AN: two years after its first publication and one since the last update I finally wrote the next chapter! Well if any of you are still out there reading this, –hear crickets and silence- So you can thank Parron for this one, I read the reviews from The Strangest Thing and just LMAOed.

So enjoy and I pinky swear, I'm going to finish this story in 3-4 chapter before the new year!

.

.

Chapter19- Nearly There

.

.

"His name is Frieza, I'm not entirely sure why he wanted us though." Goten explained, falling back into his General routine. It was like briefing his squad. Except two members of the squad were giving him looks that could kill. One was royally pissed 'cause he'd even set an eye on his daughter; the other blamed him losing his daughter out in space. This was not good moment to be Son Goten.

"What I do know, from my sources, is that this Freiza rules a large section of this galaxy and at least a few more entire ones. None of my spies have been able to find out the full extent of Freiza's forces and until now he's not come to this part of the universe. Now he's already captured the Neg'Vah home world and will come for us, all of us. I imagine as soon as he has finished assimilating the Neg'Vah technology."

The 'hurry up or die' glare the king gave him made nervous but he proceeded calmly. "On our way here from Zion we were stopped by General Menneth and General T'kal, who are apparently working under Frieza," If Vegeta was shocked he didn't show it. Gohan certainly was.

"We were in a loaned ship from Zion. No match for three battle ships. There weren't enough escape pods, Prince Trunks volunteered to stay behind a cause a distraction, and fight T'kal if necessary. Somehow Pan was the one who stayed behind and got capture-

"Weren't you there? Why didn't you stop her?"

"Figures your kid would do something stupid, and then be unable to defeat that weakling traitor."

"What was that?!" Gohan snarled, turned to snap but it was the blonde woman, sitting next to New Earth Pres. Krillin who snapped first.

"We have already wasted precious time with you're ridiculous squabbling." She calmed in the silence. "Now, this is the time for a plan of action. We can already deduce a few things from Frieza. One is that he must be powerful in order to take and keep several galaxies. The second is that his uses underhanded tactics."

"Right," Goten gave the woman a considering look then continued, "not only was he responsible for the peace conference poisoning trough his infiltrators but The prince discovers they had planned to kidnap The royal children, Pan and myself. So as the lady said what we need now is a course of action."

"Do? I see nothing to do here. We wait for my son's return, he's more than enough to defeat those weaklings."

"And what of Frieza?" President Krillin spoke for the first time.

"What of him? You obviously know nothing about the strength of the Saiyajin Empire! WE will crush him, if the prince hasn't already. I say let him come!"

"Your arrogance will be your down fall, Vegeta," Gohan spat with no small amount of disgust, "I say we go after them now they could be in trouble right now."

"You would. My son's will defeat those weaklings and return on his own."

"I agree with the king, Trunks is no weakling but you are wrong to underestimate the enemy, I spoke with Piccolo earlier, his people, the Namekians, live quite a few system away. Frieza will not hesitate to destroy the planet beneath your feet if he doesn't get what he wants."

"So? A bunch of weaklings couldn't beat him. What difference does that make to me?"

"Piccolo was as strong as you and my brother and Frieza treated him like a helpless newborn." Goten got the satisfaction of seeing Vegeta's scowl narrow. At least he was getting somewhere with the stubborn king.

The argument went back and forth between Vegeta and Gohan. One said go the other wait. Goten felt one of those headache coming on. Why didn't his father make them stop and agree on some thing? He was the ambassador not him. Bra gave him a sympathetic look.

He was grateful she had opted to come with him, he knew she really wanted to be with her mother, the doctors said the need rest and as little stress as possible. And as far as he knew, discussing a possible tyrannical invasion with two opposing leaders who hadn't gotten to more than an hour to speak with their newly awaked wives, was pretty high on the stress list. There was also thte fact that

"This is getting us no where."

"I agree," answered the most unlikely one, the quiet Neg'Vah "I purpose we all wait one day or two. This Frieza over took Neg'Vah most assuredly for our technology, our space traveling capabilities, which would allow him to expand his empire at a much faster rate. The prince left in one of your saiyajin ships if he hasn't returned in two days time then this Frieza will most certainly be at your door." Naav's emotionless tone took on a deadly quiet edge, " And he shall go no further…

.

.

.

.

.

