C&C more than welcome.

<Part 1>
 

 It was a quiet day in Piccolo's valley. He had finished his hard training for the day and was now meditating in his favorite spot in front of his waterfall. Once, in what seemed only days in a Namek's life span, he would have been watching over Gohan now and feeling great pride that the boy was learning so swiftly. But Gohan was grown up now, attending a good highschool  as his mother wanted him to. He even had a girlfriend. Videl. For some reason Piccolo felt a deep anger toward that girl. He didn't like his student hanging about her.

//what am I thinking of these things for?! I am meditating, not brooding!// He thought to himself
angrily. Focusing once again he found inner peace. As always since he had first met the child,
Piccolo's inner peace came from Gohan. Suddenly, that peace was shattered by a sharp, mental cry.
"Gohan!"

 Without a thought for the commotion his appearance would cause, Piccolo raced toward Gohan's
ki.

 When he found it he also found the scent of blood. Three ningen autos were stopped around a place in the road. One was a medical vehicle, one a police vehicle, and one civilian. What heart he had dropped. No. NO! "GOHAN!"

 All of the ningen around the accident scene stopped and stared when he landed by the body in the
road. Blood pooled around the still form. A female form! God. It wasn't Gohan. It was. . .

 "Videl."

 The broken voice caused Piccolo to turn. "Gohan!"

 "Mr. Piccolo?" The boy hardly had time to look up before he was crushed to the Namek's chest.
"Mr. Piccolo, what are you doing here?"

 "I heard your cry."

 Gohan's eyes widened. "You though -I- had died!"

 "What happened." He asked, pulling away.

 "She didn't see the car." Gohan sobbed. "I. . . it hit her right at chest level and snapped her spine.
Her head was crushed on the hood. She died instantly."

 Piccolo turned to glare at the crowed. "What are you staring at?"

 They all quickly went back to work.

 "Gohan, are you alright?"

 He looked up into the eyes of his sensai. . . every wall he had hastily erected fell at the site of his
concern. The boy through his arms around him and cried, "Mr. Piccolo!"

 Piccolo wrapped his arms around the boy and tried to calm him but the tears just kept coming.
Finally he picked him up and flew them both back to his valley. He sat on the bank near his waterfall
and waited for Gohan's tear to dry. When the young Saiyan finally got them under control, he gave
the Namek a sad and slightly embarrassed smile. "Ok now?" Piccolo asked.

 Gohan nodded and climbed off of the green man's lap, "Wow, I haven't been here since I was a
kid!" He said taking in the valley, "Has it changed much?"

 Piccolo didn't even think to lie. "It's more lonely without you."

 That earned a blush from the boy, "I haven't been practicing lately. I'm horribly out of shape."

 "You don't look it." The Namek replied innocently. Though Piccolo was a formidable opponent and
a wonderful fighter and mentor, he was horribly naive when it came to human emotion and the word
games that accompanied them.

 Gohan could feel his face turning brighter red and he nodded carefully, "it's true though."

 "You could always come back."

 "Here?"

 Piccolo nodded, "I could teach you again."

 "After school?"

 "Of course."

 He smiled and a little of the light came back into his eyes, "Alright, I will!"
 
 

 When Gohan returned home Chichi immediately wrapped him in her arms. "Oh Gohan I heard what
happened! Are you alright? I'm so sorry!"

 He smiled and hugged her back, "It's ok mom. I already got it out."

 "Wha. . . how. . .?"

 "Mr. Piccolo thought I was in trouble when I yelled, he came to help me."

 "Piccolo!? I don't like you hanging around that Namek Gohan I told you that. It's bad enough that
your father. . ."

 "Bad enough that I what?" Goku asked as he walked through the door with the fish that would be
their dinner.

 "Oh Goku! Gohan is hanging around with Piccolo again!"

 "Gohan is that true." Goku asked seriously.

 "Well. . . yeah."

    His whole face melted into a smile, "That's great! Are you training again."

 "Uhuh."

 "Goku!" Chichi yelled.

 "Well Chichi he's a big boy now and. . ."

 "Goku, how would you like to sleep on the floor tonight?"

 "You know son, your mother's right."

