Disclaimer

Copyright: All Xena Warrior Princess characters are own by RenPics and company. The bards of Red Hope's Place do not own the characters but own the story line.

Violence: At a minimal.

Subtext: We included subtext but there will be no sex.

Started: March 9^th 2001, Friday

Bards: MomBard, Janelle, Queen Karena, and Empress Cy

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Gabrielle awakened to the scraping sound of Xena sharpening her sword.

Looking up with one eye open she saw her lover sitting there by the window of the hut, looking out. She was sharpening the sword without even looking. It had become second nature to her. Gabrielle smiled when she saw the longing look on her lovers face. She had long ago learned to see the signs of Xena's wanderlust.

Xena sat looking out the window, marveling at being able to see the grass as opposed to the snow that covered the ground just days before. It had been a long winter and they were cooped up in their hut a good deal of the time. Sure there were parties, and plenty of Amazon Thunder to drink, but how much partying could you do without getting bored with it.

She could not wait to get on the road again, so another adventure could start. She actually wanted to go to Amphipolis to see her mom. It had been a hard winter and she figured that Cyrene would be in need of help to fix up whatever damage was done by the winter storms.

"Warrior. Come to bed." Gabrielle said invitingly, as she lifted the blanket up and patted the spot on the bed next to her.

Xena looked at her lover and smiled as she walked to the bed. She removed her nightshirt and got into bed, snuggling close to Gabrielle. She looked in to the emerald green of Gabrielle's eyes as she moved a lock of blond hair from her face. She gently stroked her cheek and loving gave her butterfly kisses.

"I love you, my Bard," Xena said as she gently kissed her partner.

"Mmm. That was nice." Gabrielle said, as she ran her tongue over Xena's lips and then kissed her deeply. Xena, of course, responded, as Gabrielle knew she would.

'Oh, yeah! How did I get so lucky?' the bard thought, as Xena lavished kiss after kiss from her neck on down her body. Until there were no thoughts--just screams of ecstasy coming from the bard, as Xena started to pay attention to Gabrielle's center of desire.

Gabrielle could hardly believe the gentleness that her warrior showed her during the times they made love. Sure, the two of them had taken each other roughly several times, but it just never ceased to amaze her just how much Xena loved pleasing her in such a gentle way.

Xena had kissed her way down toward's the bard's centre and was about to plunge her tongue inside the bard, when there was a loud knock at the door.

"Go away." Shouted both women.

"Gabrielle?" It was Eponin's voice. "I'm sorry to bother you, but it really is important."

"It had better be." Xena mumbled.

"Xena!" Gabrielle warned. "You know once we retire for the night, no-one disturbs us unless it is important. Just a moment, Eponin. I'll be right there."

Gabrielle went to get out of bed to get dressed, but was gripped by the warrior and received a long passionate kiss.

"That's just to remind you what awaits upon your return."

"Ooh, how could I ever forget, my love. I'll be as quick as I can." Gabrielle promised.

The Amazon Queen opened the door and Eponin noticed a slight flush to her face. 'Oh, great. Why is it that I'm always the one interrupting them. Well, at least it wasn't Xena who greeted me this time.' The last time Eponin had been the unfortunate one to interrupt the warrior and her bard, she had barged in and was unceremoniously thrown out and landed butt first on the ground.

"Gabrielle, a man has been brought into the village who says that he knows you and has a message."

"What is his name?" The bard was concerned.

"Joxer." Came the reply.

"Joxer! What is he doing here? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he seems fine. Just says that he has a message to deliver to you and Xena from someone called, Cyrene."

The bard was really worried now. They were due to head out to see Cyrene shortly and for Cyrene to send them a message, there had to be something wrong.

"Eponin, bring him here and get Ephiny to come with you. I'll inform Xena."

"Okay, Gabrielle. I'll be back shortly."

Gabrielle closed the door and quickly made her way back to the bedroom. Xena was lying on her back with her arms above her head.

"Obviously it wasn't too important or you would have been gone longer." Xena said without bothering to look at Gabrielle. When she didn't hear a response, she turned to her love only be see a sadness in her eyes.

"What is it Gabrielle?"

"Joxer's here and he has a message from your mother."

"Mother!" Xena jumped out of bed and began pulling on her leathers.

