The Heart of the Adventurers

By LastationLover5000 and Demod20, Edited by Firegod00

Chapter 6 - Our Family

Last Time On Dragon Ball The Heart of The Adventurers: As Bulma reminisces the past as her pregnancy eventually bedridden her in the Western Capital's Wukong Hospital, Son Goku continues to prove his reputation as best pizza deliveryman in his hometown. From halting evildoers to saving passerby, the World Martial Arts Champion does all he could. It wasn't until one fateful day that Bulma went into labor and the alleged hero of the Earth was informed.

And the Adventure continues!

It was a bit frantic in the hospital since Bulma had underwent labor. The nurses were busy to shuffle out Dr. Brief from the room to which he complied if only to call his wife to tell her the news as well. In the time it took for Panchy to arrive through the latter afternoon traffic, Goku was already huffing and puffing on foot to reach the hospital. Having leaped up to the window upon hearing his wife's screams echo the medical establishment, the doctor and nurses tried to tell him to leave them be. In between labored breaths and wails she was crying tears of joy at feeling her Son grip her hand after pushing past the medical staff with ease.

Taking some heavy convincing by Dr. Brief that he should wait outside, Goku left Bulma's side hesitantly as he was escorted by his father-in-law to wait outside. The hours spent out echoed with impatience which his beloved's parents acted a bit too calm for his liking. Every time a nurse exited or entered, he'd ask about her only to be stone-walled and fervently.

"Darn, what's taking so long?" Goku asked out loud, taking time to look at the windowless door with a worried frown. "Is Bulma going to be alright?"

"Oh don't worry about our little girl," Panchy waved nonchalantly, eyeing a book she had brought for the wait. "If it's her first time so don't be surprised that it could take half a day. Goodness knows it did for me when I gave birth to her."

"H-Half a day?!" The Turtle Schooler let out a stuttering cry of disbelief, turning back to look with dish saucer sized eyes. "It takes that long?!"

"Well, not everyone is the same," His father-in-law commented with a wave of his coffee mug. "It could take an extraordinarily shorter time. Considering how strong of both will and body your wife is, it's quite possible it could be any minute for her."

"You make a good point, Bulma's dad," Goku nodded with blinking eyes of understanding.

Sighing, the mustache adorned scientist grumbled into his mug about not being called simply 'dad' as he sipped more of his beverage. Looking back up from his cup he couldn't help but notice the thoughtful expression he had while looking down at his feet. Finishing with his drink, he cleared his throat and earned his wide-eyed stare back, "Something on your mind, son?"

"I just...I thought if I was here I could help out somehow, y'know?" The Martial Artist explained with a half smile. Crossing his arms he looked slightly down once more as he continued to talk, his smile dissipating. "But now, I just don't think I can. I feel helpless. I normally can find an easy answer. But now that I can't I just feel...feel..."

"Lost? Frustrated? Useless?" The older man asked, surprising the grandson of Gohan with an almost gawking expression. Chuckling he set the mug on his lap, holding it with both hands as he thrummed against its smooth surface with his fingers. "You may think I'm a brilliant man, which you're not far off. But I haven't a clue when it comes to the human reproductive process. You couldn't get me within the same room as your mother otherwise I'd keel over and I hated it.

"But, being unable to do something doesn't mean you're useless or weak, Goku," Looking up with a heartfelt smile, mirrored by his own partner whose eyes shined hopefully at her son-in-law. "Not everyone can shoot beams from their hands, defy gravity or withstand the power of a nuclear bomb. Just like you can't do anything to help Bulma, she can do things you most likely couldn't overcome. Programming a computer, writing an essay about complex bio-mechanics and researching quantum physics. Those are her specialities. She may never be able to fight like you or you may never learn to how to use a computer; not that I fault either of you for trying. If never succeed in something well...that probably means you're meant to specialize in something else.

"That, my boy," He finished with a wink as he pointed his mug at Son Goku. "Is nothing to be ashamed of. Failure is the sign that success is just around the corner."

Absorbing what Dr. Brief had said to him the Champion of Earth took to heart what was told to him. He knew that most of the time what Bulma's father had to say it usually was important. And considering his own self loathing for not being able to do something for someone he cared about he knew it was better than to cast it aside.

"I know I'm not that smart," He acknowledged silently with a smile, his eyes gaining a new light of determination than before. "But I'll do something that can help. If I can be a good dad for our kid that's probably the best place to start."

Just then, the door opened causing all three to look over with a mixture of surprised stares. Instead of immediately ducking away from the spiky haired man's gaze the nurse in question looked with a since of resigned relief. Clapping his hands, he finally gave the family the news.

"Your wife and daughter are fine, Mr. Son," He declared with a look of clear exhaustion.

"Daughter?" Goku mumbled out, briefly surprised at the news. It wasn't that he was expecting a son. It was the sound of a child belonging to him really sunk in. He didn't know what to think but, remembering the feeling of kicks within Bulma and the smile she wore he couldn't help but find himself smiling with a foreign welling of emotion in his chest. Reaching out to grab the nurse's shoulders, he couldn't suppress a wide grin as he asked him again. "I have a daughter?!"

