It's been a while since I've last updated this fic… But I think I'm ready to start once again on my favorite child, The Dentist. I don't own Dbz.

-

Piccolo grinned at the item in his hands and laughed, shaking his head as he did so. He held a fairly large book called, 'The Dentist's Office', which hosted a drill on the front cover. Iris had insisted he open her gift while they waited for the coffee, and Piccolo agreed.

"I had recalled reading that book a couple of months ago, and thought of you. It's about this crazy dentist who has insane relationships with his patients." Iris giggled and covered her eyes. "It's extremely funny, I promise. He's kind of depressed, and gets high on happy gas when no one is around. Then he just ends up getting into trouble with the authorities… It's great." Piccolo chuckled and held up the book.

"Are you trying to suggest something?" He asked playfully, making Iris grin.

"Nah. I'm sure you don't drug your patients and try to take advantage of them." Piccolo's eyes widened briefly before Iris burst out laughing again at the expression. "I'm kidding!" She took a sip of coffee and pointed at the dentist's tie. "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask. Do you have somewhere to go?"

Piccolo raised a brow and shook his head, smiling in confusion. "No…?"

Iris set down her mug and loosened Piccolo's tie, taking it off a moment later. Piccolo felt blood rush to his cheeks at the close contact, but forced himself to remain calm.

"It was making me nervous." Iris confessed, laughing at Piccolo's dumbfounded look. "I felt like you were getting ready to go to the office or something."

Piccolo grinned and shook his head. "Sorry, habit." He tapped his index finger on the mug a moment before taking a deep breath. He knew that he had been gathering courage the past few moments, and that he felt sure he could tell the truth. He exhaled and folded his hands together. "Iris, there's something I have been wanting to tell you."

"Piccolo, is everything all right? You sound so serious." Iris smiled and held Piccolo's hand in her own soft one. "I'm sure it's nothing bad, and you can tell me whatever is bothering you."

Piccolo swallowed and looked at Iris's fingers, slightly enveloped by his own large ones. His gaze travelled up her arm, to her shoulders, neck, chin, and finally her face. His eyes settled on hers as he inwardly ground his teeth. She really was beautiful and kind looking. Her face reminded him of a picture he once saw in an art gallery. The woman had looked calmly caring and friendly, even though chaos had been the theme for the background. That's what he felt like now. The only difference was the chaos was whirling inside of him, and he was about to let it out on this wonderful lady. He could see himself in the pupils of her large eyes, and wanted to kick himself for having ever deceived her as she squeezed his hand slightly.

"It's about Sarah. Iris, I can't…I don't know how to say it. Sarah is-" Piccolo's words caught in his throat as he felt-in horror- a tear slide down his cheek. His throat constricted and his nose burned as he tried to get out the words. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' Piccolo wondered wildly to himself, when a sudden inspiration struck him. 'That damned CAT must be around here, somewhere… And where it is, the kid is likely to be right there too.' Piccolo chewed his lip as he struggled to force down the allergic reaction. He looked into Iris's eyes, expecting her to be disgusted with his seemingly weak disposition. However, he found that a heartfelt sympathy lay there instead, confusing him. He knew that he had to set her straight now, before he lost his nerve. Taking a deep breath, he began to tell Iris the truth, when he choked slightly on the dry air strangling his throat. It must have looked like a sob, however, since Iris reached a hand over to Piccolo and stroked his arm, smiling kindly.

"It's ok, Piccolo. I know how hard it is, but you don't have to talk until you are ready."

'Damn it.' Piccolo thought bitterly as Iris continued to stroke him lovingly. 'Now she probably thinks I'm some bleeding heart single dad. How the hell am I supposed to get out of this one?'

-

"Piccolo, I'm s-so sorry. Spock clawed me, an-and I dropped him, an-and he r-ran down the st-stairs…" Sarah's bottom lip quivered as Piccolo looked at her coldly. And hour had gone by since Iris had gone home, and a lot had happened since then. After Piccolo's failed attempt to explain the whole situation, Iris had just consoled him and said they could talk about it later. She had suggested they take a walk, and switch subjects. And even though Piccolo had to admit it felt good being practically petted by such a kind woman, he couldn't help but feel upset at the missed opportunity. He knew that happiness wasn't a stone's throw away, but still…

He turned to face the kid, and was surprised to see her eyes bright red, making the iris's blue color stand out boldly. He realized that tears were threatening to burst the aqueducts of her lids, and that his misfortune was the cause of it.

"Hey, come on…it's not that big of a deal. I'll just bring it up again next time. Don't sweat it." He patted her shaky shoulder slightly, unsure of what to do. The next instant shocked him even more as she threw her small form into his, sobbing. He felt his shirt become slightly wet from her freely flowing tears, and tensed automatically. What had he done? Was the kid really feeling so guilty?

"I said don't worry about it, kid. Come on, it's ok…please don't cry." Sarah looked up into Piccolo's face and sniffled, stopping the flow of tears. She let her grip on him slip and returned to her original position, wiping her face with the back of her hand.

"I know, it's just…" She blushed and smiled wryly. "It's that time of the month."

