a/n: Some reviews I've gotten are for the finish of a great story (thanks by the way!) but I do have a rough, wrap up epilogue chapter for each of our couples! So, here's P/L. There is also a G/V and a T/Twins coming before I am completely through!

---

Piccolo landed soundlessly on the Lookout. He stopped to look over the earth and breathe the thin air. The atmosphere around the Lookout was always the purest of all the rest. But even it wasn't as crisp and refreshing as it had been on Middle Earth. His stomach rolled uncomfortably and for a moment he saw Legolas screaming and reaching out from the hold of his friends.

"Piccolo?"

The Namek blinked out of his reverie and turned to see Dende smiling gently up at him. "Dende," he rumbled, horrified to feel his heart ache to see the young Namek again. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

The youthful alien blinked, confused, and shook his head a little. "Well, it's good to see you too, Piccolo." Dende looked him over a little more thoroughly and frowned, "are you alright?

Piccolo sighed deeply and began his trek to the innards of the Lookout. He paused when he opened the outer door and looked back at Dende. "Would you have tea with me, Dende?"

"Sure," the young Namek looked surprised but quickly shuffled his robes and followed his elder.

They walked quietly toward a large open room, high windows open allowing a sweet breeze to move through. They sat amongst multiple plush pillows at a low table. Popo entered from a side door and stepped back in surprise. "Mr. Piccolo, Dende, can I get anything for you?"

"Some tea would be nice, thank you," Dende smiled as the gardener quickly went to fetch them something to drink.

"Piccolo," Dende swallowed a little and cocked his head to the side, "you look a little out of it."

The Namek grinned bitterly and shifted, pulling his weighted cloak and turban from his body and setting them to the side. Dende tried not to look surprised, but Piccolo didn't mind.

Popo returned with a smile and tray. He pushed it to the middle of the table and arranged the saucers and cups, idly pouring out the weak drink into each cup before excusing himself and returning to his flowers.

"How are things, Dende?" Piccolo asked suddenly, plucking up his cup in one massive hand.

"Um, fine," Dende looked confused as he sipped his tea.

"No problems, then? No questions on how to be a guardian?"

"No," Dende cocked his head again, a pensive look on his face. "Have I done something wrong?"

"No," Piccolo replied quickly. "I just…wondered if you needed me."

The young Namek smiled, "Oh, well. No, I suppose I don't."

"Oh," Piccolo said gruffly into his cup, "good."

They sipped in silence. Piccolo could feel Dende watching him carefully, trying to figure out the riddle that Piccolo had presented to him. Soon, only the dregs of the cup remained and Piccolo set it back on the table.

"Piccolo, are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine," Piccolo replied. He stood from the pillows and retrieved his cape and turban. "Thanks for the tea."

"Sure Piccolo, anytime," Dende watched him leave and scratched his head in wonder.

---

Piccolo made his way to the waterfall. The forest home had never looked so welcoming. He landed on a smooth stone that protruded from the surface of the water and listened to the rush of the waterfall. The sound was still amazingly soothing and the cool mist that blew from it refreshed his skin just as it always did.

Dende didn't need him. Piccolo frowned as the thought leapt to his mind. But it was true. Dende hadn't needed his council for several years now. The young Namekian guardian had learned quickly and knew how to improvise when the answers eluded him. He was young and able, quick witted and more than capable.

With a sigh of regret, Piccolo stepped up into the air and directed himself toward Gohan and Videl's house.

---

Legolas would not talk to anyone. As soon as the neon bubble had left Middle Earth with a crack and nothing stayed behind but a scorch mark, he had jerked from the grasp that held him.

The twin sons of Elrond had tried to speak to him, but he would hear none of their blather. It had been their fault, he decided. If they had only let him go where he had wanted last night, he could have fallen into Piccolo's bed and maybe have something to cling to now that the alien was gone. He might even have been able to get the Namek to stay.

He was a fool.

Frodo popped his head into Legolas' room and smiled weakly at him. "Is it alright if I come in?"