"Yes, Mr. Son," The hospital worker sighed with exasperation, forcing a smile as he nodded to the stronger man's arms. "Now can you please let me go?"

"Oh, sorry!" He exclaimed with a sheepish laugh, not noticing the smaller man's wincing and rubbing his now sore body.

"This is wonderful news!" Dr. Brief broke any tension the situation may have had, standing upright with his wife as the both of them were smile almost as broadly as Goku had been. Looking to the grimacing nurse he gestured to him with a smile. "Can we see our girls?"

"Huh? Oh, sure," He nodded after realizing what the now grandfather meant. "Right this way, Dr. Brief."

Leading the three into the room where a number of tired and exasperated hospital personnel were working on clearing the space of tools and used equipment. But there, next to a mustache adorned doctor in a white coat of his own was Bulma. She was reclined on the hospital bed looking sweaty and very tired. But still there was a tearful smile on her face as she held a sparely lavender haired baby swaddled in white linen. Lavender colored tresses covered her head and dark onyx eyes that blinked slowly, absorbing all of the new sights as much as the rest of the child's senses could pick up.

And sure enough, a brown furred tail was stretched out at the bottom of the wrapped form, curling and wagging gently.

"I asked the missus already," The Doctor began as he cleared his throat, looking to Goku as he stared entranced by the appendage he had removed by Kami long ago. "After determining this isn't a health hazard to the child and that it isn't an abnormality I thought to ask. Did you have any plans on letting the child grow up with a tail?"

"Well," Goku scratched his head thoughtfully. "Truth be told, I didn't lose mine till I was quite a bit older. Plus it'll make her grow big and strong. I'm sure she'll be fine with it."

"Very well then," He replied with a begrudging sigh, finding it to be abnormal for a relatively human looking baby to have what belonged to most anthro-born citizens.

"Hey, Son," Bulma finally spoke up, earning stare from her husband. Nuzzling into her daughter's neck as a weary smile adorned her face. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"She sure looks like a keeper, just like her mom," Goku complimented, earning a twinkling stare of thanks from his wife. Leaning forward he reached out towards the girl, waving to her as he lowered his voice respectfully. "Hi, my name's Goku. How are ya?"

The baby simply giggled and made a gurgling noise. Reaching out with a hand she bopped her dad's nose, squeezing it before letting go with a childish laugh. When she found that Goku laughed back and poked her slightly in the nose, she let out a sneeze and laughed again.

"Certainly a giddy one," He commented with a goofy giggle of his own.

"She was screaming something fierce when she came into my arms," Bulma replied with a mischievous grin as she raised a brow at Goku. "Reminds me of someone I know."

"I don't scream all that time," Goku deflected with a pouty expression.

"You scream a lot," She countered with a wry smile.

"Only when I'm fighting," He argued further.

Another giggle let out by their child broke their little feud, drawing attention once again back to their newborn girl.

"I've been thinking of names," Bulma drawled out, hesitantly looking up at Goku with apprehension. "But, I'm not sure any of our family type would be fitting."

"Well, I actually am kinda stumped about that," Goku honestly responded, looking at the little girl's tail with fascination. "I mean, the only name I'd think of using is Gohan cause he was my grandpa and I think he'd like having someone named after him. But since this is a girl, I'm not sure how that'd sound..."

"Mom, dad," Bulma called out for them, allowing for the spectating grandparents to step forward. "We were trying to think of a name, but we couldn't think of any that fit. Any family names that'd work?'

"Oh, well," Dr. Brief looked up at the ceiling, stroking his chin before raising his empty mug with afterthought. "How about, Kini?"

Shaking her head, Bulma looked at her mom whom replied with a shrug, "Why not, Trunks?"

"Not a bad one for a boy, but," The mother replied as she bit on her lower lip with thought.

"We could name her after food," Goku suggested with a sheepish smile.

"Now's not the time for jokes, son," Dr. Brief piped in a forced serious stare, suppressing his own urge to laugh at Goku's naive comment.

"Wait a minute," Bulma exclaimed, realizing that her husband's innocent suggestion had gave her the perfect name. Looking down at the little girl cooing in her arms, she looked over at her beloved. "We may not be able to name her Gohan, but, how about Pan?"

It was a simple name but Goku was a simple kind of guy. Hearing that sounded just right and it made him grin with approval.

"Want to hold your daughter, Pan?" Bulma asked with a sigh.

"Uh, sure," Goku blinked with confusion but readied acceptance. After Dr. Brief helped come to show him how to properly hold an infant, the infant was properly transferred straight into his arms. Holding her delicately, he looked wondrous awe at the small life he held in his arms. He could imagine how weak and fragile he must have been when Gohan had nursed him back to health, the day he had struck his head as he had been told. It just gave him so much appreciation to his deceased grandfather, showing him kindness and care so that he could pass it on to another.

