A/N: SORRY for the long wait. I had written this chapter, and I could NOT post it because I hated the direction it was going. So I spent weeks tweaking it, still didn't like it. So last night I started a whole new chapter and am finally content with it. Here you go! Thank you so much for the reviews!

:*: My Eternity :*:

Darkness.

That was all Pan could see around her. She was laying on something, propping her back up with full support on her forearms against the bare surface beneath her. There were voices, so many voices, shouting, arguing, weeping, a mixture between male and female tones.

Then came the pain.

"Push, Pan, push!" A female voice similar to Bra's shouted.

Slowly, the area around her lightened to a dim glow. She was still unable to make out the faces and voices, but they were there.

Pan could feel the urgency in her body, as well as in the voice shouting at her to push, but she could not focus. There were so many people yelling angrily at each other, people sobbing, items slamming and glass shattering against the floor. She gave it one more try, one more push.

With a loud splosh, all she could see was blood. Too much blood. Pan sat up, searching for her baby, but there was nothing. Her large stomach was gone, and the surface beneath her drenched in warm blood, dripping onto the floor, flooding the room. The voices had seized, the shattering had stopped.

Panicked, Pan searched on all fours, swishing through the blood for her son. In the dim lighting, she spotted red heels and followed them up to a familiar face.

"Bulma?" She whispered.

Bulma's expression was stoic, her blue hair and green dress drenched in blood. Droplets ran down her fingertips, echoing in the room as they plopped into the pooling blood on the floor.

...Plop...

...Plop...

...Plop...

Pan's eyes shot open, her heart was racing, sweat consumed her. She leaned up, looked around to reorient herself to her location. It was morning already, almost nine. Trunks wasn't next to her anymore. Perhaps he was already awake. Pan maneuvered her way onto her feet and immediately went straight for the bathroom, checking her underwear for any blood.

None.

"Phew..." She sighed in relief.

Her hands were unsteady, still shooken from the horrific nightmare.

The blood-drenched Bulma lingering on her mind...

xXxXxXx

"I did not raise such selfish children, it's time for you to chip in and help out before you destroy this entire family and this busines."

His mother's words still reemed in his mind, her facial expression haunting him after he had informed her that he had sold Gohan's project. The sheer panic in her eyes, although he had only met them briefly before walking out on her, was devouring his conscience. Even though he had spent weeks preparing for it, failing the woman who had gone through great lengths for her family and her business wasn't something that he could shrug away.

Pan leaned against the doorway of Trunks and Goten's home, watching him from behind as he pressed his fingers into his scalp, a move he so commonly did under stress. It had been two weeks since he returned home. Two weeks since he had the blowout with his mother.

He hasn't been the same since.

It was all too much too soon, she understood that. He came home knowing that he had to let down his mother, then soon found out that he was going to be a father. Surprisingly, he took the news a lot better than she had feared. It was almost as if he was as excited as Bra was. They would spend minutes, hours laying in bed, throwing around ideas for living arrangements and baby names. The fact that he so openly discussed it with her made her heart melt.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" Goten feined admiration, nudging Pan with his elbow as the two briefly gawked at Trunks from behind.

She chuckled in response as Trunks snapped away from his deep thoughts, unaware of the eyes on him. Pan was glad to see that Trunks and Goten had eased the tension between them, settling their squabble the way that men do best: Crack a few beers and let the emotions pour out.

"I'm gonna head into town. Dad wants help choppin some trees and what not. I'll see you guys tomorrow right?" Goten eyed both of them, receiving a nod in confirmation from each. They were both unusually quiet this morning, that he picked up on, and he had an idea why. It was Christmas Eve, and the Briefs' were still torn apart. It was taking a toll on both Trunks and Bra, and of course on Pan since she felt like she was the cause of their mess. She never worded it as such, but Goten could read it in her eyes, as could Trunks.

Trunks didn't talk about his family situation. He didn't want to think about it and changed the subject whenever someone brought it up. He knew Pan felt guilt, and he hated that she felt that way. As much as he tried to reassure her that he and Bra were okay, and that Pan had nothing to do with the mess, she never bought it.

"Okay then, I'll see you two tomorrow." Goten waved half-heartedly, leaving the couple in private as he began his venture back home to Satan City.

"Good morning, sleepy head." Trunks joined her in the doorway, pulling her into his arms.

"Good morning." She half-smiled into his chest, her pregnant nose silencing her worries if for even a moment with his scent.

They would spend their Christmas eve morning making a quick breakfast, eating on the couch, watching Christmas specials on the television, and trying to push the lingering thoughts from their minds. Neither of them brought up their woes, and neither of them cared to, not as long as they had each other.

xXxXxXx

Bra dropped onto her belly against her freshly made bed, browsing through a website of various blogs by small business owners. "Marron, I'm gonna do it. I'll open up my own restaurant slash bar right in downtown Satan. Oh! Right next to the mall, that way shoppers can come in after a long day of shopping and-"

Marron chuckled. "You Briefs. You have that business blood in you."

