Xenia had taken hardly any time at all to regain her figure or to resume her duties.

Ares bounced Camilla in his arms to try to keep her happy, but it wasn't working because she was growing impatient for milk, but her battle plans came first.

"We are going to hide in the woods for another week," she said. "I want the emperor's every move tracked while in the meantime."

"Hide like cowards?" one of the men had the nerve to question.

He was lucky, she didn't send her chakram hurdling toward his neck for his insubordination. He'd seen her kill men for less.

"We're not hiding. We're biding out rime for a better opportunity. Anyone know what next week is?"

"Christmas day?" another man ventured.

"And what does the Emperor do to celebrate? He forbids even gladiators from fighting in celebration of the feast day. He won't be prepared for battle. Instead, they will be making themselves merry with wine, dance, and song.

It was cold but brilliant. He couldn't help admire her strategy though he missed the Xena who tried to make peace first and war later.

In a flash, she threw the chakram, and it returned to her with a red sheen. She hadn't tolerated the insubordination after all merely delayed it to answer the question.

She wiped her weapon clean and then took Camilla into then tent without offering up a single smile or coo though she unhooked her armor to complete the job. She acted as if it were a chore to feed her own baby. She didn't so much as make eye contact with her during the whole process.

Even in her evil days, she had shown more caring to Solon. Was it because it was his child?

"She needs you, you know."

"What?" she barked.

"She may be half god, but she is half mortal as well. And any baby needs their mother."

"What do you think I'm doing," she said, gesturing toward the suckling child.

She didn't get it, and sometimes he didn't either. Maybe he was too late. Maybe he'd pushed her too far this time though she still believed what she was doing was the right thing. She was making the land safer in her view.

But wasn't that the way it always was? Few people ever saw themselves as villains. Some of the greatest leaders of all time, who the world viewed as the most cruel, thought they were doing what was right not only for themselves but for others.

She didn't linger when Camilla drank her fill. She passed her off back to him like a hot potato.

He followed her outside, and couldn't hold back a smile when he saw Valentina. He'd almost given up hope of her coming. He should have known any reincarnation of Gabrielle couldn't resist a chance to do good or run her mouth, and when she got a chance to do both, you certainly could count on her to be there.

"You can't keep going around killing every army, village, or man who gets in your way," she told Xenia boldly.

"Who is this impudent girl?" she asked, looking to the soldiers who'd escorted her.

"I'm Valentina from Anniaca," she said, not letting them answer for her. "I am a citizen of the empire, and I have a right to say what I feel and speak truth."

"Do you now?" At least, she seemed amused, and it wasn't her deadly smile though he would protect Valentina if he must.

"Do you know how many lives will be lost on the battlefield? How many needless lives have already been lost in your war campaign?"

"Don't speak to me about loss. War's harsh, but it's a fact of life. Necessary even." She looked at him. "You might even say it burns within me."

His heartbeat sped up with that smoldering look. He couldn't help himself. A part of him would always find Xena, whether she was good or evil, attractive.

"Then I feel sorry for you because there's more to life than killing. It's almost the Christ Child's day of birth. Surely this is the time above all others when you should consider the innocent like your daughter. Is this the kind of life you want for her?"

She was suddenly looking not so amused. "It's the kind of life she was born for, you stupid girl. Throw her out of camp, and if she tries to come back, kill her."

A couple lifetimes ago, he would have been jumping for joy at this turn of events. Now he was disappointed. Neither Hercules, Gabrielle, or a child of her flesh and blood could get past her defenses completely. Who could?