"The Good News"

by Susan Owens and Sandy Fiebranz

Copyright 2002-3

Rating: PG

Author's notes: Sequel to "To the Happy Couple"

Part One

Gabrielle sighed as she sat on Sugar while Joxer carefully and slowly led the

horse. "Joxer, please, can we move a little faster? By the time we get to

Amphipolis, the baby will already be born, grown up, and on his own!"

Joxer stopped Sugar and turned around to look at Gabrielle. "I've told you

before, Gabrielle. I'm taking my time so nothing happens to you and the baby."

"I know Joxer, and I think you're so sweet to do this, but I'm really getting

sick and tired of going so slow! I think I saw a snail pass by us - and it was

the same one. Twice, Joxer, twice!"

Joxer laughed. "Oh Gabrielle, now you're just being silly! We aren't going that

slow!"

Gabrielle's lips narrowed. "Joxer, either get up here with me so we can move

faster or I will leave without you!"

Joxer looked into Gabrielle's eyes and studied them. Knowing Gabrielle the way

he did, he quickly mounted Sugar. He yelled in surprise as Gabrielle made Sugar

go into a gallop towards Xena's home village.

"No! No! No! That's not right, Carmen! You have to feel the music. We've been

over this again and again. Why won't you listen to me?"

"Oh Jacey Poo, it's so hard! Besides, I can't work with that child staring at

me. Please send her away!"

Jacey Poo? Arose stood up, eyes blazing with fury. "Child! I'll show you who's a

child, you spoiled little witch!"

Carmen turned to Jace. "Did you hear what that child called me? Jacey Poo, do

something about her!" she whined, batting her eyelashes at him.

Jace looked at Arose then turned back to Carmen. "I think I will do something.

Carmen, get your stuff and leave here!"

"What?"

"You heard me! I won't put up with your prima-donna attitude any longer! Now,

get out! And nobody calls me Jacey Poo unless I say so!"

Carmen stared at everyone. "You'll all be sorry when this show hits rock bottom!

I was your star!" Carmen walked away in a huff.

Jace then turned to Arose. "Arose, you've been watching her every day and I've

seen you practice. You know the dance very well. You just need to work with a

partner." Jace looked around and saw Ricky. "Ricky, come over here please. I

want you to practice the La Blamba with Arose." Ricky smiled and ran over to

them. He gave Arose a big smile and she shyly smiled back. Jace smiled too. He

liked Ricky and Arose together. "All right, people! Let's get back to work.

We've got a show to put on."

"Joxer, look! Just down over this hill is Amphipolis!" Gabrielle yelled

excitedly.

"Yeah, maybe I should get off and lead us down. We don't want you to...

AAAHHH! Gabrielle! Slow down, Gabrielle! Please!" Gabrielle paid no

attention. Instead, she spurred Sugar on so that they were going faster and

faster down the hill. Joxer was holding on for dear life. Inside the inn, Xena,

Eve, and Cyrene heard Joxer's frantic cries and ran out to see Gabrielle and

Joxer riding in fast. Gabrielle made Sugar come to a quick halt, leapt off the

mare and ran into her best friend's arms.

"Oh Xena, I missed you so much! I've got wonderful news to tell you!"

Xena laughed and hugged her friend. "I missed you too, Gabrielle. So, what's

your wonderful news?"

"Let's go inside and then I'll tell you."

"Abby! Abby! Oxer! Oxer! Miss you!" Eve cried out, holding out her arms to be

picked up. "Oxer look green, Abby!"

Gabrielle laughed as she picked up Eve and gave her a big kiss. "I missed you

too, sweetie!" She whirled her around and put her back down on the ground.

"Hey, you can't tell everyone without me. It's my good news, too," Joxer

mumbled.

Gabrielle went over to Joxer, who was still sitting on Sugar. "Come on, Joxer.

We'll tell them together. Are you sure you're okay? Evie's right. You do look a

little green. I shouldn't have ridden so fast."

