FAMILY MAKE UP

By IseQween

December 2023

IseQween@aol.com

Part 1

Cyrene bustled about with her usual command of every person and detail.  Even under normal circumstances her helpers stayed out of her way, having learned she planned – even relaxed – better on the move.  But today was far from normal.  Little was, when it came to her daughter.  She had to smile.  She’d always sensed Xena would be special, though not as some Destroyer of Nations or Warrior Princess.  Only recently had she been reminded of the many facets that truly made her Little One so extraordinary.

“Cyrene?  Is this okay?”

The inn owner glanced fondly at the one person she’d allowed in her kitchen this morning, whom she considered her “other” daughter.  She recalled her initial encounter with the teenaged runaway who talked her way into saving Xena from a stoning by kinfolk and into Xena’s heart.  Gabrielle still brought sunshine and temperance, even though Cyrene just witnessed how the now Amazon queen had also matured into a deadly warrior, a fierce guardian of two generations of Cyrene’s progeny. 

“Yes, it’s perfect.  Check on Anna’s progress in the common room?” 

“Will do.”

Cyrene watched the young woman stride purposefully away.  Maybe “daughter-in-law” was more fitting?   “Parent” to Xena’s child as much – maybe more – than most fathers?  Cyrene chuckled wryly.  Whatever notions she clung to about a “traditional” life for Xena, everything about her relationship with Gabrielle suggested a love that was all encompassing.  Destined even, considering how the Fates kept bringing the two together no matter what.  Their own devotion to living side by side no matter how long.  No matter “why,” Cyrene now figured the answer beyond her pay grade.  It simply, irrefutably was.

“Mother?”  Xena leaned against the doorframe.  “Anything I can do?”  She noted Cyrene’s furrowing brow.  “Evie’s fine.  `Auntie’ Minya’s cooing her to sleep.  Holding her like a goat kid, but it seems to be working.”

“Well at least she’s more … normal … than many of your acquaintances.”  Cyrene pictured examples like Joxer, Autolycus, Meg.  “Prefer her taking care of my granddaughter over others I’ve met.”  She shrugged at Xena’s eye roll.  “Your brother claims he’s nearly finished with the roof.  I trust your judgment about that more than his.”

“Sure.  We know how much Toris loves me butting in.”

“Mmhm.  Gives him a chance to appreciate it while he can.”

“Mm.  Yeah, there’s that.”  Xena blew out a resigned breath.  “I’m on it.”  Smirking, she ducked in and grabbed a couple sweet rolls before Cyrene could swat away her hand.  “Hey,” she threw over her shoulder before making a quick exit, “reward good behavior, right?  In the spirit of Solstice?”

******

The wagon halted a distance away from the town’s outskirts.  Its three occupants gaped in horror at evidence of destruction and carnage – the remains of several funeral pyres, unnatural gouges in the earth, fences and walls shattered as if by a dragon’s fiery breath.  The odor and stillness of death chilling whatever hopes they had about accepting invitation to this supposed “Solstice family reunion.”

“You said they’d had trouble.”  The driver scowled at his wife on the bench beside him.  “More like a war from what I see.”  He surveyed the scene again.  “By the gods!”

“Um, yes.”   She ducked her head.  “I understand they led the attacks.”

“Really?  Gods?  Actual gods?”  Their daughter leaned forward from her seat in the wagon bed.  “How exci- … um … extraordinary!”

“Humph.  Like everything about this.  About them.”   The man steered the team toward the roadside.

“Husband, what are you doing?”

“The sensible thing.  Turning back.”

“No!”  His wife grabbed his arm.  “Please,” she entreated, gentling her voice.  “Drop us off first?  Remember, I said you didn’t have to come.  You insisted.”

“What kind of man would let his family go off unprotected into possible ‘trouble?’”

“The one I married wouldn’t.”  She cupped his chin to face her.  “He might be stubborn.  Surely not so cruel as to deprive me of a rare visit with our first born?”

He gritted his teeth at his wife’s beseeching gaze.  Finally shaking his head with a heavy sigh, he reigned the team back on course.  “In this case a fool either way.” 

“Thank you.”  She settled back with a relieved smile.  “And don’t do that again.”

“What?” he muttered.  “Follow my own mind?”

“Call my husband a fool.”

******

“Hey, Sis.”  Toris didn’t seem surprised to see Xena carefully crawling toward him.  He snorted.  “Come to supervise?”

“Not my idea.”   She reached out her hand.  “Brought you a treat instead.”  She sat beside him.  “Here mainly for the view.  Unless you actually need me?”

“Huh.  Thanks.”

The two ate their sweet rolls in companionable silence. 

