EPILOGUE

The black heavens swirled and roiled with saturated clouds, feeding water to the tumultuous waves in blankets, not drops. The gales of the northern sea were some of the most violent displays of Mother Nature, and all air-breathing creatures avoided them.

All but one, that was.

Hovering only feet above the tallest swells was a stoic green warrior, whose eyes saw nothing but the backs of his lids as he sat with his limbs crossed in the air. The storm had no more penetration on his awareness than would a passing butterfly, as all his concentration was turned inward, dealing with a psychological upheaval that made the raging tempest look like a rainy day.

After forty-eight hours of attempted meditation, and self-sparring, Piccolo had finally come to terms with Justice's unexpected come on…

Barely.

He still wasn't focused. His sentiments were still bombarding him in a whirlwind of confusion… As a matter of fact, the only thing he had figured out was that she'd been inappropriately exposed to intimacy, and had decided that he'd be her first guinea pig.

Yeah, he thought in a pitiful effort to convince himself. That was all it was. There was no feeling behind it.

Never mind the way she looked at him right before she kissed him. Never mind the hurt in her pretty violet eyes when he rejected her. Never mind that beneath all the shock, it stirred something inside of him…

Good hell, Piccolo berated himself heatedly. She's just a baby. Knock it off.

Granted, a baby who had taken to him for whatever reason, and he couldn't deny that schooling her with Dende and Mr. Popo the past month made him feel...something. But running off like he did, and then staying away for so long… Damn Vegeta and his stupid guffaws. She probably thought he'd abandoned her outright.

Typical, Piccolo, he thought in self-deprecation. One awkward incident and you run away like a coward. That was no way to nurture.

With one last, deep inhalation, Piccolo opened his eyes and shot off in the direction of the Lookout, hoping that by the time he got there he'd have an idea as to what to say.

Not that she knew enough language to understand…


.

He knew Justice was in one of the upper rooms of the palace when he touched down. He sensed her. Dende and Mr. Popo were nowhere to be found, which was highly unusual. As though they'd taken off when they saw him coming.

Manning up, he walked the stairwell and veered off onto the higher level. When he turned the corner, she was sitting on the floor already looking at him. The sight of her took his breath away.

Someone had taken the time to braid back her ivory mane, yet little rebellious wisps had escaped to frame her heart-shaped face. She stood to her feet, and he noticed how the sapphire blue of the dress she wore offset the opalescent hues of her skin, and flattered her figure in a very non-child-like manner.

Something was different about her. She was captivating to look at, but then again, she was captivating before. He couldn't pinpoint the change until she spoke.

"I missed you, Piccolo," she said, bouncing on her heels with her hands clasped behind her back as though to keep from tackling him in a hug.

He blinked. "You…missed me?" You're speaking? In full sentences!

She nodded shyly, and sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth. "I was in the Hyperbolic T-Time chamber for a year. They t-t-" a brief frown fluttered across her face as she tried spit the consonant out. "…taught me."

"How to speak…" he finished, trying to grasp the concept that it had been a full year since she saw him last.

She nodded jerkily. "And other st-stuff…"

"Who?" he asked, feeling a tad guilty that such an abrupt decision was no doubt in reaction to his freaked out departure after she'd jumped him at Capsule Corp.

"Mr. Popo, mainly. Axle also t-taught me, b-but she only stayed a day."

The news was so startling, and it was so strange to be having a linguistic conversation with her that he almost forgot to feel uncomfortable in her presence.

Her brows suddenly furrowed in the center and she looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry for what I did, Piccolo." Her cheeks colored, and she glanced up through her loose bangs.

It took him a moment to realize what she was referring to, and he wanted to smack himself for not apologizing first. "You didn't know," he explained awkwardly. "Besides, I shouldn't have run off like that. It caught me off guard. You were…confused."

That made her more at ease and the corners of her lips turned up in an apologetic smile. "Well, th-thanks to Axle, I'm not confused anymore."

A tinge in Piccolo's chest made his throat constrict ever so slightly right then. She already had nurturing and language. What if she didn't need him anymore? What if she was all ready to be independent, and he hadn't even been there when she needed him? Probably for the better, he tried to convince himself. I didn't need to be tied down, babysit

"I love you. I wanted you to f-feel that."

He blinked. …what?

"But I'll be more t-t-tactful. As long as you don't leave."

"You…" he choked, suddenly aggravated with the liberties Axle had taken in forming Justice's impressionable young mind. "You don't love me, kid. Axle was feeding you fairytales. You don't know me. I'm not the lovable type."

He hadn't realized how harsh his words were until they left his mouth, but surprisingly, she laughed at him, as though he were the ignorant one here, not her. "Piccolo," she shook her head. "I do know you. I can see your heart. And that is enough," she said with complete confidence.

Then he realized that she was right. It was part of Justice's instincts. She could read people, and see them for what they were. How else could she decipher the evil ones from the good? Maybe he wasn't such a beast after all, but… Agh… It both flattered and freaked him out.

