Fortunately, Cyrene was resting when they arrived. Xena checked on her quickly, then took advantage of the escape offered and went back to the palace. Gabrielle shot her a look as she left, but Xena only shrugged her shoulders. The bard’s eyes narrowed as she thought of the different ways she was going to get back at that traitorous warrior for leaving her alone with her fuming mother. "Gabrielle! Get over here!"

"Yes, mother?" She said as sweetly as possible as she turned to face her mother. They had exchanged fierce hugs the night before, but had not really spoken. This time they hugged gently. "How are you feeling?"

"I’m much better, Gabrielle. It’s you I’m worried about. You shouldn’t be up and about just yet." Hecuba was not happy with the increases of scars on her daughter.

"I’m fine mother, I really am." She giggled. "Besides, I got hit where I had the most padding." She smiled sweetly, trying to draw out her mother’s playful side. Hecuba smiled back and patted a spot on the bed for Gabrielle to join her. They had a brief talk before Lila returned to visit her mother. Gabrielle excused herself, citing Queenly duties. Surely there was something the Queen of the Amazons was needed for, even if it was to inspect the kitchen and sample the dinner menu.

Xena and Gabrielle left early the next morning to check on Toris. Xena was not interested in talking or sharing her feelings, despite Gabrielle’s efforts to coax them out of her. Her worst fears were realized when she saw Kaleipus and Toris standing outside the Centaur’s hut, talking to each other. Xena stopped dead in her tracks. Gabrielle saw the men as well and positioned herself between them and her lover. "Xena…" She waited until she had the warrior’s gaze. "I love you, no matter what."

"I know." Xena met her gaze, drawing strength and courage from what she saw. A few breaths, then a slight nod to indicate that she was ready. Gabrielle stepped back and let Xena lead the way.

Toris saw Xena striding toward him, her face devoid of any emotion. He looked at Kaleipus, then turned and headed toward his sister.

"You were told that Mother is well?" She said as they reached each other, embracing briefly. No matter what, they were still family, and she was glad that he wasn’t seriously injured by the Amazons.

"Yes, I got the message a few candlemarks ago. I’m glad to see that you’re all right as well.." Toris replied. They looked at each other for a moment, reading eyes they had known since childhood. He broke the gaze and stared off into the nearby trees, seemingly oblivious to Gabrielle’s presence. "We need to talk, Xena."

"You know." She said quietly, her gaze never leaving a different tree. Gabrielle moved over and put her hand on the warrior’s forearm and squeezed gently. Xena smiled gently at the contact.

"Yes." His voice revealed his barely controlled anger. Gabrielle quickly decided that the middle of town was not a good place for these two to start this discussion.

"Why don’t we go somewhere…private for this discussion?" She suggested as she stepped in-between the siblings.

Toris paced in the large sitting room. Xena leaned against the wall in a decidedly relaxed position. Gabrielle stood between them, her mind rapidly trying to figure out what to say to keep the situation calm. Kaleipus had taken Solon over to a friend’s house, going out the back door to avoid running into the women. "Why?" Both women were startled out of their thoughts by the man’s gentle question.

"I did what I had to do." Her tone betrayed none of the guilt she felt every day for that decision. Toris’ hand smashed against the pedestal he was standing near.

"How can you be so cold about it, Xena? He’s your son!"

"I know who he is." She said through clenched teeth.

"Then how could you leave him behind?" Toris temporarily forgot the physical threat his sister posed as he advanced on her. "He’s family, Xena. He belongs with us!"

"He was safer here, Toris!"

"Safer?" He yelled, his tone incredulous. "Are you sure it wasn’t just easier to drop your bastard son…" He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Xena lunged forward, brushing past Gabrielle to seize her older brother by the throat and knock his legs out from under him, pinning him to the ground.

"Don’t you ever…ever…talk about him that way!" Xena was using all her energy not to crush her brother’s windpipe. She ignored the impatient tugging on her shoulder by Gabrielle. Xena only faintly heard the bard’s impassioned pleas. Her focus was on her brother’s face, now turning bright red. Forcing herself to relax her grip, she spoke evenly and firmly as her gaze bore into her brother’s eyes. "I had no choice, Toris. It was too dangerous for him to stay with me." The pain of her own statement cut through her. Releasing the grip on Toris, Xena rose and walked over to a far corner, Gabrielle right behind her.

