For disclaimers, see part 1

 

Part 4 by Cheeya.

 

 

"Who the Hades..." The queen's brows drew together into a frown as she tried to place the voice but it just didn’t sound familiar at all. After tucking the blanket more firmly around her sleeping partner, she picked up her sais and slid them into her boots. Then she went to the door and opened it, peeking out carefully. A young man was standing outside her hut. He was dressed in a tunic and leather pants and he smiled as he bowed low.

 

"Queen Gabrielle, it's a pleasure to meet you."

 

Gabrielle stepped out onto the porch and raised a torch to cast light on his face. "Who are you?" she asked. "And what are you doing in an Amazon village?"

 

The man moved closer, allowing her to see him better. "My name is Galendus. I'm an old friend of Solan's."

 

"Solan?" The queen's voice was a whisper. Then she squared her shoulders as she remembered that this man had earlier tried to kill her partner. "Why are you here?"

 

Galendus sighed and tugged at little at the collar of his tunic. "I'm here because... " He cleared his throat. "I wish to avenge my best friend's death. As far as I'm concerned, Xena caused his death. I'm warning her to be ready."

 

Gabrielle blinked. "What in Tartarus are you talking about? Xena didn’t kill Solan. She's his mother and she loves him." The young man shrugged and then turned on his heel to stride back into the tree line. The queen shook her head. "Do I have any lookouts actually awake?" she called. "I don't want any further intruders in the village so open your eyes." Then she went back inside and closed the door. If this man was serious, he'd be back.

 

Stripping out of her clothes, Gabrielle thought about the little boy who'd captured her heart just as surely as his mother had. She shook her head as she unlaced her boots and slipped them off. "We miss you, Solan," she whispered. Then she pulled back the covers and slipped into bed, immediately snuggling against her partner.

 

"Mm... Gabrielle..." Xena mumbled as she rolled over and wrapped her arms tightly around her petite bard. Gabrielle settled down with her head on her lover's shoulder and, moments later, she was asleep.

 

**

 

Thalia was tired, yet she just couldn’t get to sleep. Her mind was awhirl with the day's activities and just wouldn’t settle down enough to allow her to rest. She debated getting up but she'd decided against it when she heard a little tap at her door.

 

"Thai," came a muffled whisper. "You awake?"

 

"Yeah," she whispered back. "C'mon in."

 

The door slowly creaked open and Xenon's head appeared. "Can’t sleep?" he asked with a smile.

 

Thalia lay back and stretched her body, yawning sleepily. "No. Too much stuff goin' 'round in my head. What about you?"

 

The young Centaur just shrugged and moved into the room. "So, how does it feel to be a Princess?"

 

The girl laughed and wiggled her toes. "It feels wonderful. I think I made Mother proud today."

 

"You made both of them proud," Xenon replied. Then he smiled shyly. "You made me proud too... to be your friend."

 

Thalia nodded and reached out to take his hand. "I'm glad we're friends too. Moving around so much, it's tough to keep friends for long. You and I though... we'll be friends forever."

 

Xenon solemnly nodded his agreement. "Friends forever."

 

"Friends who'd better get their butts into their own beds right now," came a voice from the door. However, in the dim light, Gabrielle was hiding a smirk.

 

"Yes, Mom," Thalia replied and smiled at Xenon who headed out the door.

 

Gabrielle winked and looked after him. "He's cute, huh?"

 

Her daughter just shrugged. The queen chuckled. "Night, Cutie."

 

**

 

"There's no way I'm going through with it!" Galendus backed away from his friend. "Xena will kick my butt. She'll kill me."

 

Thaleus shook his head. "This challenge is just to get Xena and Gabrielle away from the village. I want only them to be around when I reveal who I really am."

 

Looking at the ground, Galendus sighed. "Gabrielle was upset," he said quietly. "I didn't..."

 

Thaleus smiled and patted his friend's shoulder. "All will be put right, you'll see."

 

"I hope so."

 

**

 

Lying curled up against her partner, Gabrielle finally relaxed enough to feel sleepy. Xena's skin was warm, soft and extremely nuzzleable so the bard couldn’t resist. She pressed her body along Xena's back and snuggled up tightly, wrapping her arm around the warrior's waist and rubbing her belly. "I love you so much, I feel as if I have a constant fire burning in my heart," she whispered. "And when you touch me, the fire moves from my heart into my soul and burns so brightly that I almost drown in passion." She felt a silent chuckle move through the warrior's body.

 

"Nice, Gab, good," Xena mumbled fuzzily.

 

"You're cute when you're monosyllabic," the bard replied tenderly.

 

"You're cute all the time," came the sleepy reply. "Night."

 

"Night, Honey."

 

Closing her eyes, Gabrielle exhaled and let herself drift off into sleep.

 

Despite everything... Life was good.

 

**

 

Despite the pounding in her head, Xena was up at dawn as usual. She washed at the basin in their hut, dressed in her leathers and armour and sat her sword, chakram and breast dagger into their usual places. Then she stretched her body out and bounced a little to settle everything.

