Disclaimer: All the regular jazz, I don't own any of the characters except Daniel, and the story is my own. Sorry it took so long to update, my dad died recently, so, you have to understand the delay. But enough stalling here it is!

Xena couldn't believe what she had read in Eve's journal, for a moment, she had wondered if it was really hers. The handwriting, however, chased these doubts away. As she sat in her chair that evening, waiting for Ares to show up, she contemplated the writing. Did she really mean what she had written? What caused her to feel that way? Obviously, she couldn't ask her, in doing so she'd be confessing to reading the journal, and she couldn't bear to have Eve know about it.

"Thinking of me?" Ares asked mischievously. Xena had been so lost in her own thoughts she didn't even notice that he was home.

"No." She said, much more harshly than she had intended to. "Sorry. It's just been a really long day." She apologized. "Eve and Daniel had another fight."

"Did she punch him again? I thought I'd taught him how to get away from her by now."

"Nope, she didn't punch him. She did pull a sword on him though."

"A SWORD! How could she? Why would she? She's an Elijahan!" Ares fumed.

"Ares, keep your voice down!" Xena whispered sharply. "I don't know okay. When I actually got to them, they both had swords and looked like they were going to kill each other."

"Both, BOTH? Daniel drew a sword on Eve?"

"Well, he claims it was self defense."

"DANIEL! GET OUT HERE NOW!" Ares yelled, infuriated. Daniel walked into the room, looking bewildered and sleeply.

"Wassgonn on?" He mumbled.

"You drew a sword on Eve?" Ares asked, "How could you?"

"Hey, she pulled one on me first."

"Does she know how to use one? Answer me! Does your sister know how to use a sword?"

"No sir," said Daniel looking at the floor, very much awake now. "I just wanted her to put hers away, I figured that if I scared her enough she'd surrender."

"Surrender?" Eve said, she had awoken in all the commotion and come to join the party. "You wanted me to surrender? I just wanted my journal back you jerk!"

"Don't call your brother names young lady." Ares said. "And don't think you're getting away clean here. What in Hades were you thinking pulling a sword on your brother? Pulling a sword at all? You know Eli…"

"Eli, Eli, Eli, that's all you two ever talk about!" Eve shouted.

"He is your God Eve." Xena said, "you have to obey his wishes, and sword play is not one of them!"

"Wait, wait, did you take your sister's journal again?" He asked Daniel. "How many times have I told you to leave that dumb thing alone? If you're trying to figure her out, forget it, women are impossible, and very confusing." He smirked, looking at Xena.

"That's right Dad, go ahead and joke with your precious son, it's obvious who the favorite is in this family." With that Eve stormed out of the room, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

"Eve honey," Xena said softly as she went to her daughter's door. "Come out sweetie, we still have to talk."

"I hate you!"

"Now, now Eve, what would Eli say if he heard you saying that?" Daniel joked.

"Daniel………go to your room. Now." Daniel didn't need telling again, the tone in Xena's voice told him she meant business.

The air was filled with tension as Xena and Ares got ready for bed. Both lost in their own thoughts of the evening. Ares was the first to break the silence.

"Well, that was interesting."

"Yeah, interesting."

"I mean, I thought those two would have outgrown this by now."

"Yeah."

"I mean, what is so damn interesting about her journal."

"Well, actually, it's very interesting."

"What do you mean, how do you…Xena. You didn't."

"I did. And I think you should too." Xena said, handing Ares the rumpled journal.