EDIT 9/28/10: Fixed the dialog spacing so it's easier to read.

o-o-o-o-o

Goku joined them shortly thereafter, and it was well after midnight when the tired warriors finally headed home. Piccolo ended up creating towels for all of them. Trunks and Goten felt the need to cover their heads with the towels and chase the older boys, claiming to be ghosts.

Goku ran after them, counteracting them with a claim of his own.

"WHO YOU GONNA CALL?" He yelled, disturbing some birds in the nearby trees.

Gohan laughed. "GHOSTBUSTERS!"

Goten and Trunks shrieked and ran away from Goku, who then proceeded to tie his towel around his neck and pick them up, throwing them on his shoulders and spinning in circles.

"GOTCHA!" Goku exclaimed. Trunks and Goten's flailing caused him to lose his balance, and all three Saiyans went tumbling to the ground. Gohan and Mirai, following up after them, took off at a fast pace.

"Race ya home, Mirai!" Gohan exclaimed.

Mirai took off with a smirk. "Oh you're so on!"

Goku and the smaller boys picked themselves up and continued their chase up the path to the Son's house.

Piccolo and Vegeta took up the end of the freezing cold train, their pace being too slow for the others. Vegeta was silent as he watched the Namek out of the corner of his eye. A small smile graced the green man's features as he watched Goku get tackled to the ground again. Vegeta looked down at their feet, and for a while tried to match Piccolo's stride. He got frustrated quickly, seeing as there was at least a foot and a half's difference in their height, therefore making their strides different.

"Damn Jolly Green Giant…" Vegeta mumbled, forgetting that Piccolo would probably hear him. Piccolo glanced down at the smaller man.

"What was that?" He questioned.

Vegeta kept staring at his feet. "Nothing…" He grumbled. His head snapped up when Piccolo suddenly pulled him to the side. He noted the lizard that scrambled away into the bushes.

"That's twice today I've saved your life." Piccolo chuckled. Vegeta scoffed and pulled away.

"Saved my life? From what? Some water and a reptile?"

The Namek chuckled. "You could have drowned, or gotten bitten, and died from an infection."

Vegeta wrinkled his nose, and Piccolo stopped himself from thinking the expression was cute.

"You have a very bleak outlook on life." Vegeta snorted.

Piccolo shrugged. "I suppose. That tends to happen when you live like I do."

Vegeta briefly picked up on the bitter undertone to the green man's statement, but made no comment on the matter.

They walked in silence for a few more moments before the sounds of the party reached their ears. They rounded the corner and saw most of the adults sitting around a roaring fire with some form of drink in their hand. Bulma and ChiChi were saying goodnight to their youngest sons before sending them to bed.

"Why can't we stay up, mom?" Trunks questioned, clearly put out that his (technically) older brother got to stay up. Goten nodded earnestly.

Bulma shook her head. "Because. It is way past your bedtime, and this is the adult's time."

"Onii-chan and Mirai Onii-san aren't adults!" Goten protested.

ChiChi sighed. "How about this. You two can stay up, but you have to stay in Goten's room. No coming downstairs. Alright?" The younger boys weighed their options, and nodded.

"Okay!" Goten chirped, then grabbed Trunks' arm and led him to his room.

Gohan and Mirai headed inside as well, ready for a full night of videogames, popcorn and soda. They raided the kitchen before getting chased out by their mothers.

Vegeta sat down in an empty chair on the side of the fire that faced the lake, far enough from everyone else that he didn't have to deal with them, but close enough to not feel isolated. It wasn't like he would be able to feel isolated anyway, regardless of where he went. Piccolo had been following him all night.

Even now, the tall alien sat next to him, quietly sipping his water, refusing any alcohol offered to him upon their return. It was almost two minutes later when the Prince realized he had been staring, and that Piccolo was staring back.

"Something wrong?" Piccolo asked only to get another nasty look from Vegeta.

"No." Vegeta answered shortly. He swished his beer around before taking a long swig. God, why did the Namek always have to know what was going on inside his head? It was a bit annoying, but somehow comforting to know someone actually cared what he thought or did. Not like Bulma.

His gaze shifted to the blue-haired woman, who was now chatting over her third beer with ChiChi and 18. If he were to jump off a bridge, and break every bone in his body but his spine, meaning he was still alive, she wouldn't give a damn. She may visit him at the hospital but she wouldn't really care. The only emotional response he would get from the woman was a full-blown rant about him being a bad example for Trunks, and that he should be more responsible. His frown deepened.

"You sure?" Piccolo's deep bass tore through his train of thought. Vegeta looked back at him. He didn't see any hint of amusement in his face, not like when Bulma asked him what was wrong. Why did he keep comparing them? He quirked an eyebrow and nodded.

"Nothing's wrong…" He said quietly, and took another drink of his beer. Damn, it was getting warm. He began to get up, but Piccolo beat him to it.

"I'll get you another one."

With that said, he headed for the cooler, leaving Vegeta more confused than ever.

Piccolo was basically acting like his man-servant tonight. Not that he minded being treated like this, but still. It was a bit odd for the Namek to serve anyone but himself. He watched as Piccolo made his way through the crowd of drunken grown-ups, towering over all of them. Vegeta momentarily wondered how tall he really was. He frowned again. Height had never been a concern for him. He hated how he thought so much when Piccolo was around.

"Here you go." Piccolo held the beer by the neck. Vegeta took the cold beverage from him and nodded.

"Uhm, thanks." He said awkwardly. He popped the cap off and took a drink. Piccolo sat down next to him with a weary sigh. Vegeta did his best not to look at him. Damn, what was wrong with him?

"Gods, this noise…" Piccolo lamented, rubbing his temples with one hand. Vegeta glanced at him.

"I'm not a fan of it either…" He commented. With that, he got up and headed towards the lake again.

"Where are you going?" Piccolo asked.

"Elsewhere." Vegeta glanced over his shoulder, inviting Piccolo to join him.

Piccolo stared after the Prince, and cautiously took the invitation.