Happy Birthday, Mother, part 4

by Susan Owens

Gabrielle grabbed Jett. "What do you mean, you know he's alive?"

Jett pushed the bard aside. "I feel it. It's something I could do when we were

little and still can do - sense Joxer's presence. I would know if he was dead."

Xena stared. "How?"

The assassin shook his head. "I don't know how. I guess it's because we're

triplets. Joxer and Jace can do it too. We can actually talk with each other

though our minds. Sometime when I was lonely in prison I would contact Jox, and

if he was alone he would talk to me. But only if he was alone."

Nebula looked at him. "Could you contact him now?"

"Yeah, if the little fool doesn't cut me off."

Xena looked hard at the oldest brother. "Joxer can cut you off - stop you from

communicating?"

The assassin nodded his head. "Jace and I can't do that. If Joxer contacts us we

can't cut him off or block him, and Joxer can't block both me and Jace, but only

if we're together."

Xena nodded her head. "Then we need to wake Jace so you two can find him."

Jett shook his head. "No. I don't want to deal with Jace. Let me try."

They all nodded their heads. Jett sat down on the deck and closed his eyes.

"Jox, come on bro. I know you're there. Talk to me."

They all waited ...suddenly Jett let out a small yell. "He cut me off. He's

blocking me."

Gabrielle stared at him. "Get him back! There must be something wrong."

Xena knew her friend was worried. "Jett, there must have been a reason."

He shook his head. "I know he's frightened and I've got to help him. Wake Jace,

I am going to need him."

Jace slowly sat up. He knew he was on another ship and he started to panic. Jett

grabbed him by his mouth.

"You listen to me Jace, Joxer's in trouble and we need to find him by using our

minds. He's blocking me so I need your help."

Jace stared. "We haven't done that since I left home." The women noticed that

under the huge stress, his accent was forgotten.

"I know, but I think it will still work. We have to find him before the sea

witch harms him."

Jace nodded his head and took Jett's hand. "All right, I'm ready - let's find

Joxer."

The two brothers closed their eyes and concentrated on Joxer. Suddenly they both

vanished into thin air. Jedza screamed and fainted. Gabrielle and Xena looked at

Nebula who just shook her head. "Now the sea witch has all three of them."

When the two men reappeared they were staring at Joxer. Jace ran over to hug

him. Joxer looked at them.

"Why did you try to contact me? Didn't you understand? She needs all three of

us."

Jett walked over to him. "What do you mean, Joxer?"

The wanna-be warrior ran his fingers though his hair.

"She needs triplets to free her son, a sea monster. Poseidon trapped him in a

cave."

Jett shook his head. "Triplets? Why triplets?"

"Like the boy said, son, triplets."

Jett turned to see their father Judd standing there with a beautiful but green

woman.

She moved over to them. "You are right, they're identical. They'll do nicely."

Jett looked at his two brothers - he knew they were scared. "Lady, we are not

helping you free your son."

"You will, or I will destroy that ship up there and everyone aboard it."

Joxer jumped up. "No, please don't. We'll do what you want."

Jett shook his head. "We won't help you set your son free."

Joxer grabbed his brother "Jett, I will not let Gabrielle or Xena or Nebula and

her crew die."

Jett sighed and pushed Joxer away. "All right, what is it we have to do?"

The sea witch smiled. "Sing," she replied.

Jett laughed. "Sorry lady, I don't sing."

The sea witch suddenly clapped her hands together and glared at him cruelly.

"Look outside, then tell me you don't sing."

The three brothers looked outside. There, trapped in a cage were Xena,

Gabrielle, Nebula, and their mother, with no weapons and sharks heading towards

them. The cage dropped into the water.

The sea witch smiled evilly at them. "If you refuse to help, my pets will have

an early lunch. Oh - and I am letting them breathe underwater, but I can take

that away, too."

She waved her arms, and suddenly the women couldn't breathe. Bubbles stopped

rising from the cage.

"All right, all right! We will sing and set your son free. Just let them breathe

again," cried Jett.

The sea witch waved her hand and the bubbles rose again. "Now to my son." And

they vanished.

The triplets, their father, and the sea witch appeared in front of a cave that

had an opening large enough for an ant to go through, but nothing more. The sea

witch ordered the brothers to sing.

Joxer shook his head. "Not until my friends are safe."

The sea witch nodded her head. She them waved her hands and clapped them

together. "There - they are back on the ship. Now sing." Joxer wanted to demand

that she prove it, but he had a feeling he was in enough trouble already, and

would have to trust her on this one.

Jace raised his eyebrow. "Wha' do you weesh us to seeng?"

She waved her hand again and a scroll appeared. "This is the song you must

sing."

Jett took the song and looked at it. "Look, lady, I can't sing this song.

Believe or not, I don't sing that great. At least, not as well as Jox and Jace."

She smiled. "That's the beauty of it. You don't have to. The spell goes like

this:

The sea witch's son will be trapped in a cave.

Triplets three will set him free - singing is the key.

