THE OLD WOUNDS THAT NEVER HEAL

Xena breathed in as she walked in to Potidaea pulling Argo behind her. Gabrielle was walking next to her the younger woman's staff tapped the ground as she carried on walking forward her eyes showing deep thought. She breathed in deeply she wasn't being fair to her lover, so far at almost every turn she'd gotten angry with her. She let her gaze wander as she saw all the people turning as they walked through the main street with it market place which in spring was filled with beautiful festival colour and hundreds of little windmill toys which the children played with. Her gaze moved as she caught sight of Gabrielle's family home with its grinding mill and large house which didn't look old and beaten like it had the last time she'd seen it.

Its windmill was turning slowly and none of the wood was cracked it all looked new, the mills blades also looked like they'd had repair work done. She raised an eyebrow as it caught sight as to why. There was a young man who was pounding nails in to the roof of the house. He seemed totally amerced in his work. He looked to be in his early thirties with short dark black hair and light brown eyes. He was a medium built man who had a lot of muscle on his arms and chest no doubt from his time of working in the fields. His skin was slightly tanned no doubt from all his time working in sun. He wore a loose brown shirt with stitched patterns.

His trousers were dark brown in colour and he had a black knee high pair of leather boots which even to her eyes looked expensive. No doubt the man had a rich family if they were willing to buy him boots like those. Gabrielle watched as the man turned sharply eyeing her. He laid down his hammer as he made his way down the ladder towards them. Lector breathed in sharply he was getting sick of this always travellers wanting fresh bread, the family had enough troubles right now Lila his girlfriend was missing and he couldn't find her. He turned eyeing the two women in annoyance even in the darkness he could tell that one of them was a warrior. "Herodotus is busy come back tomorrow!"

Xena turned eyeing the young man as she walked in to the fire light. "I thought Herodotus would want to see us." Lector raised an eyebrow as he eyed the woman. He felt him self swallow she was a tall warrior about his height with very long black hair and ice blue eyes which looked in to his in a cold piercing manner. She was well muscled and her skin was bronzed, on her upper body was a black leather bodice, she also wore knee high black leather boots. He could see a sword in a scabbard on her back and another odd round weapon which was gleamed at her side. She had a weaving bronze breast plate, as well bronze shoulder armour.

Her upper arms had the same bronze armour and on her wrists were bronze gauntlets. Her skirt was made from long leather pieces which hung down all were studied with steel, she looked dangerous. He breathed in deeply gathering his courage. "Look I don't want any trouble warrior but I don't believe Herodotus wanted to see you." He eyed the smaller blonde haired woman next to her whose green eyes were studying him deeply. "Even if you do have a warhorse, and a …sidekick?" Xena pulled back she narrowed her gaze. "She not my side kick she's my partner..." Lector smirked trying to ignore the warrior ice cold blue gaze. "Sidekick, partner same thing…"

Xena sneered slightly. "No there's a big difference, sidekicks are expendable partners aren't…" Lector snarled aloud. "Who in Tartarus are you and what do you want?!" Gabrielle stepped forward moving herself in front of her lover before she could step forward. She smiled at the annoyed man. "My name is Gabrielle I'm Lila's older sister she might had told you about me." Lector pulled back slightly. "Gabrielle…" He breathed in sharply as the revelation hit home. He breathed in deeply. "Oh gods I'm so sorry." He eased up his hand slowly taking hers. He turned eyeing the dark haired warrior. "You must be Xena Warrior Princess." Xena folded her arms she didn't like how he'd said her name it was almost as if he was afraid to say it. "Yes that's me."

Lector eased himself away from Gabrielle as he looked at the ex warlord. "So you're her lover?" Gabrielle slowly moved forward putting a hand on the young man's shoulder her smile widening. "Yes she is." Xena stiffened slightly but let the tense feeling pass as she met his dark brown gaze. "You're Lector aren't you?" Lector adjusted his shirt slightly. "Yes, yes I am it's a pleasure to finally meet the Warrior Princess, Lila always spoke very highly off you." Xena blinked in surprise as she pulled back. "She…did?" Lector smile faded he felt his hand form a fist. "Yes she did before she was captured by that serpent." Xena took a slow step forward. "Then you know why we are both here."

"Gabrielle!"