 

The warrior crept to the bed then and peered at her still sleeping partner. "See you later, Gabrielle," she whispered and then headed out to do some sparring. As Xena strode across the village, she heard her name and turned to find Thalia jogging to catch up. "Morning, Shorty."

 

"Morning, Mother. Where are you going?" Thalia was tucking her dagger into her belt and looked up at her mother with innocent blue eyes.

 

"I'm looking for a sparring partner," Xena replied with a little grin. "Interested?"

 

The girl was delighted and nodded excitedly. "Wow! You want to spar with me?"

 

The warrior shrugged. "Sure. You're the Crown Princess now. You've gotta keep the skills up..." She grimaced a little. "Plus I need to get the cobwebs out of my brain."

 

"Heavy night, huh?" Thalia asked with a knowing wink.

 

A dark eyebrow lifted. "I'll pretend I didn’t hear that." She grinned then. "What about you and Xenon, huh? What's going on there?"

 

The princess shrugged. "Why is everyone suddenly interested in me and Xenon?" she asked. "Mom was asking me about him last night too."

 

Xena laughed. "Tell me you're kidding me. Thalia, Honey, Xenon has a crush on you so big that he practically melts when you pass by. He'd crawl fifty miles over broken glass just to sweat in your shadow!"

 

Thalia blushed hotly. "He does not!"

 

"He does so."

 

Matching eyebrows arched at each other before Xena and Thalia both burst into laughter. "He's nice," the girl admitted with a shy smile. "Mom, I know Ephiny was your and Mom's friend. Would you be ok with it if Xenon and I... well... um..."

 

Xena wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulder and squeezed her. "I think Gabrielle and I would be delighted."

 

**

 

All morning, Gabrielle paced the hut. Xena had left at dawn to do what she did every day... whatever that was... and it seemed that Thalia had gone with her. The bard was worried because she hadn’t had a chance to tell her feisty partner about the challenge made against her. All around her, the sounds of the village threatened to invade but she was so intent on her problem that, when she turned and found the warrior leaning against the doorframe watching her, she almost levitated with fright. "Xena! Where have you been?" she demanded angrily.

 

Uh oh.

 

Xena took a step forward and held out a neatly tied bunch of wild flowers. She watched nervously as the bard held her angry face for a few moments more but then let out a relieved breath when her face softened and she moved closer. "I'm sorry for yelling at you," Gabrielle said softly as she took the flowers. "These are beautiful."

 

"I was sparring with Thalia," Xena replied as she smiled her forgiveness and cupped her partner's cheek. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

 

"We need to talk." The bard set the flowers down on the table and moved to the bed. "Let's sit down."

 

The warrior was immediately worried but took her place next to her bard on the bed. "Go on."

 

"Xena, Galendus, as you know, was Solan's best friend and the reason he's back is to avenge Solan's death. He's blaming you and he told me last night to tell you to watch your back." She reached over and took Xena's hand, stroking it gently with her thumb as the warrior absorbed the words.

 

"Well," Xena finally replied. "If it makes him feel better, I'll give him what he wants." She smiled grimly. "I just hope he can take it."

 

"Honey, are you upset?"

 

The warrior sighed and her shoulders slumped a little. "I though I'd come to terms with Solan's death but... I wish he were here, Gabrielle. I really do."

 

Leaning against her partner's strong shoulder, Gabrielle nodded. "Me too, Honey. Me too." They sat together in companionable silence for a while until Gabrielle's stomach began to growl.

 

"Oooooh," Xena grinned. "Better go feed that monster. Did you get breakfast?"

 

"Um... well... I got..." The bard shrugged. "I guess not. Wow, where did the morning go?"

 

A dark brow lifted. "It was probably taken up with all that pacing you were doing."

 

Gabrielle grinned sheepishly and scratched her nose. "You saw, huh?"

 

"Mmhm." Xena nodded. "I saw." She chuckled a little and kissed her partner's temple. "Worrywart."

 

The bard shrugged. "Can’t help it. You're always getting into trouble." She paused then. "Remember, years ago, Xe, when we'd first starting travelling together and I stumbled across those guys who were trying to release the Titans?"

 

The warrior took Gabrielle's hand and laced their fingers together, leading her out of the hut. "Will I ever forget," she chuckled. "They thought you were a virgin goddess."

 

"I was," Gabrielle replied softly. "The virgin part, I mean."

 

Xena's face clouded over as she thought about the bard's long-dead husband, Perdicus. "Perdicus was a good man," she said softly and Gabrielle nodded.

 

"He was... and I loved him... but, you and I, we were meant to be together, Xena. Lines in the Mendi, remember? Separate but forever connected."

 

Xena smiled and nodded her agreement. "Soulmates."

 

The lovers reached the dining hut and ducked inside, making for a seat when some of their friends were eating lunch. There was only one chair though so Xena sat in it and pulled Gabrielle into her lap. "Hey Guys. It's a beautiful day outside, isn’t it? It's almost good enough for a..." Just then, the alarm sounded. "Battle?" Xena finished as she stood up, taking Gabrielle with her and setting her onto the floor. "What the hell is going on?"