Gohan bolted awake the next morning. His head throbbed from the adrenaline of his nightmare. Around him the safe plain walls of his safe plain room. He was still alive in the new home. Slowly he forced his breath to calm and he sunk into his soft bed. He was surprised the nightmare resurfaced after all these years. It was a once recurring nightmare of his childhood but eventually it all stopped. Being a child living in the mountains alone with his parents, he had quite an imagination and craved excitement. His mother convinced him the intense dream was a result of that.

But why now? I have more than enough change in my life now and wish nothing more than to return to the mountains.

"Gohan?" his mother's voice chimed through the wood coupled with soft knocks. She opened the door and leaned in. "It's getting a little late, you should be up."

"Sorry. I'll be down soon." Gohan brushed his hair back as he sat up.

"You look pale. Do you feel alright?" Chichi approached the side of the bed.

"Just a rough nights sleep. Bad dream wouldn't let up." Gohan explained, he hoped casually enough that she wouldn't worry.

Chichi placed the back of her hand to Gohan's forehead. "Hmmm. You have been working extra hard. Maybe I put too much on your plate. Take today to relax and do something you like."

"Are you sure?" Gohan was a little surprised to hear this from his mother but more than welcomed the break.

"Of course I'm sure. Even I know it was a bit much to have all this work every day for a few weeks. I really should have fixed this sooner. I'll reschedule your classes." Chichi smiled.

"Thank you." Gohan replied.

"Also do have something to eat before you sleep the whole day away." Chichi joked as she headed out the door.

"I will." Gohan smiled. Whole day to do whatever I wish? He spent moments trying to picture what he wanted. "Maybe I'll just start with a walk and see where I end up. Explore the city and possibly find a favorite shop or two."

He complied with his mother's request to eat and before long had headed to the outside world. He was happy to leave the strange building. It was nothing like his childhood home and just felt empty, although Chichi did make every attempt to decorate every room and hall. One thing he missed most about his old home was the large forest and wild terrain he explored each day.

"I'll never find something like that here. Guess I should find another way to escape my studies." Gohan chuckled to himself. On his uncoordinated stroll he spotted shops of all kinds; shoes, dresses, bread. He eagerly skimmed through three book shops and, as his mother wasn't present, took up a couple fictional novels.

He had a small fish for lunch when he ran into a local market. After plenty of casual turns down streets and not at all planning where he was headed, Gohan found himself planted before the coffee house of yesterday.

Gohan felt his body stiffen subtly but fortunately unnoticed by passersby. He had remembered once reading a book on how the human brain handled information. It mentioned how some memories were triggered by something or someone completely unrelated to the event. Maybe if I talk to him I can convince my brain that he's not the man from my dream. Just some guy trying to work a decent job, not someone for me to be worried about and certainly not act how I did yesterday.

He straightened his jacket and headed inside. The same bartender from yesterday noticed him as he walked to the counter an empty tray in his hands having just served a table of patrons.

"Welcome back. Just you today?" The bartender asked.

"Uh, yes." Gohan replied. Start simple, pay for the coffee, don't jump into anything weird.

"That's a single penny then please." The bartender stepped behind the counter and accepted the coin from Gohan. "Cream and sugar?"

"Yes please." Gohan rubbed the back of his head remembering the bitter taste of the coffee on its own.

"Your friends' usual booth is taken today and we're about to hit our rush. The back usually stays pretty empty, you might be more comfortable there." The bartender crossed his arms over his chest and nodded towards a few empty seats to the very back space.

"Why do you think I'd be more comfortable there?" Gohan tilted his head as he looked up at the man.

"You seemed really jumpy yesterday and I get the sense you're a shy, solitary type of guy." The bartender explained.

Gohan smiled and nodded. "I guess that's technically true."

"Feel free to sit wherever you like. I'll have your coffee soon." The bartender shrugged before turning and disappearing to the back room.

Gohan sighed before heading to the area the man suggested. He found a seat bathed in beautiful sunlight from a nearby window and was secluded from the excitement and noise of the crowd of incoming customers. He was right, of course the back would be empty if they kept all the newspapers at the front. I bet they also all think their coffees will be refilled faster if they sit by the counter. And another point to him, it's very nice back here.

Opening one of his new books, Gohan made himself comfy in the booth. His jacket pulled off but draped just behind him to settle over his tail and keep it hidden. He leaned on the table, one hand over the pages of the book ready to turn to the next and one propped under his chin. He had childishly picked out a fairy tale written only just a decade or two before he was born, overhearing it had been based on a real saiyan unable to change out of his monkey form. Gohan thought back to the time when all aliens were outcasts in human society. Being saiyan alone was challenge enough let alone having to live everyday as a giant ape. Yet this story told it as a beautiful and hopeful love story.