This was weird. Too damn weird. He was going to pretend she didn't just say that. "Let's just forget about the whole incident, and go…go…"

"We can go watch Sp-Spanish soap operas!" she cried and clapped her hands in excitement.

"Uh…"

"Just k-kidding!" she giggled.

Piccolo exhaled relief. "What. They taught you how to joke around, too?"

She nodded and he couldn't stop a smirk from broadening his face. "Why do I get the feeling that you're going to be even more high maintenance now than you were before?"

"High…mane..teh…what?"

"Never mind." He jerked his chin towards the door, and made to leave. "How would you like to see some of earth's natural elements at their best?"

He got the impression she didn't know what elements were, but it didn't stop her from nearly barreling into him in her enthusiasm.

"Yes yes yes!"

"Alright then, but you'd better behave," he remarked casually as she skipped past him, dropping to the lower level without even using the stairs. Behave… the word echoed in his head as he watched her lithe, animated form exit the palace on her toes. Forget about behaving, Justice he sent silently. I think I like your spirited personality just the way it is.

Three contented words unexpectedly trailed back to him, making him both blush furiously and curse Mr. Popo for teaching her telepathy.

I know, Piccolo…


.

THREE MONTHS LATER

"I'm here, I'm here!" Axle said, noticing for the umpteenth time as she threw her briefcase down that it was much more awkward to carry around than a gun. Their recently-purchased, two-story home was far off in the countryside, as the city made Nail feel claustrophobic. But the commute, even via flight tended to take longer than she allowed, and she was often late getting home.

"Nail?"

She gasped as he materialized behind her, wrapping his long, heavy arms around her waist. "You're late," he purred, his breath tickling her ear.

The hair follicles on her arms rose immediately, and it suddenly took a great effort not to stammer. "They're not here yet, are they?" she asked, her eyelids fluttering as he started nuzzling her neck.

"No," he breathed, "But they'll arrive any minute."

"Then I'm on time."

"Un-uh," he insisted, tightening his grip, "I was counting on your being here a little sooner."

She blushed at his newfound audacity. "You're insatiable."

"Only for you."

"You have me," she laughed. "All the time!"

He spun her around, his eyes both playful and fevered. "I know, but you're the only excess I allow myself."

She rolled her eyes. "Excess? Hn. And you call yourself disciplined…"

She suddenly found herself flat on the floor with all of Nail's randy weight atop her. "Overindulgence wasn't in my nature until we were sealed, if you'll remember," he said as he pinned her hands above her head and trailed little bites along the curve of her jaw.

"Ah, I see," she managed, her earlier reservations about what state their friends would find them in, dissipating in the heat of his advances. "It's all my fault then."

"It is," he said. "That's why you have to suffer the consequences."

"Oh, hell."

He kissed her full on the mouth. But before things could progress too far, the light thud of footsteps sounded on the patio outside, followed by a heavy knock at the door.

He growled a quick, frustrated protest, and rolled off, picking Axle up and setting her on her feet. She straightened her clothes and wiped the disheveled hair strands from her face.

With a final, promising glance over his shoulder, Nail opened the door. Standing awkwardly in its entire frame was Piccolo, with Justice holding onto his arm. He smiled, and Axle gawked.

Piccolo? Smiling?

Nail motioned for them to enter, and they did so. Axle noticed that they were both attired in white, and it again impressed her that they'd make a really good couple if Piccolo could ever get over himself enough to initiate something.

It's not like Justice would say 'no'.

"So what's so important that you flew over a quarter of the globe to tell us in person?" Axle asked.

Piccolo's cheeks colored, and he looked down at Justice, who had an ear-splitting grin on her pretty face.

"We're sealed. Just like you," she blurted out.

The words slowly digested in Axle's brain as she looked at the two. Justice's hand traced down Piccolo's arm to intertwine her fingers in his…

And he let her.

Axle blinked. You've got to be kidding me… Nail expressed her reaction, and none to subtly…

"WHAT!"

"Sealed," Justice affirmed again, obviously enjoying their stunned reaction.

Axle found her voice. "Sealed? No warm up? No courting? No…" she stopped at a loss for words. "When!"

"Last night."

"But…how?" Axle asked.

Piccolo's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "We came to tell you, not to spell it out."

"Un-uh. This I've got to hear," Axle said as she stepped forward and yanked Justice out of Piccolo's grasp. "Why don't you two tenderlings go spar while I tap this female for information."

Piccolo reached out to reclaim her, a protest on his lips. But Nail, wide-eyed and smiling batted his arm down and jerked his head directionally towards the door.

"Come, brother," he said good naturedly. "It's not like you could stop them, anyhow. At least this way you don't have to watch while she embarrasses you."

Piccolo frowned, but his eyes were smiling. "Fine," he huffed, trying unsuccessfully to project his usual aggravation. "I'll give you fifteen minutes. Nothing more."

"Get going," Axle shoed them both out, and closed the door behind them, turning to give Justice a hopelessly intrigued stare. "Alright kid. First, water, then details."

