These characters, and boy, are they ever characters, are mostly the property of Renaissance Pictures, Universal MCA, and whoever else owns stock and interest in Xena: Warrior Princess. This fiction was written for my amusement only, and not in any way, shape or form for profit - and it is not intended to infringe on the copyright holders of the characters.

Some of the characters are mine, and the story ideas.. well, who knows where they come from? Must be one weird place, that's for sure.

Specific Story Disclaimers:

Violence - this is a Xena: Warrior Princess story. This is not Teletubbies. Even though there are some rumors of similarities. Some of the violence is graphic, but we try not to dwell on it.

Subtext - Considering that the TV Series just aired an episode establishing Xena and Gabrielle as eternal soulmates, any disclaimer of subtext on my part is really kind of goofy in the extreme. The two characters are in love with each other, and have been for years. You can choose to see them as just friends, but then you might not want to read this fanfic, in case it changes your mind or anything like that.

Emotional Content - this is not one my more comedic efforts. There are moments of humor, however.

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Dark Comes the Morning - Part 7

By Melissa Good

Gabrielle woke to thunder, and the rapid patter of rain on the inn's thatch and wood roof. She kept her eyes closed, allowing herself to enjoy the contrast of the cold draft coming in the window, wet and rich with scent, with the warmth of the embrace she was snuggled into.

Xena's arms were wrapped around her, and the warrior's body was curled around hers, a solid security she truly reveled in, along with the steady movement of Xena's breathing, which brushed lightly against her ear.  Thunder rolled again, and she let her eyes open, turning her head a little to peer out the window.

Dull gray light slouched into the room, along with a mist from the rain outside, and Gabrielle felt no inclination to get moving out into it. Reflectively, she glanced up at her partner's face, startled to see the pale blue eyes open, and calmly regarding her back. "Oh.. you're up."

"Mmhmmm." Xena agreed. "Have been for a while."

"Ah." Gabrielle moved her hand and traced a soft pattern on the skin of Xena's neck. "Thanks for not waking me.. I was pretty tired."

"I know." The warrior agreed. "Figured you could use a few extra winks."

The bard continued her idle tracing. "It's raining out."

"Uh huh."

"You know, Xena… that's an awfully cold rain out there."

"Really?"

"Yeah.. can't you feel it? Listen.. you were just sick.. I think we really need to wait and let the rain stop before we leave."

"You do, huh?"  Xena's hold shifted a little, bringing them closer together. "We’ve got a long way to go home, my bard."

"I know… but I worry about you, honey.. I hate when you're sick." Gabrielle coaxed. "C'mon.. a few hours wont' hurt either way.. you can take care of that poor kid.. and maybe we can do a few things around here. They sure could use it."

"Hmmmmm."

"Please?" The bard kissed the soft skin on Xena's shoulder gently. "I'll get you some hot tea.. and I bet they have some bread… how about breakfast in bed, huh?"

Xena regarded her for a moment, then sighed. "Oh.. all right."  She intercepted Gabrielle's lips on their way down her neck and spent a leisurely few moments exploring their surface.

"Mm… thanks." Gabrielle hugged her, hiding a grin against the blanket's fabric. She rested there quietly for a moment, then she lifted her head, and peered suspiciously at her somnolent partner. "You'd already decided to stick around, didn't you?"

Xena started laughing silently, her body rumbling softly.

"You… you… fink." Gabrielle rolled over and up onto her elbows, then pressed herself up and loomed over the chuckling warrior. "You let me go through all that.. that.. stuff???"

Her soulmate kept laughing, and patted her leg teasingly. "Couldn’t resist…you're so cute when you do that."

"Cute, huh?" The bard growled, leaning closer and biting a hold on her soulmate's neck. "I don’t' know I want to be 'cute' this morning."

Xena gazed up at her, a grin shaping her lips, as she lifted a hand and traced a line down the bard's body, tickling her bare stomach gently. "No, huh?"

Gabrielle bit her lip to keep from giggling. "Stop that." She scolded softly, studying the tanned body under hers.

"Stop what.. " A feather touch slipped down her ribs. "Stop that?"

A giggle forced it's way out. "Yes.. that."

"Ah.. how about this?" Xena ducked head and found a better target, capturing a sensitive bit of skin and feeling the motion as Gabrielle's ribs expanded in a sharp breath. "Hmm? Stop?" She asked with a grin, then returned to her task. 

It was hard to breathe. Gabrielle felt her attention center on her body, and what Xena was doing, causing a surge of feeling that hit her right in the groin and made her forget about whatever it was her soulmate was asking.  She answered with a slow sideways motion of her head, finding a tasty earlobe ripe for the nibbling.

'Take that as a no." Xena eased her hands up to her soulmate's waist and lifted her, sliding underneath her suspended body then lowering her down just enough to bring her into range of an interested pair of lips that started a slow exploration.  She felt the bard's hands, now free to wander, slide across her stomach and inch their way up, brushing over bare skin that tingled in eager reaction.

"Oh yeah." The bard's voice, low and breathy whispered in one ear, just before she captured it in hungry teeth.

Thunder rolled, a friendly sound that promised peace, and time, and an interlude of quiet, in which two souls played with abandon, ending finally in a lazy tangle of limbs, and gentle kisses.

Gabrielle let herself drift, her hands keeping up a slow, gentle stroking against warm skin only lightly touched with sweat.  She could feel each rib as her fingers traveled, then the  slope down with its ripple of muscle that moved under her touch. Then she ran her hand over the curve of Xena's hip, and down the long, powerful length of her thigh, resting over Gabrielle's own. "Cute, huh?" She asked, on an irregular breath.

Xena's dark hair had fallen half over her eyes, and the deep blue orbs peeked out from mysterious shadows. "Nah."  She reached up to stroke her partner's face with gentle fingers. "You're beautiful."

Mist green eyes regarded her with a quiet sparkle. "I love when you tell me that."

It had been during a visit to a fair sized city to the north, Xena had guided them there to fulfill a request from one of the legion of people she'd known in the bad old days, and had found out it was less of a problem than they'd thought. So.. they'd decided to stick around a day, since the city was celebrating it's founding, and take the opportunity to relax, and have a little bit of fun for a change.

Or, at least, that's what Gabrielle had intended. Xena had rolled her eyes, and finally agreed, muttering about going off to find a card game somewhere if the bard was going to do any of her favorite activity, shopping.

She'd almost finished, when the warrior had caught up with her at the fabric shop, catching her as she held up a piece of pretty, sea green fabric and imagined herself wrapped in it.

"Oh, that's practical." Xena had muttered, leaning against the shop's doorway.

And for some reason, though she knew her taciturn traveling companion by now, that stung. Gabrielle had quietly put the fabric down, and walked out, brushing by Xena without a word and walking off, a little tired of the constant sarcasm.

Ok. She'd been a lot tired of it. She'd stopped, then turned, and given Xena a look. "Okay. Go find someone else to have dinner with." And she'd left, just like that, not even looking back for an instant.