"Now Xena, let's not jump to conclusions. We don't know it's bad news. For all we know, she could just be asking us to pick up something for her on our way to see her."

The young bard moved closer to her warrior and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I'm sure everything will be fine."

"I hope so Gabrielle. I really do."

Ephiny met up with Xena and Gabrielle as they headed towards the food hut. "Eponin filled me in. I am sure everything will be alright. I realise that this means you two will be leaving. Don’t you worry, Gabrielle, the negotiations with the Centaurs are almost completed so I will be able to finish them."

"Thanks, Eph, I have complete faith in you." Gabrielle gave her friend a warm smile. She increased her pace to catch up with Xena who was striding towards the hut at speed.

Xena heard her bard coming up behind and slowed down. She lovingly gazed down at the woman who held her heart. Gods, I hope it is nothing serious. This will teach me to wish something would happen. I should know by now to just enjoy the quiet. A sigh escaped her lips.

"It will be alright, Xena. I am sure of it. Let’s not worry until we have talked to Joxer." Gabrielle squeezed her lover’s arm in reassurance.

It didn’t take them long to find Joxer once they entered the food hut. He was surrounded by four Amazons, as was the custom whenever a male was in the village. His nervousness was very obvious to everyone. Xena had to wonder whether it was a result of being in the village or the perceived reaction to the message he was carrying. She hoped it was the former.

"The message, Joxer." Xena held her hand out expectantly. Gabrielle interrupted before Joxer had time to respond.

"Hi Joxer, thank you for getting here so quickly. Sorry for Xena’s abruptness. She is just worried." Gabrielle gave Xena an exasperated look.

"Sorry, Joxer. I do appreciate you bringing us this message."

Joxer smiled at Xena. "No problems, Xena. I did get here as fast as I could. Your mom said it was urgent that you got this message." He handed over the scroll to Xena who quickly scanned the document. The quick intake of breath caused Gabrielle’s head to snap up.

"What is it, Xena? Is it your mother?" Gabrielle tried to look over Xena’s shoulder but Xena quickly closed the scroll. Turning to Gabrielle, Xena pulled her in close.

"It’s not my mother, Gabrielle. It’s Lila. She has arrived in Amphipolis badly beaten. Mom is unable to find out what happened, she is not talking to anyone. She is very withdrawn and appears to have given up. She sent a message to us rather than to Potidaea because she remembered what you said about your childhood. She is worried that your father might have done it."

Gabrielle collapsed against Xena and let the tears fall. Xena just held her close. Deep down an anger was starting to burn. If Herotodus had done this to Lila he would pay. She had warned him last time they had visited about his drinking and his violence. He had promised but when the alcohol was on board, promises were easily forgotten.

"We will leave at first light. We can be there by evening meal. Joxer, the Amazons will escort you to the Centaurs. Make your way back to Amphipolis once you have rested." With that, Xena scooped Gabrielle into her arms and carried her back to her hut. Her partner just held on, sobbing uncontrollably. She laid down on their bed and just held Gabrielle while she waited for dawn to break.

"Gabrielle, thank the gods you are here," she murmured as the two embraced. Cyrene cradled the smaller woman in her arms as the young warrior bard clung to her.

"What happened?" she asked as she pulled away from the comfort of her arms, and gave a watery smile as Cyrene brushed her thumbs along Gabrielle's cheeks, dabbing at her tears.

"She won't speak to me, but she was badly bruised when she arrived here. Her left eye was nearly swollen shut, and her lip was split. She also has some brusied ribs, and I think at one point her shoulder was dislocated."

Gabrielle gasped in shock and turned to walk towards the bar. Cyrene glanced over at her daughter, who stood by the stairwell, a cold glimmer in her sky-blue eyes. Oh, Cyrene knew that look. She walked over to Gabrielle and lightly placed her hands on her shoulders.

"Now, I'm no healer, but I think she'll be okay. Why don't you go on up and look in on her. She's in Xena's old room. Lila's been sleeping heavily for the most part. Her bodies way of coping, but later this evening we'll wake her so she can eat."

Cyrene leaned down and gave a light kiss on Gabrielle's cheek. Gabrielle turned around and cupped Cyrene's face in her hands. "Thank you, Mother," she said then turned and went up the stairs.

