Chapter 4

Trunks sighed and sank deeper into his sleep. He wasn't surprised to see Pan in his Dreams. Since that first time, a couple days ago, she had been appearing regularly. For some people, this might seem a little weird, but Trunks enjoyed it. He was seeing a new side to Pan that he had never had the fortune of seeing before. He now realized that she was not just a quick-tempered impetuous girl, she was also a caring and though she rarely showed it, somewhat vulnerable young woman. And he realized that he really liked this side of her personality. It showed that not only was she fun, but she was also an extraordinary person. Someone that he would really like to get to know better.

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As Trunks and Pan had their meeting, both were unaware that two people were talking about them and aware of what was going on.

"Do you think they have any idea what has happened?" Piccolo asked Negla, who was leaning against the wall of the room overlooking where Pan was sleeping.

"Not a clue," she said with an amused smirk. "I'm a little surprised at how strong their bond is. Neither of them is a full Saiyan, yet the bond was strong enough to last, even through death. Despite how strong it is, neither of them seems to realize what it is.

"That could be a good thing though," Piccolo said. Then changing the subject added, "So how is Pan's training going?"

"Good," she replied. "She has a pure heart. It gives her a strength that the others lacked." There was an unmistakable sound of pride in her voice. "The last of the Saiyans are a particularly strong bunch."

"Yes," Piccolo said in agreement. "They are all very powerful. And it seems that the youngest is the most powerful."

"Right now she is, but in the future there may be some even more powerful." There was a hint of mystery in her voice and Piccolo wondered about it.

"Well, I have to be going. Dende is worried about the person who had attacked them. So far there hasn't been any more attacks, but he thinks there might be later." With that Piccolo disappeared.

"Are you sure you know how to use that?" Goten was asking Trunks the next morning. After what appeared to be another futile search. For nearly a week now, they had been searching for Goku, and as of yet were uneventful.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Trunks snapped in impatience. He was starting to wonder if they would ever find the Dragonballs. HE looked at the screen of the radar in frustration when he noticed it. A little blip on the screen. "Goten," he called to his friend. "I think we found them."

At his words, Goten's face seemed to brighten. They took off as fast as they could fly, trying to find the source of the discrepancy. They came to a small house settled in the woods. It was a common enough house, and would have gone unnoticed, if it weren't for the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere.

As they got closer, they were astonished to see a familiar figure. Though he had changed a lot since the last time they had seen him, he was unmistakable. "Dad!" Goten yelled running over to him.

Goku looked up in surprise. He had been living alone for years now, and to say he was shocked to find someone else there was an understatement. "Goten!" He yelled his eyes widening at the site of his youngest son. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you and the dragonballs," he said, his face reflecting his happiness to see his father again after so long.

Goku had a blank expression on his face, and Goten realized that he had never heard about Pan. Remembering the reason they were there, Goten's face became sober.

"We need them to wish Pan back." Trunks said, coming up behind them.

Goku's expression became confused, "Wish her back?"

"It's kind of a long story." Trunks said. Goku led them into the house, as Trunks explained everything to him.

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"Well," Goku said, "we'll have to wish her back as soon as possible." He was standing in front of the stove with a frilly pink apron on, preparing them all dinner. (I know what you're thinking: Goku cooking… But isn't it a lovely mental image ^_^)

Before they can make in definite plans, a voice suddenly intrudes in his mind. "Grandpa!"

"What?!" he asked. For a moment he thought he was going crazy.

Trunks and Goten looked at him with an expression of confusion on their faces. "Umm… Dad? Are you alright?"

Goku started to answer, but then he heard the voice again. "Grandpa, it's me Pan!"

Goku relaxed, relieved to know that he wasn't going crazy. "Hey, Panny! When did you learn telepathy?"

Trunks and Goten got startled looks on their faces, not sure whether to believe this or to have Goku committed to an institution. "Umm… What's going on?" Trunks' asked Goku.

"Shhh…" Was Goku's only reply. Trunks and Goten continued to stare at him, as he had what appeared to be a conversation with himself.

"How are you. That's good. Learn anything good. Really, you're going to have to show me that. Yeah, it's good. No I haven't been home yet. Are you sure? What should I tell your parents? Okay. Talk to you soon. Bye." They could hear Goku saying.