 Gohan rolled his eyes and left the room. He sat at his desk and finished his homework then stood in
his little bathroom and starred into the mirror. For some reason, he was contemplating his looks! He
still had wonderfully wild Saiyan hair, he wanted to let it grow out again, it looked better that way,
but his glasses. . . well, he would go in for contacts tomorrow. //Just to make training easier// he
assured himself.

 Goku looked in on his son and saw him starring at his reflection. //He's found a new girl already?! I
didn't think he and Videl fit each other very well but this soon?! I wonder who she is?// "Gohan."

 He jumped guiltily and turned to his dad, "Uh hi dad."

 "So who is she?"

 "What?"

 "The new girl."

 "What new girl."

 "I just walked in to see you preening in front of your mirror, you only do that when you have a girl."

 "I wasn't preening dad!" He insisted, "I was just wondering if I should get contacts and grow my hair out long again."

 Goku smiled, "Come on! I'm your dad remember? You can tell me!"

 "I mean it dad! The only person I've seen other than you and mom since Videl died is Mr Piccolo!"

 The smile slipped, "Really? I could have sworn. . ."

 "Really dad."

 "Oh." He frowned slightly then smiled and jumped up, "Ok, guess I was wrong. G'night kiddo."

 "‘night dad." Gohan smiled, then locked the door behind his father and fell back to his mattress to
stare at the ceiling. "‘good night Mr Piccolo.'"

 In his valley Piccolo smiled and looked toward the Son house. "Good night Gohan."
 
 

  From that day on Gohan went to Piccolo's valley after school for practice. The two of them
reformed the close bond that they had once shared and then some. Kami watched all from his island
with interest. "Mr. Popo."

 "Hai Kami-sama?"

 "I want you to keep a close watch on those two."

 "Do you foresee trouble?"

 Kami frowned slightly, "Yes, but not of the kind you mean. This time the enemy is within the ranks."

 "Kami-sama?"

 "You will see. Go, watch them."

<Part 2>

  "Ok Mr. Piccolo, here I come!" Gohan warned and sped toward his teacher.
 Piccolo turned just in time to dodge. "You are still too slow."

 "But getting faster!"

 The Namek pivoted and slammed him into the ground. "Not fast enough."

 Gohan just lay there, supporting his chin with his hands and looking up at his green sensai with a
smile, "I sure missed this quality time."

 Piccolo moved to stomp on his back and he rolled out of the way just in time, coming to rest in the
same position.

 "I mean, see how much fun we're having?" He dodged another blow.

 Piccolo stopped and looked down at him. "You are a mess you know."

 Gohan looked down at his school uniform and cringed, "Ga! I should have worn my Ji. Mom's
gonna be mad!" Gohan's eyes found the river and he smiled, "Unless I wash them out here!" He
quickly stripped and walked into the water, scrubbing the mud from his uniform.

 Piccolo kept his normal stone face, but his heart was beating in double time!  It was nothing he
hadn't seen before, why should Gohan's nakedness effect him any more now? His age was hardly
relevant.

 Gohan didn't miss Piccolo's tensed stance, something was bothering his sensai. //But what? Nameks
are asexual so -that- can't be it. . . unless. . . Just because they -can- reproduce without. . . someone
else, doesn't mean that they always do. // He almost laughed at the idea, //Could Piccolo have a
crush on me?!// The idea was insane! But crazy enough that it could very well be real. While he was
thinking, he hung his clothes to dry and stepped back into the river to wait. So deep into his thought
he didn't realize that Piccolo had stripped and joined him until he was shoved underwater from
behind.

 He came up sputtering and Piccolo gave a wicked grin. "Never let your guard down."

 Gohan stared at the broad expanse of muscular chest and abs before him, the water only barely
covered his friend and he felt his breath becoming short. //No! Stop it! I don't want to want Piccolo!
I don't want to ruin our friendship if I've gotten the wrong idea!// A splash brought him out of his
daze. "Piccolo, you're a goner!" Gohan gave a sharp war cry and leapt at the Namek.

 Piccolo laughed and Gohan froze in shock giving the other time to dunk him again. "Not if you're
going to be that slow I'm not!"