One sings with an accent, one's voice could an angel play,

The last one with a fair voice, but only just okay."

Their father laughed. "You three are perfect for this." He pointed to Jace "This

moron sings with an accent." He then pointed to Joxer. "Your mother said you

sing like an angel, and Jett you sing fairly well, but not like your brothers."

Jett stood there clenching his teeth. "Okay, then. Let's get this over with."

The sea witch smiled - after all these years, her son would be free. She pointed

to Jace. "You go first. Then the one who sings like an angel, then the other

one."

Jace nervously nodded and began to sing. After a few moments Joxer joined him.

Jett waited then he began. They all expected Jett raspy voice to sound terrible,

but his voice was as smooth as Joxer's and blended in with his brothers in

perfect harmony. The sea witch screamed, "Stop this! It is not right! Stop that

singing!"

Jace suddenly realized something. He had to sing normally. He stopped singing

with an accent, but instead, sang with his own voice. The trio now sounded

perfect - all three voices blending together. The sea witch screamed and then

turned to stone, right before their eyes.

"Wow," said Jace. "I know my seenging can rock a crowd, but thas eencredible."

Judd was angry. He suddenly grabbed his oldest and put a dagger to his throat.

"I've had it with you three. I'm going to kill you one at a time, starting with

this one." Jett tried to pull away, but his father had him firmly in his grip,

and because of his injury he didn?t have the strength.

Joxer looked at his father. He had enough - no more. He began to stare at his

father. The dagger began to twist in the warlord's hand, and then broke free. It

then floated in front of their father. Judd just stared at it, turning Jett

free. He walked over to Jace and they both watched Joxer.

"Oh Gods. You can still do that strange thing you used to do." The warlord fell

to his knees. "Please have mercy on your poor father. I will never bother you

again. Please, mercy."

Joxer let the dagger fall to the ground and Judd got up. He looked at his son

once more, and turned and ran away.

Jett clapped Joxer on the back. "Jox, I didn't know you could still do that."

Joxer smiled wearily. "I can't that much anymore. I was just angry. I mean, here

we were, singing in perfect harmony, and father had to ruin it. That just ticked

me off."

Jett and Jace both stared at each other and started to laugh. Suddenly Joxer let

out a cry.

"Hey guys, look! It's Nebula's ship."

They looked and sure enough it was. Joxer ran down to the shore to greet the

ship. Jace swallowed and looked at Jett, who placed an arm around him.

"Come on Jace. I won't let that big bad sea hurt you."

Jace smiled and together they headed for the shore to meet the ship.

As Jace and Jett headed back down to the shore, Jett stopped.

"Hey, listen. Do you hear that?"

Jace nodded his head. They both heard the sound of voices.

"By de Gods," exclaimed Jace, "eet's de voices of de Sea Witch's veectims."

Jett playfully slapped him on the head. "Don't be so silly." He pointed to a

cave. "It's coming from there. Come on, let's check it out."

Jace hesitated, but soon followed. They went into the cave and found lots of

people in cages. Some were men from the ship they had been on, and others they

did not know. Jett spotted Hemes and set him free.

"Oh thank you, Master Jett."

He nodded. "Jace, help me set the rest free."

But Jace was just standing there, staring at one man. He swallowed and went over

to him, placing his hand on the man's face.

"Marco, is eet really jou? I t'ought you to be dead."

The man looked at Jace. It was clear his mild accent had been the inspiration

for Jace's much more exaggerated one. "Oh, Jace, mi amigo. I thought I would

never see you again."

Jace opened up his cage and the two men hugged each other.

"Jace, the others, please."

Jace nodded and soon everyone was free. A woman stepped forward.

"My name is Melissa and we have been prisoners of the Sea Witch, some of us for

a very long time. My people and I for over one hundred years."

"Wow," responded Joxer, who had come to see where his brothers were. "You don't

look a day over twenty."

She smiled at him. "Thank you."

Joxer turned to his older brother. "I sent a fire message. I think they saw it,

and the long boat will be here soon."

Jett looked to Melissa. "Do you want to come? I'm sure there will be room."

She shook her head. "My people and I will remain here on this island and start a

new life. I think it's for the best."

Jett nodded his head. "I understand. Do you need help to get started?"

"That won't be necessary," replied the captain of the ship the triplets had set

out on. "My men and I lost our ship, and we will be glad to stay and help these

people." He smiled shyly at Melissa, who smiled back at him.

The assassin nodded. "Come on, you two. Let's go."

Jace took a hold of Marco's hand. "I don't wan' to lose jou again. Please come

weeth us."

Marco smiled at Jace. "I can't go with you, mi amour. I must stay here and help

these people."

"Then I weell stay, too."

Marco smiled as he wiped a tear from his eye. "Jace, mi corazon will always

belong to you."

Jace turned away so Marco could not see his tears. Marco turned him around.

"Are you still traveling and doing your show and making people happy?" Jace

nodded his head. Marco lifted his chin. "Then you must keep on doing this."

Jace turned and ran to the shore and Joxer followed him. Jett turned to Marco.