Bra's smile faded. Luckily, Marron was too busy packing her clothes to notice. "You can do whatever you set your mind to, girl." She faced her now. "Are you sure you don't want to come home with me tonight? I know I've asked you a thousand times already, but you know we're all like family and it would be no intrusion-"

"Thanks, Marron, but really I'll be fine! Now get out of here before you hit traffic!" Bra tossed a pillow at her, forcing on a smile to convince her friend that she would be okay here at the Nagoya dorms on Christmas Eve.

There had been no invite home for Christmas. She spoke with her dad just yesterday on the phone, he had advised that she and Trunks find an alternative way to celebrate this year.

It hurt him to tell his own children that they weren't spending Christmas together. It wasn't that he was afraid of his wife, he was afraid of what his wife would say to them. He didn't want Trunks to feel any more ashamed than he already did. He didn't want Bra to feel guilty for taking Pan's side.

Bulma was unsteady, hell, Bulma wasn't even there anymore. She was breaking more and more each day, and it killed him to see his wife deteriorate.

For now, he would protect his children from her, the way Gohan protected Pan from seeing Videl.

For now, he would not celebrate Christmas with his family.

Once Marron finally gave up, Bra had the room, and probably the entire Nagoya campus, to herself. Most of the students, including Ryo and Takashi, left the night before. Now the rest were well on their way to their respective homes for the holidays.

Comfortable in her matching green sweatsuit, Bra tossed her hair to the top of her head and began scribbling in her notebook various ideas for this restaurant idea of hers. She was grateful that it helped keep her mind off of her family, or what was left of it. Pan had begged her to stay at her house for Christmas Eve, but there was no way she was going to bite on that one. Trunks would be staying with her as well, and there was no way she was going to intrude on that.

"Hmmm matte finish or glossy..." She tapped the pencil to her chin as she considered the interior walls to her restaurant. Her thoughts were broken away as a light knock came at the door.

Marron had left nearly twenty minutes ago, maybe she forgot something.

Bra twisted the lock and pulled the door open.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"You look so surprised to see me." He mused with a grin.

"Well, yeah... What're you doing here?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you had someone to stay with tonight. I heard about the Christmas hiatus this year so... I figured you would stay at Pan's or Marron's."

Feeling movement in her legs again, she opened the door wider to allow him entrance into the room.

She crossed her arms, avoiding staring into his dark eyes for too long. "Well I didn't want to stay at Pan's, you know, with Trunks there and all."

"I completely feel you on that one." He inputed.

"And Marron's, well, that's their family time. I don't want them to feel bad for me sitting around on Christmas morning while they all exchange gifts. Christmas is a family holiday and it's hard for an outsider to just intrude on something like that, you know? It's not the present thing at all it's just... It's not the same if it's not your family. I could tell my dad is having a hard time with this so just knowing that he loves us is enough for me." She forced a smile again, her glossy eyes revealing that this was a sensitive issue for her.

Goten strolled to her bed and seated himself. "You're not an outsider Bra. We've known each other for years. Pack your stuff." His stern eyes held hers firmly.

"Thanks, Goten but I already told Marron that I wasn't going, really it's okay."

"You're not staying with Marron. And there's no way in hell you're staying with Edward and Bella at my brother's house."

She laughed at the Twilight reference to Trunks and Pan. "What are you suggesting then?" She furrowed her brows, confused.

"Come home with me. My brother's old room is open, you know that."

She was taken aback by the offer. "Goten, I appreciate it but really, like I said it's not the same without family and-"

"My parents specifically asked for you. They love you like family, hell they'd probably treat you better than they do me."

Her lips curved into a genuine smile. "I..."

"Besides, I have a gift for you, and it would lose it's meaning if you didn't get it on Christmas."

She bit her lip, failing to fight back a grin from such a sweet offer. She hugged her arms tighter to her, weighing her options.

"Please?" His eyebrows raised, his expression begging.

She was absolutely touched. "Fine... But I have to shower, and pack."

"Pack first, you can shower at my house. My mom's cooking breakfast as we speak."

She feined annoyance with a groan. "You drive a hard bargain. Fine." She smirked, then proceeded to dig her duffle bag from her closet and toss items into it.

With her back turned, Goten slid her open notebook closer to him, scanning through the jotted notes.

After filling her bag, she moved to the bathroom for a final primp.

She could hear him lift her duffle bag with a huff, grumbling about how much women pack. "You look fine. Let's go." He appeared behind her in the bathroom mirror, ruffling her hair with his hand after she had just gotten it perfect.