 The two of them played all afternoon like that. Just like two teenagers having fun. No grim
countenance or hiding behind a mask of pride. They were best friends, everything was free between
them. Gohan remembered this too. A side of Piccolo he had never told anyone about, not even his
daddy. This was the real Piccolo, how he was before he was a fighter. This was -his- Piccolo. No
one else would ever know him like this. This was why he didn't fear his sensai. Piccolo trusted him
enough to be himself around him, no way would the huge Namek ever truly or mortally hurt his best
friend.

 When they were finally worn out, they both climbed out and stretched on a rock letting the sun dry
them. Gohan smiled at Piccolo and sighed, "Good to have you back."

 "It is good to be back." He answered meeting the boy's gaze. Their eyes fused for a moment and
neither could look away. A far off dinosaur's cry finally broke the spell and Gohan sat up abruptly.

 "I. . . ah. . . it's getting dark, I have to go." He said slipping on his clothing again.

 Piccolo nodded and did the same. "I will walk with you. I have not been out of the valley since. . ."

 Gohan nodded, he didn't have to hear the rest of the words. It was since Videl died. It had only
been four days, the funeral. . . "Her funeral is tomorrow."

 "Aa."

 "I. . . Piccolo would you. . . I don't want to go alone."

 "What about Son and your family?"

 "I mean, without a friend. Family is great, but sometimes. . ."

 "I will try."

 He smiled and clasped Piccolo's arms, "Arigato."

 The Namek only nodded.

 When they were just within sight of the Son house, Piccolo stopped.

 "Piccolo?"

 "This is as far as I go."

 "You don't. . . don't you want to come see dad? You could eat dinner with us. . ."

 Piccolo silenced him, "Gohan, we both know that your mother dislikes me. I do not wish to be
confronted by her arsenal this day."

 Gohan chuckled at the reminder of his mother's. . . collection. "Oh. . . ok. Tomorrow is a Saturday.
The funeral is in the morning, after do you want to train some more?"

 "For one who hasn't trained in years, you seem very eager to begin again."

 Gohan flushed slightly and nodded, "Well, I like my sensai, that makes all the difference."

 "Gohan. . ."

 He smiled and clapped the Namek on the back, "See ya."

 Only the wind answered. Piccolo was gone.
 
 

 "Gohan! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Chichi cried when he opened the door.

 "Um. . . hi mom."

 "Don't you ‘hi mom' me! Where have you been?! Why are your clothes damp?"

 "Um. . . well I kind of. . ."

 "You were with the Namek again weren't you?! Honestly when a mother can't even trust her own
son this is just too much!"

 "Mom I. . ."

 "No, I don't want to hear it, go to your room!"

 Gohan did as he was told and found himself sitting on the window sill looking out toward Piccolo's
valley. Something drew him. . .

 "Gohan?"

 He jumped and turned to face his father. "Hi dad."

 "What happened today. You really worried your mom and it's not like you to stay out so late."

 "I was training."

 "That's a new word for it."

 "For what?"

 "Splashing around in a river."

 Gohan paled. His dad had seen! "Y. . . you followed me?"

 "No, I guessed and you just verified it. What were you doing Gohan?"

 The young Saiyan couldn't believe he had walked into that trap so easily. He sighed and faced his
father. "I was washing my uniform. I didn't bring a Ji and it got covered in mud. Don't tell mom ok?
I'll use a Ji from now on."

 Goku was happy with that answer. He sat on Gohan's bed and hugged his son. "I won't tell. Listen,
you have to tell me these things ok? I understand training can be messy."

 "Dad?"

 "Yeah?"

 "Did you ever. . . I mean. . . before mom, did you ever. . . kiss a guy?"

 "What?!"

 Gohan blushed, maybe his dad wasn't ready for this after all. "Nothing."

 "No, I heard you, you just. . ."

 "Caught you by surprise?"

 "Uhuh. Um. . . well. . . you can't tell this to anyone Gohan. No one, understand?"

 "Hai."

 Goku blushed and leaned closer to his son, "I kinda have this thing for Vegita. . ."

 "VEGITA?!?!"

 "Shhh!" Goku blushed brighter. "Way to keep a secret."

 "But Vegita?!"

