He felt Kera's energy approaching. Instinctively, Piccolo went to the small hill by the river where they had spent many evenings. A few minutes later she landed in front of him and bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

"For what exactly?"

"I overreacted when you suggested the second bond. And you were right in your guess. Vegeta can transform now. Bulma is carrying his child." They both fell silent. Piccolo knew they were on thin ice. One wrong step and Kera might fly away again.

Piccolo ventured forward first. By placing himself directly in front of her, he shortened the distance between them. Kera raised her head and dared a brief smile. She now sat down with her legs crossed as well. Her knees touched his lower legs.

"So, how does this bond work now?"

"You want to make the bond of friendship?" She nodded. He considered. Was it really the right way? "This time we share other memories. All the memories that are linked to positive feelings. Friendship, love, happiness, joy."

"And what are the disadvantages?"

"We become very attached to each other. We don't just share memories we've already experienced. Everything we experience, we will share. Since we have already entered into the warrior bond, we can hardly hide anything from each other."

Kera took a deep breath and let the air escape slowly. Then she looked Piccolo straight in the eye.

"Remember? Everywhere with you, nowhere without you."

"We had no choice then," Piccolo replied.

"Maybe we didn't. But what if we had no choice because it would have happened anyway? We're sitting at that point again now." She took his right hand, which he had placed on his knee. "You saved my life. I trust you."

Piccolo looked at her hands clasping his for a moment. Even though she was such a big warrior, her hands felt soft and delicate. They seemed almost fragile next to his hand, but he knew that impression was deceiving.

"Good," he said then with a nod, interlacing the fingers of his right hand with the fingers of her left. He did likewise with his other hand. "Close your eyes and think back to your first positive memory."

Kera did so and lowered her head. The world around them went silent. Piccolo could only feel her hands and the touch of her legs. He concentrated on the first conscious positive memory.

A soft, warm hand tenderly stroking her cheek. A smile on her mother's face. A little blurred, as the memory was so long ago. A bright laugh, like music to her ears. The next memory: another woman smiling encouragement at her and touching her shoulders. This woman's features were more sharply defined than those of the first woman, as if the memory were more present. This woman wore a narrow silver ring on her forehead. Next to her stood a small boy with black hair sticking up, who held out his hands invitingly to Kera.

The following memories had the woman and the boy in focus. Once they saw a man with a beard and the same hairstyle as the boy praising Kera. The memories then jumped. Only the boy still mattered. As it seemed, years passed. Then Piccolo appeared in Kera's memories. Over and over again.

They were similar images she had already seen at the warrior's bond, but the focus was elsewhere. While at the warrior covenant it was the training with Piccolo that she had seen, now she saw him smiling at her, drinking water by the river or wiping the sweat from his forehead. She saw herself smiling at Piccolo and sitting by the fire looking at the stars.

Images upon images played. Slowly, so that they could both look at them in peace. She was even aware of the sounds and smells associated with the images.

The night was not quite over when Piccolo and Kera opened their eyes again, looked at each other and smiled. Kera felt new energy flow through her that felt different from anything she usually felt. In front of her sat the one she would fight for. No one would steal these memories from her.

"Who were the two women at the very beginning?" asked Piccolo.

"My mother. That's the only memory I have of her. She died so young." Kera swallowed down the tears. "The other woman was Vegeta's mother. After my mother died, I lived with Vegeta, with the royal family. Vegeta's mother was great. Proud as a Saiyan, but also endlessly loving."

"What about your father?"

Kera shrugged. "I have no memory of him. I was always told that he was off conquering other planets. I just don't have a picture in my mind." She looked at her hands, which were still clasped with Piccolos. "Who was the woman with you, at the very beginning?"

"When I came out of my egg, a farmer couple had found me. For a very brief moment I thought they were my family. But then my father's memories set in and all that mattered to me was that I had to get revenge on Goku."

"And then I came?" asked Kera teasingly.

The corners of Piccolo's mouth lifted. "That's right. Then you came. You changed my life quite a bit."

Kera squeezed his hand and swallowed her tears of joy. It was wonderful to hear this from his mouth. "And Gohan has changed your life as well."

Piccolo nodded. "Yes. I never thought that boy would be so important to me one day."

"Even Kakarrot and Chi-Chi."

Piccolo laughed out. "Yes, even them. I feel like ..."

"... Having a family," Kera finished the sentence. "Yes, I feel the same way."

