AN: the boys are back in business lol.

Chapter 25

In the classroom in the school of Alexandria the students were fully engaged listening to the teacher talk on and on about Egyptian history. Solan sat beside his brother, bored out of his mind. He didn't want to hear about the history of Egypt because this wasn't his homeland and this lecture was going on for two hours now.

He peered over at his younger brother and saw he was sleeping with his head on the desk and drooling all over his school work. He kicked Alexander's leg and the boy jolted awake, drool gliding down his chin and Solan chuckled. "Try and stay awake, Alexander."

The dark haired boy yawned and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "This is so boring!" he whispered.

"Yeah I know but you can't just fall asleep or he'll see you," he whispered back.

Alexander groaned and propped his elbows on the desk, trying to follow what the instructor was talking about. He probably missed over half of the lecture already and was so lost. "Is he talking about Cleopatra..." he muttered. Solan shrugged his shoulders and tapped his pen on the desk impatiently.

Ishaq turned around in his chair and frowned at Alexander and Solan. "You ladies done chatting?" he hissed.

"Are you really paying attention to this?" Alexander griped.

The young prince and son of Saladin smirked. "It's the history of my people. Too bad your people mean nothing so they aren't written in history lessons."

Alexander growled and stood up. "You just –"

"Alexander," the instructor stopped his lesson and all the students turned around. The boy's face flushed bright red. "Is something wrong?"

"Um..." Alexander spun around at all of the eyes on him and felt embarrassed. "No, sir..." he plopped back down in his chair and slumped, covering his face.

"Alright then. So back to Cleopatra and Marc Antony," he smiled and was about to continue his lesson until three men in dark turbans entered his classroom. Creasing his eyebrows, he folded his arms defensively. Yet another interruption. "May I help you?" he asked the men.

One of the men stepped forward and bowed his head curtly. "We've come for Alexander and Solan." He said.

Alexander and Solan spun around and smiles appeared on their faces, knowing exactly who those men were. The teacher scoffed. "You can't just walk in here and demand to take my students! I don't know who you are but –"

"The Sultan of Persia sent us," the soldier interrupted the irate teacher. "We have orders to take the princes home."

Ishaq and his brother, Aziz, dropped their jaws and Solan smirked, immediately grabbing his schoolbag and Alexander hopped out of his chair. "Alright! We're going home!" Alexander cheered and ran over to the Persian soldiers.

He turned to the sons of Saladin with a smug grin. "I told you we were princes," he whispered and Ishaq growled, spinning around in his seat and crossed his arms, fuming.

Solan walked over to his brother standing beside the tall Persian officer. He looked at his teacher's shocked face. "Great lesson by the way but you might want to mention that Cleopatra was allies with Julius Caesar, not Marc Antony." He smiled and the instructor's jaw dropped.

Alexander tugged on the soldier's pants. "Is the war over?" he asked.

"You know I'm not allowed to discuss that, your majesty. I have my orders to bring you back to Jerusalem." The soldier said with a subtle smirk on his face. "Excuse us, continue your lesson please." He nodded and pushed Alexander along and Solan followed them out of the school.

Alexander ran towards the coastline and saw Belach leaning on the docks waiting for them. "Belach!" he ran to him and grabbed his hand. "Mother is bringing us home! I'm so excited!"

Belach nodded. "I can tell."

The boy frowned sadly, "but what about Horus and Sekhmet?" he sighed.

Belach picked up the cage with the black scorpions and Alexander's face lit up. "I don't think your mom is going to be happy about this."

Alexander jumped up and grabbed the cage with his pets and smiled, walking onto the ship. Solan shook his head and flung his bag over his shoulder. "I can't believe you actually saved his pets."

Belach shrugged. "It makes him happy besides, I'm just glad to get the hell out of this place." He turned and walked on the ramp to the ship.

"It wasn't that bad," Solan said and his elder brother cast him a glare. "Okay, okay. It sucked." He chuckled and Belach wrapped his arm around him, squeezing him tightly. "Belach! Let go!"

