Xena crept into her hut and heard the bard's gentle snores. She walked to the bed and knelt down by the side of it, and leant over and pushed the bard's hair from her face. She gave the damp forehead a kiss. Gabrielle stirred, but Xena tenderly stroked the blonde hair settling her down. Xena shifted onto her bottom and leant back against the wall, and took Gabrielle's hand in hers and gently stroked it.

Gabrielle opened her eyes and the first sight was a glorious one she had been denied for several days; Xena's blue eyes. She felt her hand was being held by the warrior's larger one and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Hey." Said the warrior.

"Hey, yourself. You haven't been there all night have you?" Gabrielle looked at Xena sitting on the floor, her armour in a neat pile beside her.

"I've slept in worst places," replied Xena with a smile. She swung her legs behind her and rose onto her knees. She removed her hand from Gabrielle's and cupped her face with it, and leant forward and kissed Gabrielle's forehead. It was still damp, and Xena moved her hand to Gabrielle's neck and back and felt the skin warm to touch.

"That's nice," said Gabrielle.

"Stay there and I'll get some tea," said Xena abruptly, and jumped up quickly and went to the table.

Gabrielle eased herself up the bed and watched the warrior prepare the tea, saying nothing and keeping her back to Gabrielle.

The bard's eyes followed the warrior around the hut.

"Xena," she said.

Xena still kept her back to Gabrielle as she put the mugs on the table and then rested her hands on the wooden surface.

"Xe, you've come back to me. Talk to me, please."

"You're sick. And I should have realised it. But instead I was too wrapped up in myself."

"And of course, I haven't done that to you, have I?" Gabrielle's voice was laced with sarcasm. "You had every right to put yourself first. You never do, usually. I just wish I could have helped you." Gabrielle's voice faltered and Xena finally turned around to face her. Their eyes locked and Xena strode towards the bard, sat on the edge of the bed and hugged her tight.

When they released each other, Xena remained on the bed. "I should have talked with you, but, it was easier to push it away. Bury it. I'm a master at that." The warrior hung her head.

Gabrielle hooked a finger under her chin and lifted the despondent face. "You're not the first person to do that. I just want to be there for you Xe. Like you've been there for me."

Xena gave a wan smile which faded quickly. "What if I'm Ares daughter? The thought sickens me."

Gabrielle took her hand. "You don't know that for sure Xena, so don't waste so much time worrying about it."

"I know, but I do. Tell me it wasn't your first thought when you knew I had God's blood in me?"

Gabrielle looked down and said nothing.

"Exactly," said Xena. If I am his spawn, I shouldn't be around you."

Gabrielle gave a short laugh. "How do you figure that out, Xe? The knowledge doesn't change anything; how I feel about you, what a good person you are."

"How can you say that?" said Xena more angrily than she intended. "My father could be a bastard –a Godly, evil one at that-who I hate. Of course it affects me. It would affect anyone."

Gabrielle pulled back her hand and turned away from her saying nothing. She then started to push herself out of the bed, the opposite side to where Xena was sitting.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Xena," said Gabrielle coldly. Xena stared at her not understanding the sudden change in attitude, until her eyes rested on Gabrielle's bump. She closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean it to come out like that." Xena moved around the bed. "This baby won't know Lindos. It won't be an issue."

Gabrielle looked at the floor. "It's not just this child. You're saying you are affected by your father, whom ever he may be. So was Hope. And she didn't have a chance of my love. I never gave it to her," the bard added sadly.

Xena flinched at the use of Gabrielle's daughter name. She closed her eyes for several moments and when she opened them she stared straight in Gabrielle's angry verdant ones. "I know. I know. And it will haunt both of us for ever. But that's why I am so anxious about this. Hope was all Dahok, what if I'm all Ares?"

"You're not, Xena. Cyrene did a good job with you. Yes you were infected with blood lust but you overcome it. You over came Ares call. And you don't know you are his child, do you? Do you?"

There was silence. Gabrielle moved closer towards to Xena. "I know how hard it is to talk of Hope. Thank you. "

Xena nodded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just confused. I knew who I was and for the first time in a long while I am happy with it." Gabrielle could see the look of vulnerability on the warrior's face. "Suddenly all of that is dust and I didn't know who I was or where I was from."

"You're still my Xena," Gabrielle moved closer and wrapped her arms around her. "That's not changed."

"That's the most important thing. I'm sorry for shutting you out."

"We'll get through this, Xe. We can find out who your blood is from."

"That can wait, Bri. There are more important things to worry about. Let's get this baby out safe and well. So tea first and getting rid of that infection."

"Yes boss," said Gabrielle.

