Hi, guys. So I'm really sorry that it has taken me so long to get the rest of this chapter uploaded. If you are my friend on Facebook, then you already know that I moved recently & the packing, unpacking & cleaning has kept me incredibly busy. I'm not close to done with what I have to do, but I put a pause on all that so I could update. That said, I hope you're not too mad at me. Enjoy!

To LVR4Trunks-n-Vegeta: Yup, that's the reason he wanted to talk to Trunks. Bulma's reaction was supposed to be in this chapter, but, unfortunately, I didn't have time to write it. It'll definitely be in the next one. Sorry for the long, long wait

To destiny18-au: Not Bulma's ring, ChiChi's. Seemed more appropriate to give Pan her own mom's ring. Bulma & Vegeta are divorced, since he split on her. Really, morning sickness can last all day? That seriously sucks. I hate, hate, hate feeling nauseous. That's one thing I don't look forward to when I have kids :/

I personally don't know how people react to the loss of a child, but I do know from personal experience that not all parents are as selfless as you, unfortunately. When my mom lost my first sister, she had mood swings: bouts of anger, depression, etc. She grieved her like anyone would grieve a loved one & anger is sometimes a part of that process. I'm no psychologist, but I did see it firsthand. I kind of based Bulma after my mom in this case, though she wasn't as bad. I took Bulma's short temper into account while writing. Goku, on the other is being strong & stoic for the sake of his wife. He's trying to be there for her, as much as she lets him. He's more concerned about not losing another wife. Hope that makes sense. I'll try to elaborate on that before the story is over.

I wouldn't call it a change of heart. Pan's feelings for Bulma haven't exactly changed. She can just empathize with Bulma because she thought she had lost her own baby. I think I mentioned that in an earlier chapter. There is definitely still some resentment there. You'll see Goten & Gohan briefly in this chapter & more in the next one. I had to cut this chapter a little short or else there would have been a lot more of them. I hope I answer all of your questions in the next chapter

To Sailor Saiyan007: I've had to live with that when my mom lost my first sister. She snapped at everyone for a good while after that happened. The conversation is in this chapter, if you didn't catch the preview I posted last month. I'm sure you did, though. Trunks didn't exactly flip out, but it was a shock for him. Two more chapters to go. I'll be sad when it's over, too. Sorry about the long wait & thanks for another review

To Sangsu: Thank you, & thanks for the review!

To Guest: Glad you liked it! Thank you for the review

To Guest: It is a little angsty, isn't it? I guess I just like drama, in my stories, anyway. Haha. Still, I'm glad you like it. I'd consider doing a Gohan & Videl story. I don't know when I'd get around to it, though. I have a long list of stories I want to do. I'll make sure to add them to it. Thanks for the review, btw!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Perfect (Part Two)

Trunks

Two Weeks Earlier

A noise from the other room made Trunks pause, anxiety coursing through him. Assuming it was his mom, he braced himself for another confrontation. Maybe she would yell at him just because he was standing around, minding his own business; or maybe she'd yell at him again for simply breathing. I wasn't even breathing that loudly, for God's sake. Who knew a person could get in trouble for basically continuing to exist?

The person who walked around the corner, however, wasn't his mom; it was Goku. Trunks relaxed, but only slightly. He and his stepfather were still a little uncomfortable around each other.

"Trunks." The older Saiyan nodded at him.

"Goku," Trunks replied, nodding back in acknowledgement.

"I've been looking for you; I need to talk to you," Goku told him. "Do you have a second?"

Trunks glanced up the stairs briefly before nodding again. "Sure. What is it?"

"Let's talk in here." Goku gestured to the room he had just emerged from, the living room-slash-his temporary bedroom.

Trunks somewhat reluctantly followed his stepfather into the room, hoping this conversation didn't end with him embedded in another wall.

"Pan and I need to leave soon," Trunks mentioned as they entered the room, hoping it would speed the conversation along. He didn't want them to be late for Pan's appointment.

"I'll make it quick," Goku promised, gesturing at the couch for Trunks to take a seat. The younger Saiyan would've preferred to stand, wanting to be ready in case the conversation didn't go well, but after a moment's hesitation, he eventually relented & sat down on the very edge of the sofa cushion. He continued to eye the other man warily, though, as he paced in front of him.

