Day 57…

In a weeks' time Tessa had nearly physically recovered from the depression fueled sickness that had plagued her. After two days of rest, she had wondered out into the void and joined Piccolo for meditation. Days three and four had garnered much the same as he was unwilling allow her much more than minimal training such as a few push-ups until he was satisfied her symptoms had subsided. On the fifth morning they'd begun to spar again, though their powers were kept at base levels to keep bruising and exhaustion to a minimum.

Currently the two were sat at the table with a chest board between them, a hobby they'd picked up during their time living with Goku and ChiChi. Although Goku never played. Nearing the end of their third game, each with only five pieces left on the board it was a commonly close round. Piccolo eyed the board carefully and moved his knight. "Check in two."

Tessa smiled, very much enjoying the quite time away from their purpose and shifted her rook. "Only if I let you."

Piccolo laughed. "Let me…woman, when have you ever let me do anything?"

Tessa shrugged. "You don't remember the final moments on the Lookout the day we fought Garlic Jr?" Their eyes were locked across the table. "Gohan was struggling to make his move and let the shield protecting us drop. You leapt towards Jr, knowing Gohan would make the choice to fire once he did not have any other." Her smile widened. "If I hadn't had faith that we would win, I never would have let you off that floor."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "Just because I was down, doesn't mean…"

She rolled her eyes. "Your ki was low, and you'd been leaning against me or Krillin for several minutes before Kami's return." Her smile morphed into a smirk. "Don't think it would have taken much to keep you."

A matching smirk appeared on Piccolo's face. "If you're so confident of that, why don't we raise the stakes of our little game?"

Tessa smirk never faltered. "Fine with me, name your terms."

He shook his head. "Ladies first."

Though they had made an unspoken vale to stay out of each other's heads, she knew it wasn't rocket science that was on the handsome Namek's mind. She sighed. "Shall we just agree the winner gets to ask the question of their choice, no restrictions?"

"Agreed." Without breaking their locked gaze, Piccolo moved his knight again.

With her heart beginning to race, Tessa's focus returned to the board, moving the rook again. 'When this is over, I don't want to regret anything, and I don't want you to either.'

Piccolo wasted no time in moving the piece under his fingers. "Checkmate."

Startled, Tessa glanced down to his queen in possession to dominate her king. She hadn't even seen the set up that up, it was the opposite of what she would have expected. With a flick of her finger, the king toppled, and her gaze returned to his. "Ask your question."

Piccolo's dark eyes held steady as he crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. "Had he survived; would you be in love with Nail?"

His question didn't surprise her, she'd expected it, just maybe not quite the way he'd worded it. His tone was slightly accusatory, and after what they'd been through, it didn't make it any easier. "No."

"No?" Piccolo's voice was hard as he stared at her. "That kiss didn't feel like a 'no' to me."

Tessa just desperately not to cross her own arms, and found herself leaned forward instead, arms laid in her lap. "Your question is complicated. The feelings you are talking about aren't easily formed in the short time we had together, but I did care about him deeply. If everything else was constant, then no, I don't believe I would have been in love." Seeing the completely unconvinced look on his face, she sighed. "You have Nail's memories, know what happened when Krillin brought me and Gohan to meet Guru…"

Flashback, Namek…

Tessa followed Nail from the hut and took in Namek's beautiful green skies again. Krillin had left her to help guard Guru while he and Gohan searched for the dragon balls. Even in the mist of all they faced, having a companion like Nail brought her a sense of claim. "This planet it beautiful." Their eyes met over Nail's shoulder. "I'm just sorry these villains came here because of us. If we hadn't mentioned our dragon balls back home."

Nail was leaning against the hut. "If anyone should be allowed to use our dragon, it's you and your friends, you've proven worthy by defending us. As far as the threat and how they came here I don't blame you."

She took a place beside him and crossed her arms. "I just wish they'd hurry."

Nail gave a nod; his eyes focus on the water slashing against the shoreline. "I'm afraid Guru doesn't have much time, and if he life ends…"

Tessa sighed. "So does our chances." Bowing her head, she ran a hand through her hair. "They'll all stay dead."

Sensing her pain, Nail laid his right hand on her shoulder, turning towards her. "They really mean a lot to you; I can see that."

Tessa smile. "Tien, Chiaotzu and Yamcha have been in my life a long time." She sighed. "Before we began preparing for the Saiyans, Tien and I had been together for years. He died before we got the chance to apologize for the arguments."

Nail's hand tightened over her shoulder. "I am sorry Tessa."

She smiled, wiping away a stray tear. "Water under the bridge, we'll get it right one day."

"And the Namekian you've mentioned?"

Tessa straightened and turned towards him as Nail's hand moved from her. "Piccolo's a handful." She laughed. "He's actually been our greatest enemy until the first Saiyan arrived but now I'm not sure where he falls. Something about training Goku's son changed him slightly. When I came upon them in the mountains, he definitely didn't want the company, but we learned to train together on a few occasions."

'Tessa…' Her head shot up, eyes locking straight forward. 'Tessa, can you hear me? This is King Kai calling.'

"King Kai?" Nail touched her arm, their eyes met, and she motioned for him to wait. "Yes, I can hear you."

The northern Kai sighed in relief; she could almost feel it. 'Good, now listen carefully. I'm afraid you've got trouble in coming, it's Frieza!'

"Great, we've got trouble headed our way, it's Frieza." Almost as the words left her mouth, her senses locked onto a huge power level speeding towards them. "Damn it, how did I miss that?"

Nail took a defensive stance, his hand falling from her arm, though their eyes never left each other's as he spoke. "That monster has been destroying every village he comes across. I'll have to keep him from Guru if you're going to use the dragon. Go, find your friends, I'll hold him off as long as I can!"

She could feel her heart racing, though she couldn't deny that it wasn't completely because of the appending fight. "No! I'm not leaving you to do this alone!"

Nail frowned; his eyes turned to the direction of the energy before returning to hers. "Tessa we don't have time to argue over this, you have to go!"

As her stomach filled with knots, Tessa jumped and throw her arms around Nail's shoulders, holding him tight. After a second hesitation, she felt him return her embrace. Tears built in her eyes as he released her. "I'm coming back for you."

End flashback…

Piccolo's dark eyes were focused on Tessa's blue depts as he listened to her retell those moments, every word matching Nail's memory.

She frowned, eyes filling with tears. "We both know I never made it back. My only consolation came when I realized that you had fused with him, and he hadn't died at Frieza's hands."

Piccolo stood from their table, turning slightly to hide the emotions he was trying to understand running through his mind. "I shouldn't have assumed…"

Tessa shrugged. "I've figured it would come up the other day and you deserved to know." Rising, she moved to stand in front of him, and waited for their eyes to meet. "He was my friend, and always will be." When his stance remained unchanged, she sighed and turned to leave. "I'm going to bed…goodnight, Piccolo."

His voice reached her as she reached the center of the living space. "Tessa..." Turning, she met his gaze. "He felt the same..."

Smiling she continued across the room. As she glanced once more at her Namekian partner, Tessa yawned and allowed much needed sleep to overtake her.

Piccolo watched her settle without moving, and then stepped out into the void. His emotions still reeling, as he worked to understand what she had revealed opposed to what he had felt from her during the kiss. Taking his usual meditative position, he rolled his bare shoulders and tried to relax. Just before closing his eyes, Piccolo glanced back over his shoulder at his sleeping companion. '…and I feel more.'