Gabrielle watched Xena pace up and down the room. The bard opened her mouth to say something, but closed it as Xena looked up. The pacing continued and finally Gabrielle got off the bed and walked to Xena.
"Are you sure you want me-"
"Yes!" said Xena sharply. She then shook her sadly, and stopped pacing. "I'm sorry, I just-I don't know what to think."
Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Xena and tentatively the warrior rested her head on the bard's shoulder. They remained like that for a few moments until Xena pulled away chuckling.
"What?" asked Gabrielle puzzled?
"The baby. Even I could feel it." Xena gently patted Gabrielle's stomach and was rewarded by another kick.
"It's certainly active at the moment, "said Gabrielle.
"Hmmm, likes being spoilt rotten by its Grandmother no doubt. Nutbread for breakfast, in bed, mind. No wonder." Gabrielle cupped Xena's face and smiled pleased that her love for the moment had the impending conversation off her mind. But Xena's smile soon became a frown and Gabrielle brought her other hand to frame Xena's face.
"Xena," she said quietly.
"I know. It'll be better once I know."
"You do realise that Cyrene may not know anything. It's God's blood Xena. It could be from a Grandparent or beyond."
Xena took Gabrielle's hands in her own larger ones. "No. I know. Call it a feeling or intuition. I was different to my brothers, different to other children growing up. I think-I'm sure that night Mother told us about, when my father came back from war is the key."
There was silence. Gabrielle walked to the table and poured them both a mug of apple juice. She handed a mug to Xena who nodded her thanks.
"Come on Mother. The lunch time crowd should have gone by now." She downed the juice and walked over to the table. As she placed the mug on the table, there was a knock on the door. Xena and Gabrielle exchanged a look.
"Come in Cyrene," said Gabrielle, and the door opened.
Cyrene smiled as she entered the room. "Phew it's getting busy out there," she said. Xena stood staring at her face neutral. Gabrielle glanced at her and then at Cyrene.
"Sit down Cyrene," said Gabrielle and gestured towards a chair. The older woman sank into the chair and closed her eyes. Gabrielle meanwhile has shut the door and gave Xena a nudge in the back. That seemed to rouse the warrior, and she looked at Gabrielle and gave a wan smile and then turned her attention to her mother. The older woman opened her eyes and looked with concern from one face to the other.
"What is it?" she asked warily.
There was silence. Gabrielle glanced at Xena. She could see her partner considering what to say, how to say it. Gabrielle knew if it were her she would launch in, full of emotion. Xena on the other hand was more calculating and analytical.
The silence was uncomfortable. Gabrielle gentled placed her hand at the small of Xena's back. The warrior didn't acknowledge it, but as Cyrene opened her mouth to speak Xena spoke quickly.
"Several years ago, I was travelling with Borias, Solon's father," she said in response to Cyrene's puzzled look. "We were near Renwa, and visited a little temple. It was nothing special, very plain, boring, certainly not worth looting." Xena gave a half-smile that faded quickly.
"Borias couldn't see it. Claimed I'd disappeared when I entered it. Course I thought he was pulling my leg. We left and never returned."
Xena looked at the ground. Gabrielle moved her hand from Xena's back to her arm, and the warrior looked at Gabrielle in gratitude.
Cyrene watched the pair intently. "Xena, I don't understand, what has this to do with me?"
Xena swallowed. This was the hard part. "The temple. It can only be entered by and seen by people with God's blood."
The silence was palpable. Cyrene looked at Xena and stared into her eyes. She saw concern and anxiety and fear.
"Xena-"
"Mother. Please. I am part God. I don't know how much and by whom. Do you know anything? Anything at all?"
Cyrene shook her head dumbly. Her daughter was part God. And she had no idea where it came from.
"Mother I know this is difficult, and believe me I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. Did you have an affair? Or did the man who came back give you any indication that he wasn't Atrius?"
Cyrene shook her head. She stood up and walked towards Xena. The warrior tentatively walked to her and they reached out their arms and gave each other a hug. Gabrielle edged towards the bed and slumped on it, eyes still fixed on Xena.
"No Xena, I was never unfaithful to your-to Atrius." Cyrene pulled away. She stared off in the distance for several moments and inhaled deeply.
"Mother what is it" said Xena sensing something?
"The only other, well it never came to anything," Cyrene said distractedly.
Xena and Gabrielle exchanged a look.
"Please Mother. Anything. I won't judge you, whatever it is."
Cyrene looked from Gabrielle to Xena. She bit her lip and nodded as if to herself.
"I was never unfaithful to your father. In the physical way that is. But my heart, I loved someone else deeply." She smiled warmly as she remembered.
"Your father was away a lot. I was stuck running this place with Toris as a baby. At lambing and harvest time the inn was busy but beyond that, it was dull and quiet. "Cyrene looked out the window. "Then I met Tia. She was a traveller passing through, and we struck up a friendship." She looked at her daughter's face, unsure what the reaction would be, but Xena's face remained neutral.
"We became close, very close. I used to look forward to Tia's visits more than your father's. She visited me the day before your father came home, and I never saw her again. I asked around but no one knew anything of her. I was shattered; I never knew what had happened, if she had died, or merely grown tired of visiting me." Cyrene swallowed and tears formed in her eyes. "Before I knew it, I was pregnant with you, and soon after you were born your father came home for good."
"I'm sorry Mother," said Xena with genuine sympathy.
"It doesn't help you I'm afraid," said Cyrene.
Gabrielle looked expectantly at Xena who nodded. "Cyrene, did Atrius appear surprised that you had a child."
Cyrene shook her head.
Gabrielle gulped. "Did it appear different-Xena's conception to ahem, er-"Gabrielle became flustered and looked at Xena for help. But instead she got twinkling blues eyes looking back with a hint of mirth.
"Yes, yes it did," said Cyrene tenderly and Xena and Gabrielle turned to look at her in surprise.
"A woman doesn't like to talk of these matters and certainly not with her children, but-"she smiled in happy remembrance. "He was so gentle and tender that night. We were awake the whole night, loving each other, touching, whispering." She looked at her daughter. "I make no apologies, Xena. It was the best night of my life."
"Mother thank you. I am sorry that I had to ask."
"Xena I am sorry that I couldn't help you further. What does this mean?"
Xena rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't think it was Atrius that visited you that night."
"Who?" said Gabrielle?
"That's the question isn't it?" said Xena with chagrin. "Ares," she whispered. "It could be Ares."
"Ares isn't your father, I am." The voice came from the doorway. All three women turned to look.