Solan
"Six months and already a hand full." Iolaus commented.
"Eleven is even worse when you've got four."
"Try the twins plus the one year old that runs." Xena said.
"You've got help," Gabrielle said.
"So you do too, we're helping you and we've got kids." Hercules said grabbing Hedotus from crawling off. Xena rocked a crying Ephiny and helped her to latch onto her breast. Ephiny hushed and silence slowly enveloped the clearing. Achilles patiently waited his turn as long as Hercules kept his attentions on him.
"Hey Gabrielle you never told us who the father of your children were," Iolaus commented as he played bird with Oreias and flew him around the clearing. Oreias giggled happily and Xena smiled at him. Gabrielle on the other hand froze at his words, but quickly continued playing with Hecuba before they saw. Xena just barely caught it though, but remained silent.
"Its not important Iolaus I already informed you of what you wanted to know," Gabrielle stated."Besides I don't want him in my children's life." She left no room for argument and nobody pushed it.
"So where are we headed?" Gabrielle asked as they headed south. Xena adjusted her sling carrying Achilles as he nursed.
"To a Centaur village," Xena replied.
"Why?" Gabrielle asked.
"Well after a whole trip back to Greece from Kythnos, Cyrene and I managed to convince Xena to reconnect with a lost treasure, " Hercules replied.
"Oh, well what is it?" Gabrielle asked.
"You'll find out in due time Gabrielle, remember patience is a virtue."
"You're one to talk," Gabrielle huffed as she adjusted a sleeping Hedotus on his back. Iolaus thoughtfully held perdicus's hand. He looked at Gabrielle cradling a sleeping Lila in her arms and holding the hand of Hecuba. Hercules carried a wide awake Ephiny in his arms a huge smile on his face as he kissed her forehead. Oreias held his hand before letting go and running up to Xena. He pulled on her pants leg. She looked down at him and smiled at the sight of him. She handed him Argo's reins, which was his purpose for pulling on her leg.
"Mama!" Oreias squealed with delight as Argo continued to walk and followed Oreias. He was delighted to be able to pull such a large animal, who had fascinated him for weeks.
"I see," Xena said with a fake astonished look on her face. Oreias smile got wider and he ran as fast his little legs could carry him, Argo didn't even have to pick up her speed and neither did the adults. Soon they arrived at a nearby village. They were complaining about the Centaurs and contemplating about destroying the village and its occupants.
"Prejudice bastards," Xena muttered as she brought their drinks over to the table they occupied.
"Can we take dinner upstairs, I'm tired and I want them to lay down."
"Sure why not, it would be nice to not have to climb the stairs on a full stomach," Iolaus said. Hercules nodded his agreement and Xena merely shrugged. Xena took Ephiny while Hercules took the drinks. Oreias followed eager for his chocolate milk.
"I'll let him know we're taking dinner upstairs," Xena called after them. They nodded and continued upstairs. She informed the tavern keeper.
"If you'll wait I can give you the food now, I'm sure could manage," He said mainly, because he did not want to carry the food upstairs. Xena nodded.
"So what brings you here?" A man asked. He'd had a few drinks, but he wasn't so drunk he couldn't see her sword or chakram. Xena looked up from brushing a long lock of Ephiny's black hair out of her face.
"Business," Xena replied in a monotone voice.
"With who?"
"Centaur."
"Why would you want to do business with a filthy centaur?" He grunted. Xena shrugged.
"He has something, I want."
"Well if you like I can get it back for you, I'll kill him if need be for a price that is."
"No, no need for blood shed its quite simple really and I should be gone in a few days,"
"That's what you think, but those damn things aren't trustworthy, you'd know that if you lived here," He replied.
"I'm sure I would."
"Who do you have business with?"
"Kaliepus."
"Oh that damned leader of the herd, him and his demon spawn, first centaur boy to not actually be a centaur I hear, child should die." Xena was so close to putting the pinch on the man for talking about, what sounded like Solan, but he was saved by the owner.