She'd wandered the market, and fell in with a group of younger men and women, who were apparently traveling merchants, and they welcomed her with smiles, inviting her to join them for a meal and swapped stories of the road.

Eagerly, she had, going with them to the large open air food tent, where they'd gotten trenchers of food, and sat in a circle, trading adventures and laughing. She'd had a great time, and had even, a little nervously, told some of her own stories, flattered at the applause, and also by the attentions of the tall, shy young man who'd chosen to sit next to her, his gentle gray eyes stealing looks at hers with increasing frequency.

It had felt wonderful. She'd felt like a person again, after so long a time of traveling, and getting into scrapes, and living with someone who treated her like she was at best a nuisance, and at worst, a dangerous hindrance. It was nice to be admired.. nice to be part of this laughing group… nice not to feel like she was in trouble all the time.

They'd stayed out long after the moon rose and marched across the sky, until finally they straggled out, through the empty streets full of good food, and a little ale. Her gray eyed friend was even bold enough to put an arm around her shoulders, and they walked like that towards the inn where they were staying for the night.

"Hey.. we're going south… you could travel with us." The boy said hopefully. "We'd have a great time.. and we'll end up in Athens, don’t' you want to see that?"

They'd stopped near the inn, and she'd hesitated, looking at the bright, interested faces watching her.

"Yeah.. you'd be great… lots of people love to hear stories.. and we have a good caravan." One of the girls urged. "C'mon, Gabrielle…you're a lot of fun.. come with us."

It had been so tempting. They'd reminded her of all the things she'd missed about home, and had offered her a very appealing alternative to the life she was currently leading. "I don't know… let me think about it." She'd finally said. "Let's talk in the morning."

They'd smiled, and bade her goodbye, and she'd continued on towards the place Xena had picked for them to stay, deep in thought.

So much so that she hadn't even seen the thug until he was on top of her, bearing her down to the ground and ripping at her clothing, one hand muffling her mouth as she tried to call out.

Then there was a shock, and the sound of his breath expelling, rancid with ale, then he was just gone.

And it had been quiet, as she'd laid there shaking, until a warm hand touched her shoulder, and a familiar voice touched her ears.

"Gabrielle?"

She'd looked up to see pale eyes, almost colorless in the torchlight watching her, in a face bathed in shadow. "Wow. Thanks." She'd whispered, dropping her gaze, unsure of what else to say, after how they'd parted, and what she'd been thinking only moments before.

Whether or not to say goodbye.

"Can you stand up?" Xena's voice had been unusually subdued, almost gentle. "Here. C'mon."

Gabrielle had taken the grasp and felt herself pulled up, and they'd faced each other in the narrow alleyway, awkwardly silent. Communication never was easy between them, she'd reflected sadly, as the warrior had shifted a little, and put her hands on her hips. "Listen.. I'm… um.. " The dark head had dropped. "I'm sorry."

And Gabrielle had breathed a little easier. "Me too." She'd replied softly, looking up to study the face of this complex, frustrating, scary person she'd run away from home to follow. Who drove her crazy, but in whose presence, the merchants she'd spent the evening with seemed shallow, and uninteresting. "Thanks for being here… saving my butt, again."

Xena had nodded, and jerked her head towards the inn. "C"mon.. it's late."

Gabrielle had followed her back, and in to the room they'd rented for the night, where her things were tucked neatly on one bed, and Xena's on the other. The warrior had turned her back as they'd entered, and went to her things, silently rummaging inside them.

Gabrielle had exhaled softly, and gone to her own bed, opening her saddlebag and stopping, as a thick fold of fabric fell out, and covered her hands, soft and cool, shimmering in the candlelight. She'd stared at it, then slowly turned, to see Xena sitting quietly on her bed, unlacing a boot.

"Xena?"

Blue eyes had reluctantly lifted to hers. "Yeah?" Xena had looked at the fabric, held up in Gabrielle's hands. "Oh.. yeah, that.. well… " A shrug. "Consider it a peace offering." She'd hesitated, as though considering going on, then stopped, fastening her eyes on her boots.

Gabrielle had crossed to the mirror, and held the fabric up, draping it over one shoulder. "Did you find your card game?" She'd asked, more to break the silence than anything.

"Hmm?" Xena had looked up, puzzled. "Oh..yeah.. no…I…um.. I didn't…I just wandered around.. checked things out.. you know."

And had happened to end up in the same place as she had, at just the right moment? Gabrielle had watched the dark head in the mirror, seeing the curve of her companion's jawline move as she fiddled with her boots. "I had a good time.. I found these merchants, and we went to the market tent, and we told stories.. they were a lot of fun."

"I know." Xena had replied, very quietly. "I checked them out… wanted to make sure they weren't… anyway. Glad you had a good time." She'd stood, and let her boots and armor drop near her saddlebags, then ran a hand through her hair, disordering it's sleek pattern absently.

Gabrielle had looked at her reflection in the mirror. "C'mon, Xena.. what did you think they were going to do? What would they want with me?"

And she'd felt the sudden warmth, and looked up to see pale blue eyes right over her shoulder staring back at her.

"Same thing that guy in the alley did… maybe they saw a beautiful young woman, and decided it was their lucky day."

It had been a shock of another kind. "Who are you talking about?" Gabrielle had asked, in puzzlement, turning and staring at Xena as though the warrior had sprouted antlers.

"You." Had come back the answer, on the heels of a gruff shake of the head. "Listen.. it's late." Xena had turned, and laid down on her bed, folding her hands over her stomach, and firmly closing her eyes.

Leaving Gabrielle to quietly tuck her fabric away, and crawl into her own bunk, curling up onto her side and watching that strong, remote profile. She'd realized, too, that if Xena had been keeping up with her, she'd heard the conversation outside the merchant's inn, and her response.

Xena would never ask her to stay. Never admit to needing her companionship, let alone the friendship that was slowly binding them against their wills.  Xena would probably never been fun, never be friendly.. never share stories with her…

Not Xena, no. Gabrielle had exhaled slowly, considering  her options. Then she'd smiled. Beautiful young woman, huh?

"Hey, Xena?"

A blue eyeball appeared, and focused on her, filled with a sudden, unguarded trepidation. "Yes?"

"You think we could take a trip up to Athens? I always wanted to see the Coliseum."

Their eyes had met.

"Sure." Xena had finally said, in a relieved murmur. "Been wanting to head up there anyway." She'd closed her eyes again, but Gabrielle had seen the rise and fall of her chest as she'd let out a long breath, and she put her own head down, contentedly.

This was hard, she'd acknowledged. But someday, Xena.. someday.. you and I are going to be best friends, and that'll make it all worth it.

And it had, of course. Gabrielle smiled, and gave the shoulder under her a kiss. The thunder boomed over head, and the rain increased, almost driving itself into the heavy thatch. "You know.. I still have a thing for rainy days."

Xena only chuckled.

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

Gabrielle entered the small kitchen, pausing as Rose turned, and lifting an eyebrow at her. "Okay to come in? I can't catch arrows."