So, with a smile, he whispered at his giggling daughter, "Nice to meet you, Pan. I'm your dad. I'll make sure to do my best as your father. That's my promise to you."

Age 758, December 5th

A deep wailing could be heard in the night. Goku's adept sense of hearing couldn't let him rest as much as he yearned for it. It had been a hard day of work-outs after what he called a nightmare of orders from the pizza place he worked at. Even after spending time with Pan in between he became increasingly aware in the last half year of living with their daughter that there was one inherent truth.

Babies were incredibly needy.

"Son," Bulma mumbled as she turned over on her side to face his back. "It's your turn to feed Pan."

"What if I don't wanna?" Goku grumbled back.

"Son," She repeated with a tired yet clearly stern tone. "I got so much work in between parenting that you have no idea."

"But, your dad's robots actually wore me out today," He whined back, turning to give her a pouting over the shoulder stare. "Plus, pizza deliverin' had a lot for me to do today. I even played with Pan a whole lot."

"Which is fine," Bulma commented, forcing a smile onto her weary features. "And I'm grateful. But there is a difference between play and needs. Pan needs someone to take care of her and I can't be the one to do it every time."

Letting out a raspberry, Goku rolled over exasperatedly; so much so, that he fell off the bed with an awkward yelping thud. The distant wails of their child could be heard but Goku couldn't help but marvel at his own clumsiness. With a groan he stood up, his protesting muscles aching but still moving of his own accord.

"A promise is still a promise after all," He reminded himself quietly, tromping out of the bedroom so his wife could get her much needed rest.

Walking barefoot with nothing but a sleeveless muscle shirt and orange boxer shorts, the temperature inside favorable compared to outdoors. With dim lighting he traversed down the walkway to Pan's room he caught sight of a window to his immediate right. Snow had begun to fall this Winter unlike last year, where the Spring got the cold and vice versa. Unlike his home at Mount Paozu there didn't seem to be a consistency of weather where he lived.

It didn't bother him, since inside was so toasty warm so he just took the sight in stride. Opening the door into Pan's room he took in the view with slight wonder. With a crib slid against the far side of the wall, wallpaper enamored the room of sweeping hills and a mountain with a lake positioned near the door exiting the baby girl's living space. Cabinets of white with stickers of golden clouds covered it, reminding him of Kintoun. Approaching her crib, he looked in and see the crying Pan shaking a stuffed monkey in her arms; one that had a red cap and shirt on it.

"Hey there, champ," Goku patronized the whimpering girl, reaching down to pick up the girl carefully into his arms. Even though she was far more durable than the average child he still wanted to be safe. Doing a thorough sweep of her person in case she needed to be changed or had a rash, the father of one sighed with relief. "Bulma is right. You are just hungry. I guess you are a lot like me, haha!"

Slapping him with the stuffed animal in the face, he saw her blubber with an unhappy expression. He didn't know if he was rebuked by his daughter for making that comment or if she just didn't care what he had to say. Only one thing was on her mind; something that was echoed by a gurgling rumble coming from her tummy.

"Okay, let's get you some food," He declared with an upbeat tone, trying to make the best of the situation despite his own desire for sleep. "And by you, I mean only you. Your mom was awfully mad that one time she caught me eating a lot when I just gave you one bottle. I'll hold back, just for you."

The cranky baby just let out another pained cry, not wanting anything but her bottle. Through a short trod the spiky haired father reached the kitchen and found it mostly abandoned. Holding her steadily he reached for the light switch and turned it on, knowing exactly where to go. Opening the fridge he got one of the formula bottles, pre-cleaned and filled by his lovely wife, to make it easier for him to manage. Months of help with the process had made it easier but still difficult.

Especially when it came to the microwave.

Looking at the numbers on the electronic device with a furrowed gaze, he slowly reached for one of the buttons but recoiled it. The blustering baby under one arm made it difficult to concentrate but he eventually found a button that had a familiar button; one that was the 'right one' as he was told by Bulma's dad and Bulma respectively.

Clicking it, he watched microwave light up and reveal a golden glow. One that didn't have the formula inside.

"Oh Crap! Oh geeze!" He exclaimed, looking around frantically for the formula as Pan continued to wail near his ears. As soon as he did a complete 360, he found the bottle was right it was supposed to be.

Just below the wall mounted microwave on the counter.

"Phew," Goku sighed with relief, hitting the easy to read 'Cancel' button and the latch to open the complex machine. Placing it upright he smiled with success as he closed it and then hit the appropriate button. In what felt like an eternity the microwave finally chimed as the contents was ready. Grasping the lukewarm bottle he had almost handed it straight to the needy child until he remembered to test it.

Knowing one arm was occupied holding his daughter and the other was holding the bottle only one thing made sense; use what's available.

Sticking out his tongue, he squeezed the bottle gingerly enough to let a few drops of the microwaved substance drop onto his taste buds. Whatever it was, it sure didn't taste like milk, causing him to sputter and cough. It didn't burn him, which was good, but he didn't like having to rely on his precious body part.

