Growing Pains
by Del_kaidin


This is the continuation of Labor Pains. It is 18 years later.


Chapter 1

Ephiny watched with pride as her two young wards prepared to face their coming of age ceremony.

As their mothers had been inseparable, so too were their daughters. Terris Xena so like her mother, Gabrielle, red - gold hair, green eyes, mischief seemed to follow her as did smiles. Cyrena Gabrielle, so like hers, black hair and azure eyes. Weapon skills came easy to the god of war's daughter. She excelled at any she attempted, sword, bow, spear, dagger, and possibly the most dangerous weapon in her arsenal, her mother's chakram.

Eighteen years and still Ares refused to acknowledge his daughter. While the amazons were not upset by his lack of paternal interest, Cyrena was. The pain in the girl's eyes had grown each year, and more so with the passing of her beloved grandmother in the spring. Ephiny knew that when the ceremony was over Cyrena would leave the village for the first time in her life. She only hoped the young woman was prepared for life outside of the village that had sheltered her for so long.

"It's almost like looking at Gabrielle and Xena." Solari said to her queen.

"Yes it is.... isn't it? Although, Cyrena doesn't have her mother's dark past, I fear she is determined to create her own." She could never forget the last visit Xena had made. Cyrena had only been eight. She knew from her close friendship with Terris that it was unusual for a mother not to speak of the father, even amongst the Amazons. Yet Xena had never spoken of the girl's father till that day, and only to tell her that he was Ares, God of War. Xena had been killed before she had been able to visit again. Perhaps she could have reached the daughter she had loved. Now, the angry child had become an angry woman.

Ephiny and Solari watched as the two young women entered Amazon society.

The tests were meant not to harm but to teach. Each warrior had to depend on one another for success in battle and in life. Terris with her staff and Cyrena with her sword. They fought well, each depending on the other's ability to protect their back. Swords clanged and scrapped, grunts of exertion filled the air. Within moments, it was over. Two girls had stepped onto the field. Two Amazon Warriors stepped off.

Ephiny and Solari noticed Terris' slight limp, but were unable to offer assistance. Each woman's heart yearned to help her, but the rules were specific. Only Cyrena could offer assistance, until the proper acknowledgement of the two was complete. With pride, they watched the tall dark-haired girl place Terris' arm around her shoulders, helping her make her way to the dais. It was easy enough to see the pain in the older of the twos face, yet her head was held high as they walked slowly toward the Queen to be recognized as the warriors they were.

"We have proved our worth as fighters and friends." Cyrena began.

"We ask to be recognized as the Amazons we have become." Terris said the second reply between clenched teeth.

Together they finished, "Will you accept us as Amazon's?"

Ephiny had never been prouder to welcome the warriors with the words, "We accept you, Terris Xena Perdicus, daughter of Gabrielle, Amazon Princess and Bard and you, Cyrena Gabrielle, daughter of Xena, Warrior Princess. Today you are Amazons."

Chapter 2

The muffled sound from across the room awoke Terris, she knew this sound, it had awoken her many times in the past. Cyrena was crying. Quietly she rose from the bed and went to her friend. Putting an arm around the other girl's shoulder she silently gave the reassurance and love that her friend needed. They sat like that for hours, neither speaking only giving and taking the comfort of friendship.

"Terris.... why?" Cyrena's azure eyes pleaded for an answer from her friend.

"Why? Which why my friend? Why did your mother die? Why doesn't your father admit your his daughter? Why won't my mother return to take her place as Amazon Queen?.... There seem to be so many whys for us. I wish I knew the answers to tell you." Terris' eyes filled with tears as she thought of all the injustice they had faced. Some she knew from her own memory and some from gossip.

