The Long Road
by
"Hush now my little one, please don't you cry. Lay your head down on my shoulder and sigh. Sun's gone away, and mama will pray. Silence will keep all the while you're asleep." Xena sang to her baby boy Xavier.
"Xena, Gabriella is ready for her diaper change." Gabrielle said.
"Okay. There are some in the saddle bag on Argo." Xena said. Gabrielle walked over with Gabriella and got her a new diaper.
Ares held Solari who was sleeping with her head on his shoulder. Eve was running around playing with the puppy Joxer.
"We have to head out soon." Xena said. "That warlord is really starting to bug me." Xena said.
"Who?" Gabrielle asked. "Nexis?"
"Yes. He's been following us for a few months. Ever since the babies were born." Xena said. "Don't let Eve know. I don't want to upset her."
"Okay." Gabrielle said. She got Gabriella to sleep and gave her to Xena. Ares handed Solari to Xena, and went to find Eve and Joxer.
Xena and Gabrielle had made a basket to fasten on the saddle on Argo. It held Xavier, Solari, and Gabriella. Xena put the babies in it gently. They were up high, but the basket was fastened safely to the saddle, and the sides of it were high so the babies would stay safe inside.
"Eve!" Ares called. "Come on. It's time to go!"
"Okay Ares." Eve said walking up to him with Joxer. Joxer walked obediently by Eve's side. "Are you coming with us?"
"No. I have to be somewhere, but I'll be back." Ares said.
"Okay." Eve said. She held his hand and he led her back to Xena.
"Yaaaaahhhhh!" Xena yelled. "She ran to a tree, and planted her feet firmly against it and did a backflip into the air. She landed safely on her feet. "Yep. Still got it." She said smiling.
"Yeah." Gabrielle said laughing. "Four months after having three babies. Not bad."
"Yeah, but I was up and going after a few days after I had Eve." Xena said.
"Yeah. Well, Eve was just one baby." Gabrielle said. "You had three of that size at the same time."
"That's true." Xena said. "Come on. Let's get ready to go." She and Gabrielle smiled, and got on their horses. Ares came back carrying Eve.
"Look what I caught." He said. Eve started laughing. Joxer was running behind Ares.
"Come here Eve." Gabrielle said. "You can ride with me." Ares lifted her up to Gabrielle and she settled on the horse in front of her. Ares walked over to Xena.
"I have to go." He said.
"I know." Xena said. "What's going on?"
"There's a war down in Crete." Ares said. "I have to be there."
"Okay." Xena said. "I love you."
"I love you." Ares said. Xena leaned down on the horse and kissed Ares. He disappeared and Xena and Gabrielle rode off.
A few hours of riding in silence as the babies slept did them some good. They enjoyed the nice sunny day and Joxer followed behind. Xena would look behind sometimes and see Nexis duck behind a large boulder or a tree. She just laughed to herself. She knew he was there, and she knew she could take care of him if he ever tried to take Eve again.
"Xena, this place is beautiful. Do you think that there's a village nearby? We should get some food and take Eve on a picnic." Gabrielle said.
"There's a village up ahead, but the picnic should wait. Nexis is close behind." Xena said.
"How close?" Gabrielle asked not looking behind her.
"About 5 minutes behind." Xena said.
"All right." Gabrielle said. "Let's keep going." Eve was asleep leaning against Gabrielle, and the triplets were starting to wake up, but they were playing with each other so they probably wouldn't cry.
That evening, Xena decided it would be best to stay at an inn. She and Gabrielle put the horses in the stables, and went to the local village inn. There were three beds, so Gabrielle took one, Xena took one, and Eve took one.
After Eve was asleep, Gabrielle drifted off, and Xena put the babies in her own bed, and walked out to the balcony.
"Ares." She whispered closing her eyes and smiling. Before she knew it, he appeared before the warrior princess and touched her face softly with his hand. She opened her eyes. "You came." She said.
"You called for me." He said. "I came here." Xena smiled. Ares kissed her softly. He started to lead her back into the room.
"No. Gabrielle is asleep, and so is Eve. The babies are too. I don't want to wake them." Xena said smiling.
"Okay. I know a place where we can go." Ares said. "Take my hand." Xena took his hand and they disappeared into another world.