Toris slowly sat up and looked over at his sister. To his surprise, Gabrielle’s arms were around Xena, gently stroking her back while the bard spoke softly. He rose to his feet, rubbing his neck, and moved closer to them. "Xena…" The fight was gone from him now, his preconceived notions about Xena’s intentions shattered. The women continued to ignore him, both wrapped up in Xena’s pain. He moved within reach and spoke again. "I didn’t know. I assumed…"

Gabrielle spun around and glared at him, her blue-green eyes flashing with fury. "That’s right, you assumed!" She spat. "You weren’t there, Toris. You don’t know how hard a decision it was for Xena to make." Gabrielle’s hand never stopped rubbing Xena’s back as she continued to give Toris a verbal lashing. "You said he belonged with his family. Who would have protected him when the warlords went looking for the son of Xena? You?" She snorted, reminding him of the way he had run away when Cortese’s troops attacked Amphipolis. "Here, he was protected by a nation of Centaurs. Could you have provided him with a safer home?" Gabrielle watched as the muscles in Toris’ face slackened in defeat. Another victim to her way with words. Xena stiffened, having regained her composure. Gabrielle pulled her hand away, pausing to give a gentle squeeze to Xena’s forearm.

"Xena, I…" He was silenced by her upraised hand.

"Forget it, Toris. The main thing is to keep this a secret from Solon." Toris’ gaze immediately settled on one of the floorboards. Gabrielle’s eyes widened, then closed in understanding. Xena closed her eyes quickly at the thought. There was an eerie silence to the room for a moment before she spoke. "He knows." It was a statement, not a question.

"He overheard Kaleipus and I talking." He said in an apologetic tone.

"Mother mustn’t know." She said quietly, her gaze focused on a painting on the wall. Xena didn’t dare look into the bard’s all-knowing eyes. Toris stared at her in surprise.

"How can you continue to keep this from her? It’s her grandson, Xena. Her only grandchild. You can’t keep something like that from her."

"I’ve done it for almost eleven summers." She said matter-of-factly.

"But I know now. Xena, you’re not what you used to be. Let him come home with me. He deserves to know his family."

"His family is here, with the Centaurs. This is the only life he’s ever known. It’s better this way, Toris. Leave it at that." She turned to leave, Gabrielle right behind her.

"Xena," Toris called as she reached the doorway. She paused, hand on the latch. "Before I leave here, I’m going to ask Solon to come with me. I’ll leave the decision up to him. Kaleipus and I have already talked about it."

Xena’s grip on the latch was so strong that Gabrielle thought the wood would splinter under the pressure. She instinctively stepped back a bit. "You had no right to interfere with this, Toris." Xena’s voice conveyed her barely-controlled anger. "You have no idea how much danger you expose him to if you take him from the safety of the Centaurs. You can’t leave a decision like that up to a boy to make." Unable to resist the jibe, she added "Be a man for once, Toris." Xena jerked the door open and stormed off.

"Do you have any idea how much pain you’ve caused her?" Gabrielle said quietly as she watched her love walk off toward the trees. She knew that Xena would stop somewhere out of sight and wait for her. "She loves him, you know."

"I do now." Toris said quietly. "Solon still deserves to be with his family."

"Family?" Gabrielle turned to face him. "Let me tell you some things I’ve learned about family. A family is not just people related by marriage or blood, it’s people related by love. When I first left Potodeia, I thought that would always be my only family. Then I learned to be a family with Xena, then with the Amazons. Solon has a family, Toris. That family is this village of Centaurs that have loved him and cared for him since he was born. Your only claim to him is the blood that runs through your veins. How does that compare to the claim that Kaleipus has on him?" Toris stayed quiet. "Should we brace Cyrene for the news?"

Toris quietly battled with the question for several heartbeats before answering. "Say nothing for now. If necessary, I’ll explain it to her later."

Gabrielle caught up with Xena and explained what happened. They took their time on the way back to Amazonia, giving Xena time to digest the new turn of events. By the time they returned to the village, it was nightfall. A quick stop at Saras’ hut revealed that both mothers had felt well enough to be released and were at the palace with Lila.