"Don't you forget it," said Xena with a genuine smile.

"The rest has done you the world of good," said Piri smiling. She stood at the doorway clutching parchment.

"Come in," said Gabrielle. She motioned to the chairs and Piri followed Gabrielle to the table which was surrounded by scrolls. They both sat down.

"I saw a happy band of amazons go tracking so I assume Xena has returned to her teaching duties."

Gabrielle snorted. "You weren't deafened by the screams of joy? The Xenites are happy again. And so is Epinon. She's got her buddy back."

"Are you ok with that? I thought the idea was to spend the time together, not for you to bury yourself in your scrolls and Xena to go hunting with Epinon."

"We talked a lot," Gabrielle smiled at the healer. "I wanted her to get out again. Make her realise she is no threat to anyone in this village."

Piri nodded. "And how are you feeling? Pain gone?"

Gabrielle mirrored Piri's action. "Much better thank you. And my back is easier too."

Piri brought her hand from her lap onto the table. She was holding the parchment that was covered in a scrawl with many crossing outs and smudges. "I thought you might like this. It's from Joxer."

Piri coloured slightly as she saw the bard's eyebrow rise in an enquiring manner. She put the parchment in front of Gabrielle, who touched it and pretended she had burnt herself. "Funny," said the healer and rolled her eyes. Gabrielle picked up the parchment properly this time and started to read.

"Not the first few lines," said Piri quickly and laughed as Gabrielle looked up quickly and gasped.

"Thank you, Piri," said Gabrielle and went back to her reading. After several minutes she put the parchment on the table and turned towards Piri wearing a wide smile.

"I'm not sure even I looked that happy when I read it," said Piri with a laugh.

"I'm sure you did, especially reading the second page that you didn't show me." The healer coloured and looked demure as Gabrielle stood up and walked around the hut, rubbing her back, but still wearing her wide smile.

"What?" asked Piri slightly puzzled?

"Sometimes the Gods give you a gift Piri, and you have to take it with both hands. And this is definitely one of those times."

"No." Said Xena sharply.

"No," said Ephiny with a glare.

"No," said Epinon. "No way."

Gabrielle looked from one to another and her eyes rested on Solari. "Care to make it four negatives Sol."

Solari looked from Gabrielle to the three angry women. "Actually I'd love to go," she said quickly and quietly, aware of the three pairs of eyes boring a hole through her. "Piri, over to you," and she got up and walked to the opposite side of the room from an angry looking Epinon.

"I think it is a fine idea," said Piri. "It is just what you need Warrior."

"It doesn't matter about me," spluttered Xena angrily. "You think it is fine idea. For Gabrielle to travel, heavily pregnant, just for a bard's festival. There will be plenty of other festivals."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "I am seven months pregnant Xena. You and Ephiny travelled later in your pregnancies than this. It is only a three day journey to Amphipolis. We can take a heavy guard."

"No," said Xena. "There is too much that can go wrong."

"Staying at the village can be really safe; I mean you never know when it will be attacked by rogue amazons," retorted Gabrielle quickly.

"Or mad Shamenesses," added Solari. Xena turned to her and started to growl. Solari suddenly found the floor very interesting.

"There is too much that can go wrong," repeated Xena running her hand through her raven hair. "You've just had an infection; you're hardly fit to travel."

Gabrielle exchanged an exasperated look with Piri. "I'm fine now. Besides there are healers in Amphipolis and Joxer will accompany us back. And I have you, Xena. You are worth ten healers." She turned to look at Piri. "Present company excepted of course."

The healer exchanged a smile with Gabrielle.

"I don't like it," said Epinon. "Travelling all that way. There are so many dangers."

Piri groaned. "For Artemis sake Epinon. It is a three day journey not a mountainous trek to a war zone. Thousands of families travel all the time and have no problems."

"No but they don't attract trouble like Gabrielle," retorted back Epinon.

"Gabrielle, I know you want to go and see your friends, but there will be other times," said Xena gently.

"It's not just that, you know," said Gabrielle quietly. "It'll be a break for us all." There was a pause.

"We can accompany you," said Solari and exchanged a look with a slightly mollified Epinon. "As many warriors as you want Xena."

"I can ride-in a wagon. I don't think Argo could manage me," said Gabrielle with a giggle. "It will do us good Xe. We can see Cyrene, meet up with Iolaus, Hercules and Joxer," said Gabrielle.

"And you can throw yourself into the bardic festivities," said Xena in a lighter tone and with a smile. Gabrielle knew she was winning and took several steps towards the warrior. Xena gave a nod, and Gabrielle smiled at her. She then turned to Ephiny who had remained ominously silent.

"Eph? Please!" Gabrielle turned to her friend.

