Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.

I hope you like, and please read and review.

Later, Raven.

Chapter thirty-three

It was 10:35 pm on a extremely uneventful day when King Kai suddenly perked his antennae up and smiled. "It looks like you wont be staying after all." He told Justine.

"What?" She asked because she had been busy sparring with Gokuu.

"Dende is about to wish you back." King Kai clarified.

"Yes! Thank you!" She said and threw her hands into the air.

"Tell everyone I said hi, ok?" Gokuu told her.

"Ok I will." Justine said in a rush. "And King Kai thank you for letting me stay here." She added because she was in a better mood then she had been in weeks.

"Yeah well I wish I could say the pleasure was all mine, but you are just as grumpy as Piccolo." The Kai answered.

XxXxX

Piccolo felt like his heart was about to beat it's way through the wall of his chest, while he watched as Dende summoned the colossal dragon and made his wish.

Piccolo let out a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding once the dragon told them there wish could be granted.

And then, just as she had vanished, Justine reappeared only feet away. She looked down at her own hands as if to make sure she was still whole, then she looked up at Dende who stood right in front of her.

Justine couldn't believe her own eye's. In front of her stood a man that her minds eye told her was Dende, and yet his body looked almost exactly like Piccolo. His face was softer because unlike Piccolo he hadn't spent his whole life scowling. And his eye's held a purity that only Dende had. He held his arms out wide inviting her into them and she rushed forward to give him a hug.

"Can you forgive me?" He asked as tears built in his eye's. (Though he looked like a grown man he was still only a boy.)

"There is nothing to forgive." She told him as she wiped away the tears from his cheeks. "Sweet Dende, you are the brother of my heart, there is nothing you can do to make me stop loving you."

Dende smiled at her and pulled her close for another fierce hug.

Piccolo hung back and watched Justine's happy reunion with Dende. Part of him was happy that she had returned home and that everything was right again. Yet another part of him wanted to keep her all to himself, still he hung back and didn't make any move to speak with her, now was not the right time for any of his plains.

"You still have one wish." Shenron told them impatiently.

"I have a wish." Justine called out and turned to look up at the dragon.

"State your wish." The dragon boomed.

"I wish I knew what happened to the clone of Sehallah." She called out.

"The space pod that held the boy was shot down by one of Frieza's ships." Shenron stated.

"Oh, well thank you." Justine called though she was disappointed.

With his task completed Shenron returned to the dragon balls and once again the sky turned to a deep shade of blue.

Mr Popo ushered them all inside for breakfast clamming that Justine must be starving. Piccolo fallowed behind without a word, his usual glower on his face (though he felt like climbing the walls) he hated not being able to speak privately with her.

Justine glance back over her shoulder at him while smiling warmly.

Once they were in the kitchen where Justine and Popo always ate breakfast she assumed comfortable position of member of the household rather then guest. She served herself and a protesting Mr. Popo who was not used to being served. Dende poured himself tea while Piccolo leaned casually against the doorframe.

"Piccolo, you coming?" Justine asked while she set a tall glass of water for him in the place beside her.

Piccolo hesitated to join in the meal yet he found himself taking his seat beside Justine. She graced him with another warm smile that cause his cheeks to flush with color. It was silly he knew but somehow that didn't matter much. She was home, and he had made it possible to bring her back, that was all that really mattered.

XxXxX

Later that day Justine was in her room changing after a long shower, when the door squeaked slightly announcing Piccolo's arrival. Justine didn't blush or attempt to cover herself, (it made no difference to her, Piccolo already knew what she looked like nude.) But he did something he had never done before, he watched her dress.

Justine told herself that she was imagining things but when she dared look up at him he did not look away. In fact it seemed as if he were challenging her to protest. She kept quiet as she finished dressing, all the while profoundly aware of his possessive regard.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked once she had finished.

He didn't reply but instead he reached down and captured one of her hands in his. Then without a word he turned and led her out of the room. He continue down the hall with her in tow as if she were a small child who needed guiding.

"Where are we going?" She asked but she didn't really think he planed to answer.

His big hand completely engulfed hers leaving no reason for her to lace her fingers with his. Her whole arm tingled when she thought of how never before had he reached for her hand. Now he held it even though there was no need; he could have just said, "come with me," and she would have fallowed him anywhere.

He didn't let go even when he took to the air, he did do so slowly so that she had time to catch up, but as soon as they were airborne he took off, griping her hand tightly in his.

Slowly Justine felt a part of her come alive with renewed hope that he might care for her, quickly she tamped it down. (Her foolish heart was building castles in the sky again.)

It seemed like they hadn't flown far at all before he began taking them down. But that could have just been because she was so busy daydreaming about the big green man who had captured her heart.

They landed in a grassy meadow that looked more like a painting then reality.

"Wow this place is beautiful." Justine found herself saying.

"Over there." Piccolo gestured for her to look behind her.

Behind her stood a small log cabin that looked like it too belonged in a painting.

"I don't get it." She found herself saying as her mind tried to wrap itself around the reason that he would be showing her this thing.

Suddenly she felt his hand push gently at the small of her back. Did he want her to go in the cabin?

She walked forward slowly then turned once to look at him just before she opened the cabin door. His face was unreadable so she pushed her way inside the small building. She expected to see dust, or smell the moldy odor of rotting wood but only the fresh scent of pine filled the air. The interior held a small kitchen area, a simple table, two chars, a fireplace, and a bed that was tucked neatly in a corner.

