Hey everyone! I'm glad people are liking this here's chapter 2! Hope you all enjoy it!
Hope sat in silence, a blanket pulled over her. The woman, Sarafin if she remembered correctly, had told her to sleep…but she couldn't…all she could think about was how she had hurt people…a lot of people. She wiped at her eyes, wiping away the tears before they could fall "No wonder my mommy hates me" she said softly. She frowned rubbing her head…it hurt…she could feel that there were things she was forgetting but for some reason she couldn't remember them. Lying down, Hope pulled the blanket over her more, curling into a ball…letting sleep overtake her. Not far from that village, Gabrielle sat poking the fire with a stick. Xena had gone to gather some water to boil and Eve sat across from Gabrielle…watching her. She snapped the twig she was holding and threw it into the fire before speaking "So…you've been silent all day. You want to tell me what's troubling you" Eve asked raising an eyebrow at the blonde woman. Gabrielle sighed "I'm fine Eve…just a lot on my mind today…nothing to worry about" she said standing up. Eve frowned "Now I know that's not true…something has really been bothering you today…what is it…you know I won't say anything" she said walking over to Gabrielle. The Amazon Queen stood quietly before turning and looking at Eve "Years ago….today…" she sighed "I did something that has haunted me ever since..." she said looking at her hands.
Eve frowned "What do you mean" she asked softly. Gabrielle sighed "You've heard the story…of….Hope…and the things she did…today was the day…that she caused all the pain between Xena and I" she said taking a deep breath "And I know Xena must be hurting too…she lost a child as well she just….deals better than I do". Eve blinked, staring at Gabrielle before hugging her "No wonder…I'm sorry momma" she whispered. Gabrielle smiled leaning into Eve's hug, she loved how kind and caring she was, being around her truly made her feel like she was a mother "It's ok…tomorrow things will be better…I just don't like thinking about it" she said softly. She wiped a tear from her eye and took a deep breath smiling "Just…don't say anything…please…Hope's a tender subject with Xena and I" she said looking at Eve. "Don't worry….my lips are sealed" Eve said with a small smile before walking back to the fire. Xena walked up and sat a bucket of water down "Well at least we found a flat space for the night…it's all bumps walking down to the water" she said setting the bucket by the fire. She sat down and looked at Gabrielle "How are you feeling Gabrielle" she asked slipping off her armor. Gabrielle smiled looking at Xena "I'm good…you" she asked softly. Xena shrugged "You know me…not much gets me down" she said laying back on her bedroll "We should get some sleep…I want to set out at dawn" she said tiredly. Eve nodded " idea" she said lying down "Goodnight" she said as she closed her eyes. Gabrielle lay next to Xena and smiled feeling the warrior's strong arms wrap around her. "Goodnight Gabrielle….I love you" Xena whispered kissing the top of Gabrielle's head. The blonde sighed laying her head on Xena's chest "I love you too Xena…sweet dreams" she said closing her eyes.
The next morning, Gabrielle awoke with Xena's arms still wrapped around her. She smiled and cuddled more into the warrior kissing her shoulder. "Well good morning sleepy head" Xena said with a smirk, looking at her partner. Gabrielle smiled sitting up "Morning…sorry I overslept" she said softly. Xena shook her head as she stood up putting her armor back on "No worries…you seemed tired so I let you sleep…Eve gathered everything up" she said picking up her bedroll. Eve walked up with a smile "Yeah…everything's packed so...all we gotta do is gather what you two have and we're ready to go" she said with a grin. Gabrielle laughed "You should have woke me up…I wouldn't have minded" she said smiling as she packed up her things, putting them on her horse. She looked at Xena and smiled "so…this village…how far is it" she asked. Xena climbed up onto her horse and gripped the reins "Not far…six miles maybe" she said with a smile "Why you in that much of a hurry for a bath" she asked with a smirk. Gabrielle rolled her eyes as she mounted her horse "ha-ha very funny…and no...I was just curious" she said smirking "Although a bath sounds nice". Eve laughed shaking her head "Come on you two. If we don't hurry we may not even get a bath" she said grabbing the reins to her horse "Besides…a hot meal and a good sleep in a bed will be amazing". Gabrielle smiled at Xena as they rode towards the village. She felt better…though in the back of her mind she still thought of Hope...wishing she had gotten another chance.