Cyrene went to her daughter and the two embraced. She looked up at Xena, whose face held no expression, except for her eyes, which were bright with anger.

"I can't believe this could happen," Cyrene murmured as she went over to the bar and began clearing plates. "Lila is such sweet young woman. She's so shy, it's endearing. I don't know what could have possessed Hrothgar to beat her like that. Has Gabrielle ever talked to you about the beatings?"

"No. I've tried to bring it up a few times, but she would just, well....er...distract me," Xena mumbled, and flushed when her mother gave a knowing smile.

"I'm sure she did," Cyrene said and chuckled at the look on her daughter's face.

"I know Gabrielle usually got the brunt of the beatings. Her father probably didn't like the fact that he had a very head-strong daughter, and tried to teach her her place," Xena growled through gritted teeth. Just the thought of that man hurting Gabrielle made Xena quake with rage. She wanted to tear him apart, make him cower with fear as she taunted him with her fists.

"That won't do any good," Cyrene said.

"What?" Xena said, all innocence.

"I know that look. You can't leave her to go off on a rampage against her father. She needs our support. So does Lila. So I suggest you find some way to deal with all that pent up frustration. Why don't you come clean these dishes, and I'll dry."

Xena quirked an eyebrow at the trap, then smiled and walked over to her mother. She began to rinse the plates with the basin of water, then flicked some at her mother.

*****************

Upstairs, Gabrielle sat next to the bed, Lila's hand gently clasped in her own. She wept for her sister, who lay sleeping in the bed, her breathing deep and heavy. This should never have happened. Gabrielle remembered when her father's fists had been only for her, for her smart-mouth and her defiance at wedding a man she didn't love. She remembered the look on his face when she had told them about her and Xena, and knew then that if Xena hadn't have been there in the next room, he probably would have beat her then.

But never had he turned his fists to Lila. Why would he? Lila was the perfect daughter, the sweet one. She didn't deserve to be treated this way.

"Gabrielle."

The words, barely audible, had Gabrielle jerking her head up. Lila was staring at her, tears silently running down her face.

"Oh, Lila," Gabrielle moaned and layed her head on her sister's stomach and sobbed.

"Shh...Gabrielle. I'm all right," Lila said and ran her hands through Gabrielle's shaggy blond hair.

Gabrielle turned to look at her. "What happened? What could you have possibly done?"

"Oh, Gabrielle. He's shunned me. He's shunned both of us. He told me he doesn't have any daughters."

"But why? Why?"

"I'm in love," she whispered.

Gabrielle smiled and placed a gentle kiss on her sister's unbruised cheek. "But that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you."

"I knew you would be. But father doesn't approve..." she trailed off.

"Why? Is he that poor?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. He doesn't approve because the person I'm in love with is named Sasha."

"Oh, Lila."

Gabrielle finally understood. Her father had lost his temper because now not only was one of his daughters in love with another woman, but both of them. How tiny a mind he must have, she thought to herself.

"Lila, we don't choose who we love. One day our soul meets its match. I would never, never, give up my life with Xena because she is my heart. My soulmate. Our love transcends time. Every person should feel what we feel. And I'm so happy that you have found yours."

Lila smiled and the two women clasped hands. "He said I was just like you," she whispered. "I couldn't ask for a greater compliment."

Gabrielle had some unanswered questions rolling around in her head, but she figured that it could wait until after dinner. Right now Lila needed to rest until dinner was ready, and Xena needed to be filled in on what had happened.

"Lila," Gabrielle said as she gently kissed her sister's cheek, "rest now. We'll talk after dinner."

"Okay, Gabs. I am feeling tired again. Till dinner then." Then she closed her eyes and was asleep in seconds.

Gabrielle looked at the battered woman that was her sister lying there on the bed. The pain she felt for her sister was almost overwhelming. She left Xena's old room and went in search of her Warrior.

****

When Xena saw Gabrielle walk into the kitchen she immediately went to her. "How is Lila?" Without giving her a chance to answer she asked, "What happened? Why did he do this terrible thing?"

"Xe. Please give me a chance to answer," she said, as she smiled lovingly at Xena.

"I'm sorry, Brie. I guess I got carried away. I'm furious that he hurt her this way. It brought back all the anger I have towards Herodotus for hurting you." Then realizing what she had just voiced out loud-she looked at her Bard's pained expression....

