A/N: I can't thank you guys enough for your encouraging reviews and for sticking with the story 49 chapters in. V-ChanLSSJ, TopazDragon98, Dbzlover500, Trunks and pan fan 4ever333, PurpleMimi, Super Pan-Chan, Sweetened Sky, Power9987, Lovey, and TP4Life, here you go my friends.

:*: Homecoming :*:

Cold. Grey. Fog. These were the first three things Vegeta observed as he leaned against the large window of the living room, arms folded against his bare chest with a cup of steaming coffee in hand. His morning ritual went as usual. Shower. Sweats. Coffee. Breakfast. Uniform.

His shift at the prison started soon. He didn't mind his job, it suited him. He had to deal with people that broke the law. His title description didn't enforce him to be 'polite to others' or 'provide great customer service'. In fact, it was the opposite. He was a stern, hard man at heart, and that's exactly who he was when dealing with those that took advantage of the innocent.

After sliding the sleeves of his black jumpsuit up his muscular arms, zipping the uniform up to his collar bone, he heard the warm body he was laying next to just over an hour ago stir awake.

"Coffee ready?" She mumbled groggily as she stretched her arms.

"Mhm." It always was.

She sat up, touching her feet to the floor as she rubbed her eyes, her husband sitting on the opposite side of the bed as he strapped up his shoes.

"Today's the day." She spoke softly, mostly to herself. "He's finally coming home, contract in hand. Our worries are over." She smiled now, a smile filled with hope, but doubt still tinging at the edges.

Vegeta briefly glanced over his shoulder, his uneasy eyes boring into the back of her blue hair. He was aware of Trunks' final decision. He was aware of Capsule Corporation's imminent fall. He was aware that his wife was still hanging on, showing up to work early like she had been doing for the past thirty years. Calling clients, recruiting employees, as if nothing was wrong.

He wasn't aware of how she would handle the news, that part struck a string of apprehension in him. Her actions this past year were desperate, selfish, corrupt; Words he never thought he would use to describe her.

"He should be home by eight tonight. Are you planning anything special?" He stood to his feet, grabbing his work belt and duffel bag. Usually she was head coordinator for any occasion. Birthdays, anniversaries, homecomings, everybody always came to her. Now, he wasn't so sure.

"I'll probably be working late tonight. Just send him to my office at CC."

Vegeta agreed and departed with a simple grunt as he made his way out of the room to head out to work, both of them with one person on their mind.

My son's finally coming home... Bulma smiled. Vegeta frowned.

xXxXxXx

The view from the windshield was just as gloomy as the one Goten and Bra had woken up to that morning. As they had arranged, Bra met him at his house after school. Pan had stayed home from school, slept in as her mother had suggested. She was lounging on the couch when Bra arrived, looking as pale as ever.

"Pan, you look more scared to see Trunks than you did on Thanksgiving morning before you had to tell your parents." She laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

"I really don't want to talk about it." She mumbled, flipping through channels. She couldn't exert the energy to explain why she felt distressed to others. It wasn't that she was afraid he would leave her. She felt an immense feeling of regret and remorse. As if it was she solely who robbed the man of his freedom, his college lifestyle. She didn't want this to force him to be with her. He had so much on his plate as is, how would he react?

She subconsciously pressed her palm against the wall of her belly, as if comforting herself with her son's movement. He was very active, Videl said Pan was the same in utero. This correlation between her and her baby made her smile.

To avoid thinking about Trunks' rapidly approaching arrival, she lost herself in her daydreaming, thinking about her and her son's future life together. She wanted Trunks to be a part of these thoughts so badly, but was too afraid to set herself up for disappointment.

Bra tried to make out the scenery in the fog around them. It was as if the weather today was some ominous precaution. Goten focused closely on the highway, drivers slowing and speeding up in the moist, thick haze making this trip all the more stressful.

For the majority of the trip, neither of them spoke. Every now and then one would point out something they drove past, or bring up a thought, but for the most part they were too wrapped up in their thoughts and speculations to let the silence get to them.

