Chapter 25: All or Nothing

Brunhilda and Eve cared for the steeds in silence until the messenger Eve spoke to interrupt it.

"Thanks for following me out here. I just figured that I'd give my Mother some time with Gabrielle."

"I kind of figured." Brunhilda answered lightheartedly.

"If you don't mind me asking, how do you know them? I don't think I've heard that story from Gabrielle yet. Then again, she hasn't told many stories after mother died. Tell me about yourself. We have some time, and to be honest, the fact that the world is being burnt to a crisp isn't on my to do list at the moment. I want to make sure that Gabrielle is safe." Eve stated, clearing a spot on the floor and sitting cross legged across her.

Brunhilda smiled at the younger woman. "I knew both your moms. In fact, I turned into an eternal flame for Gabrielle." Brunhilda looked down with her statement, unsure what type of reaction it would evoke.

"Oh boy." Eve responded, rolling her eyes, "one of those." Eve teased, wanting to lighten up the situation.

"You know, not to belittle your sacrifice, I just think my Mother has you beat in that aspect, and really, there's no keeping those two apart. Keeping them apart is like an unstoppable force colliding with an immovable force." Eve laughed.

"What do you mean? You mean the former is consumed by the latter and releases a great deal of heat?" Brunhilda asked.

Eve chuckled at the answer. "No, I meant it's a paradox."

Xena was mesmerized by the shallow breaths from the woman lying on the ground across from her. It had been a day since the bard had fallen from the sky. She fussed over the unconscious woman, covering her softly with a blanket and taking note of every movement. Watching precariously and going through ideas of what to do for the woman if she were to suddenly take a turn for the worse. Over the course of a few candle hours, the most movement she had seen was Gabrielle wince or a soft moan, and a slight twitch here or there. It was a good sign that she was surviving this long, but despite that, Xena was tempted to head back to Valhalla and get one of Odin's apples. She knew Gabrielle wouldn't want to be a god, but Xena truthfully wanted to do anything to save her. They had some quiet nights together in the past where they had mused on such things. Thinking up hypothetical questions to keep themselves entertained.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You know Gabrielle, if you somehow ended up an immortal, and I had passed on, I'd get to be the younger woman for once; when I come back for my next life." Xena smirked, arching her eyebrow teasingly. It had elicited the bard's telltale nose wrinkle and snort, followed by receiving a pinch to her side.

"Xena, I wouldn't want to be an immortal. I mean, look at how crazy the ones we've known are. Life is short, but a life of forever seems like a long time to make mistakes. Besides, I wouldn't want to wait years and years for you to get back." the blond answered, picking up a fur from their bedding and tossing it to the brunette.

"Yeah, I guess you are right. You've never been one for patience!" the warrior teased, quickly jumping up from her seat on a rock and rushing to find a hiding spot.

"Get back here! Old wise and patient one!" the younger woman yelled after Xena. Following suit she began chasing her into the forest.

The remembrance of the memory brought a sweet warmth over Xena's heart. She knew she'd have to accept her soul mate's wishes. She walked over to the woman and took a seat beside her. Talking softly, she began a one sided conversation.

"Do me a favor sweetheart, I know you can hear me. I've made mistakes, and it's been a rough road for you. I know that, but this is a second chance. It's a new me. I'm tired of trying to be redeemed. I am redeemed. I am new. I've always been redeemed in your eyes, it just took me longer to realize. Fight through this for me. We can go back to the amazons, we can go back to my grandparent's farmhouse. Whatever you want, just come back to me." Xena pleaded, holding her love's hand on her face.

Startled out of her actions, she heard Eve and Brunhilda returning. She squared her shoulders and straightened up, with a sniff. "Mother, should we get a fire started? Maybe it'll help her be comfortable and warm. I can even prepare us some tea." her daughter asked.

"Sure. That sounds great Eve. You know, Brunhilda, you can head back to help out if you want. Me and Eve can handle it from here."

"It's alright . If it's the same to you, I'd rather stay here." Brunhilda asked.

Xena nodded, accepting her choice. "You know, I'm not sure about your body and your name fitting. Brunhilda in the body of a man is going to have to take some getting used to."