Xena turned watching as both Hecuba and Herodotus appeared in the door way. Herodotus smile faded as his gaze met hers. He moved forward his dark eyebrow raising. His dark brown shirt swayed as he adjusted it coughing loudly. Gabrielle turned she felt her smile widen. "Mother, father." She moved forward feeling her mother wrap her arms around her. "I've missed you both so much." Hecuba smiled feeling her grip tighten. "We've missed you both, it's been to long." She squeezed her eldest daughter tighter. "Something terrible has happened…" Gabrielle felt her body tense. "I know mother…I'm here to fix it." Hecuba pulled back her forest green eyes darting. "You know about the horrible serpent?"

Herodotus came closer to her older daughter he ignored Xena as he turned to her. "How do you know about the serpent we only just sent you word yesterday?" Gabrielle pulled away from her mother meeting her fathers gaze. "We're enemies." Herodotus eyed the bandages around her daughters lower waist he turned eyeing the Warrior Princess, who had said nothing. "I assume that her bandages are your fault?" Xena breathed in sharply ignoring Lectors surprise at Herodotus's comment. She breathed in deeply keeping her voice low and unthreatening as possible. She didn't want to get in another argument with Gabrielle's father "I didn't hurt your daughter Herodotus." Herodotus folded his arms as he narrowed his light brown gaze. "Don't insult my intelligence Warrior Princess."

Xena sighed inwardly it was all too obvious as to who Gabrielle got her temper from. "I would never hurt your daughter." Gabrielle turned sharply eyeing her father. "Stop it…" Herodotus turned his face showing surprise. "But your bandages…" Gabrielle narrowed her gaze slowly. "Aren't Xena's fault, their mine…" Lector coughed slightly breaking the awkward silence which was drawing out. "You two should come in and get warm." Hecuba smiled widely. "Yes you both must come in I'm cooking some soup, I'll pour you some "Herodotus turned eyeing the Warrior Princess, he breathed in sharply. "You can come in only after you put your beast of burden in the stables…" Xena turned feeling her self breath in sharply, this was going to be an awful night she could feel it already. She pulled on Argo's reins slightly leading the warhorse away. She'd never liked being here it was a place where she always seemed so unwelcome.

Deep down in side it hurt to think that it was her lover's family who didn't like her presence. She ran a hand through her hair in frustration, why was it, the time change hadn't made Herodotus nicer towards her? She sighed aloud as if anything would ever change that? At least now she had the experience not to get so tense with him, maybe he'd like the wiser Xena better. Maybe he would give her a chance in this lifetime. She narrowed her gaze or maybe she was just kidding herself, the way she always did when ever she met her lover's father. She shook her head so much for the mighty Warrior Princess. She could fight off monsters and play games with the gods and win audiences with kings and powerful men and women. Yet she couldn't seem to the win the good graces of one stubborn farmer in Potidaea.

8

Gabrielle slowly swallowed another mouth full of soup, somehow despite that her mothers soup tasted as lovely as ever, the dinner table was uncomfortably quite. She could see that her lover was toying with her food her light blues eyes staring in to the thick chicken soup as it hoping to find something of interest in it. Lector raised an eyebrow he was new to this family and he'd only been with Lila for half a season. He had met her during a trip to Amphipolis she'd been walking the road alone and he offered to carry her bags back to Potidaea. In his eyes she was a very beautiful young woman and he had fallen in love with her smile and her chatty personality.

He had been welcomed in to the family with open arms after he had announced their relationship to Herodotus. He had always thought that this family was a happy family with a happy household that they always smiled. Now he was seeing something different and cold and it was shocking him. Xena the Warrior Princess was unwelcome here the reformed warlord who had turned her life around was treated coldly by Herodotus. As for Gabrielle Lila's sister he could now see that she was a polar opposite to her younger sister, her personality wasn't as carefree and she seemed a lot calmer. She also looked like the type who liked to think things through deeply. She had the looks of Hecuba as appose to Lila who looked more like her father in terms of hair and eye colour.

Herodotus grunted aloud. "So where is this serpent from?" Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "Mexica…" Hecuba put both her hands together. "Where is Mexica?" Gabrielle tapped her spoon slightly against her bowl. "Across the Ionian Sea and further still." Hecuba breathed in deeply. "How do you both know this serpent?" Xena looked up slowly. "I don't know him only Gabrielle knows him he came to us and showed us that he'd captured Lila." Lector sat up sharply. "You saw her? Is she okay?" Gabrielle raised her hand seeing the anxiousness and worry in Lectors face. "She's fine, Quetzalcoatl won't hurt her he wants me she's just the bait."