They fell silent and listened to the wind that brushed very softly through the treetops. Piccolo looked at their still clasped hands and gently stroked the back of Kera's hand with his thumb. Then he lifted her left hand to his lips and blew a kiss on it. Kera's cheeks reddened and she cleared her throat feeling embarrassed.

Birds began to chirp in the trees around them. Was it morning already? Kera jumped up abruptly. "I need to sleep." But she did not get far. At the first step, her right leg sagged out from under her and she stumbled. Piccolo caught her.

"Take it easy. We'll sit down under the tree. Then you can sleep for two hours before the training starts. I'll take care of you." Kera was too tired to protest. Piccolo sat down with her and leaned against the trunk. Kera, meanwhile, had fallen asleep with her head against his chest.

"Hey, Kera. Time to get up." Piccolo gently shook Kera's shoulder. She was slow to wake, grumbling to herself. When she lifted her head, he had to smile. A fold of his cloak had pressed into her cheek.

She straightened up and smiled at him. "Good morning."

Piccolo brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and let his hand rest on her cheek. "Thank you."

Questioningly, he looked at her. "For what?"

"For trusting me so much."

Her smile widened. "Thank you too."

They looked deeply into each other's eyes, then she directed her gaze upwards. The sun was already visible over the ridge of hills. "We should join the others."

Piccolo nodded and helped her stand, even if it was reluctantly. He would immensely like to stay sitting by that tree with her. For a few more hours, at least. He never thought he would care so little about training.

Slowly, they walked close to each other to Goku's house. He was already waiting for them in front of his hut and waved. "Oha, Piccolo, Kera. That's interesting," he called out.

Kera blinked at Goku in confusion and opened her mouth to say something, but Piccolo interrupted her thoughts: "Goku is very good at detecting energy. He can tell we are connected."

Chi-Chi and Gohan, who had now also stepped outside the hut, looked at her questioningly. Then Chi-Chi's gaze drifted to Piccolo and she smiled. "It's good to have you back."

The training with the others was now much more relaxed than it had been at the beginning. Piccolo and Kera became a unit that made it difficult for both Kakarrot and Gohan to defeat them. Gohan flew back to his mother at the onset of dusk, while Kakarrot, Piccolo and she used the last light of the day for a quick practice fight.

Breathing heavily, they all landed at the same time and grinned at each other. Kakarrot raised a hand and gave a thumbs up. "Really good, Kera. Super Saiyan suits you."

Gratefully, she smiled at him. Only a few days after she had formed the second bond with Piccolo, she had been able to transform while training. Problem-free. It was as if this power had always been inside her and she had finally found the switch to activate it. She now knew why she fought. To protect those who were part of her family. Piccolo, Vegeta, Kakarrot, Chi-Chi, Gohan, Bulma. This thought coupled with the rage she had felt at Vegeta's death on Namek made it easy for her to transform. Day by day she found it easier to evoke this state and even Vegeta, whom she now visited every weekend, could transform with ease.

"I'll see you in a little while for dinner." Kakarrot raised his hand and walked towards his house. Kera and Piccolo stayed outside for a moment. This too was a new habit. Time they could spend alone was scarce. It was only stolen minutes that they had together. They had decided against training alone. The advantages in training together were much greater and so they stayed with Kakarrot and his family. After the fight, they would have enough time for themselves.

Piccolo wrapped her in his arms and began to stroke her back while she wrapped her arms around his torso. He kissed her on the forehead as she looked up at him.

"Your powers are truly admirable."

"Thank you." She smiled. "You can use your Special Beam Cannon so quickly now. Remember when you first developed it? You had to gather energy for some time first." She felt his nod more than saw it.

For minutes they stood there, close together, until Kera's stomach rumble startled her. She cleared her throat.

"Then we should eat something, shouldn't we?" Piccolo broke away from her and took her hand. Slowly they walked to Kakarrot's house. Only just before they reached the door did Piccolo release his hand from hers. Chi-Chi and Kakarrot, and certainly Gohan, were aware that she and Piccolo were now connected by more than friendship, but showing affection openly ... They were neither ready for that. Once the danger of the androids was out of the way, then they would finally have time for themselves.

Kera was about to push open the door when she heard Chi-Chi's voice. "You do this now. Don't argue!"

With a slightly panicked expression on her face, Kera looked to Piccolo. If Chi-Chi was in such a mood, it was best to stay out of her way. Piccolo just shrugged and pointed his chin towards the door. Kera sighed and opened the door.

