AN: thank you all for reading and giving feedback. I will have justice for Eve, if you know what I mean ;) in the meanwhile, one more surprise! Enjoy!

Chapter 36

Swords clashed against one another as Xena danced around Gabrielle early in the morning. All students were asleep and would not wake for another hour or so. Xena grinned beneath the black mesh face guard and pushed her friend back, stunning her as she stumbled into a flower pot. Gabrielle smirked and stood her stance, adjusting her black face guard, coming to Xena with the sword in her hand. She clashed her blade with Xena's many times and saw her warrior friend's surprised face and blocked each blow as quickly as she could.

Xena grinned as she started backing up as Gabrielle came at her like a trained warrior that she was. As she was about to thrust her blade into Gabrielle, she was caught off guard and Gabrielle knocked her off her feet and she landed on her back with a blonde staring down at her with the blade to her throat. Xena breathed heavily and she stared into her green eyes.

"You finally got me," Xena smirked and Gabrielle threw the sword aside, helping her friend up off the ground.

Gabrielle took off the mesh mask and doused her face in water smiling to herself. She felt proud of herself that she finally got Xena on the ground after many weeks of attempts. Xena was a great warrior but she wasn't always on her guard especially as of late.

"one in a million chances, " Gabrielle chuckled and handed Xena a glass of water from the basin. Xena downed the water and threw her mask on a ledge, leaning against the wall, wiping the sweat off her forehead. Gabrielle brushed off some dirt off her white pants and stared at a defeated Xena. Her cheeks were red from the spar they had been going at for a couple of hours. "Did you let me win?" she smirked.

Xena lolled her head over with a smile and kept drinking water to quench her thirst. "You won fair and square, Gabrielle," she swirled her sword in the air and stepped inside her palace. She looked to the empty villa and saw the maids bringing fruit and an assortment of food out for the students in the next room. Gabrielle followed in and stopped beside her as she stared into the dining area.

"I'll see you in the baths?" Gabrielle asked with a hopeful smile. Xena turned to her friend and nodded.

"I will meet you there in a minute. I'm going to check on something," she said and turned to leave, heading down the long hallway. Gabrielle watched Xena disappear behind a few columns and arched her brow. Thinking nothing of it she head to the baths on the opposite end of the palace. She wasn't going to wait for Xena as she really desired to clean herself.

Xena rounded the corner and came to Solan's room. She imagined he'd be sleeping by now. So far he had stayed here for a month or so and he really enjoyed reading, writing and occasionally sparring with Gabrielle when he got the chance if she wasn't too busy. Xena hadn't seen Solan in a week or so as she had been to the training grounds to observe her men. She also got a few letters from Phraates, but she simply ignored them. She didn't want anything to do with him and his ridiculous alliance. As much as she wanted to, she wanted to write Borias but she had no idea where he was now. He was always on the move and it was very hard to track him, unless she sent out a scout to search for him she wasn't going to get in contact with him any time soon.

She opened the door and saw Solan asleep in his bed with a few scrolls scattered on his bed. She also saw a small short sword lying on his desk. She stepped inside and closed the curtains, blocking any sunlight that came into the room. Xena slowly made her way to his bed and she gathered up the loose scrolls, rolling them up gently and setting them on his desk with the rest of his work. Solan stirred in his slumber and Xena stopped making noise and watched him as he rolled over, bringing the blankets closer to his chest. He breathed out slowly and Xena smiled, brushing her hand alongside his cheek then ran her hand over his blonde hair.

Turning to leave she watched him one last time and then closed the door silently and head to the baths where Gabrielle was waiting for her.

As soon as she arrived she stripped of her clothes, throwing them aside and saw Gabrielle had already taken the liberty of opening almost every oil bottle there was inside the place. She stepped into the water carefully down the steps in the bath. Immediately she dipped her entire body in the warm water, coming up slowly brushing her hands over her hair.

Gabrielle smiled and waded over to Xena, grabbing some oils for her long hair. "Where did you go?" she asked curiously.

Xena turned around and allowed Gabrielle to doused her raven locks with oil. "I went to see Solan," she grinned as she washed her skin, allowing the water to glide against her arms. "He was still sleeping."

