She had every intention of sailing south to the land of the Pharaohs just like she and Xena had planned before they were called to Japa, but after making her way through the lands of the east Gabrielle felt a tug at her heart; a tug that was now leading her back to Greece. As much as she wanted to continue the adventures as if Xena were still alive, Gabrielle knew she had other responsibilities to see too. The truth of it was that Xena was dead, yes she could feel her lover's soul near her, she knew that the warm wisps of wind on her cheek was Xena, the feather touch that fluttered her hair at night was Xena, but Xena was still very much dead. The warrior princess was gone and there were people who needed to know.

As she disembarked from the ship that had brought her back to Greece, Gabrielle checked to make sure that the small urn that held Xena's ashes was still in it's leather pouch and still fastened securely to her waist near her chakram. That was still a very strange thought, her chakram. It was just another sign on the new road her life was taking. There was still a world out there that needed Xena, but since she was gone it would be Gabrielle who stepped up to fill the role as best she could.

Making her way through the town Gabrielle looked around at the familiar setting. She and Xena had passed through this port hundreds of times, and yet it felt as if she'd never set foot here before. Everything seemed to take on a strange new feeling now that she was traveling alone. Now that she was on dry land Gabrielle felt the first rumblings of hunger, but she pushed them aside for now. She needed to find the temple of Eli so she could ask if anyone knew where Eve was. She needed to tell their daughter that her mother was dead and then she wanted to take Xena home toAmphipolis.

"Excuse me," Gabrielle said softly as she walked into the temple.

The priest turned and smiled at her as he extended his hand. "Welcome traveler, how may I serve you?"

"I was hoping you'd be able to tell me where I could find Eve." Gabrielle replied as she fished a few coins out of her pouch and placed them in the offering bowl near the alter. She glanced up at the markings that stood for Eli and his beliefs and wondered if maybe he could… She stopped the thought before it was finished. Xena had refused to come back, she'd said she had to stay dead in order to keep those souls at peace. Gabrielle sighed.

The man looked at the battle worn woman for a moment before asking, "Forgive me, but may I ask why you seek the Massager?"

Gabrielle turned to look at him, a soft, sad, crooked smile on her sun kissed face. "My name is Gabrielle, I need to find her to…"

"Gabrielle?" The man repeated. "You are one of the Massager's mothers."

She couldn't help but smile as she nodded a little. It warmed her heart to know that Eve thought of her as another mother, especially given their past. They had after all tried to kill each other at one point or another. "Do you know where I can find her?"

"You just missed her." He replied. "She set out three days ago when there was no sign of your return."

"Which way did she head?" Gabrielle asked. Eve had been here looking for them? Why? Was there something wrong?

The man smiled softly, "East, down the coast."

Gabrielle nodded as she gripped the man's hand. "Thank you."

After getting some supplies and a horse Gabrielle headed east. Eve had a three day head start but she was most likely on foot. If Gabrielle traveled through the night and following day she'd be able catch up with their daughter by the following evening. As she rode through the familiar countryside, Gabrielle's mind drifted to the times she and Xena had passed along this way. She thought about the time they had to save a cluster of virgins from Darco, and about the time they'd defeated a giant using Xena's flying parchment, and the time Xena and Callisto switched bodies, and the time Xena took over Autolycus' body and how they'd brought her back from death. Again and again they'd fought off death and won, but now, now her hands were tied because Xena didn't want to come back.

Gabrielle sighed. She knew that it wasn't that Xena didn't want to come back, it was that she couldn't. Xena was doing the right thing, she knew that, it just didn't make it any easier not having her there with her. "I miss you, Xena." She whispered into the growing darkness of the night. "I miss you so much I ache."

By morning the blonde bard warrior was having trouble staying awake in the saddle. Fatigue had settled in sometime around dawn. She thought about stopping and setting up camp to get a couple of hours of sleep, but she shook off the thought and the fatigue and pushed on. She was growing more and more focused on finding Eve. She needed to be near Xena and the only way she had of doing that was to be near her daughter.

"Well, well what do we have here."

The strange male voice quickly snapped Gabrielle out of her half dozing state. In the road just ahead of her was a gang of road bandits. She groaned and rolled her eyes. She wasn't in the mood to knock heads together.

"Seems to be a pretty little lass all alone on this dangerous road."

She groaned again, ok so many she was in the mood to knock heads together. "Back off boys."

The men laughed, "Or what sweet cheeks? You gonna beat up the bad men?"

A sneer appeared on Gabrielle's face. "Something like that."

The men all laughed as they watched Gabrielle get off her horse and come towards them. They didn't see the weapons, the chakram at her side, all they saw was this little blonde woman walking calmly towards them. Their mistake. She made quick work of the group, taking out some of her anger and frustration on their hides. As the last bandit tried to run off into the woods, Gabrielle unhooked the chakram from her belt and threw it at him. The round blade beaned him in the back of the head, knocking him out cold, then bounced off a near by tree before returning to Gabrielle's waiting hand. She put it back in it's place on her belt and then climbed back onto her horse. There was the tiniest of smiles on her face as she once again set out to find Eve.

The small camp was tucked away among the trees in a small clearing. Eve had laid out her bedroll and built a small fire. She was kneeling near the fire poking at it's embers when she heard the rustle in the trees.

Gabrielle followed the distant crackling and smell of a near by fire. She listened to the silence until she was sure she'd found who she was looking for. She didn't want to bust in on some other weary travelers by mistake, but something told her that she'd finally caught up with Eve. When she stepped closer to the brush surrounding the campsite, she gasped. Eve looked so much like her mother in that moment by the fire that it was painful for the warrior bard to look at her.

"Gabrielle?" Eve called out softly as she rose to her feet.

The blonde tried to smile but it was harder then it seemed. She stepped out of the brush and moved a little closer to Eve. The two women didn't say a word. The look in Gabrielle's eyes was enough for Eve to know that the odd feeling she'd had, the one that had sent her looking for her mothers, had been true. The dark haired young woman close the distance between them and they embraced as the tears came.

When they finally let go of one another Eve took Gabrielle by the hand and lead her over to the fire. The two women sat beside each other and for a long time but said nothing as they collected themselves. Finally Eve had to ask, "How did Mother die?"

Hearing Eve say it out loud felt like a lightening bolt through her body. As Gabrielle looked into the flames she could feel more tears welling in her eyes. She told Eve about Yodoshi, about what happened in Japa, and how Xena had to stay dead in order to put all those souls to rest. Towards the end of the story her voice cracked as she choked on the emotions of it all. "It was her final act of redemption."

Eve nodded in understanding. She over anyone, even Gabrielle, understood the need to make up for the sins of the past. Again the two women sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. Finally Eve once again broke the stillness. "Do you think she's with Solon and the others?"

Gabrielle really hadn't thought about it. Xena was still Greek, she still believed in the Greek Gods, she would go to the Elysian fields wouldn't she? "I hope so." She finally replied. "I really hope so."