Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Holding On ❯ 23 ( Chapter 23 )

Hey everyone, I know it's been a while. Sorry it's taken so long, but I barely got any reviews on the last chapter and was wondering if you actually liked this story. This chapter has a song, "Hold On", by Sarah McLachlan in it. I hope you enjoy!

*************************

Hold on

Hold on to yourself

for this is gonna hurt like hell

*************************

*Bra*

So this is it; the famous time machine that once saved every ones lives? It looks a little scratched, and there's a dent here and there. But, all in all it's a pretty remarkable machine. It's going to be so weird going to the past. At least I'm not going alone though. I doubt I'd be able to brave the other dimension with out Goten there with me.

I look to my right and sigh. He's so beautiful.no wonder I love him so much. To think, I had first thought he was nothing but a friend. Then I thought I only liked him. But it turned out perfect. He cares for me as much as I care for him.

"Where did you find his time machine mom?" I ask. I felt so bad for the whole Mirai predicament. While at first I thought it was sort of funny for Marron to pretend to be dating him, I have somewhat mixed sympathy feelings for the fact that now she has to pretend to be marrying him on Saturday, and be carrying his child. I suppose I secretly know that everything will work out fine between them, but I think that's just my optimism speaking. I've always tried to be a very optimistic person.

"I don't know. Trunks dropped it by earlier, he said he was going grocery shopping with Pan, and would probably stay over there for a while." I could tell mother was worried about everything going on.

That was all I needed to know. It wasn't difficult to tell that Trunks was crazy about Pan, but even though I'm her best friend I'm not so sure what her feelings are towards him. I hope she likes him too. I would love for her to be my sister some day. And hopefuly if everything works out right, Marron will be my sister too.

The world is complete.almost. I suppose the world will be complete only when Mirai is fixed and we make sure everyone is happy.

Mom already gave us the instructions. Now the only thing left is to leave.

I took a step forward and Goten gave me a hand to help me step into the machine. He's so thoughtful.

I take my seat in the pilot seat of the time machine and he climbs in beside me.

I wave to my mother through the window as Goten closes the hatch. I lean over and kiss him before setting the coordinates for the other dimension and hitting the green button. The engine runs and we soon find ourselves out of our time.

*Goten*

I probably should have eaten before we left, I reflected, as my stomach growled. The sweet angel sitting beside me smiled at me. I sure was thankful for the size of the machine; it was just tight enough to squeeze us together. I slid my arm around her shoulders and she rested her head against me.

It's almost hard to believe that I could care so much about anyone. I always thought love didn't truly exist. With Paris, and all my other girlfriends just liking me for my appearance. Apparently girls like guys with muscle. At least Bra identifies with me about that, she always hated people liking her for her appearance too.

I look out the window at the swirling colors and the seemingly endless expanse of nothingness. By the small gasp next to me I knew Bra was watching it too. It was a nice thought to know we were experiencing something so beautiful together.

Then before neither of us realized it we were thrown slightly upwards before falling back in our seats.

We landed. Now all we had to do was open the hatch and stare at the barren wasteland of this world. A world where everyone died of disease. A world where we would be the only inhabitants.



*************************

Hold on

Hold on to yourself

you know that only time will tell

*************************

*Bulma*

I watch them get into the time machine. When Goten slid his arm around Bra I smiled. 2 guesses what they were doing earlier today, out in the middle of nowhere, alone together.

As long as my baby is happy. I know Goten will be a good guy for her. I just wonder how Vegeta is going to handle it. Oh well, I'll worry about that later. Nowing Vegeta, he probably already knows.

Now all I can do is hope they get back ok, and with everything I need. It's out of my hands now. All I can do is hope.

When they get back I will get the final bit of information I need, and hopefully in time, I will finish the cure and get everyone's lives back in order. The only problem is, they probably won't get back till the morning.and that's a long time to wait. Even though it's already midnight.

I'm pacing back and forth now. You know how you always tell yourself you have no control over something, but you always end up completely worried about it anyways? It's as if that bit of worrying and endless babbling about the problem will somehow speed up the results. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

All I know is that somehow I have to get my mind off of this. I wonder if Vegeta's still awake?

All right Bulma, stupid question of course he's awake. He's probably in the gravity room.

Maybe he can get my mind off of this.

*************************

What is it in me that refuses to believe

this isn't easier than the real thing

My love

you know that you're my best friend

you know I'd do anything for you

************************

*Pan*

It's dark outside, and the moon barely shined through the window onto the bed, illuminating several strands of lavender on my pillow. I was siting in a chair by the window, watching him sleep. No, it wasn't that he was a bed hog; I just couldn't lie next to him.