Lector sat back trying to control his emotions he'd kept strong these past few days by doing things and keeping himself occupied but now he could feel his worry and his sadness breaking through. He wanted Lila back more than anything and up until now he'd been to proud to admit just how in love with her he was. Maybe this was because he'd always been told by his father in his youth that admitting your love in front of others made you look weak. He put both his hands together. "You can both get her back right?" Gabrielle looked at her half finished bowl she could see the desperation in the Lectors eyes she'd seen it so many times in her lover's eyes before now. "Yes we can get her back."

Herodotus eyed the Warrior Princess who was keeping quite. "So you're going to bring my youngest daughter home?" Xena looked up slightly, she breathed in deeply. "Yes, I'm going to bring her back to you." Hecuba turned feeling the tension from both her husband and her daughter's lover. "Herodotus if any one can bring our daughter back, its Xena." Herodotus folded his arms. "Yes I'm sure she'll bring our little girl home…it'll probably be in a coffin!" He turned hearing the clatter as Gabrielle dropped her spoon. Xena put a hand through her hair feeling the frustration as it hit home. She slowly opened her eyes meeting Herodotus's narrowed brown gaze. "I won't let anything like that happen…"

Gabrielle felt her hand slowly form a list, this always happened every time Xena met her family. The tension with her father just wouldn't go away, it was sad that despite her changing the world she just couldn't change this. Her parents had no idea that they had, another chance to live their lives and that they could make things better. Herodotus smiled at Xena but it was a cold smile. "That is what you do after all isn't it warrior? Ruin lives…" Gabrielle felt her gaze slowly narrow as she eyed her father. She was so sick of this, she slammed her fist down hard causing her bowl to rattle which made everyone turn and look at her in surprise. "Stop it father!"

Herodotus turned meeting his eldest daughter's gaze the only person who didn't look surprised by her sudden flare of anger was Xena. "She ruined your life she took you away from us!" Gabrielle stood up sharply trying to keep her temper under control despite that she could feel it boiling up. "Xena didn't take me away…I ran away because I wanted to leave Potidaea." She raised a hand slightly. "Xena didn't want me with her at first she even tried to send me home." Herodotus breathed in deeply he wasn't used to his daughter confronting him. She'd never done it before and he didn't like the ice cold look in her green eyes which burnt in to his. "Tell me something what can Xena give you? Because the way I see it, she has nothing, she can't even give you children!"

Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "She loves me, she takes care of me and watches out for me shouldn't that be enough?" She leaned closer. "All you care about is children." She sneered as she pointed at Lector. "I'm guessing you welcomed him in with open arms just because he could give you them and Xena couldn't." Herodotus stood up slowly. "No it's not like that he's a good man from a respectable family." Gabrielle laughed slightly but it was a cold laugh. "Please Cyrene is one of the most respected people in Amphipolis." Herodotus leaned forward. "I just want what's best for you." Gabrielle raised her eyebrow. "No you want what's best for yourself and what ever makes you look good in the eyes of others." She felt both her hands form fists. "Isn't that right?"

Xena stood up slowly she had never seen anything like this before her lover was confronting her father. The younger Gabrielle would not have done this she had feared the confrontation to much and had wanted everyone just to be happy. Despite the clothes and despite the younger body and beautiful long blonde hair this was not that Gabrielle this was the warrior who she'd come to treasure so much in her previous lifetime. The warrior who never let people walk all over her and who would say things if there was good reason for saying them. Gabrielle leaned closer hearing nothing but silence from her father she sneered slightly. "I assume your silence means that I'm right?" Herodotus breathed in sharply noticing the sneer. "How dare you speak to me like this?"

Gabrielle turned sharply. "How dare I? How dare you treat my lover the way you do. You insult her at every possible turn and make her feel unworthy." She turned slightly. "You make her sleep in the stables every time she's here it disgusts me." She turned sharply watching as a black furred dog slowly walked in through the door sitting itself by the burning fireplace. She blinked okay so that was new her family hadn't had a dog before. She turned back sharply. "You let the dog sleep by the fire, but not Xena no she just gets tossed out in cold because you can't stand the fact that I fell in love with her and not a man like you wanted and I'm not giving you, your all so wonderful grandchildren."