Entering their room, both women were surprised to see an extra bed had been brought in. Lila and Hecuba were sitting there, chatting away. Gabrielle went to give them each a hug. Xena stood in the doorway, trying to think of a way to gracefully disappear. She wasn’t in the mood to make small talk with Gabrielle’s family. The bard looked at Lila. "Why is there a second bed in my room?"

"Well, we had to find someplace to sleep. Cyrene and Xena can sleep in the next room. Mother and I will keep you company." The lovers looked at each other, their thoughts plain on their faces.

"I can check with the guard and see if we can get another room somewhere for you two." Xena offered.

"Oh, don’t bother yourself like that, Xena. We’ll be fine. Gabrielle and Lila used to sleep together when they were children. It’ll be fine. Why don’t you go see your mother? I’m sure she misses you." Hecuba responded.

"Mother, I don’t think…" Gabrielle started but was interrupted by her mother.

"Gabrielle, all the arrangements have been taken care of. Now, I’m sure you didn’t have dinner. Why don’t we all go over to the food hut and get something to eat?" The lovers looked at each other and agreed that food was definitely a good idea. Anything to take their minds off of the current sleeping arrangements. Xena went next door to collect Cyrene.

Trasis, the head cook, was busy making out the list for the morning meal when a nervous serving girl came up to her. "Trasis, I have good news and bad news."

"What’s the good news?" She asked.

"The good news is that Queen Gabrielle and her sister are on their way here to eat dinner." Trasis’ eyes went wide as she mentally took inventory on the foodstuffs.

"That’s the good news? What’s the bad news?"

"Their mother is with them." The serving girl answered, taking a healthy step back from the Amazon, who was quickly turning red.

"There’s THREE of them?" Frantic activity began in the kitchen as Trasis silently apologized to Artemis for whatever wrongs she had done to deserve this fate.

Xena sat in a chair, listening to her mother sleep. Voices through the wall told her that the three women from Potodeia were still awake and chatting away. She tried to make herself comfortable in the chair, giving up only after trying every possible position. Sighing, she stood up and looked out the window. Spotting Eponin heading into her own hut, Xena got an idea. Dressing quickly, she stepped out of the room and knocked on the Queen’s door.

Gabrielle had listened politely to the third telling of the spring planting, wishing she was anywhere but here. She practically sprung from the bed when she heard the knock at the door. "Come in."

Xena opened the door and stuck her head in. "My Queen, there’s a matter of great importance that requires your attention."

A grateful bard grabbed her robe and boots as she headed for the door. Without looking back, she called out over her shoulder. "This must be very important. Don’t bother to wait up for me. This will probably take all night." She shut the door behind her before either woman could speak. Grabbing Xena’s hand, she strode quickly down the hallway, making certain that they were out of earshot before speaking. "Thank the Gods you rescued me. Lila was about to go into the list of possible suitors that were available."

Xena pressed the young queen up against the wall and took several hungry kisses before releasing pulling back and looking into Gabrielle’s eyes. Both women were having the same thought. "I think I know where we can go." She said as she took the queen’s willing hand and led her out the palace.

Eponin had just crawled onto her pallet when she heard the forceful knocking at her door. Cursing whoever had the nerve to bother her at such a late candlemark, she stomped over to the door and opened it. "What the hades do you, oh, hi Xena, Gabrielle. Is there something that I can do for you?" The Amazon looked at the two women, still dressed in their sleeping shifts.

"Is Ephiny’s old room still available?" Xena asked as they entered.

"Well, yes, but…"

"Great." Gabrielle said. "We’re borrowing it for the night." Noting the confused look on her friend’s face, the young queen simply replied. "Mothers."

"Oh." Eponin understood immediately. "Second room is hers. I think the pallet’s already made up."

"Thanks Ep." Xena said as the two lovers quickly headed to the room.

Once alone, it was all Xena could do not to rip the shift off of Gabrielle’s body. She pressed the bard up against the wall, showering her with passionate kisses. Gabrielle’s hands were far from idle, pushing Xena’s shift up to claim the soft breasts hidden beneath. "Gods, I want you." The warrior murmured as their clothes fell away. Scooping the bard up in her arms, Xena walked over and laid her on the bed, covering Gabrielle’s body with her own. Both women groaned at the pleasant contact. Xena’s mouth sought out the bard’s left nipple, taking into her mouth while gently sucking and licking. Gabrielle groaned loudly as she arched her back, her fingers insinuating themselves into Xena’s hair.

