Originally a roleplay between my bestie and I... I had to rewrite it because we neglected to save it!

Thank you to FlamingReaper for alerting me to upload failure. I have no idea what happened, that has never happened before.

Piccolo was miserable. He shifted his weight from one hip to the other on the couch, legs up, down, crossed. He even tried laying on his back with them hooked over the back of the couch.

"Honey, what on earth are you doing?"

He tilted his head back, looking up at Chichi from his odd position.

"Can't get comfortable," the namekian grumbled, sliding down and off the couch onto the floor, headfirst.

Chichi crouched beside him, brow furrowed. Her lips puckered slightly to the left. That was her Worry face. It was different from her Irritated face, where one brow was lifted, and her lips unevenly raised, and also from her Confused face, in which her lips seemed to disappear inside her mouth, but her brows did the same as they did when she was Worried. Her hand touched his forehead, and he blinked. He had been thinking an awful lot about her facial expressions, hadn't he?

"Hmm, you feel a little warm… Come on, up you get." Nudging the coffee table out of the way with her hip, Chichi hooked her arms under him and hoisted him up as she stood. Of course, that meant she only lifted him enough to get his butt off the floor. Piccolo's legs were straight out in front of him, heels on the ground. He made an annoyed sound, but made no move to free himself from her grip. "Baby, you're kinda heavy. On your feet."

"You're the one who insisted on lifting me," the namekian groused, twisting his head to look at her, lips pulled to the right in a sour scowl. That was his Why face.

Chichi rolled her eyes and adjusted her grip on him. "Just get up; I'll make you a cup of tea and give you a massage, okay?"

He grumbled a bit more but pushed back against her, pulling his feet under him and using his hips to throw his center of gravity forward.

On his feet, Piccolo swayed for a moment, and his brow puckered. What the hell? The namekian's stomach felt... Odd. Off. Oh dear.

Piccolo lurched, bringing a hand to his mouth and barely making it to the nearest vase before his knees buckled. His stomach heaved, and he did something he had never done before and dreadfully hoped he would never again do; he vomited. And it was the worst, most horrible thing he thought he had ever experienced. Including being blasted to death.

"Piccolo!"

Chichi was at his side again, one hand on his back and the other on his shaking shoulder.

What the hell had just happened? He groaned and clutched at the unfortunate decoration as his stomach once again upended itself. "Okay, let's - to the sink, at least," Chichi fussed and gently eased him back down into a sitting position. "You know what, stay right there. Give me… yeah, give me that. I'll bring you a bucket - oh you made one, okay."

He hovered over the newly-created bucket, face pale and eyes wide. "Are you okay, Baby?" Chichi was already on her way back with a damp cloth and a glass of water. "What was that all about?"

She dropped down at his side and began to dab at his cheeks with the cloth. For his part, Piccolo felt numb and achy all at once. And there was this wretched twisting feeling in his stomach!

"Dunno," he groaned once he was sure he would not repeat the experience. "That was awful."

Chichi tutted, pressing her lips to his forehead.

"Well, you have a bit of a fever, like I said before, um, well, before." Piccolo grunted. "But I don't like that you're throwing up. I don't think I've seen you do that!"

"That's because I haven't," his tone was clipped, and he knew she would not appreciate it, but what could she honestly expect from him after that horrendous ordeal? The closest he had ever come to vomiting was the unpleasant period of time after his heats where his body threw a mini temper tantrum in response to his failing to conceive - oh god.

"Are you gonna puke again, Baby? Right in the bucket, that's -"

"I'm pregnant."

"You're what now?" Chichi's voice dipped from concerned to flat in an instant. Piccolo's chest constricted, breath coming in shallow pants. Oh my god, I'm pregnant. They had been...thinking about a child... Planning on one, even. Hell, they had trying during his last two heats, the better part of an Earth year... "Honey, it lasted the same amount of time it always did -"

"And I haven't had my shedding week," he countered, fingers tightening on the bucket.

"It just ended a week ago," Chichi offered weakly, a shaking hand on his shoulder.

