A couple of days had passed since Trunks' arrival, and Vegeta was back to training with Piccolo at the Guardian of Earth's plateau, and very intense training it was too.  Every day at five o'clock in the morning, they were up and ready to spar.  They only stopped training for meals, and the bathroom.

One day, about a week and a half into their training, Vegeta went out onto the plateau edge over looking Earth, and he saw Piccolo sitting on a step, his chin in his hands.  He was not meditating, as he usually was first thing in the morning, but just sitting staring into space.  Vegeta walked up to him and grinned.  "You look bored Green bean."  He called over, still grinning.  "Maybe you should get yourself a kid.  I promise, you won't have time to be bored then, now come on, let's train."  Piccolo looked up, deciding whether or not Vegeta had been serious or not.  Whether he had been or not, what Vegeta had said had stirred a feeling inside Piccolo, a feeling that maybe Vegeta had a point, maybe he did miss having a child around since Dende had grown up.  Piccolo made a decision.

"Vegeta," he said, standing up.  "I need you to help me out.  I need you to go and buy me some blankets, and a few toys, you know, a ball, some toy cars, building blocks, that kind of thing.  Will you do that for me.  I'd do it myself, but I think a green man shopping would scare people a little.  Plus, I don't have any money."

Vegeta stared at Piccolo gob smacked.  "Let me get this straight Green bean," he began slowly.  "You are going to take my advice?"  Piccolo nodded.  Vegeta just stared.  "OK I'll do it."  He said, and flew off the side of the plateau, just as Mr PoPo came out to speak to them.

"Where has Vegeta gone, Piccolo?", he asked as he looked over the edge of the plateau and watched Vegeta disappear as he flew further towards Earth.

"Oh," Piccolo answered smiling.  "He's just gone to do me a little favour.  He should be back in a couple of hours."  Mr PoPo looked stunned.

"Vegeta has gone to do you favour?  he asked Piccolo, just to make sure he had heard him right. Piccolo nodded, and Mr PoPo looked even more astonished.  "What is this favour?", he asked inquisitively, still staring at Piccolo.

"Wait and see."  Was the only reply he got, before Piccolo stood up, and walked back into Dende's home.

*   *   *   *   *

Vegeta landed hard back on the Guardian of Earth's plateau, and his knees buckled under the pressure of his violent landing.  Piccolo rushed out, and stopped dead in his tracks.  Vegeta was carrying four huge bags filled with toys and blankets, and Piccolo had difficulty containing his laughter.  "What happened to 'a few toys'?", he asked him, still struggling not to laugh.  Vegeta dropped the bags and looked at him.

"I couldn't decide what to buy, so I bought pretty much everything that fitted the description you gave me, and don't worry Green bean, you will pay me back."

Piccolo rolled his eyes, and nodded.  "OK," he said, taking a deep breath.  "Here goes nothing."  Piccolo suddenly bent over, his eyes bulging.  His throat began to swell, and Vegeta slapped him hard on the back.

"Don't you dare choke to death Green bean!", he half shouted.  "You still have to pay me back for those toys!"  Piccolo lashed out at him furiously, signalling for him to stop hitting him, which he did.  Piccolo's mouth opened wide, and Vegeta saw the tip of a large yellow object beginning to emerge.  Piccolo gave a violent cough, and a large, yellow egg covered in green slime shot from his mouth and flew through the air.  Piccolo ran forward as fast as he could, and caught the egg in his arms, falling backwards against a wall.

The egg began to shake, and a small crack appeared in the side.  Within moments, the egg split open completely, and a tiny Namek, about the size of a human baby-sat up inside, while Vegeta watched in horror.  "That," he said slowly, still staring at the egg.  "That is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life!"

Piccolo looked up, and laughed.  "Thanks a lot!", he laughed as he looked down at Namek child.  "A little different from what you're used to, but not that odd."

Vegeta looked at Piccolo and the baby.  "Well," he asked Piccolo impatiently.  "What are you going to call it?"

Piccolo looked at his child and thought.  "I think I'll call him Keiichi.  He told Vegeta, and then turned to his son.  "What do you think?"  The child sat still for a moment, before he nodded.

"Yes," he said quietly, in a very small voice.  "I like that."  Vegeta nearly fell off the edge of the plateau.

"He spoke!", he cried, staring at Keiichi.  Piccolo just nodded.

"Namek children can walk and talk from birth."  He explained.  "It's just natural."  Keiichi stepped out of the egg, and pulled on the bottom of Piccolo's cloak.

"Can I sit on your shoulders please Daddy?", he asked, staring up at Piccolo.  Piccolo nodded and lifted Keiichi onto his shoulders.  He walked around like that for a while, laughing with Keiichi as he walked.  He suddenly stopped dead, and looked over to the side of the plateau, where he could sense two power levels approaching.

Gohan and Sakura landed on the plateau, and looked at Piccolo curiously.  Keiichi slid down Piccolo's cloak and hid behind his legs, occasionally peering at Gohan and Sakura timidly.  Gohan was the first to speak out.  "Er, Piccolo," he asked, pointing at Keiichi.  "What's that?"  Piccolo looked behind him and laughed.  He picked Keiichi up, and rested him on his hip like ChiChi often did with Goten.

"This is Keiichi."  He told Gohan and Sakura, smiling at Keiichi.  "He's my, er, kid."  Gohan stared at him like he had just claimed insanity.

"He's you kid?"  he asked cautiously.  "Piccolo, when did you have a kid?"

"About five minutes ago."  Vegeta cut in.  "And believe me Mop-top, it is not something you want to see."

Gohan nodded.  "For the first time in my life, I think I agree with Vegeta."  He told  them.  "I really never want to see that.  Why don't you introduce Keiichi to the gang?"  Everybody laughed, and they all took off towards Earth, Piccolo holding Keiichi in his arms a they flew down towards Gohan's house.