“Quite a mess, eh?”  Toris muttered, surveying the unwelcome adjustments to Amphipolis.  He noted Xena’s clenched jaws.  “But improving.”  He waved his hand toward the huge hole being repaired in the wall of Ares’ former temple.  “Should have that fixed by tomorrow.  Fencing’s coming along too.”

“Yeah.  Thank the gods.”  She shook her head at Toris’ expression.  “I meant that they stopped short of obliterating everything,” she clarified bitterly.  “Not just my child.”

“Xena?”  Toris patted his sister’s leg.  “I don’t blame you.  We don’t.  You did what you had to.  Like you defended your own that first time.”  He dropped his head. “Like some of us didn’t.”

Xena patted his leg.  “You’re here now.  That’s what counts.  To me anyway.”  She grinned.  “After all, you’re Eve’s only uncle.”

“Yeah, I am, aren’t I?”  Toris gazed affectionally at this sister.  “Motherhood making you a softie?”

Xena’s eyes darkened briefly.   “Maybe this time.”

“This time?”

Xena chewed her lip at memories of her warlord self giving up her newborn son to the Centaurs to raise in safety.  Meeting him for the first time some nine years later.  Solan not knowing her as his mother before his death at the hands of Gabrielle’s evil offspring.  “Topic for another sibling chat sometime.  Let’s focus on the present for now.”  She indicated the section Toris had been patching.  “Orders from Major Mom.”

“Uh, right.  I can handle most of these.   Rest a minute.  Look around for stuff on the ground that still needs work.”

“Okay.  A minute.  Thanks.” 

Xena scooted to the mostly intact portion of the roof and gazed out to the road into Amphipolis.  She recalled Athena’s troops invading her hometown.  The deity herself forcefully attempting to persuade residents to abandon Xena’s child, arguing the futility of battling the gods themselves to stop them killing the spawn they believed would bring down Olympus.  How neighbors who once disowned Xena had instead rallied to fight for her and her daughter. 

Her eyes misted, not so much at the resulting destruction, but from her kinspeople’s surprising loyalty and courage.  Did she deserve that?  She realized it didn’t matter anymore.  Eve mattered.  Gabrielle and Amphipolis.  And despite everything she had, as Toris said, done what she could to ensure they survived.

An object in the distance caught her eye.  A wagon heading toward them.  She tensed as it got close enough to recognize the occupants.

“Sorry, Toris.  Gotta go.”  Xena scrabbled toward the ladder.  “Gotta find Gabrielle.  Her folks have arrived.”

******

Satisfied with progress in the common area, Gabrielle ducked out to check on Eve.  She smiled at Minya dozing with an arm around the sleeping baby lying next to her.  It filled her with welcome warmth.  She shook her head remembering her initial reaction to Cyrene’s reunion idea. 

“Gabrielle, only the gods .…  Who knows when I’ll see my children again?  I can’t let what just happened be my last memory.  Winter Solstice is a spirit not just a day.  I felt it in the little gift Xena brought me.  In our hometown’s defense of her.  So we’re officially early – or late – in celebrating.  To me it’s worth a whole season.”

“Cyrene, this isn’t the end of the gods’ pursuit.   You’re all still in danger, especially with us here.  We can’t risk—.”

“You sound like Xena.  What happened to that optimistic girl I first met?  She would’ve jumped at the chance for family and friends to share this victory of love over hate.  Please don’t tell me such a thing doesn’t still inspire you?”

Gabrielle had understood Cyrene’s concern, her puzzlement.  Something had indeed changed within her.  Not just the fighting she’d come to accept at Xena’s side or even the blood she’d personally spilled.  Her soulmate’s pregnancy had given that a purpose, an urgency, an inevitability she’d never felt before.  Growing up, she’d pictured her own family, children.  Her experience with motherhood had turned out to be brief, filled with infinitely more and everlasting pain than joy, but proved impetus to ensure this time one of their children would fulfill hopes for both herself and Xena.

“It does,” she’d finally responded to Cyrene’s question.  “It’s true I’m a warrior now.  Hard as it was, your daughter accepted and trusted me as one, before and after Eve’s birth.  I suppose they’ve become my priority, like I and her family have been for her.” 

“Yes, but not just Xena’s way.  Did she consider giving up this child?  To me?  To Toris or your Amazons?”

“Well, no ….”

“No.  She had you.  Probably doubts about herself, but less so being with someone who’s defended her heart.  Helped nurture the confidence she was worth being loved, had love to give.  The light we all see in you?  You can’t imagine how dark it would be for us if you let it dim too much.”

