Author's Note: This fic is A/U, as are all of mine. It will focus on Piccolo. The timeline is just after the battle on Namek. Goku is still lost in space…the Nameks have begun their lives on New Namek. ChiChi has forced Gohan to abandon his training and concentrate on his studies (imagine that..) and the other fighters have embarked on their own lives, waiting for the day when Goku returns. In the past year of his life, training and fighting along side the others, Piccolo has grown somewhat accustomed to the company of warriors. Especially to Gohan. But now, Piccolo has no one in his life, and uncertain how to handle the emotion of loneliness. In a brief moment of utter despair, Piccolo makes a decision that will change the course of his life. Forever…..I hope you enjoy this fic…it will have a lot of humor. The PG13 rating is just in case I put a curse word or mention "sex" in upcoming chapters. But, don't worry. Nothing explicit!

Three Rivers of Hope

The sunset was almost complete. Standing in the entranceway of his cave, arms crossed, Piccolo could smell the rain in the distance. Soon, it would arrive, drenching the dried up valley. Trees were turning brown, their leaves starved for water. The grass was also dying due to thirst.

Luckily, the waterfall by Piccolo's cave had an abundant supply of nourishment thanks to the nearby lake. He had filled up five large canteens, making sure he would have enough available for the duration of the next few weeks.

For Piccolo's life was about to change. Why he ever chose this course in time, he was not sure. Perhaps it was due to his fusion with Nail, the warrior from Namek, but he wasn't sure. Daily, he cursed himself for such a foolish and compulsive decision. But, what was done….was done.

The Namek smiled slightly, thinking how Gohan would react when he found out. It was because of this Saiyan child, that Piccolo's life began a transformation just a couple of short years ago. He was such a small boy, but destined for greatness.

Piccolo frowned, thinking of himself as a small boy, living the nightmare, which turned out to be his very existence. When he was just an infant, at least by Namekian standards, he had been forced to hide away from the world. An outcast, different from any other living thing he found. Piccolo remembered having gunshots fired at him by hunters. They had called him an abomination, a hideous mistake that must be rectified. However, Piccolo had the last word when he discovered how to use his power. He blasted the hunters into dust, and then ran away, so full of pain and hurt. Yet, he never shed a single tear. It was not something he would allow. The pain fueled his power, forced his mind to be more disciplined. As he grew he realized the horrible visions he had during his meditations were actually memories from his sire, Damioh. There was no emotion for his dead father. No feelings at all. Things were just the way they were, and that is how Piccolo chose to view the world. He had one mission, to kill Goku, Gohan's father. That was his purpose for being born, just as his father had taken his last breath. Revenge. Nothing more. Being so young, Piccolo could not contemplate the meaning for his life of pain and abandonment. So, he swore to carry out his father's dying wish. He set forth in a determination, and almost succeeded. Maybe, eventually he would have.

If not for Gohan.

It took a five year old boy to awakened something inside the Namek that might have lay dormant for eternity, had a bond not been formed. It was with the child's help that the evil of Raditz had been destroyed before it ever had the chance to permanently mar planet Earth. All beginning a series of events, which led to Piccolo's own death and his subsequent rebirth by the Namekian Dragonballs. All because of Gohan and his determination to bring back the man he called his best friend.

Piccolo smirked. Him? A friend? Hump. How his life had been redirected.

The first few sprinkles of rain had begun and he knew the next few weeks would be very wet and hot. He wasn't sure if he were up to this task he has presented himself with, but there was a small part of his heart that welcomed it.

Piccolo turned, walking back into the cave as the raindrops became heavier. He sat down and was about to begin his meditation when a tiny sound was heard. Glancing anxiously around, Piccolo realized the time was at hand.

The rather large egg was moving slightly, and a few sounds could be heard from inside. It had been over a month since Piccolo had spat out his first, and he swore, his last egg. It was the Namekian way of reproduction when a female was not available. He wanted a full-blooded Namekian son anyway, and since there had not been a female of his race for almost three hundred years, this was the perfect solution. And Piccolo preferred it this way, for he did not consider such close contact with a female something he could stomach. Suddenly, he was terrified. His son was about to be born and he wasn't sure if he were going to be up to the challenge.

Piccolo growled loudly. "Gohan, this is all your fault. I should never have let you get under my skin like this!" He said aloud. The Namek did not move, but watched for the next several hours as small cracks were made in the egg.

It was just before dawn that a tiny green hand was spotted, pushing its way out of the shell. Piccolo found himself holding his breath as another clawed hand was spotted. Slowly, an antenna was pushed forward as a large piece of the egg fell to the floor. The small face that popped out was green and covered in a purple slime, which caused it to slide onto the cave's dirt floor. Piccolo did not move, but continued to watch as his son wiggled around.

Piccolo was about to get up when he heard another crack coming from the egg. His black eyes darted toward the shell as yet another tiny green head came into view. Piccolo swallowed hard, sweat forming on his upper lip. "Two? Oh, dear Kami. What have I done?" He wondered silently. Standing, Piccolo felt as if his legs would give way, but he walked carefully forward. He knelt down, watching both of the miniature green Nameks open their eyes. He was afraid to touch them, but knew he needed to bond with them immediately. As he reached out toward the first infant, a third baby popped from the egg.

