The flight home was quiet with May nestled securely in Piccolo's arms. She was content, but she didn't see the look that crossed Piccolo's face. He seemed to be having trouble sorting his thoughts and he didn't know what he should do.
On the one hand, Piccolo knew that he loved this woman and would do anything for her. But, on the other hand, he didn't want her to get hurt because of whom and what he is. Being around him meant being worried about safety and life. He didn't know if he could give her up, but he didn't know if he should stay.
They landed shortly and May sighed as she was set on her feet. She began walking to the door when she noticed that Piccolo wasn't following. She looked back smiling, until she noticed that he had a worried look on his face.
May walked back to stand before him and said, in a worried tone, "What's wrong Piccolo?"
"You could have been killed today," he said grimly, not quite looking her in the eye. He couldn't look into her eyes for he would have lost his courage to say what he wanted to say.
"But you and your friends saved me," she chirped happily, "and then Dende healed me and I feel better than ever. So now, we can go on with life."
"What if someone else comes wanting revenge on me for something that I've done?"
"I'll be all right," she said, suddenly worried that he might do or say something she didn't want to hear, "I have you and the others to protect me, right?"
"We won't always be able to save you. It might be best if I just leave," Piccolo said, still unable to look May in the eye.
If he would have, he would have seen the tears forming in her eyes. In a choked voice she said, "No Piccolo, I don't want you to leave. You can't leave me alone again."
Piccolo turned around and began walking away. Unfortunately, May grabbed his cape and refused to let go. He stopped, but didn't look back.
"Before you came I was all alone. You gave me friendship and I . . ." she trailed off.
Piccolo sighed and turned to finally face her. He could see the tears that now streamed down her cheeks. His own eyes softened considerably and his courage wavered.
"You what?" he asked, wanting her to finish her thought.
"I love you," she said softly, then proceeded to lower her head and turn away. She didn't want to be rejected or let him see the pain behind her eyes. She began walking slowly towards the house, not once looking back.
Piccolo stood there for a moment, his mind stunned into silence. Before he knew it he was walking after her and had grabbed her shoulder to turn her back around. She looked up in stunned silence and he could now see the hurt that lurked in her eyes. He had promised to never hurt her and he was, once again, breaking that promise.
He lowered his head to her ear and whispered, "I love you too," and with that, he leaned in to kiss her. May's arms snaked their way to clasp around his neck while Piccolo wrapped his own arms around her waist. He stood up, taking her with him, and into his arms, never once breaking the kiss.
They pulled away a moment later, lungs starving for air, and looked into each others eyes. Piccolo still believed that she would get hurt, but he didn't think he could let her go. "You can still get hurt, or killed," he remarked, wanting her to know that she had a choice.
"I know," she replied, "but I would rather die than not have you in my arms ever again."
Piccolo actually smiled an honest to goodness smile and he could feel the love filling his heart that he had for this woman. He didn't ever want to leave her side again.
Several weeks later, the entire gang had gotten together for another party that Bulma had planned. After the last one, she made sure that no one had too much to drink. Once everyone had arrived, the food was served, and they all chatted about different things.
Piccolo was quieter than usual, but no one seemed to notice except for May and Gohan, the two people that new him best. Unlike May though, Gohan knew what was going on. Piccolo had a plan, but he wasn't sure if he could do it in front of all of these people, even if they were supposed to be his friends. Lately, Piccolo had been watching television; more accurately would be romantic shows and movies, and he was waiting for the perfect time to act.
Piccolo had been practically living with May for the past month and they had gotten closer. Nothing major had happened, but some nights, while sitting in front of the fireplace or the television, May would fall asleep in Piccolo's arms and he would keep a watchful eye on her. He now knew that he would do anything for her, whether it cost him his life or caused him a lot of pain, he would do it for her.
Everyone was now off in little groups talking about various things. May was having a conversation with Bulma and Chi-chi, with Goku still munching in the background. They were all laughing and having a good time, and Piccolo decided that it was now or never.
Mustering up more courage than he had fighting Freeza, he walked slowly over to May and the girls and stopped. May looked up at him and said, "Hey Piccolo, what is it?"
Piccolo swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and noticed Gohan smiling at him in encouragement. "I have something to ask you," he said simply.