Gabrielle smiled wryly, amazed as always at the similarities between Cyrene and Xena.  The former truly had become like a second mother.  More, appreciating the part of Gabrielle that now lived in Xena.  And so Gabrielle had found herself catapulted into Cyrene’s Solstice celebration.  Convincing Xena to stay for it.  Compiling a guest list of their friends.  Helping bake and organize.  Her blood family would probably wonder who had enchanted “their” Gabrielle.

“Gabrielle.  There you are.”

“Shhh.  You’ll wake Eve.”

“Sorry,” Xena whispered as she grabbed Gabrielle’s arm.

“What’s up?”  Gabrielle pulled Xena to a stop.  “Cyrene need me?”  Her eyes hardened.  “Not the gods again?”

“Worse.  Your parents.”

******

Gabrielle waited a bit nervously at the partially demolished gates to welcome her family and introduce them to Xena’s.  They briefly exchanged polite words about the trip there and decent weather.  Xena left to take care of their wagon team.  Cyrene invited the visitors to an afternoon meal.  Gabrielle first escorted her mother and sister to their rooms.  Her father opted to grab a mug of beer and stretch his legs outside.  He homed in on a group of men sitting on benches in the town square.

“Just get in?” asked a man sharing a wineskin with his buddies.

“Aye.  Herodotus of Poteidaia.”

“Poteidaia, you say?  Any kin to Xena’s friend Gabrielle?”

Herodotus ground his teeth.  “I am father to Gabrielle.”  He thought a moment before letting out a resigned breath.  Decision made, he straightened and added, “Bard and an Amazon queen.”

“Amazon?  Ah, that explains a few things,” said a second, chunky man.  “Looked real natural.”

“Natural?”

“Curious she’d be traveling with our Xena.  Didn’t seem much alike.”   The first man snickered.  “Way she was fighting, ordering and pushing folks around, turned out just as much a warrior through and through.  I’m Lintulas, by the way.”   He got up to shake hands with Herodotus.  “That’s Auggy,” he said, rejoining his friends and pointing to a slightly built man.  “We call this other one Ox,” he said, winking.  “Wouldn’t be sittin’ here, taking a breather, if not for your girl.  Please accept our thanks.”

Herodotus stared at the men.  “What ….”  He cleared his throat.  “Haven’t seen her in a while.”  He pushed away his last recollections of Gabrielle, distraught over pain caused by the lookalike demon she’d birthed and its monstrous spawn.  “Certainly not … fighting.”

“Oh, you should’ve been here!”  Auggy grimaced.  “Well, not been here exactly, but seen it.  Huge battle with gods and all!  Your girl standing up to Ares and Athena, right along with Xena.  Inspired the town to throw in with `em.”

“Even though we didn’t have to,” Ox muttered. 

Lintulas bristled.  “You’d’ve sacrificed your kid?  Like they wanted us to do Xena’s?  Gabrielle was right to say it was our fight too.”

“My younger brother listened all right,” Ox spit out.  “Went down from an arrow through his chest.”

“He chose being among defenders, not pawns of the gods.”

Auggie snorted.  “And nearly lost everything for our trouble.”

“Yeah, but we didn’t, did we?”  Lintulas turned his attention to a white-haired warrior propped against a nearby pillar and seemingly interested in their conversation.  “Care to join us?  Just shooting the breeze until supper.  Relaxing.  Been through bit of a rough patch.”

“So I gathered.”  The stranger dropped next to Herodotus.  “Name’s Meleager.”

Ox’s eyes bugged.  “Meleager the Mighty?!”

“Gabrielle’s Meleager?”

The warrior chuckled.  “Honored to be called such, sir,” he responded to Herodotus.  “You were away when your village recruited me because of that warlord.”  He grinned sheepishly.  “Wasn’t at my best.  Gabrielle had to take the lead.  Persuade me to get my butt in gear.”  He winced.  “If you’ll pardon the expression.”

“Lila tried to tell me about Gabrielle’s visit.  Thought she exaggerated.”  Herodotus shook his head.  “Hard believing my little girl’s so … different from what we planned.”

Meleager grinned.  “Then maybe you won’t mind I’ve adopted the grown version.  Bequeathed her my few worldly possessions.  I wouldn’t be here talking to you either without her.”  At Herodotus’ puzzlement, he explained, “She saved me in many ways.  From warrior burnout.  Tarnished reputation.  Execution.”  He glanced longingly at the wineskin Auggy offered him, before refusing it.  “Drinking myself to death.”

“Doesn’t hurt she’s a real cutie,” mumbled Ox.  “What?” he said at the others’ indignant expressions.  “You really think a warrior like Meleager or simple farm boys here jumped to her bidding from fear?  Pfft.  Much as she acts like it, she ain’t Xena.”

