Author's Note: In this world, there has been no Cell and no Buu….at least not yet. Who knows…they might crop up later, but I doubt it. Earth has been at PEACE!

Three Rivers of Remembrance

Chapter One

Five years later

Gohan hurried down the stairs and out the front door. He ran for about a mile, full of uncontrollable energy, and then burst into flight.

Today was the day. Piccolo was coming home. Gohan smiled, letting the breeze blow his shortened locks. After five years, his friend was coming home. But, it was not just any visit. Through several communications with Kami, Piccolo had disclosed that there was a specific reason for their return at this time.

There was going to be a wedding.

Although the details were sketchy, Kami was sure on that part. As to who's wedding, he did not know. In their final mental conversation last night, Piccolo had confirmed that a wish would be made the following morning for their return. The rendezvous point was the Lookout.

Piccolo asked that no one but Gohan be informed, until they were ready to make their presence known. Which was fine with the young Saiyan teen. Having just graduated from high school, and with college just three short months away, this was going to be the best summer he'd had in a long while.

Gohan landed, startling the waiting Kami and Mr. Popo. "I'm not late am I?"

Kami shook his head. "No. They should arrive just any time."

At seventeen, Gohan was six feet three, the spitting image of his father in so many ways. Earth had been at peace for many years, with only a few problems along the way. Now, everything would be perfect with Piccolo back.

Right on time, they arrived.

Piccolo, looking the same as he always did. Tall, strong and defiant. "PICCOLO!" Gohan shouted. Piccolo's eyes were enormous as he saw the man that ran toward him.

"Gohan?" He asked, unable to believe his eyes. No longer was Gohan a small boy, but he was now a man. "You sure have grown up, kid." He smiled.

Gohan wasted no time and flung his arms around Piccolo. "I've missed you!" It warmed Piccolo's heart more than he would ever admit, for he too had missed Gohan.

"What about me?" A female voice said.

Looking over Piccolo's shoulder, Gohan saw a very grown up female Namek.

"Oh…my gosh." Gohan said, as he stared at her from toe to top. "Rhyne?"

She smiled. "Yes, silly. Of course it's me!" She wanted desperately to hug him, but Gohan seemed awkward of her new feminine features. He just stood by, scratching his head. "Wow….girl Nameks sure don't look like boy Nameks."

"Well, I'm glad you noticed." Rhyne smiled. She was just under six feet tall, muscular, but slender build. Full breasts and a very feminine face. "I've missed you, Gohan." She said in a soft voice.

Finally, Gohan swallowed his fears and hugged his long lost friend. "I've missed you too."

Rideria and Rikola were there as well, each girl having grown into young women. Rideria was taller, about six feet two inches, muscular with somewhat less feminine features. She looked exactly like a female Piccolo, only smaller.

Rikola, who was just over six feet, hugged Gohan tightly. "I'm so glad to see you!" She squealed. "I want you to be at my wedding!"

He glanced at her dark black eyes. "You're getting….married?"

Rikola nodded. "Yes. And I asked Father if it could be done on Earth, since this will always be my real home."

Piccolo grumbled loudly. "She won't be getting married for at least another year." He said boldly. "She is still too young to wed."

His middle daughter scoffed at his refusal. "Gohan, you've got to talk him into letting Gowan and me marry! I don't want to wait!"

Gohan looked over at Piccolo, but the Namekian father was not going to budge. "You will not marry him now!" He shouted. "I brought you here to get some distance between the two of you before I ripped his head off!"

"Father caught them kissing." Rideria pointed out. "That's when he decided it was time to return to Earth."

"Don't cast stones." Piccolo said, remembering several inappropriate embraces between his oldest daughter and her suitor, Kaizer.

"I am in no hurry for marriage or any of it." Rideria said. "However fond I am of Kaizer, my training is not complete. Therefore, mating is out of the question." Her straightforwardness sent a blush across Gohan's cheeks.

"Seems, the young girls have not lacked for appropriate suitors." Kami interjected.

"No. That's for sure." Piccolo said angrily. "I've spent more time blasting away the boys than training!"

Gohan glanced again at Rhyne. "What about you?" He asked softly. "How many boyfriends do you have?"