The innkeeper snorted, and gave a nod. "Aye, ye're welcome."

The bard continued on her path, straightening the thick, linen tunic she wore with an automatic twitch, glad of it's warmth in the cold, wet breeze that entered the large window across from the hearth. "Nasty out there."

Rose glanced over her shoulder. "Needed the wet, but I think the weather's turning. We'll see chill from now on."  She looked at her guest. "Sleep well, did ye?"

Sleep? Hmm… "Oh.. yeah.. definitely." Gabrielle agreed absently. "Xena's taking a look at your son… is there anything I can help with here?"

"And what would a sprout like yourself know about a kitchen eh?" The old woman chuckled. "No offense to you."

Gabrielle put her hands on her hips. "Sprout? You don't think Xena's the cook in this partnership, do you?"  Her eyebrows lifted in question. "Besides.. I'm not as young as a look..I have a daughter, and I'm the deputy reeve of Amphipolis."  Among other things, the bard reflected, deciding to leave out the Amazons for the time being.

"No. Really?" Rose turned and tapped her mixing spoon on the large pot she'd been stirring. "How old's your chick?"

"Eight months." Gabrielle smiled, as she walked over to the rickety table nearby, and captured a few dried vegetables the innkeeper had been scraping for the soup she was making.

"Tch.. that's a young one… I hardly remember when mine were that size.. little bits of things, all helpless."

The bard dragged a bowl over and started peeling the vegetables. "Mm… she's big for her age, actually.. and I only wish she was helpless.. she runs us ragged chasing after her." She put a bit of peel in her mouth and chewed it as she worked. "The only one who can really keep up with her is Xena."

Rose stirred her soup. "Two of you together, then?"

Well, that was certainly a gentile way of putting it. "Mmmhmm." Gabrielle chewed on another bit of peel.

"Didn't figure her for the motherly type." Rose snorted a little. "That's a wonder."

No, it was hard for me too. Gabrielle reflected, remembering the early days of Dori's life, when she'd been driving herself crazy trying to make sure everything was done.. just… right….

She'd been exhausted. Trying to do things around Amphipolis, keep an eye on the Amazons, and handle her new daughter had taken it's toll, and she'd found herself losing her temper more and more frequently.

Xena had, to give her credit, tried her damnedest to help, but Gabrielle had felt an intense desire to oversee every facet of her baby's life and finally, the warrior had backed off, picking up the slack in other areas and leaving the bard to her obsessiveness.

It had been a horrible day, she remembered. Dori had been cranky all morning, and had woken them both early, and all her rocking, and soothing hadn't done much to help her. She'd finally put the baby in her cradle, and sunk down into the chair next to it, cradling her head in her hands and almost succumbing to an intense desire to cry.

A hand had touched her shoulder after a short while, and she'd looked up, to see shadowed blue eyes looking back at her.

"Mind if I give it a try?" Xena had asked, her hand indicating the squalling Dori.

Gabrielle had sighed, and shook her head. "Be my guest."  She'd watched tiredly as the warrior settled down next to the cradle on the floor and studied the crying baby, who paused in her hollering and scowled at her new victim.

"Hi." Xena's voice rumbled softly. "What's your name?"

Dori had stuck a finger in her mouth and sucked on it, staring at Xena with a puzzled look.  "Bck."

"Listen." Xena continued. "You're making your mother nuts. That's bad."

A tiny scowl. "Pft."

"When she's mad, she wont' even talk to me, and I don't like that." Pale blue eyes fascinated the child, as Xena leaned forward, and rested an arm on the cradle. "You don’t' want to make me mad, do you?"

Dori giggled.

"So much for my reputation." Xena drawled wryly, as she extended a finger, and let the baby grab it.

Gabrielle had studied her profile, quietly accepting the realization that Xena's words had been for her, and not for their precocious daughter. She had been lousy to be around lately, and she'd been taking it out on her tall partner, she knew. "Hey… "

"Mm?" Xena hadn't looked up from the baby, who was slowly exploring the tanned hand she was clutching.

"Do me a favor? Take her for a while… just… play with her, or something.. okay?"

Xena's eyes had brightened. "Sure." She'd picked Dori up and tickled her, then tucked her against one arm and stood easily, bouncing the baby a little. "C'mon.. you wanna go meet Argo?"

"Bck?" Wide, round bluish eyes had goggled at the warrior.

"Sure.. it'll be fun.. maybe grandma made some honey cakes.. huh?" Xena had ambled out, the fascinated baby's attention glued to her.

Gabrielle had simply sat back, and reveled in the quiet. Gabrielle. She'd said to herself. "You are such an idiot.. here you have this wonderful, willing, responsible person who wants to help you raise this child, and you… you think if you let her out of your sight, she'd going to grow a horn."

She'd relaxed and put her feet up on the table, and soaked in the peaceful spring sunlight that draped itself across the cabin, catching her body in stripes of it that warmed her skin. Then a though intruded. "Gods.. I hope she isn't teaching her to ride Argo…"  Gabrielle had started to get up, then forced herself to sit back down. "No.. c'mon.. you know better. Xena wouldn't do that."

She'd stared at the ceiling rafters. "You have to trust her, Gabrielle…she's that baby's mother just as much as you are, and you're not being fair to her, making it seem like she can't be trusted to take care of her."

She'd firmly closed her eyes, and her exhausted body had taken over, allowing her to enjoy a nice, and much needed nap. She'd woken candlemarks later, feeling much better, but in a cabin conspicuous by it's babyless and warriorless silence.

Okay. Time to go check things out. She'd gotten up and trotted outside, looking around curiously. No Xena. She went to the barn, and peeked inside. No Xena.  She went to the inn, and poked her head into the kitchen. "Mom, have you seen Xena?"

Cyrene had glanced up from her slicing. "No, cutie.. haven't seen her in a couple of hours.. why?"

"Mmph… she's got Dori with her." The bard sighed, her brow wrinkling.

"Good." Cyrene replied, giving her a direct look, and turning back to her work.

Gabrielle had withdrawn, accepting the rebuke in silence, then she'd sat down on the porch, letting her head rest against the back of the wooden chair and propping a booted foot up against the railing.  Before long, she'd figured out where the warrior had to be, and got up, heading off into the forest.

The spring had always been a favorite place for both of them, and she stepped out into the small clearing that held it with a sense of melancholy enjoyment. Sure enough, a tall, dark haired form was sprawled in the soft grass, it's head resting on a moss covered rock, a tiny, linen swaddled lump cradled on it's chest.

Softly, the sound of singing came to her, and she approached on silent feet, getting close enough to watch her soulmate tickle a smiling Dori on the belly, as she sang, an old song Gabrielle was well familiar with.

The baby laughed, and kicked a little, then clutched at the teasing hand and mouthed one of Xena's fingers, gazing up at her adoringly. The warrior had returned the look, a gentle smile transforming her face into a doting warmth that caused an ache in Gabrielle's chest.

Was she still thinking of Hope, seeing Xena with Dori like this? The bard had felt a little sad, acknowledging the possibility. She took a few steps more, and Xena had looked up,a momentary look of apprehension in her eyes.