 "Gohan, on Vegita-Sei there are no women. Our people breed inter sexually. Earth couldn't change
that science in me. I love your mother with all of my heart but ningen don't live half as long as Saiyans and after she's gone. . ."

 Gohan nodded, much as he hated to think about it, his dad was right.

 "So who is he? Do we know him?"

 Gohan blushed and ducked his head. "Not really."

 "A friend from a class?"

 "Uhuh." Gohan answered, not completely lying.

 "How does he feel about this?"

 "I don't know." Gohan sighed and lay back on the bed, "And I don't want to risk our friendship."

 His father nodded and squeezed Gohan's shoulder tenderly, "It's hard. Hay if you ever want to talk
I'm here ok?"

 "Hai touchan."

 Goku started to close the door and then looked back in. "Oh and don't tell your mother."

 "Hai touchan."

 Again the door started to close only to be opened again, "And if you tell anyone about you know
who. . ."

 "I wont dad! Goodnight!" Gohan laughed and locked the door this time. He sat back on his bed and
stared at the ceiling. "Vegita. Who would've guessed?" The Saiyan teen rolled so that he could look
out the window and tried to see the top of Piccolo's waterfall.
 
 

 On Kami's island the God conversed with Mr. Popo. "Goku disclosed some disturbing news." He
proceeded to tell all he had seen and Kami's eyes widened.

 "I had no idea Goku realized how Saiyan's reproduced! If he and Vegita bond after Chichi dies, the
Saiyan race would be reborn!"

 "Isn't that good?"

 "If Goku raised them to his values yes but if Vegita doesn't mellow out considerably, It is not a very

welcome situation."

 "I see what you mean."

 "Yes. . . Gohan and Piccolo hold no dire threat. No matter what he says Piccolo has a soft heart, he
would raise his children well and Gohan would assure it. Perhaps love would calm Vegita
considerably, there is another problem though."

 "Who?"

 "Yamcha."

 "He is ningen. Would he not die out as well?"

 "I have reason to believe he has Saiyan blood in him therefore he may live longer and he and Vegita
have been more than civil lately."

 "Do you suppose. . ."

 "I do."

 "Oh what a tangled web they weave."

 "Indeed Mr. Popo, Indeed.

<Part 3>
 

The weather at the funeral was dark and dreary. No one there recognized the darkly cloaked figure who stood behind Gohan the whole time. Offering silent strength, but Goku thought he looked awfully familiar.

 When the funeral ended, Goku watched his son accept that figure's silent embrace. He turned to
bury his face in the person's large sleeve and Goku recognized the way the boy interacted with him. .
. That was Piccolo! What was he doing at Videl's funeral?! And what was Gohan doing?! It looked
as if he had invited the Namek. Why? Hadn't he thought his family could be there for him? Or did
Piccolo offer a different kind of comfort?

 "Dad? I'm going to train now."

 "Shouldn't you spend today with us Gohan?" Chichi asked. "And observe a mourning period?"

 "I need to work of some of this mom. Training helps."

 "Does Piccolo know you're coming over on a weekend?"

 The cloaked figure walked up to Chichi and lifted his hood slightly, "Nameks do not adhere to
human calendar."

 "Piccolo!"

 Gohan quickly jumped between his sensai and his mother. "Mom! I invited him!"

 "Gohan?"

 "I needed my best friend here today."

 "Best. . . friend?" Chichi was speechless. "Piccolo?!"

 "Yeah kaasan, best friend, Piccolo." He turned to Goku, "So I'll be back around dinner ok?" He
smiled and flew off without waiting for an answer.

 "Goku I'm getting worried." Chichi started.

 "I'll keep an eye on them if it makes you feel any better."

 "Hai." She smiled.

 Goku flew after the two of them and Chichi smiled in relief and drove back home.
 
 

 Piccolo stepped foot on the ground and immediately attacked, taking Gohan by surprise and sending him to the valley floor to land beneath the Namek. His heart leapt in his chest and he looked up to
find himself once again held captive by Piccolo's glowing eyes.