Xena and Gabrielle had stayed in the Amazon village only three months after Cyrena's birth. According to the gossips, just long enough for Xena to get back into fighting shape. Then Gabrielle had returned with Xena's body, for the first time. Velaska had been defeated in her unsuccessful attempts to become not only an Amazon Queen but a goddess. Yet neither Xena nor Gabrielle visited their daughters that trip. To be fair, Terris thought, they did come as often as they could. The last visit, Xena and Gabrielle had made to visit the girls on their eighth birthday, was tender and heartbreaking for the young Amazon Princess. It was that visit when Cyrena discovered the name of her father. Yet, from her own mother, Terris knew Xena had never told her daughter the whole truth. That Ares had taken advantage of Callisto being in possession of her body to hopefully sire a son. Even with that beginning, Xena had loved Cyrena. Terris had no doubt about that either.

Then the final time Gabrielle brought Xena to the Amazons, two months later. All that her mother would say was that Xena had died in battle. Terris had suspected that her mother was hiding something, and as the years passed with fewer and fewer visits she was certain.

"Terris... I have to have answers. I can't live like this. In the morning I'm leaving for Amphipolis, with a stop in Corinth to see Uncle Hercules & Iolaus." Her decision made Cyrena unconsciously raised her chin, and straightened her back; the image of her mother at eighteen.

"I'm going with you then. I have answers of my own I need to find. Last I heard Mother was near Amphipolis. Now lie down and get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Chapter 3

He walked along the worn path, whistling to himself. It was his song, and he was proud of it. He knew there was no truth to the words, but the song gave him courage when nothing else could. He had been traveling for days, sometimes it felt like years, hoping to catch up with Xena and Gabrielle. At every town, he would ask if they had seen Xena, but in the last couple of years he had begun noticing strange looks from folks when he asked. They were polite enough, always telling him that she wasn't there anymore, the next morning he would rise and head to the next village.

As Apollo's chariot was rising in the eastern sky, he wondered why his legs were beginning to pain him. It grew harder each day to continue his quest to be reunited with his friends. As he crested the hill he saw them. Xena and Gabrielle sitting underneath the branches of a tree. He did notice something different about them.

"Xena! Gabrielle!" He called to them. He was to far away to see the puzzled expressions on their faces.


Terris and Cyrena had stopped to rest at the foot of the hill. They had been traveling for a week and would reach Corinth tomorrow. The friends had decided to make an uncharacteristic stop to enjoy the morning. When they heard Joxer call to them, or more appropriately their mothers.

"His name's Joxer, Cyrena. Mom told me about him, he's annoying but harmless."

"All right I understand. - But Terris why did he call us by our mother's names."

"Unless you've forgotten your name IS Cyrena Gabrielle and mine is Terris Xena." The smaller of the two said, green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hi Joxer!" She called waving to him as he approached.

"Hello Joxer." Cyrena said rising.

"XENA!" He yelled as he pulled Cyrena into a hug. Over his shoulder Cyrena gave her friend a questioning look. Terris trying to keep from laughing shrugged her shoulders. "Your not mad are you Xena?" he continued. "Honest I thought you were OK or I never would have..... "

Cyrena was unsure of how to handle Joxer's affection, since her mother's death no one except Terris and her grandmother Cyrene had spontaneously hugged her. She didn't understand why he was asking for her forgiveness, to her knowledge they had never met. Then as she looked in his eyes, and realized he thought she was her mother. But why was he apologizing? "It's ok Joxer. I understand."

"Hey I like the new outfit Xena! I liked the old one too but this one - more Amazon influence. You look younger too. How'd you manage that." Turning to Terris he smiled, "Hi Gabrielle. Where are you two headed? What evil warlord are we going up against?"

"No evil warlords, Joxer. We're headed to Corinth, to see Un... er... I mean Hercules. Want to walk with us?" Terris knew that something was wrong with the middle age man joining them. Nothing dangerously wrong. But, for some reason, which she didn't know, he was living in the past. A past where Xena hadn't died. Terris had heard that she and Cyrena looked liked their mothers, but she had not realized how much until now.

Chapter 4

The evening campfire burned merrily, as the three companions sat talking. Terris and Cyrena listened to Joxer. Their mothers changing from distant half remembered childish fantasies to women, struggling to live in a world they were trying desperately to make better for their children. They laughed as he told of meeting Gabrielle, cried when he told of Perdicus death, story after story he told. Finally he came to the one they most wanted to hear.