Ephiny shook her head. "OK, OK. You will take a large compliment of guards. If there are ANY problems on the way you come straight back. If you are in Amphipolis and there are complications you stay at Amphipolis. Do you understand?"

"Yes Eph," chorused all the other women in her room and she rolled her eyes in an exaggerated fashion.

"Right well we will go and select a squad," said Epinon.

"Four others, that's enough," said Xena.

Ephiny turned her back to Xena and mouthed six and held up six fingers. Epinon nodded and she and Solari left the hut.

"I will prepare a pack of medications for you," said Piri, "and if you would be so kind to take a letter for Joxer."

"Of course. Thank you," said Gabrielle warmly. As the healer left she turned to look at Ephiny. "Will you and Aella be alright together?"

The regent frowned. "Of course," she said sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Just we're leaving the pair of you with a lot of work. Do you think you can cope?" Gabrielle looked at her friend innocently as Xena chuckled.

Ephiny frowned at them both. "We'll be fine thank you." She pointed her finger at Xena, waggling it with every word. "Just take care of her."

Xena hung her head low. "Yes Ephiny."

"And take that smirk off your face. I'll just go and tell Aella the news." She gave Gabrielle a half smile and walked out the hut shutting the door.

"Thank you." Said Gabrielle simply and took Xena's hand.

"I just worry," said the warrior and shut her eyes. "I don't want anything to go wrong."

"I know." Gabrielle put her hand on her stomach. "We're so lucky to have you."

Xena's smile faded quickly. "I know it'll be good for you, getting out, meeting some of your old academy friends. It's not been easy recently."

"It never is." Gabrielle smiled. "It'll be good for us all. It will give you a chance to speak with Cyrene and Hercules."

"That's the real reason we're going, isn't it? Gabrielle I told you that it'll wait. I'm not having you trek for days in your condition just so we can talk to mother and maybe find out more about my past." Xena walked away from the bard and put her hands on her hips.

"It's not just that Xe. It just seemed too good to miss. Friends, family and bards all together. It'll be good for us to get away from the village for a while, good for you, Xe and for Pony and Sol. They still need to work out a few things, and it's so much easier away from prying eyes."

"And of course it gives Eph and Aella plenty of time to work together. Nice one," said Xena.

"I still can't believe they are not a couple yet. They are both stubborn warriors!"

Xena nodded and smiled. "You know, Amphipolis really likes to celebrate. It'll be pretty wild." Xena watched Gabrielle smile and then stare into the distance lost in thoughts. The warrior approached her and gently laid her hand on her shoulder. "Hey Bri, where did you go?"

Gabrielle turned to look at Xena a melancholy expression on her face. "I was just thinking about the last festival where we were going to meet Hercules, Iolaus and Joxer. It seems a lifetime ago." Gabrielle looked down at her bump and gently rubbed it.

Xena placed her hand over Gabrielle's, wordlessly. They were both lost in their own thoughts, remembering the difficult events that had brought them to this point-Xena's darkness, Lindos, and Gabrielle's reaction to her pregnancy. Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle who tightened her grip. Her lips then found the taller woman's and they kissed passionately. Xena ran her hand through Gabrielle's hair and then started to move her lips along Gabrielle's jaw line. She could feel the bard stiffen slightly and so her lips stopped their journey and pulled back slightly.

"What's wrong?" asked Xena gently.

Gabrielle looked down at her body.

"Are you feeling unwell?" asked Xena in a concerned tone.

Gabrielle shook her head. "I just look, so, so unattractive," she said and burst into tears.

Xena stifled a laugh and wrapped her arms around her. "You are beautiful my bard and I love you."

"You're biased," sobbed Gabrielle and this time Xena couldn't stop the laugh.

"Of course," said Xena. And hugged tighter. She had a thought and pulled away slightly again so she could see Gabrielle's face. "You know if you just want to snuggle that's fine."

There was a flash of relief on Gabrielle's face. "I just feel-"

"Unattractive, dowdy, and certainly not wanting sex," added Xena. She smiled. "I felt the same during my pregnancy; there is nothing to feel ashamed about." Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak.

"Snuggling is good-believe me." Xena smiled as Gabrielle looked brighter. "Especially if I get to rub your back first." This time she was rewarded by a toothy Gabrielle grin.

"Thank you," she said. "And for agreeing to go to Amphipolis."

"I can never refuse you," said Xena with genuine feeling. "It'll be nice to have a quiet visit with Mother for a change."

Gabrielle raised her eyebrow. With a bunch of Amazons, Hercules, Iolaus, Joxer, bards and questions over Xena's parentage a quiet visit was the last thing she expected.