"What's this about?" Trunks asked a few moments later, when Goku still hadn't said anything.

The black-haired Saiyan stopped pacing at the sound of Trunks' voice and turned to him. Goku put his hand in the right pocket of his orange gi and stared at him for another moment before finally speaking. So much for making this quick, Trunks thought, mentally rolling his eyes.

"What are your intentions with my daughter?" His voice and face were stern as he stared down at Trunks.

"Intentions?" he repeated, confused. "I don't-"

"You got Pan pregnant," Goku interrupted, the tone of his voice somewhat accusatory. "Now what?"

Trunks narrowed his eyes as he stood, slowly, the accusation in his stepfather's voice making his blood simmer. Maybe I'll be the one to throw the first punch this time.

"If you're asking if I plan on marrying Pan, then you don't have anything to worry about. I already proposed to her. In fact, I asked her before she got pregnant and she said yes, which was a damn miracle considering everything that was in our way at the time. I love her, baby or no baby, and I intend to make her my wife, if that's what she still wants. I don't know if her feelings about marriage have changed, but I'm all in, if she is."

"I see," Goku uttered quietly, after a moment of tense silence. "Chi Chi was right then," he continued, a small, sad smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Chi Chi…? What are you talking about?"

Movement in the corner of his eye caught Trunks' attention, and he looked down just as Goku pulled a folded piece of white paper and a burgundy string pouch from his right pocket.

"When my wife died," the older Saiyan started, "she left a letter for each of us: me, the boys and Pan. I don't know what she said in her letters to the kids and they don't know what she wrote to me; we never talked about it." Trunks knew what Pan's said. She had mentioned it the night she came home and then in more detail yesterday. Goku's, however- as well as Gohan and Goten's- were a complete mystery to him.

Trunks could see the unshed tears in Goku's eyes as he continued. "I read it as soon as I found it in the top drawer of her bedside table a few days after we buried her. She talked about some memories we shared, the people in our lives that she would miss, the kids, especially; and she mentioned you."

"Me?" Trunks repeated, confused, still not sure where his stepdad was going with this.

"Yes. I actually didn't know it was you she was talking about until recently. Like I said, Chi Chi mentioned a few people in her letter, but there was only one she didn't refer to by name. I know now, without a doubt, that it was you she was talking about."

"But why didn't Chi Chi use my name?" the purple-haired boy asked, his original confusion mounting.

"I don't know exactly, but I think that she thought I might interfere." He chuckled and then smiled sheepishly at Trunks. "If that was the reason, then she was right to not use your name."

Would've been better for all of us, though, if she had been less cryptic, Trunks thought, bitterly. Then maybe my mom wouldn't have married Pan's dad.

"Anyway," Goku continued, "she wanted Pan to have something, and she asked me to give it to you when the time came so that you could give it to her."

Goku closed the distance between himself and Trunks and then proceeded to hand the younger man the burgundy pouch he had pulled from his pocket. Wordlessly, Trunks took it, the small bag almost weightless and the velvet soft against his skin. He loosened the top and shook whatever was inside into his open palm; a small ring with a singular diamond fell into his hand, surprising the lavender-haired Saiyan. His shock seemed to only intensify as he realized that it was Chi Chi's wedding ring. The ring, coupled with her request that he be the one to give it to Pan, added up to only one thing in Trunks' mind: Pan's mother had obviously known how he felt about her daughter, had known before he had even figured it out himself, and she foresaw them eventually finding their way to each other.

"But how?" Trunks muttered quietly, half to himself. "How did she know?"

"Chi Chi always was smart," Goku replied, with an affectionate smile for his deceased wife, "and observant. She noticed things most people didn't. In her letter, she said there was already a man in Pan's life that she was sure our daughter would marry. Chi Chi told me to give this person her wedding ring 'when he finally got his head out of his ass long enough to realize he loved her'. Her words, not mine.

I tried to figure out who it might be, I even considered you for a very short moment; but you used to be like a brother to Pan, before you two grew apart. Plus, you're so much older than her. I ruled you out pretty fast, but I guess I shouldn't have. Chi Chi obviously noticed something I didn't."

Trunks was surprised at how easily Pan's mother had seen right through him. He thought he had been pretty convincing; he was certainly convincing enough to fool Pan for years.

