Chapter 6: Introducing Eve
Cyrene was sweeping the front porch of the inn while watching the sunset. Sunsets were an enjoyable sight to her. Orange, red, and brown hues seemed to burst across the horizon. A golden swath of color peeked out from the trees that lined the trail leading up to Amphipolis. Cyrene lifted her hand to block a ray of sunshine that was impeding her vision.
"What in the name of the Gods," she hesitated. Upon beholding a tall warrior woman, with dark hair, upon a golden palomino she had no doubts it was Xena. She dropped her broom where she stood and lifted her skirt to run towards her long missed daughter.
Xena also spied her mother who was fastidiously approaching. The last time they saw each other, Cyrene was desperately trying to fix Xena up with people because of the impending birth of Eve. Cyrene was worried for her daughter raising a child while on the road so she thought it might help to get Xena to settle down. Xena made sure to let her mother know that she was fully capable of raising her daughter on the road and that she had help from Gabrielle. Cyrene was mildly put at ease, but she still wished Xena would make it easier for herself by setting some roots down.
"Xena! Gabrielle!," Cyrene exclaimed, "I'm so happy to see you!"
Xena eased herself off of Argo. Gabrielle dismounted as well, and took hold of both the horses' reins to allow Xena and her mother a tear filled reunion. Soon Xena was swept up in a hug.
"Let me see my grandchild!" Cyrene excitedly gushed. Xena turned and allowed Cyrene to pull Eve out of her carrier. Eve was still snoozing in her cocoon.
"She's beautiful Xena." Cyrene hugged the bundle to her with tears in her eyes. As Xena unloaded her gear, Cyrene walked with her sleeping granddaughter towards Gabrielle and engulfed her in a hug as well.
"Gabrielle! Good to see you again, thank you so much for being there for my daughter and now my granddaughter," Cyrene gushed.
"Don't mention it Cyrene, they are my family, why wouldn't I." Gabrielle shrugged to signify that it was no big deal.
"Well in that case, call me 'Mom'." Cyrene chuckled.
Cyrene ushered all of them to her inn.
"Xena, head right in, I'll take care of Argo and Amber. You and 'Mom' probably have a lot of catching up to do." Gabrielle cheerfully stated as she headed towards the stables.
"I'm so glad to see my daughter and granddaughter, I'm hoping you'll stay a while? Let me get to know my granddaughter?" Cyrene pleaded. Xena set her weapons down on the inn counter.
"Well Mom, I was thinking about staying a few weeks and then heading to Potidaea and visit Gabrielle's family as well." Xena stated smiling.
"Why that's wonderful!" Cyrene burst in happiness. The burst of happiness startled Eve awake and Eve soon began crying. Eve searched for her mother or Gabrielle.
"I think she'll need to get used to me," Cyrene chuckled. "Its just me; your grandmother little one!" Cyrene said softly as she handed Eve back to Xena.
"Evie this is grandma honey, its okay." Xena shushed as she bounced Eve in her hip to calm her.
"Xena, its okay, we have time to get to know each other." Cyrene eased.
"You will have lots of time with her in the future as well Mom, I have decided to settle down and put down some roots. For Eve and for me." Xena finished. Cyrene stared in disbelief and soon recovered with ecstatic relief, exclaiming,"This day just keeps getting better. That is so wonderful daughter!"
"I think so too Mom. I'm just a little worried whether Gabrielle is ready to settle down or what settling down means to her. I wonder where we'll both end up." Xena responded.
Cyrene sported a perplexed look at what Xena had just revealed.
"I thought you too were together? Remember the last time I saw you? You said that a woman didn't always need a man and that you'd be fine? Thats why I decided to stop pushing you to meet men... I thought about you a long while after I went home. I started remembering the dedication and love for each other you both had and it hit me. I was happy and relieved to think you were a couple. I figured you were too afraid of what I felt about you having a relationship with a woman." Cyrene explained.
Xena nearly blushed a shade of red as she struggled to say, "No Mom, Gabrielle and I are just best friends!"
In truth, what her mother had just mentioned, planted a subconscious seed into Xena's mind that would soon demand to be examined.
