Part VI

The rain pounded down on the humble farm house. Both Solan and Hope had enjoyed a quiet dinner with their mothers and had fallen asleep in the joy and comfort of this new home. Xena walked about checking with pride the repaired roofing, not a leak in sight as Gabrielle sat on the floor before the blazing fireplace. Gabrielle stirred the logs as her thoughts turned to Hope's words spoken earlier that day in the garden. Xena joined beside Gabrielle taking her by the hand, giving her an expression in her deep blue eyes how content she was beginning to feel.

"Xena you've been just wonderful and it's so good to have you like this and to have our children. I just wished you could be more at ease with Hope. She's trying. She's trying so very hard to gain your trust." Xena turned her head slowly to gaze into the fire's light. Looking over only a moment at her armor, her scabbard and the chakram hanging on a nearby wall, Xena took a deep sigh of breath.

"Gabrielle, I know Hope is trying. I'm trying too."

Xena continued to explain how Solan had told her it was he who had found the only passage out of the Elysian Fields. Finding so many lost souls, he was surprised to find Hope still even had memories of you or especially of me. When he took her back to the fields with him, Hope became a child again as they spent many days wishing for their families to come for them. When the chance came from Callisto, he insisted Hope be given a chance too. Only his forgiveness could release a soul such as Hope.

"If Solan can give her that, I'm trying to give her that too. Let's just give it time, Gabrielle."

Lying back in the comfort of Xena's assurance, Gabrielle had recollection of the time Solan had been the guide for she and Xena out of Illusia. They had much to forgive inside during that journey. Time had been kind to them and would indeed be as kind toward the feelings between Xena and Hope. The rain continued to pour through the night giving sound like thundering horses riding overhead. It was Xena that heard a whimper in the children's room and went to check on their safety.

Hope seemed asleep but was the one making a weak whimper, shivering and tossing about in her bed. Xena sat gently next to her, taking hold of the young girl's hand. Hope looked up with open eyes, fixed upon the warrior princess as her fear was obvious.

In a whisper and soft tone that Hope had never heard from the strong warrior woman, Xena placed her finger over her lips giving a "Shhhhh...it's okay. It's only the storm making you restless. It will pass by morning."

Xena returned, placing a log onto the fire to burn the rest of the night. She took her place lying beside Gabrielle who had fallen asleep on the soft bear skinned rug. Rubbing her hand several times across the rug with joy from the memory of Solan's glow as he had his first bear kill. Unlike Eve, Xena had missed his first words, his first steps. It was truly a gift she had another chance to enjoy many first accomplishments with her son. He had done very well to skin the prey completely by himself as Xena looked on. Gabrielle had been so kind, grasping Solan tightly in appreciation when he gave to her this wonderful rug which served them well and complimented the humble room. Certainly lying here with Gabrielle was a gift as well for Xena. Her heart had moments of feeling restless and longing for a journey. It wasn't the battle or the turmoil she missed but a detached feeling she had lost part of herself. As Xena looked at Gabrielle's gentle, loving and kind face shadowed by the glow of the fire, Xena was reminded that the part of herself she felt lost was the part she no longer needed. That space was being filled with each new day with more love than Xena could have ever imagined would be granted to her. No other destiny could have filled her heart on such a stormy night.
Rising early, Gabrielle found Hope the first of their children to awake. Hope was anxious to get some of the eggs from the barn for her mother. She quietly tip toed past Xena who was lying asleep still on the floor. Returning with a basketful of fresh eggs, Hope tilted the basket as she stepped past Xena just enough for one egg to drop. Hitting the floor just above Xena's head, the warrior princess leaped up quicker than the eye could examine. In a flash Xena had grabbed her sword and had it pointed immediately and directly at Hope's neck.

Solan ran into the room freezing in his footsteps giving a look of panic over his whole face. Gabrielle turned quickly as each muscle tightened causing her to drop the frying pan onto the table. No one said a word for what seemed like a very, very long moment. Hope's eyes finally moved, turning with expression of fear toward her mother. Xena took a deep swallow as her hand's grip let go of her sword as she sent it flying with a loud bang when it hit the floor. Xena gave a surprised and guilty expression first to Hope, then to Gabrielle and last a long look revealing her pain inside to Solan. She stomped out of the front door and headed for the barn where the horses were kept.