"We didn't grow apart; I pushed her away," Trunks admitted. "My feelings for her changed and I did all I could to make her hate me because our age difference seemed like a big deal at the time. But then she got older, and the difference between twenty-four and eighteen didn't seem as bad as it did when she was fourteen and I was twenty. Then I fell in love with her. Hell, I think I've always loved her. She's always been special to me."

"Good." Goku nodded approvingly. "Because she is special, Trunks. Treat her right. You clearly have Chi Chi's approval. I never doubted her judgement when she was alive and I'm not going to start now, so you have mine, as well." Trunks smiled warmly at his stepfather, the bad blood between them seeming to evaporate in an instant with those few words and the ones that followed after. "I've always liked you, Trunks, despite who your father is."

The two Saiyans chuckled before an angry voice interrupted them. "Goku! Were you the one who tracked in mud?!"

The man in question groaned. "Sounds like your mom is on the warpath again. You better grab Pan and go."

Goku slapped Trunks on the back before leaving the room, supposedly to answer for the mess he had made. Good luck, Goku.

Turning his attention back to the piece of jewelry in his hand, Trunks began forming a plan in his head. His original proposal- if he could even call it that- was pathetic. It wouldn't be hard to outdo it, but he wanted to make it special. He would need his sister's help.

Trunks heard light footsteps descending the stairs, and had managed to stuff the ring and the pouch in his pocket right before Pan rounded the corner.

"There you are," she said, smiling at him from the entryway.

"Here I am," he replied, returning her smile.

"You ready?"

"Of course."

Closing the distance between them, Trunks couldn't help but stare at Pan as he approached. In simple jeans and a black tank top, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"You're staring again, creeper," Pan teased, still smiling.

"You know you love it," Trunks countered, as he finally reached her.

"Lucky for you." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it affectionately as he let her lead him to the front door. He could feel the small pouch and ring against his leg as he followed her, reminding him of what he was planning to do.

Yes, he thought with a smile as they stepped outside into the bright sunlight, I am pretty damn lucky.

Pan

Present

Pan took in the scene in front of her with wide eyes: Trunks kneeling on one knee before her, the mid-afternoon sun and something else she couldn't put a name to lighting up this face, and a ring in his open palm. Her mind registered what it all meant, what Trunks was doing, but her eyes kept straying back to the piece of jewelry he held, and she couldn't help but whisper, "Where did you get that?"

It was a simple ring, just a round cut diamond on a white gold band, something he could have bought at any jewelry store; but Pan knew it was her mother's wedding ring. Given to her grandmother by her grandfather, the Ox King, and then passed on to his daughter, Pan had spent countless hours as a child sitting at her mom's side, admiring it. Unlike a lot of little girls, the young Saiyan had never thought about her future wedding and hoped that one day it would be hers; she just thought it was pretty. Time hadn't dulled its beauty. The bright rays of the sun bounced off the diamond, making it sparkle and shine.

Trunks laughed, drawing Pan's attention back to his smiling face. "Not sure if I should be hurt that you only have eyes for the ring."

"It was my mom's," Pan said, as way of explanation, but she figured Trunks already knew that.

"I know," he replied, proving her right. "Your dad gave it to me. He gave it to me so I could give it to you. Apparently it's what your mom wanted."

Pan gasped, her hands, which were frozen at her sides, flying to her mouth. "What? How do you know that?"

"I'll explain later." Trunks looked down at his body briefly and then met her eyes again. "I'm kind of in the middle of something at the moment, if you haven't noticed."

A breathy laugh escaped Pan's lips, her initial shock fading slightly and sense starting to seep back in. "Yeah, about that…" she started. "You already proposed, remember?"

"My first proposal was pretty pathetic," he admitted. "Also, I wasn't sure if you remembered that you promised to marry me. So much has happened since then that I wouldn't have blamed you if you forgot."

"I remembered," she said, her words quiet as the memory of that night played in her head.

Pan didn't think his original proposal was pathetic. Despite the lack of romance, he had said all of the right things; it had been perfect to her, and she knew she would look back on this day with the same sentiment, as well. All she needed was him to make it perfect.