Gabrielle had tried to smile, but the tears came instead, and she'd dropped to her knees beside the startled warrior, reaching for her and burying her face in one sun warmed shoulder.

"Hey." Xena had said. "It's okay…she's fine, Gab, really."

Gabrielle  had felt her anguish recede a little, and she looked up at her worried soulmate. "I know… Xena, I'm sorry.. I've been such a jerk."

"Bck." Dori poked a lip out, and reached over, to tangle tiny fingers in her mother's pale hair.

Xena hadn't answered. Instead, she'd sighed, and kissed the bard's head, letting her cheek rest there quietly. After a minute, she'd spoken. "I'm sorry too." She'd said. "I've been feeling pretty lousy…I figured you didn't trust me around her." 

"I know." Gabrielle had sighed. "Why didn't you say something, Xena?"

A shrug. Of course.

'I do trust you." The bard had looked up at her. "I just wasn't thinking straight.. maybe it's all that screaming."

That had gotten her a faint smile.

Gabrielle turned her head and regarded her daughter, who was now sucking her thumb drowsily, peaceful at last. "Hey.. she's sleeping."

"Mmhmm." Xena agreed. "Yeah.. we went to the stable, and went for a little ride, then we visited Toris and the twins, then we walked around the merchant area down in the big field, then we… "

"Shh.. you're making me tired." The bard put a finger to her partner's lips. "I can't believe you got her to sleep though.. she never sleeps in the afternoon."

Another shrug.

Gabrielle had gazed at her dozing daughter. "You've got a new job, tiger."

A sparkle had entered those blue eyes. "I do?"

"Oh yeah… can you do this every day?"

Big grin. "I think we can work something out." Xena had drawled, unable to hide the note of delight in her voice.

"Yeah? Great." Gabrielle had sighed happily, and relaxed.

"Absolutely." Xena had assured her. "And I think she really liked riding Argo."

Startled green eyes looked up "You did get up there with her, right?"

Xena smiled.

"She's a very good mother, in fact." Gabrielle concluded, giving Rose a smile. "Dori's crazy about her…she thinks Xena's a walking, talking stuffed leather toy strictly here for her convenience."

Rose shook her head. "Hard to fathom."

They both looked up as angry voices approached, a thud reverberating as the door was slammed back, and heavy footsteps pounded towards them.

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

Xena crouched on the small stool, mixing a new set of herbs up, as the thunder rolled around the small room, and the wind blew her hair back. It was quiet here, and very peaceful, since the boy, young man actually, was still asleep, one arm curled around the burlap pillow.

Rose had cleaned him up a little, and Xena studied him as she mixed the salve, noting the firm, square jaw and curly fair hair, and decided he was a pretty cute looking kid. She found a smile shaping her lips as she gazed at him, and it took her a moment to realize why.

He reminded her of Lyceus.  Same wiry frame, same curly hair. Xena sighed, and shook her head a little. Even after all these years, she sometimes found herself missing him, though Gabrielle certainly had filled most of the huge void in her heart his death had caused. Close as she and the bard were, there was still something about being siblings, that added a little extra to a relationship. Even with Toris, with whom she'd never really gotten along well, she felt a bond that went beyond friendship despite their frequent bickering. 

And now, this poor kid had lost that, along with everything else. Xena felt a quiet sympathy for him, understanding just how alone life could be sometimes. She wondered, briefly, if Dori would find herself wanting a sibling, someday.

Hmm. Now that she thought about it, the baby was turning out to be a lot more fun than she'd imagined.

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

She'd woken early, as usual, on a warm summer's day, feeling the faint, light breeze from the window brush against the bare skin of her arm. Dori would wake up in a few minutes, she knew,  and the hectic pace of the day would start.

She'd glanced down at Gabrielle, who was nestled comfortably against her shoulder, and regretted the need to wake the bard for their demanding offspring. Gabrielle had just gotten over her bout with coughing sickness, and was still pale, and far too thin to Xena's worried eyes.

Then an idea had hit. She was up. Dori would be up. No need for Gabrielle to have to get up too, right?  She'd gently brushed the bard's hair back and kissed her cheek. "Hey.."

Green eyes fluttered open, blinking tiredly at her. "Mm? Oh.. " Gabrielle had sighed. "Morning. Right."

"Shh.." Xena had laid  finger on her lips. "I'll take care of Dori… and she can come out running with me.. how about that?"

Gabrielle's eyes had closed. "She's too young for marathons, Xena." The bard had mumbled "She can't even walk yet.." She started to roll over but Xena had stopped her.

"No..no, listen..I've got this little sack, I can take her with me… c'mon, sleep in for a day."  Xena had protested gently.

A green eyeball had appeared. "Well…okay. Just be careful… don't like.. flip.. or anything.. and lose her."

Xena had grinned. "Don't worry.. we'll bring you back breakfast."

She'd hopped out of bed and scooped up Dori, who had been starting to rustle around restlessly and changed her, then brought her back for a little snack while she got dressed and got her collection sack ready. Then she gently lifted the milky faced child and got her into the sack, tightening the straps carefully around her shoulders.

Dori immediately grabbed her hair and tugged it. "Bck!"

"Shh." Xena tweaked a tiny toe through the sack's fabric. Then she'd chuckled as Dori started mouthing the back of her neck. "Cut that out."

"What's she doing?" Gabrielle asked sleepily, tugging the covers up further.

"Tickling me."

"Good girl." The bard praised her daughter.

Xena had laughed, then slipped out the door, heading out into the warm, hazy morning as a rose light spread over the village. She'd started up the long path towards the spring, trying to remember not to bounce around too much as she lengthened her stride, and the breeze picked up. "You okay?"

"Goo!" Dori tugged on the dark hair blowing past her, making small noises of approval as Xena bounded over the uneven ground and the forest closed in around them. She'd felt another tug, and glanced back.

"What's that.. faster?" A giggle, and she sped up, hearing Dori's delighted shriek as they raced through the forest, scattering leaves from under her boots and sending early morning denizens dashing off into the underbrush.

They'd ended up on the small grassy plateau just before the spring, and she'd slowed, coming to a halt in the brilliant sunlight that poured over the ground, releasing the scent of grass, and fresh earth, and sparkling off the spring. "What a great morning, huh, Dori?"  She asked, catching her breath.

"Goo…" Dori bounced in her sack, thumping between the warrior's shoulderblades and scrabbling around inside the sack. She poked her tiny face over Xena's shoulders and sucked on a finger. "Ooo." The finger pointed at the ground imperiously.

So  Xena had settled to the ground and unhooked her passenger, untying the straps and stripping the soft furry bag from the baby's chubby body. "Hey there."

Dori had tumbled out, rolling in the grass with a squeal of delight, then digging in the dirt with both fists and tossing clods of it everywhere.

"Whoa… cut that out." Xena laughed. "You get muddy, I'll never hear the end of it, got me?"  A chunk of dirt hit her. "Hey!" She batted a second out of the air,  and captured the squirming child. "I said cut that out."

