Athena stood at the doorway.
"Tia," gasped Cyrene, and her legs wobbled and she half stumbled, half fell onto the floor.
In a flash Gabrielle was by her side, as Xena remained frozen staring at the dark haired Goddess.
Athena's eyes followed Cyrene as Gabrielle awkwardly helped her onto the bed.
"Tia," repeated Cyrene.
"Yes," said Athena simply.
Xena continued to stare at Athena. The God walked slowly towards her and held out her hand but Xena ignored it.
"Where were you?" she whispered through gritted teeth. "Where were you when I was Ares chosen? You're the Goddess of wisdom. Didn't your wisdom tell you that Ares and I were a dangerous combination?"
"I didn't know," said Athena with heartfelt sorrow.
"Didn't know what?" spat Xena.
"That you were my daughter. "
There was silence. Gabrielle rubbed Cyrene's arm and the older woman smiled at her, and found her hand and squeezed.
Gabrielle got up and walked to Xena. She had seen that look so often in their early days-defensive, putting a wall between herself any anyone. It was rarer these days, but still there in the background. Gabrielle put an arm around Xena's waist and she felt the warrior relax to her touch although visually she was doubtful anyone else could detect a change in her posture.
"I'm sorry Cyrene. Truly I am." Athena took Cyrene's hand. "I used you and left you. I am so sorry."
"Tia-Athena-" Cyrene said, still looking bewildered.
"Tia, I loved you calling me that." The Goddess smiled.
Cyrene smiled back. "Tia, what happened? Why did you leave?"
Athena's head drooped. "I loved you. More than anyone I have ever loved. But you were married, and I-I was the Virgin goddess."
"So you took my father's form, and had your way with her," said Xena bitterly.
"Yes," said Athena quietly. "That's exactly what I did. I knew it was wrong-that my father, brothers and sisters did it all the time. But I couldn't help myself. I wanted you so bad, Cyrene. I thought this was the best way. So I took your husband's form and-"
Athena dropped her head in her hands.
"We had the most wonderful night ever, and made a beautiful girl," said Cyrene.
Athena lifted her head up. "You're not mad? I thought you'd hate me. I took advantage of you. I forced myself on you, and impregnated you then left."
"You didn't force me. And yes you impregnated me and look what we have produced." Cyrene motioned to Xena. "This will take some getting used; the love of my life being a God."
Athena smiled shyly at this.
Cyrene continued, "It seems incredible, but at the same time, so right." She took both of Athena's hands.
"I could never hate you. I loved you. I still do, not a day went past that I didn't wonder what happened to you. I loved Atrius, he was a good father, until-"Cyrene shared a look with Xena. "The only part I am upset about is that you left me."
Athena sighed. "I felt so guilty about what I had done. I was supposed to be above such things. I was no better than Ares or Zeus. How could I face you again? I felt so guilty. So I decided I would never return. I gave Atrius a false memory-he believed he had retuned home, and that was that." The Goddess looked down. "I vowed never to bother you again, but I couldn't resist looking in on you. So a few years later I looked in from afar and saw you had three children and assumed Atrius had returned to you. It never crossed my mind until Ares started bragging that Xena told the Furies he had fathered her." She turned to look at Xena. "That was the first time I realised you could be my daughter. I went to visit the Fates and they confirmed it for me."
Xena shook her head and turned away. Gabrielle looked at her with concern and then towards Cyrene and Athena. The two women were talking quietly and Gabrielle could see the devotion shining through as they spoke with each other. She turned her attention to Xena and moved in front of her.
"OK?" she said, and then groaned at the lameness at her question.
Xena looked at her and then pulled her in for a hug. "Thank Hades it wasn't Ares," she said, and put her head on the bard's shoulder. Gabrielle closed her eyes and leant against Xena, and when she opened her eyes she looked at Xena's parents gazing back at her. The bard smiled awkwardly at them and then pain gripped her across her abdomen. She shuddered and fell deeper into Xena's arms.
"Gabrielle," said Xena with concern and Athena and Cyrene sprung forward. Xena carried Gabrielle to the bed.
"It's ok, the pain has gone." Gabrielle regained her colour and smiled at the anxious looking warrior.
"Practice contractions," said Cyrene with authority.
"I'm fine really," said Gabrielle.
Athena smiled at her. "You look radiant Gabrielle."
Gabrielle smiled shyly. Xena flicked her eyes at Gabrielle then stood up and spun around in a fluid motion.
"Where were you when she needed you? When Uncle Ares set me up?" Xena's voice was bitter.
"I'm sorry," said Athena. "I know now what a terrible parent I have been. I wasn't there for you when you really needed me."
"You didn't know-"interrupted Cyrene.