"Brie...I...I'm sorry!"

"Don't be. He is a brute who should get the Tartarus kicked out of him." The anger was evident in her voice as the words came spilling out. "He beat her like this because she dared to fall in love with a woman. Do you know what he said to her? He...he...said she was just like me. He beat her because she was like me, Xena." She broke down and started to sob as her lover took her in her arms and rocked her back and forth.

Xena swore to herself that Herodotus would pay for this atrocity, and pay dearly!

That evening as everyone was sitting around the table as their evening meal was ending, Gabrielle started to ask the questions....

Lila... What happened to Sasha? And how did you get away? Gabrielle asked.

"When father found out about us, it wasn't enough to beat me. He had to hurt my Sasha as well. He went to her father and mother and told them what was between us. Her father took her out to the barn and whipped..." Lila was crying now..."her like she was a wild beast." Gabrielle was by her sister holding her as she told the terrible tale of that awful night that she and Sasha had been so brutally beaten.

Xena, seething with anger, had to get up from the table and just paced back and forth as Lila continued to tell the story to the family...

"Then father came home and continued beating me and laughing about how Sasha was getting what she deserved also. Finally he stopped beating me and went to sleep. I guess he figured I couldn't move so it was safe not to lock me up in my room. He left me lying on the floor next to the fireplace. I don't know how I did it, but I got out of there and somehow got to Sasha's. I had no idea she was in the barn, until I heard her crying..." Tears were flowing freely from Cyrene, Xena, and Gabrielle as Lila finished her story....

"I went in and...Oh, Gods! There she was crying until she saw me and then she smiled so warmly at me. It just broke my heart. I went to her, but I couldn't even hold her because she was so badly beaten."

"She told me to run and not look back. That she would mend and wouldn't be hurt anymore if I were gone. She would lie to her father and tell him she had learned her lesson and never to it again. And that I should get help and come back when I could bring help to get her out of there."

Lila looked at Gabrielle and then to Xena...

"Please! Help me rescue the other half of my soul."

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her younger sister and cast her eyes upon her own soulmate.

Xena knew that she would not be able to deny her bard and she would set out in the morning to rescue Sasha.

"Lila, I will go and get Sasha in the morning."

"Xena, you're not going alone. I will be going with you." The bard stated.

"Gabrielle, I can do this on my own. You really should stay here with Lila."

"Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily. I know how angry you are at Father and should you happen to see him, you won't be able to hold your temper."

"Gabrielle, I won't go anywhere near your house. I will just need to know where Sasha lives and if I happen to come across her parents, I'll just convince them that letting Sasha come with me would be in their best interest." Xena replied with a slight grin on her face.

"I will take you to Sasha's house myself." Lila said.

"No way, Lila. You are still not strong enough to travel and ."

Before Gabrielle had a chance to say any more, she found herself confronted by a very angry younger sister.

"I don't want to hear it Gabrielle. I would do anything to be with Sasha and if it means having to face her parents, then I'll do it. You of all people should realise just what you have do to be with the one you love. I need to feel her in my arms and know that she is safe. Please, Gabrielle, let me come."

"Alright. But you must promise me that you will do everything that Xena and I say. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Thanks, Gab. I'll behave. I promise."

"We'll leave at first light then." Xena informed the group.

***** The journey to Potaedia was long as they had to make frequent stops due to the tenderness of Lila's ribs.

They arrived late afternoon and headed straight for Sasha's house. Xena made Gabrielle and Lila stay in the bushes as she went to scout around and see what she could find out. She crouched underneath a small open window to listen to the conversation.

"I'm telling you, if I know Lila, she has probably gotten word to her sister by now and if I know them, she'll convince that that warrior bitch to come for Sasha. You can be assured, she'll be here soon to get your daughter."

"I will let no-one take my daughter. She has shamed her family and all I can hope for now is that she moves on from this and marries the boy I have picked for her."

"Do you have her hidden?"

"Yes, and only I know where she is."

"Good, then. Now we must be prepared for when Xena gets here."

Xena had heard enough and she quickly headed for the door and crashed through.

"Too late, she's here already and she's mad."

All the two men could do was stand staring at the formidable warrior. Herodotus hadn't really seen Xena in such a state before. Sure he'd seen her slightly miffed, but this. This was something different.