Meleager stood, hand on sword.  “I’d be careful how you talked about my adopted daughter.”

Herodotus stood, fists balled.  “And my blood daughter.  Whatever your notions about her.”

Lintulas stood, head high.  “And now another hero daughter of Amphipolis!”

******

“This room’s for you and Father,” Gabrielle told Hecuba.  “Lila, you’ll be with Minya across the way.”

“Not with you?  I so looked forward to catching up.”

“Me too.  I’ll be just down the hall.  In Xena’s old room.”

“Oh, of course.”  Lila’s disappointment lessened.  “To help with the baby.  I can’t wait to see her!”

“Mm.”  Gabrielle rubbed her nose.  “Glad you understand.  Don’t worry, we’ll have time together.”

“You look really good.”  Lila plopped down on the bed.  “Much better than … um ….”

“Than we expected,” Hecuba interjected as she began unpacking, deciding not to rehash Gabrielle’s state during the Hope and Destroyer mess.  She studied her elder daughter.  “Despite the cuts and bruises.  Nearly every muscle on view.”  She clucked.  “Not surprising given what you eat.  Or seldom get to eat.”

Committed to the spirit of the occasion, Gabrielle went over to put her arms around Hecuba’s shoulders.  “I’ve missed your nutbread.”  She squeezed.  “And you.  All of you.”

Hecuba returned the squeeze.  “We were worried of course,” she acknowledged, moving to the window.  “Battles change everything.  Learning you were in the middle of one ….”  She shivered.  “We expected the worse.   Thank the … um, Cyrene for her messages.  And invitation.”

“And Father?”

Hecuba noticed Herodotus talking with men seated below.  She crooked her head at overhearing Gabrielle’s name and observing Herodotus transform from glum reservedness to proud participant. 

“You know him.  Stubborn.  Protective of his daughters.”  The corners of Hecuba’s mouth quirked.  “We may get a surprise, now that he’s here.  As I said, turmoil changes everything.  Even for those not in the middle.  And not necessarily all bad.”

******

Hecuba sat with Lila eating tasty afternoon fare, trying to reconcile the image of the woman bustling about the room with that of the mother she’d imagined raising the ex-warlord who’d enticed Gabrielle into a life of death and deprivation.  If Cyrene had her own negative ideas about the parents Gabrielle blithely abandoned, she didn’t let on.  She’d welcomed them with open arms and apparently genuine warmth.  Hecuba found herself admiring the innkeeper’s confidence handling various types of customers, her obvious independence and easy laughter. 

“Everything okay?”

Hecuba looked up to see Cyrene standing there.  “Oh, um, yes, yes.  The rooms are quite comfortable.  And the food ….  You really have a touch with spices.”

“Ah, that makes this old cook happy to hear.  Can I get you another helping?”

Hecuba patted her stomach.  “No, this was more than sufficient.”

“Good.”  Cyrene winked.  “I’ve a little extra treat in mind for my special guests.”  She ushered Hecuba and Lila to a small room off the kitchen.  “Oops, sorry,” she apologized upon pushing aside the curtain to discover Xena nursing Eve. 

“S’okay.”  Xena shifted to a more discrete position.  “You get used to … interruptions … around here,” she explained to her obviously flustered visitors.  She smiled at Eve.  “Besides, good timing.  Seems she’s had her fill.”

Cyrene walked in with her hands out.  “Would you like me to –.”

“Sure.”  Xena adjusted her top and picked up a nearby cloth.  She rubbed noses with Eve and kissed the giggling baby’s forehead.  “We all love burp time with grandma,” she said, handing the baby and cloth to Cyrene.  “I have appointments elsewhere.  I’ll leave you to it.   Hecuba, Lila, good luck prying Eve away from her.”

“Oh, we wouldn’t want to intrude on ….” Hecuba realized Xena had already vanished.

Cyrene laughed at the others’ stunned expressions.  “I’ve gotten used to that.  My daughter’s maternal side and her disappearances.”

“Oh, she is sooo cute!”  Lila came up beside Cyrene.  “Can I hold her?  When you’re done?”

“Lila!  Don’t be rude.  We’ve already –.”                

“It’s no intrusion.”  Cyrene regarded Hecuba over the baby’s head.  “Gabrielle’s family to us.  Eve would be fortunate having another grandmother and an aunt.”  She held the other woman’s eyes.  “At least that’s how we feel.”

Hecuba stared at the other woman a moment.  “Gabrielle had a baby of her own, you know.”

“Yes.  I understand Xena helped birth her.”

“And tried to kill her.”