The elf nodded and the Hobbit carefully made his way across the room to sit on the bed next to him.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Legolas shook his head.

"Would you like something to eat?"

He shook his head again.

"You aren't going to die are you?"

Legolas looked down at the Hobbit sharply and saw the worry behind the tears in Frodo's eyes.

"No," he croaked and hugged the Hobbit. "I am not going to die."

"But, everyone says that an elf can die of a broken heart," Frodo said quietly, scrubbing quickly at his eyes.

"They can," Legolas admitted. "But I will not."

"You're sure?" Frodo asked, blue eyes still troubled.

"I am sure." Legolas smiled weakly.

"Good," the Hobbit said with a smile of his own. They sat in companionable silence for a time before Frodo turned curious eyes to him. "Did you love him?"

The elf was a little taken aback and took a moment to compose himself. "I cared for him more than any other creature I've met."

"So you don't care about him anymore now that he's gone?"

Legolas blinked in surprise and shook his head, "I do."

Frodo nodded, satisfied. With a slight blush, he hugged Legolas briefly and stood up. "We'll be leaving soon: Merry, Pip, Sam and I. We're going home."

"I am glad for you, Frodo Baggins," Legolas drug up a smile.

"Are you going home after this?" Frodo asked.

Legolas stiffened and shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" The Hobbit said quietly, knowing he was treading on a wire edge.

"I am no longer welcome," Legolas said softly. "Don't bother yourself with it, Frodo. Go home and be happy."

The Hobbit nodded and waved a little as he left.

Legolas watched him go and sighed heavily. It looked as though no matter what he did, those things that he cared for were leaving him.

---

The small capsule house was reminiscent of that of Goku's. Videl was outside hanging clothes on the line when Piccolo touched down.

"Hello, Piccolo," Videl said briskly as she shook out a shirt.

"Where's Gohan?"

"Inside with Pan," Videl motioned idly with one hand to the house.

Piccolo grunted and moved beyond her and opened the door. He heard laughter from his student followed quickly by a squeal of laughter from Pan. Gohan was sitting on the couch with Pan clinging to his head like a monkey. The girl had one fist bound tightly in Gohan's hair and the other was swinging wildly as though her father were a bronco.

"Oh, hey, Piccolo!" Gohan beamed. He pulled Pan from the back of his head and bounced her on his knee.

"Hey kid," Piccolo smirked. Pan giggled and reached out for him and Piccolo plucked her up with one hand.

Pan squealed with delight, but Gohan lunged forward to catch his daughter as she wiggled precariously.

"Careful!" Gohan gasped out, balancing his daughter's bottom with one hand.

Piccolo frowned and curled the girl to his chest with his arm, "Relax, Gohan."

"She's still small, Piccolo, Videl would have my head if she saw that." Gohan shook his head and motioned them toward the kitchen. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, I just had tea with Dende," Piccolo replied, grunting as Pan tugged on one of his ears.

"Oh," Gohan sat down with a cup of coffee and offered to take his daughter. Piccolo deposited the girl with him and sat down opposite. "It must be your day for visiting then."

Piccolo watched Gohan play with his child.

"I heard that Bulma called Dad over there this morning, is everything alright?"

"Fine," Piccolo frowned. "She finished her time machine."

"That's great," Gohan grinned lifting Pan over his head with one arm and shaking her lightly until she giggled ecstatically.

"Yea, great."

"What's the matter, Piccolo?" Gohan set Pan down on her feet. "Pan, why don't you go help your Mom, okay?"

"'k, dad!" Pan giggled, hugging her father's knee and fleeing the house in a flurry of color.

"Piccolo?"

The Namek grunted. A distant look glazed Piccolo's eyes and he spoke in a low tone, "I was worried about you."

"I'm okay, Piccolo," Gohan said softly, watching his mentor with worried eyes.

"I kept envisioning you in trouble a month ago. It was hard," Piccolo mumbled.

"Piccolo," Gohan said slowly, "you were here a month ago. At Pan's birthday, remember?"