Hecuba moved forward to stand between them. "Please stop it both of you!" Lector stood up swallowing he felt as though he had gotten in to something here which he had no control over. Xena slowly eased herself to her feet she laid her hand on her lovers arm. "Come on Gabrielle." She felt her lover tense up. "Please sweetheart lets just get what we came for." She ignored Herodotus's surprised look she wanted to get out of the room she needed some air. Despite her lovers loyalty she wasn't sure that this was doing any good. May be it was just better that they got what they'd come for before things got any worse. Gabrielle turned sharply she eyed the rope which was in one her packs she grabbed it as walked towards the door.

Xena slowly followed her closing the door carefully behind her, she could see Herodotus still standing there looking shocked as ever. She didn't want to be there when he finally came to his senses. She turned as Lector came out closing the door behind him the young man quickly caught up with her. She turned eyeing him. "Yes?" She watched as Gabrielle threw the bag to one side as she sat herself down on the fallen tree in the yard running her hands through her hair in frustration. Lector put his hand on Xena's shoulder. "I had no idea he hated you that much." Xena pulled away from his grip trying to control her anger. "Yeah well he does hate me that much…"

Lector blinked. "But your Xena Warrior Princess you help people." Xena felt her teeth grind together. "It doesn't matter to him it never has." She raised her hand trying to control her temper. "Look can we talk about this later, now isn't a good time." Lector turned looking at Gabrielle for a long moment. "I understand." He turned slightly. "I'll go get you both some warm tea." He looked around him. "It's cold out here." He turned walking towards the mill. Xena watched him go she knew that Gabrielle's family had an extra stove in that room and a kettle for making tea. She sighed as she sat herself down next to Gabrielle. It seemed like so long since she'd sat on this fallen tree.

The last time it had been to say that Gabrielle was her way and she believed those words more than ever now. "You didn't have to defend me like that." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Yes I did, I had to say those things." She put her hands together. "I've always wanted to say those things Xena. I've always regretted never saying them when I should have." Xena eased herself closer putting her arm around her she gently kissed the side of her face. "Maybe your father will come around to me one day. I just don't think it'll be today, I think you shook him up though." Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "It's funny isn't it you change the world and yet the few things you'd like to be changed don't change…"

Xena smiled slightly pulling her closer. "The fates are cruel Gabrielle." Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "No C'thulon was cruel, he changed the world the way I wanted but he left bits out." Xena slowly eased the bag over with the rope. "Your parents will need time to calm down, why don't you show me the field which you buried the items in." Gabrielle leaned closer to her she eased up a hand running it through the long dark hair. "Can we do it later I just want to stay here right now I need to think?" Xena raised an eyebrow. "Are you having any regrets about what you said to your father?" Gabrielle slowly took her lovers hand. "No I just need to remember which part of the field I buried the items in, my memories hazy."

She leaned up giving her lover a gentle kiss on the lips. "I can't remember if it's in the centre of the field or to the right of it." Xena laughed slightly. "You know Gabrielle next time you bury something don't drink when your doing it." Gabrielle sighed aloud she turned watching as the black dog appeared it wagged its tail as it sat next to her. "You know I really don't remember my family ever wanting a dog." Xena leaned over rubbing the black Labradors head. "He a nice dog though." Gabrielle leaned over watching as the dog put his upper paws on his knees. "He has that dark and handsome look about him." Xena rubbed the dogs head lightly. "Maybe he'll find a cute blonde to keep him happy one day." Gabrielle turned smiling slightly.

"He's my dog, he's called Sagittarius."

Xena turned seeing that Lector was standing close by with a smile on his face. Lector grinned as he pulled up three wooden cups. "Oh here's your tea." Xena stood up slightly taking the cups from his hand. "Thanks." She passed one of the cups to Gabrielle who breathed in the sweet smell of the green tea. "That's a good name." Lector shrugged slightly. "I heard it mentioned when I was in Messene." He sat down on the other fallen tree just across from them. "Did you know that they call that place the werewolf city? They even claim that King Lycaon was killed in the valley close to it." Gabrielle looked at Xena for a long moment before taking a long sip from her mug. "Yes we've heard all about that."

End of part 9

Silvermoonlight.

Lector was mentioned in Xena Season 6 he had a sad end, hence why I thought it would be nice to bring him in to this story.

Thank you for all the kind reviews.