"A week and a half. I'm late. It's always build up-heat-shed within a week of each other." His heart was pounding in his chest now, chest rising and falling with each shallow, ineffectual breath.

Chichi shoved the bucket up to his face and held it as he threw up once more, finishing with several horrible, unpleasant dry heaves. "I'm pregnant."

She said nothing, rubbing his back and once again dabbing at his face with a different fold of the cloth.

"Maybe," Chichi murmured, "but that's exciting, isn't it? We've been trying for a long time." He managed a nod, and Chichi kissed his temple. "Let's try and not get too worked up about it until we see Dende, okay?"

Of course, Dende would be able to tell for sure! Piccolo nodded again. That was a good idea. After all, after all he could not feel a difference in his ki! Shouldn't he be able to? He had sensed Chichi was pregnant with Goten before she had thought to take a test! He would surely know if he, himself, were with child… "You feeling up to heading over there now? Can't be anything left in you to...expel…"

Piccolo groaned and shrugged. Truth be told, he did not really feel like moving much at all. He was afraid of throwing up again.

Yet, his wife did not seem about to take a no for an answer, and whisked away before he could say complain or dash her plans. Chichi bustled about, wrapping a bright pink shawl around her toned, bare shoulders and checking her hair in the mirror. "Come on, Love. No sense in putting it off. Either you're sick or we're losing the guest room, and I'd like to find out which it is so I can start preparing properly, got it?"

Piccolo made a rather consternated noise, even glaring a little bit at her back. Chichi ignored him; she could always tell when he was giving her a dirty look… Slowly, he crawled to his feet, taking it in steps; up to his knees, one foot, two feet… He moved gingerly, still feeling as if he was going to collapse. How the hell was he supposed to fly like this? "Now, Goten's at school until three-thirty, - and he has swim practice after that until six… He can get himself home, that's fine… Gohan will be back before then anyway. Oh, I should text him and tell him to plan on coming home here and not going to Videl's."

He chose not to interrupt her, letting her prattle on and plan out how she was going to deal with this unexpected bump in the course of her usual day. He knew she liked to have things all planned out far in advance; it eased some of her anxiety. Already, he could see some of the outward symptoms manifesting in the way she wrung her hands and tied and untied and re-tied the knot in her scarf. It was starting to rub off on him. Twitching ears and curling fingers gave it away. Chichi obviously noticed, and she took his hand, kissing his knuckles before patting his palm. "Everything's going to be alright, Pickaboo," she murmured.

The namekian flicked his ears and made a face.

"If you say so," he muttered, shrugging and swallowing a brand new wave of nausea.

"Babe," he looked down at her as her tiny hands gripped his biceps, her voice serious and stern.

"Yeah?"

"I've had two kids, and both of 'em came out kickin'n'screamin'. Literally nothing could surprise me with babies at this point."

He grunted, supposing that she was right. In the least, she was the expert in all this. Goten had surely prepped him at least a little… And he wanted a baby, he really, really did...but…

Piccolo was not quite sure when it was that they had taken off, when it was that they had landed on the Lookout's polished marble flooring. But… They were there. And Dende was already gliding over to them. He was still a good bit shorter than Piccolo was, and the older namekian doubted that the God would grow much more. Perhaps an inch or so.

"Hello, Piccolo, Chichi. What a pleasant surprise! How are you both?" Dende stopped a short distance from them, smiling, blue eyes soft. He was just slightly taller than Chichi, who embraced him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Piccolo rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and pursing his lips. Dende's face flushed and he tittered with embarrassment at Chichi's motherly attention.

"Sorry for the short notice," she crooned, releasing him. Piccolo's ears flicked, and he shifted his weight to the other foot. He hated when the attention was on him, and he knew it was about to shift onto him… "Piccolo's… well, he's not feeling very well and we...ah…" her dark eyes shifted to him.

Piccolo cleared his throat, fingernails tightening on his biceps.

"As you know, we've been… trying for a child."

Dende's eyes widened, ears perking and antennae jumping.