Cyrene’s eyes closed a moment.  “I grieved for the child and Gabrielle.  For the whole situation.  No less than I did over my blood daughter.  For the grandson I never got to know before ….”

Hecuba shuddered.  “No mother should go through such horror and tragedy.  Certainly not my love-filled Gabrielle.”  She swallowed.  “Nor your Xena.  Whoever she was or is.”

Cyrene gave Eve to Lila, then turned to put her arms around Hecuba’s shoulders.  Hecuba slumped into the embrace as both women allowed tears to flow.   When they parted, Cyrene dropped onto a chair and gestured for the other woman to sit across from her.

“Despite everything, I consider this child a blessing.  She doesn’t wash away all we may disapprove of in our daughters.  She doesn’t replace what we’ve lost.  But she’s a beginning.  A chance for a brighter future.”

Hecuba sniffed.   “Perhaps.  I hope so for Xena.”

“And Gabrielle.  She loves Xena and Eve.  A family of her own.  Just as much part of yours as mine.  If you want.”

Hecuba blew out long breath.  “It’s hard.  All those years ago ….”  She looked beseechingly at Cyrene.  “Surely you never imagined … this?  Any of it?”

“Our little girls grew away from a lot of what we wanted for them.”

“Their own women now.”

“And each other’s.  Regardless how much we, the gods or anybody else tries to interfere.”  Cyrene snorted softly.  “I’m a fighter.  Could be Xena got that from me.  I’ll do whatever to support their love, their commitment, the happiness they get from being together.”  She patted Hecuba’s hand.  “You’d be the one person who truly understands what that means to me.  What it takes.  I’d hope we could share our thoughts about it.  During this reunion and any time after.”

Hecuba nodded.  She smiled shyly.  “Perhaps recipes as well?”

******

“Good I’m not the jealous type.”

Gabrielle snorted.  “Could’ve fooled me,” she said, depositing Eve in her crib.  “We have to be sensitive to Mommie Xena,” she mocked whispered to the slumbering child.  “She likes to think her singing soothes you more than my stories.”

“Pffft.  If you mean they’re more likely to put her to sleep, no argument there.”  Xena smirked.   “Only natural my voice keeps her interest longer.”

“Uh huh.”  Yawning, Gabrielle joined her partner on their bed.  “I could use a lullaby myself.  Tired as I am, my brain’s still doing hospitality drills.”

“Awww, come to mama,” Xena encouraged, drawing her partner in.  “You’ve gotten quite a dose of Big Bad Cyrene.  Now that’s something I don’t envy.  Coulda used you back when she was trying to make an industrious teenager out of me.”

Gabrielle snorted.  “We decided it got transferred to cleaning weapons rather than tables.”  At Xena’s groan, she assured, “Don’t worry, she didn’t reveal much I hadn’t already figured out being with you.”

“And you?  Spill all my secrets?”

“Um, not too many she hadn’t already guessed.”  Gabrielle brushed her partner’s cheek.  “I really like her.  Much easier to talk to than my mother.  More enjoyable to work with.  I’m a good tired.  Not exhausted like being wrung out and hung up to dry for inspection.”

“Heh.  Yet another reason I’m glad you’re bonding with Cyrene.  Taking my place.”  Xena shuddered.  “Imagine her trying to squeeze words outta me.  Not pretty.”

“Speaking of pretty ….”  Gabrielle propped on her side to examine a large, ornately colorful embroidery adorning the wall above the headboard.  “Quite extraordinary.  Not something you see every day in village homes or inns.” 

“Uh huh.”

The bard gazed thoughtfully at her soulmate.  “Especially in the childhood room of a certain ex-warlord.”

“Mm.”

“Xeeena.  I know it’s got a story.  Spill.”

“What?”  Xena snorted.  “You turning into Hecuba on me now?  Wanna wring out my secrets?”

“Nothing new there.  No energy for that tonight though.”  Gabrielle rested her head on the warrior’s shoulder.  “Think of it as a Solstice gift.  You know, for the love of your life you’d do anything for?  At any time?  For any –.”

“Arggh!  All right already!”  Xena scrubbed her knuckles across her partner’s hair.  “It’s no biggie, okay?  Shipped a brooch designed with peacocks to Mom during my … travels.  Didn’t know she’d do an embroidered version, let alone hang it here.”

“A brooch?  Must’ve been quite fancy.”  Gabrielle chuckled.  “In case royalty stopped by?  And why one of Hera’s favored bird?”  She shuddered.  “For the supposed goddess of family, sure doesn’t mind breaking them up.  Especially related to Hercules.”