Is it my fault I'm panicking? Everything just happened so fast! Jeremy's is barely even dead and I jump into bed with Trunks? With one of my best friends? With Bra's brother?

Ok, so that's not exactly how it happened. I wasn't in love with Jeremy, and he wasn't in love with me.but I can't shake the feeling that I'm doing something wrong.

What about Mirai? And Marron? No, I'm not in love with Mirai.the only reason he reminds me of Trunks is his looks, and sometimes his smile. But, Mirai could possibly die, my friend is in a strange situation, and I'm over here sleeping with Trunks!

But Marron is a big girl, and Bulma will make sure Mirai is going to be all right. And Trunks says he loves me, I know he loves me. So why do I feel like this is wrong?

Maybe it's the fact that my parents are out of town. That I'm obviously going against some rules by having a guy in the house past bedtime.

Maybe it feels wrong because I'm only 17, just graduating high school, and Trunks is 25, already out of high school and heading a major company. Not to mention he is a family friend, and the richest most eligible bachelor in all of Japan. That he's dated super models, and movie stars, and has a fan club. Why would someone like him want someone like me?

And despite all of this I know that I am hopelessly in love with him. I am in love with him aren't I? And I haven't even told him yet. I know age doesn't matter with love, but will my parents see it that way? I wonder if an 8 year difference will matter to them? Will any one else see it that way? Does it even matter what they think?

I feel as if I have had a sudden burst of adrenaline. I want to go run and shout from the hilltops that I am in love with the greatest man on earth!

So why am I sitting on a chair across from my bed watching Trunks sleep?

I pull my knees closer to me and hug myself. It's really cold in here.

*************************

My love

let nothing come between us

my love for you is strong and true

am I in heaven here or am I...

at the crossroads I am standing

*************************

After the initial shock of landing and hearing no noise, save the whistle of the wind through the trees and the fact that the entire countryside was covered with buildings that were completely unoccupied, they began to make their way to Capsule Corps.or at least what was left.

Once there Bra had to hold her breath. It was her home, only it was empty. The gravity room was still there, but it was a different model. Chances are the Trunks of this time line didn't destroy it nearly as often as her father did in her time.

Once inside she recognized some of the furniture, but most of it was different, and the pictures on the wall were different as well. She wasn't in them, and neither were Vegeta or the Son family, save a few.

Upon Goten's insistence, they found Bulma's lab and began to search for the lost information disk.

"Do you think it's here?" Goten asked after a while. They had already been through the computer desk, the table, and looked under the endless piles of paper on the floor. Bra found it strangely unerving to be going through the stuff of someone she had never known. Yet all the handwriting was her mothers, and she knew that in someway.this was her mothers.

"It had better be here." Responded Bra. She was not going to return home having failed. They HAD to find that disk.

"Why don't you check the computer? I will check over here." Bra walked to the other side of the room and rummaged through another pile.

"Bingo" Bra turned around and saw Goten displaying a disk in his hand. "She must have left it in the computer. That's probably how she overlooked putting it with the rest."

Bra ran over to him and kissed his cheek. "I guess we can go now." Goten said softly.

"Actually.there's one more thing we need to do." Taking the disc and slipping it in her pocket she grabbed his hand and led him outside. "First we will need to pick some flowers though."



*************************

So now you're sleeping peaceful

I lie awake and pray

that you'll be strong tomorrow and we'll

see another day and we will praise it

and love the light that brings a smile

across your face

*************************

Marron listened to the slow even breathing coming from the person on the other side of the bed. He looked like an angel when he slept.

She was worrying herself over nothing, right? Mirai would be fine when he got the cure.and went back to hating her. The tears welled up in her eyes again as the uncertainty of their future hit her again.

With another sigh she played with the sleeve cuff of his dress shirt, that she had adorned after they made love. At first she was trying to get out of it, but without a viable excuse she ended up sleeping with him. Not that she ended up minding too terribly.in fact she greatly enjoyed the experiencce.

It wasn't that big of a deal; she was 23 and not a virgin. So what was wrong with sleeping with him? Other than the fact that she was in love with him, and he normally hated her. Oh and the fact that he was terminally ill and thinking he was someone he wasn't.

What was he going to think when he got his memories back? He would just add another thing to his list of reasons to dislike her. She was a slut. But she knew she wasn't. There was nothing dirty about being with the person you loved.

But how did she know she truly deeply loved him? Before he suddenly thought he loved her, she hadn't had any feelings towards him other than distaste. Did she?