Dori slapped at her chest, getting streaks of rich brown all over her tunic, then giggled. "Boo!"

 "Gee, thanks." The warrior settled her daughter in her lap as she crossed her legs, keeping a hand behind her to support her body. "You think that's funny, huh?"

The baby started pulling up grass stalks industriously and tossing them, scattering the fragrant green fragments all over the warrior and herself. "Bck!" Dori scrambled over the knee she was sitting on and crawled off, investigating the meadow ambitiously. 

Xena had relaxed on her side, propping her head up and watching her child indulgently, as Dori found a snail, sitting down and peering at it, then holding it up to show her.

"Bck!"

"Snail." Xena nodded. "Don’t eat that."

Dori immediately put it in her mouth.

The warrior launched herself up and bounded over, getting to the baby before she could swallow the tiny animal. She rescued it, then tossed it a safe distance away, much to Dori's displeasure. "You're just like your mother, you know that?"

Dori scowled at her, then crawled off, inching through the grass like an unstoppable, if miniature, battle wagon.

Xena had watched her warily, then settled down again, reclining in the grass and crossing her booted feet as the sunshine spread over her, and the light wind dried the sweat on her skin. She could see Dori's dark head poking up out of the grass, and she lifted a stalk of it herself, chewing on it contentedly.  "Don't go far, Dori." She called out.

The tot swiveled her head at the sound, and blinked at her, then giggled, and scrambled off, heading towards the spring at a rambling crawl.

"Hey." Xena rose up onto her knees. "Hey… Dori… whoa… "  A giggle floated back and she scrambled to her feet, bolting after the infant in alarm. "Whoa.."

Dori had hit the slope heading for the water and started rolling, giggling with delight as she eluded her protector's out stretched hand and ended up splashing into the spring. Xena's eyes had almost come out of her head as she jumped in after her, heart pounding in terror. "Dori!!!"

The baby surfaced, and slapped the water in amazement, blowing a spray of it outward. Xena caught her up in shaking hands and checked her anxiously. "Hey.. hey… are you okay?"

The tiny, wet head shook a little, then Dori blinked at her. "Boo!" She pointed at the warrior, then giggled, bouncing in her grasp and splashing with both hands.

Xena had almost passed out in relief. "You're gonna kill me." She'd sighed, wiping the cold water out of her eyes. "C'mon.. gotta get you dried off or your mama's gonna have me for lunch."

Dori had other ideas. She'd twisted out of Xena's hands, and splashed through the water, squealing with delight as her uncoordinated strokes pulled her forward.

Xena hesitated, then she moved along side, watching the baby like a hawk. Eventually, Dori circled around and headed for her, smashing a wave of water that drenched the warrior before she could catch her slippery body and lift her out.

They'd splashed ashore and Xena removed her own tunic and the baby's jumper, then laid them in the sun to dry off, as they took advantage of the warm breeze to do the same for themselves.

Xena seated herself in the soft grass and set the baby down next to her, giving Dori a bit of leather to amuse herself with while she dug out a little breakfast. "Apple, or crackers?" She held up the two, a large, tasty looking fruit and the small, dry almost tastless crackers that Gabrielle often gave their daughter, afraid anything more exotic would give her a stomachache.

Dori took one look at the crackers and stuck her tongue out, then reached for the apple. "That's my girl." The warrior praised her, with a grin. "Hang on.."  Xena had smashed bits of apple up for the impatient  Dori to consume. "We won't tell mama about this, okay?" She informed the tot, who was busy munching. "Cause if she found out I let you fall in the lake, I'm toast, and if she knew I gave you my breakfast, it's all over."

"Bck." Dori commented, reaching for another handful of apple and stuffing it in her mouth, getting most of it in the right place as she sat on Xena's stomach while the bits of apple fell down. 

Xena had captured one, nibbling it as Dori watched her in outrage. "Boo!" She'd pointed, snatching another handful of the sweet bits and mouthing them. Then she laid down, on her stomach with a tiny burp, closing her eyes and yawning a little.

Xena had exhaled softly, smoothing the baby's dark hair back. Dori was growing fast, her body lengthening almost as the warrior watched her, and changes happening almost every single day.

She was, freely admitted by others than her doting parents, adorable by any measure, her face an interesting mix of Xena's general shape, and Gabrielle's smile, and facial expressions. She had a tiny, snub nose very much like her mother's, which Xena reached over and tweaked, getting a pucker faced scowl in response.

Xena chuckled, and carefully got the tot back into her diaper and jumper, which had dried nicely in the sun. She put her own tunic back on, then resettled the baby on her stomach and lay back, resting her head on her hands in the peace, and solitude of the morning.  A tiny fist had tangled itself in her shirt, and she'd spent a quarter candlemark just watching Dori doze contentedly, glad beyond measure that she'd thought of the entire idea.

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

Xena smiled to herself, remembering. She'd almost gotten away with it too, except that Gabrielle had changed Dori after they'd gotten back.. and found a minnow nestling in the baby's diaper.

Busted.

The boy stirred, and shifted his head a little, stifling a gasp as his eyes fluttered open.

"Easy." Xena told him. "Don't move around a lot, okay?"

Pale gray eyes rotated and studied her in puzzlement. "Who're you?" He whispered, then looked around "'Mi home? Oh gods.."

"Shh. Yeah, you're home, kid." Xena finished her mixing and gently removed the soft linen covering his back. "I'm gonna have to put some fresh medicine on your back.. it's gonna hurt."

"Oh." He put his head back down but kept watching her. "It already hurts."

The warrior gave him a wry smile. "Yeah, I know….you got beat up pretty bad." She started to carefully paint the shredded flesh with the mixture. "What did you do?"

He didn’t answer for a bit, then he blinked a few times. "They were beating up Duvvie…I tried to stop em." He swallowed. "They whupped me, then Duvvie took after that spike, and everybody was looking at him, so  I started running."

"Mmm." Xena checked a particularly deep gouge under the boy's left shoulderblade. "Right back home, eh?"

Evon nodded his head a fraction. "It was good to see mama." He replied softly. "Thought they were gonna catch me.. thought they almost did." His brow creased. "Didn't they?"

"No." Xena murmured. "We chased em off." She glanced at the boy's face. "Your mama's pretty mean with a bow, you know that?"

He smiled a little. "She's tough." He paused a few beats. "Um… are you the new healer here? I don’t' think I know you."

Xena finished her task. "That's looking pretty good." She put her bowl down, and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and regarded him seriously. "No.. you don't. We were just passing through, when you got here last night. I helped persuade the guys chasing you to knock it off." She held a hand out within his limited reach. "My name's Xena."

He had grasped her hand in reflex, then froze, and his eyes popped wide open. "Wow." He squeaked. "You're really Xena?"

"Mmhmm." The warrior nodded solemnly.

"Wow."  He repeated softly. "They were all talking about you.. from what they was saying, I didn't think you'd be so pretty."