"Xena, do you remember the last battle we were in together?"

"Not really, Joxer." Cyrena answered. They had made the mistake of correcting them on their identities earlier, only to have him break down in tears. Within moments he was composed and still insisting they were Xena and Gabrielle. Now, they answered to their mother's names, sparing him the upset. "I was injured, remember?"

"Yea I remember Xena. I thought you were dead. How much do you remember?"

Long ago Ephiny had told Cyrena some of how Xena had died. "All I truly remember is we were fighting some warlord near Cyrra."

"Yes. Callisto. She had raised a new army and was destroying towns within a day's march of Cyrra. She had a Lieutenant with her... Hope... Gabby, for some reason you wouldn't fight Hope. Boy, Xena were you ever angry at Gabby... You never told me why though. We fought small battles for weeks. We'd win one, they'd win won back and forth, then after about a month, I guess, we had a major battle. Right where Cyrra had been. Seemed like Callisto had planned all those previous attacks just to get us to Cyrra.

We were all shocked when Hope sent us Callisto's head, that morning. Then we faced Hope and her army. The battle lasted for hours. Honest Xena I didn't mean to bump into you while you were fighting Hope. I lost my balance. I didn't mean to make you fall." Joxer began sobbing, somewhere inside he had faced the truth of Xena's death again. Terris gathered the older man into her arms, as if he were a child. "It's all right Joxer. We

know you didn't mean to." Looking over his head she saw tears streaming down Cyrena's face.

The dark haired girl mouthing "I'll be back." Quietly slipped into the forest to compose herself. She had never heard the complete story on how her mother had died, but she knew now; and whoever and wherever this warlord named Hope was, she going to face Xena's daughter. Cyrena could almost pity her, not many had known that Xena and Ares had a child, would a warlord be able to face the god of war's daughter?

Chapter 5

Cyrena awoke with the dawn and lay listening to Joxer's soft snoring. Terris mumbling softly in sleep, lay near. Quietly, Cyrena rose and made her way toward her horse. Reaching into her saddle bag, she felt for the package Ephiny had given her. The only thing she knew was whatever it was it had belonged to her mother.

Clasping the package to her chest, Cyrene left the campsite for the privacy of the woods. As she opened the bundle a single piece of parchment fell to the ground. Bending to pick it up Cyrena looked at her mother's strong, precise and beautiful handwriting.

Cyrena my beloved daughter,

I had planned to give you this when you turned 18. If you are reading this, I have died. I hope I died in battle, I would prefer that too any other death. I rewrite this letter everytime I visit, you are eight now. I'm watching you train with Terris and the other amazon's as I write. What can I say to you? There are things you must know, things I had hoped to tell you myself.

First, I love you daughter. The mere thought of you can bring a smile to my face. I enjoy being with you and wish there could be more time for us to be together.

Second, your father, Ares, don't try to get him to acknowledge you . . . I know from experience he won't. It is possible that I am his daughter as well. Which makes you his daughter and possible granddaughter. Only he knows and will never admit it. Ask your Aunt Gabrielle about it, if you have questions or if you can't ask her ask your grandmother, if, God's forbid, you cannot ask either of them go to a temple of the Furies and ask them, not the priest, the Furies themselves, use your father's name.

Now for your gifts. One was written by a woman in the kingdom of Chin, Lao Ma, read it. The other, I wanted you to have something of mine.

I love you daughter,
Xena

Cyrena wiped her tears away. Gently she started again to unwrap the bundle. The book was beautiful, heavy inlaid covers, gold symbols on front and back. Carefully she opened it and was suddenly glad her mother had taught her to read the Chin alphabet. Putting the book aside she lifted the second gift.

She lay the pieces on the ground studying them. She studied them debating whether to wear it or not. her


Rousing from sleep, Terris turned to wake Cyrena and found her friend tending the fire and preparing breakfast. She gasped. Terris had almost forgotten what Cyrena's mother had looked like until she saw her friend wearing her mother's armor, her sword slung over her back, chakram at her waist.

Joxer rousing from sleep greeted each young woman. "Morning Gabby. Xena see ya went back to the old armor."