The elder brother grinned and both walked onto the ship as Solan was trying to pry his arm off of him. He turned and shoved him into the wall playfully. Solan groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. He saw that Solan was now taller than him and he wasn't even fourteen yet.

"You tall freak. Just like your mother." Belach folded his arms and leaned on the railing of the ship.

"Hey guys I can see the entire city from up here!" Alexander shouted from one of the tallest sails on the ship. Solan gasped and Belach rolled his eyes.

"Alexander! Get down from there!" Solan yelled.

"Why? It's awweeesome!" he grinned and sat down with his two scorpions, admiring the sea from up top.

Belach snorted, "you and your mother baby him too much. Just let him have some fun before he gets punished when we get back to Persia. I'm sure he'll get into something else and Xena will ream him."

Solan grunted and folded his arms. "Alexander! I swear! Be careful!"

"Okay!" Alexander called out and smiled from above. He looked into the cage at his two pets and raised an eyebrow. "Hey Solan!" he rose to his feet, leaning on the railing. "Do you have any bugs?!"

Belach shook his head and walked down below to the belly of the ship. Solan smacked his forehead. "Yeah, let me just pull some out of the ocean."

Alexander frowned. "All you had to say was no." he grumbled and sat back down next to his pets.

Helena sat on her bed with Gabrielle, packing her things. She looked over at her solemn blonde friend. "Why the long face, Gabrielle?"

The blonde shrugged her shoulder. "I just don't want you to leave. You're my friend."

Helena grinned. "I need to go back to my home. The empress said that we are free to go. I donno about you but I've had enough of war for now." She chuckled and folded one of her tunics and placed it in the bag. Gabrielle began helping her fold clothes.

"I know but you can stay here! She told us that we can stay if we want to."

Helena raised her eyebrow and looked around at the girls. Some were leaving and others opted to stay. As much as she really liked spending time here and getting to know everybody, fighting just wasn't her thing. She wanted to go back home and build a life for herself even if she was alone. She felt much more equip to deal with life now as opposed to before.

"I'm forever grateful to the empress and everything she's done for me and the other girls. She definitely gave me a new way to appreciate life and I want to live. I'm not going back home to be a nobody again."

Gabrielle smiled at her friend that she would miss dearly. "So, what are you going to do when you go back to Greece then?"

Helena sighed. "I don't know yet. Maybe a teacher or a painter...or I don't know. The empress is sending some of us to Corinth. I've never been there before."

Ah, yes. The city where Xena sends all her girls and criminals to work off their crimes and debts they owed her. Gabrielle too, thought what lay in that city and it must be very important if Xena sent everyone there.

"Well, I hope you figure it out eventually." Gabrielle smiled and pat her friend's knee.

Dajan opened the doors to the girls' quarters and everyone turned their heads. "Gabrielle, the sultana wishes to see you."

Gabrielle frowned. "Right now?"

"Best not to keep her waiting," Dajan said with a grin. Gabrielle sighed and climbed off Helena's bed and walked over to the Persian.

Xena lifted her eyes when she saw Gabrielle enter her bedroom. She smiled and took the pen out from her mouth. "Gabrielle," her eyes widened. She scooted over on her bed and spat the empty spot next to her. "Come sit with me."

Come sit with you? Alright, sure why not. Let's just forget what happened during the war last month. Why not. Gabrielle inhaled deeply and sat down on the bed beside Xena and smiled faintly, looking in those steely eyes opposite her.

The sultana pushed her papers over to Gabrielle. "I was thinking I should open a academy for girls in Jerusalem and in Athens. Boys can join too of course..." she added.

Gabrielle leaned over and looked at Xena's plans and nodded her head. "Good. Sounds good."

Xena frowned. "Something wrong?"

"No, no." Gabrielle smiled, wagging her head.

"You're lying to me. You know I hate when people lie to me."

Oh I know. The entire world knows you hate that. Gabrielle sighed and hung her head, feeling a little bit awkward. "So, does that mean I'm free of my debt to you?"

Xena grinned. "After everything you've done for me, I think I'm the one who owes you. You're free, Gabrielle." She touched her heart.

"Free? You're allowing me to leave?" Gabrielle lifted her eyes and saw a sting of pain in Xena's eyes. Almost as if she didn't want her to leave.

