Xena & Gabrielle have been traveling companions for 18 years, and Gabrielle and thought she knew all of Xena's secrets she was going to find out how wrong she is, the only question is can her partnersip with Xena survive it.

Gabrielle knew Xena had a past and never pushed her to talk about. However Gabrielle did learn to recognize Xena's body language. She knew one thing for certain Xena was hiding something and it was big.

They passed the outskirts of the city itself an hour ago and the closer they got to where ever they were going the more nervous Xena became and Xena feared nothing and no one.

Off in the distance Gabrielle saw a farm house and to her shock Xena headed right for it. Gabrielle who new the route back home like the back of her hand sat astride her own stead but she had never taken this route was new to her turning to Xena she asked her, "Who lives there Xena?"

Sitting astride Argo she looked off into the distance to the farmhouse front porch. Keeping her eyes on the horizon Xena recalled the exact moment her of her daughter's birth and in a warm tone of voice said, "Her name is Cassandra"

Raising a quizzical eyebrow Gabrielle stated "Alright"

Dreading the rest of the story and the anger that would come with it Xena told Gabrielle hesitantly in a wobbly tone of voice "Theirs more"

Xena gently kicked Argo's sides urging Argo forward toward, the light Xena said softly, "She's my daughter Gabrielle!"

Kicking the side of her own horse she caught up to Argo wide-eyed Gabrielle looked at her soul mate asking in a taut tone of voice "your daughter... when?"

The last part of her question had more bite then Gabrielle had intended as she watched Xena's back stiffen, relaxing in the saddle she recalled the memory of the kiss that she shared with Hercules and passion that followed, Xena face softened as she smiled smiled telling Gabrielle "Gabrielle it was 18 years ago, a full year before we met."

The hurt on Gabrielle face paled by comparison to the pain in her gut, Xena hurt Gabrielle and she knew it grumbling Xena told Gabrielle in a voice that was as low as a whisper, "Her father is Hercules, Gabrielle!"

Xena could feel the pull of her daughter pulling her forward Gabrielle once again gently kicked the sides of her horse to catch up to Xena, asking, "Does she know about him?"

"No... he does not..." Xena stated firmly

Xena explained to Gabrielle in a flat monotone voice, "I am only telling you, in case something happens to me!"

They drew closer to the farmhouse and Gabrielle could see a woman with long blond hair standing five feet eleven inches tall waving at them out of the corner of her eye. Beside the blond woman was Cyrene Xena's mother stood 5 foot three inches tall. Gabrielle spied Xena waving back simultaneously giving Argo a second kick Xena galloped to the house itself.

Ten minutes later pulling up on the reins Xena stepped off Argo and on the porch. The five foot eleven inch tall blond woman embraced her saying softly "Welcome home mom!" Looking over Xena's shoulder Cassandra noticed the peacock feathers for the first time said "Thanks for the gift"

Dismounting her horse Gabrielle joined Xena and her family, both Xena and Gabrielle quickly turned looking to the spot where she moving to pick up the feathers telling Cassandra in a sharp tone of voice she said, "No... Leave them be"

Frightened by the shrill tone Cassandra looked at her mother Xena asking "Mama?"

It's Hera's little joke Cassandra... she is letting you know she knows who you are, and who your father is" Xena stated in a flat tone of voice.

Jumping back on her horse and pulling her bullroarer from the saddlebags, Gabrielle lets it unravel as it drops slowly at first she starts swinging her arm round in a circle, as the bullroarer spins at various rates of speed it hum's first loudly then soft then loudly once again.

"Mama" Cassandra asked, "What is she..."

Xena looked at her daughter Cassandra telling her "Seeing if any of her sisters are in the area..."

Cassandra looked at Xena with a raised eyebrow asking "Sisters?"

"Cassandra" Xena said, "Gabrielle is an Amazon Queen"

Having stabled her horse Gabrielle walked back to both mother and daughter saying in a concerned undertone, "Now we wait!"

Moments later Xena glanced at Gabrielle and Cassandra, "Come with me... both of you!"