Before either of them knew what was happening, Xena had moved closer and had put the pinch on Sasha's father.

"I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. Now, you've got 30 seconds to tell me where Sasha is or you're going to die."

"I - I - can't breathe." Sasha's father stammered.

"Where is she?" Xena asked again.

"She's buried under the barn. There's a small room that I had built there. It doesn't get much fresh air and she's been down there for a while."

"You filthy scum. People like you don't deserve children." With that she backhanded the man and knocked him unconscious.

Lila and Gabrielle had decided that after seeing the warrior barge her way into the house, they had better follow.

Herodotus spotted his two daughters and the rage inside him rose as he lunged at his daughters.

"You - you filthy whores. How dare you show your faces around here? I bring you up the right way and this is how you repay me and your mother. At least people know that you're not of my blood. That's the only reason I still can show my face around this town."

Xena didn't have time to react before Herodotus was upon Lila. Gabrielle pulled at her father and knocked him out with a quick hit with her staff.

"I - I can't believe he would say something like that. What did he mean, Gabrielle?" Lila started crying.

"I don't know Lila, but I think we're going to have to find out."

"Come on, let's go get Sasha." Xena pulled at Gabrielle.

"Yes, of course. Let's hope we're not too late." Gabrielle whispered.

"We need to tread carefully and look for any soil that looks to be newly dug. We don't want to cause a cave-in." Gabrielle and Lila nodded their heads in agreement. Xena indicated that Gabrielle should go to the left, Lila straight ahead and she would go to the right.

They all entered the barn and went their separate ways. Slowly they edge forward, their eyes pinned to the ground. Lila suddenly fell to her knees and started tearing at the soil with her hands, tears rolling down here face. "Here, here, I am sure it is here."

Xena swiftly joined her and checked the area where Lila was digging. "I think you are right. Gabrielle, grab that shovel over there and lets get her out."

Within minutes the trap door was exposed and Xena hauled it open. It was quite dark inside tne hole but they could all see a shape curled up in the corner. Xena's extraordinary hearing picked up the sound of laboured breathing.

"It's all right, she is alive. Move back and I will get her out." Xena dropped into the hole, landing softly beside the injured woman. "Sasha, I am a friend of Lila's. I am going to get you out of here." Getting no response, she gently picked up the injured woman and jumped out of the hole. With Gabrielle and Lila following, Xena headed off back to the house. Sasha was placed on her bed and Xena raced back to her saddlebags and grabbed all the medical supplies.

By the time she had returned, Gabrielle had bowls with water in it beside the bed. Bandages were also laid out and she had removed most of the torn and dirtied clothes. The remainder would have to be cut off. Lila was at the head of the bed, softly telling Sasha of her love to help keep her calm.

Sasha moaned softly when Xena removed the last of the bloodied clothes. Dirt had got into the whip marks and infection had set in. Xena gritted her teeth. This was not the time to let her rage out but it was difficult. Then she felt a warming touch on her back. She didn't have to turn around to know that Gabrielle was there and that she would only see love in her eyes.

"How bad is it, Xena? Will they heal okay?" Gabrielle leaned over her shoulder to have a better look at Sasha's back. It was criss-crossed and very raw. However, the whip marks did not look that deep.

Xena felt herself calm down, the touch of Gabrielle again taming the beast. "Once I have finished cleaning them, I will put some of the salve we got from the Amazons and bandage it up to stop re-infection. All going to plan, all these marks should heal. It is not that deep."

Lila let out a sigh of relief. Xena knew Lila had been worried about permanent damage. Both girls should heal from the physical damage, the mental damage may be another thing. Both their fathers had inflicted such damage to their own children. She couldn't understand how anyone could hate their own children so much just because of who they choose to love.

Xena worked quickly as she didn't want Sasha to suffer anymore than she had to. Once she had applied the salve, Gabrielle helped her bandage the wounds. Sasha had not regained consciousness but her breathing had evened out and colour had returned to her face. She was out of the woods and would probably wake up in the next few hours.

"We shouldn't move her for a day or so. I am going to deliver our two friends out there to the magistrate. You may be their children but there are laws against committing such horrendous acts of violence against anyone. Then I think we need to have a wee talk with your mother, Gabrielle. I think she has some things that she ahould explain."

