Gabrielle sighed heavily, looking out into the horizon watching the sun set for the thousandth time straight. She bit her lip. She wished Xena was here with her, but… she could really never be physically ever again. For their souls to truly be free, they must be avenged. Gabrielle could hear those words in her head every minute of every day.
She looked down for a moment. Xena said that she'd always be with her, but she still wanted more. She looked over to her ashes that was sitting on a chair a few feet away from her. She had been alone for years and it was like a purgatorial eternity. It just wasn't fair. How could God take away the only person she had left that she loved? She cursed at herself. How could she be so selfish? All those souls were free, they were finally happy.
…But she wasn't.
She looked up and bit her lip as her eyes settled on the huge chunk of land that she called home. In all truth, she really didn't want to go back. There were just too many things that reminded her of Xena but she knew she had to get over that sooner or later. Mine as well start now.
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She grabbed her bag and held the ashes in her hand tightly. It was the only thing she had left of her, so she'd keep it forever more. She walked through the crowd, her eyes tracing over the faces. None of them she recognized, none of them she even wanted to.
She took a deep breath and headed home. Her mother was still there, she hoped… She wondered how she'd react to seeing her. Would she be happy? Would she be…? Oh, fuck it.
"Gabrielle." She paused and turned to see a smile on her mother's face. "You… you came! A little late! But you came back!" She rushed towards her and wrapped her arms around her tightly. "I'm so glad to see you! Thank the Gods you're alright!"
"Yes, mom." She closed her eyes and pulled away.
"Where's Xena?" She looked around, wondering where she was.
"She's dead."
Her mother's eyes widened. "Wh-what? Oh, dear.. I'm so sorry." She pulled her daughter closer and hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry."
Gabrielle wanted to just break down and cry, to melt and crumble in her mothers arms… but she couldn't. She had cried all the tears she could through the years. "I'm fine. She died a couple of years ago, mother."
She nodded and pulled away. "Come now," she said. "Come on home."
Gabrielle followed her closely and smiled softly as they came across their old house. "You're room is the way it is when you left, so many years ago darling." Her mother kissed her forehead and walked inside. Gabrielle just stood. It's been so long. She hadn't really even realized how much she'd changed since she left with Xena. She used to be so happy, so bouncy… and so hateful at times. She used to write tremendous stories, she used to be… what's the word, normal? So many things happened on their journey's together. Some of the really bad, some of them dangerous, some of them just plain out freaky.
She took a deep breath and walked inside. Was it time to try to go back to a normal life? She hoped not.