Chi-Chi immediately wheeled around to them and looked at them angrily. However, she relaxed a little when she realised who had just entered the house.

"What's going on?" asked Kera in what she hoped was a neutral tone.

"Goku is supposed to be getting a driving licence."

"What for?" came out of Kera's mouth before she could think.

"Thank you. My sentiments exactly. I can fly," Kakarrot instantly took Kera's reaction. From Chi-Chi's point of view, it had been the wrong question.

"What for? To finally make him behave normally. And the neighbours wouldn't always wonder why we don't have a car in this deserted area. It can't be that I always have to walk these long distances."

"Kera and Piccolo don't have a driving licence either," Kakarrot tried to put forward another argument.

"Leave us out of it!" retorted Piccolo immediately.

"Don't worry. I've signed all three of you up for lessons."

"You what?" asked Piccolo and Kera simultaneously.

Kera took a step towards the other woman. "Chi-Chi, please, we don't even need a car. We ..."

Chi-Chi interrupted her. "You're just going to make your driving licence. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

Kera's gaze darted to Piccolo, who just shrugged resignedly. He knew when to give up. One was simply powerless against Chi-Chi in this area. Kera nodded. "Okay. Can we eat now, please?"

"What, are you just going to give up like that, Kera?" Seeking help and with great desperation in his eyes, Kakarrot looked at her.

"You know you don't stand a chance against your wife, don't you, Kakarrot?"

"All right." Murmuring to himself, Kakarrot sat down at the table where the food was already ready.

"Enjoy your meal," Chi-Chi said and sat down as well. Kera was very curious to see what tomorrow would be like.

Kera, Kakarrot and Piccolo were at the driving school on time the next morning. It was a cordoned-off area on a tongue of land. On three sides it was surrounded by water, the fourth side was the administration building with the attached garages. Chi-Chi had told them not to fly directly to the building, so they had landed some distance away and jogged the rest of the way. They tried to do at least some exercise.

Part of Kera was glad for the little break. Her body longed to push herself, to achieve more, but her head knew that she needed breaks too. Maybe it would be fun.

Her gaze kept going to Piccolo. Chi-Chi had insisted that they dress normally and had handed him a yellow T-shirt with "Postboy" written on it, as well as dark blue trousers and a baseball cap. Kera didn't think it was a bad sight. In her opinion, Piccolo could wear something like this more often.

They were greeted by an elderly man who could only stand on his feet with the help of a cane. He assigned them a car without a roof and a driving instructor. He got into the car with Kakarrot and a young woman with brown curly hair and a short skirt sat with Piccolo. Kera's driving instructor was a man about her age with his blond hair tied back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.

"Hello, beautiful lady"; he purred and made a welcoming gesture towards the car. "Let's see if I can teach you something then."

Kera hesitated as she got in. She didn't like the guy. She looked over at Piccolo. His driving instructor was leaning far over to Piccolo at this moment to explain the car's functions and had placed a hand on his thigh. Kera didn't like how close she was to him.

Thinking of Chi-Chi and the promise she had made to her, she sighed and sat down in the car. She let the explanations of the gauges and switches wash over her, only listening with half an ear and watching Piccolo, who was also receiving his briefing.

"Shall we drive off then?" the driving instructor asked her, bringing his mouth very close to her ear. Inwardly she shook herself and had to control herself not to push him away.

She started the car. Her teacher put a hand on her knee. "Now, very gently, press the accelerator."

A wave of anger surged up inside Kera. What was this guy thinking? No one was allowed to touch her like that and get close to her. Her angry gaze met the driving instructor's, who flinched. She knew her eyes had briefly lit up green. He was certainly rattled now. He should be.

A bang snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked behind her. Kakarrot had not driven his car in front towards the circuit, but had crashed backwards into the driving school building at full speed. Embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his head while he listened to the driving instructor's lecture.

Kera had to grin. Kakarrot was simply a clumsy one in some things. Her eyes wandered to Piccolo, who had already started driving. Had this driving instructor pushed herself even closer to him? She growled and pressed the accelerator down, touching the ground under the car. She had kicked with so much force that her foot had penetrated the sheet metal of the car body.

Eyes wide, the driving instructor stared at the hole and gulped audibly. Then he looked up into her face. "What are you?" he asked in a trembling voice.

Kera laughed nervously. "I, uh, think it was already rusted."

The driving instructor nodded and got out of the car without comment. Kera was annoyed with herself. She had promised Chi-Chi that she would get a driving licence and now she was failing miserably. She hated to fail, no matter what.