A moment of silence came between the two and Gabrielle began rubbing the oil onto Xena's shoulders. Xena closed her eyes and tried to relax her body as she felt she hadn't really had time to relax lately. She had gotten a few letters from Octavius regarding Solan's stay with her. She dare not tell Solan about them, but she did indeed reply, insisting that Solan liked staying here with her and she managed to say that he wanted to keep staying in Athens. Xena knew that Solan was not a child anymore, but she was still her child and truthfully she'd rather have him here with her than in Rome. Now that Octavius knew of her status with Solan as his mother, she feared that everyone else in the empire knew about him, but hoped they didn't. She didn't want Solan anywhere near violence because of her. She wouldn't allow that to happen again.

Xena turned to her friend and grabbed her hand tightly. "Gabrielle. I want to say thank you," she smiled.

Gabrielle looked at her in concern and perplexity. "For what Xena?"

"For...showing me that I can be a good person and for just being here with..me," she added shyly.

Gabrielle blinked and grinned tightening her grip while holding Xena's hand in her own. "You were always a good person, Xena. You just needed some guidance. I won't leave you now, I think we've been through a little too much," she laughed lightly at that. Xena followed with a wide grin at that, staring into her reflection.

After drying themselves off Xena wore a red kimono, a gift that was given to her a long time ago. Gabrielle was in her room preparing for the day and she saw Xena standing at the entrance with a certain look on her face –a look she had never seen before. "What?" she began to feel self conscious and touched her face, hoping there was nothing there. Xena stifled a laugh and gestured for her to follow her. She soon disappeared and walked down the stairs.

Gabrielle quickly followed as she was still tying her bodice, hastily running down the stairs to catch up with Xena. She then halted once they reached the bottom of the steps.

"Xena, what is it? you're worrying me," she said and Xena smiled and looked at her friend, touching her hair generously.

"I have a surprise for you. It's outside in the gardens," she eyed the gardens ahead and Gabrielle looked at her skeptically. "Go on," she pushed her forward and the young blonde walked ahead slowly into the sunlight. As she took a few steps forward she saw a person standing in the middle of the atrium, circling around as she looked at her surroundings. Gabrielle took another step forward and felt her heart skip a beat for a moment.

Turning back to look at Xena she didn't have any words. Her brunette empress friend curtly nodded her head and placed her hands behind her back. Gabrielle's smile beamed and she went to Xena, hugging her tightly and Xena felt shocked at the sudden embrace, though she grinned and allowed Gabrielle to take in every moment.

Gabrielle turned around and saw the light becoming brighter as she stood at the entrance of the archway into the gardens. She stepped outside and called out almost afraid of what might happen next. "Lila?" she said and her sister whipped her head around to see her elder sister standing at the entrance. She smiled softly and walked forward examining her sister. She ran her fingers through her sister's short hair and took her time in silence to just stare at Gabrielle.

"how...how did you get here?" Gabrielle asked.

Lila truthfully didn't really know but she knew she was in a palace of some sort and she was in Greece. "A messenger was sent to me and told me to come with him to Greece. I –I didn't want any trouble so I left with him." She smiled and the two embraced one another.

Gabrielle opened her eyes and saw Xena staring at her with a warm smile matching her eyes. Xena turned slowly and left, walking down the long hallway. She pulled away from the embrace and wiped her sister's tears from her cheeks.

Lila slowed her breathing, "what is this place? And why are you here?"

Gabrielle feared her sister's reaction but didn't feel like lying to her. She had missed her entire childhood with her sister and this wasn't the time for any deception. "You're in Athens in the palace of the Empress..." she tread carefully as she saw Lila's eyes widen and took a step backward from her.

Lila folded her arms and looked at the palace and immediately knew who's fortress this was and which Empress Gabrielle spoke of. "I'm in the palace of that witch, Xena, aren't I?" she asked and when Gabrielle didn't respond she turned forcefully at her sister with a prominent frown. "Aren't I Gabrielle?!"

Gabrielle sighed and saw Lila resist her touch. "Lila please. Xena is not the same person as she was all those years ago. I promise, she's changed." She pleaded.

Lila turned and started laughing. "Changed? Gabrielle, people don't change! Did you forget when she burned our village and killed our parents? Because...I didn't, but it seems you have," she began walking around the gardens and immediately felt envy. She wished she lived in a place like this, like Xena. That woman robbed her childhood and she could never forgive her for that, but Gabrielle...she was here in the palace as if she felt comfortable here living with that witch.

"I have never forgotten our parents or you Lila!" Gabrielle said firmly. Her eyes swelled with tears. "I looked for you for years, but when I couldn't find you...I thought you were dead," she said quietly. Lila looked to her sister and sighed heavily.

Silence.