The empress nodded her head and put on a false smile. "Of course. You are free to go like the other girls. You don't have to stay here." She turned and went back to her papers, writing a few things down in silence.

Xena, why can't you just admit that you are sad if I leave? I can see it in your eyes. You want me to stay so just say it. "I can go home. No strings attached?" she added.

Xena nodded. "You're not a prisoner here, Gabrielle. I said you're free to go." Her voice more stern.

But you don't want to me to go. "You want me to leave?"

The dark haired empress lifted the pen from the paper and turned to look into the green eyes beside her. "No..."

Finally, you admit it.

"But I can't make you stay."

A big grin crossed Gabrielle's lips and she flung her arms around Xena's neck. "Thank you," she whispered and pulled away to see the shocked confused look on Xena's face. Her cheeks flushed and she pulled her hair back behind her shoulders.

"For what?" Xena cocked her head.

"Xena, I want to stay here. I just wanted to hear you say it." she said and Xena finally smiled softly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I have so much to learn from you! I can't go back home yet!"

Xena shook her head. "I don't think you should learn anything from me, Gabrielle. I'm a ticking time bomb," she said.

"You know what you need?" Gabrielle sat on her feet and leaned in closer, dangerously close to the empress's face. "A party."

Xena scoffed. "Gabrielle, I don't have time for parties."

Gabrielle ripped the papers from Xena's grasp and threw them off the bed. "Just stop for one moment and appreciate life, Xena! The war is over! We should have a party!"

"No."

"Why not? Come on, it'll be fun! When's the last time you went to a party, anyway?" Gabrielle pried and Xena quirked her mouth, crossing her arms. "That long huh?"

"Gabrielle," the empress arched a brow, "even if we did have a party, nobody would come. Nobody likes me in case you haven't noticed."

Gabrielle grinned. "I like you." She immediately cursed herself for saying that aloud and saw the shock in Xena's wide eyes. "A lot of people like you, Xena! You can invite the Anatolians and even Saladin."

"You obviously don't know Saracens very well. They don't have parties that often unless it's a wedding, funeral or birthday." Xena rolled her eyes.

"Come on!" the blonde whined and grabbed Xena's hands. "Please? It'll be fun I swear."

She shook Xena's arms and the empress groaned lowly. "Alright!" she said firmly. "Alright, we'll have a party." She grumbled and Gabrielle beamed. "I am expecting Solan, Alexander and Belach tomorrow morning. I'm eager to see them," she smiled grandly.

Gabrielle nodded and leaned on the pillows beside Xena, throwing her arms behind her head. "Even Belach?"

Xena smirked. "I'm more eager to see the look on his face when I tell him that his mother is pregnant."

"Do you think he'll be upset?"

Xena shrugged a shoulder lazily. "Maybe it will make him grow up. He hasn't always been an arrogant boy. It will definitely give him something to do and get his mother off my back." She sighed heavily.

"She wasn't that bad," Gabrielle said and received a menacing glare from the empress.

"She was on her best behavior..." Xena grumbled. "Anyway, enough about her. What do you think of my academy idea?"

Gabrielle pursed her lips. "I think it's a good idea." She said and Xena eyed her. "Honest!"

Xena smiled and slapped Gabrielle's thigh. "Good because I'm putting you in charge!" she got off the bed and walked over to pour herself some wine and a glass for Gabrielle as well.

Gabrielle gasped. "What?! Xena!"

Xena spun around with two glasses in her hand with a sneaky grin. "You wanted to stay here, Gabrielle."

"But I can't do that! Be in charge of an entire academy! You saw how those girls treated me the last time! Xena, please don't humiliate me like this..."

Xena laughed lightly and sat on the edge of the bed, handing over the glass. "Gabrielle, you should have some faith in yourself. I know I do." She winked.

"Really?"

"Would I lie to you?" Xena smiled and Gabrielle shook her head.

"I don't know you kind of pretended to be a man for years so..." Gabrielle teased and Xena playfully nudged her arm after she took a sip from her wine.

"Very funny, Gabrielle."