The result however, had made Pan giggle at the silly sight, halting her screams if only for a few moments.

"Yeah, I make funny faces when I don't like something, don't I?" He laughed in concurrence at his own actions. Lowering the formula so that Pan's little hands could grasp it, he held back just enough so that she wouldn't choke. As the process dragged on, he couldn't help but admire her growing hunger. She did this multiple times a day and she wasn't even a year old. "One of these days you're going to eat and eat and eat and wonder if you'll ever get full. Sometimes I wonder that myself, haha! So drink up, Pan. Grow up big and strong. One day you may be as strong as me, haha!"

Unknown to him, a pair of watchful blue eyes peered around the corner of the hall to stare into the kitchen. A smile spread across her tired features, finding joy in watching Goku take to his roll as a father nicely. The first few months were full of doubt and uncertainty, both of them trying to balance their lives around a very special person. But with the help of her own parents along with some trial and error, they found a way and she couldn't be more pleased with the results.

"You're doing just fine, Son," She whispered, turning to creep back into her room before her husband returned.

Age 760, June 5th

Today was Pan's second birthday.

Bulma couldn't believe how far away since her eventful trip to Mount Paozu to rekindle an old bond with Goku; one that blossomed into a relationship far more meaningful than she anticipated. More surprising was how the day of their child's birth had coincided to be on that exact day, as if it was fated to show they were meant to be together.

Given how rushed the last birthday celebration was, between the couple almost forgetting their special girl's big milestone in her short life, she intended for this year to be more special.

With a belated sigh, she leaned back in her lab chair, her lavender hair all a static mess due to her overnight work. Looking down at the toddler she had sitting in her lap she was so hopeful. She had talks with Goku about the future often, mostly about what their daughter should do with her life. Naturally her husband was enthusiastic about the prospect of training her so she'd be a strong fighter. On the other hand, she also wanted her to be schooled to use that smart gene that ran through her father's blood that she had undoubtedly inherited. But as the tail curled behind Pan's specially designed pants, she wasn't sure exactly what kind of path she'd take.

She just hoped that she could help her daughter make the right decisions.

Hearing a beeping come from a watch wrapped around her right wrist, she checked the time. It was mid-afternoon and knowing her husband he'd be home in less than fifteen minutes. Ten tops.

"Knowing him he'll try to get that special bundle of pies because it is Pan's big day," She dryly said to herself with forced quotation marks with her free hand.

"I 'ike pie!" The two year old exclaimed with a smile.

"Yes, I know you do," Bulma responded to her daughter, tickling her tummy with a grin. "You make a wonderful mess with that pizza slice, didn't you?"

"I eat it all!" She said proudly in between giggles.

"You're a very hungry little girl, aren't ya?" She asked as she persisted in her innocent torture of her child. It wasn't until the toddler was out of breath that she finally picked her daughter up in her arms to start preparations; that is, help out with it given her mother hadn't given up the housewife duties she did around the home. It had made mothering a lot easier when either of them were around not to mention give them tips on what to do and not do.

So it was to no surprise when she entered the kitchen that the scent of a baking cake, with Pancy cleaning at the sink.

"Hi mom," Bulma greeted her mother with a smile.

"Hello sweetie," Panchy called from the sink, her hands already washing the utensils and bowl she used. "I'm sorry but I'm in the middle of clean-up. Wanna help set up the table for me, sweet pea?"

"Sure thing. Let me set Pan down," Bulma she replied, setting the birthday toddler onto her bare feet. Having learned to walk quicker than she kept track, she pointed at the mischievious daughter of hers and sternly said. "Now remember don't go too far and don't touch what doesn't belong to you. You'll be getting gifts soon so be patient. Got it?"

"I got it," Pan smiled sweetly as she sang her confirmation.

"That's my girl," Bulma complimented as she gave her standing kid a hug. Releasing her she and the toddler went opposite directions with completely different objectives. As far as the mother was concerned, she needed to help set everything up for a legitimate yet compact birthday celebration. The company didn't need to get involved until a larger celebration took place after all.

Wiping down the table she hummed to herself a song about a dinosaur riding a ball, making sure to grab the birthday mat over the hardwood surface. Placing the plates for Goku, herself and Pan she got out cutlery for only herself and her husband. At this point she didn't expect Pan to rely or use a fork, spoon or chopsticks till she was a little older given how she messily has eaten with nothing but bare hands lately.

Something she will try to rectify in the near future.

By the time she finished, she looked down at her watch and noticed it was just about time for her Son to come home. Taking a quick skip towards her mother she now embraced the woman whom was relieved of an apron and had set the cake on the stove.

"Thank you so much for baking the cake, mom," The lavender haired woman said with a relieved smile, taking note of the decorations made on the delicious smelling pastry. It was mostly frosted by red with blue edging surrounding it, yellow words saying 'Happy Birthday Second Birthday Pan!' etched onto the surface. She loved how homely it looked but also colorful, reminding her of her husband's Turtle School's uniform.

