A Namekian Affair, part 3

The Shocking Truth

"A... baby…?" Piccolo repeated dazed, not really registering anything happening around him as he just stared hypnotized the slightly moving picture on the screen.
"Yes!" Bulma yelled in excitement. "Aren't you happy?"

Dende was the second to snap out of it and his open mouth suddenly formed the biggest grin anyone had ever seen on him.
"Oh, wow…" He said, amazed, and took Piccolo by the hand. "Wow… It's… it's unbelievable. See? That's our child you're carrying. Not even in my wildest dreams did I think this would be possible. I'm so happy, Piccolo!"
For that one moment he forgot Bulma was there and lightly embraced Piccolo with a hug and one gentle kiss on the cheek. Piccolo didn't show any reaction, as he was still just staring at the screen, while Bulma was looking wide-eyed at the affectionate scene she was witnessing. That was the second thing today that say she had not expected to ever see.

"Dende…?" She asked carefully. "Are you saying that you… and Piccolo…? And that the baby is….?
Dende blushed then, smiling, and nodded shyly.

"Oh, wow…" Bulma managed to say. "I had no idea… not just about you being together but that you could… You know. Do this!
Dende just smiled, looking at his mate. "Trust me, we didn't know either."
"Congratulations for both of you, then." Bulma smiled, and Dende nodded in appreciation, still holding Piccolo's hand.

Piccolo finally came around and looked away deep in thought. He just couldn't believe it. He was with child? Not in a million years did he ever think anything like this would happen to him. Heck, he didn't even know he was able to carry another man's child. Nameks usually reproduced by spitting out eggs, not by developing their young inside their bodies like humans. It was just too much to swallow at once. He shook his head and stood up suddenly, ready to leave.

"Hey Piccolo, where you going?" Dende asked.
"I need some time alone." He said, and took off.
"Piccolo, wait!" Dende cried after him, but in vain.

Bulma put her hand on his shoulder. "Let him go. It's a lot to get accustomed to. I know so myself, being a woman and a mother. Let alone him, who I guess didn't even know he was even able to bear a child. He'll be back after he's cleared out his head."

"I hope you're right." Dende said, putting up a weak smile.
"I know I am. But enough about that. You owe me a huge explanation about everything that's been going on between you two, and don't you dare leaving out any juicy details!" Bulma insisted, cornering him wearing this wry smirk on her face that told Dende there was no way he could get out of the situation.

"Umm, rrrriiiighttt…." He said, flustered, realizing the awkwardness of the situation, and began hesitantly telling the whole story with both of Bulma's gossip-hungry ears as his audience.