Xena was glad of the dim light, and the candle's glow hid the surprising blush from his words. "Thanks." She remarked dryly, glancing up as she heard loud voices in the hallway outside. "Uh oh." She stood, and dropped her supplies down. "Be right back. "

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

Gabrielle hastily grabbed a nearby broom, and took up a position in front of the leather door as it was slapped impatiently aside, admitting two men in villagers clothing.

"Rose.. damn you, is it true that kid of yours is here?" The first demanded.

"It's true." The innkeeper replied, guardedly. "He's hurt."

"Well, you get him bundled up and out of here before he gets us all kilt." The man stated. "He'll not bring trouble here again."

"Wait." Gabrielle interrupted. "He lives here.. this is his home."

They looked at her. "Who in Hades are you?" The first man demanded. "And anyhow, it's not your business, girl. He has no home here, not after Andreas took him."

"Ye can't throw him out, he can't even walk." Rose objected angrily. "Not that you'd have helped me keep them from that animal… they kilt his brother."

"Hold on." Gabrielle interrupted again. "She's right… how can you even think about that?"

"I said, keep outta this, girl." The man replied. "And you, Rose.. you know better. Look.. I know he's yer kid, but what's his life against all of ours? You know what'll happen."

"They wont' find im." The innkeeper replied gruffly. "Hurt bad as he was, they'll think he died."

The second man stepped up. "Not what I heard.. I heard two of em chasted him in here last night… and gots run off. "

"That's right." Gabrielle stated quietly.

The men both looked at her. "Great gods.. what fool did that." The first man snapped.

"That'd be me." A low, vibrant voice answered from the doorway.

The two men turned, startled, to find icy blue eyes regarding them with a distinct unfriendliness. "Who are you?"

"That there's Xena." Rose answered for the warrior. "Cracked one of em's head like a walnut, and dragged t'other of em out by his short pants."

The men gave each other uneasy looks. "You killed one of them?"  The first one asked, hesitantly.

Xena nodded. "Yep.. tied his body to his horse and sent him out of here.. and told his friend not to come back.  She pushed off the doorway and circled them, ending up next to Gabrielle and giving her soulmate a glance. "Nice broom."

Green eyes slid sideways.

Xena put her hands on her hips and looked at the two men, who seemed totally at a loss. "Got a problem with that?"

"They won't leave a building standing for that." The man replied. "Unless we turn you over to his men when they get here."

A dark eyebrow lifted. "No thanks. Been there, done that already." The warrior replied. "You can just tell em it was me."

"They'll burn the village to the ground." The man shook his head. "No…Jonas, call the men in. We'll keep her captive here until they get here. Maybe that will pacify them."

"Wait." Gabrielle held a hand up. "Can I just interject something?"  She walked over and put the broom down, leaning on it with one hand. "Listen…first of all, you can't keep us here."

"Sure we can."

"No you can't." The bard shook her head. "Not unless you want a lot of people to get really hurt." She looked him right in the eye. "So why don't we just go outside, and sit down, and talk about it. There has to be a better way."

"Foolish woman." The man went to push her out of the way.

Gabrielle sighed, and swung her broom around expertly, dumping him on his rear. Then she reversed the cleaning utensil and pinned him to the ground with it, leaning on it with part of her weight. Jonas backed up, startled, until he was at the door. "Now you look." The bard told her victim sternly. "I'm just trying to keep people from being hurt, okay? So can we please just go sit down and talk about this?"

Xena had wandered over to the cook stove and stolen a piece of bread, which she dipped into the soup pot and tasted, munching on it thoughtfully as she let her soulmate take the initiative.  She was beginning to regret her actions, though she wasn't quite sure if she was regretting killing the one man, or not killing the other one.

"What good's talk going to do? Andreas doesn't talk, he just acts." The man shot back, angrily. "It's all great for you to say, you just leave, and we have to bear the brunt of the punishment."

Gabrielle's brows contracted. "Is it fair for you to turn us over to a certain death just because we helped out one of your people?"

He sucked in a breath and looked at her. "Is it fair to lose a score of lives for two?"

"Why don't we go outside and talk, and maybe no one has to die, okay?" The bard returned his look evenly. "Because I'm not ready to die yet.. I've got too much to do, and I have a little girl waiting for me at home."

A little silence fell, then the man dropped his eyes and gave a curt nod. "All right… we can talk, but I'll tell you.. I'm not sacrificing what we've got left for the likes of ye."

Gabrielle straightened and withdrew her broom, as she offered him a hand up. He ignored her and stood, brushing himself off, then he and Jonas turned and walked through the doorway into the main part of the inn.

"Mmph." The bard exhaled. "Got my work cut out for me, I guess… " She gave Xena a concerned look. "What can we do?"

The warrior considered, chewing on her bread. "Rose, is there anyplace around here that a large group of his men are encamped? Those men last night didn't come from the city, that's for sure."

The innkeeper thought about that. "Aye…ten, twelve leagues distant, I think.. small place called Estokia."

Xena nodded slowly. "Gabrielle, tell them we'll make Andreas forget all about this place." The warrior stated quietly. "He wont' come anywhere near here."

Gabrielle watched the icy film shade her partner's eyes and an involuntary shiver rolled down her spine. "All right." She responded softly. "Like a diversion?"

A cold smile shaped Xena's lips. "It'll be a diversion, all right."  She took a mouthful of the bread and chewed it, then chuckled softly. "I just gotta make sure it's one they don' soon forget." She ambled over and gave the bard a nudge. "C'mon… let's see if we can get them to give us some supplies to get this done."

The bard exhaled, putting her broom down and giving Xena a pat on the side. "Okay, tiger…try not to scare them too bad, though, huh?"  She looked up at the warrior's face and caught her eye.

Xena cocked her head, and returned the look, realizing it was Gabrielle she was scaring. "Sorry."  She let her face relax into a quiet smile. "I wasn't thinking of that kind of distraction, Gabrielle…I just want to cause some havoc."

Gabrielle looked relieved. "Oh.. well.. " She chuckled. "We're good at that, right?"

"We?" Her partner inquired, with an arched brow.

"Hey." Gabrielle gave her a mock scowl. "Did I see you munching on something over there?" She hunted through her partner's fingers, finding a piece of bread. "Share."

Xena neatly deposited the piece into the bard's mouth, then patted her on the back. "Let's go."  They made their way out into the main room.

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

"Look." Gabrielle was pacing back and forth in front of the villagers, who had multiplied from the original two, to a round dozen, mostly older men with stubborn faces and angry eyes.  "What Xena's talking about is going to work… Andreas is much more interested in her than he is in you."

"How d' you know that? He's a demon." One elder shot back.

"He's a man." Xena remarked from her corner seat, where she was leaning aback against the wall.

"He's a demon." The man disagreed. "No man does the things he does…there was a village, just south of here, rebelled against him. He slaughtered them all, and stuck their heads on posts as a warning."