Chapter 6

Terris watched as Cyrena prepared the morning meal. A chill went up her spine looking at her. Always she had heard Xena referred to as deadly, sensual, beautiful, and mysterious, never had she understood. . . until now. Staring at the dark haired warrior she understood. There was something primal in Cyrena now an allure that drew women and men. A power emanating from every inch of the warrior.

"Ter...ER Gabrielle, you and Joxer go on into Corinth. I have a few things I need to do." Cyrena patted Joxer's shoulder and rose to her feet. "I should meet you there tonight. If I don't get there by tomorrow head on to Amphipolis without me."

"Xena... where are you going?"

"I have to find some answers to some questions." Terris and Joxer opened their mouths to protest but Cyrena spoke over their objections. "I have to do this...ALONE."

A few minutes later Terris and Joxer stood silently watching Cyrena disappear over a rise.

It had been the hardest decision she had ever made, but Cyrena knew that she could not endanger her friends as she confronted first the Furies and then her father. As she walked her thoughts raced. The Furies, Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megara, they held information about her mother. Her fear was they would curse her to madness or persecution for not avenging her mothers death.

After her the Furies came possibly the hardest a confrontation with Ares. What did you say to a father you had never known? One who had wished for a son? The God of War?

She sensed a presence around her. "I know your here. Show yourself."

A breeze gathered turning to mist, from the mist stepped a woman. Cyrena gasped then with tears streaming down her face ran to the woman with a simple scream. "Momma!"

Xena gathered her child into her arms. For ten years she had waited, watching as Cyrena had grown into a woman. The last few months had been the hardest for the woman once known as the "Warrior Princess". When her mother had appeared in the Elysian Fields, Xena had petitioned Zeus himself for permission to see Cyrena. But the pact she had made to protect the girl from interference from the gods restrained her as well. The conditions had seemed fair at the time... No god was to interfere or visit with Cyrena until she had left the Amazon village. "shhhh it's all right. shhhh." Over and over the Xena comforted her child as mother's throughout time had, with a soft voice and a hand gently rubbing Cyrena's back.

Finally the girl's sobs quieted. Raising her head Cyrena looked at her mother. "Why didn't you come sooner?" she questioned.

"I would have. But, to keep you safe I made a pact with Zeus. Until you left the Amazon village and ventured into the world no god, goddess or shade could visit you."

"Which are you momma?"

"Oh Cyrena, I wish I could answer that now, but I can't. I promise I'll answer all your questions but this is not the time. I came merely to see you and tell you I love you. I must go now. Remember I love you daughter." Even as Xena said the last and Cyrena tightened her grip, the Warrior Princess faded back into the mist.

Chapter 7

Terris and Joxer had entered The Golden Fleece tavern to await Cyrena's return from her mysterious errand. They chose the tavern for its proximity to the main gate of the city of Corinth. It wasn't much of a tavern, a few tables, a bar, a dyed gold lambs fleece on one wall and a small stage along the back wall were it's only furnishings. Terris had not noticed the woman on the stage until she began to speak.

"I tell a tale of Xena the warrior princess..."

Terris turned in her seat to watch the bard as she told her story. Strawberry blond hair with a few gray streaks, gone was the fighting wear of old now she wore a green blouse and skirt. The staff the bard had always carried rested against a pillar. Rising from her seat Terris went to stand before the bard, an amazon queen in self imposed exile, the companion of the warrior princess, her mother, Gabrielle.

"Hello mother." Terris' voice was ice.

"Terris?!? What are you doing here? Where is Cyrena? Why aren't you in the village? Where is Ephiny?"

"I came here to see Uncle Hercules & Uncle Iolaus. Cyrena is off, probably confronting her father.... if I know her. I'm an Amazon Warrior now I don't need Queen Ephiny to hold my hand as I venture into the world. And what about you Mother? Why have you never returned? Why have you never accepted your place as Queen?"

Gabrielle was shocked at the venom coming from her daughter. Not that she didn't deserve her child's hate. "Lets go outside." Taking Terris' hand she headed for the door to the alley behind the tavern.

