Authors: Susan Owens and Sandy Fiebranz
Timeline/Synopsis: AU. Ten years after the events chronicled in "Together, We Are a Family". This is the final story in the Trio Series.
Xena, Gabrielle, and Joxer have semi-retired from the road to allow Eve and Adora to attend school, although they still travel during the off-season to allow Eve to continue her training. Joxer teaches a music class at the local school. Gabrielle has opened a shop called "The Golden Scroll" that specializes in selling writing supplies.
Jace and Pierre have retired their dance troupe and opened a dance school in the same town. Jett has made parole and makes a living as a bounty hunter. He has a wife named Melody and a young child named Andreas, Andy for short. He also lives in the same town as his brothers.
Copyright: 2003
Disclaimers: We don't own them. The usual suspects own and profit from them instead.
Authors' notes: The names of the gods and goddesses for Gaul are a combination of Gaulish and Celtic names.
Part 1:
The tall brown haired girl sat on the stoop of the school waiting for her friend to get out of detention. She shook her head and sighed. It was the third time this week Adora had gotten detention and this time it was from her own father.
"Hey Eve, thanks for waiting for me!" Eve looked up to see Adora bouncing down the stairs. "Man, can you believe it? My own dad giving me detention..."
Eve stared at Adora. "Well, you should've been paying attention instead of passing notes to Ioannes."
"Oh, music is boring. Besides, it's not really important and Ioannes is so cute!" Adora exclaimed, dismissing her friend's scolding with a wave of her hand.
Eve shook her head and groaned. "Adora, I swear! You've got to learn to pay more attention during classes!"
Adora made a face. "I pay attention in school!"
"Yeah right," Eve snorted.
"Hey, I can prove it! Ask me anything," Adora said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Eve's blue eyes twinkled as she said, "Anything, huh? Okay, then. What are the music scales?"
"Eve!" Adora groaned, "anything but THAT!"
Eve giggled and placed her arm around her friend's shoulders. "You better be learning them soon. They're gonna be on the test."
"So, are you and Stephanos going out tonight?"
"No, and don't change the subject! I told Aunt Gabrielle that I'd watch Andy tonight. Jett and Melody want to go out."
"Why are you watching him instead of me?" Adora asked with a frown.
"Well, because you got grounded for that stunt you pulled at Jace's dance studio," Eve reminded her friend.
"How was I supposed to know that my stink bomb would actually work? It was kind of funny, though..." Adora's dark eyes shone as she thought about what had happened that day in the studio.
Eve's lips twitched but she managed to keep a straight face. "Uncle Jace and Uncle Joxer didn't think so," she pointed out to her friend.
"Well, they just don't have any sense of humor. I mean, for crying out loud! The way all those girls ran out screaming when it went off and then Uncle Jace tripped and fell over that long gown he was wearing... Come on, Eve! Even you thought it was hysterically funny!"
Before Eve could retort a response, a cheerful voice interrupted. "Hey! Adora!"
Adora turned around and smiled at the auburn-haired young man who came down the steps. "Hey! Hi, Ioannes."
Ioannes returned the smile as he stopped in front of Adora. "Can you go to the dance Saturday night, Adora?"
Adora's eyes sparkled as she gazed up at Ioannes. "Sure I can..."
"Oh no you can't!" Eve interrupted. "She's been grounded! AGAIN!"
Adora's face fell. "Aw Evie, come on! You can cover for me," she pleaded.
"No! Not this time! We've got to get home before both of us get into big trouble. You've got to help in the dance studio in case you've forgotten, Dorie."
Adora looked at Ioannes and then she winked at him. "I'll see you on Saturday!" She then got up and started walking towards home.
Eve rolled her eyes, shrugged her shoulders, and followed after her longtime friend.
The two girls arrived at Adora's house shortly after leaving school. Eve was staying at her friend's home until Xena came back from visiting a sick friend in Chin. Gabrielle looked up and pushed her hair away from her face as the girls walked inside. "Hello you two," she greeted them. She then turned to Adora and sighed. "I guess that you've had detention again, young lady."
"Yeah, Papa gave it to me. You'd think since I was his daughter he would cut me some slack! Mom, what's for supper? I'm starving!" Adora exclaimed.
"Adora, I've been busy all day in-between taking care of things at the store and having Andy under my feet all day long. There's some ham, cheese, olives, and bread left over from breakfast if you want to fix something for yourself."
"Okay Mom," Adora replied and went out into the kitchen to fix herself some supper.
"Hey, Aunt Gabrielle. I'll take Andy off your hands now," Eve went over and stooped down in front of a little boy with light blond hair and dark brown eyes. "Hey, Andy! Want to come and play with me?"
Andy looked up at her and grinned happily. "Oh boy! Come on, Eve! Let's go play soldiers. I can be the captain and you can be the head guard! Gonna do some 'nspections!"
"Okay, then. Let's go." Eve took Andy's hand and they went outside to play.
Gabrielle went into the kitchen and saw that Adora was eating. "As soon as you're finished with your supper, your Uncle Jace is expecting you," she reminded the teenager.
"Okay," Adora said and nodded in agreement. After finishing her meal, she went next door and walked inside the open doorway. "Uncle Jace, I'm here!" she called out.
"Hello Adora!" Jace said cheerfully as he came from another room dressed from head to toe in pink satin.
Adora's eyes nearly popped from her head at the sight of her uncle's outfit. "Uncle Jace, you can't be serious!" she exclaimed, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
Jace whirled around so his niece could get a full view of the outfit. "I was trying a new look. You don't like it?" he asked, his face falling.
Adora shook her head. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jace. Pink's just not your color."
"I told you so, my love," a deep voice interrupted the two before Jace could reply.
Jace turned around to face Pierre, who was smiling at him. "Okay, okay, Pierre. You made your point. I won't wear pink." Jace then turned to face Adora. "You can get started by sweeping the floor. I've got to change."
Adora and Pierre watched Jace leave. Pierre laughed a little. "He's a little strange, but I love him."
Adora rolled her eyes. "A little strange?"
Pierre chuckled as he gave Adora a broom. "All right, young lady. You heard your uncle. Start sweeping."
Adora grumbled under her breath, but began sweeping the room as she was told.