Alexander hopped off the horse once he saw his mother's palace, his home. He smiled and ran to the gates and his eyes widened upon seeing the destroyed north wall and many workers repairing the wall on ladders.

Belach and Solan walked up behind him and their eyes lifted, gawking at the tall wall that was no more. "Whoa, this place looks like shit," Belach said and Solan nudged his arm. "What? It does." He shrugged his shoulder.

Alexander stepped inside of the gates and saw his mother waiting for them at the entrance. His smile grew once he saw her and dropped his bag, immediately running towards her. Xena grinned and knelt down with her arms out and he crashed into her, wrapping his entire body around her. She grunted and stood up, holding him in her arms, his legs wrapped around her waist.

He pulled away from her and she kissed his forehead. He frowned staring into her blue eyes. "Don't ever send us to Egypt again, mother," he chastised her.

She chuckled softly and ran her fingers through his dark hair. "I take it you didn't have a good time?"

He exhaled dramatically. "It was okay but these boys were so mean to me and Solan."

"What boys?" she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Ishaq and Aziz. They are princes of Saladin." He rolled his eyes.

She set him on the ground and grabbed his hand. "Saladin, huh?" she raised an eyebrow. "I will talk to him."

"Really? You know him? He is your friend?" he eyed her suspiciously.

She shrugged a shoulder. "Something like that." She lifted her eyes and saw Solan walking towards her with Belach by his side. "Boys." She greeted them both and Solan came to her, hugging her warmly. "You took care of your brother, right?" she whispered in his ear.

Solan pulled away and gave her a knowing look. "Of course I did. He's alive isn't he?" he jested and then grabbed the cage of scorpions and Alexander grinned, lifting his arms to grab the cage. The look on his mother's face was priceless. She was horrified. "I hope you don't mind but uh, Alexander has some pets."

Alexander grabbed the cage and held it close to his chest and Xena grinned nervously. "Oh...pet scorpions..." she nodded.

"They're my friends. Their names are Horus and Sekhmet," Alexander wriggled his eyebrows and she sighed, rubbing her temple. "I can keep them right?" he pleaded with his big brown eyes.

"I suppose..." she grumbled. "As long as they are kept in the cage," she narrowed her eyes at her smallest son.

Alexander nodded his head vigorously. "Thanks! I will take good care of them, don't worry!" he lifted the cage and eyed the black scorpions waving their stingers. "Where's Gabrielle? I want to show her."

"She's inside," Xena said and he took off running up the stairs and into the palace. She sighed and turned to her blonde son and stepson. She was about to speak to both of them until she heard girls shrieking inside the palace and Solan laughed lightly.

"Come on girls! They are really nice!" Alexander said inside the palace and Xena rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

Belach folded his arms with a big smirk on his face. "I don't think the girls like his pets..."

"Solan, would you go check on your brother and make sure he didn't let those things out of the cage..." she suggested and Solan nodded, quickly running inside the palace. She then turned to Belach with a faint smile. "Belach, I need to talk to you." She then began walking into the palace and he trailed behind her, already dreading what she was going to tell him.

Finally alone in her bedroom Belach sat in a chair, his eyes roaming around the room, a little bit nervous. Xena sat opposite him and saw a smirk on her lips. He immediately knew that whatever she was going to tell him, it probably wasn't good news. He didn't want to know.

"Belach," she began and leaned forward in the chair staring into his dark concerned eyes, "I'm going to send you back to Ankara tomorrow. Your mother has been waiting for you and she's very anxious to see you."

His eyes widened. "Is something wrong? Did something to happen to her?"

"Oh something happened to her alright," she said with a big smile and his face drained of color. She frowned once she saw the horrified look in his eyes. She reached for his hand. "It's not bad. She wanted to write to you but I told her that she couldn't."

He breathed in sharply, holding his breath. "So, what is it?"

"Well, your mother came to Thebes for awhile because your father wanted her to be safe and –"

"Is she hurt?" he asked and she groaned. "Did you do something to her?" he eyed her suspiciously.