"Yesss." Gabrielle growled as Xena’s hand worked its way downward, cupping her sex. Both women dimly heard a door shutting, but any thoughts about it were doused when Xena’s finger slipped between the folds to find it’s goal.

Ephiny woke up from her sound sleep at the sound of someone entering her room. Reaching for her sword, she asked. "Who’s there?" A grumpy looking Eponin moved into the moonlight.

"Move over, I’m tired." She didn’t wait for an answer as she crawled in next to Ephiny.

"What’s wrong with our hut?"

"The Queen is using it." Came the tired reply.

"Oh."

Xena was constantly amazed by Gabrielle’s response to her touches. She kissed her way downward, stopping to lavish attention on both breasts, careful of the stitches that were testament to the recent events. Her tongue rolled over the tender flesh, drawing the nipple into her mouth. Gabrielle moaned and writhed beneath her. Xena pressed her thigh against the bard’s sex, groaning herself when she felt the warm wetness against her skin. She moved up to claim the bard’s mouth again, dizzying her with passionate kisses as their tongues danced together. Finally breaking the kiss, Xena positioned her mouth near her lover’s ear. "I can’t wait." She murmured as she sucked and nipped on Gabrielle’s sensitive earlobe.

"Neither can I, my love." Gabrielle’s hand traveled downward, her fingers locating and wrapping around Xena’s left nipple. The warrior let out an animalistic groan and pressed her thigh harder against Gabrielle’s sex. "Yes…please…more…" The bard moaned as she brought her own thigh up to press against Xena’s dark curls. All restraint vanished as the soft skin of the bard pressed against the warrior’s womanhood.

Xena moved upward, bringing her breast to meet the hungry lips. Gabrielle used both hands to guide the soft mound to her mouth, her tongue quickly flicking over the sensitive nipple. She sucked and licked and nibbled it to full hardness, relishing the grunts and moans her actions created. Gabrielle gave the same attention to the other breast as Xena’s thigh continued to press against her. The bard’s small hand worked its way between them to rest against the soft curls. Curling her finger between the folds, Gabrielle was treated to an instant bath of womanly juices. Xena gasped and pressed herself against the probing hand, encouraging more. Gabrielle realized that her warrior wouldn’t be able to take much more. "Over me." She whispered, causing another groan from her love.

Xena turned her body around and positioned her sex over Gabrielle’s face, her own face gazing at soft blond curls. There was no time for tender, languid explorations. Both women were too worked up for that. Using her fingers to part the soft folds, Xena lowered her head and dipped her tongue in to taste the sweet honey that Gabrielle offered. Small hands wrapped themselves around her hips, pulling her sex down to meet the bard’s waiting tongue. Both women groaned loudly at the delicious contact.

Their tongues worked in unison, both women struggling to bring the other to climax first while fighting to prolong their own pleasure. Xena’s tongue worked a frenzied pace against the swollen nub, causing Gabrielle’s legs to tremble with passion. Slipping forward, her tongue slipped in to taste the fresh liquid pouring from the bard. Her hands cupped the firm buttocks below her, pulling the bard’s sex against her mouth.

Xena’s eyes closed when she felt the soft tongue enter her. Her hips moved of their own accord, trying not to suffocate her lover while grinding her mound against the bard’s mouth. Gabrielle’s fingers raked across Xena’s back and buttocks, her hips lifting off the bed under the touch of the warrior’s skilled mouth.

"Oh…G-Gabrielle…" Xena’s strained whimpers drove the bard, encouraging her to claim her prize. Locking her lips around Xena’s nub, she brought her teeth down to press against it while her tongue gave strong, forceful licks across it. Xena’s body shook, her grip on the bard tightened, colors danced before her closed eyelids. Muffling her scream against the bard’s muscled thigh, she let the passion overtake her. Like a greedy kitten, Gabrielle tried to lap up all the juice that spilled out. Only when she felt the body on top of hers still did she cease her ministrations and gently roll Xena onto the bed.