She lowered her head shyly. "Well, no one….really."

"Don't lie." Rikola said. "She has Tekoa!"

"Well, we are not promised or anything." Rhyne pointed out. "But, he is….special to me I guess."

"At least I have one daughter who is not boy crazy!" Piccolo shouted.

Trying to ease the tension, Kami came closer. "I have prepared several rooms in the back. Please, stay here."

"We'd love to!" Rikola said quickly.

Piccolo glared at his daughter, but did not refuse. They had grown accustomed to sleeping on feather down beds, and he knew there was no going back to cave living.

"Very well." Piccolo relented. "For now."

Piccolo and Gohan left for several hours. First to spar, but quickly they turned to reminiscing. Gohan said that he had truly missed his Namekian father, which almost brought tears to Piccolo's eyes. "Dad has been great, but with Goten around and all, I just feel left out."

"Goten?" Piccolo asked.

Gohan smiled. "My brother. He's a little rascal! Very strong!"

"I can imagine." Piccolo smirked.

"And Vegeta and Bulma have a son, Trunks." Gohan continued.

Piccolo was very surprised. "Vegeta?"

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, that one snuck up on all of us!" He smiled.

"Gohan, I will need your help in making sure the girls' training does not lack while we are here." Piccolo said firmly. "Their powers have grown…..it's nothing less than amazing."

"Really?" Gohan was very curious. "What can they do?"

Piccolo smiled proudly. "Rideria's fire power has been tamed and she is capable of controlling it completely. Not only does she have the mental capability of sending fire, but now she can use it in a blast as well."

"Wow!" Gohan scratched his head. "She's something!"

"Rikola's ice blast is about the same, but she has improved mentally to be able to cause something to freeze on thought. Also, her telepathy seems to have no bounds." He frowned. "So, don't have any thoughts around her that you don't want known. She has a tendency to stick her nose in other people's minds uninvited." He smiled. "But, if you've kept up your meditations, you should be able to block her as I do."

Gohan nodded his head. "Everything you've ever taught me, I continue to use." He said proudly. "Especially the meditating. It helps in my studies and everything!"

"So, you are still being forced to study?" Piccolo frowned.

"Ah, it's not so bad." Gohan admitted. "I actually went to high school and now I'm preparing to attend college. Full scholarship!"

Piccolo put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I always knew you had a great mind."

Goku put his hand on the opposite shoulder of Piccolo. "It's all because you saw something in me that I didn't know was there. And you always believed in me." He pointed out. "Thank you, Piccolo."

They locked eyes for a moment, then both men pulled away. "I guess I need to go see your father, huh." Piccolo pointed out.

"Dad will be excited to see you!" Gohan said. "Come on!"

The reunion with Goku was nice. ChiChi did not have quite the fit that everyone thought she might. And this new kid, Goten, was completely different than Gohan had been.

Piccolo could tell that although Goku was doing a good job as a fulltime father, he still itched for the fight.

Goku had insisted on throwing a big party for Piccolo and the girls. Again, ChiChi agreed because she was anxious to see the how the little girls had grown. Needless to say she was amazed.

"Oh…my!" ChiChi said. "They are all grown up!"

"Hardly." Piccolo said. "They are only eight years old."

"But, that is in Earth years!" Rikola was quick to remind. "In Namekian, we are sixteen!"

"Father just prefers to think of us as eight year olds." Rideria said. "It helps him sleep better at night."

Goku laughed and scratched his head. "Yeah, being a single father must be tough!" He smacked Piccolo on the back.

Piccolo growled and bared his fangs.

Goku just laughed.

Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Master Roshi were all present. Bulma arrived after a while with her small son, Trunks. He and Goten quickly left to wreak havoc in the nearby forest.

Everyone was eating and having a good time. The girls were chatting about their time on New Namek and the training techniques they were using. "I can't wait to see what you girls can do!" Goku said excitedly. "I can only imagine, with Piccolo as your trainer!"

"Yeah, father is tough. No doubt on that." Rhyne said smiling. She couldn't help but notice that Gohan was not around.

"Where has he drifted off to?" She wondered. As the laughter and conversation continued, Rhyne walked away. She headed toward the forest, but did not find Gohan. Next, she tried the river and waterfall. Still nothing. Rhyne was about to give up, when she found him. Sitting silently under a shade tree, book in hand.