"Oh it's nothing, darling," She waved off as she pulled away from her daughter. "I do nothing and I'd shrivel up like a prune. Plus, this is for my lovely granddaughter so I'll work extra hard just for her."

"It helps, more than you know," Bulma sighed as she stroked her own messy hair with resignation. "I forgot to spruce up. Dammit, I wanted to look a little presentable."

"You look fine, sweetie," Panchy reassured her girl. "Why, you look just as great as you did yesterday!"

"That's because this is yesterday's clothes," Bulma grumbled out with a wry smile. "But you'd say that anyways, wouldn't you?"

"Honey, we're never going to keep looking our best. But you still look great because you put effort into what you do. When someone stops trying, they don't look that hot, do they?" The blonde commented with a rare wink.

"You still surprise me, mom," Bulma laughed, taken aback by the grain of wisdom she heard her mom say.

"That's what your father says, but I still think he's the one who surprises me. Always tinkering, always thinking, always up to something," She commented with an expressive wave of her hand. A thought suddenly dawned in her head as she looked over Bulma's shoulder and then around the kitchen. "Speaking of someone is probably up to something, where's adorable little Pan?"

At hearing that question, Bulma couldn't help but retract her pleased expression. Instead it was replaced by a mortified one when she heard a cacophony of alarmed yells coming down the hall. Immediately rushing out of the kitchen she saw some workers burst from the clearing, some seeming putting out fires on their lab coats.

"What's going on?" Bulma asked the nearest lab assistant.

"It's...you...no time!" He exclaimed with heavy pants, pointing towards the hall with a silhouette of a shadow with a tail. "It's coming for us!"

For a brief moment her heart stopped. The shadow brought back horrible memories of that monster, something she had wished to forget. It etched into her mind so much that she had done all she could to keep Pan from looking at the Full Moon. From keeping the window out of reach to doing everything she could to make Pan stay inside when Full Moons came by. But the logical part of her was triggered when a mischievious laugh broke out.

"Tag! Tag! Tag! Yer all it! Buahahahahahaha!" Pan turned around the corner, wielding what looked like a small white cylinder with an armrest and handle. Vapor came off the end with an ozone smelling blue glow escaping it. Her eyes recognized it instantly as her portable laser gun she had built as a child.

"First," She grabbed the collar of the worker whose name was now visible on his coat. "Chikiru. That is my daughter, not an IT!"

"But I-!"

"Second," She continued to let out a shrill yell as she pointed at the not laughing Pan but a scared one. "HOW DID YOU LET MY DAUGHTER INTO THE LAB?! THAT THING WAS IN STORAGE?! HOW CAN YOU FAIL ON SO MANY LEVELS?!"

"Th-The alarms were on maintenance so we thought to-"

"Leave the doors all unlocked?! ARE YOU STUPID?!" Bulma screamed with the presence of a giant, causing the man to cower while her daughter sweat bullets. The sound of a doorbell broke what tension was held in the hall as the fleeing workers came back with fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment; now especially since Pan wasn't opening fire on any more of them or the facility.

"That's him," She muttered as she let go of the man, sweeping her palm over her face as she walked over to her daughter who had a too sweet smile. Her hands were scratching nervously at her sides but void of the blaster she stole. But given she was much taller than her, the sight of her fourth appendage holding onto it behind her back was quite noticeably. Reaching out, she frowned at her girl. "Hand it over, Pan."

Her face dropped when she realized that the jig was up. Her face fell as her tail swung the item around into her arms. Sadly walking up to her with big teary eyes she held up the gun she made as a child, almost seeing a reflection of herself; minus the tail and onyx eyes of course.

"Pan, that's not a toy," Bulma sternly scolded her, reaching down to take it out of the birthday girl's hands. "You should know better than to take things like that. What did I just say?"

"Sowwy mama," Pan apologized, her tail fallen and curling around her ankles just as her hands folded in front of her.

"Terrorizing the staff isn't a good thing," The mother of one implored softly, hearing once again the doorbell ring outside. Kneeling down she nudged her chin to have her look up at her. "But I'll let it go. You're a birthday girl so enjoy your day. Next time this happens though, I'll come up something very scary as punishment. Understand?"

"Uh-huh," The toddler nodded fervently.

"Okay, c'mere," She insisted with a smile, pulling the little girl into a hug with the blaster still in hand. Noticing the tail rise up as a result of her mood being improved she couldn't help but grin at the sight. Releasing her, she wiped away the tears and thumbed over to the door. "C'mon. Let's go let your dad in."

Walking with the toddler following behind, she saw something that looked like furious motion just outside the front door. Rolling her eyes, she walked up to the knob and turned it, swinging it open to reveal Goku with ten pizza boxes. Nine of which were completely empty and discarded to his side, the other held up as a sheepishly chuckling spikey haird man.

"Sorry, I got hungry," He apologized outright, with Bulma just wryly smiling.

"I'm sure," His wife sighed with expectancy. "Not that I thought you were going to split that evenly, but couldn't you have waited till you got inside, Son?"