Situation aside, Bra was eager to see her brother. She missed her sibling, and if his homecoming didn't unravel into the happy ending she and the others were still hoping for, she didn't care. As long as he was home to face this with her, that would be enough.

She reared out of her thoughts as a sharp pain shot from her scalp. "Ouch- hey!" Her hand reflexed to the sight of pain, landing on someone elses hand occupying the space.

Goten laughed, dropping the string of hair he derooted onto her lap, then placed his hand on the headrest of her seat. "You look so depressed. None of that when you're with me."

Bra laughed, surprised that he was observing her. "I'm not depressed. I'm... I'm happy, actually. I finally get to see my brother. I'm six months closer to meeting my nephew. And I'm with a great guy who apparently is on a mission to thin out my hair." She rubbed her scalp again, still feeling the aftershock.

He lifted his fingers to mess with her once more, any reason to come into contact with her, but fought back and rested them back on her seat.

Through the thickening grey, Bra could make out the unique sculptures erected alongside the main road to Tokyo's airport. Finally, they had arrived with just a few minutes to spare. Trunks would be back in her sight in little time.

Goten took note of her growing excitement, and couldn't fight the feeling swelling inside him as well. He wouldn't admit that he was eager to see the guy too, so he attributed it to finally being able to get out of the car for a good stretch.

"I can't believe we're finally here!" She grinned, pulling her white hood over her head for supplemental warmth.

Goten shoved his hand in his pockets, walking alongside her as they headed into the airport. As they hit heavily crowded areas, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders to avoid losing her, or she would cling onto the back of his jacket. Tired of looking behind his shoulder for her, he huffed in mock frustration and grabbed her hand as if it was their only option left.

Neither of them could see the reaction the warmth and chemistry of each others hands had on each other, but like Bra had thought just the previous day, maybe it was for the best. Little did she know she had an even more profound effect on him.

After a journey of a walk, they finally found his baggage claim sector. They stood amongst the rest of the crowd, hands still pressed together. She found herself scooting closer to him, her cheek touching the shoulder of his jacket as an obese man next to her endured a fit of sneezing.

Her disgusted expression subtly gazed up to Goten's, as if trying to explain to him why she was inching closer to him.

He caught her drift, grinning with a small laugh. He squeezed her hand to let her know it was okay.

As the mans sneezing eased, a seemingly endless amount of baggage began to drop from the chute, rotating on the conveyor belt to be picked up. The volume in the area increased immensely as the glass doors slid open, hundreds of travelers piling out to retrieve their bags, screams, laughter, and bouts of crying erupting as family, lovers, and friends were reunited.

Bra felt her eyes tearing up. He was coming. She didn't know where he was, but at some point he would be walking through those glass doors that she no longer had sight of due to the amount of people populating the area.

"Dammit I can't see." She groaned, lifting to her tiptoed for some view of lavender hair. Her hand was being pulled now as Goten jerked her behind him through the stubborn crowd.

They made their way towards the front, searching for the familiar face amongst the jet lagged travelers.

Nothing.

Five minutes passed, leaving quite a few bags still on the conveyor belt as their respective owners preferred to socialize instead of getting the hell out, as Goten put it.

Five more minutes passed.

Bra pulled out her cell phone, dialed his number. "Come on... pick up, pick up- Trunks! Where are you? You were supposed to land at 6:15, right? …."

Goten watched her conversation, not liking the drop in her excitement meter he saw reflected on her face.

"You missed your flight?"

"Fuck." Goten mouthed, disappointed as she was. His eyes moved away from hers now, then landed on a set of familiar blue eyes just thirty feet behind her, smirking in a chair while talking on the phone.

The familiar face put a finger to his lips while he spoke on the phone, urging Goten to not say a word.

Bra hung up after the conversation ended, a heavy sigh falling from her lips. "He missed his flight. He'll be in tomorrow." She wiped a threatening tear from her eye.

