Chapter 2: The Details of it All

Back in their room at the inn, Xena pondered the decision that she had just made in the market. All of it in theory sounded amazing. How to accomplish it and maintain happiness was another story.

"Where do we go from here," she sighed to herself as she breastfed Eve.

Her first thought traveled to Gabrielle. She glanced at the bed where Gabrielle was fast asleep. Today had been full of illuminations and day to day errands and Gabrielle was probably exhausted. Being out in the world redeeming herself, she knew Gabrielle would never leave her side. Now that Xena would be settling down like an ordinary person, Gabrielle could settle down too. Gabrielle could meet someone, get married, and raise her own children. At the thought of Gabrielle having such an opportunity, she was overjoyed and saddened at the same time.

"Guess we'll have to take it one day at a time, huh, Evie," Xena whispered as Eve soon leaned back and fell asleep. Xena lay Eve to the right of Gabrielle. They usually kept Eve sleeping between the both of them. She removed the rest of her armor until she was in her sleeping shift and got into the right side of the bed.

Gabrielle awoke to the shift of weight in the bed. She was exhausted at the turn of events that had occured as well as all the thinking. The idea of it all made sense, but the speed at which it occured, threw Gabrielle for a loop. She wondered to herself if Xena possibly had met someone that day in the Tavern that sped the process along. She then resolved to talk to the barmaid of the Tavern in the morning to see if maybe she can get some insight into if Xena's experience there may have propelled it. Gabrielle was nervous that she might find things in her investigation that could also cause much more difficulties than she was having now. If Xena had found someone, she would be happy for her, but she wasn't quite ready to lose what she had in her life now. If Xena was to settle down and stay in this town, she could always visit her. Gabrielle didn't know what she wanted to do now that Xena wanted to settle down and retire. Gabrielle had a pull in her heart to assume her role as queen of the Amazons, but she didn't want to be away from Xena and Eve.

Gabrielle hadn't felt anything much for anyone else since Perdicas. Her life with Xena was busy enough without complications. Xena and Eve were her family. Although she felt cheated out of raising Hope, she didn't see happiness in going back home and settling down for an ordinary life as a farm wife. If Xena hadn't already decided where she would settle, Gabrielle resolved to invite her to a trip back to Amazon land. The last visit when Gabrielle had passed on her right of caste to Eve wasn't exactly a success, but Xena was now in a different frame of mind. Hopefully this frame of mind would help her be open to the possibility of staying with the Amazon nation. If Xena decided to stay, That would keep Xena and Eve relatively close. Her best friend close by, and an all but ordinary life in the Amazons seemed like a tempting enough reason to settle down. Satisfied with her plan of action for the next day, Gabrielle finally drifted back to sleep.