"I am going to stay here with Sasha. I want to be the first thing she sees when she wakes up." Lila's voice was determined. Xena and Gabrielle couldn't help but smile at each other. That determination was something they both understood very well.

It didn't take long for them to find the Magistrate and hand over the pair. Thadeus smiled warmly at Gabrielle. "It is nice to see you again, Gabrielle, even if the circumstances aren't the best. Your mother came by yesterday and informed me of what had happened. She is very worried. However, without either Sasha or Lila around, we could not do anything. I don't think either of these will be seeing daylight for quite a while."

"We are off to see mother now. Thanks for all your help, Thadeus." Gabrielle and Xena turned towards the family home.

"I always knew I was different growing up. Lila was seen as the perfect child but I couldn't do anything right. Father would hit out for any small infringement of his so-called rules. This tends to answer the question I always asked." Gabrielle voice was filled with sadness.

"What was the question, Gabrielle." Xena's voice was filled with compassion and love. She had a good idea what it was, but it would be good for her lover to actually say the words.

"Why. It always came to that. It didn't matter what I did, it was never right and I could never work out why. Now I know. Of course, there is now another question. Who." Surprisingly, Gabrielle actually felt better knowing that Herotodus wasn't really her father. It helped put her childhood into perspective. She just wished her mother had been brave enough to tell her earlier.

"Let's go find out."

They had just arrived at the door of her family home when it burst open. "Where is Lila, is she okay. Please, if you know, you have to tell me. I won't tell him, I promise." Hecuba was frantic. At least when Gabrielle had left, she had known where she had gone. But Lila had just disappeared.

"It's okay, mother. Lila is safe and is with Sasha. Herotodus is in jail along with Sasha's father."

Hecuba burst into tears, the relief obvious in her face. Gabrielle quickly engulfed the older woman in her arms and held her. It was a while before the tears stopped. Gabrielle could feel Xena's hand on the middle of her back. She turned her head and smiled at her partner. Xena's eyes were fill of love and support. Gabrielle took a large breath. It was time.

"Mother, before we locked father up, he said something that we need an answer to. He told us that we were not of his blood. Can you explain his comments." Gabrielle hadn't stopped hugging her mother, and her voice was soft and loving.

Hecuba slowly broke the hug and stepped back. She looked at Xena and Gabrielle. Unlike her husband, she was happy that her daughter had found love. She could feel the bond between the two. Gabrielle would need her partner once this conversation was over.

"Herotodus was half wrong. Lila is his daughter. I think that is why he reacted so badly when he found out about Sasha. I have known for some time. You can't hide love. I just chose not to tell him because I knew how he would react." Hecuba hesitated. It was going to be hard to say the next part, both for her to say and for her daughter to hear.

"And me, mother. Who's child am I." Gabrielle knew her mother would need to be prompted. She could tell it was hard on her mother telling her this. She felt Xena's arms come around and pull her back into her body. The warmth of Xena enveloped her and protected her. Gabrielle loved Xena more than she ever had at this moment. Xena seemed to know exactly what Gabrielle needed to get through this. No matter how brave she appeared to be, Gabrielle was terrified about what she was going to hear. Had she been conceived in love or in violence. That was the thought that kept running through her head.

"You might want to sit down," Hecuba said quietly.

Gabrielle looked up at Xena, worry and, yes fear, evident on her face. Fear of what she was about to be told. Fear of how her life would change, after the truth.

"For years, your father...I mean Heroditus...and I had tried to conceive. We were desperate for a child, but after so many failures, we finally gave up hope."

Hecuba turned to stare at the fire as her tears ran down her face. Gabrielle knelt in front of her mother and wiped at her face. Hecubu cupped Gabrielle's face in her hands. She stared deeply into her daughter's face. "You have the same eyes," she murmured.

"Whose? Who is my father?"

"I went to Hestia's temple, and prayed for her help. For hours I prayed. When twilight fell, I left an offering and left. On my way out, I met up with a young maid. She saw the tears running down my face, and took pity on me. In her arms she carried a basket of fruit. She offered me an apple and told me to eat it when the sun barely tipped the hills. At this point, I wanted a child so bad I would have eaten mud if I thought I could conceive."