"No!" she rubbed her forehead. "Belach, would you listen to me?" she asked politely and he nodded silently. "She's pregnant and she will have her baby in a few months so she wants you to come back to Ankara." She finally said and saw the shock on his face and she couldn't help but smile. She had been waiting for this moment. "Belach..." she looked into his stone cold eyes and expressionless face.

She waved her hand in front of his face and he didn't even blink and then he exhaled heavily, lowering his eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked, now not finding this very amusing anymore. She almost expected him to be upset but he was speechless. That wasn't the reaction she was hoping for.

"Mom!" Alexander ran into her bedroom and she grunted, leaning back in the chair, resting her chin on her palm. "Astremia tried to kill my scorpions!" he frowned sadly.

She sighed and looked at her son's teary brown eyes. "Why don't you keep those things away from the girls, Alexander?"

"But I was just showing them! They're not mean, I swear!" he sighed and Solan ran into the room after his little brother.

"There you are!" Solan growled and grabbed hold of his brother's arm. "You let one of your pets outside of the cage and it almost stung one of the girls!"

Xena gasped. "I told you to keep those things in the cage!" she snarled.

"They're not things!" Alexander pouted. "They're my friends..." he muttered.

Solan rolled his eyes then turned to see Belach sitting still as stone. He didn't even have a smart remark to combat Alexander. He playfully hit his elder brother's shoulder. "What's up with you?" he leaned down and Belach tapped his fingers on the armrest.

"What's wrong with him? What did you do to him?" Solan asked his mother.

"I didn't do anything! Why does everyone assume I'm doing something to someone around here?" she griped. "I just told him that his mother is pregnant and..." she stared at Belach once more, "I'm not sure how he is taking it..." she raised an eyebrow, waiting for a reaction.

Alexander gasped and slapped his palms to his cheeks. "A baby?!" he turned to his mother with his mouth wide open and Solan chuckled. "That is so awwwesome!" he grinned and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck from behind and she gasped. "You know what this means?!" he yelped. "I won't be the smallest brother anymore!"

He jumped off his mother and threw some punches. "This is great news! I'm so excited!" he jumped onto Belach's lap and he grunted, staring down at Alexander. "You will be a big brother...well, a big brother again..." he rubbed his chin. "Anyway, when does the baby come? Can we see it?" his eyes wide with glee and Xena sighed.

"Soon, Alexander," Xena muttered.

"You should have another baby, mother," Alexander said and Solan slapped his forehead.

Xena glared at her son. "No thanks I have my hands full already with you."

He frowned and then wrapped his arm around Belach. "So, Belach, what do you think?"

Belach turned to his brother then to Xena and Solan. "Well..." he began and Xena had her eyes on him, gaping. "I wasn't expecting that."

Alexander grinned and hopped off his elder brother. "Finally, I won't be the little brother anymore. There will be a new brother and –"

"Or sister," Solan interrupted.

Alexander contorted his face in disgust. "Sister?!" he shook his head. "Girls are so overrated." He said and Xena glared at him. "I mean...yeah...a sister...would be nice too." He grinned sheepishly then hid behind Solan from his mother's piercing eyes.

"So, I'm leaving tomorrow?" Belach finally said something to Xena other than being speechless.

She smiled. "Yes. Sorry to spring that on you but I didn't want you to be surprised when you returned home."

He nodded then got up to leave. Alexander immediately ran over to him, grabbing his hand. "If the baby is a girl Natassa Khatun should definitely name it Alexandria. Because you know, it's the best name," he grinned smugly.

Xena shook her head and Solan sighed. "Did he develop some kind of ego in Egypt?" she turned to her son.

Solan shrugged. "He's always been like that, mom."

Gabrielle ran into the bedroom, breathing heavily and Xena stood. "Gabrielle?"

"Those pets of Alexander's are in the baths and the girls are freaking out," she wiped the sweat off her brow.

Xena groaned lowly. "Maybe I should have left Alexander in Egypt for awhile longer," she grumbled then walked out of the room.

Solan smiled at Gabrielle, happy to see her again after so long. "How was the war?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't want to talk about it..."

"Alexander!" Xena yelled from downstairs.

