Most of what Xena did whilst she was in control of earth was good. It wasn't great, but it was good. If she played her cards right, her planet would peak and she could ditch.

Still young and naive, she followed the rules unquestionably, listening to everything her superiors told her. A miserable life, really.

Watching the humans around her while she watched in silence was so deafeningly lonely. So emptily crowded. Blank faces and no colour.

She watched as they solved problems so difficult and foreign to them. She watched them evolve to become accustomed to each other. They faced racism. Sexism. Anything you can poke a stick at.

The first Millenia and a half of human history were the longest years of Xena's existence. Uneventful yet so rich with information.

It took at least a century for Xena to finally decide to break her guidelines. She was going to get herself a physical body.

It was (in human terms) 1500ad when she made herself a body that suited her. Lovely figure and beautiful in every way she saw fit.

She was a man for many centuries, letting herself be privileged in her ways of life, enjoying good food and other worldly pleasures.

Thinking back on herself during those times were sickening, but so rewarding. She slept around and enjoyed the way that others felt with her. She inhaled unholy amounts of chemicals and liquor. She was flippant with her money and spent it on whims.

Finally being able to talk to something alive, Xena felt at ease, having found the relief she had been craving.

When the 1960s hit, Xena decided to shift from a man to a woman, immediately liking the female body more than the males (much softer and more delicate - yet so fierce!).

Like this, she established herself. She bought a home (multiple actually) and decked them out with beautiful furniture and other knick-knacks. It felt nice to be able to give something to herself.

Being more stable, Xena sought a partner. In times of growing acceptance (although not completely), Xena found many people that she found suitable. None of them lasted and she was left with a sore heart. It was only normal that she give up on love.

It was late 1990s when she moved into inner city New York, buying a spacious apartment and decking it out with plant and other 'hipster' pieces. It was beautiful, three rooms, two bathrooms (fucken expensive) and a spacious living room all to herself.

Here, she found love.

Like most Hollywood movies, it was raining when her buzzer rang. It was late and the city was slumbering.

Tearing herself away from her bed, Xena plodded down the stairs to the main entrance.

And there she stood. Small, wet and shaking. Kaidence.

Xena had never dealt with children. What was she supposed to do? Kai's eyes were so wide, so trusting. How could she turn away something so vulnerable?

She wasn't sure what decision went through her mind or what she was thinking when she did, but she tore off her dressing gown and threw it over the little girl, smothering her in warmth in an effort to comfort her.

Kaidence, upon receiving kindness, burst into tears, latching onto Xena, who bundled her up and carried her back to her apartment. Kai's soft sobs ringing like painful notes in Xena's ears, making Xena immediately vow to never let any harm come the girl that was wrapping cool arms around her neck.

Don't be stupid! Take her to a home! You can't handle this! Is what her mind screamed as she unlocked the door and stepped inside the warm apartment.

Kaidence has completely lost consciousness by now, her body still trembling. Summoning clothes of the appropriate size, Xena dried and changed Kai, making sure she was comfortable. She could be no older than 7. She would need to go to school. She would need Xena and would rely heavily on her. Could she handle that?

Letting the thought rest, Xena tucked Kai into her guest bed, making a note to decorate the room if she was to keep the child. Perhaps being maternal would soften her rage.

And when the next morning came and the little girl stepped out of her room, looking scared and hungry, Xena listened. She let the girl speak and cry and tell her everything. It was heartbreaking to watch such a little soul be corrupted by such filth. So she fed her and reassured her that no harm would come to her. Kaidence was part of the family now.

Kaidence (10)

Bright eyes stare in awe at the new room, sparkles of wonder darling back and forth not knowing what to look at.

For three years, Kaidence had loved in the guest bedroom of Xena's apartment, the room bland and boring. In a moment of frustration and self guilt, Xena splurged and re-did the entire room.

Kaidence wasn't overly girly, but she disliked male toys so Xena tried her hardest to find the most unisex toys possible. The room had a deep gray feature wall with a single bed in the corner; there was a white desk near the head of the bed and it was strewn in puzzles and books and other bits and pieces. There was a bookshelf that was stacked to the brim and a set of drawers next to the wardrobe that was covered in mementos. There were lots of puzzles and working out tasks that Kaidence enjoyed, the ten year old already showing strong signs in English strength.