"'M okay," Joxer swallowed hard and waited for a few minutes to clear his head

then slowly got off Sugar. "Hey Gabrielle, if we have a girl, I've got a great

name for her - Irene! It means peace."

Gabrielle turned to him. "Joxer!"

Joxer realized what he had said and felt terrible. "Oh Gabrielle, I'm sorry! I

wasn't thinking."

Gabrielle smiled sweetly at him as Eve clamored for Joxer to pick her up. "It's

okay Joxer, and I like the name Irene."

"You're going to have a baby? Oh Gabrielle, Joxer! That's wonderful. I'll bet

Jace and Arose will be so happy for the two of you."

Joxer looked at Xena, eyes lighting up as Eve kissed him loudly on the cheek.

"Jace and Arose are here?"

"Yeah. They have at least two more shows to do."

Joxer nodded and smiled as he put Eve down. "Great! Where are they...?"

Jace came bounding out the door, Arose right behind him. "Little brother! It's

so good to see you!" he pulled Joxer into a huge embrace, almost choking Joxer

in his enthusiasm.

"Oof! G-g-ood to see you too - and stop calling me that!" Joxer gasped as Jace

finally loosened his grip and allowed Arose to come over and hug him. "Hi,

Arose. You look wonderful!"

"Thanks, little brother," Arose giggled as Joxer made a face at her. "I thought

I heard Xena saying something about a baby?" she asked curiously.

Gabrielle approached Joxer and put her arms around his waist. "Yes. We're going

to have a baby," she said, looking up at her husband with a huge smile. Joxer

kissed her happily and nodded in confirmation.

"A baby? You're going to have a baby? Oh my! I-I-I-I'm gonna be an uncle!" Jace

babbled and immediately burst into tears. "Oh, I'm so happy!" he shouted, gently

dabbing his cheeks with a handkerchief before both he and Arose gave the couple

a huge bear hug.

"Okay, you two! You're going to squish them to death..." Cyrene said, laughing

as she turned to her daughter. "Are they always like that?"

"Yep," Xena confirmed with a nod. She was about to say something else when a

series of pink hearts and gold sparkles appeared in the middle of the courtyard,

accompanied by the scent of roses and trumpets playing a triumphant march. "I

think that things are going to get pretty interesting in just a moment, Mom."

"I think you're right," Cyrene nodded. "Not that it's ever a dull moment when

you come to visit," she added in with a wink.

"Gee, thanks a lot, Mom!"

Jace watched as the Goddess of Love appeared from the sparkles and hearts. "Now

that's the way to make an entrance!" he exclaimed softly, delicately dabbing his

cheeks and sniffling. "I wonder if she'd..."

"Jace!" Arose hissed in Jace's ear and poked him on the arm. "That's the Goddess

of Love, not a showgirl!"

"I know, but I can dream, can't I?" Jace whispered back.

Arose rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother!"

"Studmuffin!" Aphrodite exclaimed and squealed, tossing her blonde curls back.

"Good to see you and the Bardly One!" She turned to Xena before Joxer and

Gabrielle could answer and chuckled. "How's it going, O Warrior Chick?"

"I'm just fine, Aphrodite," Xena replied dryly. "What do we owe the, uh,

pleasure of your company?"

"'Dite!" Eve screeched, giggling.

"Hiya cutie!" the Goddess giggled and waved at Eve before turning to Jace and

Arose. "Hey, you two! I see the entertainment business has been treating you

well."

"Uh, Aphrodite..." Gabrielle cleared her throat.

"Yeah, Blondie? So, how's it shaking?"

Gabrielle and Xena exchanged glances and rolled their eyes. "As nice as it is to

see you and all that..."

"Oh! You want to know why I'm here..."

"That would be nice to know," Xena broke in, eyebrows rising.

"Hey, didn't your mother like teach you any manners?" Cyrene cleared her throat

and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the Goddess.

