Hurt

I don't own any fresh ideas for these disclaimers

The next day Joxer and Amerielle were playing a game of tag. Clearly they were related as neither seemed to have very good balance and both could take a fall real well. Xena stood next to Gabrielle who was watching them as she asked, "What are you doing?"

Gabrielle replied irritated, "What?"

Xena put her hand on the bards shoulder as she stated, "The way your being with Amerielle, almost like you think you're her mother."

Gabrielle turned her head slightly at Xena, not really enjoying this line of questioning, "She needs someone, Joxer is very nice, but a child needs both."

Xena said coldly, "Sure your not just trying to replace your dead daughter?" Gabrielle looked at Xena with offended eyes. Before Xena could apologize Gabrielle stormed away fighting tears.

Joxer saw it as he looked away for a second, but he turned his head back as she fell skinning her knee on a rock in the grass. She started crying as Joxer completely guessing sat beside her and held her close. He said, "I'll be alright, it's just a little blood. Hey, since you're my daughter you're probably going to lose a lot of blood in your life." It turned out to be a terrible thing to say as she cried louder.

Xena bit her lips as Gabrielle suddenly ran to her and took a damp cloth to Amerielle's knee. Xena cussed as she saw the two of them together. It was worse than the two being in love. The two were working together to make a child feel happy and loved. Not that Xena didn't feel the child needed and deserved that, but rather she wanted Gabrielle back.

Gabrielle had spent as little time as possible with Xena since the child had came into the picture. Xena grunted as she walked away, deciding to do something productive to vent her frustrations, so she started sharpening her sword.

Joxer tried for something more pleasant, Gabrielle moved the cloth as he kissed her knee three times, he said, "There, now it will get better." Amerielle calmed down finally as Gabrielle smiled at Joxer, she had never seen this side of him. She knew he always cared passionately for herself, but the way he was with his newfound daughter was special.

He set her to her feet and then put him on his back and ran around some as she laughed with joy. Gabrielle got up and walked to a tree and leaned back on it watching Joxer and Amerielle play. Xena grabbed Gabrielle's shoulder from behind. Gabrielle said letting her anger come to the surface, "What?"

Xena lowered her head in shame as she said, "I'm sorry I said what I said. But I'm worried about you. I thought maybe you were letting Amerielle take the place of Hope."

Gabrielle said slightly angry and surprised at Xena, "Xena, I'm just trying to give a kid a little happiness. Her mother died and we are all pretty much strangers to her."

Xena looked into the bards eyes as she said, "Just trying to be sure."

Gabrielle scoffed, "Well mind your own business." Gabrielle walked away from Xena, her hand slipping off of Gabrielle's shoulder. Xena loosed a single tear to seeing the bard walk away in anger.

Night came and Gabrielle served dinner. Fresh fish that Xena had managed to catch. Xena sat off to the side as Amerielle sat between Joxer and Gabrielle. The three were laughing and carrying on as Xena only had a bitter look to show for it. Finally she got irritated and walked away, going to bed.

After Gabrielle and Joxer laid Amerielle to rest they sat up and talked with one another. Gabrielle said, "I'm so happy for you. I know that this was a complete shock for you but it seems to have worked out well. She has a good man for a dad."

Joxer then said eyeing the bard, "She could have a good woman for a mother."

Gabrielle normally would have told him to drop dead, but this time she turned away sadly as she said, "I can't. My place is with Xena and I don't really have those feelings for you."

Joxer said not as a man in love with Gabrielle but rather as a man concerned for Amerielle's future, "We don't have to be together. We could just stay friends and you could help me raise her. I mean who else can I go to. Meg? She's even more clueless than I. Now you Gabrielle, your smart. I knew that as soon as you kicked my ass with your staff that first time in Delphi." Gabrielle laughed lightly.

Joxer continued, "Who'd better than you? Xena? I don't know how maternal she is feeling about Amerielle. Besides she wouldn't do that, look I'm asking as a friend in need."

Gabrielle wanted to say no, but the she wanted to say yes. She finally said conflicted, "Let me think about it."

Then a lonesome voice asked, "Daddy? Aren't you going to sleep?"

Joxer saw Amerielle sitting up as Gabrielle said to him, "Go Joxer, she needs her daddy." Joxer went and beside her as she put her arms around him. Gabrielle went to lay beside Xena for the night.

Xena said scornfully, "coming to try to make me feel good eh? Don't have any pity for me. Go sleep next to Amerielle."

Gabrielle asked amazed at Xena's attitude, "Xena, what's your problem?"

Xena turned her head and replied loudly, "You!"

Gabrielle with a look of bile on her face shouted, "Well fine!" She grabbed her bed roll and carried it next Amerielle and laid down there. She put her arm around the now asleep little girl.

Xena however slept alone again that night. She couldn't fight her feelings as she could feel herself losing Gabrielle to this child. As Xena tried to suppress her sadness but as she continued to suppress it, it was turning to rage at the bard. She cussed slightly as she closed her eyes to sleep.