Keeping Up With the Briefs

Time Will Tell

19 - Time Will Tell

Trunks' body was tense as he paced across his home office. He ran his hands through his hair and folded his arms. There was a heaviness in his stomach that made him feel as if he swallowed stones.

The office door opened quietly, and Pan came in and walked over to him. She hugged him from behind and clasped her hands over his stomach. Trunks could feel the tension slowly ebbing away.

"Are the kids asleep?" He whispered.

"Mhm," Pan nodded. "Both of them were snoring before I finished the book. Bulla made them shop until they dropped."

Trunks' lips gave a small twitch. He loosened his arms so he could grab Pan's hands. "What should we do, Panna? Do you honestly think she's telling the truth?"

Pan moved so she was standing in front of him. Her dark eyes were gentle as she looked up at him. "I do," she nodded. "She had a copy of her medical records. She said she didn't think you would believe her otherwise. I didn't read them, though. It seemed too personal. She did look like she was very sick."

He sighed and leaned forward so his forehead rested against Pan's. She reached up and caressed his cheeks before she moved her fingers down his neck, gently pressing against his tense muscles. "What do you want to do?" He asked her.

"I want to do what's best for Hana," Pan said. "Keeping Hana from Kino has been in her best interest for the last seven years, but now, I'm not sure what would be the right thing to do. If years down the road, after Kino passes and Hana finds out we denied her a chance to meet her, will she resent us for it? All Kino's asking for is just a chance to meet Hana, and as long as we're there with Hana, I don't think that would be a problem. I don't think Kino is planning on telling Hana anything, I honestly think she just wants to meet her."

"I don't know if I can face her," Trunks murmured. "I don't trust myself to be kind to her after all these years, even if she is sick." He leaned back and looked down at Pan. "But if you're there with Hana, then I'm okay with Kino meeting her. I trust you to follow your gut to get out of there if things turn for the worse."

Pan nodded, "I'll call Kino tomorrow and we can set something up." She wrapped her arms around Trunks' waist and rested her head against his chest before she let out a heavy sigh.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her just as tight. Only time would tell if they were doing the right thing.

XxXxX

Goten let out a heavy sigh as he unlocked the door to his and Bulla's house. It was nearing midnight, and Goten, who had been up since before six for work, was exhausted. For the last several months, his department had been busting their butts on a case involving a dangerous drug lord. For Goten, the case was personal. Two years ago, he had a run-in with the very drug lord they were chasing, and the guy got away. Because the bastard got away, he was committing even more heinous crimes, like human trafficking. Goten blamed himself for it, so he made sure to work three times as hard as everyone else. He was going to catch that bastard- one way or another!

The house was quiet as Goten opened the door, and he flipped on the front light as he slipped off his shoes. "Bu?" He called, but no one answered.

Goten knitted his brows together as he made his way through the dark kitchen and towards Bulla's little cubby, near the back of the house. It's where she worked on her pottery. Even though it was late, Bulla was a night owl and usually still up doing something and making some sort of racket. Goten opened the door, but the room was dark and empty. Slowly, Goten made his way towards the stairs to go to their room.