"I still mean everything I said that night. We're already a family, Pan. You're the mother of my child and you're my soulmate, the woman I love. I want you with me, by my side, for the rest of my life. Or at least until you get tired of me," he added, forcing a laugh from Pan's constricted throat, tears pooling in her eyes. "What I want and how I feel is still the same," Trunks continued before glancing down briefly. He took a deep breath and met her gaze again, his blue eyes serious and intense. "Is your answer still the same?"

"Well... I'm not sure." Peering down at him, Pan saw doubt flicker across Trunks' handsome face. The vulnerability in his eyes made her heart clench, but she couldn't resist teasing him as she smiled mischievously and said, "I can't remember exactly what I said that night so I doubt I can give you the same exact answer. Will a simple 'yes' work, though? I mean, if I tried really hard, I could probably re-"

The raven-haired Saiyan's breath caught in her throat as Trunks leapt up, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off of her feet. Pan clasped her hands together at the back of his neck, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss.

Her heart swelled with happiness. She didn't like to think about it, but Pan had been worried that maybe Trunks had changed his mind about marriage. It was a ridiculous thought, she now realized, especially when she considered how often he proved how much he loved her; but Pan had made a lot of mistakes since his first proposal, mistakes she couldn't help but fear he would always hold against her. It was obvious to her now, though, as Trunks held her tight and ravaged her mouth, that her fears had been in vain.

Their hard, desperate kisses slowed, becoming soft and gentle as Trunks finally set Pan on her feet. He smiled against her lips before pulling away just enough to gaze into her eyes. "Smart ass."

"Takes one to know one," Pan breathlessly shot back, standing on tiptoes to capture his lips again.

They kissed and held each other close for a few more moments, the heady smell of flowers and the soothing sound of the fountain surrounding them. Then Trunks took a step back, disentangling her arms from around his neck in the process.

"Let's see if this fits," he said, raising his hand and unfurling his fingers, revealing the ring hidden inside. There was no resistance as he grabbed her left hand and slid her mother's ring smoothly onto her finger, a wide smile on his face. "Perfect fit."

Pan held out her hand, watching the diamond sparkle in the light. It was perfect. "It's more beautiful than I remember."

"Not as beautiful as you."

"You can stop now," she laughed, lowering her hand. "I already agreed to marry you."

"Never," he replied with a wink. Trunks linked his right hand with her left and placed a soft kiss on the back before tugging on it gently. "Now lets get you home."

"But what about my bags?" Pan asked.

The purchases she had made earlier that day with Bulla, as well as the clothes she had been wearing before her friend had forced her into a dress, were still sitting on the floor of his office where she had left them. She had assumed that they were going to go back there since it was the middle of the work day.

"I'll have someone drop them off at the house," Trunks told her. "I'm taking the rest of the day off to be with my fiancée."

Pan smiled as he began pulling her down the path, but she slowed when they approached a tall row of hedges. There was an archway in the middle of them, but it was closed off by a white fence.

"This isn't the way we came, is it?" Pan asked with a frown, confused.

"Sure it is," Trunks answered, looking around.

"I don't think it is."

"Oh." The lavender-haired Saiyan's brows furrowed as he looked around again. "Well, if we go this way, I'm sure we'll find the exit eventually. I guess I was too nervous before to pay attention to where we were going."

Pan laughed. "You were nervous? Were you that worried about my answer?"

"A little," Trunks admitted.

"Well, it's a good thing I said yes then , huh?"

"A very good thing." A glint appeared in his eye, but he continued before Pan could wonder much about it. "Because if you hadn't, this next part would be pretty awkward."

"Next part? What next part?"

Trunks didn't answer her. Instead, he turned away and started sliding back the white fence blocking the archway.

"Wait, it says there's a private function. We can't go in there."

"Lets be party crashers then. Come on, Mrs. Future Brief, let's live a little."

"Trunks," Pan began, but he had already slid through the opening between the fence and the hedge. All she could see was the hand he held out, waiting for her. "Trunks!" She tried again, but the man in question simply ignored her and waved for to join him.

Releasing an exasperated sigh, Pan reluctantly placed her hand in his and followed him to the other side. Once they emerged, she gasped, her eyes widening. There were rows of chairs and people everywhere. The small pavilion was adorned with white balloons and a long cream colored carpet covered in rose petals bisected the many seats. It was set up for a wedding, Pan realized.

"Trunks," she whispered, trying not to draw attention to themselves. "We shouldn't be here. This is somebody's wedding."