Piccolo blinked and his vision cleared. "Oh. Right."

"What's going on?" Gohan shifted uncomfortably. "Did you hit your head?"

"It's nothing," Piccolo scowled.

"Piccolo…"

"Drop it, Gohan."

"You're the one that came to me, Piccolo. Do you need help?"

"No! I came here," Piccolo yelled, but stopped and took a deep breath and continued in a softer tone. "I came here to see if you needed me."

"For what?" Gohan scratched the back of his head.

"Anything," Piccolo growled out.

"Well, no, I'm doing alright." Gohan smiled. "Things couldn't be better."

Piccolo felt like someone sucker punched him in the stomach. "Good," he grumbled.

He stood with a flourish and stalked back to the living room. Gohan was up and on his heels. "Piccolo, where are you going?"

"I don't know."

"But, you just got here."

"I know."

"What's the matter?"

"Everything!" Piccolo snapped, spinning on his heel. Gohan had followed him outside and Piccolo could just see Videl standing in shock with a shirt in her hands and Pan at her heels.

"Piccolo," Gohan touched his shoulder but Piccolo jerked from his touch.

"I'll see you, kid."

Piccolo blasted away, blowing dust across Gohan and their freshly laundered clothes.

Videl let out a frustrated squeal and stomped up to Gohan. "What is his problem?"

Gohan frowned, "I don't know."

---

Piccolo flew aimlessly, frustrated beyond belief. No one needed him to come back. Why did he then? What possible good had come from his return to earth? All that was waiting for him here was a millennia of loneliness and friends that did not understand.

He was a fool.

---

Legolas hugged Aragorn goodbye and kissed Arwen's cheek. It had been nearly a week since the aliens from another world had gone. He resigned himself to the fact that he was alone again.

"Alright, elf, let's get to it!"

Gimli was standing to the side, his pack high on his shoulders and pipe clenched in his teeth.

Aragorn clapped Legolas on the shoulder, "Where are you heading first?"

"Moria," the elf grinned weakly, "I promised Gimli we'd retrieve the book from his cousin's tomb to return to his family."

"Be careful," the Gondorian king frowned and nodded at Gimli, "you as well."

"Aye," Gimli nodded. "I intend to."

Legolas and Gimli walked down to the stable yard. The beautiful dapple horse was excited to see them. It neighed and knocked its hooves against the cobblestone. Legolas pet the horse's nose. "It's good to see you, my friend. It has been too long."

The elf helped prop Gimli up on the horse and leapt seamlessly in front of him. Gimli blew the elf's hair from his face.

"Come on, there's plenty to see, lad," Gimli quipped. They rode out of the city of Gondor and onto the plains, bound for Moria.

They had gone for miles and had stopped several hours later for lunch. Gimli puffed happily on his pipe and reclined against a nearby boulder. "How are ye, lad?"

"Fine, Gimli. We can probably make it to Edoras if we ride hard well into nightfall. We may be able to stay the night in a bed one last time."

The dwarf grinned. "That's all well and good, but it's not what I meant and ye know it.

Legolas schooled his features. "I'm well, Gimli."

"You lie like an elf, as well. I know you aren't alright," Gimli said matter-of-factly. "You mourn him because you have to, Legolas Greenleaf. You mourn him or you will never be able to move past it."

The elf gave him a tight smile, "I know, Gimli."

"I do not know what it is that you see in him," Gimli puffed on his pipe and grinned eviliy into the smoke, "but what I am most confused about, is what he could ever have seen in you."

Legolas slapped at him, rolling Gimli some ten feet into the clearing with a well placed foot. The dwarf grumbled and got to his feet wheezing with laughter. Legolas watched him walk slowly back and smiled as the dwarf caught his gaze. He didn't know what Piccolo could have wanted from him either.

---

The Namek landed outside of Goku's house. Goku may not be the brightest of men, but he had been there with him. He needed to talk to someone. He had made the biggest mistake of his life.