Xena looked very thoughtful for a moment, then she shrugged. "Overkill, but that doesn’t make him a demon. He's a man…or it wouldn't have hurt as much as it did when I kicked him where I kicked him." She cleaned a fingernail with her dagger. "He's a good leader, he's smart, he's ruthless, but he's not unbeatable."

"He is evil." The oldest of the elders stated quietly.

Cool, remote blue eyes gazed at him. "Depends on your definition of evil, I guess." Xena remarked quietly. "At any rate, we can draw him away from here, and that's all you need to be concerned with."  She stood and paced over to the window, leaning on the sill and looking out. The rain had finally tapered off, and now a cold wind blew in her face, making her glad she was wearing a warm tunic.

Gabrielle felt a pang of concern, watching her, and sensing the darkening of her mood. "Xena's right… if you give us what she asked for, we'll take care of everything." The bard drew their attention back to her. "I know you're all scared… and I understand that, but if you do what Xena says, it'll be all right."

Stony faces looked back at her, and she sighed inwardly, reflecting that so far, her negotiation attempts were failing miserably.

Then the oldest of them stood. "We'll meet in the barn… and we'll decide. You will wait here." He motioned for the rest to join him, and the filed out in silence.

Gabrielle waited for the door to close, then she crossed to the window and slid an arm around her quiet partner. "Tough crowd."

A slow nod. "They're scared."

"I know." The bard acknowledged. "I don't think I got far with them. Maybe you should have done the talking this time."

Xena turned and put an arm around her shoulders. "You did fine, Gabrielle…when there's that much emotion behind things, sometimes the logic gets lost."

"Mm." The bard gazed up at the warrior's pensive face. "You all right?"

Xena didn't answer right away. Her jaw moved, as though she were going to several times, then finally she returned Gabrielle's look. "It's…" A long pause. "It's getting kinda dark in here."

Gabrielle felt a snaking fear clutch at her throat. "You…just did what you had to do, Xena., I.."  She curled her fingers around the warrior's. "These are very dangerous people we're up against." 

"Stop making excuses for me, Gabrielle….I didn't need to kill that man." The warrior shot back. "I didn't need to… " She hesitated, then grimly went on. "I didn't need to enjoy it… I have to wonder how far I'm going to go? Even you're wondering.. I saw it in your face in there."

Gabrielle sucked a breath in, knowing that for the truth. "I was… a little concerned, sure, Xena… we've had a rough couple of days, you were sick…I'm worried about that stuff you got in that cut.. a thousand things ran through my mind. But it doesn't mean I didn't trust you… or that I thought you were going to go off the deep end or something."

The warrior was silent for a bit, then she exhaled, and wiped her face with her free hand. "I know… I know that, Gabrielle." She muttered "I also know I scared you in there." A pause. "Maybe I scared myself."

"Xena.."

Xena  lifted her head and faced her partner squarely. "All right…I'm afraid if I keep walking down this path… I won't come back." Her eyes flicked over the room, then returned, to search Gabrielle's face. "I could end up right back where I was…after Cortese."

It was very quiet, as two strong wills faced off against each other. The patter of rain drummed against the thatch, and a soft, irregular clanking broke the stillness as sounds from the kitchen drifted in.

Finally, the bard straightened. "That's not going to happen, Xena." She laid a firm hand on the warrior's cool cheek, and kept her voice and eyes steady. "You belong to me, and I will not allow that to happen."

Xena blinked and started to speak, then gave her head a little shake.

"And if it somehow does." Gabrielle continued, shifting her hold to the warrior's chin and forcing eye contact. "I will come after you and bring you back." Her voice was deadly serious. "There is nothing on this earth that can stop me."

Soulmates. The bard's jaw clenched, a ghost of the pale, determined face that had looked back at Xena in a bedroom in far off Chin tickling the warrior's memory, validating her words with honest truth.

Xena let herself breathe again, sensing the safe harbor of the most consistent love she'd ever known settle securely around her. She reached up and covered Gabrielle's hand with her own, then shifted it, and kissed the palm gently.  "I know that." She replied softly. "I know as long as I have you… no matter how dark it gets, I have a light to lead me home."

The bard circled her with both arms and pulled her close, reveling in the strong surge of their connection, which rolled over them like the last vestiges of thunder overhead.  "You're so poetic sometimes." She whispered into the nearby ear, as a few tears escaped into the soft fabric of Xena's tunic.

"Mmm…no." Xena disagreed, her arms full of warm bard. "You're the poet.. I just string words together." Her hearing told her the villagers were approaching again. "Here they come… what's the verdict, you think?"

Gabrielle spent a moment more holding on before she reluctantly released her partner, and moved back a little. "Too close to call."

They both faced the door side by side. Xena folded her arms over her chest, and the bard did the same, as the wooden panel swung outward, and the men entered. They filed into the room and came to a halt, a ragged, sullen group facing the two composed, confident women.

Xena lifted an eyebrow in elegant question.

"You’ve got a candlemark to be gone from here." The eldest of them stated. "You can have what you've asked for, but we want no more to do with ye."  With that, they turned, and simply left, leaving the inn in utter, damp silence.

Bard and warrior exchanged looks. "Short but sweet." Gabrielle commented wryly.

"Just like you." Her soulmate couldn’t resist answering.

Gabrielle groaned. "C'mon… let's get going." She fastened a hold on the taller woman's sleeve, and started for their quarters. 

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

It was almost sundown as they perched quietly on an overlooking ridge, peering down into a snug valley where troops of men were gathered. Gabrielle leaned forward against her saddlebow and exhaled. "That's a big bunch of soldiers, Xena."

"Mmhmm." Her partner agreed, pulling the leaves a little more over them to make sure they weren't spotted. "Sure is." She backed Iolaus a few steps then dismounted gracefully. "Okay… hang on to these, and I'll go see if I can find the centerpiece of our little plan."

The bard reached over to accept the reins. "Be careful." She warned softly.

Blue eyes sparkled warmly up at her. "I will be… stay quiet.. if you hear anyone coming, whistle."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "The way I whistle, yelling "Hey Xena!" would be more effective.. but I'll try."

The warrior leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you." She uttered softly, before she turned, and padded into the forest, her dark cloak and hair vanishing almost as quickly as the bard could draw another breath.

The bard fingered the soft leather in her hands and sighed. "I love you too." She murmured, smiling a bit as her lips shaped the words, feeling the tingle of Xena's contact still on them.  After a moment, she slid off Hercules' back and gathered the horses reins together, then stood at their heads and peered through the brush.

The encampment was active, all right. Men were running around, and a double column of them were forming. Supplies were piled neatly by the road out of the camp, heading in the direction they'd just come from.  Gabrielle strained her eyes and detected torches, and attack weapons among the piles and she shook her head.

It was so senseless. It was almost as if Andreas was on a mission to paint the world in black and white, those who followed him, or those that opposed him. One lived, the other… the other by definition had to die.

A twinge disturbed her, and she straightened, pushing her cloak back off one shoulder and peering at her healing tattoo. Xena had carefully cleaned it, giving the bard looks that made her wonder of her sometimes touchy soulmate completely hated the idea of her having it, or what?  She didn't think it looked that bad.