"Yea," Xena grunted as she shifted Ephiny and took the tray. She went upstairs and took a few deep breathes. Soon they were all enjoying an ok meal. Gabrielle practically passed out once all four of her children had gone to bed in their room. Iolaus left to visit the gaming house and Hercules laid down for a nap once he'd gotten Oreias to sleep and Xena had gotten Achilles.
"Why won't she sleep?" Hercules asked as he watched Xena walk pass him for what seemed like the hundreth time while rocking Ephiny.
"I don't know, she slept through lunch, woke up, I changed her diaper, and fed her so I guess she's just not tired anymore," Xena said as she sat down."But whatever she can lay awake if she likes." Xena laid Ephiny down and took off her boots. She got in bed with Hercules and kissed him and than kissed Ephiny's forehead.
"Sweet dreams," They said to each other. Hercules was out immediately. Xena dripped off after awhile, but she woke up thirty minutes later by Ephiny's irritated whimpers. Xena looked over to the second bed where Achilles and Oreias slept undisturbed. Hercules remained asleep as well or so she thought until she sat up.
"Lay back down I'll take care of her," Hercules mumbled.
"No, I think we both need some fresh air, I never liked sleeping on a good day like today." Hercules nodded and felt her pick up Ephiny after putting on her boots. She dressed Ephiny properly and grabbed a blanket.
"I'll be back in a little while and with luck Achilles won't be hungry before I get back," Xena said as Hercules fell asleep again. She walked out of the room quietly and left.
"Well since we're out and about we may as well go visit your brother." She kissed Ephiny's forehead who offered her a smile in return. Xena smiled as well and left the village walking the short distance to its location. Ephiny grabbed her hair and played with it. Usually a mother would pull her hair away, but Xena let her tug all she wanted as long as she didn't pull to hard or put her hair in her mouth.
"Stop!" A voice exclaimed before she reached the clearing. She stopped under a tree.
"Who called?" Xena called back.
"Kaliepus." He said stepping out from behind a few rocks with some men."You're not one of the villagers."
"No." Xena stated simply recognizing him immediately, but he didn't recognize her right off.
"Drop your weapons," He ordered. She unshealthed her sword and threw it out in front of her and unhooked her chakram from the side and threw it on top of her sword. Kaliepus stepped forward to check Ephiny and her blankets. You could never be to sure concerning assassins sent by the villagers.
"May I?" He asked.
"Go ahead I have nothing to hide," Xena said. He took Ephiny and stepped back. Xena watched closely as they searched her blanket and dress.
"AHHHH!" She moved and threw a boy on the ground in front of her. He couldn't have been more than eleven years old. He carried a sword that looked strangely familiar. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Her heart recognized her son immediately, but it took a minute before her mind did too. He was beautiful.
"Solan, stop it!" Kaliepus yelled."I won't have you acting that way."
"Sorry Uncle, but she killed my father, she killed the great Borias."
"Solan, she did not we don't even know why this woman is here," Kaliepus said.
"Actually Kaliepus I am here to see you, but I did not kill Borias its not something I could ever bring myself to do," Xena admitted as she took Ephiny back from him. Kaliepus stared at her for a moment. He couldn't believe how much she had changed on the inside making it nearly impossible for him to recognize her.
"We agreed you would not come back," Kaliepus said.
"I know, but I...we need to talk. Please truce no tricks, no games, nothing honest we talk on your territory." He looked at her and nodded. If she did try something they would be on his territory like she said. Xena stepped on the handle of her sword. Her chakram flew up and she caught it on her hip. She lifted up her sword and placed it in it's proper place on her back.
"You'll pay for what you did to my father, bitch!" Solan whispered with such hate in his eyes at her that she could not believe that her own child could look at her that way. She sighed in unhappiness.
"Solan!" Kaliepus yelled and Solan stopped staring at her long enough to run after Kaliepus. She soon followed.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, but I finally did it. I just can't believe I wrote three chapters before now and never uploaded them until now lol. I'm really smart I know.