"So you did sit in the back." The bartender interrupted Gohan's reading as he set a tray on the table.

"It seems you read me accurately." Gohan chuckled.

"I'm good at that." The man smirked. He turned then and left.

Gohan tried to muster up any words to inspire a conversation but felt his mind blank. He sunk into his seat. I wish I had better conversation skills. I'm only good at responding. But what should I expect when I've never really talked to any other than my parents and grandfather when he visited. He softly beat his head and sugared his drink before returning to his book.

Days slowly became this pattern. Arriving alone to the coffee house, sitting in the back, and diving into a book fearing he'd make a fool of himself if he started conversation. Some days the man would smirk as Gohan sheepishly accepted the sugar and cream knowing most men took pride in straight black brews. Some days Gohan would watch him as he worked, the familiarity buzzing in his mind though his logic confirming him to be a nit for focusing so hard on it.

One late afternoon Videl and her two friends had found him in his booth peacefully thumbing through the end of his book. He happily welcomed them and enjoyed their idle chat of a new bakery a few roads down.

"Gohan you're still glancing at him." Erasa giggled.

"Hmmm?" Gohan refocused to the group. He had slightly paled when he realized he had indeed been watching the bartender. "Oh well…. I uh…. Realized I never asked his name. He doesn't seem to like talking for too long and I find it hard to just ask him. I admit I'm socially inept."

"You've tried to ask him before? How often do you come here?" Videl inquired.

"Almost everyday I think. I like to come here and read. It's a great place to escape to when my mother gives me too much work again." Gohan chuckled.

"You're staring at him cause you want to know his name?" Sharpner wore a surprised smirk as he tried to hold back a laugh.

"Well if I know his name I should recognize it if I knew him right?" Gohan explained still playing on when he mentioned he might know him.

Erasa and Sharpner shared looks as they both had the same idea. Erasa was about to explode in titters before Videl spoke calmly, aware of the conclusion the two had come to but wasn't amused by it. "His name is Piccolo."

"Piccolo?" Gohan asked, the confusion curving his brow.

"Yes but don't make any instrument jokes. He hates it to no end." Sharpner heavily warned.

"The relationship would end before it started." Erasa softly remarked to herself. "How tragic."

Gohan hadn't heard the remarks as he thought about the name. He sipped his coffee and continued to be only partially included in the conversation.

That night after he struggled and finally fell asleep, Gohan had the returning nightmare. It looped certain moments and wove new ones in. Clashing dark scenes with peaceful ones like a poorly sewn shirt.

A young boy's laugh in the forest.

The clawed hand gripping his as Piccolo died before him.

Waterfalls splashing beside him as he watched the birds.

'Mr. Piccolo, why are you always alone?'

…

Mr. Piccolo…

Gohan lurched up from his bed. His breath labored as his heartbeat pounded in his ears. Tears stung in the corners of his eyes. "Oh my god…"

He threw the blankets from him as he damn near flew to the door. He tore it open and was about to run out of the house when he heard a voice in the hall.

"Gohan?" Goku stood with a plate of sandwiches in hand, stunned to see his son burst out of his room. "Why are you up so late?"

"Dad..." Gohan's voice was on the verge of breaking. "I need to go. I need to- to apologize."

"What do you mean? What's wrong?" Goku set his plate on a hall table and set a hand to his son's shoulder hoping to calm him.

"That nightmare I had forever ago was all real. The attack, Piccolo dying-!" Gohan was speaking faster and more erratic when Goku interrupted.

"Gohan that was just a nightmare." Goku urged to remind him.

"It was real. I found him at a coffee house." Gohan explained.

"What?" Goku asked surprised by what he heard.

"He's real and alive here. But I know I saw him die for me." Gohan answered.

Goku took a breath. "You need to slow down and think. What good will it do to go running through the city at 2 in the morning? Do you know where he lives?"

Gohan froze. "No."

"Is there a reason you absolutely have to talk to him right now instead of waiting for a more appropriate time?" Goku asked.

"No. You're right." Gohan sighed.

Goku gave a small smile. He handed his plate to Gohan. "Here, nothing calms better than a full belly. In the morning after the shops open we can try to find him."

"Thanks dad." Gohan gave a meek smile before nodding and returning to his room.

Goku stood in the hall after Gohan closed his door. His face stilled with concern as he pinched his chin. He had very much intended to wait till the day and go with Gohan, but before the sun even rose he had left.