Part Four
The next day, Joxer woke up bright and early. He looked over at Gabrielle who
seemed to be glowing as she slept. He leaned down to give her a morning kiss.
Gabrielle slowly woke up and smiled beautifully up at him. Suddenly her eyes
widened and she burst from underneath the bedcovers and ran out the door. Joxer
sat up in the bed and patiently waited for her to return. After a short while,
she came back and sat on the bed next to him, looking drained. "You okay?"
Gabrielle looked at him blearily. "Yeah, I love doing this every morning. Joxer,
the next time we decide to have kids, you are going to have them, not me."
"Uh Gabrielle, if I could I would."
Gabrielle smiled, "Thanks Joxer. So, what do you want to do today?"
"Well, Maria wants to meet you."
"Maria? Oh, you mean Ricky's mother! I would love to meet her."
"Good. Why don't we get dressed? Then we can head over there."
"Okay. Is it all right if Xena comes with us?" Gabrielle asked as she pulled off
her nightgown and reached for the shift she was using to clothe herself since
her normal clothing no longer fit her.
"Sure. If she wants to," Joxer said as he pulled his tunic over his head and
tucked it into his pants.
Gabrielle nodded as Joxer finished dressing. He turned around and smiled,
walking over to give her a kiss. "I'm going to go talk to Jace for a while. You
have fun at Maria's and I'll meet you over there later." He smiled and walked
from the room.
Gabrielle returned the smile as she watched him leave, and then she went
downstairs for breakfast. Gabrielle felt the babies move and she sighed deeply.
She wondered what they would look like.
Xena came in and stared at her. "Dinar for your thoughts," she said as she sat down next to Gabrielle.
"Oh hi, Xena. I was just thinking about the babies," Gabrielle said. "Xena, I
wasn't pregnant that long with Hope and I was wondering - when does it get bad?"
"Gabrielle, it doesn't get bad. Having a baby is the most wonderful thing in the
world. Yes there's the morning sickness, the weird food cravings, your feet
swelling up and having to go to the bathroom all the time, but once you hold
that sweet bundle of joy in your arms, you don't even remember the pain you felt
while you were in labor." Xena held her close. "Are you scared, Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle placed her head on Xena's shoulder. "Maybe a little," she admitted.
"Xena, I would like our children to be born in the Amazon village."
"Did you talk it over with Joxer?"
"Not yet. I'm not sure what he will say."
"Gabrielle, you need to talk it over with Joxer, not me. He's your husband."
"I'm not sure if Joxer will understand."
"You won't know until you talk to him."
"I know. Thanks, Xena. Oh, by the way, we've been invited over to Maria's. Would
you like to come?"
"Okay. When?"
"Any time, I think."
"Let me get a bite to eat and then we'll go."
Jace looked up from his makeup table and stared at Joxer. "You want to know what?"
"What do Amazons do with a male child?"
"Why do you want to know this?"
"I've got a funny feeling in the pit of my gut that Gabrielle wants our children
to be born in the Amazon village. I know how they feel about girls, but I don't
about boys and I can't ask Gabrielle. She might get mad or something."
Jace frowned. "Joxer, I really don't know except for centaurs. I've never seen a
male child in a village."
"Do you think Arose might know?"
"I don't know. You could ask her. Sorry I couldn't be more help."
"Thanks, Jace. I think I will." Joxer left Jace and found Arose. She was making
a wreath of flowers for her and Eve.
"Hi Oxer!"
"Hi Eve! So, what do you have there?"
"Something pretty for my hair. I'm going to show Mommy! Bye!"
Joxer and Arose watched as Eve ran off to find Xena. Arose looked at him
curiously. "So what's up?"
"Do you remember what Amazons do to a male child?"
"Gee, it's been so long ago. As a matter of fact, I don't even remember ever
seeing a male child in the village."
"That doesn't make sense! There have to be male children. No one can control
what they have, can they?"
"Look Joxer, only an Amazon can answer that. I have no idea."
"But you are an Amazon."
"Was, Joxer. I'm not any more."
"Arose, you'll always be an Amazon, but thanks for the help. I think I know what
I must do."
Joxer turned around and walk away. "Joxer, where are you going?"
"To ask an Amazon."
Arose ran over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Where are you going to
find an Amazon?"
"I'm not sure, but I will. Arose, I have to know!"
"Joxer, going to an Amazon village without permission is just asking for
trouble. Please think of something else!"
"Arose, I understand what you're saying, but I have to know. Wonder if they
destroy a male child?"
"Joxer! How can you even say that? Amazons aren't barbarians!"
"I'm sorry, Arose. I'm just worried, that's all."
"Okay, I forgive you." Arose leaned up and gave Joxer a kiss. She then saw Jace
and a tall girl coming towards them. Jace came to a stop in front of them.
"Gaia, this is my brother Joxer and he needs some answers."
The tall red haired woman looked at Joxer then back at Jace. "You owe me,
Jacey."
Jace smiled. "I always deliver, Gaia."
"Later, hot stuff." She then turned to Joxer, whose mouth was wide open. "Hey
sweetie, close the lid before flies decide to make a home in there."
Joxer quickly closed his mouth. "Who are you?"
