Part Two:

Adora's eyes glowed as she glared at her father. "Papa, you know I

don't like to cook! I'm going to be an artist, not a cook."

Joxer smiled at her. "Well, look at it this way. At least if you learn

how to cook, you won't be a starving artist."

"Oh Papa, you're not funny at all! What do you want me to do?"

Joxer bent down and took a quail out of his pack. "Here, you can pluck

this." He handed the dead bird over to her.

Adora took the bird and made a face. "Oh, gross! I mean it: this is the

last time I listen to Eve!" Adora placed the quail on the log and began

ripping the feathers off the carcass.

"Gently, Dorie. You don't want to ruin supper, do you?"

"No, Papa. Sorry, Papa."

Joxer smiled as he took another quail and began to pluck it. Adora

looked up at him. "Papa?"

"Hmmm?"

"I love you."

Joxer's eyes twinkled. "I love you too Dorie, but you're still being

punished."

Adora sighed. "I know, Papa. I know. I wonder how Aunt Xena punished

Eve."

"That, young lady, is none of our business. Now let's get cracking.

We've got a family to feed."

"Yes, Papa."

********

The young raven-haired girl was angry at her mother. "Mom, that is so

unfair! You can't forbid me to ride Spirit. How am I supposed to get

around?"

Xena spoke firmly to her daughter. "You will ride with me while either

Aunt Gabrielle or I lead Spirit, but you will not ride him until you

learn to listen."

"That is so not fair! I don't deserve this! I am so tired of being told

what I can do and not do!"

"Eve, I know this is hard, but it's for your own good. There're so many

dangerous things out there."

Eve drew her sword. "Mom, you taught me well. I can fight."

Xena voice softened as she spoke to her daughter. "Evie, I know you can

fight, and for your age you do very well. But, there are some things

you're just not old enough to

understand. You have to trust me and know that what we are doing is for

you and Adora's best interests."

Eve's eyes were blazing. "How can I trust you when you don't trust me?"

Eve pulled away and ran from her mother.

"EVE!" Xena started after her but Gabrielle stopped her.

"Let me talk to her, Xena."

Xena rubbed her head. "Okay, Gabrielle. Maybe you can make her

understand..." She sighed. "Gabrielle, do you think I was too hard on her?"

"No, Xena."

"Thanks. I'm going to go and help Joxer fix supper."

"Okay, Xena."

****

Gabrielle found Eve crying as she held onto Spirit's neck. "Hey, Eve.

Can we talk?"

"You've got a mouth, don't you?" Eve knew deep down inside that was not

a nice way to talk to her aunt, but at the moment she just didn't care.

"Yeah, I've got a mouth." Gabrielle sat down on a log nearby and patted

it for Eve to sit. Eve slowly walked over to her, sat down and wiped

her eyes. "Eve, you do know that we

love you."

"I know, Aunt Gabby, but this is so unfair! I love Spirit. He's so

smart and the thought of not riding him is breaking my heart. I know I've

got to be punished, but can't she punish

me some other way? I don't know - take away my favorite doll?"

"You don't have a favorite doll."

"Then I will get one."

Gabrielle laughed in spite of herself. "Eve, it won't be so bad. You're

only being punished until you listen, and for as long as you can't ride

Spirit will be up to you."

Eve nodded. "Well, it's not going to be long! From now on, I'm going to

listen."

"I know, sweetie. Come on. I think I smell supper and I'm famished!"

"Then I better hurry and beat you to supper or you will eat it all!"

Eve laughed as she ran towards the camp.

"Very funny, Eve! Hey, wait up!" Gabrielle called as she raced after

Eve.

Eve and Gabrielle came back and Eve sat down beside Xena. "Mom?"

Xena looked at her daughter. "Yes, Eve?"

"I'm sorry."

"I know, baby." Nothing more was said as they quietly ate supper. Xena

looked over at Joxer and Adora who were giggling together. She was

worried about what Adora had

done earlier and knew she had to tell Joxer. "Joxer, I need to talk to

you."

Joxer glanced at her and the look in her eyes told him she meant now.

"Sure, Xena." He turned to Adora. "Okay, Dorie. Aunt Gabby's going to

tell you guys a story then off to

bed, all right?"

"Yes, Papa." Adora gave her father a hug and kiss. "Goodnight, Papa. I

love you, Papa."

"Night, sweetie. I love you, too."

Xena watched and after giving Eve and Adora a kiss goodnight and

waiting for Eve to hug Joxer goodnight, she walked away from camp with Joxer

right behind her. She

waited until she was sure they were far enough away. Then, she sat down

on a log and motioned for Joxer to sit next to her. "Joxer, we've got

to talk about Adora."

"What about her?"

"I think she's getting her Godly powers back."

Joxer shook his head. "No! There's no way. She lost her powers when she

was a baby."

Xena placed her hand on his arm. "We were never really sure about that.

I told you that it was a pretty good chance they could come back."

Joxer looked at her. "What makes you think she's getting her powers

back?"

Xena showed him her hands. "See my hands?"

"Yeah. They need a manicure."

"JOXER!" Xena lowered her voice when she realized she was shouting.

"Joxer, this is serious! When I was talking to Eve earlier before you came

back, my hands were burnt

when I put my hands on her arms. They were blistered and red and I

think Adora did it because she was scared for Eve."

"You have no proof that it was Adora!"

"Joxer, I *know* it was Adora."

"So, what are trying to say, Xena - that Dorie could be dangerous?"

Joxer asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes, if she's not..."

Joxer suddenly jumped up from the log. "Dorie isn't dangerous! How dare

you say that! Who do you think you are?"

Xena stood up and moved towards Joxer, putting her hands on his

shoulders. "Joxer, calm down! You didn't let me finish. I was going to say yes

if she's not told the truth about

who she is and how to handle her powers."

"What? I'm supposed to tell her everything like the fact I'm her mother

and not her father and that her real father is a God from Gaul. Do you

realize how ridiculous that's going to

sound to her?"

Xena gazed at her long-time friend. "Yes, I think you should," she said

softly.

Joxer shrugged Xena's hands off his shoulders and walked away from her.

"No way, Xena! I won't do that to Dorie!"

"Joxer, you're not being reasonable. If you don't tell her the truth,

I'm not sure what will happen."

"I'll tell you what'll happen, Xena! I'm taking Dorie and we're leaving

in the morning! Dorie's MY daughter, not yours, and she is a normal

little girl!"

Xena folded her arms over her chest. "You would take Adora away from

the only family unit she knows because you're afraid to tell her what she

needs to know?"

Joxer ran his fingers through his hair. Deep down inside he knew Xena

was right. "Xena, how? How do I tell her?" he asked softly, his whole

body sagging forward.

Xena reached out and put a hand on Joxer's shoulder. "I'll help you,

Joxer, and Gabrielle will too. You won't be alone, but she needs to know

the truth. Come on. Let's go back."

Joxer nodded as he followed her back to the camp.