Gabrielle could feel her heart beginning to race, and her breath was coming in quick, choppy pants. She felt Xena's hand on her shoulder and reached up and clasped it, finding comfort in her love's touch.

"About two months later, I began feeling nauseaus, dizzy. I even fainted out in the fields. The next day I went to the midwife's hut, and she told me I was pregnant. Oh, gods...I was so happy. Finally, to have a life inside me. A life that I had helped create, and a life that I would nurture and love for the rest of my life. So giddy was I, that I didn't even stop to think that Heroditus and I hadn't made love for almost six weeks, and yet I was a full two months along."

"Mother," Gabrielle pleaded. "Who is my father?"

"I didn't know who until the night I gave birth. Oh, what a night. The wind blew strong, and the animals holwed. It was if the elements themselves were welcoming you. I was in the middle of my labor when a flash of gold appeared by the door, and there she was."

Gabrielle felt her heart stop. "She?" Gabrielle cried.

"Yes, Gabrielle. You were conceived with love," Hecuba said, her eyes lost in the fire, as if she was re-living the night.

"Aphrodite." The name was barely a whisper. "By the gods."

And then for the first time in her life, Gabrielle fainted.

Xena ran to Gabrielle and cradled her in her arms. If Gabrielle hadn't fainted from the news that Aphrodite was her "father" than Xena surely would have!

Xena carried her Bard to her old room and placed her on the bed.

"Hecuba. Hurry! Get some water for her. When she wakes up she is going to need a drink." 'I know the Gods can do anything, but THIS?' Xena thought.

Hecuba came running into the room just as Gabrielle was beginning to come around. She looked at her daughter with worry etched on her face.

"Xena...I...I...feel like such a...I don't know what I feel like! Fainting like that. I have never fainted before in my life. By the Gods, Xena what...how could...this hap...."

Before Gabrielle could finish her sentence there appeared a golden flash of light with colored sparkles. There stood the Goddess of Love, smiling happily with out a care in the world, and loving the great entrance she had just made.

"Hiya love muffin," she said as she smiled broadly at Xena and then turned her attention to her "daughter". "And how are you my little cutey?"

Both Xena and Gabrielle were for the most part-speechless! They just stared at the Goddess of Love. The first to gain her composure was Gabrielle....

"Why did this happen? How did I happen? And what the hell was in that apple you gave to my mother??"

"Questions, questions. No hello mom, pleased to meet you after all these years. No thanks for my life. Sheesh! Kids!" Aphrodite said with a grin and her hands on her hips.

"Come on Aphrodite...give. No more stalling. We want answers now!" Xena said.

"Oh all right!"

"First the apple...I put the essence of you in that apple. Everything I dreamed I wanted in a child was put into that apple that Hecuba ate. She was so unhappy and was such a good temple goer that I thought I would do this GOOD deed for her. And... I had another motive.

Which brings me to Why did this happen... I knew that you Xena would someday need the other half of your soul to make yourself complete. Gabrielle was that soul. I just manipulated the situation a bit to make it happen sooner. I also knew...because I am after all a Goddess...I knew very well that someday you would be in Poteidia to save a young feisty maiden. That is when your paths would meet and be forever bonded together."

Gabrielle was taking all this in and must have had her mouth open, because when Aphrodite turned to look at her she giggled and went to her. She put her arms on Gabrielle's shoulders and looked into her eyes and said...

"Listen short stuff. Haven't I always been there for you? We have been pals you and me. Right? So why is this so hard to swallow? I have always looked out for you even before you ever met me. I love you, cutey. Whether you like it or not...I'm the mommy!" turning towards Hecuba she said, "And so is she."

I...I guess you're right. Hi, Mom." Gabrielle smiled broadly and asked her new found mom a question... "Do I...have any kind of untapped powers or anything? You know because I am your daughter. You know like Hercules."

"Other than the fact that he is your Uncle...not too many that you don't know about. The gift of prophecy that you sometimes have is a sort of residual God thing. I could teach you how to control that better. But really you are an incredible woman in your own right, Gabrielle. You are a Bard, a warrior, an Amazon Queen, and the best lover you Warrior has ever known. But that's from my side of the family!" Aphrodite said proudly.

Gabrielle's face was a shade of red Xena had never seen before.