"This is Olympus." Xena said.
"Yes." Ares said.
"The other gods are here." She said.
"No. They're all fighting. They left for a while. They won't be back for quite some time." Ares assured Xena. Xena smiled, and kissed Ares. They fell back onto a bed with red silk sheets.
"I must be back soon. If the babies wake, Gabrielle will know I'm not there." Xena said.
"She'll know you'll be back." Ares said kissing Xena softly. He removed the leather she was wearing, and was thankful that she left her armor back on earth. Ares kissed Xena and then kissed her neck making a path from her mouth all the way down her body. They spent hours in each other's embrace.
"Aunt Gabby! Aunt Gabby!" Eve said shaking Gabrielle awake.
"Eve! What is it?" Gabrielle asked.
"Mommy isn't here!" Eve exclaimed. "Where is she?"
"She probably went outside. Maybe she had to go take care of a fight or something." Gabrielle said trying to assure herself too.
"Will she be back soon?" Eve asked sniffling.
"Yeah. She'll be back." Gabrielle said getting out of bed. She picked Eve up and carried her back over to her own bed. She lay her down and covered her up with blankets. "Go back to sleep."
"Okay." Eve said yawning. Gabrielle went back to bed wondering where her friend went.
"I should go." Xena said. "The babies will be waking soon."
"Okay." Ares said disappointedly. He kissed Xena's shoulder and in an instant, she was back in her leather, and on the balcony of the inn. It was near sunrise, and Xena crept into the room. Gabrielle was asleep, and Eve was as well. Solari and Gabriella were still asleep, but Xavier was awake, and he was playing with his feet. Xena smiled at him.
"Hi sweetie." She whispered picking up the little boy. He cooed. Xena smiled at him again. Gabrielle woke up and glared at Xena.
"Where were you?" she asked steaming mad.
"I was kinda with Ares." Xena said.
"Oh. That explains it." Gabrielle said. She rolled her eyes. "Your daughter had a bad dream."
"Eve? What happened?" Xena asked Gabrielle.
"She woke me up, and she said you weren't here. I'm pretty sure she had a nightmare." Gabrielle said.
"Okay. I'll talk to her." Xena said.
"So, I trust you had a good night?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes." Xena said smiling. She and Gabrielle laughed. They walked over and picked up the babies as Eve woke up. Xena went over to her bed holding Solari.
"Mommy! You're back!" Eve exclaimed.
"Yeah. I'm sorry I wasn't here last night." Xena said.
"It's okay mommy." Eve said.
"Did you have a nightmare?" she asked.
"No. I saw man. He was outside of the door. He was standing there, then he left." Eve explained. Xena looked at Gabrielle who mouthed 'Nexis'.
"Don't worry sweetie. You're safe." Xena said. She hugged her little girl. She took out a brush and started brushing her daughter's long brown hair.
"I won't do it!" Ares exclaimed slamming his fist on the table. "She is the best friend of the woman I love!"
"But lord Ares." The man started. "If you bring her, Draco will end this war."
"No!" Ares said. "I am the god of war! I want this war to continue."
"But, if this war continues, Xena's village will be totaled." He said.
"Xena said Draco would never touch Amphipolis again." Ares said.
"Well, he obviously changed his mind, Lord Ares." The villager said.
"I am not going to bring Gabrielle to him." Ares said.
"I'll tell Draco. He won't be happy." The man said. He left Ares' tent. Ares slammed his fist against the table, and sat down in his chair. He rested his head against the back of it and sighed. He couldn't take Gabrielle to Draco. Xena would hate him forever. Besides, Gabrielle was beginning to grow on him. She and Ares were actually getting along and forming a kind of a friendship. He sighed and disappeared.
"Xena!" Gabrielle said laughing. "Stop!"
"Come on Gabrielle. You know you want it. Come get it!" Xena exclaimed. She held the bard's quill high above her head.
"I thought we were past the short jokes." Gabrielle said.
"I'm sorry Gabrielle, but I was just trying to add some fun to this day. It's rainy, and muggy. Everything is boring." Xena said.
"Yeah." Gabrielle said. Eve was running around with the puppy as the babies slept in the basket that was hooked to Argo's saddle.
Ares appeared before the two women. Xena smiled. Gabrielle did as well.