Xena’s arms wrapped themselves around the bard’s thigh as she took the time to get her breathing under control. The legs moved away from her hand were soon replaced by loving arms that wrapped around her. Xena quickly took refuge against Gabrielle’s body, pressing her head against the hollow where the neck and shoulder meet. They laid together for long moments before either made any effort to move. Slowly, Xena’s hand made its way downward, making lazy circles along the firm abdomen until she reached the soft, downy curls. She could have spent all night twirling her fingers through the wet patch of fur, but the increased breathing and sighs told her that Gabrielle couldn’t stand much more torture. Xena kissed her deeply as the long fingers found their mark. Gabrielle’s hips jerked off the bed as she pressed herself against the probing fingers. Her cries were silenced by the warrior’s insisting tongue invading her mouth. Xena slid two fingers deep inside while using her thumb to continually stimulate the sensitive nub. Releasing Gabrielle’s mouth and moving to a kneeling position to get a better angle, Xena kept her eyes focused on her lover’s face as she watched passion overtake the young woman. Fingers on the inside matched the frenzied motions of the thumb on the outside, taking her over the edge. Arching up hard and screaming her lover’s name, Gabrielle exploded with ecstasy. A flood of honey poured over Xena’s fingers as she maintained her contact with the orgasming bard. Only when Gabrielle’s body went limp against the bed did Xena withdraw her fingers from their warm resting place. Moving up to take the still-quivering woman in her arms, Xena silently thanked several goddesses for giving her the chance to love such a beautiful woman. In the warrior’s eyes, Gabrielle was indeed a gift from the gods. Snuggling up closer, Xena kissed the storyteller softly, a gentle smile still playing on her face.

"Many…skills." Gabrielle murmured as she curled up deeper into the strong woman’s embrace. Both fell asleep within heartbeats.

"Maybe they’ve already finished their breakfast and gone back to the palace." Gabrielle suggested hopefully. Xena stopped and looked at her, arching her eyebrow for effect. The bard’s face reddened slightly as she realized her mistake. "Oops, I forgot we were talking about MY family, heh heh." She turned to face the foot hut, taking a deep breath and straightening herself. "Well, what’s the worst they can do? After all, I am Queen." She lost her nerve and looked to Xena for support, her last words indicating little hope that her rank would prevent the flurry of questions that would be facing her when Hecuba found her. Xena leaned over and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I’m sure you’ll think of the right thing to say." Although Xena wasn’t quite so certain. Despite Gabrielle’s openness around her, the young woman was still painfully modest when it came to matters of a sexual nature. Explaining to her mother where she was and what she was doing all night long was certain to embarrass Gabrielle to the point where her bardic skills would be rendered useless. Mothers had a way of doing that.

"And where do you think you’re going?" Gabrielle stopped and grabbed her upper arm. "You’re not leaving me to face them all alone." The guilty look and sheepish grin told Gabrielle that was exactly what the warrior had in mind. Gabrielle frowned. "Don’t even think about it."

"Gabrielle, you know I’m no good at that kind of stuff." Xena’s voice was almost whining in her attempt to avoid the imminent confrontation. She was saved from a verbal lashing from the bard by Eponin calling her name. Both women turned to see a very unamused look on the Amazon’s face.

"Next time you two need a place to rendezvous, do me a favor and pick someone else’s hut." Eponin glared at the smug looking warrior. "I have been picked on all morning by the warriors under my command. I’m surprised that you two didn’t wake up the whole village." Gabrielle blushed furiously. The Amazon Warrior noticed with satisfaction that the smug look was off of Xena’s face.

"Sorry." The young Queen mumbled as she studied a blade of grass located somewhere near her feet.

"Sorry?" Eponin forced herself to lower her voice, reminding herself that she was still speaking to the Queen. "I have had the pleasure of having no less than ten women come up and ask me who the lucky woman was." A smirk crossed over Eponin’s lips. "I should have told them it was you."

"I would have just had to kill you, Ep." Xena said nonchalantly. "Protecting the Queen’s image and all."

"Yeah, you did a great job protecting it last night." Eponin teased. "Anyway, I’ve got to get back, I just wanted to warn you two, that’s all."

"Warn us?" Gabrielle said nervously.

"Well, it’s just that your mothers, well, you see…"

"For Gaia’s sake, out with it." Xena growled.