Justice laughed and sat down on the sofa as Axle prepared two giant glasses of ice water. "It's r-right, Axle. Us. Together."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Axle said as she came over, handed her a mug and plopped down next to her. If the dragonspawn of justice said something was right, then it was right. But Axle was hungry for a little more than a declaration of the validity of the decision. "Well?"

"Well," she began innocently, "he kissed me."

Axle choked on her water. "HE initiated it?"

Justice frowned at her word choice. "In-eeeshee"

"He started it?" Axle clarified.

Justice nodded vigorously. "I think it was an accident."

"Is that right…"

She smiled. "We were flying over the ocean during a st-storm," she said, her opalescent visage alit with a child-like giddiness. "And I took his hat off-"

"His turban."

"His turban off, and he w-wanted it back," then her eyes narrowed, and Axle thought she'd never seen such a mischievous expression on Justice's sweet face. "But I didn't want to give it back."

She laughed. It was the classic game of keep away. "He went after you, I take it?"

Justice nodded. "I wasn't p-paying attention to where I was going, and didn't see a giant w-wave until it was nearly…on top of me. That's when I felt him grab m-me." Axle noted with some amusement that Justice blushed green, not purple. Keeping the observation to herself she nodded, encouraging the girl to continue.

"Then, I was above the w-water and the wave crashed b-below. He was still holding me, and I looked up and he was st-staring at me, like…like this," her lids half-dropped and her mouth parted in an obvious expression of stupefied sensuality.

Axle laughed outright. "You're killing me!"

Justice frowned. "No. I'm telling you what happened-"

"Gah! It was a figure of speech!" Axle chuckled. "Go on."

After a moment, Justice shrugged…a gesture Axle had taught her. "We were really really close, and he wouldn't let g-go, like he forgot. I told him it wouldn't have m-mattered if the wave hit me because I was…already w-wet.

"And?"

"Then he blinked, and his eyes crinkled. He said, 'I know', and then he kissed me."

"Just like that, eh?"

"Yes. Just like…that."

Axle reached over and gave the girl a hug. Justice's grin was contagious and she found herself beaming right along with her. "And then Mr. Popo sealed you?"

She nodded again, and downed the entire glass of water in one swig. "I w-waited. Like you told me to, for him to 'c-come around'."

"Yes, you did. I just hadn't expected it to be so…abrupt."

"Abru..pt?"

"Never mind," Axle mused and sat back in the corner of the sofa shaking her head. "Congratulations, my friend," she said. And then she considered her own happy circumstance, and the long road of strife she took to get there.

Congratulations to us both, she mused silently, wondering if destiny had more to do with both landing her in Nail's arms and her mother's line of work, than coincidence. Axle blinked the sting away from her eyes, as an old, familiar face touched her awareness.

Grandfather, she thought as she looked heavenward and smiled, I'll make you proud of me, yet.


.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NEXT DIMENSION…

The Supreme Kai felt two hands, and one very large finger lift off of him. He exhaled and turned to face the small grouping he had gathered.

One stood, biting his lower lip in between his fangs, his eyes shimmering... "That was kind of you to show us," he said, his tone raw with emotion. "I never stopped being proud of her, you know," he continued on. "My Axle… She has such an unconquerable spirit."

"That, she does, Etrack," The Supreme Kai agreed. "And the universe will be better off with her in it, as it was with you."

Etrack swallowed and straightened respectfully. "Thank you."

The Supreme Kai turned to the namekian next to him - one who stood stoic and proud, with all the humble dignity of a great leader. A small smile curling his thin, green lips. "I can't tell you how contented it makes me to know that my grandchild has not only found peace, but felicity also. The obstacles he had to overcome with his inherited identity were almost insurmountable."

The Supreme Kai smiled warmly. "Piccolo has done well, Katatsu. Your legacy of greatness continues in him."

Katatsu nodded mutely, words apparently unable to express his gratitude and relief. Then he turned to pat a much larger namekian on the forearm - a giant of a creature preserved not in the decrepit state in which he died, but rather in the prime of his youth, as notable and impressive as the eternal dragon he created. Yet for all his mass and stature, he couldn't stop the blubbering tears from rolling down his emerald cheeks.

"Are you sure you don't want to speak to your alpha son, Guru?" Katatsu asked.

Guru smiled through the water in his eyes and peered down at a small, pleasant looking female leaning against his thigh. "Do you think I should, Rin?"

His sister smiled ruefully up at him. "It is your decision, brother," she said. "Nail is happy."

Guru pursed his lips and locked stares with the Supreme Kai. "His happiness is enough for me, good friend. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you've allowed us to see them."

The Supreme Kai's eyes slanted in a smile. "I think I have an idea," he said quietly…knowingly. "Your children have found peace."

They all seemed to exhale simultaneously.

"So," The Kai continued in a tone of good-natured reproach, "you have each earned your station here. Now stop worrying about them and enjoy it!"


Thanks for reading...