As the door shut behind them, Gabrielle tried to pull Terris into her arms. The younger woman merely took a step backward glaring at her. Trying to cover her anguish at this rejection from her child Gabrielle began "You have grown so much! I barely recognized you. Why I'll bet...."

"Mother!" Terris cut her off. "Are you going to answer my questions or not?"

"Yes, Terris, yes I'll answer your questions. Why didn't I return to the village? I couldn't! Not after..... What do you know of Xena's death?"

"Some warlord named Hope killed her." shocked by the fury of her mother's outburst Terris told her what Joxer had said the night before her voice barely audible.

"Some warlord.....some warlord..... Oh GODS how I wish it had been just some warlord. You have no idea who Hope is do you?" Terris shook her head. "Hope is your half sister. Her father is a demon. If only I had listened to Xena when she was first born. Then Xena, Solon, and Calipus would still be alive." Tears streamed down two similar faces one enter adulthood and one entering middle age as Gabrielle told the tale of Dahok, Hope, Solon, and Calipus. "We had gone to Britannia to fight Julius Caesar...." for hours Gabrielle talked and Terris listened. Gabrielle sparred herself nothing - no excuses, no justifications were offered. As she finished her tale Gabrielle looked at her daughter. If she had hoped to find forgiveness in the eyes of her child she was destined to be disappointed.

"So you didn't destroy Hope when you had the chance... You lied to your best friend... and by not destroying this monster YOU killed three people... and now you want me to forgive you and say I understand?" Taking a breath Terris walked to the door to the tavern as she reached for it she turned and looked at her mother and spoke "You are a self-righteous, self absorbed woman, and I'm ashamed to be your daughter. Your right about one thing... you have no right to be Queen of the Amazons. Ephiny is my rightful Queen from this day forward."

Gabrielle watched as her daughter opened the door and walked inside. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the door slam shut.

Chapter 8

It stood before her, finally, The Temple of The Furies. Cyrena wondered if she entered would she exit with her sanity. True she had been a child when her mother had died, and even now she didn't know all of the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. Yet she knew some of those answers she could get from the Furies themselves. She needed those before she faced her father. Taking a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and touching her chakram she opened the door.

She instantly felt a sense of belonging, a feeling that she had never felt in the Amazon village. Yes, it was home but it wasn't either. Ephiny, Solari, and Terris had done their best to offset the distrust of the other Amazons at Ares daughter living amongst them. Terris had never completely understood, how could she? She was an Amazon Princess, at her birth proclaimed the next Queen. Cyrena had always felt that if her mother had been anyone other than Xena she would not have been tolerated. A muffled voice brought her wayward thoughts back to the present.

"Pardon me?"

"What do you want here girl?" The priest had seen many enter this temple trying to win the Furies favor to punish a husband or boyfriend. He assumed this one was no different.

"I want to speak with the Furies."

"Hmph. Tell me what you want and I'll speak with them about your petition."

Cyrena glared at the priest, her eyes narrowing as for the first time she used her parentage to her advantage. "I am the daughter of Xena and Ares AND I wish to speak with the Furies myself."

Even as the priest opened his mouth to chastise her for her outburst a burst of light signaled the arrival of the Furies themselves. As usual Alecto spoke for the three. "Leave us. We'll talk later about your attitude. So you are Xena's daughter by Ares. Then we are cousins of a sort. Why did you want to see us?"

"Once you punished my mother with madness and persecution but lifted it. I need to know why."

"She proved to our satisfaction that she was not guilty of the crimes Ares accused her of. How could she kill her father if he was her father." At Cyrena's puzzled expression, Alecto continued motioning for her to sit on the throne at the end of the alter. "Sit, please. It is after all your father's chair. Ares came before us...." Alecto continued on explaining, as The Furies believed, Ares betrayal of their trust. "So, finally Xena was the one to suggest a competition between herself and Ares. If she could hold her own with him she must be his child, which she did. Naturally Ares never admitted it. But other than his son by Nemisis he has never acknowledged his children... Including Cupid."