She and Solan cringed at her voice echoing in the marble halls. "Well, it's nice to have you back." Gabrielle grinned nervously and he nodded. Xena's voice traveled throughout the palace again and Gabrielle winced. "We should probably go help..."

"I think I'll sit this one out," Solan said. "But you go ahead, Gabrielle." He smiled.

Gabrielle looked over the balcony and saw Alexander running out of the girls' quarters and heard Xena yelling at him. "On second thought, this is much more entertaining to watch," she smirked watching the tiny prince run down the hallway. "He's never going to cut her a break is he?"

Solan shrugged. "Nope. That's what she gets for treating him like a baby." He chuckled. "But I'm sure when he sees Natassa's baby he might change."

"You really think so?"

He nodded. "He won't be the baby anymore especially when we go to Ankara to stay with my father."

Gabrielle rubbed her chin. "You think your mother is going to let you do that still?"

"I hope so because I really like Ankara." He leaned into her and whispered, "we don't have a lot of rules over there, just between you and me."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Now she understood why Alexander didn't listen to anything Xena said. Borias allowed him to do whatever he wanted in Ankara and she was sure that Natassa didn't watch over them considering their relationship.

"Well, just between you and me," she whispered, "I think Alexander needs some structure."

Solan agreed. "He has a different life than I did. I lived with my mother for most of my childhood and she was very strict with me but not with Alexander. He grew up in Ankara and Jerusalem. He's spoiled and my mother doesn't really have time to give him enough attention."

Well, we'll just have to change that, she thought. "Maybe she will now."

Five Years Ago

Xena stood in front of Borias in Osman's camp in Ankara holding two year old Alexander on her hip and Solan clung to her black garb, staring at his father. She and Borias came to an agreement that their children should spend time with both of their parents instead of with one parent. Borias kept staring at her, eyeing Alexander as he was playing with a toy in his hands, oblivious to everything.

"Xena," he began softly, "I will take care of them. They are my sons too you know."

She sighed and brushed Alexander's hair from his face and he smiled at her. She then peered down at Solan and felt him clinging to her robes. She knelt down and set Alexander on the grass. She cupped her blonde son's cheeks and he frowned sadly at her with his big blue eyes.

"You will stay here for awhile with your father," she said with a warm smile and he quirked his mouth.

"How long?" he asked.

"Just for a little while. I will come back for you and your brother." She adjusted his collar and brushed his hair away from his face. "And you will be on your best behavior, understand?"

Solan nodded, unsure to what he was agreeing to. He didn't know how long he was going to stay here but he did as she said. "Okay, mother. I will."

She kissed his forehead and looked behind her to see Alexander wandering off towards the goats. She quickly ran over and picked him up and he frowned, pointing at the animals, mumbling nonsense. Walking back to Solan, Borias was waiting patiently.

She pushed Solan along and he walked over, lifting his eyes at his father. Borias smiled softly and he looked over at his former lover. "Xena," he cleared his throat, "Alexander," he wagged his fingers.

She nodded and handed him over to Borias and Alexander frowned confusedly. She grinned and kissed his small hand, looking into his big dark eyes. "Don't let Solan play with any weapons."

He half rolled his eyes. "Alright, Xena, no weapons."

"And don't give Alexander any sweets of any kind."

"Xena," he interrupted and her eyes widened. "No weapons, no sweets. I got it." he smiled.

She sighed and bent down, kissing Solan's head. "I love you very much," she whispered.

"Love you too," Solan grinned faintly and spun around hearing his name being called.

Belach sauntered over with a smirk on his lips and he ran his fingers through his shoulder length dark hair. "Little brother, looks like you will be staying here with us, huh?" the eleven year old said and Solan raised an eyebrow. "Shall I show you around?" he lend his hand and Solan eyed his mother.

She nodded and Solan smiled then grabbed Belach's hand and they walked off talking together. Borias turned and saw the malice in her eyes. "I will take care of them, Xena. Don't worry." He reassured her.

She wrapped the veil around her face and mounted her horse, eyeing Alexander who was gawking at her. "I will write you." She narrowed her eyes then trotted off with her elite guard trailing behind her.