“Hera?  As if.   No, it’s from my time in Chin.  Lao Ma introducing me to the good fortune revered there for peacocks beyond their beauty.  As symbols of happiness and harmony.  Prosperity, power, fame.  Of positive energy, protection against evil energy.  Association with the flaming phoenix rebirthing from its own ashes.”  Xena snorted.  “You know, like her notions about my ‘destiny of greatness.’”

“Wow.  How prophetic.  And you –.”

“Listened?  Like with Alti’s prophecies?  Of course not.  Except to think for some reason about Cyrene.”  Xena’s eyes closed.  “It’d been winters since we ….  I had no idea what she’d heard.  Was pretty sure what she thought.  Guess I … wanted her to know I was alive.  Hadn’t forgotten her.  The brooch was small enough to send easily.  Stick in her jewelry box if she kept it.” 

“And treasure hope for you in her heart?”

“Maybe.  At least one nice thing from all my … crap.”  Xena shrugged.  “My main reason?  Peacocks as guardian spirits.  Sort of a … substitute … for me, my father, her sons.  Watching over her with all of us gone.  Not be so … alone.”

“The fact it’s on display says something about her appreciation.”

“When I finally came home?  Asked her about the brooch?  All that symbolism didn’t matter.”   Xena swallowed.  “She simply saw …  love.  The love in me sending it.  Love she could touch of her Little One.”

“And replicate into something wondrous.  Visible to others privileged enough to happen upon.”

Xena chuckled.  “She’s always had many skills.”

“Un huh, can’t get much better a teacher than Cyrene.”  Gabrielle snorted.  “She’s even managed to thaw my mom some.  Should’ve heard Mother going on about Eve.  How nice it is finally having a little one in the family.”

Xena’s brow shot up.  “Really?  She said that?”

“Uh huh.   Didn’t say ‘grandchild,’ but sounded as close as she’ll probably get.”  Gabrielle shook her head.  “Miracles do happen.  At least around us.”

“Yeah, well, we’ll need a few more tomorrow.  Mom’s big feast?  Between our families and friends?  Enough traps to send hardened warriors screaming into retreat.”

Part 2

Colorful swatches of cloth hung from the ceiling and dotted the walls of the inn common room.  Strategically placed candles Illuminated the length of several gaily decorated tables pushed end to end.  Sounds of jaunty music, the aromas of incense, meat dishes and breads heightened the senses to anticipate wonders in store for those lucky enough to enjoy it all. 

Cyrene stood in the kitchen doorway, satisfied with the clumps of people conversing and her efforts to create the right atmosphere for this special celebration.  She felt a presence at her back.

“Um, Mom?  Thought you confined your invites to relatives and friends.”  Xena crooked her head toward men playing instruments.  “What’s with the troublemakers?  You couldn’t find other entertainment?”

Cyrene snorted.  “You can thank Herodotus and Meleager.  True, they weren’t here when Ox and his ilk sided with Athena.  Seems some of them shared wineskins with our visitors.  Apparently got another take on you and Gabrielle.”  She shrugged.  “Who knew they had artistic talents?  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to include them.  We certainly have enough food.”

“Mm.”  Xena observed Joxer, Autolycus and other male visitors gravitating to the Amphipolis musicians.  “I suspect we’ll soon hear bawdier and battle songs.  Sure that’ll work with your Solstice mood?”

“Boys will be boys.  Worse things they could get up to, especially if bored.”  Cyrene smiled at her daughter.  “Besides, the Warrior Princess is here.”  She gestured toward Gabrielle.  “Not to mention an Amazon queen.  I wouldn’t worry.”

“Gee thanks, Mom.  Good to know I can stop feeling guilty over my lack of party skills.”

Cyrene patted Xena’s shoulder.  “Little One, I hope one day you don’t feel guilty about anything.  Now I need your serving skills.  It’s time we got this celebration formally underway.”

******

Cyrene made one last inspection.  All plates cleared, tables placed as usual, surfaces spotless, candles extinguished except for the one she held.  Her body demanded she retire to bed like her guests.  Her brain disagreed.  She found herself dropping onto a bench, gazing around as though still experiencing all that her casual circulations and eavesdropping had revealed.

Toris and Lila empathizing with each other about living in the shadow of a larger-than-life sibling who’d escaped the confines of daily drudgery and parental expectations.   Seeing them as more human in the holiday setting where heroics were mentioned but not needed.  Admitting their admiration outweighed resentment, given that, for whatever reasons, they themselves hadn’t summoned similar courage to make their lives any different.

Herodotus revealing to Meleager his anger at Gabrielle’s rejecting a suitable marriage engagement.  How stunned he’d been at the tales her friends told about various missions and escapades involving his daughter.  Her impact on people’s survival and happiness.  Reluctantly confessing, “I’m beginning to doubt Perdicas would’ve been good enough.  Not to keep up with her dreams, the adventurous life she wanted.”