The door swung open before he could knock and both he and ChiChi stood gaping at each other in surprise for a moment before the woman got her bearings. "Piccolo."

"Where's Goku?"

ChiChi pushed past him with a basket of clothes in her arms. She puffed as she set it down beside the washtub and shook half of the clothes into the tub before answering. "I sent him after Vegeta."

"Really?" Piccolo didn't believe it.

"Yes," ChiChi straightened and fixed him with a hard look. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"No," Piccolo grumbled, "I'm just surprised you would let him go, let along make him."

ChiChi puffed a strand of hair from her face. "You went with them, you know about what happened."

Piccolo nearly sat down from shock. "Happened?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Goku explained what happened at Bulma's this morning."

"He told you everything?"

"Yes," ChiChi said, scrubbing a pair of gi bottoms roughly against the wash board.

"ChiChi," Piccolo paused, he wasn't going to talk to Goku's wife about this…

The woman looked up at him in surprise. Piccolo had rarely every used her name. "What is it?"

"Do you think…can I speak to you?"

The soap bar fell with a pang to the bottom of the washtub and ChiChi blinked wide eyes up at him.

"Never mind."

"No! No, Piccolo, sure." ChiChi held out a hand, motioning to the splitting block nearby for Piccolo to sit on. "What do you want to talk about?"

"About where we were…Middle Earth."

"Okay," ChiChi nodded, returning to her housework.

"I met someone while I was there," Piccolo ground out. It was a lot harder than he thought it would be. It certainly helped that ChiChi wasn't looking at him.

"Met someone? Romantically?" ChiChi continued to scrub at the gi pants, eyes wide as saucers.

"Yes," Piccolo said gruffly.

"What, uh, so what about this person?"

"I left them there. I think I'm an idiot."

ChiChi dropped the pants back into the water and turned around. She wiped her hands on her apron and sat down gingerly beside him on the splitting log. "Do you love her?"

"It's not a woman." Piccolo stiffened and would not look at her.

"Oh." ChiChi blinked and her mind tried to keep up with the conversation. "Then, do you love him?"

"I don't know." Piccolo said quietly. "I'm not sure I'm capable of it."

ChiChi sighed and tentatively pat his arm. "Well, you must care a good deal if you're still thinking about him now."

"Yea," he grudgingly admitted.

"So what's the problem? Go back."

"But I can't just go back. I didn't leave on the best of terms."

ChiChi huffed, "What is with all things male? If you love him, then go and get him! Don't just sit here and whine about it. You know, for a bunch of warriors with an impulse to up and leave at the first sign of a fight; none of you will fight for what you want."

Piccolo suppressed a grin. "True."

"Well? Do something about it."

"Gohan and Dende—"

"Have no say in it. They're full grown with lives of their own. Do something for yourself."

Piccolo grunted and watched as ChiChi got up and walked back to the wash basin. She got back to her knees with a groan and continued to scrub. The Namek stood and walked a few paces away.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," ChiChi said with a small smile.

Piccolo paused and looked down at her, "Does Goku know?"

The woman paused in her scrubbing. "How do you know?" she asked softly.

"Kami could feel sickness, and I had to train Dende when he first got here."

"Oh," ChiChi said in a breath. "I haven't told him." She went back to her scrubbing. "But he knows."

Piccolo grunted. "If Gohan asks…"

"I'll send him to Bulma for the answers." ChiChi smiled up at him. "He'll miss you, but he'll understand."

"Hnn."

He took off again, bound for Capsule Corps. If his life on Middle Earth had been confusing, his life now was total chaos.

As he flew toward Capsule Corps, he had to wonder just how complicated his life had gotten for him to run willy-nilly over the elf. He shouldn't have been so stubborn. He should have just sucked up his pride and told Legolas he wanted to stay.

He paused when the large building came into view and really thought about it this time. He wasn't the strongest, had no others to mentor, had no real home or others of his kind to relate too. Granted, Dende was here, and there was a whole planet of his kind that would welcome him home…but he had grown without their guidance and he would not have their understanding.

