Together At Last

Xena and Solan walked out of the hut with arms still wrapped around each other and found Gabrielle.

"How are you, Gabrielle?" Xena asked.

"I'll be alright. It'll just take some time." Gabrielle replied.

"Solan is coming with us." Xena said hesitantly because she knew that even though Hope was a little demon, Gabrielle saw her as her daughter. Now Solan was coming along with them and she would get to be a mother while Gabrielle wouldn't be able to mother her own child.

"Really?" Gabrielle was surprised.

"Yeah! Mom, do I have time to say goodbye to everyone?" Solan asked.

"Sure." Xena replied and Solan ran off.

"You told him." Gabrielle said.

"Yeah. He asked to come along, I wanted him to and Kaleipus wanted it too. I figured there's no time like the present. Are you going to be ok with this?" Xena asked.

"... Yeah, it'll be great having a kid around and Solan's a good one. Maybe he'll fill a void for me." Gabrielle replied.

It wasn't long before the three left and met up with Argo.

"Solan, are you ready for an adventure?" Xena asked riding Argo with Solan behind her. Gabrielle was walking.

"Yeah." Solan replied.

"Where to now?" Gabrielle asked.

"Amphipolis. Solan, how would you like to meet your grandmother?" Xena asked.

"Cool. I've never had one before. What's she like?" Solan was curious.

"She's great. You're going to love her." Xena said.

"Your mom and grandmother are just as much alike as they are different." Gabrielle said.

"What's her name?" Solan asked.

"Cyrene." Xena smiled at the thought of her mother meeting Solan.

"That's pretty." Solan said.

Night finally fell upon them so they stopped to rest.

"Mom, can you sing?" Solan asked.

"Yes... Would you like to hear something?" Xena stroked Solan's blond hair as he nodded his head. She sung him a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her and she got to sing to him once after he was born. Solan fell asleep with a smile on his face.

"It's strange seeing you be a mother. I've always known there's a very nurturing side of you but I've never seen this side of you. You're a big softy underneath it all." Gabrielle said.

"I wouldn't go that far." Xena said.

"Hey guys!" Joxer jumped out loudly.

"Shhh!' Xena and Gabrielle said in unison.

"Hey, who's the kid?" Joxer whispered.

"Meet Xena's son, Solan." Gabrielle said.

"Son?" It took Joxer everything not to yell that. "When did you get a son?"

"About ten years ago." Xena said.

Joxer stood there with his mouth wide open. A fly flew in.

"Joxer, are you sleeping here with us or not?" Gabrielle asked.

"Uh... yeah." Joxer put down his blanket next to Gabrielle and laid down. "Xena, a mom. I can't believe it."

"You can believe how cranky this mom is going to be in the morning if I don't get any sleep tonight and you know how I am when I'm cranky." Xena said.

"At least there will be another guy around now... Ok zip." Joxer said.

The next morning they continued on to Amphipolis with Joxer. It took them a couple days but they finally arrived.

Xena walked into her childhood home with everyone else following her.

"Mother?" Xena called. "This is where I grew up." Xena informed Solan then Cyrene finally walked into the living room from the kitchen.

"Xena!" Cyrene hugged her daughter. "It's wonderful to see you. Hello Gabrielle."

"Mom, this is our friend Joxer."

"Nice to meet you Joxer... and who is this handsome young man?" Cyrene asked.

"He is your surprise. This is Solan, your grandson. He's ten." Xena said.

Cyrene was frozen, staring at Xena in shock then she finally looked down at Solan.

"Oh my... goodness. I thought he had your beautiful eyes and he has hair like Lycius. You're so handsome. Aw!" Cyrene embraced Solan in a hug. "Are you hungry? I just finished dinner."

"Mother's a great cook but that happens to not be one of my many skills." Xena said.

"Who are you kidding? When you put your mind to it, you can make a very delicious meal? You've just never liked to cook." Cyrene said.

"Busted!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "I always cook and you've been able to the entire time!"

"You weren't listening. She said I had to really put my mind to it." Xena said.

"Oh sure." Gabrielle replied.

"Come on, let's have dinner." Cyrene said.

After dinner Xena and Cyrene went outside to talk.

"Why didn't you tell me... about Solan?"Cyrene asked.

"I didn't tell anyone, partly because it hurt too much and partly for his protection. If it got out that I had a son he wouldn't have been safe and we weren't exactly on speaking terms at the time. He was being raised by a centaur named Kaleipus. Unfortunately, Kaleipus was killed a few days ago so I brought Solan with me. A few days ago was only the second time I met him since he was born and now I get to see him everyday. It meant the world that after the first time he loved me so much that he wanted to be with me. We're together at last." Xena said.

"I'm glad I finally get to meet him. I have a grandson! This means you have to visit more." Cyrene said.

"We will!" Xena assured.

"So now that you have Solan with you, do you think he will still be safe?" Cyrene asked.

"I'm different now so I don't have as many enemies and my biggest enemy is trapped in a cave so yeah. Besides, I can protect him." Xena explained.

Gabrielle, Solan and Joxer then came outside.

"Tag! You're it." Solan touched Joxer and ran off with Gabrielle. Joxer began to chase them.

Xena and Cyrene laughed.

"Wow, almost everyone I love in the world who are alive is here with me." Xena was amazed.

"Toris sent word that he will be here tomorrow. You're all staying a while right?" Cyrene informed.

"Yeah, we'll be here a few days." Xena replied.

"Wonderful, I can't remember the last time I've had both my children home with me and now I have my grandson too." Cyrene was so happy she could cry.

The next morning, Xena and Cyrene were chatting in the living room when Toris walked in the tavern.

"Mother I'm home!" Toris exclaimed but was stopped in his tracks as he was shocked to see his sister.

"Surprise." Xena said.

Toris went over to hug Cyrene.

"Toris hug your sister." Cyrene said.

Toris hugged Xena.

"What are you doing here?" Toris asked.

"I visit mom whenever I get a chance. Besides, family time was needed. That's why I was happy to hear that you were coming. I thought you should meet your nephew." Xena said.

"Nephew?" Toris was caught off guard.

"Xena has a ten year old son." Cyrene said.

Toris didn't say anything, he just had the most confused look on his face.

"Solan!" Xena called and he came downstairs a few minutes later.

"Yes mother." Solan replied.

"Meet your uncle Toris. He's my older brother." Xena said.

"Hello Uncle Toris. It's cool to know I have all this family." Solan said.

"Isn't he just the sweetest child?" Cyrene said.

"Where did he get that from?" Toris asked sarcastically.

"You know what..." Xena put him in a headlock.

"Hey, get off!" Toris exclaimed. "Darn! When did you get so strong?"

"Ok, Xena. Let him go." Cyrene said.

Xena let Toris out of the headlock then he chased her outside.

"Aww! I miss this." Cyrene smiled. "You should run along and help your mom out there. She's stronger but your uncle's faster." Cyrene laughed and Solan ran outside then Gabrielle and Joxer came downstairs.

"Where's Xena and Solan?" Gabrielle asked.

"They're outside playing with Toris. I can't remember the last time I've seen Xena like this. It's nice to spend time with her." Cyrene said.

"I also think having Solan has taken a weight off her shoulders. It's always bothered her that she couldn't raise him." Gabrielle said.

"Yeah... How long have you known bout Solan?" Cyrene asked.

"I just found out last year when we met him." Gabrielle replied. "He's amazing."

Xena, Solan and Toris came back in the tavern laughing together.

"I don't know when this will happen again so we must have dinner together tonight." Cyrene said.

"Sounds like a good idea." Xena said.