"Like Jacey said, I'm Gaia. I'm an Amazon. Nice to meet ya. Now what's the
problem, sweetie?"
"Well, my wife's going to have twins and I have a funny feeling she wants to
have them in the Amazon village... Uh, the one she knows."
"And?"
"I want to know what happens to a male baby."
Gaia smiled at him. "We eat them."
Joxer's face suddenly turned green. Gaia stared at him. "Hey easy, sweetie! I
was just pulling your leg! Sheesh, I can't believe that you thought what I was
saying was for real! You need to get out more."
Joxer stared at her angrily. "That wasn't funny! How in Hades am I supposed to
know if that was true or not? I've never seen a male child in an Amazon
village!"
"Point taken. Now listen, sweetie. You don't need to worry. You and your wife
aren't part of the Amazon Nation."
"Gabrielle is."
"Does she live there?"
"No."
"Well then if you did, here's what would happen. The shamaness would deliver the
babies and if they're both girls or if only one of the twins is a girl, they or
she will be fussed over. If they're both boys or just one is a boy, they or he
will be given to you immediately and it's up to you to take care of him or them.
If any male born is weak, he's left in the woods to die."
"WHAT? NO WAY!"
"Calm down, sweetie! I said that's only if you were living there and part of the
Nation and obeyed the rules without question. But since you aren't, a close
Amazon friend would deliver the babies but either way the girl would be made
welcome more than the male."
Joxer stared at her. "It's not fair!"
"Sorry, sweetie. It's the way things are," Gaia replied.
"Well, no way! I won't have any of my sons treated like they're worth less than
my daughters. Thank you for the help."
"Anytime, sweetie. Wish I could have been more help. Now I've got to find
Jacey."
"Uh... Excuse me. Jace is... well... he's... uh... not like other men," Joxer
stammered, blushing.
"Oh sweetie, you can say that again!"
Joxer stared and Arose laughed as Gaia ran off to find Jace. Joxer turned to his
sister. "Jace never fails to amaze me. Did you know?"
"Yeah. I should have told you," Arose said through her laughter. Joxer smiled
and headed back to Gabrielle, wondering how he was going to approach this
without upsetting her.
Gabrielle and Xena stood outside waiting for someone to come after knocking on
the wagon door. Soon, a plump woman with her black hair put up in a bun
answered. "You must be Gabrielle and Cena."
"Uh, that's Xena," Gabrielle pointed at her friend.
"Oh. Isn't that what I said? Please, please come in! Come in! Make yourself at
home! Oh, it is so good to have someone to talk to. Would you like some green
tea? It's soothing to the stomach."
"Yes, please. Xena, do you want tea?" Gabrielle looked over at Xena, who shook
her head.
"I'm not fond of green tea, but thank you," Xena said.
Maria nodded. "Yes, of course. Jace doesn't care for it either. I guess you just
have to have a taste for it."
Xena smiled. "Yes, I guess you do."
Maria then turned her attention on Gabrielle. "Is this your first child?"
Gabrielle looked at Xena, wondering what to say. She didn't want to tell a
stranger about Hope.
"This is Gabrielle and Joxer's first child. Well, two children," Xena answered
easily.
Maria seemed satisfied with that answer. "Oh, I bet you are so excited! Do you
know the sex of the babies?"
"No. Joxer and I decided to wait and find out."
Maria stood up. "Oh nonsense! I have just the thing that will tell you what you
will have. I will go and get it."
Xena stood up and gently but forcefully placed her hand on Maria 's arm. "They
want to wait."
Maria looked at Xena and her arm then smiled politely. "Yes, of course. I'm
sorry, I just got carried away with myself."
Xena let go and returned the smile. "I'm glad we have an understanding."
Maria walked over to the stove. "Please join me for brunch."
"We already ate breakfast," Gabrielle said.
"Good. Then you will enjoy brunch. Besides, you are eating for more than
yourself, are you not?"
Gabrielle nodded and looked at the food. It did look good. It smelled even
better, and she was suddenly hungry again. "I think I will have something after
all. Thank you."
After eating, the three women sat around the fireplace. Maria stood up. "I will
be right back."
Xena and Gabrielle watched her leave the room and she came back shortly with a
box. She placed it on the table and slowly and carefully opened it. She held her
breath as she took out a white gown. "This was what my Ricardo wore when he was
presented to our Gods. I would be honored if you would accept this gift for your
baby if you were to have a son."
Gabrielle took the garment and held it in her hands. It felt so soft. It had
been well taken care of. Even though it was old, it was still as white as the
day it was made. She wondered how Maria kept it so white. She ran her fingers
through the lace embroidery. "I can't take this! It's so beautiful."
"To not accept would be an insult. My son Ricardo and your sister-in law will be
married soon, I hope, and we will be family. Please, I want you to have it. It
would make this old woman so happy to see it be used again."
Gabrielle kissed Maria on the cheek and smiled. "I do accept it and thank you."
"No. Thank you, Gabrielle. Joxer was right about you. You are truly an angel."
Gabrielle smiled. "No, I'm not an angel. Joxer is. He's put up with me all these
years and still loves me. If anyone's an angel, he is." The two women left Maria
and Gabrielle looked down at the gift she had been given with tears in her eyes
and a smile curling her lips.