"Papa!" Pan cried out as she hugged her dad's leg.

"Heya!" Goku waved down at his daughter, reaching down to muss her slightly raised lavender tresses. "How's my champ doin'?"

"Good! Nothin' bad hap'nd!" She proclaimed with a mischievious giggle.

"Oh really?" The father of one asked with a dubious raised brow. Looking up at Bulma who simply shrugged with a lopsided smile she turned to look down at her special girl. "If nothin' bad happened, then let's go have pie-cake! Your favorite combo!"

"Awesome!" She squealed with delight, taking off towards the kitchen faster than either could track.

Letting a whistle out, Goku turned embrace his wife, both exchange a brief kiss before parting, "What did I miss?"

"Oh nothing. Just our little monster just rampaging with my old blaster," She motioned with a turn of her head, watching distantly as the last of the scorched marks were being cleaned up by Capsule Corp employees. "Thankfully, no one got hurt and nothing important was damaged. Better than the time she almost activated one of your Sparring Partners, as dad calls them."

"Oh boy, that was a close call," He laughed sheepishly, scratching his chin at remembering that. Ever since their girl could start walking, she had begun invading anywhere she pleased. The levels of delight she seemed to have was on par with the horrified reactions she got from the staff and family, almost on the borders of a mad scientist. Something both began to understand where it came from.

"Yeah, I let her off easy cause it's her birthday," Bulma shrugged with a guilty grin. "I'm so weak. It's hard to punish someone with such big eyes and pulls off such a sad expression. She looked so crushed that I couldn't do more than simply give her a good talking."

"Ah, well, I probably would've done the same," Goku responded waved nonchalantly with his free hand.

"Yes, but that was because this is a special day. You'd do that on any other day plus today," She turned with an accusing stare. "Be a little more strict with her. It'll become a bad habit if you keep this up and she'll start coming to you if she thinks bad ol' mom is persecuting her."

"Ah-okay, I'll try," He half recoiled, half nodded with a nervous smile.

Any further talk was broken up by a delighted yell.

"BRTHDAY CAKE, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

"Let's go before she makes a mess of it," Bulma resigned with a shake of her head. Grabbing the pizza box out of his hand, she pulled him just before closing the door with her foot. As she held the pizza and opened it, she revealed the pie that Pan liked; meat lovers and all. "Look what dad got!"

"PIE! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!" Pan enthusiastically raised her hands up and cheered. "I 'ove brthdays!"

"This is only your second, kiddo," Goku piped in with a wink aimed at Bulma. "Only more to come, right?"

"Of course," She said as she smiled at her small tike. "So many more."

Age 762, August 7th

Mount Paozu, Early Saturday Morning

Early in the morning, with the sun gazing firmly over the trees that were scattered across the abandoned mountain, Goku and Pan were making ample use of the wilderness for their own benefit. When Pan had turned three, she had began to take an interest in where her Papa went whenever he wasn't on the job delivering pizza, and had soon found training — which she had begun to call "play-fighting" — to be something she enjoyed.

At Goku's insistence, and once Bulma had been relatively sure that it would not harm their daughter in any way, he had begun giving his daughter training sessions. Nothing quite so strenuous as what the venerable Muten Rōshi had put him through, as he would save that for later. Merely enough to get the young girl into fighting shape and get her muscles forming.

And the easiest way to get Pan into it was to turn it into a game of tag.

"Papa wait for me!" The lavender-haired toddler called out. Despite her young age, she was already well suited for running, even though she looked like the average four year old child. "I have little legs!" Having inherited her mother's intelligence, the young girl's speech had improved considerably around the age of three-and-a-half.

Laughing, the proud father kept running further ahead. "It wouldn't be a game of tag if I let you catch me, would it?"

"B-But...!" Pan objected, tears forming in her onyx eyes. She clenched her fists, puffing out her cheeks and her tail spiked in irritation. "Papa's too fast, it's not fair!"

Goku couldn't help but laugh in spite of himself. And yet his laughter vanished when he felt something hit him with the force of a small truck; in a split second, Pan had vanished, and quickly embedded her head in her father's stomach like a missile, winding Goku and sending him spiraling backwards, Pan in tow.

Coughing as he pulled himself upright, he looked at the now smiling girl sitting in his lap.

"Papa! You're it now!"

"P-Pan!?" Goku blinked, still inhaling deeply from that winding blow. "What just...?"

"What what, Papa?" Pan blinked, her wide black eyes looking confused. "I tagged you!"

"I know that, but how did you get here so quickly? You were over by that tree just a second ago..."

Pan tilted her head, her spiky lavender hair, so much like her father's, and yet vividly coloured like her mother's, moved with her. "I dunno. I just wanted to tag you, and I did it! Now you chase me, Papa!"

"I think that's enough tag for now, Pan," replied the father, sitting up as his daughter slid to the ground, looking mildly upset. "Why don't we try something different? A new game! Has Papa taken you fishing yet?"