Part VII

Gabrielle turned quickly to gather both Solan and Hope in her arms. She stood holding them both tight, calming them quickly and telling them they should not fear Xena's reaction. "Xena has the heart of a warrior," Gabrielle explained. "You two must learn to understand and trust her like I do. She will always react to the unknown such as a surprise egg falling at her head. She will always have her weapon ready to strike the blow but she won't. She won't because Xena is a very wise warrior. She would never strike without thinking or good reason. You've just seen proof of that not proof she'll harm Hope or anyone unless there is true danger. Not now and not ever. Fear is the enemy here, not Xena."
Gabrielle watched calm slowly return to the children's faces. She turned, telling them she needed to go to Xena. "If we had been through what Xena has been through, we'd surely understand the pain in her heart." Before Gabrielle took hold to open the door, Hope interrupted her saying, "no Mother. Not you. I will go."

Gabrielle looked unsure of letting her daughter face Xena at this moment. She realized in her heart however, this would come. The time that Hope and Xena would have to face their fear and distrust of one another. Solan nodded, giving his approval telling Gabrielle, "let her go, Gabrielle. Let Hope talk to my mother. They can't go on until they face what is tearing them both apart." Solan put his arm for reassurance on Gabrielle's shoulder. She looked deep into his eyes which once again gave her such comfort. Taking a deep swallow and giving the children a smile, Gabrielle let her grip loose of the door handle. She stepped back saying, "you are wise beyond your years of life Solan. You're right. It should be Hope that talks to Xena."

Hope turned quickly, threw back the front door and slowly walked in the same direction toward the the barn. Stepping inside, Hope felt her heart turning in knots with fear. Her mind recalled that she once believed this woman would never let her forget the circumstance that brought her into the world. Dahok had been her creator and his fire had planted who she became inside of the one Xena loved most. As if that wasn't enough pain to drive a warrior to vengeance, killing her son to appease her greatest enemy surely left no chance of trust or forgiveness. No one had more right to hate her as a mortal than did Xena, Hope thought.

Turning to see Hope walking into the barn froze Xena as she was preparing her saddle. She gave a surprised stare at the child and found no words of comfort and stood silent. Hope paused before she began slowly making her approach toward the tall warrior princess. Her mind was searching fast for words to say to Xena. As she stood directly before her, Hope said nothing but reached out with both arms open wide. Unexpectedly, this action caught Xena off guard. As the moisture slowly gathered in Xena's eyes and rolled slowly down her cheeks, she gazed into the innocence gleaming from Hope's lovely face. She stepped forward and took hold of Hope's hands, pulled her close and wrapped her securely with both of own her mighty arms.

"I'm sorry," Xena spoke with obvious guilt and pain in her voice. "Oh my child, you do have your mother's eyes. When your father sent you back as an adult, you looked exactly like Gabrielle. Your face, then her face, both falling....and falling and the screams. When your mother grabbed hold of you to save my life I died inside a thousand times at that moment. I can't deny that. But Hope, you're a child. Now you appear without evil inside. At last I'm trying to see nothing but goodness in your eyes. I do want to love you, Hope! I do!"

Xena gave one final squeeze of her arms before she released Hope. The child stood feeling greatly relieved and being suddenly filled with complete trust of Xena. She had several tears trailing down her youthful and glowing face as she found the strength and cleared her throat to speak.

"It's okay Xena. Mother explained your reaction to Solan and I. I know it's only a matter of enough time before I will learn not to fear you and you will learn not to fear me. Your voice last night was kind. I thought when you left about you and I having something we both can share. Not our fear of one another and those awful memories from the past. In this new time, we can share the love of my mother and Solan. I thought about what mother said. She says our new garden will grow weeds among the beautiful flowers. It's up to us to take away the weeds so the flowers can grow and reach complete beauty. You think if we take away our past fears, we can be like flowers, Xena?"