Gabrielle let a loud sigh out and placed her hands on her sister's shoulders. "Xena brought you here. It must be her way of apologizing to me...to you." She grinned and saw Lila furrow her brows, closing her eyes tightly, not wanting to hear Xena's name again.

"Are you her slave or something? Why are you here in her palace?" she asked. Gabrielle nervously smiled and then let go of her sister, walking around in a circle. Lila's eyes danced back and forth at her sister as she paced.

The blonde rubbed her chin and then folded her arms. "Xena is...my friend. I have been here for a year." She saw Lila wasn't taking this very well and she groaned. "It's a long story, but Lila..." she ran her fingers through her long brown hair. "I am so happy to see you after all these years of lost time..."

Lila couldn't be mad at her sister as she hadn't seen her in many years, but she couldn't understand why Gabrielle would befriend someone as ruthless as Xena. She hugged her sister once more in a much needed long embrace.

After Gabrielle had reunited with Lila she invited her into the villa and gave her some fruit, wine and water. They talked for a long while, must have been a couple of hours. Gabrielle explained everything to her from the time Xena brought her in as a slave, used her for sport, then laughed about the time she tried to kill Xena. Lila did not find that part of the story too amusing as she secretly wished she had committed the deed. She then went on further and explained that she and Xena were able to open Athens to the public and allow students to come study in her palace. Lila thought that idea was good and well thought out and of course typical of Gabrielle to suggest a library filled with scrolls. She remembered she always liked to write.

Being inside this place she couldn't help but feel a tad uncomfortable and out of place. She told Gabrielle what happened after she left her in the forest. Deciding to flee as an immediate instinct she stumbled upon a couple traveling and decided to take her in. A nice Turkish couple that were just passing through at the time. Lila, being so young couldn't refuse but also wanted to take Gabrielle with her in that moment. As soon as the couple saw flames from afar they were frightened and instantly left the scene. Lila stayed with them as a daughter and traveled to the outskirts of Turkey close to the Aegean Sea. She wouldn't dare go back to Potidea but she too thought her sister dead after all these years.

As she became older she often wanted to go back to Potidea and she did but found nothing but ruins. She wouldn't know where to look if she were to find Gabrielle, if that thought even entered her mind. She had her mind set on the fact that she could be dead so she never looked. Just a child, she couldn't fathom the entirety of the situation. Gabrielle couldn't blame her for thinking she were dead as she too began to think the same after many years of trying to find her. Now that she was here in front of her, she wanted this moment to never end.

Xena came down the stairs and saw Lila speaking with Gabrielle in the villa across the way. Lila caught glimpse of the intimidating empress as she glided down the steps. The two locked eyes and Gabrielle turned around to see no other than Xena standing with a blank face. Her eyes went to her sister who seemed to fear the woman. Immediately getting up she went to Xena and grabbed her arm, suggesting her to come forth.

Lila stood up and her eyes grew with fear and anger as she stared at Gabrielle walking with Xena in a very friendly manner. She suddenly felt like she couldn't move and was in shock. Xena now stood in front of Lila and stared into her green eyes, those which matched Gabrielle's perfectly. She expected Xena to snarl at her but instead she bowed her head slowly at Lila. She still stood in utter shock and watched Xena lift her head up to meet her eyes once again and unexpectedly saw the empress smile warmly at her. Something she'd never thought she'd see from a woman like her.

Gabrielle watched the two exchange in silence and Lila almost cracked a smile but shied away from it, remaining stoic as ever in front of Xena. Xena let go of Gabrielle's hold and took another step forward closer to her younger sister. Lila backed away but then Xena placed her hand on Lila's shoulder softly.

Xena felt knots in her stomach as she touched the girl's shoulder. That's all she was –a girl. She was technically a young woman, but to her she was a girl. A girl whom she ripped everything out from under her at such a young age. She felt that an apology was overdue and also didn't know if that would be enough.

Breathing out slowly she steadied her inner feelings. "I'm sorry for what I did to you...to Gabrielle. You deserved so much more and I took it from you." Xena said and Lila slowly relaxed her body. Gabrielle smiled as she stood beside Xena and felt her apology was definitely sincere. She surely hoped that Lila might feel the need to forgive her friend. "I can't bring back your childhood or your parents. I only hope that I can someday be able to forgive myself and for you to forgive me too.." she held her breath and watched Lila stare into her eyes with her mouth agape utterly speechless.