"Nuh-uh!" Pan's unhappiness was immediately offset by her father suggesting they play something different.

Having been led to a small cliff by her father, Goku had explained how the game would work. He would dive into the water and lure a fish out, and it would be Pan's job to catch it, thereby securing the father and daughter pair their lunch for the day. Almost eagerly, the four-year old was standing at the side of the cliff; having her father's natural curiosity, she peered over the edge, looking down into the sparkling waters.

Down below, she could see subtle distortions in the surface of the water as her father swam beneath the lake, trying to startle the largest fish he could find. Any minute now, she'd be greeted by the sight of a breaching fish. The young girl's monkey-like tail was practically wagging in excitement.

The water began to ripple, and sure enough, there was a small eruption of water, and the large form of a blue-bodied fish flew high into the air. It was one of the larger fish in the lake, a Paozu tuna. The creature flew straight into the air, towards the cliff-side. Pan, ever ready, crouched and leapt, landing a solid kick to the side of the fish, knocking it unconscious with her surprising strength.

Its eyes whiting out, the fish fell back towards the lake, only for Goku to fly up and catch the creature, holding its limp body against his shirtless torso. Laughing, the proud father flashed a thumbs up at Pan, who danced with pride at her accomplishment. Landing neatly onto the cliff-side, Goku shook the water off his body and slipped back into his standard fighting gi, which he had discarded down to his shorts for ease of swimming.

"We did it, Papa!" Pan crowed, leaping into the air. "We got a big one!"

"We sure did, champ! Now, let's sit down and cook this baby!"

The duo made walked further from the edge of the cliff, and Goku quickly set up lumber with which they could use for cooking, employing his ki to light it aflame. As the flame would take some time before it became hot enough to cook anything, Goku set the large tuna up against it, staked into the ground, and began to casually chat with Pan.

"So, kiddo, how's school treatin' ya?"

"I like it!" replied the girl simply, leaning forward to poke the fish. "But preschool is really boring. Mama's taught me how to write, and she's already started to teach me mathematics! So she wants to have me go up a grade!"

"Oh yeah, your mother was pretty good at all this school stuff..." Goku remembered, if only vaguely, how Bulma explained that she had graduated from university at age sixteen, before their very first Dragon Ball hunt. Ruffling Pan's spiky head, he grinned. "Looks like you've got your Mama's smarts; guess it runs in her family! Who knows, you might become a scientist like your Mama."

"But I want to be strong like you are, Papa!" replied the girl earnestly. "I like play-fighting and I want to be as big, fast and tough like you are!"

"You can do both," said Goku. "My teacher told me something when I was training with him. Something about how a martial artist needs to train their mind and their body. I failed in that first part, but the long and short of it is, your Mama's got the right idea; so if you listen to both of us, you might even become stronger than I am!"

With Pan's goal firmly set, the two continued to chat idly. The fire eventually reached the necessary cooking heat, and as soon as the fish was cooked, the duo began to dig in. Despite his never ending stomach, Goku gave the largest share of the fish to Pan, who took it happily. The girl had Goku's appetite, and despite the fact that she was just a toddler, she ate as ravenously as he.

"That was yummy, Papa!" crowed Pan as they set the bones of the large fish aside, and her father snuffed out the flames.

"I bet it was, kiddo," replied Goku. "Say, should we head on back? Your Mama's gonna be worried if we're out here too late." Turning to the sky, he was about to call towards the clouds, but thought better of it. "Why don't you do it this time, Pan?"

Her onyx eyes sparkling with excitement, Pan turned to the sky, her tail swishing in the air. "KINTO'UN!"

Pan's voice echoed across the sky, and there was a familiar whirring sound as one of the many clouds seemed to be given life, dashing down from the fathomless sky towards the strange looking pair. The cloud was golden in colour, trailing a tail behind it. The cloud settled next to its master, Goku, and Pan looked at it with utmost eagerness. The innocent girl clambered onto the cloud, hugging it and pulling at the fluffy construct.

"C'mon, Papa! Get on it!"

Goku followed his daughter's lead, sitting onto the cloud which he'd owned since he was a young child. Pan climbed onto her father's back, wring her arms around his neck.

"Go, Kinto'un! Go!"

At Pan's insistence, the cloud began to take off, hurtling them into the air and away from Mount Paozu. As they flew, Goku spared an aside glance to his former house, the hut that belonged to his grandfather, Gohan. After giving it his brief farewells until he came back again, the cloud pushed them forward towards the Western Capital. Kinto'un flew them over forests and plains until the new scenery of the city-scape came into view.

Capsule Corporation came into view, and Pan eagerly directed the Somersault Cloud towards her home. Making a sharp left, the cloud began a long descent, and they landed neatly outside the automatic glass door of Capsule Corporation. Sliding off the cloud, the two landed on the grass lawn outside, and Pan jumped down from her perch on her father's shoulder.

"Let's go find Mama!" She urged, and pulled her father by the hand; leading him straight through the door, Goku waved cheerfully to the secretary, who pointed Goku in the direction of the conference room. It seemed she already knew that the man was looking for Bulma.

