Family Reunion Part 6 by Cheeya.

 

"By the gods." Gabrielle's hand moved to her mouth in utter shock. "Solan." She moved to where Xena was hugging her son and reached out, touching his hair as if to convince herself that he was really there.

 

"Gabrielle." He voice was deeper and he was bigger but he had the same smile. "You look a little different. You got a haircut."

 

"I... um... yeah, I... Gods, Solan." Xena released him and Gabrielle stepped into his arms. He was taller than she was now and she buried her face in his shoulder as the tears came.

 

"Don't cry," he whispered. "Everything's ok."

 

The queen pulled back and smiled, cupping his cheek. "I love you, Solan," she murmured.

 

Xena was crying. She was helpless to stop the tears from falling and she came forward again, wrapping her arms around Gabrielle and Solan, while beckoning for Thalia to join them. It was the sweetest moment she'd ever experienced and, as she kissed each bowed head, she knew she'd do anything to keep them together. "I love you all so much," she said softly. "So, so much."

 

After a long moment, Xena released her family and wrapped her arms around Gabrielle, who was shaking her head in disbelief. "Xena," the queen whispered.

 

"I know," the warrior replied. "He's back. He's really back."

 

Solan cleared his throat and smiled. "Are you two..." He gestured between them and blushed a little.

 

"Yeah," Xena confirmed before dropping a kiss on Gabrielle's forehead. "A couple of years now."

 

"That's great," the young man replied. "I always thought you two belonged together." He stopped then and looked around. "Has anyone seen a friend of mine? His name is Galendus."

 

"Um..." Xena looked at Gabrielle, who scratched her cheek guiltily. "I... Yeah... he's back in our hut." Xena scratched her neck. "Tied up."

 

"Tied up!" Solan headed for the cave entrance. "C'mon, we have to untie him. He was only doing what I asked him to do."

 

Xena caught his arm and stopped him leaving. "Why?" she asked softly.

 

Solan frowned in confusion. "Why what, Mother?"

 

For a long moment, Xena savoured that name coming from his mouth. "Why did you ask him not to tell us anything?"

 

"Because, Mother." Solan face grew serious and Xena could have sworn she could see fear in his blue eyes. "You and Gabrielle are in great danger. It's Dahak."

 

Xena froze, hearing Gabrielle gasp at the same time. "D-Dahak," the queen whispered. "W-what about him?" She moved forward and clasped his shoulder. "Solan, please, what do you know about Dahak?"

 

"He wants you, Gabrielle. He still wants you and he knows that the only way to get you is to kill the Warrior Princess first."

 

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances. "Why does he want me?" the bard asked in an almost whisper."

 

"Because." Solan sighed and took her hand. "You are the mother of his daughter."

 

Gabrielle was shaking now. "You mean?"

 

"Yes." The young man nodded. "Hope's alive too and she coming after you. I barely managed to evade her, which is why I've bee hiding out here. I could risk leading her to you and Mother."

 

"Oh Solan," Xena smiled, ruffling his dark hair. "Gabrielle and I can take care of ourselves."

 

"I know you can," he replied. "But I didn’t want to risk it. At least now you're prepared."

 

Xena looked to Gabrielle, whose face was as white as a sheet. "There are some things you can't ever prepare for," she murmured. The bard just swallowed and nodded. "Alright," Xena stated. "Let's get back to the village and let Galendus go. Then we'll discuss what we're going to do."

 

And with that, Xena took Gabrielle's hand, lacing their fingers tightly together, and led her newly reunited family back to the Amazon village.

 

**

 

Gabrielle stood and scrubbed a hand through her hair as she sighed wearily. By the time they'd returned to the village and had something to eat, it had been dark so they'd decided to forego their talk with Solan until morning.

 

Xena could see by her partner's face that she was both worried and exhausted so she insisted on them going to bed. "C'mon, Sweetheart." The warrior wrapped her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and drew her to the bed, stopping once she reached it. "Hey." Gabrielle looked up, her green eyes holding a good deal of fear. Xena smiled. "Everything's going to be ok."

 

"I really hope that's true," the bard replied. She rested her head on Xena's chest and wrapped her arms around a leather-clad waist. "Hope. Gods, Xena."

 

"I know," the warrior replied as she rested her cheek on Gabrielle's hair, loving the sweet smell and silky texture. "But we can get through this. We always do."

 

"Honey, is this going drag up the past?"

 

The look on the bard's face made Xena's heart clench and she shook her head firmly. "No. The past is in the past, where it belongs. This is just another test of our love and I know we're gonna pass with flying colours." Gabrielle's relief was obvious and Xena pulled her close again, hugging her tightly. "I love you so much, Gabrielle. Loving you is what gets me through each day. Just remember that."

 

The bard smiled a little and her hand came up to cup her partner's cheek. Her thumb lightly stroked Xena's lips as she met pale blue eyes with a look of love. "I love you too, Xena." She couldn't resist those lips and drew the warrior's head down to kiss her deeply. She felt Xena's hands drift to her waist and then up her back with a sure, knowing touch. As she pressed their bodies together, Gabrielle's growled in response and she felt some of the worry and tension drain away from her as she relaxed into Xena's touch.

 

The Warrior Princess concentrated on her partner totally, even letting her normal senses drop a little as she kissed her way along Gabrielle's shoulder to nibble on her earlobe. She smiled as she felt knowing hands quickly remove her armour... and then the hands were on her leathers, loosening the laces and pulling at the soft, worn hide. Xena decided to return the favour and she very deftly removed the bard's skirt and top, leaving her in only her underwraps. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," she whispered reverently as she removed the last of Gabrielle's clothing.