"They’re waiting for you both in the throne room. They’re not happy with either of you right now." Eponin thought that perhaps sparring with three warriors at once was preferable to being the victim of the look that Xena was giving her right at that moment.

"Do they know where we were?" The bard asked quietly. She was quickly getting a headache from all this.

"They know you two snuck out together and that I spent the night in Ephiny’s room. Lila saw me leaving." The lovers nodded at each other in unspoken understanding of the situation. Eponin left them alone and headed back to the training grounds, grateful that it wasn’t her that had to face the mothers waiting for them.

"Are you sure you’re ready for this?" Xena asked gently as they approached the door to the throne room. As comfortable as Gabrielle was to be Xena’s lover, she wasn’t comfortable with the idea of having to tell her mother and sister. Xena wasn’t as worried about her mother’s reaction. She knew that Cyrene loved Gabrielle as if she were one of her own children. Being lovers wouldn’t change that. Xena was more worried about how Gabrielle was going to handle whatever reaction she got from her family.

"No, but let’s get it over with." She said with no authority to her voice. Her hand hovered above the latch. "Xena?" Gabrielle felt the strong arms wrap around her and hold her in a tight embrace.

"I love you, Gabrielle. Nothing anyone else says is going to change that." Xena spoke gently to her soulmate. Gabrielle remained in the embrace for a few more moments, drawing strength from Xena’s love. With a gentle sigh, she straightened up and looked at the door.

"Ready?"

They walked in to see Hecuba and Cyrene sitting comfortably on overstuffed chairs in the far corner, chatting away as if old friends. The lovers exchanged confused glances as they walked closer. The sounds of the conversation were filtering in to them.

"…didn’t come and talk to me when it happened. She thought she hurt herself somehow and was going to bleed to death."

"Tell me about it. That girl never listened to me. Why, sometimes I wish I could just take her over my knee and…"

"Mother!" Xena yelped. The mothers stopped their conversation and looked up at their daughters, both of whom were showing tinges of red in their cheeks.

"Oh, I’m sorry dear. Hecuba and I were just talking about…"

"I know what you were talking about, that’s why I interrupted."

"Mother, did you tell Cyrene all my most embarrassing moments or were you saving some for later?"

"Actually, Gabrielle, we were just talking about how stubborn you two are." Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other, complete confusion showing on both of their faces. Neither mother was showing any sign of anger.

"I know you aren’t much for words, Xena." Cyrene turned her attention to the bard. "But I never expected you to be able to contain your emotions, Gabrielle. Why didn’t you tell us?"

"We would have understood, Gabrielle." Hecuba added.

The four women sat together for the next few candlemarks, learning more about the new members of their families. Xena’s tension dissipated as Hecuba took the time to speak privately to her, airing out all the old feelings that had come between them.

"Xena, I know that my husband and I didn’t treat you very well the first time we met you. You have to understand where we were coming from. Here comes this warlord, Xena, Destroyer of Nations, to take our daughter away from us. Then you would bring her back, more scars, more muscles, less and less the little girl who left. I thought I was blaming you for ruining our daughter. What I was doing was blaming you for her growing up."

"I would give my life to protect her." Xena reassured.

"I know you would, Xena. I just wish you didn’t have to. Let me make one thing clear to you. I am in no way pleased with the idea that you drag my daughter," Hecuba held her hand up to stop the protest that was on the warrior’s lips. "I know, she follows you willingly." Xena’s lips closed as the words were spoken for her. "I am still not happy that the two of you traipse all over hades half acre putting yourselves in danger. However, since it seems that there is no way to change that fact, I can at least take comfort in the knowledge that my daughter is happy. There was a time when she was younger that I thought she would never find true happiness. She always had a far away look to her eye. To Gabrielle, life in Potodeia would never have been enough. She needed more, far more than I could ever give her." Hecuba put her hand on Xena’s shoulder, albeit tentatively. "I’m glad you were able to give her that happiness, Xena. The love that you two share is very special."

"We were blessed by Aphrodite." Hecuba’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Goddess of Love.

"Then it is indeed the truest of loves if the great goddess herself took upon you two to bless it." Hecuba’s infectious smile reminded Xena of her beloved Gabrielle. "Now come here and give your mother-in-law a hug."