Gabrielle ran ahead to the stables and started to saddle Cassandra's horse. Looking at the goings on Cassandra asked offhandedly, "Am I going somewhere"

Without stopping what ether of them were doing both Xena & Gabrielle said in Unison, "Yes"

Cassandra entered the stables two steps behind Gabrielle watching her getting Argo II ready to ride. Gabrielle turned to Cassandra taking on the mantle of Amazon Queen telling her in an authoritative tone, "When we leave you are coming with us... this place is no longer safe"

Cassandra looked at Gabrielle stating "Why"

Xena crept up behind them saying "Because of your father, Cassandra have a seat its time you knew everything"

"I met your father, eighteen years ago..." Xena said, "I called myself a warrior at the time but I was a warlord with an army" Xena told them in a voice think regret. Glancing at Gabrielle Xena stated softly, "It stated as just one kiss... that kiss lead to a moment of passion-"

"Hercules wanted me to stay but..." Xena stated

Completely overlooking the first half of her mother's statement Cassandra cut her mother off mid-sentence stating in a wobbly unstable voice asked, "M-My father is Hercules!… F-from the bedtime stories you used to tell me"

Caressing her daughters cheek Xena said softly, "Yes Cassandra that Hercules!"

Gabrielle took in everything Xena said mulling the story over in her head stating in a, tremulous "That means her grandfather is-"

Xena cut Gabrielle off as she said "Zeus... Gabrielle"

Gabrielle understood for the first time the enormity of the secret and why Xena kept this from her for all these years , she wasn't happy about it but she understood.

Her head knew the reason why Xena kept secret, her heart wanted to know why she didn't trust her. To say her head an d her heart were at war was an understatement.

Gabrielle may have gotten better at hiding her emotions over the years however Xena could still read her like a book and knew her tells saying, "I couldn't tell anyone... the only reason my mother knows- "

"The reason I know is because at the age of 5 Cassandra lifted a cart off a man saving their life, he wanting to know how they could repay the debt I told him... I told him not to repeat the story to anyone unless you want to have an angry Xena on your door" Cyrene told them.

"Mom take anything you want to keep from the farmhouse" Xena stated, "Gabrielle string your bow and get me six Arrows"

Xena started a fire.

It was a beautiful Sunset as Cassandra stood in the comfort of her mothers arm she watched the sun go down from the barn window, listening to her mothers story's of her father when Gabrielle interrupted Xena story saying in a low hushed tone, "Rider approaching..."

Why didn't I hear it before now Xena thought glancing sideways out of the corner of her eye Xena stated, "Looks like an Amazon mount"

Cassandra had never seen an Amazon before and her curiously got the better of her as she moved to the door only to-be-shoved to the ground by her mother.

Gabrielle looked a Cassandra telling her "There are hundreds of amazon tribes not all of them are friendly…"

Reaching into her saddlebags Gabrielle pulled out her Amazon leathers and striped down causing Cassandra to turn slightly crimson she heads out to greet the newcomer.

Xena looked Cassandra in the eyes, and for the first time in her life she saw fear in her mother's eyes as Xena asked, "You remember what I taught you?"

"Mama you're scaring me… I've never seen you afraid." Cassandra told her mother in a wobbly voice full of fear.

In a flat tone of voice Xena said, "I've never had to worry about you dying before, I guess theirs a first time for everything"

Taking what comfort she could from her mothers words in a tight tone of voice Cassandra said "I remember everything you taught me mom, especially fighting."

"Good!" Xena stated in a curt tone as she gave Cassandra a package telling her, "Open it!"

Taking the parcel in hand, Cassandra unfolded it pulling out a pair of "Leather pants and top" Cassandra looked at her mother not quite sure what to make of everything.

"They are the traditional dress of the northern Amazon tribes." Xena told her. Next she handed Cassandra a three-foot long box containing dual swords telling Cassandra "The time for stick fighting is over"

Putting her hand under Cassandra's chin, Xena said in a flat, cold tenor, "From now on if I tell you to do something don't question my actions… just do it."

Cassandra always knew her as mom, but now she was seeing Xena the Warrior women...