 

The bard stepped into her and they closed their arms around each other, loving the meeting of silky, warm skin. Gabrielle moaned softly as Xena's fingernails grazed her sensitised skin and she ducked her head, finding a nice piece of skin to nibble and teasing an almost whimper from the warrior's throat. She chuckled and went back for more, this time getting a sharp inhale and a squeak.

 

Xena smiled and hugged her partner close. "This ok?" she asked, wanting to make sure that Gabrielle was really ok.

 

"It's more than ok, Honey," the queen grinned. "Don't worry. Your touch is doing wonders for the knots in my stomach."

 

"Ah." Xena's hand drifted down to rub the aforementioned body part. "Do you need something to..."

 

"No," Gabrielle interrupted. "Thanks. I just need you."

 

"Oh." Gabrielle was rewarded with an adorable grin and she was suddenly sideways and being gently placed on their bed. "That's ok then," the warrior stated firmly.

 

"It sure is," the bard replied as Xena joined her with a little bounce. Then the warrior's lips and tongue were doing something really, really nice to her navel. "Xena..."

 

Blue eyes lifted. "Hm?"

 

Green eyes twinkled. "Don't stop."

 

"I have no intensions of doing anything of the sort," Xena replied with a smile and Gabrielle just melted into her lover's touch, trusting in her with all her heart and soul.

 

It felt amazing.

 

**

 

Cuddled with Gabrielle in the semi-darkness of the Amazon Queen's hut, Xena felt more at peace with herself than she had in a while. Solan was back. Boy, was that the biggest shock ever. She smiled into the darkness. He was a handsome young man with gentle blue eyes and dark hair, not quite as dark as her own but probably about the same as Borias'. Xena sighed. Borias. Even though she hadn't loved him really, she still felt bad about his death. He'd turned out to be a good man and someone she could possibly have learned from, had she been willing to listen. But she hadn't, she acknowledged truthfully. She wouldn't have listened to anyone back then... not even Lao Ma.

 

Regrets.

 

Xena had done plenty of things in her life that she regretted. But there was one thing she'd never regret... The young woman curled up against her, her heart and soul, Gabrielle. Xena would never ever regret meeting Gabrielle. Not even one moment of their life together.

 

"Honey?" Sleepy green eyes peered up at Xena.

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Why are you mumbling to yourself? Is something wrong?"

 

The warrior sighed and pulled Gabrielle closer, wrapping her up in a long hug and then kissing her forehead gently. "No," she whispered. "Right now, everything's perfect."

 

The bard dropped her head again. "Good," she murmured before going back to sleep. A few moments later, Xena joined her.

 

**

 

Dawn. Warrior and bard were already up and facing off on the practise grounds. Gabrielle eyed her opponent carefully, letting her body centre itself and bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. Xena looked relaxed and she shifted her grip a little on her staff as she waited. "You know," Gabrielle began. "One of us is going to have to make the first move eventually." She twirled the staff and circled her chuckling partner. "So who's it gonna be?"

 

Blue eyes rolled. "I think I taught you too well," she muttered. Then, with lightening speed, she swept the staff low and tried to take Gabrielle's legs out from under her. But the queen was ready and leapt over the weapon, at the same time swinging her own and catching Xena on her shoulder guard. Xena spun and came back with a front sweep, which the queen blocked and then countered. They traded blows back and forward as they danced around the training area and suddenly, they realised they'd collected an audience.

 

"Great," Gabrielle muttered, as she jammed her staff into the ground and launched herself feet forward into the air to thump against Xena's breastplate and send her off balance. "We've got an audience to watch us sweat."

 

"They're your fans," Xena replied as she righted herself and came back with another low sweep. This one came as a bit of a surprise and Gabrielle was taken down, avoiding a fall by tucking into a roll and then spinning to block an overhead blow. This was the most difficult block for her, given her diminutive stature and she'd had to work on her upper body strength to allow her to take on people who were taller than her... which was just about everybody with male plumbing or who was named Xena.

 

"My fans? No way. Why would they want to watch me when you're around?"

 

Xena suddenly stopped to tell her partner that half of the Amazon Nation was in love with her, but Gabrielle didn’t have time to pull her blow and bopped her lover pretty hard on the head. "Oh gods!" Gabrielle crouched next to her partner's prostrate form and felt the lump already beginning to form. "Are you alright?"

 

Xena shook her head to clear the stars from her vision and then sighed. "Yeah. My fault. I let my guard down."

 

"Sorry," Gabrielle winced. "Let's get you back to the hut so I can put a cold cloth on that."

 

Xena chuckled. "You just want to get me alone in our bedchamber."

 

"Uh..." Gabrielle blushed and looked at the crowd, which was smiling indulgently. "Brat," she finally replied and leaned in to kiss the little bump just over her lover's ear. "You get me into sooo much trouble."

 

The warrior pointed her thumb at her chest, her eyebrows disappearing into her bangs. "Me? I get YOU into trouble?"

 

"Yes. Now come on and let me take a look at that."

 

With a little incredulous shake of her head, Xena accepted the proffered hand and got up, pleased to find that she wasn't dizzy... much. But she sobered immediately when she saw Solan standing on the porch, waiting for them. "Uh oh. Guess it's time for that talk, Gabrielle."

 

The bard sighed and shook her head. "Nothing about this is going to be good, not with Hope involved. You know that, right?"

 

"Yeah, I know and, Gabrielle, I want you to know something." Xena waited until Gabrielle was looking her straight in the eye. "This time, it's your decision."

 

The queen knew exactly what her partner meant and nodded sadly. "I don't know if I want that responsibility, Xena," she whispered. Then she squared her shoulders. "But I promise you that I'll make the right one."

 

"I know," Xena replied softly. "I know."

 

**