It was her turn to grumble now.

The entire ride to Satan City, Bra couldn't help but wonder if this was out of the goodness of Goten's heart, or if his parents had told him to bring her like he made it sound.

And he had gotten her a Christmas gift? She hadn't gotten him anything... With her funds being limited and all she had only bought a gift for her brother, Pan, Marron, and her dad. Now it was time for her to feel guilty, and it was showing.

"What the hell are you thinking about over there? Knock it off." Goten nudged her, turning the radio down to a comfortable ambience in case she felt like talking. Her eyes remained downcast to her fumbling fingers. She didn't say anything, instead she just returned the radio to its previous volume and shifted her body away from him, staring out the window for the remainder of the drive.

As if on cue, Chichi leaped from the porch, arms flailing as the black truck pulled up.

"You made it! I was so worried with this dark weather and the rain!"

Goten looked around him. "What rain?"

"Ask that damn weather man. He was going on and on about it all morning. Haven't seen a drop yet."

"Speak of the devil." Goten held up his hand, indicating said drop had arrived. He pulled Bra's bag, as well as his own, from the backseat as Chichi embraced Bra.

"Look at you, you're looking more grown every time I see you!"

Bra smiled politely. "Good to see you, Chichi. Thank you for having me over."

"Of course! After Goten brought it up I insisted you come."

"It was Goten's idea?"

"Well, of course." Chichi spoke softer as Goten lugged the bags into the house. "He called just the other day and asked if it was okay if you came home with him for Christmas. I, of course, got too excited and assumed you two had started dating. Why else would a boy want to bring a girl home?" Chichi laughed. "He cares for you, that's why."

Bra followed her into the kitchen as she prepared a hot cup of cocoa for her and Goten. She couldn't help but wonder why Goten went out of his way to do this. They hadn't spoke or texted each other in about a week and a half prior to him showing up at her door today.

"Bra, I threw your bag on your bed, bathroom's ready if you still want to shower." Goten announced as he emerged into the kitchen.

"Yeah, I think I'll take a quick shower then have that cup of cocoa. Thanks again, Chichi." Bra called over her shoulder as she headed to the hallway, taking a brief glance at Goten while he joined his mother at the table with a steaming mug. 'Thanks, Goten.'

xXxXxXx

Shortly after arriving back home in Satan City, Pan and Trunks joined Videl and Gohan downstairs to catch up since their last visit. Pan's stomach was plumping at 6 months pregnant, causing Trunks to be all the more cautious of her actions and well-being. It didn't take long for Gohan and Videl to catch on to his protectiveness of her, and they adored him even more for it. Pan, on the other hand, expressed her building frustration to her mother later that night while she helped out with dinner.

"Now, now, Pan, he's just looking out for you. He was gone for six months, I'm sure he feels bad for you going through everything by yourself. Plus, it's his first kid, and the man's in love with you. You can't be mad at that."

Pan sighed as she knelt down to dig for a pan in the lower cabinet. "I know... I just feel like he doesn't let me do anything anymore. He barely lets me cook for him and Goten. I'm surprised he's not supervising me in here-"

"Smells good ladies. Pan, here babe let me get that for you." He dropped to her side, gently gripping her arm to assist her to her feet.

"Trunks, I-"

Videl interrupted. "Now, now, Trunks, she's pregnant, not disabled. A woman knows when she's taking on too much. If you keep her from doing anything for herself she's going to have way more baby fat to lose after the pregnancy. Pan's stubborn but she's not stupid."

Pan suddenly felt bad for him, watching his face drop with concern and uncertainty. She gripped his arm in return and pulled him in for a tender kiss. "Thanks, Trunks. I'll let you know when something's too much for me. I promise."

He smiled at the pinky she held up, and took it in his. "Deal."

"Now get out. No men in the kitchen. The same goes for Gohan." Trunks laughed at Videl's demand, taking one final peek behind him before exiting the space.

"After my diagnosis, your dad was the same way." Videl continued, smiling at the memory. "We would argue back and forth about it, except this time he was right. I was doing too much. Trying to convince myself that I was the same woman and that nothing was wrong with me. This time I was the stubborn fool. I had overworked myself so much one night, he had to carry me to bed. It took the tears to fall on me from his eyes to convince me that I needed to slow down. Your father is the best man on this planet, Pan. I will stand by that for all eternity."

Pan smiled. To think that a love could dive that deep. To think that this love belonged to the two people she loved and respected most. She couldn't imagine more deserving people.

She glanced at the ring still planted around her right ring finger, the ring Trunks had given her before he left six months ago, then steered her eyes to the rock around her mother's left finger.

"For all eternity..." She whispered to herself.