He dug his fingers into the pocket of his gi and removed the old sensu bean bag. He pulled the drawstrings open and shook the contents into his palm. A long, braided, chunk of platinum blonde hair curled around his fingers in the breeze.

He smirked at Gandalf's ingenuity and clutched the lock in his fist. He needed to see Bulma.

---

Days later, Legolas and Gimli had emerged, a little more than unscathed, from the depths of Moria. Just because the dark lord had fallen didn't mean that goblins had lain down to die. They still crawled all over the collapsing cavern.

The book had come out better than the two of them.

Currently the two of them were laying, gasping for breath, just outside the mouth of the cavern with the doors shut and sealed tightly behind them.

"Gimli," Legolas panted, bow and empty quiver beside him, "just for that, we are taking an extra two days in Fangorn."

The dwarf scowled and rolled his head toward him, "Fine, as long as we don't have to deal with any talking trees."

"But all trees talk," Legolas grinned as the dwarf sputtered.

Legolas sat up with a groan, "Come Gimli, the sooner we get back to travel, the sooner we can get away from this goblin pit."

"Agreed," the dwarf rumbled, turning over onto his hands and knees to push himself up. He patted his chest and let out a cry of rage. "Those little thieving bastards!"

"What is it?"

"They've taken my pipe!" Gimli lamented, scooping up his things and dragging his feet sadly behind Legolas.

Legolas laughed, for the first time in two weeks. Gimli grinned despite himself and reluctantly admitted that it was worth losing his favorite pipe to see the elf in good spirits again.

---

Bulma was sipping her coffee, looking up at Piccolo with a face devoid of all emotion. "You're sure about this?"

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

The woman smiled around her cup and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Okay. Come with me."

---

Four more long days, Gimli and Legolas had gone from Moria and made it on the outskirts of dwarven territories. The dwarf demanded that they leave the horse and make their trek on foot, promising that they would be accepted far easier if they didn't have the animal with them.

As they entered the first cavern door, Legolas had to duck his head to enter. The further they went, the more he had to crouch until he wound up on his knees. He would go no further and scowled as Gimli laughed.

"I'm going to return to the fresh air, Gimli. I'll wait for you there."

"What's the matter, elf, can't handle a real dwarf home?"

"I don't think the real dwarf home can handle me," Legolas grinned and backed out to embrace the wide open spaces and clear air.

There were not many trees at this part of the caverns, so he made do by climbing up the mound—probably walking on Gimli's roof—and laying back to enjoy the sunshine with his eyes closed. The warmth felt quite nice after the damp chill from the caves and after a few minutes, he fell into a light slumber.

"I thought elves slept with their eyes open," a familiar and rough voice penetrated his happy haze of bliss. The familiarity unnerved him and Legolas' eyes snapped open.

"I must still be sleeping," he mumbled as an achingly familiar jade face shadowed his eyes.

The face smirked.

"Is it a good dream?"

"It's pleasant enough," Legolas said softly, unwilling to move in case it really was.

"So it could be better?" The handsome creature with Piccolo's face and voice asked with a rumble.

"Yes." Legolas said with a wistful sigh. "But it might be better if it wasn't."

The handsome face frowned. "Why is that?"

"Because, if the dream is too lovely, I will be all the more disappointed when I wake."

After a moment of silence, the creature with Piccolo's face grinned. "What if I can promise you won't be disappointed?"

"So long as you promise," Legolas said quietly.

The turban on his head was removed, and Legolas watched with baited breath as Piccolo lowered himself to the earth. His face was upside down, but the elf still couldn't imagine a better fit when their lips touched.

It was soft and slow; and better than his brain had imagined it for the past couple of weeks. Piccolo sat up and looked down at him. "Are you awake now?"

Legolas blinked and smirked slightly, just a curling of lips, "I hope so."

The Namek shifted around and sat down beside him on the hilltop. Legolas sat up on his elbows and looked over at him. The alien was dressed in a series of violet folds, a loose and rather comfortable looking set of clothing. A heavy white cape was spread out behind him.