"But when I did," Athena raked her hand through her hair. Gabrielle smiled at the sight, so familiar it was to her, "when I did, what did I do?" She shut here eyes. "I didn't want my family to know. I am still thought of the Virgin goddess. I thought that was the most important thing. My reputation." Her voice became edged with bitterness.
Xena snorted.
"And I didn't want Ares or Hera using you to get back at me," Athena added quickly.
"Is that possible?" asked Gabrielle.
Athena shrugged. "Ares would use anything." Xena nodded at this.
"I thought I was protecting you by not interfering."
"Why now?"
"You deserve to know the truth." Athena looked at Cyrene. "Both of you." She sighed and turned to look at Xena. "I'm sorry that I have done so little for you."
Something in her eyes tickled at the recess of Xena's memories. For several seconds she couldn't place it, but then it, along with pain, came flooding back.
"The old woman, at the Hospice. It was you." Xena looked from Athena to Gabrielle.
Athena nodded.
"You took her there! Where did you find her?" asked Xena. Her hand found one of Gabrielle's and she squeezed it. It was a time that still caused Xena pain and anguish.
"The Elysian Fields," said Athena quietly.
"Gabrielle died?" asked Cyrene incredulously.
"Yes," chorused Xena, Gabrielle and Athena.
Athena looked at Gabrielle with affection. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done. I'm sorry I removed them, but I felt it was for the best." Athena put her hand on Gabrielle's head, and the bard lurched forward slightly, and Xena held her tighter.
Gabrielle felt the memories rush in her head. From the pain and agony of the fall, to meeting Hades, then onto the peace of the Elysian Fields, with Talus, her grandmother, Perdicus and Solon. She looked at Xena with tears in her eyes. "I was in the fields with Solon," she said quietly. A tear trickled down Xena's face.
Gabrielle smiled at a memory. "He called me-"she stopped and took a deep breath in.
"Tell me," said Xena gently.
"Gabby-mum" said Athena. "He wanted his Gabby-mum and Mother to be reunited." She looked at Cyrene. "It's hard to refuse your grandchild, so I petitioned Hades. I said that you would become unstable without Gabrielle."
"You were right," said Xena.
"You didn't," said Gabrielle quietly.
"I need two other gods to petition on my behalf and that was easy enough, Hephaestus and Aphrodite offered, and so Hades agreed. "
"You took Gabrielle to the healing temple."
"I had to leave some physical wounds and I took the memory of her time in the Fields."
Xena gently pushed Gabrielle onto the bed, and stood up. She turned to face Athena. "You said you have done little, but-"Xena swallowed and had tears in her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you for returning her to me." The words were warm and sincere. Athena smiled genially.
"It was my pleasure."
Gabrielle looked at the three women. She pushed herself up. "I'd like to do some shopping while the market's on." She raised her hand to stop Xena's protest.
"You stay here. I think the three of you have a lot to catch up on."
Xena looked at her Mother who smiled eagerly, and then at Athena who after giving her a wary look, nodded.
"OK," said the warrior. "But be careful. If you feel ill, return straight away."
Gabrielle nodded. She approached Cyrene who gave her a warm hug and Athena who shook her hand. Xena walked to the doorway with her.
"You OK?" asked Gabrielle with concern.
Xena nodded. "Take it easy," she said and gave Gabrielle a tender kiss.
Xena turned back to face her parents. Parents! It would take time to think of Athena as a parent that would take some getting used.
"Will Gabrielle be alright?" asked Cyrene.
"That's what amazons are there for," said Xena and Athena in unison, and the three women all laughed.
"I always thought that Xena exaggerated Gabrielle's love of shopping," said Walia in an aside to Asteria.
"I'd love to blame her delicate condition, but she has been far, far worse than this," retorted Asteria as she struggled with the packages that Gabrielle had given her to carry.
"If anything, Xena has understated it," added Solari, through gritted teeth. They watched as their Queen engaged in banter with a market stall holder.
"You know, I almost feel sorry for them," said Solari. "They see this sweet pregnant woman, and then bang, they're selling half their stock for a dinar."
Epinon sniggered, but lost her smile when Gabrielle added more packages to the precariously balanced ones she was already carrying.
"Good negotiation, my Queen?" she said coolly.
"Yes thank you, Pony. I think that is it."
"We and the traders say whoopee," said Asteria under her breath.
"Now that's not the attitude to have," said a voice and Xena walked up to the group of women.
"Xena," said Gabrielle warmly and walked over to her. They said no more verbally but their eyes told a different story.
"Pony, at last, a good use for your warriors," said Xena drily.
Epinon snarled at her.
"Have you really finished, Gabrielle?" asked Solari.
"Yes thank you, Sol. And thank you all. Xena?"
