Disclaimer: I do not own Xena Warrior Princess
Author's Notes: Set after 5x19 Looking Death in the Eyes, a canon divergent take on the time jump that should have happened instead of what we got in the series. Thanks to fvandomtrvsh for the idea that Eve was raised by the Amazons and we both decided Eve didn't have to grow up that much for this 'necessary' time jump to work.
For One So Small You Seem So Strong
Joxer's hand on Octavius' shoulder fell when the young man told him that Gabrielle and Xena were in fact not dead and that it was all a master plan. When Eve was brought to them, Joxer was stunned, staring into that tiny face full of such youth and joy. She fussed as Joxer questioned Octavius to properly understand what had happened. Xena and Eve weren't quite as inseparable as everyone had was led to believe.
"Ares took them away. Just before you got here."
"Oh no..."
Where could Ares have taken them? Presumably, he thought the pair dead as the other Olympians so maybe he was giving them a proper warrior's funeral? One could only hope that they would awaken in time to prevent being buried alive and hope that Ares wouldn't reveal their aliveness to his family.
"What shall we do with Eve?" Octavius asked, looking down at the girl trying to climb out of his arms to play in the waves nearby. "Perhaps I can set her up in the provinces...give her every advantage at my disposal, the best tutors, the best training..." he offered, though his heart didn't seem into the idea of sending her away, but if word got out she was alive still...
"No. No..." Joxer shook his head. "They would want her to be with the Amazons. She's a princess just as Gabrielle is. And they'll be able to hear of Xena and Gabrielle's return quicker than either of us would and reunite them," he explained, more sure in this decision than anything else in his entire life. Aside from his love for the two women.
"Alright. I will defer to your logic and trust Xena has placed in you," Octavius agreed with little hesitation. Eve was of Grecian blood after all, not Roman. "Allow me to provide you swifter passage and provisions to get you on your way."
"Thank you, Octavius," Joxer said, reaching out to hold Eve and try to still her overactive limbs. "Hey there, Eve...yeah...we'll play in the water very soon," he cooed at her.
Spending a couple days waiting around in one of Octavius' camps, Joxer finally decided it was time to head out and find Amazon territory. When they left the last time—when he got in trouble and nearly lost his eye for spying on bathing Amazons and then his life for being kissed by an Amazon—Xena and Gabrielle reminded him of the universal sign of peace when encounter by Amazons. And that it exactly what he planned to do versus his usual bumbling self. He just hoped he found the right Amazons, or that the news of Eve's initiation was spread amongst the scattered tribes.
It was great to be back in Greece and Joxer was eternally grateful for the wet nurse's contribution to his provisions. Eve was still so young she couldn't handle solid foods well. She didn't seem to mind super mashed apples that looked like a sauce now and then but milk was her favorite. Eve was currently on his back in a basket because he intended on finding Argo as quickly as possible to speed up his trek into the heart of the Grecian forests.
Eve had been pretty content during their journey, though their sea travels hadn't proven particularly good for the poor babe's stomach. Seemed to develop some kind of bug or was easily sea sick in rough waters. Joxer was amused to remember Gabrielle had the same issue on ships. Otherwise, the baby was pretty well behaved and had gotten used to Joxer caring for her. Which was sad when Joxer thought about it. She shouldn't have to be used to others caring for her when she had two loving mommies who deserved the happiness and joy of raising her themselves. Especially after all they'd been through.
They were in what Joxer hoped were the Amazon forests sooner than expected and he slowed the horse down to a trot. Not a particularly comfortable pace but easier to pull the reigns and stop if necessary. He paid no mind to the birdcalls due to the fact it was mid-day and birds were probably looking for a mid day meal, like his stomach was. Joxer glanced over his shoulder at Eve in her basket, wondering if she was also hungry, but she seemed to be happily sucking on her thumb.
"Aww, what a little cutie," Joxer cooed, turning back around and yelping when he saw a group of four masked women in front of him. Immediately he stilled the horse and raised his arms in the greeting of peace. "I...I...uh...I'm here on Xena and Gabrielle's behalf," he stammered out.
