Family Reunion

 

by Cheeya and Jrockit

 

Disclaimers: Do we own any of the characters depicted in this story, aside from Thalia? Well...we both wish we did. I can guarantee they would've been MUCH happier!!!

Violence: Mmm... what do you think? Would it be Xena without the violence? But to answer your question, I'd say moderate violence.

Language: Watch out for it!

Subtext: Mmm... this one would be called maintext, and we mean that this story represents the Bard and Warrior as lovers. So, if you can't handle it, go here: http://www.geocities.com/bardicinfluence/general.html and you will find something there.

Feedback: Sure! Send to me, [email protected], or to [email protected] we'd love to hear from you!!!

Now, on with the story....

 

Part One by Jrockit

 

 

"What's that?" Xena asked as she watched Gabrielle frown.

 

The blonde, lithe warrior looked up. "Queen Salia died," she informed the warrior princess. "My presence is requested at the Amazon camp."

"Oh...I'm sorry Gabrielle." Xena said as she hugged her lover. "I know you and Salia were good friends. We can head that way tonight, if you'd like."

 

The bard nodded. "Thanks, Xena." She shared a smile with her soul mate. She felt bad that Salia was dead. How could that have happened? Salia was a strong queen--Ephiny's own cousin.

 

Xena noticed that Gabrielle was looking depressed. "Gabrielle...I know you miss Salia, but she was a good Queen. She'll be at peace now," Xena told her.

 

Gabrielle nodded. She began to help Xena clean up the campsite. Gabrielle turned to the Warrior Princess. "Xena...aren't you forgetting something?" She asked.

 

Xena paused, and looked at the bard. "What would that be?" She asked.

 

Gabrielle rolled her emerald green eyes. "Our daughter!" She said, playfully smacking Xena with the scroll.

 

Xena laughed. "I didn't forget Thalia, Gabrielle." She admonished. "I sent her to get some dinner. I figured you'd be hungry by now."

 

Gabrielle grinned. "I am. You figured right." She told the dark warrior.

 

Xena shook her head, amused.

 

***

"She walks with the speed of Diana, the grace of Aphrodite..." Thalia mused as she tiptoed through the forest, clutching a small package that contained her family's food for tonight. "And has the special skill of..." Thalia paused, stumped. Her cobalt eyes looked deep in thought. She walked along the forest, back to the campsite. Thalia's long inky black hair was tied up in a loose braid today. Usually, she wore it down but had asked her mother, Gabrielle, to braid it for her. Gabrielle had told Thalia she should braid it more often. "I need a good superhero power." Thalia mumbled. "What could I be?"

 

"How about." Xena said, appearing out of nowhere, "The Amazing Brings Dinner Fast Girl?"

 

Thalia jumped a foot in the air, the package flying from her arms. Xena caught it, grinning. "Come on Thai." She said. "We need to eat, and get ready to leave."

 

"We're leaving?" Thalia asked. "Why?"

 

"Queen Salias died." Xena explained as the two fell into step with each other. "Your mother's presence is requested at the Amazon Camp."

Thalia brightened. "Cool!" She declared. "I love going back to the camp. Hey, you think Americe wil be impressed with the fact I can use a staff now?" She asked.

 

Xena chuckled and wrapped an arm around her daughter. "I'm sure she will be, Thalia." She said. Gabrielle was waiting for the two of them.

 

"Mom, I'm sorry your friend died." Thalia told Gabrielle, "But I'm glad we're going back to the camp."

 

Gabrielle smiled. "I thought you would be, Thalia." She told her adoptive daughter. Gabrielle thought of Thalia as her own flesh and blood, and Xena wanted Gabrielle to be a parent to Thalia as well. And, if Solan had lived... Gabrielle shoved that thought away. She always felt guilty about that, even though Xena had forgiven her.

The threesome began to clean up their campsite, and loaded their belongings on Argo, and Calipsoe, Gabrielle's horse. The dinner they ate that night was simple--bread and fish, and some nutbread for dessert. Xena and Gabrielle did most of the talking. Thalia was too busy thinking about how much fun she'd have back at the Amazon camp when she saw her friends again.

 

The ride took most of the night. Thalia, arms still around Xena, had fallen asleep with her cheek against Xena's back. Gabrielle smiled at the sight, wishing she was a competent enough artist to capture the picture. By the early light of dawn, the three had arrived. Eponin was waiting to greet them.

 

Xena looked back. "Thalia, wake up." She whispered. "We're here."

 

"Huh?" Groggily, Thalia opened her cobalt blue eyes and saw Eponin. "Hi, Poni." She greeted.

 

Eponin smiled. "Heya Champ." She returned. "long day?"

 

"You could say that." Thalia agreed.

 

Eponin chuckled and faced the Queen. "Gabrielle, you're now the queen since Salia died." She said. "We...we were wondering what you wanted to do about that?"

 

"Oh, I know Poni." Gabrielle dismounted Calipsoe.

 

"Xena...we have the Queen's hut prepaired if you'd like to rest." Eponin explained.

 

Xena nodded. "I think one of us is ready to hit the hay, anyways."

 

Thalia was nodding on her feet. Xena patted Poni on the back, turned and gave Gabrielle a tender smile. They disappeared into the village. Gabrielle took Argo and Calipsoe's rings, leading the horses inside. Eponin motioned to a stablegirl to take care of them. She bowed in front of the Queen, and took the horses from Gabrielle.

"What--" Eponin began, and stopped. "I mean, Queen Gabrielle, no one knows if you want to stay here."