Lila saw Xena's hand slide off her shoulder and she was able to breathe again. She stared at her sister and saw she had warm eyes. Xena looked to Gabrielle with a sad smile. "If..." the two looked at her once more and she felt nervous as Xena's eyes pierced into hers. "If Gabrielle is able to live here...with you..in peace and is able to forgive you...then perhaps," she took a long pause and saw the hope in her sister's pleading eyes. "I will be able to do the same...someday," she breathed out slowly.

Xena and Gabrielle grinned together and suddenly Gabrielle grabbed the empress's hand, squeezing tightly. She then went forth and hugged her sister once more, never getting tired of doing that.

Lila had a thought and looked at Xena who seemed to be at ease with herself. She wasn't really the same woman she had seen all those years ago. Her long hair was gone, combed and had a nice sheen to it. Her clothes were not tribal anymore and even her eyes had changed. "How did you find me?" she asked.

The empress's eyebrows rose and she smirked, "I have good messengers and scouts. It took me a couple of months but.." she eyed Gabrielle. "It was no trouble finding you."

A smile finally emerged on Lila's face and felt Gabrielle wrap her arm around her shoulder. "I suppose I should thank you for allowing me to reunite with Gabrielle..."

Xena waved her hand dismissively. "No thanks are needed. Gabrielle deserves happiness in her life," her eyes met with the blonde's and they shared a knowing smile with one another.

Lila had stayed at the palace for a couple more days but insisted that she'd return back to Turkey where her home was. That was what she called home and her parents. Gabrielle wished her to stay but understood if her sister wanted to leave. She could feel her uneasiness as she was in the palace, but at least she knew where she was and could write to her or even visit her whenever she wanted to. Lila still couldn't understand how Gabrielle could be friends with Xena after what she had done, but somehow felt her sister was more brave than her. She was able to befriend her worst enemy, the entire Greek speaking world's enemy and managed to change her in some way. For that, Lila loved her sister even more for that and could maybe one day find the same forgiveness she had shown Xena, but now was not the time.

Xena was in her office looking over a few documents that came her way as usual. These last few days had been rather busy especially with Lila here. She allowed Gabrielle some alone time for those days to focus her attention on her sister. She made herself scarce and quietly strolled through the palace and remained in her office for most of the time.

As the hours went by she had asked Racha to make some tea for her as she wasn't feeling well recently. Something that she couldn't explain but figured that she had just been tired. Nothing seemed to be agreeing with her no matter what she ate. She casually skipped meals making sure nobody noticed she would pick at her food throughout the day when Racha brought her trays into her office or her bedroom. She didn't wish to tell Gabrielle about her sudden illness as she couldn't take that happiness away from her.

Gabrielle came into Xena's office as the door was open, welcoming guests. She smugly smiled as Xena sipped her tea. Her eyes traveled up to see her blonde friend grinning at her.

"What's with the face?" Xena smirked.

Gabrielle sauntered in and immediately skipped over to Xena, hugging her tightly as she did many times before but felt the need to do it again. Xena, surprised at the sudden embrace she smiled and patted Gabrielle's arm gently.

"If I haven't thanked you, I want to thank you again –"

Xena brought Gabrielle to stand beside her as she sat down looking up at her. "I think you thanked me enough Gabrielle. I just want you to be happy."

Gabrielle smirked, "but I am happy! Because..." she felt her cheeks redden. "...of you." Xena smiled with closed lips and drank the rest of her tea, feeling another wave of nausea hit her again. Making sure to keep herself discrete she didn't look at Gabrielle any longer but began organizing the papers on her desk.

"Are you happy Xena?" she asked in quiet voice.

Xena, caught off guard stood up facing her friend. "Yes of course, because you are."

The following week Xena spent most of her time in her bedroom and insisted that she wouldn't be bothered. She would not even let Gabrielle come her room so she locked her door, shutting herself away. She lay on her bed on her side, curling her legs close to her chest she indistinctly bit her fingernails nervously.

Gabrielle leaned her ear against Xena's door and heard retching from behind the door. She winced at that sound and heard Xena groan softly. She hadn't done much today as she was too worried about Xena for the remainder of the day.

Solan came up the stairs and saw Gabrielle at his mother's door, listening intently. "Hey," he startled the blonde and she placed a hand over her chest.

"Solan don't do that!" she hushed him and continued listening.

"What are you doing?" he whispered and came closer and heard Xena heaving and he pulled his ear away. "What's wrong with her?" his voice filled with concern.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "I don't know because she won't let anyone see her!" she angrily whispered. Solan then knocked on the door and Gabrielle gasped, snatching his hand away. "What do you think you're doing?"