 The Namek was under a similar spell. His chest felt too small suddenly and he opened his mouth to
say something only to forget what he was going to say, instead his eyes sought out the youth's lips.
Without actually realizing what they were doing, They both closed their eyes and moved their lips
closer. When they met, a soothing spark shot through both boys and they gasped and deepened the
contact.

 Gohan's head spun, nothing made sense except the strong, firm lips that were caressing his own. He felt whole and lost at the same time. Piccolo was experiencing a similar sensation. To both this was new, but they both knew that they liked it.

 "GOHAN!"

 Piccolo was suddenly torn off of him and Gohan gapped up at his father, the world still hazy. Only
when he noticed Piccolo's neck was being held rather tightly in his father's fist did he react. "Tousan!
NO!" He jumped up and stood between the two of them while Piccolo gathered his breath.

 "Gohan what's going on? And I want the truth!"

 The raven haired boy turned to search Piccolo's eyes, but they were as confused as his own, "To be
honest daddy, I don't think WE even know yet."

 "Is this who you meant when we had our discussion last night? Piccolo?! How long? How long has
this been going on?!" The Saiyan was slowly going Super Saiyan and Gohan was careful to keep
between his father and friend.

 "Yes, and it just sort of happened. We were sparring and we fell and. . ."

 "Gohan I. . . go home."

 "Dad."

 "Go Home!"

 He stood his ground, "What are you going to do?!"

 A strong hand fell to his shoulder and he turned to face Piccolo with tear filled eyes. "Gohan, do as
your father tells you."

 "But Piccolo, I just found you. . . I mean, we just. . . I don't want him to. . ."

 Piccolo smiled at him and kissed away his tears. "I will be fine. Your father is a sensible man."

 "Not now he isn't."

 "Gohan. . ."

 "But. . ."

 "Go." Piccolo nudged him away.

 He didn't know what to do! So he obeyed Piccolo and his father, but he didn't go home. He went to the Capsule Corporation, to get Vegita, Trunks, and Goten, it may take all four of them to pry his
father from Piccolo's throat!
 
 

 "What do you think you were doing to my son?"

 "Son, I love him, I would never. . ."

 "Stay away from Gohan, Piccolo. Far away."

 "I can't do that."

 Now fully Super Saiyan, Goku struck.
 
 

 Goten was almost flattened when Gohan crash landed in the Briefs yard, rolled out of it and ran for
Vegita. "Vegita you gotta help! Dad's gonna kill Piccolo!"

 "Gohan?" His brother asked.

 Gohan was afraid for his friend. He turned to his brother and Trunks and pleaded, "Please, you guys
Dad is really ticked off it'll take all of us to stop him!"

 "Hn, What did the Namek do to earn Kakarotto's anger?"

 "Nothing! He didn't do anything!"

 Vegita nodded and took off for Piccolo's valley followed by his son and the two Son boys. He did
not truly believe Goku would attack with no reason, but it promised to be interesting.

 When they arrived, Goku was straddling Piccolo, one hand on his windpipe,  and focusing a ki ball
to finish him.

 Gohan was the first to act. "NO! He jumped into his father and sent him tumbling away from the
Namek and then Gohan cradled Piccolo close and wiped the blood away with a strip of cloth from
his Ji.

 "Gohan." Piccolo coughed, "I told you to go home."

 "I've gotten really out of practice with taking orders."

 The green man chuckled but a cough interrupted him and he turned his head to avoid coughing blood
on the boy holding him .

 "Oh Piccolo." Gohan frowned, "You shouldn't have made me go."

 "I'll be fine." He insisted.

 "Kakarotto! What is wrong with you?!" Vegita hauled him up by the front of his Ji.

 "Touchan, you're scarring me." Goten said truthfully.

 Goku turned to the Namek now encased securely in his son's arms. "You, you are going to die a
slow and painful death!"

 "Kakarotto!!!"

 Gohan glared at his father, "If you touch him I will never forgive you touchan!"

 That stopped the three Saiyan's holding Goku down. "I believe we've missed something." Trunks
said softly.

 "No shit!" Goku hissed. "I came to check on Gohan's progress and found him on top of my son!"

 "Well that generally happens in sparring." Vegita pointed out, "We found you on top of him when we arrived."

 "We weren't locking our lips together as if the world would end if we parted though!"