 

Gabrielle looked at Poni. "Xena and I have been talking." She told the weapon's mistress. "We both think Thalia deserves a chance to have a semi-normal life...so for now, we want to stay here."

 

Eponin smiled. "You'll make a lot of us very happy, my Queen."

 

Gabrielle punched Ep on the shoulder. "What did I tell you about that Queen stuff? Just call me Gabrielle!"

"OK...Q-I mean,Gabrielle."

 

***

 

The next morning, news that Xena and Gabrielle had returned was spreading like wildfire. The whole camp was excited that Gabrielle had told Poni they were planning on staying. But everyone wondered, for how long?

Xena was the first one up. She watched Gabrielle sleep for a while, and bent over to brush her lips against the bard's forehead lovingly. Gabrielle stirred, and her eyes opened. "Xena...what time is it?" she mumbled.

 

"Early." Xena assured her. "You're not late, don't worry about it." Xena looked mischeivous. "Besides. You're the Queen of the Amazons, and you can sleep in if you want to."

 

Gabrielle shook her head, running a hand through her cropped blonde hair. "I'm not sure Solari would appreciate that. She's a bit like Ephiny in that perspective."

 

"We'd better get dressed." Xena warned with a yawn. "Before Thai comes in here just to tell us Eponin's going to advance her with a short sword."

Gabrielle giggled, and reached for her top. Xena watched her dress. A few years ago, this would've made her blush, but now...she tried to dress as alluringly as possible for her mate.

 

Soon both women were almost fully dressed, and sure enough Thalia raced in. "Mother! Mom!" She declared happily. "Eponin says she's gonna show me how to use a broadsword!"

 

Xena gave Gabrielle an 'I told you so' look.

 

"She is, huh?" Xena lifted her breastplates and slipped them on. "Just don't poke your eye out, and listen to what Eponin says." Xena warned her daughter.

 

Thalia rolled cobalt eyes with exasperation.  "I'm not a klutz, Mother."

 

"I didn't say that." Xena told her, running a brush through her dark tresses. "I just said, be carefull."

 

"Are you guys goin' to the mess hall?"

 

"Yeah." Xena handed Gabrielle the brush.

 

Gabrielle ran it through her hair, checked her appearence and turned to her family. "Well?" She asked.

 

"You look good!" Thalia assured her. And she did. Gabrielle was wearing her 'Amazon Queen' outfit--a short blue skirt with a matching top. It made her green eyes looked greener.

 

"You do." Agreed Xena. She kissed Gabrielle. "Come on, let's go see what they have for breakfast here." Xena said. "I'm starving."

 

She should be. Thought Gabrielle with a giggle. With all the lovemaking they did early this morning, the bard queen was surprised that she had gotten up this early.

 

The three headed out. Several Amazons passing by said hello, and stopped to make small talk. Some younger Amazons around Thalia's age slapped her on the back. Finally, they were able to make their way to the mess hut.

 

"I'll get us a seat." Thalia sang, skipping to a seat where Eponin and Solari had waved at them.

 

"What do you want?" Xena called after her.

 

"Mom knows!" Thalia answered.

 

Xena and Gabrielle got in line to get their breakfast. "I'm glad to be back, Xena." Gabrielle told her.

 

"I know, Gabrielle." Xena eyed the bard. "You're always more...uh...aggressive when we're at the camp."

 

Both women laughed at their private joke. They were served, and Xena and Gabrielle headed to where their daughter had sat with Eponin and Solari.

 

"Hey." Solari greeted with a smile. "I didn't think you two would be up so early."

 

Eponin rolled her eyes.

 

"Well, neither did we, to be honest." Gabrielle admitted, sitting by Poni. Xena sat across from her. "But...we decided it wouldn't look to Queenly if I did that."

 

Xena smiled. She was about to partake in a buttered roll, when the mess hall's door opened and Americe scampered to them. "My Queen." She greeted Gabrielle. "Xena...you're requested at King Tyldus's village." Americe explained breathlessly.

 

"Tyldus?" Xena sat the roll down. "What's wrong?"

 

Americe shrugged. "Don't know. His messenger just said to have 'the warrior princess' come immediately. It's important."

 

"Xena..." Gabrielle began.

 

Xena sighed. "How important, Americe?" She asked. "We have something to do today."

 

"I don't know Xena." Americe repeated, growing frustrated. "What do you want me to do?"

 

Xena sighed. So did Gabrielle. "Xena, we were going to make Thalia an Amazon Princess this morning." She told her lover.

 

Xena reached out and took Gabrielle's hand. "You are?" Thalia asked, her eyes growing wide. "Really?"

 

"Yes." Gabrielle answered for her. "But..."

 

"Gabrielle, go ahead and start the ceremony." Xena assured her. "I'll be back in time for Thalia to become a princess."

 

"You promise?" Green eyes met blue ones.

 

"Of course." Xena said, her voice low and throaty. "I promise you Gabrielle, I'll be back in time to see our daughter get crowned." Xena rose. "Thalia, be good and mind your mother." She told her rambunctious daughter. "Gabrielle...I'll be back as soon as I can." The warrior promised.

 

Gabrielle nodded.

 

Xena left with Americe. "Wow I'm sorry Xena. Bad timing huh?" The red headed Amazon asked.

 

"Well...sort of." Xena agreed as she mounted Argo. "But it shouldn't take too long."

 

"Good luck." Said Americe.

 

"Thanks." Xena nodded down at her. She turned Argo, and the horse began a light trot.

 

What could the Centaurs want with her now?