AN: YAY an update, ain't you happy, I tried to make this one longer than the last so please read and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Do you think I would be doing this if I actually OWNED the characters. No, I wouldn't incase some of you are slow. Of course knowing me I probably still would, but that's beside the point.

Chapter 2

The wind whipped around Gohan as he flew threw the air, heading towards home. He wore a small frown on his face and was so lost in thought he almost flew past his small house nestled in the woods.

Just as he landed a small orange and black ball tackled into him. "Big brother's home, big brother's home,' shouted a hyper Gohan as he hugged his beloved older brother.

"Hey there squirt, did you have a good day?" asked Gohan his frown replaced at the sight of his ever happy brother, Goten.

"Yeah, Mama let me have a day off and I went to play with the fishies and I found a turtle, but mom said I couldn't keep it so I let it go and then I got lunch and took a nap and when I woke up I went to"

Gohan interrupted Goten's tirade with a small laugh. "Okay, okay squirt I get it. I do not need all the details. Why don't you go inside and see if mom needs help, I've got to work on my homework, then go see someone, alright?

"Sure brother," with this said Goten bolted into the house. Gohan chuckled at his brother's antics, heading into the house himself and going upstairs to work.

Gohan sat at his desk, his homework long ago forgotten laying in front of him. He had his head resting in one palm, his eyes staring blankly into space. The face normally covered with a happy smile, was a mask of sorrow and pain, usually kept deeply hidden. This Parent's Day had brought to the front of his thoughts his own father, or lack of one from his view.

Gohan loved his father, he really did, it was just that he was never really there when he needed him. Never there to comfort him after the nightmares that plagued him following the fight with Frieza. He never had to hear the masked sobs from Chichi caused by his death or to actually see his son growing up. He only came home random periods between training, and even when he was home, it was usually just to eat, sleep, or spar. No, Goku knew next to nothing about Gohan. He never did.

Gohan had loved spending time with his father, loved his happy attitude, but sometimes what he needed was not a buddy or a fighter, but a father who would listen to him and understand how he felt. Goku was never able to do this for Gohan. And he knew that there was only one person who he could always go to, and who would always understand him.

So when Chichi called the boys to dinner, Gohan went down, ate the meal his mother cooked for them, and then left, after a quick goodbye, to talk to the one he thought of as his real father.

The sun hung low in the sky, filtering through the leaves to make them shine with an unearthly light. The deep red of the setting sun was in front of Gohan as he flew towards his destination. His black hair whipped around his face that held a look of worried, determination. He knew this was what he wanted to do, but saying he was and actually ask were two very different things.

'Oh Kami, how am I supposed to ask him to do this, my mind is drawing a complete blank.' As Gohan drew closer to his target, he began to feel slightly panicky. But it was too late to back out now, his mind was made up, and besides they probably sensed him awhile ago.

The person whom Gohan's thoughts were centered around was in fact aware of his presence closing in fast. He briefly contemplated getting up to greet him, but decided to just stay as he was for now, see what the kid wanted first. When he heard the light sound of feet hitting soft grass and then the soft cough signaling the Gohan wanted to talk, he opened his eyes. Gohan stood in front of him looking nervous and fidgety. He narrowed his eyes slightly; the kid was hardly ever fidgety unless something was bothering him. With this thought he stood from his position and went to stand closer to the boy.

"What is wrong kid, did something happen?"

"Um . . . n-no Mr. Piccolo, nothing happened, I just . . . I just needed to talk to you about something." The boy said this stuttering softly, as he hadn't in his mentor's presence since he was a small child. Now Piccolo knew something was up. What could have possibly made Gohan behave like he was four around him again? "Okay spill, you haven't called me Mr. Piccolo in years kid."

Gohan took a deep breath to calm his nerves, closing his eyes to try and focus himself. "Well you see Piccolo," he began, "there's this thing at school tomorrow where we're supposed to bring in a parental figure, and I was . . . I was wondering if you would like to come with me." He ended with a hopeful note and looked up at the former Demon King's face, silently begging.

Piccolo was shocked to say the least. The kid wanted to bring him to his school for some event. No, not some event, an event for those the students viewed as parents. Why him?

"It's just that, out of everyone I know, you are the one who has taught me the most. You taught me to fight and to be strong. You taught me to never give up and to do the best that I could, because anything less was degrading myself. You," and here he paused, looking wary, "you have always been there for me when I needed you. After Frieza, you were there when I woke up from nightmares and needed someone to talk to someone to . . . be my friend. And . . . after Cell you were able to pull me out of my depression, you never once blamed me, and you helped me be strong for my mother and Goten when I just wanted to breakdown."

Gohan stood silent for awhile with eyes full of remembered pain. Piccolo was once again shocked into silence at the boy, no . . .man, standing in front of him. "Gohan . . ."

"And through all the years, Piccolo, when father was away or training, you never once turned me away when I came to you. You have been the only one to really understand me, you know me better than I even know myself sometimes. I wouldn't have survived without you, and not just for the obvious reasons either. You were able to save me from myself, before I even knew anything was wrong, much less before anyone else did. And for that Piccolo, you will always be my best friend and my . . . my father in all but blood."

Here Gohan looked down at the ground again and continued in a rush before Piccolo could say anything. " I understand if you don't feel the same and don't want to come to my school, I just wanted to tell you and I'm not obligating you to anything you don't want and if you want me to leave you alone from now on I understa"

"Kid, I . . .I don't know, a mean I've never been good around people and I can barely stand the others much less a bunch of human teens. Plus, well, I'm big and green and you were supposed to try and not attract attention."

"Oh, okay I get it Piccolo, um thank you for time, I should be heading home now I guess," said a crushed looking Gohan. The light had gone from his eyes and even his gravity defying hair seemed to droop. He turned to walk away and take off towards home.

Piccolo let out a small sigh and reached out to place and green hand on Gohan's shoulder, halting him in his steps. "Hold on kid, I'll tell you what, I'll . . . think about it and if I decide to come, I'll meet you at your school, alright."

Gohan perked up slightly at his words, when he finished Gohan's eyes held more of their spark in them. He replied in a happier tone, "Sure thing Piccolo, I guess I'll see you later than, I really do have be getting home or Mom will freak."

"Alright Gohan, goodbye."

"Bye" and with a short wave Gohan lifted off the ground and headed towards home, his heart was hopeful and a sigh escaped his lips. He really, really hoped Piccolo showed up. He thought he would be devastated otherwise. "Please Kami," he whispered, "let him be there, please."

Up on the lookout, what looked like a kinder, younger version of Piccolo whispered, equally as quite, "I'm sorry Gohan, but this is something I have no influence over. Good luck my friend." He hoped that Piccolo chose wisely, for the wrong choice would crush Gohan's fragile spirit and leave him plagued with self-doubt.

Well what do you all think. REVIEW and tell me! Good job of those who guessed Picolo. I hope who all understood why I picked him, it's not that I don't love Bulma and Vegeta, but Piccolo is more of a parental figure than either of those and has known Gohan better than anyone.

OO I hope Piccolo shows up, sounds ominous doesn't it? Muwhahahaha and now you'll have to wait cause my B-Day's coming up and I won't bewriting for a bit.

I thank you all for your lovely reviews and kindly ask for more. I hope this chapter was longer and better than the first. Thanks again.

Darkshadow