Piccolo raised a brow at first, and the silence grew very noticeable in the room. Both figures merely stared at one another until Sarah's form started shaking again, only this time- she was trying not to burst out laughing. Her laughter came out in short bursts, and became contagious. Piccolo began to chuckle and shake his head, biting his lip.

"You're disgusting." He said simply, messing her hair up as they walked towards the kitchen together. Sarah grinned and shrugged, skipping along in an obvious mood swing.

"So is sex. Just think about it in completely medical terms. Gross." She made a face at Piccolo and they both laughed at the sheer absurdity of the conversation. "I'm hungry. Is it cool if I order Chinese?" She was already towards the phone in the kitchen, grinning. "You want something? Well, I'm a social eater, so you're eating too. We'll get you some flied lice, roh-k? Roh-k, flied lice… I bet they'll go rearry rearry srow, too." Piccolo snorted at the kid'ssomewhat racist Asian impersonation.

"You're terrible, you know that?"

-

Nail paced the room up and down, sending disgusted looks at Piccolo every now and then. "So you didn't tell her, huh? Typical. Beautiful chance, ruined. Think about it: Not in public (no humiliation), your own house (you'd know where to run if things went for the worst), no sharp knives in the vicinity (like at a restaurant, where the bitch can stab you to death while waiting for the soup)… And yet you still fucked up?" Sarah slurped her noodles loudly, getting a glare from Nail. She grinned nervously and looked to the side, putting the Chinese take-out on the coffee table.

"If you hadn't brought that God-forsaken creature here, I would have done it, ok?"

The darling 'God-forsaken creature' gave a tiny meow as Sarah covered it's ears. "Don't listen to him, sweetheart! He doesn't mean it." She petted the adorable kitten until it caught one of her fingers in its mouth. "Oh, how sweet! Look, he's kissing my finger-OW" Little Spock was now biting down harshly on the kid's finger, drawing blood. "Little ass clown, I'll sell you to the Chinese deliver guy and let him make kitty stew with you! Stupid pus-spewing, organ pile, sin-against-God!" Sarah yelled. She looked into the kitten's eyes and softened, petting it's tiny head a moment later. "Aww, I can't stay mad at you. You are just too cute!" She cuddled with the kitten before dropping it on her lap. "Hey Piccolo! Maybe Iris won't kill you when you tell her! Maybe she'll think you're so adorable, she won't rip your heart out and make you eat it."

"Piccolo adorable?" Nail asked sceptically, raising a brow. "Please. Just LOOK at the man."

"We're twins, ass wipe! Quit acting like you can look different than I can!" Piccolo said heatedly, making Nail hiss playfully.

"I can look adorable. Check it out." Nail's eyes widened into large Bambi-like saucers as his lips formed a little pout. He moved over to Sarah and took one of her hands, giving her the big eyes the entire time. "Would you kill the pope for me?" He asked in a small voice, adding a slight whimper afterwards. Sarah looked ready to squeal as she pinched Nail's cheeks, rubbing her nose against his.

"How sweeeet! Look at his little mouth, all pouty like that…Ooooo, of course I will, schnookums! Picceeeee, just LOOK at how darling he is! Why can't your stupid lazy ass be like Nail, huh?" Sarah tightly hugged Nail around the neck and swayed back and forth. "Awww, he's just wike a wittle puppy!"

"Stop it, I'm about to hurl." Piccolo said in disgust, making Nail return to normal.

"You see? All you have to do is put on the puppy face, and no woman can resist."

Piccolo looked at Sarah and sighed. "You guys are right. I really got to tell her soon, huh?"

Both Nail and Sarah nodded their heads as if to say, 'No shit, jackass.' That's how Piccolo interpreted it, anyway, and left the room to go think. Nail turned to Sarah once his brother was gone and smiled.

"I don't see why you like Piccolo so much. He acts like such a little bitch!"

"At least he doesn't cry like a little bitch." Sarah said, picking up her noodle carton. "You're right, though. Manliness is hitting a low point. We need to stimulate it, somehow." Sarah scratched her temple with a chopstick before snapping her fingers with the other hand. "Hey, we could tie Iris up to railroad tracks and make Piccolo save her! He could be the over-masculine hero, right? Practically radiating testosterone." She dove into her food and slurped her noodles loudly. "Or you could just make him see how good it is to be manly." She suggested as an afterthought, swallowing audibly. "Personally, most things guys do are gross, but my brothers insist it's a heck of a lot better to be a disgusting guy than a girly pussy."

Nail rubbed his chin and nodded. "You're right. Piccolo needs to learn how to be the romantic, but for his own well-being, a manhood course for at home is needed. To the batcave!" He said sarcastically, leaning back in his chair. "Weeell, after this…the game's on in a couple of minutes." Sarah merely grinned.

"Exactly the mind set we're going for."

-

I am going to see my friends for the first time in over seven months. I am so PUMPED! We're going to Dresden too, so don't expect updates for a while until after next Tuesday. I'm so excited, I just can't hide it!

Oh, I'll try to do something with Aces Wild, but no promises… Until next time!

-Ace