May just smiled up at him, nodded her head, and waited for him to ask his question. She was completely unprepared for what he did next. He bent to one knee and asked, as quickly as he could with her still understanding, and asked, "Will you marry me?" He pulled a black box out of gi and opened it to reveal a beautiful gold ring that wrapped around to form two loops interlocking with a jade stone set in the middle of the loops.
May gasped in surprise, as well as everyone else at the party, as they watched Piccolo kneel before a woman and ask such a question. They were very surprised. May looked into his eyes, tears forming in her own, and for a moment he thought that he had done something wrong and hurt her again.
Caught completely by surprise, Piccolo fell back onto the grass when May lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his shirt. A muffled sob came out and she said, "I love you so much."
He wasn't sure exactly what she had said, but he asked, "Is that a yes?"
She looked down at him from her position on his chest, tears still evident in her eyes, but they were happy tears. "Yes," she said and leaned in for a kiss. It would have turned more passionate had the group not taken that moment to burst into applause and congratulations.
The two stood up and accepted the gratitude, though Piccolo looked a little uneasy, May was busy showing off her lovely ring. When she asked if he had actually gone into the city to buy it, he mentioned that Gohan had helped and, though he hated going into the city for any reason whatsoever, he had gone with Gohan to buy that ring. She hugged him again and gave him a kiss for being so thoughtful.
Chi-chi, to everyone's surprise, seemed to be acting more civil towards Piccolo and asked him and May, "When's the wedding?"
Piccolo was stumped. He had been so nervous about asking that nothing else had entered his mind and he had no idea. May on the other hand said, "Well, if Piccolo agrees, I'd love to have it on Valentine's Day."
"Fine with me," he said, and then stopped really paying attention when they began discussing all the preparations.
Valentine's Day had arrived and the lookout was in frenzy. May and Piccolo had decided on a small ceremony with just their closest friends. Though May had a few friends outside of the Z fighter group, none of them were that close so she had asked Bulma to be her maid of honor. Piccolo had asked Gohan to be his best man. Chi-chi had agreed to cook for the occasion and had made a beautiful banquet for the reception. Dende had been thrilled at the prospect of marrying the couple and had quickly agreed to perform the ceremony.
Piccolo was, at the moment, in a room of the lookout getting ready with Gohan. They had convinced Piccolo, though mainly through May's influence, to wear a black tuxedo for the ceremony with a red rose in the lapel. Gohan was just fixing his tie when a knock came to the door.
Mr. Popo announced that it was time and left to prepare. Piccolo was fidgeting in nervousness. Gohan had never seen him so agitated, but it was quite understandable.
"Relax," he said, trying to calm the Namekian's already waning nerves. Piccolo just glared at him, but tried to calm himself.
Piccolo stood at the end of the aisle, next to Dende, and surrounded by his friends as he watched Gohan lead Bulma towards him. Once they had arrived, the music changed to the bridal march, and Piccolo held his breath as an angel walked towards him.
May was dressed in a lovely white gown, simply cut, but with much detail. Along the bottom there were beads sown into the layered fabric that were numerous, but became fewer the higher up the dress. The top was strapless and showed the milky white skin of her shoulders. She wore her lovely red hair up in numerous curls, and woven through with white and red flowers and beads. Her veil hung down her back and covered her face. She carried a bouquet of thornless red roses to match her hair.
All of the nervousness that Piccolo felt disappeared when his lovely angel appeared. She smiled at him and didn't remove her eyes as she made her way to him. He remembered to breathe so as not to pass out and half listened as Dende began.
The kiss at the end lasted a little longer than was appropriate, but no one really cared, and they made their way to the reception. Bulma and Gohan each said a little speech and gave a toast to the happy couple and then everyone began eating, or drinking in the case of the Nameks.
Afterwards, once everyone had finished and the two were about to leave on their honeymoon, Chi-chi asked with a sly smile, "So, where's the honeymoon going to be?"
"I'm not sure," May explained, "Piccolo said he was planning that."
"Really?" Bulma remarked in amazement and looked at Piccolo.
"It's a surprise," he said, and gathered up his bride in his arms. After a few more farewells, they took off to their destination and a new life together. A new beginning . . .
**********
A/N: Sorry this took so long, but I couldn't decide how to end it and then I wasn't going to put the whole getting married thing in, but if I didn't it would have been a really short chapter.
Actually, I'm just lazy, but anyway, how was it? I wasn't even expecting the wedding, but I thought it made a good ending. I have no idea where they went on their honeymoon, Piccolo wouldn't tell me.
Please review and tell me what you thought!