He turned to her and grinned. "You're right, it is."

"I know, so we'd better-"

"It's our wedding," he interrupted.

Pan blinked up at him; convinced she had heard him wrong. "What are you…" But her voice trailed off as she looked around again. It was hard to see in the bright sunlight, but she realized that she knew these people. Her brothers, all of her dad's friends, Krillin and his family. It reminded her of her dad's wedding to Bulma; but it wasn't, it was… "This is our wedding?"

Tucking a finger under her chin, Trunks forced her gaze away from the scene in front of her and back on him. He smiled down at her and kissed the tip of her nose. "You said you'd marry me. Are you changing your mind already?"

"No, but… we're getting married? Right now?"

"Right now."

"Oh, my god."

"Don't start crying!" At the familiar voice, Pan turned and saw Bulla rushing toward her in her new floral dress. The dress she bought that morning, when she took Pan shopping… Looking from her best friend to her future husband, Pan suddenly realized that the bluenette must've been in on the plan the whole time: the spa day, making her buy a dress that was so pale it was nearly white, going on and on about how perfect October was; and now she placed a flimsy white veil over Pan's hair.

"You knew," Pan accused, smiling at her friend as the shock of yet another surprise began to wear off.

"Obviously," Bulla admitted, rolling her eyes. "You think this one could've planned all of this.' She gestured at her brother and then waved her hand around them. "He wanted to get married in a church," she scoffed, "but I knew you wouldn't want something so traditional."

She was right. It was perfectly fine for some people, but Pan couldn't imagine getting married anywhere but outside under the open sky, not that she thought about it much. When she looked around again, though, she knew it was true, and she was grateful that Bulla seemed to know her better than she knew herself.

"It's gorgeous," Pan whispered, her eyes glued to the archway they would be getting married under, vines with small blossoms snaking their way through and around it.

"I know," Bulla said with a smug smile. She then plucked a bouquet of flowers off of a nearby chair and handed it to the dark-haired girl. "There, the bride's ready. Now, let's see about the groom." She put two fingers in her mouth and emitted a loud whistle, one apparently meant to summon her brothers, who emerged at the bluenette's side.

"Best men, at your service," Goten announced, smiling cheekily before his eyes landed on his little sister, his gaze softening noticeably.

Bulla rolled her eyes again "Boutonniere, please," she requested, holding out her hand.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a mock salute; the blue-haired girl was clearly the one in charge here.

Goten handed Bulla a spray of flowers, which she proceeded to place in the front pocket of Trunks' suit. A suit that Pan was just now noticing was a lot fancier than what he usually wore to work. I should've known he was up to something, she thought, mentally shaking her head.

"All set," Bulla announced, looking up at her brother. "Now, get your ass up there and wait for your bride."

With a wink in Pan's direction, Trunks detached himself from their small group and went to stand under the archway. When he was in position, she turned to her brothers and asked, 'Where's Dad? He's walking me down the aisle, right?" She didn't know much about weddings, but she knew that was the father's job.

"Not exactly,' Gohan answered, meeting their younger brother's eyes.

Before Pan could inquire further, her father's voice sounded behind her. "I'm not walking you down the aisle, Panny." Pan turned around to face him, equal parts hurt and confused by his statement. The words she was about to say stuck in her throat, however, when she was met with not only her dad's smiling face, but Bulma's as well. The younger woman couldn't remember the last time she had seen her stepmother smile. It was tentative, but it was there, and it seemed genuine.

"I don't understand,' Pan said, forcing her gaze back on her father, the confusion and pain returning. They had had their differences in the past, and still did somewhat, but was he really not going to give her away? And why was he smiling about it?

"I'm not walking you down the aisle," he repeated, effectively twisting the knife in Pan's chest. The ache in her heart dissipated, however, at his next words. "Your brothers are."

Author's Note:

So how was it? Worth the very, very long wait? Probably not, but I still hope you liked it. It was supposed to be longer, but I hit a mental roadblock so I thought I'd end it there & post what I had. There will be another chapter with the wedding & wedding night, as well as an epilogue. Those will be out whenever. Remember that I still have to get my new house in order. The boyfriend works a lot so he hasn't been able to help me as much as I'd like. We're almost there, guys. Please hang in there for a little while longer

-Chels xoxo