Chapter Twenty-Four
Gohan had gone home, ashamed at his behavior. Inside his room, he wondered how he came to be so stupid about such things. Forcing Rhyne out of his thoughts, which he knew she was never truly out, he continued to study.
Finally, just before dawn, he fell asleep, his head resting on his desk.
Rhyne wondered why her father had not returned from Sabrina's. He left over three hours ago, but she decided not to interfere. They were getting along very well, and Rhyne did not want to cause any problems for them.
She decided to find Gohan herself and confront him with her feelings. Her flying was greatly improved now, so she leapt out her window and headed for his house.
Sabrina had been asleep for the past hour, curled up in Piccolo's arms, while he lay beside her watching as she slept and listening to her steady breathing.
Never in his life had he thought anything could be like this. What an incredible experience they had just shared. Closing his eyes, he felt as if an emptiness had been filled. Now, he understood so much more about life. And why it was meant to be shared.
Piccolo also understood more about his own children. He had been so foolish to keep them distanced for all those years, when they craved his love and affection. Especially Rhyne. She had always been the neediest of the three and at times Piccolo had been angered at her. Because he did not understand this need for love.
Now he did. As he held Sabrina in his arms, a new life flashed before his eyes. One with her as his mate, perhaps making a home of some sort. He knew it would please Rhyne, but he was doing it for himself. Not anyone else.
Sabrina began to stir, snuggling closer to Piccolo.
"I have to go find Gohan." Piccolo said. "And you need to speak to Rhyne."
"Yeah…" Sabrina said, brushing the stray brown hairs out of her face. "Right…I guess we forgot about them, huh."
Piccolo smiled. "I guess we did." Reaching over, he kissed her again, bringing her body as close to his as possible.
Sabrina glanced at the clock, as she broke free from the kiss. "You start that again and I'll be in this bed for another three hours."
"I wouldn't mind." He replied, rubbing his hands over her soft curves.
"We have to see about Rhyne and Gohan." Sabrina said, suddenly being the voice of reason. "Come on." She got out of bed and walked across the floor, hoping to find her discarded clothing.
Piccolo watched as she gracefully maneuvered around the room, and marveled at her beauty. "You look better without clothing." He said, serious, but joking.
She giggled. "I doubt you'd like for the rest of the world to see me like this." She said, slipping her jeans on. Sabrina tried to pick up his weighted clothing, which had broken two shelves of her bookcase, but it was too heavy. "You'll have to get this yourself." She said.
It was Piccolo's turn to get out of bed, and he had no more thought to his nakedness than Sabrina had of her own. But, she did marvel at how well built he was. Each muscle toned and each area well proportioned. "You look better without clothes too." She giggled.
He growled slightly and grabbed her, pushing her up against the wall. "All I need is a nod, and we'll be back in that bed for three more hours." He said, kissing her neck.
As much as Sabrina wanted it, she tried to think of Rhyne. "Remember…your daughter….and Gohan…" She said breathlessly, hoping he would have enough will power to pull away, cause hers was gone.
His black eyes searched her brown ones, and he knew how much she wanted him. "Once we settle things with Rhyne and Gohan, we're gonna finish this." He kissed her lips one last time before he let her go and finished dressing.
Once outside, the sunshine seemed even brighter. "I'll take you to the Lookout to speak with Rhyne, then I'll go find Gohan." Piccolo said. He picked Sabrina up, but carried her somewhat differently this time. Instead of keeping her at a distance, he held her as close to his chest as possible.
Rhyne hovered outside Gohan's window, trying to summon up the courage to knock. But, he had already sensed her arrival, and was on the other side of the window wondering what she was doing.
Finally, he took the initiative and swung the window open.
Rhyne almost fell, she was so surprised. But, Gohan reached out and grabbed her, pulling her inside the room. "Are you ok?" Gohan asked her.
Rhyne nodded. "Yes." She smiled. "I had to come and see you, Gohan." She told him. "It's about last night."
Gohan was going to open his mouth and probably say something foolish, but Rhyne placed her entire palm over his mouth to shut him up. "No….this time you are listening to me." She said firmly.
"Now, I don't remember who I was or what we might have shared together before…….but I know who I am now." She told him. "And I know I want to share my life with you, Gohan. I love you….me…this me…the only me that I have to offer you. You may never get back the girl you once loved, but I'm offering you the new and improved version….if you'll have me." Rhyne kept her tone even and unemotional until the end, and then she felt herself breaking up.
Gohan reached up and gently removed her hand from his mouth, kissing the palm. "You're the only Rhyne I want….no other." He said, and then kissed her. Rhyne felt a few stray tears escape her onyx eyes as she squeezed them tightly, afraid the moment would end.
The kiss was long and passionate, but Gohan knew it had to end. "Marry me." He asked. "Right now…today…."
Rhyne gasped at his words. "Yes." She said through her tears.
He kissed her for a few more minutes before he broke free again. He walked over to the desk and opened a drawer. "I know we'll have a Namekian ceremony and all, which is fine….but this is one human tradition I want to share with you." Gohan walked back over to Rhyne and handed her a small box. "Open it."
Rhyne burst into tears when she saw the beautiful ring. It was gold with a large emerald stone in the middle. "I had this made last year, before everything happened. I flew to the mountains and blasted this stone out I found some diamond mines, but I thought this was more appropriate. I wanted to ask you properly, but never got the chance….until now."
Getting down on one knee, Gohan took the ring and put it on her finger. "Rhyne…will you be my wife?"
Rhyne could barely speak, but managed to nod her head. "Yes…." She mumbled, her face soaked from tears. When the ring was on her finger, Gohan kissed it. "This will never come off."
Unable to stand, Rhyne had to sit down on the bed, her sobbing so intense. "Don't cry…" Gohan said soothingly. "I promise, I will make you the happiest girl in the world. We'll have as many babies as you want, and I'll finish college and be able to build you a nice house and you won't have to worry about anything."
"I'm not worried." Rhyne said, still crying. "I just love you…."
For a while, they sat on the bed. Gohan held her until she calmed down, and then they knew it was time to face the ultimate challenge.
"We have to tell my father." Rhyne said.
"Then, let's go." Gohan smiled. He was so happy; he picked her up and carried her outside.
"I can fly, ya know." Rhyne said smiling.
"Not today." Gohan said. "Today, I want you as close to me as possible.
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