"AH! Of course! Please, follow me inside where things will be more comfortable. This may take a few moments, particularly if it's early on…" the young Guardian continued talking, and Piccolo and Chichi followed him. Piccolo's movements were automatic, without thought. His mind was rather blank. Dende was really acting as if it was entirely possible that he were pregnant.

The little god ushered them both into a cozy room with large cushions and a thick, fuzzy throw rug, indicating that they sit. Piccolo gingerly lowered himself onto one of the cushions, sinking into the soft material. He felt like it was swallowing him whole… "Piccolo?"

"Hm?" it was apparent that Dende had been talking to him, and he blinked, having not heard a word.

The god smiled at him, kneeling at his side.

"I'm just going to place my hands on your chest, alright?"

Piccolo nodded mutely, and Dende's hands, warm and glowing faintly with a pinkish light, touched his chest. Chichi was biting her lower lip, wringing her hands with bright eyes and a trickle of sweat sliding down her heart-shaped face. She looked like she was going to pass out.

"Sit, Chichi," he murmured. He wasn't pregnant; he must have eaten something unpleasant.

"Can't, I'm too nervous." Hell, she was shaking wasn't she?

"I'm not -"

"Congratulations, you two!"

Piccolo paled and Chichi squealed. "You're about two weeks along, so your child's ki is very, very small. They're completely masked by your lifeforce." Dende sighed, placing his hand next on Piccolo's forehead. "Peace, Piccolo," he murmured, so soft Piccolo doubted Chichi could hear his words, "I might be younger than you, but I helped deliver plenty of sprouts on my homeworld. I'll be here for you to answer any and all of your questions. I'll be able to offer any sort of help you need."

The warrior opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Dende must have sensed something change in his ki, and handed him a newly materialized bucket. Piccolo vomited for the - what, fourth? - time that day. "That's normal, albeit unpleasant."

Chichi rubbed his back and kissed his temple, murmuring in his ear. He curled over the bucket, still feeling queasy.

"So namekians get morning sickness as well?" Chichi wrapped her shaking arms around his neck, massaging twitching muscles. Piccolo tuned out while she and Dende spoke. Eventually, he relinquished his hold on the bucket, setting it down and slumping into Chichi's arms. "Oh baby, I know you're miserable." She peppered his cheek with kisses, rubbing his ear on the opposite side. "I know all sorts of tricks for that - as long as Dende clears them as being okay!"

"I'm sure they will be…"

He was tuning them out again, receding into his own little world within his mind. This was better. He was able to think now.

His safe place was a bit like his wasteland, only with more flowers. Looking out over it, he saw himself - two of him, actually. One held something in his arms...an egg...spinning around with it and clinging to it, wearing a smile, face opened and relaxed. Piccolo's ears pinned, watching the Joyful One. He could feel Joy's euphoria with the news bubbling in his chest, twisting his stomach and filling it with butterflies… And then his landed on the Dark One. This one… This one was unpleasant and scared and full of doubt. All the shakes… That was Dark. The numbness, that was Dark.

Piccolo watch Dark and Joy for a moment longer, contemplating what he was seeing for just a moment longer. It was not like it was all the difficult to figure out. Dark was the weaker bits of him. Not even the evil parts of him, which still existed. Just the weakness; doubt and fear and all those other unpleasant sensations… Chichi tried to tell him sometimes that those were normal emotions, but he doubted it. No matter how much she reassured him. After all, she herself did not seem to believe it about herself. At least not always.

He resurfaced in time to hear Chichi asking Dende what could be a danger to him or the baby.

"Well," the Guardian gave Piccolo a concerned look, reaching out and touching his forehead, sending soothing energy into him, speaking directly to him now, "I highly recommend cutting sparring from your activities until after the egg is laid. Train - stay active, for sure - but limit contact with anything that can hurt you back." Dende paused, "like Vegeta."