Xena took a long breath at the wise words of Gabrielle to Hope which she now was hearing spoken in the soft voice of Gabrielle's daughter. Xena could finally hear goodness, see goodnes and clearly see so much of Gabrielle in Hope's face. As Hope stood calm and secure with her, Xena knew her heart needed to know or hear no more. Giving a large smile to Hope, Xena chuckled and said, "so.........you want someone to really beat up those eggs you woke me with? Laughing back at Xena's humor, Hope took her by the hand and they both walked back toward the house. Hope threw in one last cautious comment, saying "I'll bet no one can beat up an egg like you can beat up an egg, Xena."

Xena and Hope both entered the door laughing as Gabrielle and Solan were anxiously trying to slice some pork for frying. Both could tell by the glee of laughter that Xena and Hope had at long last reached an understanding. After Xena showed Solan a tighter grip on his dagger for slicing the meat thinner, she turned to Gabrielle asking, "now where are those eggs? I feel like beating up something and eggs are just right for the job! Oh, and Gabrielle, I think we all could use some of those little biscuit rolls with the red stuff inside you cook so well. Let's make 'em soft this time, shall we?"

"Soft!" Gabrielle shouted as she grinned and turned, flipping a rather large pinch of some white flour onto Xena's face. "Yeah Gabrielle, you're just a softee!" Xena replied, tossing a full hand of flour back at her mate.

Solan and Hope stepped back, gave a smile to one another and joined in the laughter from the fun of a simple family breakfast. The room filled with white powder as the play continued until the breakfast was finally finished. Just before gathering at the small table, a horse was heard riding hard and fast toward the house. Xena opened the door to discover a rider sliding off his horse and falling forward taking his last breath. Quickly checking his neck, Xena alerted he was dead. The man held a scroll in his hand.

Part VIII

Gabrielle stood anxious over Xena as she read the scroll. It was word from China that Eve had been captured and was being traded to the new Roman Emperor on the black market. Rome had a heavy reward out for the one named Livia and a bounty hunter had tracked her to China. One evening during a gathering as Eve shared Eli's words in a temple , she told the story of being Rome's champion. The bounty hunter took her captive that same evening and headed back to Rome.

"I have to go to Rome," Xena announced taking a firm grip on the scroll. Gabrielle was insisting that they all go to Rome, reminding her place was with Xena. "No, Gabrielle, your place is with the children," Xena responded. "I will not take them to Rome. I can't risk their young lives, not now Gabrielle. One child's life almost ruined forever because of Rome is all I will allow."

Solan and Hope stood looking quietly. They had taken only a few bites of the wonderful breakfast finally prepared after a long morning. Hope asked in a whisper of who was Eve. Solan gave a soft reply to her that it was his sister. Solan went on to explained that he didn't really know Eve either. He added that he had named her and knew of her only when his mother carried her inside that time she found him in Tartarus.

"Xena you know that the current Roman Emperor will not take kindly to your returning. You shouldn't go there alone," Gabrielle begged. Xena hastily gathered her things to include her weapons and armor hanging on the wall. Without words in reply to Gabrielle's pleading, she headed to the barn. The saddle was still ready for mount as Xena straightened the bridal and and threw an old blanket into the saddle bag. She turned slowly while Gabrielle stood at the door looking hurt and very concerned.

"Gabrielle, you know this is how it must be. You have to stay with Solan and Hope. I cannot deal with the Emperor and worry about these children at the same time. You're helping me by staying. Don't you know that?"

Gabrielle knew Xena was correct although her heart hurt to let Xena ride to Rome alone. So many dangers awaited her there. Thoughts of concern grew about what might happen at the farm in Xena's absence. Gabrielle's mind raced with worry and her feeling she was being torn between keeping the children from harm or taking her place with Xena. She stepped inside the house to tell Solan and Hope to come bid a goodbye. She wanted Xena to know they would be there when she returned and to have a last look of the love on their faces before leaving. Xena paused before mounting her horse, walking slowly over to kiss each child and then turned to Gabrielle.

"If you need anything while I'm gone Gabrielle the next farm house is just over the hill, remember?"