They set about the area, keeping busy. Brunhilda and Eve collected kindling and wood, while Xena carefully took note of Gabrielle's status. The bruising and the wounds probably wouldn't go away just by staring at it, but Xena couldn't think of anything else to do, but keep a close eye on her. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but the swelling that she observed a few candle marks ago seemed to be lessening. She hoped against hope that it wasn't just wishful thinking that it might be plausible that the Valkyrian immortality wasn't immediately worn off when Odin passed on. Actually, if all the things Odin were to wear off when he died, she should have lost this body. Brunhilda should have too.

"Brunhilda. Will Odin's actions wear off? Do you think, I, We, might have to go back to where we came from?" Xena asked loudly, making sure Brunhilda could hear her.

"I don't know Xena. If a God's will disappeared the moment they died, then Olympus would be your first clue. Did any of the actions of the dead gods of your twilight wear off?"

"No, not necessarily, but she wouldn't have been injured if she was immortal still. Maybe being in service to Odin is dependent on Odin's health. Me and you could just be a binding of soul to body. I honestly have no idea how these things work. Just when you think you've got things figured out, it never works the way you think it does. She's not dead yet. That's all I could ask for." Xena finished, settling into deep thought.

Standing beside her mother, Eve handed her some tea.

"Thanks." Xena patted her daughter on the shoulder and gave her a smile for her efforts. Looking at her now, she could see Gabrielle in her child. The perfect blend of herself and her soul mate. Gabrielle's honest caring of others before herself, and wish to see the bright side of things. Still, Eve had that vicious protector and killer instinct that lay just below the surface that was much like hers.

At one time Xena might have been dealt a death blow in losing Gabrielle, but she knew that she couldn't leave this time. Gabrielle and Eve had taught her so much more than that. She had been given a second chance and she would get to know this person that was her daughter. Also she would finally understand herself, without all the self loathing. It was time for her to focus on fixing her own problems, not everyone else's. Deep down, Xena felt it. She had a sense that was what she was now meant to do. It was relieving and freeing. A sense of peace that she hadn't felt since she was a child.

"Eve, come here." Xena gestured to her daughter and brought her in for an embrace. She began leaning on Eve, with her arm over her shoulder.

"She'll be okay Mother." Eve reassured.

"Who told you that? Eli? The One God?" Xena questioned, with hope.

"No. No one told me. It's Gabrielle. She's strong. You should know by now that she fights for you more than for herself." Eve gave her a tentative smile and they both smiled despite the current situation. "If there is something this situation has showed me; it is not to put all your hopes into the hands of gods. Sometimes you just have to believe in yourself."

"Ain't that the truth." Xena agreed wholeheartedly, proud of her daughter. She kissed Eve on the temple and clasped her hand around her daughter's waist.

A movement caught their eye. At first they thought it might be the fire flickering. However, they soon noticed Gabrielle softly moaning and attempting to move her hand. Her voice was hoarse and all that could escape was a gasp.

Xena rushed to the bard, pulling the wineskin from her belt and raising it to the bard's lips. She let a tiny bit trickle out, into the blond's mouth and caressed the younger woman's arm. Xena's heart raced in elation. Perhaps the bard was coming to.

"It's okay sweetheart, don't move. You've got yourself a bit banged up." Xena eagerly whispered to her.

She saw the blond's eyelashes flutter for a moment, as if the lids were as heavy as steel gates.

"We have you, you are safe." The blond's lips moved slightly and you could see her swallow the droplets of water eagerly. Xena watched the woman struggle with the drink, but knew that it was much needed. Each swallow sounded exhausting, but the blond continued until she finally pursed her lips together to signal she had enough. Her eyes began to flutter with even more intent, and finally the lids opened to reveal the deep forest green eyes dilated and slowly focusing. Her lips moved and chin moved forming out words.

"Where am I? Who are you? Who am I?" Gabrielle asked with blank tired eyes.

Xena, was taken aback by the words from her soul mates lips. Her eyes widened in fear and Eve adopted the same. Brunhilda, hearing the voice, also dropped her kindling and wood to come closer to the scene.

**Author's note: Thanks for the reviews for the previous chapter :)**