Gabrielle’s head swung around at the sound of her mother demanding a hug from Xena. Her blue-green eyes caught the incredibly surprised and astonished look in the blue ones. The young bard fought the urge to giggle at her lover’s plight. Leaning over to whisper in a conspiratory tone to Cyrene, Gabrielle observed "She looks like a frightened deer." That sent both women into fits of laughter as Xena glared at them before returning the hug.

Xena quickly found out that Lila didn’t share quite the same feelings as her mother. Leaving the stable after checking on Argo, she saw Lila standing there, glaring at her. She waited a moment to see if the young woman would talk, but all Lila did was glare at her, building the anger up inside her young body. "Is there something you wanted, Lila?" She asked in a bored tone. Xena really was getting sick of the daggers being thrown at her from her lover’s sister’s eyes.

"I…don’t…like…you!" Her words dripped with anger and hatred. "You took my sister away, you almost got my mother killed, you…hey!" Lila yelped when she was unceremoniously picked up off her feet by a now angry warrior.

"I’m sick of your tantrums, Lila." She carried the kicking and screaming woman over to the long horse trough. "I think you need to cool off." Xena said as she held Lila out over the water and released her grip. The trough was deep enough to totally soak the young woman.

"I can’t believe…" Lila sputtered as she came up for air. Seeing the smug look on Xena’s face, the young woman’s eyes narrowed. Climbing out of the trough, she reached down and grabbed a hefty pile of mud in her hand. Xena twisted her head to avoid the smelly mud, but Lila’s throw still caught her on the neck and chest. "Uh oh."

Lila ducked through the fence and took off across the field as Xena wiped the mud, which she was certain was mixed with manure, off of her face. Visions of Lila covered head to toe with the offensive muck danced through Xena’s mind as she took off after her. Her powerful legs quickly overtook the smaller ones as she scooped Lila up and tossed her over her shoulder like a sack of flour. "Put me down!" Lila yelled as she pounded on Xena’s back. "Where are you taking me?" She demanded. Xena said nothing as she headed over toward the pig pens. Two Amazons who had been tending to the pigs looked up and saw an angry warrior striding toward them, a screaming woman in her arms. They quickly shooed the pigs inside the corral and got out of the way.

With her free hand, Xena opened up the gate to the sty. A quick glance told her that it was deep enough that Lila wouldn’t get hurt when she fell. The pounding on her back increased. "I said put…me…down! You can’t just…(sniff)…hey! Xena, don’t you dare! Come on now, I only got you a little bit, this stuff stinks! Xena? Xena, please, I-aaahh!" She landed in the mud with a generous thwap sound. The normally stoic warrior couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the head to toe mess that was Gabrielle’s sister.

Digging her hands deep into the muddy water, Lila eyed her mark, then moved her arms as she splayed her fingers out, creating a muddy wave of pig smell that splashed all over the front of Xena. The warrior’s eyes narrowed, the fight was on.

"AND JUST WHAT DO THE TWO OF YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING??" Gabrielle bellowed at the two figures thrashing around in the mud, laughing their heads off as they threw mud at each other. The mud-covered women separated and gave each other the ‘uh-oh, we’re dead now’ look. Gabrielle’s blue-green eyes were dark with fury. "I’m sitting there, having a pleasant conversation with our mothers and what are you two doing? You’re out here acting like children!" Both Xena and Lila had visions of their mothers giving the exact same type of speech to them. Both still had the same fear of the tone. "Lila!" She glared at her mud covered sister. "I love Xena, and that’s all there is to it. I will continue to live with her and be with her and there’s nothing you can do or say about it so you might as well just accept it. Do I make myself clear?" Without waiting for an answer, Gabrielle turned on Xena. "And you! I would have thought you were too mature for this kind of display, splashing about in the mud and, uggh, whatever else is in here." For a girl raised on a farm, Gabrielle still hated the stench of the pig sty and avoided it whenever possible. "You two had better work it out right now." She turned to leave. "And don’t even think about entering the palace smelling like that." She yelled back at them. "I’ll have clean skirts and tunics waiting for you at the bathhouse."

Xena and Lila sat there for a moment, watching the retreating form. "Boy, she sounds just like Mother."

