A/N: Sorry my update took so long! I'm working on finishing up my other stories so I can focus fully on this one. Thank you all for being so patient!
Piccolo: It wasn't actually that long, Z.
Me: Shhh… It felt long…
Vegeta: Haha that's what she said!
Me: -palm forehead- Like that made any sense at all…
o-o-o-o-o
Trunks ran up the stairs and dove into his room, too excited to bother shutting the door again. A huge grin was plastered on his face as he hurriedly grabbed his suitcases out of his closet and began tearing his dresser apart, throwing his clothes in random directions. He was so busy with making his room a mess that he didn't notice Mirai enter the room.
Ducking and avoiding a pair of jeans, Mirai chuckled.
"Jeez, Trunks, slow down would ya? We're not leaving for another few hours." He leaned against the wall.
Trunks turned and smiled at him, blue eyes blazing.
"I'm just so excited!" Trunks gushed and went back to packing, i.e. throwing his clothes behind him and hoping they landed in his bags.
Mirai chuckled again and went to help Trunks.
"Why?"
"Because! We get to live at the Lookout. And daddy won't be so sad." Mirai nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that's true."
o-o-o-o-o
Unbeknownst to the other occupants of the house, Vegeta had been standing outside his room for a total of 15 minutes, hand hovering shakily over the door knob. It had taken a lot of courage to just enter the house, but Vegeta just couldn't bring himself to enter the bedroom; the last place she had told him she loved him; the last place they had shown their love for each other; the last place he had heard her voice.
His hand dropped to his side. He couldn't do it.
He heard soft footsteps behind him.
"… Father?" Mirai's soft voice comforted him slightly.
He turned and smiled sadly.
"What's the matter?" His eldest son asked cautiously.
Vegeta shrugged half-heartedly.
Mirai frowned. "Father." Vegeta raised an eyebrow.
"It's nothing." He snapped before jerking the door open and walking inside, slamming the door shut again in Mirai's face.
Once inside, Vegeta bit his lip so hard it began to bleed. He could smell her in here. It suffocated him, grabbing his throat and forcing the air from his body in one giant punch to the stomach. Feeling the blood dribbling down his chin, the Prince swiped the back of his hand across his mouth and, ignoring his now dirty glove, started to empty his drawers.
o-o-o-o-o
"They're coming here?" Dende asked, mildly surprised. Piccolo nodded, throwing the green blanket back onto what was going to be Trunks' bed.
"I hoped you wouldn't mind." Piccolo said, straightening the wrinkles out of the blanket.
Dende shrugged. "No, I don't mind, as long as Vegeta doesn't bother me. He's kind of a jerk to me." He said with a pout. The older Namekian chuckled.
"Vegeta's different now, Dende, don't worry." He picked up the second set of sheets and began to make the bed across the room, which was going to be Mirai's bed. Dende shrugged again.
"We'll see. I'll go tell Mr. Popo to prepare a large dinner." He exited the room mumbling something about 'Saiyans' and 'out of house and home'.
o-o-o-o-o
Vegeta and sons arrived at the Lookout, bags in hand, at promptly 6 o'clock, just in time for dinner. Mr. Popo greeted them at the entrance, somehow managing to hold all of their bags and lead them inside, where Dende was waiting.
"Hey Dende!" Trunks exclaimed, grabbing the small green one into a hug, being careful not to squeeze too hard.
"Nng, hey Trunks." Dende wheezed out. When the demi-Saiyan released him, he checked his ribs and, seeing as nothing was broken, smiled. "Welcome."
Mirai smiled back and Vegeta nodded.
"Please follow me to the main dining hall." Dende indicated the direction with his hand and walked away. Trunks raced after him and started chattering away. Mirai followed after with his father, both of them smiling. Trunks had been extremely hyper ever since they left the house.
As they were walking, Vegeta felt a familiar ki join the back of the group.
"How rude, not even meeting your guests at the door." Vegeta commented with a smirk, earning him a chuckle from the Namek who was now walking next to him. Mirai had walked ahead and joined Dende and Trunks.
"Well pardon me, but I was making sure your rooms were ready, your royal Majesty." Playful sarcasm laced his voice.
Vegeta laughed. "Yes, I am, and don't you forget it." He smirked up at Piccolo before walking ahead of him into the dining room.
The dining room was every bit as beautiful as the Lookout itself. The walls stretched at least 50 feet above their heads, meeting at a point that looked like it might be a tower of some sort. Intricate gold swirls covered the creamy-white walls, and continued down into the marble floor. Beautiful white crown molding circled the entire room and framed the doorways from the hallway and the kitchen. A large cherry wood table sat in the middle of the room, complete with cherry chairs with black and gold designs. A giant feast was spread across the black table cloth. It smelled delicious.
Trunks and Mirai were already seated with Dende and Mr. Popo, and were digging into the food, while Dende shyly sipped some water. Mr. Popo had his own modest plate of food and was enjoying it as much as the boys were. Piccolo walked past Vegeta and sat down at the head of the table, pulling the seat to his right out for Vegeta.
The Prince sat down and began to fill his plate.
"Uhm, it's really an honor for you all to be here, Mr. Vegeta, sir." Dende said timidly.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow but smiled anyways. "Thank you for having us." Dende mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
Dinner went by wonderfully. Most of the food was devoured by the three Saiyans, meaning there were hardly any left-overs. Mr. Popo was happy about that. After instructions from their father, the lavender haired boys helped clean up dinner and do dishes.
Vegeta sat out on the edge of the Lookout with his feet hanging over the edge, waiting for Piccolo.
The soft rustle of Piccolo's cape alerted the Saiyan of his arrival. Looking up at him as he joined him on the ground, Vegeta sighed.
"Thank you for letting us stay here. Really." He said awkwardly. Piccolo shrugged.
"Not a problem."
"Piccolo…" Vegeta said solemnly. The green man turned and looked at him.
"What happened in the living room…" Vegeta closed his eyes. "I'm sorry about that… I don't want to give you the wrong idea." He finally looked at the man sitting next to him. "But I haven't exactly recovered from all of this and—"
"I understand." Piccolo forced himself to say. "I won't rush anything." Piccolo placed a hand gently on Vegeta's shoulder. "You're important to me, and I respect you, and whatever you choose to do. I have your best interest at heart." He smiled, eliciting a smile from the Saiyan.
"Thank you Piccolo. Uhm…" A light blush dusted Vegeta's cheeks. Piccolo raised an eyeridge in response.
"I'm not saying that, maybe, you know… later, we couldn't… you know… try it…" Vegeta floundered, the blush deepening. Piccolo chuckled.
"Yea, I know. If it means anything to you…" Piccolo smiled wide, showing teeth. "I'm willing to wait." Vegeta's head snapped up and, after the surprise passed, a warm smile spread itself across his face.
"I'd like that. I'd like it a lot."
o-o-o-o-o
A/N: Yay! Closer and closer to a main plot point! :D Art thou not EXCITED? I am! -rushes off to start chapter 13-