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"Stolen Youth"Written By: Debs-Dragon Disclaimer: I don't own the DBZ gang, a rich Japanese man does. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Angst, sap, Lemon, violence, nasty Trunks. Notes: A New Years eve party is in full swing at Capsule Corp. Goten and Trunks sample the punch which gets them drunk. Pan has admired Trunks for some time and when he makes his advances she doesn't resist. What happens destroys her trust and faith? Alone and hurting Pan disappears. Authors Notes: I have taken a few liberties with the timeline. Pan is older in this in order for the story to work, I'm afraid that under age sex is not something I condone and as such I have tweaked the time lines to make all characters of consenting age. :) Feedback: Is craved and adored. "Stolen Youth" January 2003 Debs-dragon
Chapter 16
Gohan scanned around to locate Trunks' ki. They were in the area Trunks had told them so he knew they shouldn't be far away. There... Was that it? Gohan paused and scanned again. He could feel the soft power and a weaker one with it. That had to be Trunks and Pan. Gohan tugged at Videl's hand. "This way." he said quietly and led her down a street to an alley way. "Down there?" Videl's eyebrow raised as she asked her question. "That's where the ki is coming from." Gohan replied. The began to walk down the narrow alley, eyes roaming over everything in sight. While the area wasn't a slum by any stretch of the imagination it wasn't exactly high class either. Neither Videl or Gohan were snobs but they had hoped that their daughter would some day reside in a place a little more upmarket than what they were seeing now. Gohan paused about half way down and scanned again. The smells of cooking were thick in the air so he knew they had to be close to the diner. His stomach rumbled but he ignored it. "In here." He said and pulled Videl into a small yard that ran off the back of the alley. Videl stared around. The small yard contained a stack of boxes on one side, resting against a large dumpster. Rubbish bins decorated the other side and a small door led to what was supposedly the back of a shop. A small set of iron steps leading to another door just up above them drew her attention and she began to walk towards them. "She's in there." Videl said as she headed up the stairs. Gohan said nothing. He knew Videl had to be right. She had that mother's instinct and so he trusted in it and followed his wife up the steps to pause at the door. Videl knocked and waited patiently. The door opened a moment later and a large woman blocked the entry way. "Can I help you?" Martha wouldn't let just anyone in, although she knew it was most likely Pan's parents she needed to be sure. "I believe my daughter Pan is here." Gohan said in his quiet but firm voice. Martha looked at the pair. She could see the resemblance of them to Pan and there was no doubt they were Pan's parents. "Yes she is. Please come in." Martha stepped to one side to allow them access to Pan's apartment. Videl spotted Pan on the couch and immediately took off running across the room to envelop her daughter in a bear hug. The tears flowed freely as she held her daughter close, hands running through the short black locks. Finally she pulled away and began to check Pan over. Her eyes covered every inch of Pan as her fingers stroked through hair in reassurance that she was actually here and not some hallucination. Satisfied that Pan was all in one piece she again hugged her close. "Oh Pan.. Pan... We've been so worried about you. Why didn't you call? Why did you run off?" Martha watched the scene unfold before her eyes and felt the moisture gathering there. She fished in her apron, finally locating the ever present hankie and dabbed at her eyes. Slowly she began to back away to the door. These folks needed to talk, to catch up and sort some issues out. They didn't need her presence there while they did that. She didn't notice Trunks next to her until she was about to exit. "Where are you going Martha?" Trunks asked quietly. "I figure they need to talk. They don't need an old biddy like me around while they do that." Trunks nodded. "Mind if I come with you?" Martha smiled at the young man. "Sure, come on down to the diner and I'll get Joe to fix you something to eat while we wait for these to catch up and sort things out." "Thanks Martha. I'll let them know where we are." Martha nodded and waited outside the door while Trunks went back to the small gathering by the couch. Trunks touched Gohan lightly on the shoulder and Gohan spun around. "I'm going with Martha down into the diner. You guys need to talk. Let me know when you're done and I'll come back up. Pan and I need to talk as well but now is not the time." Gohan gave Trunks a squeeze to the shoulder. "Okay. Thanks Trunks." Trunks smiled and then turned to meet up with Martha outside the door. The pair of them left the small family alone to discuss their problems and find solutions. ~ * ~ Trunks followed Martha back to the diner and took a seat. The evening rush had slowed a little and most of the customers were either finished their meal or in the processes of eating. Martha slipped back behind the counter and thanked