 "G. . . Gohan?!" Goten asked.

 "I won't deny it." He said proudly. "Dad, you said it was ok to love another male! You said it was
actually our race's way!"

 "I thought you meant a harmless ningen! This is Piccolo!"

 "And that changes my genetic code? My heart?"

 "He could be using you!"

 Before anyone could react, Piccolo had punched Goku so hard his head snapped back, "Damn you! Don't pervert what we've found with mistrust! I would rather rip off my limbs one at a time than to
hurt Gohan!"

 "You grow them back! Big sacrifice!" He spat.

 The two started fighting again and it did indeed take all four Saiyan to separate them.

  Gohan was in tears and his little brother looked on worried, Gohan never cried! "Daddy! Stop it!
You're making Gohan sad!" He insisted.

 Goku took another swing at Piccolo and Gohan dodged between them and took it himself. His whole body slammed about a mile into the base of one of the valley mesa's.

 Piccolo immediately stopped fighting and rushed to Gohan's side, Goku stood there in shock. He
had hit Gohan!

 When the Namek found his student he was shaking the dirt from his clothes, blood slid down one
side of his face where he had collided and he had popped his dislocated shoulder back into place.
"Piccolo?"

 "Gohan why did you do that?"

 "I don't want you hurting anymore! Daddy had no right to. . ."

 "But he IS your father."

 "He hurt you."

 "What about you?" Piccolo bent Gohan's head forward and licked the blood away, the gash wasn't
as bad as the blood had made it to appear. "I am sorry, I didn't mean for any of this to. . ."

 "Piccolo do you like me?"

 "That is a stupid question Gohan, I wouldn't stay near you if I didn't like you."

 "No I mean, do you -LIKE- like me."

 "You mean do I love you."

 Gohan lowered his eyes, "yeah, something like that."
 

 "You think I'd kiss just anybody?"

 "Well, no but. . ."

 "I haven't got emotions as humans define them. Namek's are different."

 "How?"

 "We are Asexual to continue our race, but we do mate if we want, when we do, it's for life. Because in mating with someone, you give up a large piece of yourself that cant be taken back."

 "I've already given you more of myself than I knew I had to give."

 "And I too."

 "So it only makes sense that we carry through."

 "Yeah, it only makes sense. . ."

 "Gohan!"

 "Touchan!" Gohan turned once again in defense of his new found love. "Please! No more!"

 "Why? He's not even Saiyan!"

 "Neither is mom!"

 "But she. . . we. . ."

 "Face it Kakarotto, I don't know what you told the kid but if you disagree with their relationship,
you walk away a hypocrite. That is on thing our race has never been."

 "But. . ."

 "You can't argue that he is the enemy, he has fought beside us countless times."

 "Gohan, you are still my son."

 "Hai touchan, but I am not your little boy anymore. I grew up dad."

 Goku frowned but nodded. "I have no choice. For now at least."

 "Arigato touchan."

 His shoulders fell in defeat. "Just don't tell your mother ok. You know your kaasan doesn't like
Piccolo."

 "I know." Gohan said with a straight and very grown up expression, "But she will have to learn to
deal with my choice sometime."

 "Sometime." Goku said softly, "is not now."

 "Hai."

 "Son." Piccolo started.

 "Don't speak to me." He growled. "To me you are a robber of cradles. You have stolen my son and
I will never forgive you that." With those final words, Son Goku, one of the last Saiyans, left his son
and walked away.

 Vegita turned to them and grinned, "Maybe you are a Saiyan after all boy." He chuckled and
dragged Trunks back home. Goten tagging along with his friend.

 "I have already caused you a lot of trouble."

 "And a lot of happiness." Gohan smiled and hugged him tight, "It's an even trade."

 "I hope that you are right." He sighed.

 "I am."

 "So sure?"

 "Of you."
 
 

 The Namek and Saiyan sat there, absorbed in one another, and Kami smiled down from the
heavens. "That is one disaster down. But how many to go?"

 "Too many I think." Mr. Popo said quietly.

 "No, there are never too many problems for love to overcome."

 "I hope you are right Kami-sama."

 "So do I Mr. Popo, so do I."
 
 

~Owari~