The woman with the most adorned headpiece raised it off her face and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "And why should we trust a man?"
"Be—because this man, uhh...I have their child, Eve. She's being hunted by the Gods and Ares took Xena and Gabrielle's seemingly dead bodies somewhere before they could rise again. I fi—figure they'd want you to look after Eve," Joxer said, his still upheld hands trembling in fear. His last encounter with the Amazons shook him terribly and he wanted to ensure Eve's safety amongst these women so he intended to be on his best, most honorable behavior.
"Come down," she commanded.
Slowly, Joxer's hands lowered and he carefully climbed down from the horse. "She's uhh...right..." he pointed over his shoulder at the basket, "...there. Eve," he said.
The mask-less woman came forward, side-stepped the bumbling fool and reached into the basket to pull out the small child. Cradling the baby against her chest she inspected the girl. "She certainly looks like Xena..." she muttered. "Eponin, do you agree?" she asked, moving to stand in front of Joxer once more.
"Indeed, my queen," Eponin said after stepping forward to look the gurgling baby over. Joxer sighed in relief, his shoulders dropping as the tension fled his body. They believed him.
"I am Chilapa, queen of the Telaquire Amazons. Come to our village and explain all that happened..." she paused waiting for his name.
"Joxer. Joxer the Mighty!" he proclaimed, slamming his fist against his chest before wincing in pain. Eve giggled at the noise he made with his fist against metal. Joxer smiled at Eve, grabbing the reigns of the horse to follow the women back to the village.
Explaining what had happened, what he had witnessed and later clarified with Augustus was easy and the Amazons who listened nodded sagely, seemingly believing it something truly clever Xena would have come up with.
"Augustus and I weren't sure what to do when he arrived too late to retrieve Xena and Gabrielle's bodies. Ares intervening really messed up the plan, so I figured that because Gabrielle gave Eve her right of caste, they would want her here with you. At least until they wake and return. Hopefully..." Joxer trailed off, looking down at the dirt. They couldn't really be gone could they? He waited a few days for them to find Augustus' army but no word came. "And I know you would keep the memory of her moms alive better than anyone in Greece," he explained, biting his lip when he remembered Cyrene. No...Eve would be safer with the Amazons. They could protect her, teach her how to defend herself and keep her away from the darkness of being Xena's child, the reincarnation of Callisto. No offense to Cyrene, but...
"Thank you, Joxer. For bringing her here. We will look after her as one of our own until the day, should it come, Gabrielle and Xena return," Chilapa promised, reaching out to grasp his forearm in a warrior's handshake. "Stay the night, spend it with Eve if you wish, and in the morning you must go," she said. Joxer nodded his thanks. He wasn't father material anyways; he knew that and he knew he didn't belong in the Amazon village, but spending the night was quite fortuitous. He wouldn't squander the afternoon. Maybe he would make some toys for Eve, or a swing, he definitely would be leaving some of Gabrielle's scrolls he had borrowed for something more concrete to connect her to her moms. He just wished he had something of Xena's...
Well. There was Argo. Couldn't get more Xena than Argo.
Joxer built a bouncy swing for Eve in the afternoon after asking around where a good spot for one would be, and he spent the evening before she fell asleep reading her stories from one of Gabrielle's scrolls. Staring up at the top of the tent, Joxer sent a prayer out to the universe, to anyone listening to bring Xena and Gabrielle safely home to their daughter.
In the morning Joxer said his goodbyes, explained Eve's current feeding and sleeping patterns based on their journey together, informed the Amazons he was leaving all of the possessions he had of Gabrielle and Xena's to the tribe, to Eve, and that they could keep and care for Argo. "Goodbye, little Evie!" he said as he nuzzled her nose affectionately. She giggled and patted his cheeks until he moved away and she ended up clapping her own hands, causing more giggles to erupt.
Forcing himself to walk away before he began to cry, or in general cried in front of the fierce warrior women, Joxer went on his way. Eve would be cared for here, she would be loved immensely, and raised well. Of that, he was sure of.
He turned around near the village edge and waved one last time. "Bye," he whispered to himself.