As she entered the house something kept bothering her about the place, something was just a little off. Her mind took in everything as she inspected it more closely. Dishes tucked away in cupboards, bright white towels folded neatly and hung on a rack, a huge trunk that when she opened it, she found that it was filled with clothes. And then it dawned on her what was wrong, everything in the house was completely unused. Though most of it looked hand made, nothing had ever seen a day of work.

Slowly she turned and stepped back outside where Piccolo waited. "Piccolo you'll have to tell me what this is all about, because I don't get it."

Piccolo had dreaded this part, where he would have to make her understand what he didn't fully understand himself.

Piccolo was unable to speak now that the time had come. He had hoped she would just look at the house and know why he had built it for her.

"It's yours." He finally rasped out.

Justine's mouth opened and closed a few times, she glanced at the house then back at him. "Mine?' She gaped.

"It's a gift." Piccolo told her.

"From you?" She asked in a breathless voice.

"Perhaps you should go back in and make sure I stocked your kitchen properly, I wasn't sure what– why are you crying?" He said suddenly when he seen tears forming in her eyes.

She didn't answer, all she could do was close the small distance between them and wrap her arms around his waist. Her tears soaked his shirtfront while she lay her head against his broad chest.

"If you don't like it.." He began but stopped when she shook her head quickly.

"No I love it!" She cried "That's why I'm so happy."

Piccolo was even more confused by her statement but he let it go, at least she'd said she liked it.

"When did you have time to build it?" She asked.

"I ah.." He paused, unsure of how much he wanted to tell her "I started working on it a few days ago while I was waiting for Dende to refashion the dragon balls."

"You did this in just a few days?" She gasped. "That's amazing"

"Nameks are natural builders." He stated as if he were embarrassed by her praise.

"Come on you have to show me everything." She said as she pulled him along behind her.

Piccolo allowed himself to simply enjoy Justine's excitement as she asked questions about the house. Now and then she would simply hold a one item or another in her hands, and turn it over and over as if it had some great importance.

"This place is just amazing." She said with a gesture of her arms, then she fell quiet and thoughtful.

Piccolo was dreading the questions in her eye's even while he watched her draw nearer. How could he tell her what he felt?

"I'm afraid if I ask too many questions, or if I say the wrong thing, I ruin this moment." She admitted while looking into his dark eyes. Just looking at him made her heart beat so fast she thought surely he could hear it.

He didn't do anything but gaze into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity, then without warning her simply grabbed her by the shoulders, lifted her off her feet and kissed her breathless. He pulled her close until her body molded to his. She needed no prompting as the kiss built, her legs found his hips and they seemed to wind around him of their own accord. Her arms embraced his neck even while her tongue slipped into his mouth.

Piccolo poured everything into his kiss, all the words that he had left unspoken, his fear of never seeing her again, and the deep need to possess her. She had become like the very breath in his lungs, or the life blood flowing through his veins, she was all that and much more to him. He wanted her with him when he closed his eyes at night and when he opened them in the morning. He wanted to be the one to make her smile, and to be there to hold her when she cried. Perhaps he couldn't give her everything she needed, but he would give her everything he had.

His kiss became gentle as he fallowed her lead, her lips nibbled his, then she kiss her way along his jawline.

"I missed you." She whispered in his ear.

Piccolo felt his heart tremble, how he had missed her and worried about her with every waking moment. He had blamed himself for the sacrifice she had made and he'd swore to bring her back.

"Someone told me that if I had asked you, you would have stayed." He told her in a husky voice.

"I'll stay for as long as you want me." She answered.

"Good." He said just before his lips found hers.

Hours later Piccolo awoke from his nap with Justine. She was curled up next to him like a kitten with her head resting on his arm. The day had come and gone and now the night cloaked the small cabin in shadow. They had made love until both their bodies and hearts were satiated and sleep claimed them. Piccolo felt a smile tug at his lips while he listened to Justine murmur in her sleep. This was what his heart had always longed for, though he would have never guessed until he met his little Justine. He had always wanted someone of his very own and now he had found her. Someday he would tell her how much she meant to him, but for now he could only show her, and hope that she would be happy.

XxXxX

Justine woke that morning with a feeling of total completion. She could sense that Piccolo was somewhere outside, so she wrapped herself in the blanket from the bed and wondered outside to meet him.

The morning was misty and cold but Justine was curious about where Piccolo had gone to. Then she spotted him coming up over a hill not far from the cabin.

"Did you go for a swim?" She asked because he was dripping wet and only wearing his pants.

"Yes there's a pond just behind those trees." He answered once he reached her.

She smiled as she watched him walk past her into the house (the house that he had built for her so they could make a life together.) That was when it occurred to her, Piccolo didn't just care about her, he loved her.

Justine fallowed him into the house and wrapped her arms around him from behind. It didn't matter if he never said the words, she would always know how he felt.

"Thank you." She whispered against his bare back.

"Are you crying again?" He asked because he could feel her warm tears.

"Only because you make me so happy." She said as he turned to hold her.

...The End...

Wahhh I didn't want it to end but I couldn't put it off. ::Cries some more:: I enjoyed writing this fanfic sooo much, I don't know if I will ever have as much fun as I did with this one. I mean I have been writing it for over a year now.

Well I guess every story has its end. Don't worry though, if you want to read more about Piccolo and Justine I'm sure I will find a way to write some short side stories about them. And I hope I can write one about Dende as well.

Thank you so much for all the reviews, and please review this last chapter (it would mean so much to me.)

Thank you all.

Love, Raven.