Xena’s friends chortling over Eve’s effect on two women they least expected to see changing diapers.  Minya shocking them with what she’d witnessed of the Dynamic Duo at first meeting – cavorting in a hot tub, playing pranks and word games, giggling like children over a piece of parchment they had flying in the air.   Hecuba overhearing and acknowledging to Minya her happiness at learning about Gabrielle’s enduring playfulness and maternal side, that for at least a few moments she’d imagined being a grandmother.

Hecuba’s comments had led Cyrene’s eyes to search for her own daughter.  Finding Xena lounging in the shadows, one arm cradling Eve, the other wrapped around Gabrielle, both women silently taking in the festivities.  Of all Cyrene’s fears, disappointments and regrets, the most painful was Xena’s losing and never creating family.  Not experiencing the joys along with sorrows.  Now Cyrene’s most treasured memento of this Solstice would be the picture of her three girls together, framed in apparently unbreakable love.

“Mother?  What’re you doing in here?  Everything okay?”

Startled from her reveries, Cyrene turned to see Xena behind her.  “Daughter!  I swear, you’re the only one who can creep up on me like that.  Still trying to stop my heart?”

“Um, no.  Never my intent, believe me,” Xena replied, moving to stand in front of her mother.

“Could’ve fooled me.”  Cyrene gestured for Xena to sit beside her.  “Even as a child, you loved scaring me to death.  Don’t roll your eyes.  That battle cry of yours?   Its predecessor woke me many a morning.  Maybe not exactly the same, but loud and jarring enough to raise the hairs on my arm.”

Xena chewed her lip.  “Um, yeah, I do sorta remember that.”  She cocked her head.  “I really scared you?  Huh.  You’d grab me and pull me in bed with you.  Your glare looked more like a grin.”

Cyrene laughed.  “You were such a gleeful devil.  Smirking like you’d routed 50 boars with that ‘yee yee yee yee’ thing of yours.  Have no idea where you got it from.  Tickled me so.  Much as I wanted to pop you one, I couldn’t help loving your spirit.  Nurturing rather than discourage it.”

“Mm.  Maybe `cause you had it too?”

Cyrene slapped Xena’s knee.  “Don’t try turning the table on me.”  She sported a mischievous grin.  “But If there’s truth in what you say, I’ll get my payback.”

“Oh?  Should I worry you’ll be my alarm in the morning?”

“Don’t need to.  You’ll learn soon enough with Evie.  Lots of ways your child can sneak up on you.  With any luck, she’ll be a chip off my Little One’s block.”

“Oooo, you’d wish that on me?”  Xena shuddered.  “Retroactive punishment?  Worse than a spanking.”

“Which reminds me, why are you up?  Trouble sleeping?”

“Not tonight. Everyone in my room is fine.”  Xena rolled her tongue in her cheek.  “I asked you first.”  

“Couldn’t be better.”  Cyrene brushed Xena’s cheek.  “Thanks for checking.” 

“Just a last inspection?”

“Mm.  More a review.  I learned so much about the people here.  About my Little One.  Her little one.”  Cyrene smiled.  “Their feisty little protector.”

Xena squeezed her mother’s hand.  “I’m glad.  You’ve made Gabrielle feel more at home here than in Poteidaia.  Thank you.”

“Why wouldn’t I?  She’s family.  Certainly proved that more than many other members I can think of.”  Cyrene chuckled.  “No pretense with her.”

“Pretense?”

“Something Joxer got me thinking about.”

“Joxer?!  Said something worth thinking about?  You do know he’s the awkward guy in the ridiculous ‘armor?’”

“I run an inn.  Of course I can tell people apart.  Some of your friends were talking about family.   How they felt a part of one with you and Gabrielle.  Autolycus said something about ‘crazy family make up.’  That’s when Joxer came in. ‘You mean powder or disguises?  Like clowns wear?’”

Xena snorted.  “He would.”

“He said his brothers did that all the time.  One as an assassin.  The other because he liked prancing around as someone else.  He admitted he’d put together a ‘costume’ of sorts to convince his folks he was a warrior.”

“Uh huh.  As deluded as they come.  Sweet guy though.  No idea how brave his heart.”

“He was on to something in a way.  About the … cosmetics … of family relations.  How often members put on airs or fake smiles?  To please others or their own egos?”

“Not you.  I’ve always admired that.”  Xena smiled ruefully.  “Even if I didn’t receive it well.”

Cyrene sighed.  “Didn’t mean I was always right.  At least at the right time.  Especially with you.” 