"Hey Ares." Gabrielle said.
"Hi." He said calmly. "Xena. I need to talk to you." Xena followed him over to Argo.
"What is it?" Xena asked.
"Draco wants Gabrielle." Ares said.
"What?" Xena asked as her eyes widened. "Draco wants Gabrielle?"
"Yes. If he gets her, the war stops, which I don't want. Obviously I don't want that because I'm the god of war. But, if he doesn't get her, he's going to destroy Amphipolis." Xena felt a rush of anger flow through her veins.
"He said he'd never touch Amphipolis again." Xena said clenching her jaw.
"He changed his mind. Obviously he doesn't think of you as a threat anymore." Ares said.
"He'll kill everyone." Xena said. "He can't. But he can't have Gabrielle. She's my best friend." Ares could see Xena forming a plan behind those beautiful eyes of hers.
"What do you have in mind?" Ares asked.
"Gabrielle!" Xena called over. Gabrielle hurried over to them. They formed a plan to get Draco away from Amphipolis. They packed up, got Eve and Joxer, and headed for Amphipolis. Draco was heading that way as well.
Nexis was gaining on them. Xena stopped Argo, and jumped off. She ran full force toward Nexis' horse. She jumped and did a flip, knocking Nexis off of his horse. Eve was sleeping, so she couldn't see him.
"All right Nexis." Xena said. "You want me. Come and get me." Nexis charged toward Xena and she knocked him on his back, knocking the wind out of him for a brief second. He staggered as he got up, and he charged again. Xena tripped him, and put the pinch on him. "Listen to me Nexis. You give me your word that you won't follow us anymore, and I won't kill you."
"I…promise." Nexis choked out.
"Good boy." Xena said releasing the pinch. She got up, and went back to her horse. They all headed back towards Amphipolis.
"Come on." Xena said. Ares went back to the war, and to his tent. The war wouldn't reach Amphipolis for at least another day. They got off of their horses as they headed for Cyrene's tavern. Xena saw her washing the counters. Gabrielle was outside putting the horses in the stables, and babysitting the triplets. Eve was hiding behind Xena. "Mom." Xena said. Cyrene turned around and gasped. She ran to Xena and hugged her.
"Xena! It's been so long since I've seen you. In fact." She started. "Since Eve was taken. Did you find her?"
"Yeah. Come here Eve." Xena said. Eve stepped out from behind Xena. Cyrene smiled.
"There's my grand daughter!" she exclaimed as Eve smiled. Cyrene hugged her.
"You have two other grand daughters, and a grandson." Xena said. Cyrene looked at her. "What?"
"They're in the stables with Gabrielle. Come on." Xena said smiling. She led Eve and Cyrene out to the barn. When they got there, Eve played with Joxer as Gabrielle handed the babies to Xena one by one. She handed the boy to Cyrene. "This is Xavier." Then she handed the one baby girl to her. "This is Gabriella, and this is Solari."
"They're beautiful." Cyrene said smiling.
The next morning, Xena had the rope ready, Ares was with his army and Gabrielle was nervously awaiting Draco. Xena saw them heading over the hill. She quickly tied up and gagged Gabrielle. The children were with Cyrene during this time.
"Well Xena. I see we've come to an understanding." Draco said.
"Draco." Xena said smiling. "It's been awhile." She shook his hand.
"Finally. Gabrielle is all mine." Xena said.
"Take her. She's yours." Xena said shoving the blonde bard to Draco. Gabrielle quickly show Xena a glance that said 'Hey! Not so hard!'
Draco put Gabrielle on his horse and the army marched off. Xena tracked him carefully and quietly until there was no way that he would want to come back to Amphipolis. They were so far back into the mountains.
Draco was sleeping and Xena quietly snatched Gabrielle back and they went back to Amphipolis. They reached Amphipolis in the morning, and Xena hugged her mother, her little girl, and her babies.
"You've done it again Xena." Ares said. "Once again, you've manipulated a fool." He smiled and kissed Xena. "I knew you could do it."
"Thanks Ares. I just used Draco's weakness against him." Xena said.
"Yeah. Remind me to pay you back for that hard shove later." Gabrielle said. Xena laughed. The group was back together, and ready to set out for their next adventure.
The End