"Thank you. That explains so much for me. So no one is sure who my grandfather is?"

"Yes. Though if you truly want to know I would suggest visiting The Fates, they could answer that question for you."

Cyrena rose from the throne and looked at the blond Fury, "Alecto... I realize this is an unusual request but...."

"But?"

"May I give you a hug? You are after all my only living relative."

Alecto was astonished by the girls request. Most mortals and gods would never have asked that of her but she sensed this girl was destined for more than even she realized. "Certainly" The two women embraced and as Cyrena momentarily rested her cheek on her shoulder she whispered... "I'm not your only living relative. There's your father, half- brother and of course...."

A thunderbolt crashed the afternoon sky, Alecto realizing she had said too much stepped back from the hug. Smiling she and her two sisters vanished.

"And of course who?" Cyrena questioned the now empty temple.

Chapter 9

Great wrenching sob tore through Gabrielle. She sat watching the door Terris had reentered the tavern through praying that the girl would reappear, smiling and saying 'I'm sorry mommy.' as she had so often as a child. But inside the aging bard knew this time there would be no opening of the door, and so she sat and waited for an event that would never happen.

Gabrielle knew she should have returned to the Amazon Village after Xena's death. Though long ago the two friends had forgiven each other, with Xena's death by Hope, she could not forgive herself. How long she sat there she didn't know, a touch on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. Grabbing her staff she turned to see...

"XENA!!!!" She dropped the staff and grasped the tall woman in her arms.

"Aunt Gabrielle... I'm Cyrena." a soft voice said in her ear as arms came around to hold her. "Why are you crying? Please don't cry I need you."

Gabrielle stepped back and looked at the woman before her. Yes she could see that this was not Xena, the girl was too young. "Cyrena?" at the answering nod, she sniffled and smiled. "You've grown up. You look so much like your mother. I guess your as upset with me as Terris is? I mean about your mother and Hope and all?"

To Gabrielle's surprise A smile filled the young girls face. "Oh Aunt Gabrielle of course I'm not mad... not at you.. not at momma... not at Joxer. I do hope you'll understand but I'm going to kill Hope."

Gabrielle laughed. The matter of fact way the girl had said that she was going to kill Hope was so like her mother, except for the open loving smile that filled her face. "Cyrena. You do realize who Hope is?"

"Your other daughter."

"How did you... I mean did Ephiny tell you... I mean Terris didn't know till I ..."

Cyrena placed a finger over Gabrielle's lips. "My Father told me. He wasn't to happy to see me. But... He did answer a few questions. I know that Hope is your daughter, but not your daughter. Her father is some Great Evil named Dahok and once she assisted Callisto in trying to rid the world of Hercules... but he stopped her somehow. But don't you worry.. And... Oh you won't think I'm insane will you, Aunt Gabrielle?"

"No Cyrena, I won't think your crazy."

"I saw Momma! Briefly just for a moment. But it was wonderful. Now... why were you crying?"

"Terris"

"Terris? What happened I know she was hoping we would run into you..."

"I told her everything about Hope, and how she killed Kalipus and your half brother Solon and your mother... and.... and..." The tears started again as she remembered her daughters words.

"Where is she?" Gabrielle didn't answer with words merely pointed to the door. "You wait here ok? I'll be right back." With a squeeze of the bards shoulder Cyrena entered the Golden Fleece Tavern.

Gabrielle heard the commotion inside the tavern but couldn't bring herself to see what it was. The sound of tables being scooted and voices raised in anger and finally her daughter exiting the tavern, her ear held securely in Cyrena's hand.

"APOLOGIZE." Cyrena's voice brooked no argument. She hadn't yelled but Gabrielle recognized her father in her at that instant.

Terris was shocked. Never had Cyrena talked to her or acted toward her like she was now. "I WILL NOT!!! I am an Amazon Princess and YOU!"

"Are the God of War's daughter! Now stop acting like a spoiled brat Terris. You aren't in the Village anymore, and folks don't care who you are or what your position in the Amazon tribe is. And for that matter neither do I. Now apologize to your mother."