Oh sure, it was sore…and a bit red yet, but..  Gabrielle inspected the tiny, colorful picture. The miniature hawk's head peeked back at her with a round, black eye. "I kinda like it." She confessed to Hercules, who snuffled against her chest in response. "Whoo hoo.. Xena was here, right?" She giggled softly, muffling the sound in the horses mane. "It's better than those little cloth tags my mother used to put in our clothes, so they wouldn't get lost when we went to the creek to wash them."

Hercules fluttered his lips and shook his head, sending his heavy mane tossing. "If found, please return to Xena.. how's that?" Gabrielle countered. The horse stamped. "No, huh?" She chuckled softly to herself, and leaned on her mount's neck, watching the soldiers below start to get their gear loaded. "C'mon, Xena… let's do this before they get started."

She tugged her cloak more closely around her, to keep out the cold wind, glad of the horses warmth next to her, and tried to think of something else to distract her thoughts from her absent partner.

Dori came to mind, since her precocious daughter also tended to get into trouble, but she settled on remembering a summer's day and a warm memory.

Xena had dropped the infant off to her before lunch, and she'd settled her down, giving her a favored treat of mashed apples and finely ground lamb in a sweet sauce that coincidentally Xena also liked.

Coincidentally. Yeah right. Gabrielle remembered thinking as she watched her daughter gobble the contents of her plate, tucked neatly into the curve of her arm as she sat on the couch in their cabin.

She'd just started to feel more like herself after her illness, and she was glad of the quiet moment here in their home, with Dori's cheerful infant babblings interspersed with the smacking of her chewing. "You're such a little piggy." The bard had told her daughter, trying vainly to wipe the apple juice from her round chin. "What am I going to do with you?"

Dori had stopped. "Mama?" She'd held out a handful of minced meat invitingly.

"No thanks, honey… you go ahead." Gabrielle had laughed. "I just had mine."

She'd gotten most of the lunch into her rapidly growing offspring, then set her down on the soft rug near the fireplace while she got a fresh jumper for the baby to wear. "What did Boo do with you this morning, hmm? You're all muddy."

"Boo!" Dori repeated, kicking her feet a little. "Boo!"

Gabrielle had found herself laughing again, enjoying the sound of her daughter's pet name for her partner. Secretly, she liked it… though she never called Xena that herself, knowing her soulmate's dislike for nicknames. Even after all this time, the warrior was most likely to address her by her full name, Gabrielle, but that was okay, since she'd always thought it sounded…

Well, sexy, when Xena said it. All deep and low, and rumbly.. and with a tiny, almost imperceptible rolling of the r that tickled her nicely. "Hmm? What did Boo do with you, honey?"

Dori rolled onto her stomach, and lurched up into crawl mode, stopping and looking around to choose a target. Most of the cabin was tot proof, of course, both of them having learned over the course of the months just how persistent and how inventive their daughter could be given the chance.

That, Gabrielle had acknowledged, she'd gotten from both of them. "Here honey.. " She knelt and gave the restless tot a stuffed cow. "Here's Oogy."

Dori started chewing on the cow's tail enthusiastically. "Mmma."

"Uh huh… you stay here, okay?" Gabrielle had walked over to her desk and settled into her chair, picking up her quill and sharpening it. "I'm going to write a note to your aunt Ephiny."

"Mama." Dori thumped the cow on the floor. "Boo!"

"Boo's not here, honey.. she's out getting you dinner." Gabrielle had replied absently, scribing a few words. Then she paused, and chewed her quill, glancing over and idly watching Dori play.

The toddler had her legs sprawled and she was examining the cow with a look of absorbed seriousness. As Gabrielle watched, she got up on her knees, and put the toy down, then slowly put one tiny foot down, then the other, and pushed up until she was waveringly upright. "Hey.. " The bard encouraged her in delight. "That's a girl…."

Dori held on to the cow, but looked over questioningly. "Mama… " She held out a hand and pointed at her.

Gabrielle had put her quill down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and holding out her own hands. "C'mere, honey."

The tiny brow had puckered. "Bck." Dori had objected.

The bard had smiled at her. "You can do it… c'mon.. " She'd waggled her fingers invitingly. There had been several of these little halting attempts lately, but none had been successful.

Those pale green eyes gazed up at her trustingly, and slowly, hesitatingly, Dori took a step towards her, balancing precariously.

"Good girl.. c'mon.." Gabrielle felt a big grin take over her face. "You can do it…c'mere… I've got a honey ball for you." She'd held one of the golden hued candies up.

Dori's eyes lit up, as she recognized a treat. "Mama!"

Gods. Gabrielle had sighed. Just like Xena. "Yes.. c'mon.."

The baby had let go of the cow, and taken another step, wobbling uncertainly, her arms outstretched for balance, her attention fiercely fixed on her treat. One hand opened and pointed. "Da!"

"Uh huh.. that's for you." Gabrielle bit her lip in delight, at her daughter's first steps. "C'mon honey… come to mommy." She'd held her hands out further, shortening the distance, and watched in proud fascination as Dori toddled uncertainly forward, overbalancing on the last step and falling into Gabrielle's waiting arms. "Gotcha!!"

She'd lifted the baby up and hugged her. "Good girl! Good girl! Wait until Boo hears!" She chanted happily.

"Mama!" Dori tugged her hair, and she'd released the infant, who scowled at her, holding a hand out towards the candy on the table. "Da!"

Gabrielle had laughed, and handed her the sweet, which she'd stuffed in her mouth immediately.

"Mm.." Dori had circled the bard's neck with her arms and sucked happily.

"Should have though of that before." Gabrielle had rubbed her warm back gently. "What a good girl."

"Mama." Dori had warbled softly. "Mama.. mama.."

Gabrielle had kissed her soft, dark head gently. "That's me, honey… and I'm very proud of you." 

Xena had, the bard recalled, been so upset she'd missed it.

But, a few honey candies and a couple of kisses had solved that, too.

A soft scuffing sound alerted her, and she looked up, to see Xena's cloaked form emerge from the underbrush. "Hey…"

Blue eyes flicked over, and one winked. "Success." The warrior commented, going to Iolaus' side and arranging her saddle bag. "Just over those trees… and there's a decent path up from the road."

Gabrielle gave her a serious nod. "Okay… we're set then.. we go down there, like we're not expecting to see them, and then when they spot us, we stop, turn around, and start leaving."

"Right." Xena agreed. "Stay close to me, and if anything happens, we fight as little as possible, then escape." She circled her horse and tugged the bard's cloak closed. "I don't want this turning into a full scale battle."

"Sounds good to me." Gabrielle put a hand flat on her partner's chest, and gave her a little scratch with her fingertips. "Are you sure everything's in place?"

Even, white teeth flashed in amusement as Xena smiled. "I'm sure.. c'mon. Let's get this over with. "  She mounted Iolaus, and waited for Gabrielle to climb aboard Hercules, then they started down the side of the hill, right towards the assembling troops.

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

Continued...Part 7b

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