"I think you'd better go."

Marco nodded and walked away. Jett came down to the shore to see Jace crying on

Joxer's shoulder.

"Knock it off, Jace. You're too good for him anyway."

Joxer stood up. "Have you no heart?"

"No, Joxer, Jett ees right." Jace straightened with pride. "I am too good for

heem. T'ank you, Jett."

Jett smiled. "Anytime, bro, anytime."

That night the brothers got ready to sleep. They each took a turn on watch. The

next morning, Joxer was dreaming of Gabrielle. "Oh Gabby, let me kiss you, and

your hair will grow as long and beautiful as it was before."

Gabrielle, Xena, Jett, Jace, and Nebula stared at him. Gabrielle shrugged her

shoulders. "Can't hurt," she said, and bent down to kiss Joxer. Suddenly

Gabrielle found herself flat on the ground with Joxer on top of her. Both stared

at each other in surprise. Joxer got up and really looked embarrassed.

"Oh, Gabrielle. I'm sorry, you startled me."

"Bro, that was something! You nailed that blond good," laughed Jett.

Joxer looked to see not only Jett laughing, but Xena and Jace as well. He looked

back at Gabrielle, who was also laughing. "Good reflexes, Joxer."

Joxer stared - were they laughing at him? Yeah, they had to be, because he

wasn't laughing. Suddenly Gabrielle kissed him.

"I am so glad you're all right, Joxer, and your brothers, too."

Joxer smiled, and then fainted. "For the love of the Gods," muttered Jett as he

walked over and helped Joxer up. "You know, bro, you can't keep doing that every

time Gabrielle kisses you. You'll never get anything done." Joxer look

sheepishly at them.

Nebula was getting restless. "Come on, let's get back to the ship and get you

guys to your uncle. Your mother is waiting."

They all started walking towards the long boat when Joxer spoke up. "Gabs, can I

walk you to the long boat?"

Gabrielle smiled. "Yes, Joxer, I would like that very much."

Once they were on the ship, Nebula turned to the brothers. "How did you defeat

the Sea Witch?"

Joxer smiled. "We sang in harmony, and it turned her to stone."

"Yeah," added the assassin, "and Jox here put father in his place by using his

mind."

"His mind?" asked Gabrielle.

"Hee made objects moof, and fahder ran away. Bu' hee can only do dat when hee's

really angry," said Jace.

Gabrielle swallowed. "Then I'd better be careful from now on."

Joxer smiled at her. "Don't worry, Gabby, you could never make me that angry."

Xena knew she had to know. "Joxer, what did your father do to make you so angry?

I mean he's done a lot of stuff to you in the past. What triggered that?"

Joxer frowned. "This is the first time we had ever sung in perfect harmony, and

he interrupted it."

He then walked away. Jedza was glad her sons were all right, and she knew that

their father would leave them alone now.

Xena smiled sadly at them all and walked over to the rail. They would be in Gaul

tomorrow. Her best friend walked over to join her.

"I know you miss them, but as soon as we get these guys to their uncle, we can

get back to your mother, Eve and Argo."

She smiled at her best friend. "Thanks, Gabrielle."

Two days later they arrived in Gaul. As they were getting off the ship, Xena

heard a familiar voice.

"Xena, Xena, over here."

She looked to see her mother, child, and her horse waiting on the dock. She

suddenly forgot herself and ran down the plank to greet them. "Mother, what are

you doing here? How?"

Cyrene laughed. "Your babies were missing you, so I took a ship and came here. I

hope you don't mind."

Xena took Eve in her arms. "No mom, I'm really glad to see you. Thanks."

Jedza saw her brother Jean-Luc and hurried over to him.

"Oh, Jean-Luc, c'est good to see you again."

"Oui, Jedza it is good to see you, too. And where are those nephews of mine?"

The triplets stood and looked at their Uncle Jean-Luc. He was six foot seven

inches tall - a big man. They smiled at him, Joxer and Jace openly, Jett with

more hesitation.

"Let me give you each a hug." And he did. Soon he let go and faced their

friends. "You all must come to my house to stay. You are all welcome."

He helped his sister into the wagon and Joxer helped Gabrielle. Jace helped

Cyrene, and Xena mounted Argo. She turned Argo around to face Nebula. "Why don't

you come for a while?"

"No, Xena, I've got to get back."

Jean- Luc smiled. "Please come. You can't have your crew go hungry, and there is

plenty of food."

Nebula smiled wryly. "All right. My men and I accept."

Her men cheered and they joined them. Jean-Luc smiled. "The next stop - my

home."

The End

Continued in "The Trio and Their Uncle"!

Please take a moment to write to Susan at sasondo42@yahoo.com and let her know

how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Jett, Jace, and all other

characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and

backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance

Pictures. The song "You Were Made For Me" was originally performed by Freddie

and the Dreamers; lyrics are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. No

infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan

fiction. The new verse of the Joxer The Mighty song (in both languages) is by

Lori Bush. This story is copyright © 2000 by Susan Owens