When he turned to look at him, he could tell by the puzzled looks on their faces that they hadn't been able to follow the conversation. "That was Pan." He informed them calmly as if it was no big deal to be having conversation with a dead person. "She learned telepathy, and was making a request."

"What," Goten asked impatiently, practically hoping in his seat.

"Well, it seems she doesn't want to be wished back yet." Goku said.

At that Goten fell of his seat. "What?! What do you mean she doesn't want to be wished back yet?"

Trunks, though he didn't say anything was just as surprised as Goten, though he shouldn't have been. He knew how much she liked learning the new techniques, despite how much she missed everyone. And she was determined to get as strong as possible.

"So, when does she want to come home?" Trunks asked, forcing his voice to be calm. "Well, she said, at the end of the year."

"And, what are we supposed to do until then?" He asked, his voice rising slightly and expressing his frustration.

"Well, it seems that she thinks everyone should train, and get ready. She senses that the fight she had was just the beginning, and everything is going to get tougher from here."

"Are you going home with us?" Goten asked, a note of expectation in his voice.

"I can't." Goku said quickly, but there was a note of longing in his voice. He had missed seeing his wife, children, and grandchild. But he had to stay away.

"Why?" Goten asked him, the pain obvious in his voice. "Why do you have to stay here? Why do you always abandon us?"

Goku didn't know what to say to his words. In a way they were true. He always left, but there was always an important reason to. Some unexpected threat always came up, that put the world in danger. Danger that only he could fix. His family had had to come second, and he was tired of it. But he couldn't go back, the danger was just too great. But maybe this time, things would be different. They had all gotten stronger, maybe this time, no one would be hurt.

All these emotions swam through him, but the most apparent on was longing. Longing for a normal life that he could spend with his family. And the only possible chance that could happen would be by going home.

With a look of determination on his face, he turned to the other two and said, "Let's go."

The closer they got to home, the more nervous Goku got. On one hand, he was looking forward to seeing Chichi, just not her attitude at seeing him. He knew that he was in for a long harangue about his absence. But then, Chichi was always like that. Two of the things he loved about her were her strength and courage.

When they arrived at Goku's house, Goten called inside. "Mom, Gohan, Videl, come here quick!!"

They came rushing out of the house as soon as they heard him. But, when Chichi saw Goku, her reaction was very unexpected. They had expected yelling and screaming, but that was not what they got. Instead, they all saw her run up to Goku and throw herself into his arms, crying.

Goku wrapped his arms around her and shut his eyes. For the first time in years, he felt complete. He closed his eyes and rested them on her forehead. They remained that way for several moments, while the others just stood back and let them have their moment, still surprised by Chichi's unexpected reaction.

After a few moments's Chichi pulled away, and wiped her eyes. "It's good to have you back, Goku." She said softly. With that she turned around and went back inside. After a brief reunion with the rest, Goku followed her inside. The rest left, to give them privacy.

"Why did you leave?" Chichi asked from the kitchen, her back turned towards him.

Goku thought about all the possible reasons and finally decided to tell her the truth. "I couldn't stand to see you hurt anymore."

"What?!" she spun around with surprise in her eyes.

"You think I didn't notice how much it hurt when you saw the kids fight? When you saw Pan fight? I knew it did, just as I knew that if I kept the dragonballs here, it would just increase the chance of something like that happening. I couldn't let that happen. I love you too much to ever intentionally hurt you or put you in danger."

Chichi looked at her husband. This was so unlike the carefree and impulsive man that she was accustomed to. It occurred to her that maybe Goku had finally grown up. But that didn't excuse him.

"Did it ever occur to you how much your leaving may have hurt me. I love you, and one day you just disappear without a trace. I thought you were dead." He could hear the pain in her voice and went to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I never meant to hurt you. I thought it would be for the best."

"Just promise you won't leave me like this again." She pleaded.

"I won't." he promised. And then he kissed her.

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7 months later

"Ready?" Goku asked. Around him, everybody was gathered, waiting for him to wish Pan back to life. At everybody's nod, he turned back to where the dragonballs were gathered. "Well, here goes nothing."

"Eternal Dragon, I summon you" he called out. (I don't know what the words to summon it are. My minds blank.) The sky went black and the balls began to glow. The glowed a golden color, and then the dragon appeared in all his glory."

"What is it you wish?!" The dragons booming voice asked of him.

"I wish for Son Pan to be brought back to this dimension." Goku said.

"You're wish will be granted."