In the village, Hope sat outside the hut she had been sleeping in, watching as the other children played. They tried to get her to join them but she simply shook her head. She didn't want to hurt anyone…and from what she remembered that's all she had done in the past. Sarafin walked up sitting beside her "Hope. What is it child. Why do you look so sad" she asked "Do you not want to play with the other children". Hope shook her head looking at her feet, she couldn't understand why this woman was being so kind *It's because she doesn't know me…doesn't know what I've done* she thought to herself with a sigh. Sarafin sighed looking at the sky "You still don't want to tell me where your home is do you" she asked softly. Hope looked at her frowning. She shook her head slowly "I. Don't have one" she said quietly. Sarafin shook her head "No home…so you've been traveling these dangerous lands alone" she asked. Hope nodded…that was partially true…she wouldn't tell Sarafin the real story. "What happened to your parents" Sarafin asked, wanting to know as much about this child as possible. Hope shrugged "Mommy gave me away…daddy wasn't around" she said chewing on her lip. It hurt to think that her mother didn't want her…and it sickened her to know what her father did. Who he was. Sarafin frowned…she couldn't understand how someone could give up their child. She figured perhaps Hope's mother simply didn't have the means to take care of her. Sighing she placed a comforting hand on Hope's small shoulder "Well don't you worry…everything's ok now" she said softly. Hope stiffened at the contact. She looked at Sarafin, her green eyes shining with unshed tears "I...I just miss my mommy…I remember her…kinda" she said softly.
Sarafin smiled "I bet you do…but don't worry…you don't have to worry anymore…I'm sure it won't be a problem if you stay here" she said nodding. Hope gave her a small smile and looked back at the other children. She knew she couldn't stay…but she was happy to hear someone cared. Sarafin looked at Hope and smiled "Come…let's get you a bath and some clothing…those don't look too warm" she said standing up, offering her hand to Hope. Not sure of what to do, Hope stared at her for a minute before slowly taking her hand standing up and following her…*maybe I can stay for a little while* she thought as they walked. Xena glanced at Gabrielle as they rode "Dinar for your thoughts" she asked with a smile. Gabrielle looked at Xena and smiled "Just thinking…" she said softly. Xena raised an eyebrow "Anything in particular" she asked. Gabrielle shook her head "No…just thinking" she said smiling. Eve shook her head as she followed behind them…she knew what Gabrielle was thinking about…but she kept her promise and stayed silent. As they neared the village, Xena couldn't help but feel relieved…she had a strange feeling for the last few miles…like something was off. She figured that once they were in the village she'd feel better. Gabrielle rode up alongside Xena and smiled "So...when we get into town how about some food" she asked with a grin. Xena laughed shaking her head "I swear you and Eve are always hungry" she said looking back at her daughter "Let me guess…you agree with her" she said smirking. Eve smiled "well…I am hungry" she said with a small laugh. Xena smiled "Alright you two….well we're not far from the village…we'll be eating soon" she said looking ahead. Gabrielle slowed her horse, waiting until Eve was next to her "Thank you…for not saying anything…I'd rather not bring up the past with Xena…especially since she seems to be holding up well" she said quietly.
Eve nodded "Not a problem…I wouldn't want there to be trouble…I'd rather simply let the past lay how it is…no use opening old wounds" she said with a small smile. Gabrielle looked at Xena and smiled "Yeah…things are too perfect now" she said softly before giving Eve a smile and riding up to Xena. When they got to the village, they put their horses in the stable and went to get some food. Hope walked through the village…watching everything there was. When she came to the stables she looked around and walked inside. She smiled seeing the horses and walked slowly to them "Hi" she said softly "I'm Hope". One of the horses lowed its head, sniffing her. She giggled and pet it "I like horses" she said with a smile. Gabrielle hurried back towards the stable…they weren't going to get much food without money…which had been left in her saddlebag. She opened the door to the stables and stopped seeing a little girl petting the horse. The girl gasped, backing up when she saw Gabrielle…she recognized her instantly. Gabrielle smiled "Hi there. I'm sorry I hope I didn't frighten you" she said closing the door. Hope looked at the ground backing against the wall. "Hey…are you alright" Gabrielle asked walking slowly to her. She had a strange feeling…the child's eyes…she looked so familiar. Gabrielle shook her head *no...Impossible* she thought kneeling down "It's alright…I won't hurt you..." she said softly "My name's Gabrielle…what's yours". Hope refused to look up…her mother hated her, she kept telling herself, if she knew it was you she'd want to kill you. Not getting a response from the child, Gabrielle smiled "You want to pet the horse still….you can go ahead, he won't hurt you" she said hoping to get the girl to look at her. The Amazon queen studied the child…her light strawberry blonde hair…her green eyes *by the gods…it's her…it has to be* she thought, taking a breath "H…Hope…is that you" she asked biting her lip.
