Instead, he just texted me randomly throughout the day about random stuff.

It was now Friday night, Christmas Eve. My dad went out of his way again and bought an enormous tree for our living room. My mother and I spent days on that thing trying to make the decorations look perfect. Finally, we were down to the last ornament, apparently one that I had made years ago in pre-school.

"Mom, I think normal parents burn this stuff."

"But Pan it's so cute. Santa definitely liked it. That was the year he bought you your teeball kit, remember?"

I gazed at her in disbelief. "You remember this stuff?"

"It was the way your face lit up that I remember. You always got so happy whenever you hit the ball off the tee. Then you and your troupe of friends had teeball games in the backyard. Goten and Trunks always got too violent with the bats though..." She shook the thoughts away and stared up at our tree, checking for any flaws I guess. It was times like this that I was grateful to have a simple home, with simple parents that had normal jobs (If you call robot building normal). Bra and Trunks grew up in wealth, but their mother was rarely home and their father, well he's not exactly fit to play the dad-at-home role. Growing up in a large empty mansion versus your average home?

I'd take average any day.

A/N: Reviews are most welcome :) I have a few chapters just about ready so I'll post them soon.