"Xena, we'll be fine. You do what you have to do to save Eve. Maybe she can join you and come back here to meet her brother and step-sister. And Xena, please be careful. Eve needs you. Remember that we need you too."

Xena turned once again giving a reassuring look to Gabrielle, then Solan and then to Hope. She made quick exit on her horseback to keep her tears from showing to her family. She glanced back only once to see them all still standing outside the humble home and waving heartily in her direction. Xena knew all along she might have to leave for a time if there was a battle where she could help. Being a warrior was who she was and living on a farm had not changed that. She had not expected it to be so soon however, or the first danger that would draw her away from her loved ones to be Eve.

Gabrielle and the children walked quietly back into the house once Xena had ridden from sight. The breakfast that had been so interesting earlier that morning had turned cold. Gabrielle and Hope cleared the dishes while Solan went outside to attend to the day's chores. Once finished inside, Hope suggested she and her mother work in the flower garden. Gabrielle declined, explaining to Hope it wasn't a good day for her. She told Hope to go with Solan and gather some berries for a pie she would make for them later in the evening. Hope realized by her mother's expression that she needed some time to herself. She picked up two small pails hanging near the door and went outside to find Solan.

The days grew long and the nights even longer as Gabrielle lie on the bear skinned rug alone. The children seemed quite passive in completing their chores everyday and finding a little time before sunset for play and laughter. Gabrielle had joined in kicking the animal skinned ball around the tall grass beside the house. Time seemed to stand still as Gabrielle realized she was only going through the motions without Xena. The children sensed the tension and sadness as well and tried hard to cheer her up. They brought her fresh flowers everyday. The days turned to weeks with each nightfall finding Gabrielle standing alone in the front doorway looking at the stars. Her mind wondered if Xena had saved Eve, if she was hurt or if she would just not hear any news. She hoped that Xena was on her way home and also lying beneath those same stars, safe from danger.

After checking that the children were asleep, Gabrielle sat as always in front of the blazing fire. Poking at the logs and thinking of Xena, she drew an image of Xena's face in her mind. The vision became less and less a comfort each night while Gabrielle longed to have her warrior princess back home. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a stir of the animals coming from the direction of the barn. Gabrielle leaped to her feet and reached for a candle to light her way. Stepping cautiously, Gabrielle entered the barn to see Xena removing the saddle. With a a large but tired smile, Xena turned looking directly into Gabrielle's anxious eyes.

"I didn't mean to awaken you," Xena said in a calm and soft tone.

Gabrielle swallowed deep before blurting out, "awaken me? Xena! Are you alright? How were things in Rome?"

Xena turned, immediately embracing Gabrielle with a strong hug, answering only, "things in Rome are fine. How are things here?"

Gabrielle told Xena the children were fine, the garden was in full bloom and even the cow's had learned to enjoy her morning milk squeezing routine. She talked fast as they walked back and into the house. Gabrielle was pleased, telling Xena that Solan had been quite the little man about the place. He had kept them well supplied with venison and fish while Hope had become the keeper of the laying hens, proudly collecting the eggs each day. Gabrielle even offered with a proud smile that Hope hadn't dropped any of the eggs since Xena left. Lying down her bags, Xena removed her armor, hung her breastplate and her weapons on the same nail as before. Lying down quickly on the rug, Xena gave a long sigh of relief. Gabrielle quietly took her place beside Xena turning to embrace her while crying and saying, "we've missed you Xena. We've all missed you."

Gabrielle was so overcome with joy and relief that Xena was safe and back at home, she postponed asking Xena where was Eve knowing things worked out or Xena would have told her.

Part IX

Hope seemed to be the early riser of the family as she tip toed again past her mother and Xena lying asleep on the rug just in front of the fireplace. Returning from the barn rather quickly with only a few eggs in her basket Hope began to tip toe again past Xena's head, toward the table. Suddenly, Solan entered the room shouting, "Mother! You're back!" Tilting her basket with one of the eggs rolling out, Hope gasped as Xena turned quickly grabbing the egg with a one hand catch before it hit the floor. "Ha! gotcha that time, didn't I?" Xena exclaimed as she stood to her feet greeting both of the children and expressing how good it was to be back home. Gabrielle awakened slowly at the sounds of the family all around her and scooting her feet slowly, she walked toward the stove.

