AN: I don't know how long it would take someone to travel from Amphipolis to Potadeia on horseback, so I'm just taking a stab in the dark and saying three days at a walk.


A Home

It was just as night was falling, three days after we had left Amphipolis that Argo and I arrived at Potadeia.

Nervousness bubbled in my stomach as I wondered what sort of reception I would get from my family. I had left them rather abruptly last time, after all.

The streets were quiet and fairly empty that afternoon, most people having returned to their homes for the night. Before long, and well before I was ready, I had pulled Argo to a halt outside what had once been my home. Oh it was still a home, alright, but I felt that it could never be mine again.

I swung my leg over Argo's rump and landed with rather more grace than usual. I took my time fussing over the mare, untacking her and giving her plenty of pats, trying to delay the inevitable.

It wasn't that I didn't want to see my family- I had missed them greatly while I was travelling with Xena. But I vehemently wished that I didn't have to tell them why I had come home.

"There you go, girl," I murmured, giving Argo one last pat. "I don't think I can put this off any longer."

The mare whickered softly, her warm breath washing over my palm.

"Yeah, I'm being silly, aren't I?" I whispered to her.

With a sigh I turned to the door, straightening my shoulders determinedly. I needed to stop moping and just get in there.

At the door I hesitated; should I knock, or just walk in? It was my home, after all, surely I should just open the door and go on in. But I felt like a stranger here, like I didn't belong and so after a few moments of agonizing over this small detail I rapped my knuckles on the door.

From inside I could hear my mother call out to Lilla to see who was at the door. I was glad it would be my sister and not one of my parents who would discover me.

The door was pulled open suddenly and warm candlelight washed out into the dim night.

"Gabrielle?" Lilla gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

Without warning my little sister launched herself at me, wrapping her slim arms around my shoulders in a bone-crushing hug. I'd never noticed how strong my sister was before.

"Gabrielle?" My father called out, obviously convinced that he hadn't heard Lilla correctly.

"Yes, papa, it's Gabrielle!" Lilla sprung back and ushered me inside, a big grin on her face.

"Gabrielle!" My father exclaimed, opening his arms wide in an expansive gesture. Mother took that moment to duck underneath one of his arms and rush towards me, enveloping me in a hug that was purely Mom. I almost broke into tears in that moment, for the first time since Xena's death feeling truly safe and loved.

"Hey Mom," I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears.

"Gabby?" Mother pulled back with concern written across her face, "Are you alright?"

I managed a firm nod and swallowed back my grief once again. I was home, with my family again, now wasn't the time to break down.

Mother smiled at me then, though her eyes said that she didn't believe for one moment that everything was fine.

That night I managed to avoid most questions about why I had come back, nimbly ducking and weaving until I thought my head would explode.

Finally it came time to go to bed and I hurried off with my sister, eager to be somewhere quiet and wishing I could be alone.

As soon as our bedroom door closed behind us, Lilla pounced, the first words out of her mouth being the ones I had assiduously avoided all night.

"So where's Xena?"

I ground my teeth and reminded myself that Lilla could not possibly know that this was a painful subject. Gods, how I wanted to just sleep. And cry. I hadn't had time for a good cry in three days, which was longer than I could currently manage.

Lilla watched my face interestedly, observing every emotion that passed across it. When I finally settled on agony she stepped forward and hugged me again.

"I'm so sorry, Gabrielle," She whispered, and that was all I could take. I finally let the tears come.