Walking towards another automatic glass door, Goku's acute hearing could pick up his wife's voice even when the door was closed — and it sounded like she was very happy.

"—well, of course! No, it has been awhile! I should be able to arrange that; but I'm married now, you know that, right? ...I know, I'm sorry for not sending you an invitation, but I wanted to make it a quick, quiet service!"

Goku and Pan looked at each other, then at Bulma, who was speaking quickly into a corded telephone. They'd never heard her chat so animatedly over the phone with anyone; most of her calls were usually business calls. Furthermore, the sight of a telephone had recently begun to irritate the young woman, as she had begun teaching Goku the finer points of using one.

One of the most memorable attempts ended with him holding the receiver an arm's length away, attempting to shout into the phone.

"Yeah, no problem!" She continued speaking, looking up at her beloved family and motioning them over, but at the same time to be silent so she could hear. "We've been meaning to plan a little get together anyway, so I don't see why we can't bring you with us! Sure! Alright, I'll see you then!" Smiling, the woman hung up the phone.

"So...who was that?" inquired Goku, voicing his confusion.

"Oh, that?" Bulma gestured to the telephone. "That was a telephone call from my older sister, Tights!"

"You have a sister?" Goku blinked, evidently confused. This was the first he'd heard of it; something he quickly voiced.

"Well, she doesn't keep in touch as often as she ought to," shrugged the lavender-haired woman, her jumpsuit moving with her shoulders. "But we get along really great when she's around; she's a novelist, you see. Her expertise is science-fiction, but I think she's been considering expanding her horizons, and because of that, she wants to meet all of my friends!"

"But why us?"

"I suppose all of the antics involving Piccolo and the Tenkaichi Budōkai reached her ears and got her novelist's blood boiling," replied Bulma airily. "I know it's not much of science-fiction, but her first ever novel, Space Patrol Chako, was a dud, and her second novel, Jiya!, received only modest sales. So I think she's considering looking into martial arts as her next inspiration."

Goku, not being the quickest on the uptake, was having difficulty putting two and two together, and Bulma sighed, placing a thin finger to her husband's forehead.

"So, I'm going to call Muten Rōshi, and the others, and we'll have a big 'ol reunion at Kame House!" Her tone was excited as she explained her grand plan to Goku. "Think about it, Son, we haven't seen our friends in a few years — barring the poor incident with Yamcha — and I think it'd be nice for us to have a good meet up. And you, Pan, you can meet everyone your Mama and Papa went on adventures with years ago, and your Aunt Tights too!"

"Yay!" Pan's eyes glimmered, less at the thought of meeting new people and more at the word "adventures". However, it was obvious she would be happy no matter where her parents were taking it, and her monkey-like tail swished behind her. "I can see everyone!"

"A big 'ol meetin', eh?" Goku thought to himself. "It's been awhile since we've seen everyone. I wonder how Kuririn's been holding up all these years?"

Sol System, Outside the Asteroid Belt

As the Son family chatted and spoke about their impending joyous reunion with their comrades, in the deep reaches of outer space, there was a stirring. Past Jupiter, a ship rocketed through the solar system, it's inhabitant focused on one thing and one thing only.

The little blue planet.

Earth.

A/N:

Demod20: Wow, sorry guys for the late update (don't worry, your May Update will still be planned...not promised, but planned, haha!) but we got it out and I had a lot of fun writing this Chapter. Maybe too much fun but, hey, my co-author has been pretty busy with the Erased Chronicles (unashamed Plug-In here) so I thought to give him a break ^^. I liked detailing how Goku and Bulma each had their trials of parenthood and how both of them dealt with it in their own way. Though personally I loved my co-author's section the best if only because how freakin' adorable Pan is as a 4 year old. Can't wait to see how the next Chapter turns out!

LastationLover5000: And the chapter is done! I'm sorry to everyone who loves this story and thinks we don't update it enough, I really am! But I'm working on the Erased Chronicles, and Mang has his own stories as well, but we try our hardest and now this chapter is finally up! We've been wanting to do this one for awhile; everyone thought their kid was gonna be Gohan, but NOPE! Pan, everyone! The pun should be obvious; Pan, for bread, but also it carries over her mother's name, "Pan", as it "panties". Yes, classic Toriyama. This chapter had some tie-ins to the Jaco the Galactic Patrolman that I rather enjoyed; for starters, Pan finding her mother's blaster, which Bulma invented at age 5. Tights is another inclusion. So yes, this story considers Dragon Ball Minus canon; I'm sorry to anyone who liked the Bardock special. Furthermore, to anyone questioning Pan's improved speech capabilities at age four...at age five, her mother was arguing theoretical physics with Dr. Brief. I'm pretty sure Pan is mild compared to that!

The end of the chapter is one of my favorite parts. A mystery arrival, coming in from outer space!? The plot is finally about to rear it's head, everyone, so get ready for this story to entirely change the timeline of Dragon Ball!