"Oh, no you don't Gabrielle," Xena said as she reached across grabbing hold of the frying pan. Instructing Solan by a pointing motion of her finger to the dried beef hanging on the wall, Xena looked toward Hope saying, "we can fix your mother's breakfast for a change, don't you think?" Hope's eyes gleamed along with her smile at being asked to help Xena make the family meal. Solan gave a nod of approval suggesting he and Gabrielle go do the milking, leaving those two to their work. "Good idea, Solan" Gabrielle replied with a chuckle to her voice adding, "it might be best we don't see this." Gabrielle placed her arm across Solan's shoulder as they happily walked out of the house and toward the barn. Solan asked Gabrielle if Eve was okay. Stopping her footsteps, Gabrielle realized she hadn't even asked. "Well, we will just have to ask Xena at breakfast. Come now, the cows await!"

Returning to the house with two full buckets of milk, Gabrielle and Solan found Xena and Hope sitting at the table. White flour was powdered completely covering the stove, the wall, the rug and some lying in a thin layer on the eating table. Only giving a grin, Gabrielle and Solan sat down to roll their eyes at the site of the darkened meat on their plates, a large portion of what surely was scrambled eggs and to the side a slice of crisp bread already spread with butter. "Milk?" Solan asked as he poured some from his bucket into each of the four cups.

The breakfast was mostly quiet with each turning their food about several times on the plate, sipping on the milk very slowly and turning to give a smile from time to time toward each other. Xena was the first to leap up from her seat and quickly gather the plates which had very little of the food on them eaten. She gave a chakram type fling to the plates throwing them in a pan next to the stove as she asked, "what does everyone feel like doing today? It's my first day back and I think I'd like a little fishing." Gabrielle stood to walk toward the rug, picked it up and shook off the flour. She turned toward Xena asking, "is Eve okay, you didn't say?" Listening close, Solan repeated, "yes mother, is Eve okay?"

Xena paused before giving an answer, finally walking over to Gabrielle, placing her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder she replied, "Eve is better than okay. She's found her soulmate. A young man who teaches the word of Eli just as she does. I left them at a temple where they decided they could settle with their followers in peace." Xena then smiled at giving this news and quickly reached for her fishing pole. She looked right at Solan to tell him, "come now! The fish aren't going to wait all day."

Xena walked out the front door awaiting Solan to join her. Inside the house, Gabrielle gave a understanding smile to Solan. She told him he should join his mother and leave she and Hope to finish up the chores. Gabrielle handed him his pole and a pack to carry along whispering, "she'll understand Solan."

At the lake, Xena quickly caught two fine sized fish waving them briskly toward Solan shouting, "check these out!" Solan only smiled lying his pole down and reaching for the sack Gabrielle handed him earlier. He removed a scroll and a quill pen, sitting down on the ground to write as Xena stared for quite some time before she exclaimed, "what are you doing?" Looking apprehensive back at his mother Solan said, "I'm recording your fishing adventure, mother. I've taken quite a liking to this writing. Gabrielle has been helping me. She sure has a way to put beauty into words." Without thinking Xena grabbed the scroll from her son's hand to read, the warrior princess stood tall and proud with her pole. A day of peace and family sent her on a early morning journey to join her beloved fish far away from danger and turmoil. Her face was beautiful, her eyes more blue than the reflection from the lake and her voice was happy in celebration from the first catch of the day.

Silence overcame Xena as she gently handed the scroll back to Solan. She stood quiet for a very long time as Solan became anxious of how his mother was going to react. Taking a deep swallow and with a small tear forming in her eye, Xena softly said, "You write beautifully Solan." Giving a large sigh of relief at his mother's response, Solan stood to his feet and wrapped his arms around Xena. "Oh mother! I love you. I'm no warrior. I'm not even a woodsman or a hunter, really. My joy has been Gabrielle teaching me to write what I see and feel in my heart onto these scrolls. Sometimes I think I'd rather write than eat, hunt or fish."