Trunks leisurely swam back from the natural high Pan had given him. They were cuddling or spooning or whatever the hell it was that felt so good after that amazing make out session. He lay curled around Pan; one hand propped up his head the other entwined with hers on the curve of her hip. Hers looked so small and delicate, just like she did. Although his mind said otherwise, he still wanted to protect that, protect her. At this rate he'd be a marshmallow by the time they reach Beijita-sei. (And he'd secretly admit it wasn't so bad.)

"Tell me something about yourself" she said suddenly.

"Only if you do the same."

"Nothing ever comes easy with you does it?"

"Oh, I can think of one or two things." he hummed kissing the back of her neck.

"Trunks!"

"Guess we know whose mind is in the gutter." He loved the closeness they were sharing now he could feel the warmth from her body, feel when she spoke, feel every beat of her heart. "What do you do for fun?"

"Fun?" he furrow his brows.

"Yes fun, you know enjoyment? Things normal people to in their spare time for pleasure."

"Smart ass, I know what fun is. In my spare time, I spar, but no one's a challenge, unless you count my father. So I oversee the training of rookies on occasion," he smirked, "and put the fear the royal house into them." He felt Pan roll her eyes, "You're such a bully."

"Yeah well some body's got to do it. Father's busy fighting a war and Bra's got no heart in fighting."

"So it might as well be you, huh? Well that doesn't sound like fun or do you just enjoy picking on people."

"Don't worry Utsukushii that pleasure is solely reserved for you."

"Oh joy." she said flatly but when she rolled over to face him she was smiling. He couldn't think straight. For a moment he wondered if this was what it was like…if this feeling of easy and warmness, the funny feeling in his chest, was what it was like to be in love…He blinked and realized he had been staring, "So why did you want to becoming a pilot?"

"Lots of reasons. I was fifteen. Sick of the war I wanted to get away and do something. You know get out from underneath my father's wings. That teenage phase I guess. When you're in the cockpit it's like being free. Being a pilot wasn't a way to get away but at least I felt like I was doing something. Anyways, " she changed the subject, "what's your favorite snack?"

"Jerky."

"Huh?"

"Jerky, you know like smoked and dried meat. Birds are okay but bovines are the best." he snickered at Pan's slightly green visage, "Actually the fresher the better fresh bloody lamb-Are you alright you're looking a little pale Utsukushii."

"Very funny." He chuckled, and then returned the question. "I love, cookie dough ice-cream!" Trunks made a face. "That sounds sickeningly sweet."

"It sounds better than yours," she retorted, "My turn, " she grinned mischievously, "Do you always faint like that when you see a naked girl?"

He scowled fiercely (made quite ineffective by the red staining his cheeks)

"That," he growled, "was a fluke-"

"-I'm sure-"

"-Because I wasn't prepared. It won't happen again."

"I'll send you a memo next time. 'Watch out the tops going next!'" she giggled.

"You cheeky little imp!" He leaned and 'attacked' her. "Trunks!" Grinning at her playful squeal and helpless squirming beneath his fingers. He paused looking down on the beautiful girl, his Utsukushii.

'I'm going to miss you.' he thought melancholy. But before he could question the thought-

"Oh god, I've been scarred for like!" The two jump part slightly "Ow! 'Stupid bunk bed' Pan looked a mortified shade of mauve but still looked over to make sure his was alright. Not like the stupid thing could really do anything.

"Do you still want to take over right now or should I give you another 5 minutes?"

Pan looked at Trunks but I waved it off. "I'll take the next shift." He said giving the man a look that if they could, would kill. The Hitohi pilot mistook the redness in his face for anger (and all the better for it.) Pan stopped him in the hallway before he reached the cockpit. "Are you alright?"

"Is that concern? I'm touched."

"Don't get used too it, bucko." But the small grin took the sting out of her works. She looked ready to say something but couldn't find the words. She fingered her necklace out of habit. "Um, You..."

"I...."

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, seeing you turn red is all the thanks I need for kissing you." He smirked as she really turned red, sputtering, (clearly she had been talking about her rescue but one should never let and opportunity pass!)

"You! You!"

"I. I." He couldn't help it...He ducked and stole a quick kiss from her and retreating before she could swat him.

"You're full of it! Good night!"

"Rest well." He turned mind already thinking about the flight. Might as well speed things up a bit, just tweak the engines a little bit? Three days was too long a trip he wanted to go home if they got there early he could find the time to show her his world personally. Plus there was this sense of urgency he kept getting as if there was a clock ticking an urgent countdown...