Piccolo snorted and Chichi hugged him closer. "Drink lots of water, maybe up your mediation since you'll be doing less sparring… Let's see," Dende touched his chin, thinking. "Are you getting enough sunlight? Make sure you're getting plenty of that - you need lots of nutrients that, unfortunately, with the Earth's sunlight schedule, are hard for us to make if we're not out in it constantly. So," he started ticking things off on his fingers. "Water, lots of sunlight - meditate outside without a shirt as often as you can - and… I'll get you some herbs to take that will help you get the right vitamins. Some of them I had Shenlong summon here directly from Namek after I learned that you were trying to conceive…"

Piccolo nodded along, filing away the information but feeling quite overwhelmed, probably missing half of it. He hoped Chichi was listening - knew she was. Hell, she was probably already formulating a schedule for him to follow…

Holding a bag of herbs in shaking fingers, Piccolo jumped off of the Lookout, Chichi right behind him.

"How are you feeling, Pickaboo?" she asked, wobbling beside him. She was not very graceful in the air, but she was proficient enough to get from point A to point B, and that was why he had taught her in the first place. Piccolo shrugged, checking to make sure he still had the herbs. They were just fine.

"A little shocked," he admitted after a moment, "even though… Even though I knew before we arrived. I just…" Piccolo pursed his lips. "I had accepted that I was not with child this time around, and was content to wait another…. one hundred and some odd days before having to think about ...going through this process."

Chichi swooped closer and hooked her arm around his elbow, making a sympathetic sound.

"It sucks at first - actually it sucks for the most part. I don't know how much your body is going to change but… Well, you know how mine did!" she laughed and patted his arm, "but at the end…" Chichi let out a wistful sigh, leaning against his bicep, face tilted up just enough to look him in the eye. "Well, at the end you get a baby, and they become the most important person in your life."

Piccolo offered her a rueful smile, small and short. But he knew she saw it. She always did, "and then you have a second baby and you don't know how on earth you can love both of them so much at the same time, but you do. You do."

"Let's worry about Junior right now, eh?" he suggested.

"You're Junior!" Chichi snorted, gently poking his chest, "this one's the Third if you want to name them 'Piccolo.'"

Finally, he felt like laughing, shaking his head. Lighter now, he bumped gently into her, nudging her with his hip.

"I have no intention of naming our child after myself," Piccolo murmured, "two of those in one lifetime is enough."

"Hmm," Chichi sighed, closing her eyes. "Can't say I disagree." Her arms tightened around his, her excitement filtering through him. "I can hardly believe it! We're having a baby! You and me!" Her laugh was like the sound of bells rolling over an open meadow, and he smiled.

"It is...hard to comprehend," Piccolo agreed, falling quiet. He had always considered Gohan, and especially Goten, to be his children. Hell, Goten even called him "papa."

They were still his, even now with this new little one on the way. "I'll... I'll tell the boys," he managed to say at last. "Although I might need your help with Goten."

Chichi made a soft sound of agreement, patting his arm.

"Gohan is going to be so excited for you, Piccolo." How was it that she always seemed to know his thoughts and fears? He was petrified of telling the kids! Even though the two of them had been talking about a third child for months and months, how would they react now that it was actually happening? "I know Gohan's already started a list of baby names," Chichi's little nudge made him look down at her again.

"He would," Piccolo was reasonable certain that some of those names were off limits and only for Gohan and Videl's use. They were practically engaged, and not quite done with high school either. He sighed, shaking his head as they began their descent into the yard.

Gohan and Goten were both at the kitchen table, working on their studies. Goten was interrupting Gohan's physics to get help on his history homework, but the elder brother did not seem to mind. They both paused as Piccolo and Chichi entered the kitchen.

"Where've you two been?" Gohan asked, setting down his pencil and standing to embrace his mother. Piccolo grunted, going straight to the refrigerator and storing the herbs Dende had given him.

"Both of you," he held up the bag for them to see, "these are not for eating."

"Why would I ever go for vegetables?" Goten snickered from his seat at the table. "I know how to make noodles." Piccolo rolled his eyes and decided against responding. Goten's comment drew chuckles from Chichi and Gohan. He stuffed it in the produce drawer and closed the fridge.

"So..." Gohan let the word hang in the air, and Piccolo's ears twitched.

"Are you busy right now?"

To Be Continued