Hope looked slowly up at Gabrielle and nodded. She started crying and fell to the ground, her body shaking "Please don't hurt me…I'm sorry I did all those bad things mommy I'm sorry" she said through her sobs. Gabrielle's heart melted…this wasn't the child she had seen before…she had changed. And Gabrielle could tell "Oh gods Hope" she said sitting next to her wrapping her arms around her "Shhh its ok sweetheart…I'm not going to hurt you" she said rocking her. Hope buried her face in the crook of Gabrielle's neck, clinging to her mother. "I'll never hurt you…not again" Gabrielle said letting a few tears of her own slip from her eyes. She pulled back, looking at Hope "I don't understand…how you are here" she asked in confusion. Hope wiped her eyes sniffling "I don't know…I woke up by the river" she said quietly. A light filled the stable and Eli appeared smiling at Gabrielle "I can explain that…This child was never evil…her actions were evil…both you and she were ripped of your chances to prove that…just as Eve was given a clean slate so has Hope…" he said with a smile. Gabrielle stared "Eli…you…you brought her back" she asked bewildered "Why". Eli laughed softly "Gabrielle…you believed in me when many didn't…you helped me…now it's my turn to help you…you've got your daughter back…raise her well" he said before disappearing. Gabrielle looked at Hope and smiled wiping a tear from her cheek "It's ok now…I'm here" she said softly. Hope chewed on her lip, unsure of what to think "Y…you're not angry with me" she asked. Gabrielle shook her head "No sweetie…I'm not angry with you" she said hugging her close "I am just so happy to see you…and I am so sorry for everything that happened". Hope smiled relaxing into her mother's warm arms…she felt safe…she felt loved. Gabrielle sighed; she knew that the hardest part was yet to come. She knew Xena wouldn't believe that Hope had changed. The door opened and Gabrielle jumped, holding Hope close. Eve walked in and frowned seeing Gabrielle with Hope "Mom was wondering if you got lost…who's the kid" she asked kneeling down. Gabrielle looked at Hope then at Eve "It…its Hope" she said softly.
Eve gasped "Hope…Hope like your daughter Hope" she asked confused "But I thought…I thought she was dead". Gabrielle shook her head "She was. Many times she was. But…Eli…he brought her back…gave her a clean slate" she said smiling. Eve perked up hearing Eli's name. She knew he was a peace loving man…and that if he said Hope was good…then she was good. Smiling, Eve looked at Hope "Well hello there Hope…my name is Eve" she said softly. Hope leaned against Gabrielle, unsure of who to trust. Gabrielle sighed looking at Eve "I can't leave her Eve…not when I've been given a second chance…I just…I don't know how to convince your mother that she's good" she said looking down. Eve nodded "It will be hard. But…I'm willing to help…Eli cleansed her…just as he did me right…and if he claims she is good…then he knows" she said softly "Don't worry…we'll figure it out" she said with a smile. Gabrielle smiled nodding her head "Alright…I trust you. Hope" she said looking at her daughter "I want you to stay in here until I come for you ok…can you do that for me" she asked. Hope nodded wrapping her small arms around Gabrielle's neck hugging her "I love you mommy" she said quietly. Gabrielle smiled, holding Hope close "I love you too Hope…and I promise...thigns will be ok" she said looking at Eve. She prayed she was right.
Well…there's chapter two. Hope you all enjoy it any thoughts on Xena's reaction to Hope's return?