This sent Piccolo falling backwards where he landed hard on his bottom. He sat there, staring in shock as he looked at this scene. Quickly, he grabbed the egg and shook it, making sure no more were inside.

This was unheard of. Never, at least to his knowledge, had more than two Nameks been born from a single egg. And that in itself had only happened a few times in the history of his people. No, this could not be reality. Yet, at his feet he saw three sets of black eyes looking at him. All three so tiny and frail, utterly helpless. They were probably less than four pounds each. He could just throw them to the animals below and be done with it, taking back his life of solitude.

Fiercely he looked into their faces and saw nothing but innocence. No, he could not kill them, it just wouldn't be right. Damn his bleeding heart! He growled again, louder, and one of the infants recoiled in fear. Great. Now that one would be terrified of its own father.

The one in front, the first- born, seemed more confident and less afraid. He sat up straight and Piccolo knew he was trying to figure out the large green man he saw in front of him. "It's ok, kid." Piccolo said, trying to sound soothing. But his deep and overpowering tone sent the other two babies scurrying behind the first one.

It was at that moment that Piccolo saw something else that would forever change his life. The purple slime had been absorbed into their skin and now they sat there naked and afraid. Piccolo stood up, trying to get a better look at what he thought he saw. Or more accurately, what he did not see.

Reaching down, Piccolo grabbed two of the babies, one in each hand and held them up before him. They were the most frightened of the litter and therefore he tried to be gentle. But, all reason was gone when he realized that his sons... were not sons.

"Oh, dear God." He said out loud. "Females." The older one, still on the ground, attempted to stand in defense of the others, but only managed to crawl to its knees. Piccolo looked down between its legs and saw yet again, another female.

He put the first two back down in the dirt and then sat down. This could not be happening. Not three, and certainly not three females. There were no females of his race, not any more. Perhaps their equipment had not grown properly. Maybe they were deformed. Piccolo was not an expert on the female anatomy, quite the opposite. But, he was not ignorant either. He watched carefully as the three of them huddled together. He watched every move they made, and could not deny what he knew was the truth.

Piccolo's egg had hatched three girls. Three little female Nameks. He sat there shaking his head in awe as he watched their developing personalities. The older one was in charge, making sure the two younger ones were close. They looked alike, but somehow different. Instantly, Piccolo was able to tell them apart, but he doubted anyone else could.

He was still considering throwing them to the animals below, when he saw the younger one shiver from cold. Although it was summer, it was nowhere near the warmth and comfort they had been used to in the egg. Piccolo remembered being so cold as a kid, that it sent a pain to his heart to see his own child in the same position. He took off his cape and put it out on the floor. One by one, he picked each small baby up and put her on the white cloth, then covered them. He got a canteen and gave them water, keeping his strong arm around them so that the bonding could begin. Then, he watched silently as they each drifted off to sleep.

As soon as the rain stopped, Piccolo knew he would have to seek guidance from Kami, which pissed him off to no end. He hated that damned old man and his judgmental ways. But, he needed answers to this mystery and besides being Guardian of Earth; Kami knew everything there was to know about the Namekian people.

While the infants slept and the rain pounded the valley below, Piccolo was in deep thought. He had no names chosen, as it was custom to wait until the child was born to present it with its life-name. So, now, he was faced with the task of three names.

Around ten in the morning, the babies woke up. They were hungry and Piccolo gave them water. It would be several weeks before they could speak or walk. For now, they were solely dependent on him.

"I have chosen your names." Piccolo said to them. Again, the harshness of his voice caused the two younger ones to jump. He smiled, seeing the first-born girl being brave. "You are Rideria." He told her, believing that although she could not speak, she fully understood his words.

Next, he looked at his second child. "Your name shall be Rikola."

Finally, he addressed the smallest and most skittish of the threesome. "You shall be called Rhyne."

Each girl seemed to be aware of the significance of the words they heard, but they were unable to express themselves. Slowly, Rideria crawled forward, resting in front of her father. She put a tiny hand out, touching her father's enormous hand. Suddenly, it was a moment that Piccolo had not expected, as each girl did the same. Even Rhyne, who was shy and afraid.

All thoughts of throwing them to the animals below were gone. As both mother and father, he felt an enormous responsibility and urgency to protect the babies. He would train them to be self sufficient and strong fighters. He was shocked as Rhyne crawled closer, almost into his lap. Piccolo felt a small smirk cross his face as she struggled, grabbing onto his gi for leverage. Finally, he gave her a boost with his hand and she sat squarely in his lap. Rhyne rested her head on his stomach and dozed off. The other two followed suit soon afterward.

The rain billowed outside, filling the area with much-needed moisture. The wind was blowing and soon a storm settled overhead. Lightening filled the sky, and thunder roared through out the valley.

But, Piccolo did not notice. Instead, he remained inside, three green balls curled up in his lap.

This is a fic I wrote about a year or so ago. I used to write a lot, then stopped. I may start up again if people seem to enjoy my stories. This story is already completed, so I'll try and post a chapter a day.

SHERRI