As if reading his mind she gave him a look. "Don't try anything funny. The course is pre-set. No short cuts. Got it?"

"As you wish, no short cuts." She seemed satisfied with that answer and turn back to the cabin.

No short cuts. Right, who needed short cuts? He was Prince Trunks of the Royal House of Beijita-sei and all the Saiya-jin Empire. He could take this ship apart and rebuild it in his sleep! He wasn't being arrogant that was the honest to god truth!

.

.

.

.

Pan shook her head as she entered the cabin. He probably was going to mess with the ship. Hell there wasn't a ship that he hadn't fiddled with. She looked up to see Jonathan giving her a betrayed look.

"What?"

"You know what." She sighed and shrugged. "I hear to protect you. Pan Even if it means protecting you from him and his touchy feely tentacles."

"You make him sound like he's a monster." She teased sitting back on the buck bed." From the bunk across her, he gave her a 'his is' look.

"Look I thought about what you said and you're right," the wing commander's eyebrow shot up. "I am?"

She nodded, "Yes it could be just a trick or trap. It could be that he's using me from some ulterior motive but," she paused, "But you know what I trust him, and have faith in him that this is for real and not some plot against the Hitohi. And if I'm right-"

"Pan…"

"-If I'm right. This is a once in a lifetime chance that I intend to take

Alright fine." He accepted with a sigh, "But just do me two things as a friend."

"What?"

"Remember, no matter what, I'm here if you need me," She smiled.

"And the other thing?"

"As a friend…would you please take the top bunk? There's no way I'm staying in the same room with you two all googly-eyed and lovey-dovey right across from my face. Yuck!" Pan threw back her head and laughed.

.

.

.

.

'Too easy.' He mused as he stripping off the panels in the cockpit. A mess of wires that would have been intimidating to some greeted his eyes. 'Don't they build better ships than this? This model is so outdated they just put a new body over it. Nice to know the Leader's daughter is treated with the best.' That steered him down a not so pleasant line of thought as he began pulling wires apart and reconnecting them elsewhere. When the landed on Beijita-sei His mother would (hopefully) be awake and recovering. Maybe his father would forgive him for going off with out permission...Then again maybe not. Not exactly the most forgiving man in sector- no starch that- the whole galaxy.

Son Gohan was rumored to be just as strong and merciless in matters that concerned his one and only offspring. Why else would a man risk traveling to his enemy's home world just to make sure his daughter was safe? That parental kind seemed the type to be really hazardous to one's health, if you were a potential significant other.

His work was mindless. Like he said, he could do it in his sleep. But that gave him lots of time to think. His thoughts wandered back to Pan. Surprise. Surprise. He couldn't exactly put their relation ship in to words just yet. Girlfriend would be most appropriate but it sounded to juvenile and childish, lover was too intimate.

He had been reluctant to start anything like that for a long time till Pan screamed, fought and insulted her way into his life. Especially with what happened with Saika. Especially that. It had scared him, badly. And still did. It would any man. And she had betrayed him -lied about it! Just thinking about it made his stomach curl in disgust.

"Ow!" Trunks glared at the wire for daring to shock his royal finger.

It sparked challengingly. He shook his head, 'Focus.' The past is in the past. Pan's not like Saika. Period.' The lavender haired saiya-jin abruptly turned his thought elsewhere. Who was Frieza? Why Pan? He'd wait a little bit longer to ask, in more detail, what happen before they got to their destination. At least until that little weakling wasn't hovering around.

Snapping wires back together he sat in the pilot's seat a pressed a few buttons. He hoped it wouldn't start like last time, or else he'd be dealing with an angry Pan in no time. He grinned when there was hardly a lurch. Success! Homeward bound. As happy as he was, there was one thing that worried him: would they be separated? He felt a strange tightening in his chest again. That was happening a lot more these days. Sometimes it felt wonderful, an exultant outward flow of warmness, but now it was a constricting painful tightness that made him sigh. All this time they'd been without direct paternal influences. What if they said no and one of them caved? After being around her…he didn't want let her go just yet. Not ever.

Frieza smiled, things might not have been going according to plan but this was even better. He gazed out his command window and the tiny vessel they were tailing. "That right little prince run home to daddy." He sniggered. How else would he find the exact location of the saiyajin home world?

.

.

.

.

Quote: Good things come to those who wait….(So please don't hurt me!) Review! Review!