"Okay, you taught - it just didn't take. Sheesh!" Aphrodite turned back in the puzzled couple's

direction. "It's nothing special - the world as we know it isn't coming to an

end and all that! I just wanted to give my very special props to you and my boy

Joxer on your new arrivals-to be, you busy little beavers!" Aphrodite winked

cheekily. "And I do mean busy! Whew!" She fanned her face with her hand.

Joxer covered his face with his hands, blushing furiously as Gabrielle groaned,

embarrassed. Xena snickered while Cyrene, Jace and Arose stared at the Goddess

in astonishment. "Oh gods...", Joxer mumbled. Then, Aphrodite's earlier words

sunk in and he raised his head, eyebrows drawing together in puzzlement. "Wait a

second! What do you mean, 'arrivals-to-be'?" he asked.

"Like duh, Studmuffin! The warrior bard's got two buns in the oven, you sly dog

you!" Aphrodite giggled, poking Joxer gently in the ribs. "Catch you later,

peeps!" She snapped her fingers and disappeared in a burst of pink and gold

sparkles. Nobody said anything for a minute, stunned by the goddess' revelation.

Gabrielle put her hand over her still rock-hard stomach. "Twins," she said

softly, a smile on her face. "Oh, Jox... Joxer!" Her eyes widened as Joxer's

eyes rolled up and he fell forward in a dead faint, Jace managing to catch him

just before he crashed to the ground in a heap. "Thanks, Jace!" she knelt down

next to her husband, gently patting his cheek. "Could I have some water,

please?" Cyrene nodded and went inside the tavern.

"Well, he took that extremely well. Better than I expected he would," Xena said

with a smirk. "Congratulations, Gabrielle."

"Uh thanks, Xena." Gabrielle continued patting Joxer's cheek. "Joxer, wake up!"

"Does he always do that when he hears really good news?" Arose asked curiously.

"Yes!" Xena, Gabrielle and Jace chorused.

"Oh."

Eve started to giggle as she gazed down at the dead-to-the-world warrior

wannabe. "Mommy, Oxer go boom again!" she screeched.

Xena picked up her daughter and kissed her. "Yes, Evie. Joxer went boom again."

On the ground, Joxer's eyes fluttered open and he groaned softly. "Whazit..

What happened?"

"You fainted," Arose explained helpfully as Gabrielle helped him rise to a

sitting position and gave him the mug of cool water for him to drink.

Joxer slowly drank the water, trying to remember why he fainted. "Did Aphrodite

say we're going to have twins?" Gabrielle nodded. Joxer felt his head spin

again, but this time he didn't faint. He looked up at Gabrielle, dark brown eyes

wide. "Twins?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Twins."

"Yahoo! Twins! Yes, yes, yes!" Joxer dropped the mug then suddenly got up and

did a crazy dance.

Eve giggled in delight, "Oxer, dance! Dance!" she cried. Joxer picked her up and

danced, whirling around in a circle as Eve screamed happily. Jace and Arose

joined him as Xena, Cyrene, and Gabrielle looked on in amusement.

"Well, I'd say Joxer is more than happy. Wouldn't you, Gabrielle?" Xena began

laughing.

"Uh huh," Gabrielle agreed with a grin as she cupped her hands to shout over

Jace's, Arose's, Joxer's and Eve's lively celebration. "Joxer! If we have a boy

and a girl I want the boy to be named Darien after my cousin from Corinth!"

"You've got it, Gabrielle! Irene and Darien The Mighty! Oh yeah!" Joxer brought

Gabrielle to his side with his free arm and kissed her strongly. "I love you."

"I love you too!" Gabrielle giggled and found that she was dancing with him too.

"What if it's two boys or two girls?" Cyrene asked, shaking her head and

laughing as she watched the group celebrating.

"I don't think they'll care, Mom. They'll figure something out," Xena replied,

putting her arm around her mother's shoulder and smiling. All was right with the

world.