Suddenly Xena took notice that Solan's fishing pole was moving about sliding toward the lake quickly. Xena grabbed for the pole, grasping it tightly as Solan also took hold. Together they pulled onto the land the largest fish either of them had ever seen taken from this lake. Shaking the fish all about, sprinkling themselves with the water droplets, they laughed loudly and together until finally Xena suggested they head back home and see what Hope and Gabrielle had accomplished with their morning.

Part X - Conclusion

Xena and Solan returned to the house finding it empty. Xena stepped outside to hang the fish she'd caught believing Hope and Gabrielle were probably in the flower gardens. Solan remained inside, sitting at the table to finish writing on his scroll. He wrote: Xena is in her heart a warrior. In the hearts of those that look beneath the surface, there is a true caring person. When I look deep into her eyes, I find my mother there.

Too much time had passed with Xena becoming worried of Hope and Gabrielle. She and Solan walked the fields finding no signs of either of them. There were footprints toward the village less than four hours old. Xena headed directly to the barn and saddled her horse quickly. She and Solan rode into town where they immediately heard of a battle going on near the mountain. The villager spoke of a woman and a young girl in the thick of the fighting. Xena told Solan to hold on tight as she rode fast and furious in the direction the villager had pointed toward. Gabrielle had her sais in hand as she fought off three attackers before Xena could dismount. Running toward Gabrielle, Xena took notice of Hope welding a sword rather handily taking down one of the attackers coming toward her mother's back. Xena grabbed for her Chakram but had no need to throw it when the remaining group of attacker's helped up the others and began running off in the other direction.

"What is going on here?" Xena grumbled.

Gabrielle turned to reply while Hope lowered her sword and walked over to Solan. Solan lifted Hope up behind him on Xena's horse.

"Thieves Xena," Gabrielle replied. "Thieves who have been robbing all the farms around of their chickens and horses for the evil Anibus." Xena stood stunned that Gabrielle spoke so secure and calm.

"So you decided to take on a army without me?"

Gabrielle placed her sais in her boots and began walking back toward the village. "Not without you Xena. Hope and I heard of this from Greda while you were gone. Greda came by again this morning after you and Solan left with word some of Anibus' men were headed in this direction. Hope and I decided they needed to head back beyond the mountain."

Xena walked along with Gabrielle as Hope and Solan followed some distance behind. Reaching the village, Gabrielle gave word to the first man they passed to tell others, Anibus' thieves had been turned back. The villager's expression left it clear he believed the warrior princess had turned the thieves away from town. He went off to spread the good news. Xena made no interruption, giving little care of who thought what about this battle. She was being distracted by Solan telling Hope of his scroll he began writing of his mother's fishing adventure. Hope exchanged to Solan how her mother proved trust and faith in her by letting her take on those thieves with her sword. Hope added she felt good fighting along side, saying it was like my mother does with Xena.

They were back at the farm just as darkness covered the sky completely. Quietly offering some cheese and bread, Gabrielle suggested to Solan and Hope they eat a bite and turn in early. She could feel Xena's mood and wasn't about to test her on further discussion of the battle until the children were fed something and off to the bedroom. Xena had gathered wood and started a good fire to warm the cool air gathered in the home on this night. Xena loudly slammed her armor, scabbard and chakram down on the table, rearranged the rug only slightly and laid down without a word. Gabrielle pulled the door closed to Solan and Hope's room saying a goodnight for both she and Xena. She paced the room some before lying down beside Xena.

The fire felt warm and the glow gave a gleam of anger to Xena's eyes. Gabrielle knew she might be in for one of those long lectures if she were the first to speak. Instead, she lie quiet and waited.

Xena's voice was certainly holding back as she could keep quiet no longer. Rising to her feet, putting her hands on her hips, Xena blurted out, "you'd take your child in battle? You'd have Hope welding a sword?"

