Getting to Know Your Father

Kill da wabbit…Kill da wabbit…

Joxer awoke the next morning to the smell breakfast cooking. Smelt like Rabbit. He looked down to see Amerielle laying on her side with her left arm sprawled across his chest as she was nestled between his own left arm and his body. He gently took her arm off of his chest and laid it at her side. He got up being careful not to disturb her as he saw Gabrielle.

Joxer though he knew what was cooking asked Gabrielle, "What's cooking." Gabrielle smiled at him as she said, "Wabbit." (Yes you guessed it, bugs bunny finally got caught by Gabrielle Fudd)

Joxer surprised, asked, "You smiled at me? You never do that?"

Gabrielle replied warmly, "What? Can't I smile at a friend?"

Joxer wanted to test this 'nice Gabrielle' out. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Sure thing friend." Gabrielle didn't bat an eyelash as she grabbed his hand warmly. Joxer released her shoulder and walked to where Xena was sitting, sharpening her sword.

Joxer dared not touch the warrior as he said, "Thanks for telling me to tell her story."

Xena smiled not quite as warmly, "Sure thing Joxer."

"I hope you didn't mind my embellishing of the story a bit," Said Joxer.

Xena said, looking directly into Joxer's eyes, "It's your daughter. Speaking of which I see her rubbing her eyes. Don't trip over yourself trying to get to her."

Joxer moved quickly but watched his feet as she looked to see Joxer down on one knee in front of her. He said, "Gabrielle has made us breakfast, should be ready any minute. Are you ready?"

Gabrielle asked inquisitively, "We've got a pot full of cool water for her to wash her hands, you were going to make her wash her hands weren't you?"

Joxer lied cause he forgot, "Yea, sure." He took Amerielle's hand and walked with her to the cool pot of water that Gabrielle sat aside just for that purpose.

Joxer stuck his hands in first to show it was safe. She hesitated but then put her hands in after him and washed them carefully. Gabrielle said, "Breakfast is served, Bugs el la Bunny, num, num, num." Joxer, Amerielle and Xena each grabbed some of the food. Amerielle and Joxer took a bite as Amerielle made a face like it didn't taste the best in the world.

Joxer said to Amerielle still testing the Nice Gabrielle, "I know honey, it needs more seasoning." Gabrielle did not rise to the comment as she took her own bite. Joxer decided he was going to take a hard shot to the nose if he didn't stop. They dined for several minutes on the rabbit, after which Amerielle sat her food down. Joxer looked at her smiling as he asked, "What? Had enough?" She pulled on his shirt as Joxer turned toward her asking, "Yes?"

She asked staring deep into Joxer's eyes, "Are you my father?" Xena and Gabrielle stared at the girl as she had just the first words she had ever said around them. Both looked at Joxer as he thought about how best to answer that. Never taking his eyes off of the little girl he answered, "Yes I am."

She then asked, "Are you going to go away like my mother?"

Joxer looked at Xena as she mouthed the words, "Tell her something to reassure her."

Joxer took her in his arms and looked in her emerald green eyes as he said, "I'll always be here for you." She embraced him as Joxer felt some slight sobs. He guessed it was to do with her mother. He patted and rubbed her back lovingly.

Later on that day, they were walking on the road to Thebes, Joxer was carrying Amerielle on his back while Gabrielle much to Xena's annoyance hung back with Joxer instead of up with Xena. Xena looked over her shoulder as Gabrielle picked Amerielle and held her in such away that it was like she was flying. Gabrielle made noises imitating air as Amerielle had her arms spread out like wings.

Finally they got to clean water hole that was private enough, so they stopped. Gabrielle took Amerielle to give her bath as she knew this was something that Joxer wasn't ready for yet. Joxer stood with Xena as behind them Gabrielle bathed the little girl. Joxer said smiling, "I'm starting to like this."

Xena replied happy for him, "It's wonderful, isn't it?"

Joxer beaming answered, "Yes it is. I never thought it would affect me like this."

Xena somewhat with a hint of sadness stated, "You haven't felt anything yet."

Joxer asked, "Solan, how did you handle that?"

Xena looked at the ground sadly for a moment and then finally answered, "It still hurts. I never got to be his mother and the moment I decided to, he died. I never thought I'd say it, but your lucky Joxer. Don't squander this opportunity to have something wonderful in your life. Love her, cherish her, you never know when it might be the last time you see her."

Joxer changing the subject said, "Gabrielle seems quite taken with her."

Xena replied trying to hide her own concern, "Yes she is."

Joxer feeling a tug at his shirt, turned around to see the blond little girl with wet hair, all dressed saying, "Daddy, pick me up". He picked her up and put her on his shoulders.

Xena thought to herself chuckling, 'I can't think of anything more scary than being on the shoulders of a man with Joxer's balance.' But Joxer held his balance well and never once appeared that he might drop the young child.

Another days travel was finished as they all found a place to sleep through the night. Xena looked at the girl as she slept beside Joxer with her arms around him. Xena felt a little lonely as on Amerielle's other side was Gabrielle with her own arm around the child. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she would be sleeping alone tonight.