The man came back with a new car, told her to get in and sat down next to her again.

"Now please be careful and slow."

Kera nodded and pressed the accelerator down. The car jerked forward and she lifted her foot a little again. As a result, the car actually moved forward.

"Put on your indicator and turn right," the driving instructor said.

Kera nodded and followed the instructions. After she turned onto the circuit, she relaxed a little. Driving didn't feel so bad. She took a quick look behind her. There was still room in the car to carry things. Maybe a car did have its practical sides. However, it did seem rather slow to her.

Something whizzed past her on the left. She looked up. It was Kakarrot, who seemed to have got the hang of reversing after the breakdown and was now stepping on the gas. Was he trying to show who was better?

"You can have it," Kera muttered and accelerated.

"Not so fast!" The driving instructor's voice had an undertone of panic, which Kera ignored.

Kakarrot caught up with Piccolo, who was following the road at a leisurely pace. Piccolo seemed to notice Kakarrot's approach because he took a quick glance behind and then drove into Kakarrot's path so that he could not overtake. Kera saw Kakarrot tense his muscles. Now that he could not pass on the left, he swerved to the right. Piccolo followed the movement to block him in turn.

"Kids!" shouted Kera, accelerating once more.

Kera grinned. Piccolo had concentrated on blocking Kakarrot. Now there was enough space to his left for her to pass. She accelerated once more and passed Kakarott.

She heard his frustrated cry from the right, but she only looked ahead. Then another yell, a curse, a push.

The steering wheel was wrenched from her hands, the car lurched to the left towards the hillside, the driving instructor cried out in panic.

"Shit!" Kera slammed on the brakes, but another bump from behind only accelerated the car. Determined, she grabbed the seatbelt, ripped it off and did the same to the driving instructor's seatbelt, who was frozen in shock. She grabbed the fabric of his shirt at the chest and pulled him up with her.

No sooner had she pushed herself off the floor of the car than it plunged down the slope. It overturned, slid down the rocky slope and finally landed with a big splash in the sea. Close behind, Piccolo's and Kakarott's cars also slid into the water.

Floating in the air, still clutching the driving instructor by the shirt, Kera turned around. Piccolo had his driving instructor tucked under his arm. Kera noted with some satisfaction that she seemed to have fainted. Kakarrot had thrown his driving instructor over his shoulder.

Kera landed, set the driving instructor down and looked at Kakarrot who was floating towards the ground.

"You fucking game kids! Did you have to do that?"

"You were going to overtake us too," Kakarrot replied, albeit quietly. He set the old man down beside him, who clutched his cane and looked frantically back and forth between Kera, Piccolo and Kakarrot.

Kera felt caught and tried to cover it up. "But you started it!"

"You didn't have to join in!" Kakarrot crossed his arms in front of his chest demonstratively.

"Youuu ..." Threateningly, Kera took a step towards him, but Piccolo stood in front of her.

"Do you have to do that now?" With a nod of his head, he pointed to the two male driving instructors who were watching the discussion. The younger of them had taken the fainting woman in his arms.

The older man cleared his throat. "May I ask what this is all about?"

Kakarrot laughed nervously. "We're totally sorry. We didn't mean to destroy the cars. We ..."

"That's not what I mean," the man interrupted him. "Why do you want to get a driving licence when you can fly?"

Piccolo eyebrows shot up, Kera looked to Kakarrot and her eyes sparkled.

"That's so ... So, uh, my wife would like us to take the driving test."

The old man nodded. "Fine by me. But not until I retire." With that, he turned and limped towards the administration building. The younger man followed him with one last panicked look at the three of them.

"I guess that's it," Piccolo remarked dryly.

Kakarrot threw his hands in the air in despair. "Chi-Chi's going to kill me."

"Probably the three of us," Kera added.

Sighing, they flew to Chi-Chi and Kakarrot's house. Kakarrot in front, all thought, Kera close beside Piccolo.

"The clothes suit you," Kera said with a sideways glance at Piccolo.

He looked down at himself. "You think so? It feels kind of weird."

"It's all a matter of getting used to it. We may not have to fight every day, after all." She smiled and felt a warmth rise inside her as Piccolo smiled back. The image of her hut appeared in her mind's eye. A silent promise. They would return there, together, and then enjoy times when they were not training.

Piccolo took her hand and only let it go again when they landed at Kakarrot's house.