Why had it bothered her so much in the first place that he disliked her? Normally she would just shrug it aside. So why did it bother her so much?

*Because she loved him even then* Ok, maybe she didn't love him, but something about him drew her towards him. She liked him despite his faults. She liked arguing with him. She liked the feeling that came with being in his company, and the feelings scared her so much then that she would provoke more fights with him to get her mind off of it. God, she was crazy.

How was it possible to love someone you barely even knew? Was it even possible to fall in love at first site? Wasn't that just a myth? Something you read about in fairy tales, and watched happen in Disney movies?

"Why do I love you?" She asked him silently. "It just doesn't make sense, but I do."

She softly stroked the lavender hair, and traced her finger down the side of his face.

"I only wish.that you could truly love me. Not just think you do.but in days from now, weeks, months, years.that you would truly love me for me."



*************************

Oh god if you're out there won't you hear me

I know that we've never talked before

oh god the man I love is leaving won't you take him when he comes to your door

*************************

Trunks was slowly waking up, the awareness that he wasn't in his room was overshadowed by the awareness that he was alone in bed.

He opened his eyes and saw Pans figure huddled in the corner, cradling herself as she looked at him lying there. Her eyes were dazed, as if she was confused about something.

With a soft groan he sat up slowly, the sheet falling down to his lap and revealing his bare chest. He heard her gasp softly and smiled.

He reached his arm out towards her and saw her eyes widen. "Come back to bed Pan," his husky voice, urged.

He didn't see her hesitate as she stood up and took his hand stepping back in bed. His oversized t-shirt baggy on her slim form, she looked adorable.

He slid his arm around her hip, her back to his chest, and gently kissed her neck. He could definitely get used to this.

She shivered a little as his breath tickled the nape of her neck. The thick veil of sleep was covering her as she settled into the warmth offered from his body.

"I love you," she whispered softly into the night air, not knowing if he heard she turned around in his arms and rested her head on his chest.

"I know." He responded softly, brushing his fingers through her silky strands. "I love you too."

*************************

Am I in heaven here or am I in hell

at the crossroads I am standing

So now you're sleeping peaceful

I lie awake and pray

that you'll be strong tomorrow and we'll

see another day and we will praise it

and love the light that brings a smile

across your face...

*************************



Bra gently knelt in front of the gravestone and lay the flowers down. Her hand traced the carved letters of her mothers name and she felt tears in her eyes. True it wasn't her real mother, but it was still the same woman. A woman whose courage and stubbornness was the reason she was alive.

"Mom" she whispered softly, as Goten stood by and watched, unable to help or say anything of comfort. "Mom, I know you never met me, but I'm your daughter from the other world. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done. You would have really liked knowing Trunks, Me, Goten, Pan, Marron and everyone else. I just wanted to let you know that you are loved. And that I promise to make sure your son lives."

Moving softly to the gravestone beside Bulma's, Bra traced the letters to Vegeta's name. "You two loved each other very much, and I'm sure you would have loved to be in eternal rest right next to each other. I promise you too, Daddy, that your son will live. You would have been so proud of him."

Moving back she stood by Goten and gave him an encouraging smile. "Do you have anything to say?" she asked, motioning to the other gravestones nearby.

Goten sighed and moved forward, laying flowers on his father's grave, his brother's grave, and his mothers' grave.

"There's not much to say, except that you are all so happy in our world, and that you didn't die in vain. I promise to do everything in my power to keep your Trunks alive." Looking at his brothers' grave he sighed. "I wonder if you ever even met her in this world? Do you want me to tell you about your future wife? Your daughter? She grew up so quickly, a tomboy, you are so proud of her. I suppose you've probably been watching all of that from heaven though."

Goten stood and looked at Vegeta's and Bulma's graves. "You had a wonderful daughter, and it's a shame you never met her. She is the most beautiful, kind hearted, wonderful woman I've ever met. And I should probably be leaving now before Vegeta comes back from the dead and kills me."

He turned to Bra, with tears in her eyes as she smiled. "Are you ready to go?"

She gave one last fleeting glance to the hill and turned nodding. His comforting grip on her hand the only thing keeping her from falling and crying.

*************************

Hold on

hold on to yourself

for this is gonna hurt like hell

*************************



AN) Ok, that's the end of this chapter. It's my spring break so I'll probably write the next chapter tomorrow. Sorry it's been so long, but you wouldn't believe how many finals they give you before spring break! I'll write soon, when I'm not working on my research paper.

Wouldn't it be weird to go to an alternate reality and visit you parents graves? Damn, that would be freaky!

I dare you to review! I double dog dare you! I triple dog dare you!!!