the girl that had covered for her while she was with Pan. Then she turned to Trunks and gave him a menu. "What would you like honey?" Trunks scanned the menu quickly, he wasn't really hungry but he could sense the woman would not take no for an answer. Finally he settled on a hamburger, more to keep the peace than anything. Martha shuffled off and passed the order through to Joe who was keen to know what was going on. Martha promised him a full report later and with that the old cook had to be satisfied. She returned to Trunks and placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him before moving away to check on the other patrons in the diner. Trunks stirred a spoonful of sugar into his coffee and thought about his life now. With finding Pan everything changed... for the better he hoped. Idly his mind wandered as he covered the new sets of questions and problems that had and were yet to arise. He knew he had made a terrible mistake and he would have to put it right.. As best he could. His main concern was to get Pan to see and understand just how deeply he really felt for her, how sorry he was and how much he longed to make up for his errors. Not because it was the right thing to do... but because he wanted to. Martha could see the gears turning in the young man's head and she continued to quietly observe him as she bustled around clearing tables and topping up coffee cups. The numbers had thinned and only a few people remained enjoying the warmth and laid back atmosphere of the diner. She caught the movement of a plate and turned to see Joe place the ordered hamburger on the shelf. She moved away from the table she was clearing and went to fetch it. Trunks was still lost in his thoughts when Martha placed the hamburger in front of him. He looked up startled for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "Thanks." "Welcome." Trunks added a little salt to the burger before lifting it to his mouth and taking a bite. It was good. Martha smiled at him. "Enjoy. I'll come talk to you in a moment." Trunks continued to eat, his stomach reminding him that even if his brain said he didn't want food his stomach was apt to disagree. He quickly finished the burger, enjoying each mouthful and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Seconds later Martha was back and topping up his coffee cup. She also filled one for herself and sat on a stool on the opposite side of the counter. "Okay honey, I've heard pretty much Pan's side of the story and filled in the blanks myself. Now I want to hear what you have to say for yourself." Trunks looked up into the woman's face. He could see she cared about Pan and while there was no trace of anger written in the lines there was the threat of bodily harm if he had any intentions of hurting Pan. He gave a woeful smile and told Martha most of the sorry tale. "I am the father of Pan's child and I want to be there for him or her when they are growing up...." Martha stared at him. "That's not all is it." she said softly. "No." Trunks lowered his eyes. "I really care for Pan. I was a fool and I made a terrible mistake. I don't blame Pan if she never wants to speak to me or see me again and I would certainly make sure that both she and the child are taken care of. But I want...." he choked off, his emotions getting the better of him. Martha placed her hand over the top of his. "You want to be with her all the time don't you?" Trunks nodded. "But I don't think she will have me after all that I've done." he whispered. "You need to tell her that Trunks. Bare your soul and tell her how you really feel. Pan strikes me as a sensible girl, one that cannot hate or hold a grudge. I'm sure she will listen to you and while it may take her some time to forgive you you can be there for her, show her all the time by doing little things for her just how sorry you are and how much you want her forgiveness and compassion." "I hate myself." "No you don't." "Look at me! I'm a pathetic excuse for a man. If I had any morals or sense of decorum about me I wouldn't have done what I did in the first place." Trunks ground out. Martha sighed. "What's done is done and you cannot change that, let go of the past, look forward to the future for it is unwritten as yet. I know you can convince Pan you are genuine in your feelings so don't brood on it, tell her let her think and be there for her." Trunks looked deep into Martha's eyes. "Thank you." he said quietly. "You're welcome honey, now drink up your coffee I think you will be needed up there shortly." Trunks did as he was told, letting his brain stop chasing itself for the moment and opting to listen to Martha's advice. He would tell Pan all he felt and beg her forgiveness, then he would wait patiently while she made up her mind what she wanted to do. Either way he would be there for her. ~ * ~ Pan sat up and stared at her parents. She wasn't sure how to handle this. She was scared but happy at the same time. The tears ran unchecked down her cheeks as her mother embraced her. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed them both. When her mother finally released her she turned to her father, studying his face intently to gain any sort of clue as to what mood he was in but her father was hiding his emotions well. Gohan waited patiently until Videl had finished her check of Pan and as his wife moved back so he moved in. His arms wrapped around his daughter and he felt his own tears welling. As the corded muscles of her fathers arms wrapped around her Pan knew that everything was going to be all right. They would still have their arguments and disagreements but her father loved her and still wanted her. She didn't need to hear the words spoken to confirm that knowledge, the way he held her close yet gentle told her all she needed to know. Gohan felt the relief flood through him. His Pan was safe and well. He just needed to hold her, to feel her warmth, smell her shampoo and know she was here. Gohan sighed as he pulled away. Pan looked at both her parents through tear filled eyes. "I'm sorry." Videl brushed her errant bangs out of the way. "It's okay honey. We're sorry too." "Ohh mom... dad.... I know I shouldn't have run away like that, I knew you would be worried but at the time I guess I was just too angry and hurt to be thinking logically, and once I had calmed down enough to see things clearly it was too late to come back and set things right." Pan hung her head. "No I'm sorry Pan." Gohan's voice held a tremor to it as he spoke. "I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I know you aren't that kind of girl and I had no right to say the things I did to you. I should have listened and let you tell the whole story before condemning you like that. It is I that should be asking you to forgive me." Pan's head jerked up in shock. Her father was admitting he was wrong? But then when she thought about it that was the kind of man her father was. If he made a mistake he would own up to it and try to correct it. "Pan, we want you to come home. We know all about what happened at the party. We know who the father is and as you have seen for yourself your father hasn't killed him... yet." Videl spoke in a soothing tone. Pan had to give a little chuckle. "I didn't say I wasn't going to." Gohan gruffed but there was a twinkle in his eye. "How?" Pan asked. "Bra and Trunks came to see us. From what we have been told Marron confided in Bra when you hadn't shown up after a couple of weeks. Bra somehow let it slip to Trunks and Trunks felt it was his duty to tell us and take whatever punishment we deemed necessary." Videl frowned for a moment. "At least that's the general outline. I'm sure that Trunks and Bra will be able to fill you in properly with all the details when you get home." "Does that mean you want me to come back?" Pan asked in a whisper. "Of course honey. Just remember that's my grandchild you're carrying. And if you think I'm going to miss out on spoiling the child rotten then you have another thing coming." Videl smiled. "Besides I think you need your mother the most when you're expecting. I only wish I had had mine when I was pregnant with you." Videl's eyes took on a misty look. "I was lucky though, I had Chi Chi to fall back on and she was wonderful." Pan turned her gaze to her father. "What about you dad?" "You're my only daughter Pan. I want you to come home too, the place isn't the same without you. I think we will need to sit down and work some things out once we get home but you need to talk to Trunks as well. He's pretty torn up about all this and while I am glad he came to his senses and has the courage to face the facts and admit his failings it still doesn't mean I am happy with him or his conduct. I want you to talk with him, sort out in your own head what it is you want to do and then we can talk more about the future and what it is you wish from it." Pan felt as though a leaden weight had been lifted from her heart. She was free to make her own decision where it concerned her future and her child but whatever she chose she wouldn't have to be alone. Her family would stick with her. "I want to come home." she said quietly. "I will talk to Trunks but not now. I want to go home first and think about things, then I'll talk to Trunks." "Okay sweetie." Videl turned to Gohan. "It's a bit late to head back now, how about we book into a hotel for tonight and head home first thing tomorrow?" "I agree." Gohan replied and then looked at Pan. "It's okay with you if we wait until the morning to leave?" Pan nodded. "I think it would be best, besides I need to talk to Martha and Joe and let them know what is happening. They have both been very good to me." "Okay. Let's go and wash your face then and head down to the diner. I think I could do with a cup of coffee and I know your father is hungry, the sounds coming from his stomach remind me of a garbage compactor." "Hey!" Gohan protested. Pan laughed. "Okay. I wont be a moment and then we can go downstairs." Pan got up off the couch and went through to the small bathroom to wash her face, her thoughts swirling in her head. She was happy... happy to be going home and that things were looking a bit better. There was still a long way to go but the first steps had been taken and the future looked promising. There was still the small matter of Trunks to deal with but Pan pushed that thought to the back of her mind. She would deal with that later, later once she was home again and settled. ~ oOo ~ |