"Uh, that’s not good, huh?" Xena asked. The mud covered girl smiled mischievously.

"Nope. You’re in big trouble, Xena. When Mother got mad, boy oh boy, you didn’t want to be within twenty leagues of her." A rotten thought popped into the young woman’s head. "And Gabrielle knows more words!" She laughed at the anguished groan that came from Xena.

Too nervous to wait with the rest of the women, Xena and Gabrielle rode Argo to intercept Toris on the way to the rendezvous point. Both women breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the wagon was empty, save for her brother. When the horses reached each other, The siblings pulled them to a stop. Blue eyes met equally blue as heartbeats passed without sounds. Gabrielle cleared her throat. "If you will excuse me, I, uh, have to make a trip to the woods." She slid off of the horse and disappeared, recognizing the need for Xena to speak alone with her brother.

"What happened?" She asked quietly.

"Solon chose to stay with Kaleipus. We didn’t tell him that you were around, but he did ask if we could get word to you that he wants to see you in the summer." Toris looked down at his boots. "Xena, I won’t say anything to Mother."

"You know it’s for the best, Toris."

"I know. It would kill her to know that she has a grandson that she can’t see. I’m not doing so well with it myself." He blinked rapidly, remembering his reaction to Solon telling him that it was nice to know the truth but that he was happy living with the Centaurs. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"You are now." She replied softly. "Toris," Xena waited until she had his gaze. "Thank you. For understanding…and for alerting us about Mother. I know that took courage on your part." All the anger she had for her older brother over the loss of Lyceus seemed to fall away from her heart, replaced with an understanding of the tragedies of life. Toris looked startled by his sister’s statement.

"I love you, Xena. You’re my sister, you always will be. I’ll always be there for you, and for your Gabrielle."

"How did?"

"Oh, Xena." Toris laughed. "I’ve known you since you were born. Don’t you think I can tell when you’re head over heels in love? Besides, its plain as day on her face. She practically beams."

Pressing against the stirrup with her left foot, Xena dismounted from Argo and into the wagon, giving her brother a stiff armed hug, still not entirely comfortable with the display of affection. Toris took it for what it was, his stoic sister’s attempt to express her feelings. He, of course, was much better at expressing his emotions and he wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug, which she allowed for only a couple of heartbeats before pulling away and vaulting back onto Argo. "Gabrielle." She called out, knowing that her beloved wasn’t far. The honey haired beauty came out from behind some trees and took the proffered arm to vault up behind her warrior. Xena turned Argo around and urged her back toward the rendezvous point. She put some distance between herself and Toris, wanting a little privacy with Gabrielle before meeting up with their families.

Once they were out of sight, Xena eased up on the reins, letting Argo set the pace. "You all right?" Gabrielle asked.

"Mm? Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking."

"I know that, silly. What are thinking about?" Xena stopped the horse and turned in her saddle to face the bard. Gabrielle drank in the sight of a happy smile on Xena’s face.

"I was just thinking about when I was a child. I wasn’t the easiest child in the world, you know. When other girls played with cloth dolls, I played sword fight with Lyceus." Gabrielle giggled at the image of a little Xena swinging a wooden stick and calling it a sword. "Other mothers told Cyrene not to let me play with the boys, but she didn’t care what they said. She told them that if I was happy, then that was all that mattered." Xena blinked quickly, then gave Gabrielle a kiss. "Let’s head back and spend some time with our mothers before they leave." She urged Argo into a trot.

"You know we could escort everyone home instead of sending Amazons." Gabrielle suggested, sensing Xena’s need to spend time with her mother.

"No." Xena said quickly, then grinned slightly. "I love my Mother, Gabrielle, I really do. But the idea of spending every waking moment with her for the next four days is beyond my capabilities."

"Good." Gabrielle grinned. "I wasn’t looking forward to it either. Mother can be a little…demanding sometimes. But I still love her."

"I know, Gabrielle. That’s how mothers are. They love us to death, but also drive us crazy sometimes. I think its a secret skill they teach each other." Gabrielle nodded in agreement.

After the Queen and her family left, Trasis sent a request to Queen Ephiny that she be notified in advance the next time more than one person from Potodeia was going to be staying with them. Trasis wanted to plan her next vacation.

THE END