Kaidence whips around to Xena, who stands smiling at her handiwork, throwing her arms around her neck and squealing 'thank you's and kicking her legs about.

When Kai detached herself from Xena's neck, Xena knelt down and pulled out a small felt box. Kai looked at Xena confusedly, looking at Xena and then to the box repeatedly.

Xena laughed at her confusion, explaining to the ten year old that she had taken a piece of her heart and preserved it for her to keep her safe. In actuality, she had taken a part of her being and manifested it into the form of a delicate silver pendant with an intricate clicking clock inside of it. It was circular and extremely thin.

Kaidence stared at Xena like she was crazy, telling her that she was silly and that she had just bought a locket. Xena insisted, but to no avail.

When she put the locket on, lacing it daintily around her neck, she opened the clock and frowned at Xena. Obviously confused, she asked why the clock time was wrong.

Xena laughed now, a genuine laugh of fondness. Taking the clock into her hand, she pointed at the time on the clock and told Kaidence about how the clock told you not the time but the time until she would see Xena again. 12 meant that you would see her, 9 meant she would see Xena in the hours and so on. And when Kaidence was with Xena, the watch would count the time until the would separate. Once again, Kaidence called bullshit.

Xena only laughed and left to make her lunch for her next day of school.

(Kaidence 15)

"Fuck off!" The door slams with such force that the wall shakes.

Xena scrunches her eyes and slams her fist into the stone bench in the kitchen, splitting her knuckles open and splattering blood everywhere, "don't use that language! Come back here!" She shouts half heartedly, knowing the girl is too stubborn for her own good.

And much to her expectations: loud, teenage, dark punk rock starts blasting from the room from where Kai is in her bed either crying or ripping something to shreds.

Xena tried to be at ease with Kai, letting her go out and be somewhat free (naturally there were curfews that Xena was always awake to monitor) with herself but the groups of people who she associated with became increasingly questionable. Xena wasn't a pry, but the curfews were being missed and grades dropped. Any parent would be concerned. Did she just say parent???

Upon questioning Kaidence, she was met with fierce denial, anger immediately converting into violence. Not knowing what else to do, Xena met her head on with force, holding her still as she yanked at her tightly closed eyes. She was high, and not the easy going weed high. She was doing ice.

It was safe to say that Kaidence didn't leave the house for a solid week until every single drop of drugs left her system. Throughout that time, there was no speaking and only death stares.

By the end of the week, Xena sat Kaidence down (who was still refusing to speak to her) and told her that she would be transferring schools. She would be moving from the suburbian school out of Xena's immediate line of fire to a local city private school with much better education and far more discipline. Xena explained how it was for her greater good and that it would be a nice change that would help her in becoming a strong young woman.

Of course, Kaidence called bullshit. She pushed a chair down in her rage, screaming at Xena about how much of a shit person she was.

They argued about where she would go and how the people around her influenced her for a good half an hour, the conversation escalating from tense language to full scale yelling.

It took Xena all of her willpower not to laugh, having seen fits like this in almost every household with teenagers. She knew that Kai would come around and would understand with time. But for the moment, she would be angry and listen to heavy music to drown away her sorrows.

(Kaidence 20)

"I'm going out!"

"Do you look like a thot?"

"No! Come on! Am I that crass?"

"Haha, have a drink for me!"

"Come with!"

"Nah, you be safe though."

"Will do, bye!"

"Bye!" Xena waves off Kaidence as she leaves the apartment to party with her friends.

It's funny how differently they're dressed. Kaidence, having just finished high school and started Uni, was in tight dresses and stiletto heels whilst Xena, a lawyer who had been in the workforce for far too long, was in track pants and a sweater eating ice cream on the couch.

Xena figured that her role as Mum would to not be a drag to Kai. She let her do her thing and just hung out at home. It was nice like this. They were practically besties.

Let's hope this calm stayed