Letting Xena pace about the room for several minutes, Gabrielle quietly asked she come sit down beside her. Gabrielle poked the fire once awaiting Xena to join her as the blaze from the fire now shined on her own gentle face. She looked toward Xena, softly stroking her hand on Xena's cheek, she said, "Xena, you are doing really well, staying here for all of us. You were off in battle to save Eve for a long, long time. While you were gone, I had a chance to learn writing is what Solan is destined to do and Hope tells me she wants to be a warrior like you. She can weld a sword much better than I ever could. I learned she practices alone in the barn every day. She wasn't just going after the eggs every morning."

"Oh, really," Xena replied lowering her eyebrow. "You expect me to trust Hope with a sword?"

Gabrielle looked down, turned and placed her hand on Xena's shoulder. "No I don't expect you to trust Hope completely, ever. Hope doesn't expect you to trust her either, Xena. Like you, she'll always seek redemption for who she was before Solan found her and before Callisto gave us this chance with her. She has no memory of the rebirth or those things we have memory of. She only knows she was evil and now she's been given a second chance. Hope believes her destiny is to use her skill with a sword and wisdom of battle to help others. I gave her my word that I would trust her choices in this life. I owe her that much. We owe her that much."

Xena stood to her feet again giving no reply to what Gabrielle had just told her. Instead, she told Gabrielle she was restless and was going to the barn to brush the horses. As she tip toed out of the door she told Gabrielle not to follow but to get some sleep.

The daylight was bright as Hope had risen with the sun and headed as always to the barn. She froze in her steps finding Xena standing there asking, "you want to use a sword, do ya?" Hope saw that Xena had already found the sword she had traded for in the village, used in battle the day before and thought she had hidden well behind the bales of hay. Also behind Xena, Hope noticed a tall stack of hay bales that had not been in the barn before. Before she could reply to the warrior princess, Xena walked to stand beside the bales stacked taller than herself. Xena stepped forward, handing Hope the sword telling her to grasp it tightly with both hands. Turning around Xena commanded, "show me how you'd run your sword through these bales." Xena had turned her back toward Hope on purpose. Hearing the hay crunch, Xena turned back around saying, "who's your enemy? You have to know who really is your enemy and who is not when you take up the sword." Xena began giving Hope some pointers on using her sword. She directed Hope to a scabbard newly made with the finest of leather now lying in the same spot where Hope had hidden her sword from sight.

Inside the house, Gabrielle and Solan had gathered together some oatmeal, cooking it up warmly and placing four bowls on the table. Solan and Gabrielle were already eating and talking about the joy in writing when Xena and Hope entered. Taking her seat last, Xena commented, "kinda small portions this morning." Hope and Solan finished eating first and were sent out to the barn to take care of the milking chores and were told to be sure to count the chickens.

Xena remained sitting at the table, taking her sword from the wall, she sat rubbing the sharpening stone across the blade. Gabrielle removed the bowls and walked over to take her sais from the wall. She sat in the chair across from Xena, twirling the sais around mumbling something about they had turned out to be a good weapon of choice for her. Finally turning toward Xena, Gabrielle asked, "you and Hope didn't find any eggs this morning?"

Giving a grin to Gabrielle, Xena replied, "no, no eggs. I was just watching my back as always. Your daughter does hold a sword better than you did when we started out." Returning a smile to Xena, Gabrielle stood to put her sais back on the wall. Before suggesting to Xena they go for a swim, Gabrielle gave a wink as she told her, "funny thing about destiny. We have choices." Xena returned her sword to the scabbard and replied, "our children have choices too. I can accept that.

Leaving Solan who chose to go into the fields to do some writing, Hope to sharpen her sword and put the hay bales back in place and in order, Xena and Gabrielle went off for a swim. Preparing to leap into the lake Gabrielle asked, "are we becoming one with the fishies?" Xena laughed, grabbed Gabrielle around the neck with a little squeeze to reply, "No! We're becoming one with each other. This is our destiny now and this time, we chose it! ..... WE are going to see this family destiny through together, always together!" Suddenly, Xena lifted Gabrielle in both of her arms, gave a loud laugh and tossed her into the lake. Flipping with a "Yi,Yi Yi Yi Ha!" Xena leaped in right after and began splashing Gabrielle. They enjoyed a full afternoon of swimming and some much needed time alone.