"Guess we should head back then." Goten wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and turned her towards the familiar figure sitting in the chairs, walking her straight towards him.

She was too busy pouting and looking down at her feet to notice sooner.

Finally, her eyes lifted as they walked, landing on that lavender she had been searching so hard for.

"Trunks!" She cried, running from Goten's grip and into her brother's arms. She sobbed and laughed into his grey jacket, squeezing her arms around him. "I can't believe you lied to me!"

Trunks chuckled, cracking a smile that barely met his exhausted eyes. His face was worn, Goten could tell from where he was standing about ten feet away, giving the two their privacy.

He wasn't sure how to approach him, after all he had been ignoring the guy for maybe four months now since he found out Pan was pregnant.

Instead, Goten went to the baggage claim to collect his luggage, buying him some time and a conversation starter.

He rolled the two large bags of luggage behind him, parking them in front of the Briefs. "Welcome home." The words didn't match his cautious tone.

Trunks locked his worn, dull eyes with Goten's onyx orbs, unsure of the vibe he was getting from him. He looked as if he were about to say something, but fought it back. "Where's Pan?"

Goten's eyes shot to Bra, passing the question to her.

"Sheee hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days. We made her stay home, think she's coming down with the flu." She tried to mask the panic in her voice, her nervous smile a desperate plea for him to buy it.

"Let's get out of here." Trunks exhaled in a defeated tone. Bra rolled one of his bags behind her while he grabbed the other. Goten walked by Bra's side, sensing the tension between himself and her brother.

"How was your flight?" Bra inquired eagerly, her happiness apparent now that he was finally at her side.

"Long."

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really."

"How was the US?"

"It was... I just want to focus on being home now."

Bra and Goten could both detect the sadness in his tone. He was tired, jet lagged, and was about to face his hardest feats yet. Bra cut back on the questions and left him to his silent demeanor. She too could sense the tension between the two boys, making the walk back all the more awkward.

The drive home wasn't bad. Trunks soon fell asleep in the backseat, leaving Goten and Bra to talk in hushed tones about anything except the situation back home, just in case he were to overhear.

Not seeing Pan there to greet him after landing just added to his suspicion he had unwillingly built up against her. Given the time difference between the two continents, it was hard for them to talk over the phone, especially with their conflicting schedules. When they did speak, she was very short with him, especially over the last few weeks. Now she wasn't even returning his texts. As a businessman you have to prepare yourself for every outcome. He was doing just that, preparing himself for her to hand his truck keys back over to him, and utter those three words: "There's someone else."

After all, he had been gone for six months. She's a freshman in college, a jock for crying out loud. Any man would fall for a girl who's great at sports. He hated to admit that he had his temptations across the ocean, but he was able to control himself. He loved her that much.

Maybe he was too young to know what love was. She was only eighteen years old, maybe it was too much pressure for her.

After a much needed nap, Trunks opened his eyes to his sister's voice, her arm budging his shoulder. "Wake up, sleepy head. You're home."

Goten had already grabbed both of his bags, wheeling them behind him into the house. Trunks spotted his truck next to Goten's in the driveway. "Is Pan here?" He asked, more eagerness in his voice than he had liked.

"Of course. I told you she'd be waiting for you." She smiled as his eyes softened at the news. He followed his sister into his and Goten's house, the three of them subtly searching for the raven haired female. "She's probably napping in your room. You know how Pan is." She joked.

Trunks gripped his door knob, turning it slowly in case she was asleep. Easing the door open, he searched for the silhouette of her body with Goten's bedroom light across the hall serving as his only light source.

Nothing.

He flicked the light on. His bed was...

Empty.

Disappointment washed over him. He sat on the edge of his bed, her scent overtaking him. She's been here, that he knew for sure.

Bra and Goten sat silently in Goten's room, eavesdropping. "I don't hear anything..." Bra whispered.

"Me either..."

They eyed each other briefly with confusion, then she stood to her feet to investigate.