“Likewise.  Maybe if I’d listened, not stayed away so long, I could’ve ….”

“Pretended?  To be who I wanted?  To please your kinspeople?  No, we got who we needed at the time.  What matters is you’ve become someone you can live with.  A source of pride to Amphipolis. And that you’re here now.”

Xena shook her head.  “Funny, I said something like that to Toris.”

“Well, you are my Little One.  My apple who hasn’t fallen as far from me as she probably believed.”  Cyrene gazed at Xena a moment, then nodded her head.  She patted her lap and stretched out her arms.  “Come, child.”

Xena looked aghast.  “Motherrrr?!  Seriously?  You expect me to fit –.”

Cyrene persisted pulling Xena over until the warrior was perched sideways across her thighs, nearly dwarfing her much shorter mother, long legs resting atop a nearby chair.

“There.”  Cyrene hugged her daughter close.  “This is a part of the past I’ve missed.  You were ‘too big’ for this even before you reached 10 winters.  Partly in height, partly because you thought it ‘too mushy.’”

“Aww, Mom.  You’ve got Evie now.  Can’t you get your fix from her?  She’s a lot smaller.”

“As am I.”  Gabrielle emerged from the darkness, a huge grin on her face.  “And the baby’s otherwise occupied.”

Cyrene’s face lit up.  She began nudging Xena off.  “Go on, dear.  Not room enough for you both.  Let my other daughter have a turn.”

Mouth open in astonishment, Xena scooted over onto the bench as Gabrielle took her place on Cyrene’s lap.  “Well, ain’t this is a bit- … um … a ….  Unbelievable!” she sputtered. 

“Now, now.  Don’t be jealous.”  Gabrielle snuggled into Cyrene, shooting Xena an evil smirk.  “I’m filling in for you.  Thought you appreciated that?”

“Oh, she’s fine.  Just needs to adjust.  She already had her moment.”

“Fleeting as it was,” Xena muttered.

Cyrene chuckled and pulled Xena’s head to her shoulder.  “Let me have this while I can?”

Gabrielle sighed in contentment.  “A picture to remember.”

“Thankfully a private one,” Xena mumbled.  “Would do wonders for my image.”

“No, as Joxer reminded me –.”

“Joxer?!  You’ve been listening to –.”

“Let it go, Gabrielle.  Mom’s on a roll.  He’s become part of it.”

“Thank you, dear.”  Cyrene bestowed an approving pat to Xena’s knee.  “This occasion wasn’t about image. I wanted to celebrate what’s real.  The love in family we’re born into or make.  I’m cherishing both in you two.”  Cyrene kissed Xena’s forehead, then Gabrielle’s before releasing them to sit on their own.

“Same with the rest of us,” Gabrielle noted.  “My blood family and the friends who’ve become like family.  People in Amphipolis who became closer to us and among themselves.” 

“In other words, ya done good, Mom.  Truthfully, a lot better than any of us expected.” 

“Uh huh.  Reminds me of something Xena once told me.  She’d gotten me a gift for Solstice but I hadn’t for her.  She said, ‘Gabrielle, you are a gift to me.’”

“My Xena?”  Cyrene smiled at her daughter.  “How lovely.  I rarely got to see into the heart beneath that tough skin.”

“See, Gabrielle?  Not so thin as you claim.”  Xena smirked.  “A mother trumps picky companions.”

“Xena, behave!” Cyrene admonished with a swat to her daughter’s knee.  “I think the sentiment suits my Solstice festivities perfectly.  We’ve been gifts to each other.  In the language of my once wayward child –.”

“You killed `em all?”

Cyrene exchanged exasperated glances with Gabrielle.  “I consider this battle worthwhile and the victory ours.”

“Fine.  Just tryin’ to make up for what’s been missing from your shindig celebrating family make ups.”  Xena flipped off the bench and executed a few air punches. “Not enough action,” she chortled, sprinting with a subdued “yee yee yee yee” toward her room to evade potential corporal punishment. 

“She’s gotten too fast for me.”   Cyrene stretched, rose and led Gabrielle to the stairs.   “You’ll take care of it?” 

“For you?  Absolutely.”

“Bring Evie to me first if that’ll help.”

“Yes, good idea.  Keep me properly focused.”

“Nothing too harsh.  Within the Solstice spirit?”

“Consider the nice along with the naughty?  Sure.  It’ll be my pleasure.”  Gabrielle kissed Cyrene’s cheek.  “Thank you.”  She headed for her room, rubbing her palms together, eyes gleaming.  “Rest assured I’ll give your mischievous oversized Little One precisely what she deserves.”

THE END

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