"So, there you are." Rhyne said, walking toward him.

Gohan smiled, putting the book down. "Hey. I didn't mean to bail out on you, but I'm trying to get a head start on my biology for college." He wasn't totally lying, but a part of him knew he wasn't being completely truthful either.

"College?" Rhyne asked. "That is part of your education system, right? Father has explained all that to us." She smiled proudly. "On Namek, we had tutors. They educated us on seven different languages and lots of math." Shaking her head. "I'll never get the math part."

"Wow." Gohan said. "I didn't think Piccolo would allow anything but training?"

"Father was not in favor at first. But, the elders convinced him of the importance of being well rounded." She said, sitting down on the grass beside Gohan. "Besides, you know, training is not my favorite thing."

"I figured you were really enjoying it now that you've got all your special powers." Gohan smiled.

"It's not me, Gohan." She said. "Yes, I enjoy a good spar, just to keep my skills sharpened. But, as a way of life, no. I wish Father could understand that."

"Piccolo has never known anything else but fighting." Gohan said. "My dad said, Piccolo was born with the instinct to fight…..I guess his father passed it on to him or something."

Rhyne's attention was instantly peeked. "You know a lot about Father's early years, don't you? He never talks about it. And he refuses to answer any questions."

"I believe, it is his right." Gohan said firmly. "Yes, I know a great deal more than you and your sisters. But, it's only because I lived through some of it. Or, I've heard my dad and Krillin talking. Either way, it's not my place to betray his trust."

"Oh, Gohan. I didn't mean that." Rhyne told him. "It's just that, his drive for fighting and training is so strong, I wish I could understand it better."

Gohan thought about it for a while before he answered. "Will you come with me? I have something to show you."

Rhyne did not hesitate, putting her complete trust in the young Saiyan. "This will take about one hour." Gohan advised her.

Together, they flew away, Gohan in the lead. Flying at high enough speeds, they arrived at the destination in about fifteen minutes.

As they landed, Rhyne looked around. "What is this place?" She asked, scrunching up her nose in the disgust.

"This is where Piccolo was born." Gohan told her.

Rhyne gasped. She walked a few steps forward, looking at the desolate and cold place was a shock to the young girl. "This place…it's not even habitable…." She said in dismay.

"I know." Gohan said. "This is where Piccolo used to come and do his most intense meditations. Once, when I was younger, I followed him."

Rhyne knew how secretive her father could be. "Did he catch you?"

Gohan shook his head. "If he did, he never said."

The young people stood there, looking at the lifeless land. "It snows about nine out of twelve months here." Gohan said. "But even during the summer, it's still not hot. Only mildly warm."

Rhyne felt the chill of the wind. "How could a child survive….out here…." It was painful, thinking of her father having to endure such a life. She realized how lucky she truly was.

"He's Piccolo." Gohan smiled. "He is a survivor."

"I don't like it here." She said. "Can we go back?"

"Sure." He said. "I just thought you'd like to see it."

"Oh, I'm thankful. But, it's not something that I wish to dwell on. The father that I know is so much warmer than these mountains." She smiled. "My father is firm, stubborn and relentless. But, he also has a good heart. He said once that he owed that to you."

Gohan smiled slightly. "His heart was always there. It just took someone believing in him to help find it."

"Now he has all of us." Rhyne said. "Gohan…"

"Yes?" he replied.

"Thanks for being my dad's friend." She said shyly. "He wouldn't be the father he is now, if it weren't for you."

"Seeing you happy is thanks enough for me." He told her. For a moment, Gohan and Rhyne looked deeply into each other's eyes. It was strange, as if something suddenly passed through them. Something that would change their destinies.

"Let's get back. I don't want Piccolo mad at me his first day back!" Gohan said.

Rhyne smiled, her eyes almost dancing. "Ok."

Side by side, they flew away.

THANKS FOR READING! For those interested in drawings of Piccolo's girls, I finally have them!! So drop me an email and I'll be glad to send you a sneak....Happy Holidays to everyone. I wish nothing but blessings and love for each of you this Christmas.

Sherri