He arched a brow and knocked again but received no answer. "Mother...?" he called out.

Xena's eyes widened and she wiped her mouth, "what is it?" she answered quietly.

Gabrielle threw her hands in the air. So she answers him and not me, great. Solan looked to Gabrielle and leaned in closer to the door.

"Are you alright? You don't sound too good," he called out.

Xena sighed and sat up in bed debating if she should go and greet Solan but she didn't really want to leave her room at the moment. She managed to rest her head against the headboard of her bed and call out, "I'm fine. I just...want to be alone," she said quietly.

Solan shrugged his shoulders at Gabrielle, but she wasn't likely to take that as an honest answer. She knocked on the door more forcefully this time. "Xena! I don't believe you!" she placed her hands on her hips and then they both heard the lock unhinge and Xena opened the door showcasing a very pale face and wild hair.

They both looked to her in shock and Gabrielle blinked. Solan came closer to his mother and looked into her eyes. "Mother you don't look...good."

Xena half smiled. "Solan I appreciate your sympathy but I am fine," she patted his shoulder and he arched a brow staring at her intently.

Gabrielle felt the need to laugh at her dear friend. "You are so stubborn. Have you looked at yourself lately?" Xena glared at her blonde companion and Solan suddenly felt he needed to be elsewhere.

"should I go...get someone?" he suggested.

Xena yelled, "No!" he stopped in his tracks and she sighed. "I mean no...thank you though, Solan."

Gabrielle turned to Solan and nodded her head, "go tell Racha to bring some water and some towels," she commanded and he instantly ran down the stairs to go fetch the maid.

Gabrielle pushed Xena back into her room and set her down on her bed and she went for the bath immediately heating up some water. Xena rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling like a child that was being coddled.

"Gabrielle can you stop doing that. I have maids for that!" she called out and felt the sourness fill her mouth again and she was tempted to gag. She returned from the bath and stared at her friend with concern.

"You look awful," Gabrielle said bluntly.

Xena looked to her friend and arched an eyebrow. "You don't say?" her voice dripping with sarcasm. Racha came in the room with some fresh towels and a basin of water. She eyed her empress carefully and saw she looked very pale and a little out of sorts. She hadn't seen her like this in quite some time, not since that horrible battle she managed to get out five years ago. Except, this time, it was different. She eyed her carefully and handed the towels to Gabrielle leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

After a few minutes of coaxing Gabrielle finally managed to get Xena in the water and she combed through her hair gently. Xena held a glass of water in her hands, tapping the cup impatiently with her fingernails.

Gabrielle noticed Xena's tension and stopped combing her wet hair. "If you were feeling sick you should've told me."

Xena scoffed, "I can handle it on my own, Gabrielle," she sipped a bit of water and realized that was an immediate mistake. Covering her mouth she leaned over the edge of the tub and threw up on Gabrielle's boots.

Gabrielle furrowed her brows and sighed heavily. Closing her eyes tightly she heard more of Xena's retching and decided to look away, reminding herself to burn her boots later. She wished that her ears would be able to block out that sound as it wasn't helping. Xena slid back into the warm water, ducking half her face in the water, wrapping her arms around herself. Gabrielle looked down and crinkled her nose. She knelt down close to Xena's ear and whispered, "oh yeah, you're handling it very nicely.." she grumbled.

Awhile later Xena was laying in her bed, sitting up leaning against her headboard. Gabrielle tended to the fireplace and poked the fire with a stick feeling as if she were on one of her adventures with Xena again. She had cleaned her boots and set them close to the fire to dry. Barefoot she padded over to Xena and sat on her bed staring at her. Xena looked at her and instantly looked away feeling embarrassed.

"Xena I really think you should go –"

"I'm not seeing a healer," Xena immediately interjected. She looked to the window and stared out at the dark night sky.

Gabrielle sighed. "Have you ever felt like this before?" she asked.

Xena remained quiet and she certainly had felt like this before but had denied it many times throughout the last few weeks. She knew the feeling all too well, twice in her life.

"Yes," she said quietly. She then averted her eyes to Gabrielle and looked down, not wishing to look at her any longer. "With Solan and with...Eve."

There was a long moment of silence and Gabrielle didn't know what to say. To say the least, she was bemused.

"But...that is impossible," Xena managed to say, scoffing at the idea.

Gabrielle scooted closer to her warrior friend and gently rubbed Xena's arm. "Maybe...it is not," finally catching onto what Xena was thinking.