She popped her head in from the doorway, her brother sitting at the end of his bed, his head cradled in his hands.

"Trunks, are you okay?" She was very concerned at this point.

"Yeah, just tired. The time difference and hours of flying really takes a toll on you."

She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number, heading to the living room to make a call. "Pan! Where are you?"

xXxXxXx

Pan paced the living room, her mother and father present, sitting on the sofa watching her. She couldn't bare being in that house by herself, knowing that he would be showing up any minute. She called her mother and begged for her to pick her up. She didn't want to be alone.

"Pan, you are two adults in an adult situation. You can't keep avoiding it. He needs to know." Her father reminded her.

"I know I kn-" She picked up her ringing cell from the coffee table. It was Bra. "Hey..."

"Pan! Where are you?"

"I'm at my parent's house..."

Bra sighed in relief. "Good, at least you're okay. We were worried about you. Trunks really wants to see you..."

Pan gulped. Her eyes tearing up. Here it was, the six months she had prayed to transpire was finally up, and she was running away from him. Just knowing that she could hear his voice, see him face to face, feel his touch, erupted a powerful emotional response from her. She plopped down onto the couch, silent tears running against the palm of her hand.

"Can... can you ask him to come over?"

"Of course. I told him you didn't come with us to pick him up because you had the flu. I'll text you when he leaves."

"Thanks, Bra. Bye."

Now, she waited some more. Paced some more. Sobbed some more. Her mother asked how she wanted to do this, they settled on her parents answering the door, then heading upstairs to give them privacy. She adjusted her tight, white shirt over her form-fitting black maternity pants. Her hair was pulled back with a clip, half-up half-down, bangs framing her face.

Knock knock knock.

Pan felt the gravity grow ten times heavier. She arranged a couch pillow against her torso to cover her stomach. She could feel him kicking inside her, her stress was probably getting to him.

Muffled voices could be heard from the foyer, growing closer, and closer until...

Her breathing stopped.

The volume around her silenced to a mute. He followed in behind her father, and as planned, the parents left them completely alone.

Trunks didn't speak. Nor did he move any closer. Just stood near the entrance way, their eyes locked on each other.

The sobbing and sniffling started again. She had to fight how badly she wanted to jump to her feet and hug him, kiss him, touch him. He made his way towards her.

"No! Stop..." She wiped her eyes with one hand while the other held up a palm, urging him to stay where he was.

"Pan... What's going on?" He was exhausted, that she could tell in his voice, his eyes, his face. "You're scaring me..."

It took her a moment to think of the words to say. She hadn't planned this out. She had not even wanted to think about this. "There's something I need to tell you... Please.. Please don't be mad..."

Trunks could now feel himself growing lightheaded. It was happening. Just as he had feared. "There's someone else. I knew it. Don't feel like you owe me anything. We dated and I left for six months. I can't make you feel something that's no longer there. It's okay, just wish you would have told me sooner..." She wouldn't even stand up or let him get near her, this hurt him.

"Wha- Trunks no, that's not what I meant." She panicked, trying to think quickly of what to say before he walked out on her. "There's someone else... But it involves both of us."

He looked completely baffled at this point. "Pan, what are you-"

She tossed the pillow to the opposite end of the couch, her hands cupping her belly.

Trunks followed her hands, his question cut off. He was frozen.

Stunned.

Speechless.

Pale.

Neither of them spoke.

She didn't move, her eyes remained fixed on him, waiting for a response, a movement, anything.

Seconds turned into minutes before he took a step back. Then another. And a few more until he had backed himself against a wall. He looked lifeless as his eyes remained fixed on her stomach, not even glancing up to meet hers again.

She felt obligated to say something, maybe it was because he wasn't saying anything. "I'm six months. From the night before you left up until now..." Silence. "Please, Trunks, say something."

He stood there, for maybe thirty seconds longer. No words. No eye contact. No budge in expression. Just stood on the opposite side of the room from her.

And walked out.

xXxXxXx