"Come on, lets go for a walk," said the warrior, and they turned away from the grumbling Amazons who staggered towards Cyrene's inn under the weight of Gabrielle's packages.
They walked through the bustling market, past houses and towards the woods in silence. Xena indicated a spot and with Gabrielle's nodded approval they sat down.
They sat in silence taking in the peaceful atmosphere, so different from the bustling town just moments away. Gabrielle gave Xena a sideways look. "How are you?" she asked gently.
Xena shrugged. "Bewildered, confused, frustrated." She paused and looked at Gabrielle. "Relieved and overjoyed that Ares is not my father."
"Just your uncle," said Gabrielle in a teasing voice. "And Zeus is your grandfather."
Xena made a face, but then smiled. "But I am still me. I am no different. It's what you and Piri have been saying. Athena admitting the truth, it was a weight off my mind and I am pleased I know, but I don't feel any different."
"I am glad," said Gabrielle and leaned into Xena who wrapped her arms around the bard and kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you."
Gabrielle merely nuzzled in closer, and after a few moments asked, "How did it go?"
"Odd. I didn't really know what to say. Athena was interested in everything; although I got the feeling she knew everything anyway."
"Does she want to be a part of your life?"
"I think so," Xena slowly sank back to the ground taking Gabrielle with her. The bard's head was on Xena 's shoulder and the warrior's arms wrapped tightly around her. "I'm not sure how I should feel about that."
"I doubt she'd be dropping in every day for a mug of tea, Xena. More likely once in a while. You're her child, her only child."
"I know." A pause. "Mother and her hit it off."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Oh I know what you mean. Embarrassing was it?"
Xena chuckled along with her. "Yeah. Your parents?"
"Oh yes, big time. I used to hate it, all the other parents would be cold and distant and mine would be cooing over each other like newlyweds. Now I think how nice it was."
They lay there in silence for several moments enjoying the sunshine. Xena swallowed and brought her hand up to Gabrielle's cheek. She gently stroked it. "Tell me about Solon," she said in a strangled voice.
Gabrielle took Xena's hand in hers and kissed it. She turned to look at Xena. "He is a beautiful child Xena. We talked, about you. He wanted to know everything." Gabrielle felt Xena wince. "He loves you, Xe and he knows you love him. He's spirited, caring, loving, he is so much like you." Gabrielle watched as the tears coursed down Xena's face. "Oh Xena. I'm sorry that I could spend time with him and not you."
Xena turned to her, her eyes still wet with tears. "I'm glad you did. He must have loved having a mother, even if it was for a short time."
Gabrielle blushed and looked away momentarily embarrassed.
"That's why he called you Gabby-mum isn't it?"
Gabrielle nodded. Xena wiped away her tears and closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She opened them and steeled herself for the next question.
"Did you see Perdicus?"
Gabrielle looked shocked at the question. "Yes," she whispered.
"How is he?"
Gabrielle looked away. "Well. He was pleased; no that's not the right word. He said it was nice to see me, but he wished he hadn't."
Xena continued to look at Gabrielle and for once the steely eyed stare of her partner made the bard feel self conscious.
"He knew about us, and was happy that I was happy. He doesn't blame either of us Xena."
"Do you wish you could have stayed with him?" although her voice was calm her emotions were anything but. Xena sat up and looked away from Gabrielle.
"No." said Gabrielle simply. "I loved him, and I can't deny I don't feel anything for him even now. But my place is with you, and I wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would Perdicus."
Xena lay back down again and stroked Gabrielle's face. "Thank you."
Gabrielle moved closer to Xena and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. Xena felt slight pressure on her stomach. Xena broke away laughing. "That baby. Its timing is immaculate."
Gabrielle smiled at Xena's happy countenance. "You're amazing."
"I'm part God, what did you expect. See making jokes about it already!"
Xena jumped up and held her hands for Gabrielle to grab hold of. With a grunt the bard was on her feet. "It's a good job that Hercules is coming soon; I don't think I can lift you any more."
Gabrielle swiped her hand at Xena. "I'll tell your Mother."
"Which one?" and Xena stuck her tongue out.
"Hercules will be here soon?" asked Gabrielle.
"Today," said Xena and was suddenly distracted by the sight of a couple of rabbits. She moved towards them, chakram at the ready.
Gabrielle watched with interest. She felt a pain in her back and stifled a moan. She rubbed it furiously and within several seconds it had gone. By the time Xena returned with a rabbit in each hand, she was smiling warmly.
"Cyrene does have food you know."
"I know but a little more can't hurt." Xena smiled at the bard, but she couldn't help to notice how tired she looked. "Come on lets get you back. Does the market have any goods left?"
"Some. And it's not all for us. There are presents for people, a few bits for the baby."
"Mmm, "said Xena. "I'm sure there won't be room on the wagon for you on the way home!"