"I'm sorry," Piccolo said suddenly in the quiet.

Legolas nodded, "as am I."

The Namek turned his head far enough to look down at him from the corner of his eye. "I don't have these kinds of relationships. I don't know how to act."

Legolas grinned and turned, laying his head on Piccolo's thigh. He tugged the cape edge around so that it lay across his torso and thighs. It was warm and smelled of the Namek's musk. "That's alright. I imagine we will figure it out."

"That easily?" Piccolo's brow furrowed.

"What?"

"You forgiving me and us starting over again?"

"Yes, I think so." Legolas nodded, sighing happily as Piccolo carded one hand through his hair.

"Why so easy? I figured you would be stubborn enough to make me regret it for a few years."

Legolas laughed lightly. "While you've been gone, I've had ample time to think and to assess just what it was that we might have had. It may not get serious, but I am more than willing to take the chance." He smiled sadly up at Piccolo's face and touched his cheek with one hand. "I used to pray to the Valar that you would come back so I could try."

"Hnn," Piccolo smirked, turning his face up to the sun and taking a deep breath in.

"How did you get here?" Legolas asked suddenly, sitting up and tangling himself in the cape in the process.

"Bulma." The Namek tugged his cape free and Legolas rolled ungracefully halfway down the hill.

The elf returned slowly, taking the moment to look Piccolo over from afar. He was truly there.

"How long were you on your world?"

Piccolo colored lightly and looked away. "Not long."

"It's been two weeks, three days and," Legolas squinted up at the sun, "maybe ten hours here. Not that I've been counting," he smiled.

He settled back in his spot at Piccolo's side and tugged the cape back to where it had been around him. They basked in the sunlight, enjoying the feel of one another for a quarter hour in silence.

"Not even a day," Piccolo said into the quiet.

"Hmm?" Legolas opened one eye and looked up at him.

"I wasn't gone a day and I had to come back." Piccolo looked down at him with a hardened gaze, willing the elf to laugh. Legolas sat up, not looking the least bit tickled by the news and gripped Piccolo's face between his palms. He kissed the Namek hard, fingers tightening on his cheekbones. He pulled away with a gasp and half-growl.

"What was that for?" Piccolo rumbled with a grin. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I don't know," Legolas remarked idly, licking his lips, "it felt like proper the thing to do."

"Remind me not to make fun of you for being a proper prince anytime soon."

The smile on Legolas' face turned brittle and Piccolo frowned. "What?"

"I am no longer a prince."

"What do you mean?"

"I am not welcome home," Legolas said with his chin held high.

Piccolo's hands curled into fists. "Why not?"

"Because I came to help the mortal men and left my people to fight their own evil."

"Then I'll have to have a talk with them." Piccolo growled.

The false smile on Legolas' face became a little more real, "That's alright. I don't need them. I have Aragorn, Elrond and his children, and Gimli…and you." The elf kissed him again. "That is enough for me."

"Foolish elf, if you don't quite jumping along the…" Gimli trailed off. He had climbed from his ancestral home to yell at the elf for making the roofs shake to find Legolas with the Namek.

"Master Namek," he said in surprise.

"Gimli," Piccolo nodded.

The dwarf climbed the hill and stopped beside them. He curled on meaty fist into Piccolo's collar and leaned far into his space. "I will welcome you with one warning, if you think you can just leave again without a word, I will find a way to track you and cut you down to my size."

Legolas smiled fondly at the dwarf and Piccolo snorted.

"That sounds fair." Piccolo nodded.

"Good. Now, lad, where are we off to next?"

Piccolo grinned, "I think I have an idea."

Legolas looked intrigued and looked to Gimli for support. The dwarf nodded and they both waited expectantly.

"Merry and Pippin said something about the Shire…"

Legolas laughed long and loud, the peals echoing in the many hills. Piccolo smiled and stood, toppling the elf to the ground. He offered him a hand and pulled the elf to him breathing deeply. Yes, everything on Middle Earth smelled better…