"No." with that Terris turned and stormed back into the tavern.

"I think it's time I gave my daughter a spanking." Gabrielle looked at Cyrena and noticed for the first time the serenity the girl had. They had always worried about her following her mother's past, never Terris being trouble.

"For what it's worth, Aunt Gabrielle.. If you need help yell."

Grabbing her staff and giving it a fond pat. "Oh I think I can handle my daughter... It's time I stopped feeling sorry for myself and acted like a mother.... Of course..."

"I know Terris might not be able to sit for a few days.... Ephiny gave me my fair share of spankings growing up. I'll wait here."

Chapter 10

Night crept over Corinth blanketing it in it's peaceful presence. With in Alchemeny's hut Cyrena listened as Gabrielle, Joxer, Hercules, and Iolaus spent the evening laughing and swapping stories of Xena and her adventures. Periodically her eyes would drift to Terris, alone, solemn, sulking and avoiding sitting down.

Joxer sat near Gabrielle. Silent, unshed tears in his eyes. He remembered. The agony of watching Xena crumple beneath Hope's sword thrust. The hopelessness he felt as Gabrielle's had screamed in agony. The despair at Xena's funeral in Amphipolis kings, queens, princesses, princes, heroes, Amazons, Centaurs, peasants, all had flocked to mourn the passing of the Warrior Princess. That was when he had learned of Cyrena the first time. A smile crossed his face as he remembered the first time he had seen the girl. She had been eight years old, already she showed she would resemble her mother. Not a tear in her clear blue eyes as she sat so silently between Cyrene and Ephiny. A hand on his shoulder brought him back to the circle of friends before him.

"Joxer? You allright?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yea... I was just remembering. You know.... "

Understanding Gabrielle nodded and pressed him no farther. She watched as Iolaus motioned for Cyrena to move to sit beside him. When she was seated next to him he pulled something from under the table. A small package it apparently had been carefully wrapped to protect the contents from years of storage. Clearing his throat Iolaus began to tell the story of the package.

"Cyrena, about 12 years ago Xena gave me something to hold for her. She told me if she couldn't return for it that one day I would meet someone and I would know that this was the person for it. When I saw you at your mother's funeral I knew... But forgive an old man I wanted to keep it myself a while longer. I don't know what's in here. I've never opened it but it was a small piece of Xena I could keep close."

Cyrena realized in that instant that the four people around her had loved her mother with a passion she could not imagine. Each had gone through his or her own version of hell. Gabrielle unable to forgiven herself had abandoned her daughter to avoid seeing Cyrena. Joxer also filled with guilt had forgotten the entire incident. Iolaus had held on to a package for 12 years, just to keep her mother close. Hercules, he had not talked as much as the others this night just listened. But she sensed an agony hanging around him that wouldn't release. Taking the package from Iolaus' outstretched hands, Cyrena thanked him and grabbed the rope holding it closed.

A squeeze on her shoulder and the gasp of the adults stopped her from opening it. Looking behind her she saw who she knew would be there. "Hi Momma. I guess I wait on this one Uncle Iolaus."

"X--X---Xena?"

"Yes, Gabrielle it's me." Cyrena watched as her Aunt melted into her mother's arms. The soft muttered conversation one of comfort and love. "Shhhh don't cry Gabrielle. It's allright." Xena lifted the bard's chin and kissed her, they separated as Xena went to greet everyone. Starting with Terris. "So you're Terris Xena?"

Not knowing if she dealt with a goddess or shade or whatever, for the first time Terris admitted to herself she was afraid. "Yes ma'am."

"You and I will talk more later." Xena's tone brooked no argument and Terris offered none. "Joxer... You mourned me hardest of all. There was no reason to loose yourself, you had nothing to do with what happened that day. Iolaus. Hercules." Having made the circle of the room she returned to where Cyrena waited.

"I take it it's time?" Hercules asked.

A sad smile crossed the face of the woman once know as the Warrior Princess. As she answered "Yes. It's Time."

The End


Read the prequel to Growing Pains, Labor Pains.
Or read another one of Del's stories
Four Days in April.

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