FLASHBACK

“Livia, do you think we’re meant to be together?”

Julia’s question echoed the innermost hopes and dreams of my heart. “Juls, they say Cupid’s arrows never fail. I can’t think of a reason that the gods would have me fall so desperately in love with you if only to tear us apart.”

“Same. I just…I’m afraid to lose you, you know? These four years that we’ve been together have been the most meaningful periods in my entire life. I worry that one morning, I’ll wake up, and you won’t be lying next to me,” Julia told me sadly.

I eased up on my elbows, causing the mattress to cave under my weight. Turning to my beloved, I gazed into her soft brown eyes. “Death herself couldn’t keep me from you, Juls. All the squadrons in Tartarus could chase me, beat me, flog me, but I’d still get to you.”

She blushed, and I grinned at her. She must have felt embarrassed because she pulled the blanket up over her face. “You’re too good to me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Luckily, you’ll never have to find out,” I told her gently.

I felt her scoot up to me under the blanket, and her breath caressed my bare chest. “You’re so tan. Your skin is always so bronzed, even in winter.”

I laughed. “Is that a bad thing?”

I felt her fingertips graze my breast. “Not at all.”

I smiled at the feel of my passion-hungry lover’s lips touching my collarbone. “Tsk tsk, Julia. All night, and now this?”

“Any complaints?” Her kisses crept down my upper chest.

“None whatsoever.” I pulled the blanket over my head, and joined her in her passion.

END FLASHBACK

“What in the name of Eli was that?” Eve demanded in shock.

“Something kicked me from the inside,” Julia gasped.

Eve took Julia by the shoulders and led her to the couch in the philosopher’s small, snug office. "Lie down, sweetie." Julia obeyed. Eve lifted Julia’s top and examined her flat stomach. “There doesn’t seem to be anything visibly wrong.”

Julia eyed Eve curiously. “You’re a doctor?”

Eve smiled at her lover. “Being a warlord means having enough medical knowledge to keep the ranks healthy.” She gently felt Julia’s stomach around her navel. “It was right here that we felt- whatever that was, right?”

“Yeah,” Julia answered with fear in her voice. “Eve, there’s someone behind you.”

Eve turned and kicked where she expected to find her silent foe’s head. Her foot travelled through the ghostly head of Eli.

“Eli,” she breathed.

“Don’t be afraid, Eve,” Eli told her kindly. “I have come from heaven to answer your questions regarding Julia’s condition.”

“’Condition?’” Eve echoed, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Eli smiled affectionately at Eve. “Julia is pregnant.”

Julia’s mouth fell open. “What?! How is that possible?! The only person I’ve ever do- been with, is Eve, and she is obviously female!”

Eli held up his hand to silence her. “Eve is the father, Julia.”

Eve looked at him in shock. “I am?”

Eli nodded. “Yes. The God of Love looks with loving eyes upon the two of you, and thought that perhaps that you should have a child of your love.”

Eve gaped at Eli. “We’re having a baby?” Eli nodded. “I’m the father?” Eli nodded again.

Julia raised her hand as though to ask a question.

Eli gazed at her fondly. “Yes, Julia?”

Julia looked curious. “I hadn’t seen Eve for a year until yesterday, and my stomach hasn’t grown at all. How am I pregnant so much that the baby can kick from within me, but I’m not showing?”

Eli smiled. “Your baby is growing differently than that of any other pregnant woman. You see, Julia, your baby is the child of Eve, the child of the Twilight. Eve’s birth was unique in that the God of Love is responsible for her conception. Your baby, whom, by the way, is a girl, will be that much more special because she comes from you and a miracle child. Therefore, her growth within you is different. She will grow quickly within your womb, and nine weeks from now, she will come into the world. She is small now, not quite all the way developed, but she can kick,” Eli finished, then grinned to add, “after all, she’s the granddaughter of Xena, Warrior Princess. Dropkicks come natural to her.”

Eve was still standing there in shock. She fell back onto the couch, and Julia moved her legs to allow her some room. “We’re having a baby,” she whispered. “It’s a girl.”

Eli smiled. “Yes, you are. There are only three things you should know that Julia will need in her nine weeks.”

Julia looked up at Eli. “What’s that?”

“Well,” Eli began, “because you two are both female, your baby needs certain hormones to help her grow strong and healthy while she is in the womb. In the morning, you will need to digest some kind of beef. The proteins in the beef will give your baby strength. Then, at midday, you will need to eat bread. The yeast will give your baby a healthy, functioning brain. Last, in the evening, you will need to eat green peppers so that all of your baby’s organs develop properly.”

Eve pushed all the information permanently into her mind. Beef in the morning, bread at noon, green peppers at night. “Okay, I’ve got it.” She glanced at the sundial outside on Julia’s balcony. “It’s still morning. Let’s get you fed.” Turning to Eli, she smiled. “Thank you, Eli, for coming to us, and thank the God of Love for us.”

Eli smiled back. “You just did.” His ghostly image faded slowly as he waved goodbye.






8 Days Later

“I wonder how Eve and Julia are getting along?” Gabrielle pondered aloud.

Xena smiled at her lover, who was lying beside her with one leg draped possessively over Xena’s thigh. “We don’t even know if Eve managed to convince Julia to forgive her, Gabrielle. We haven’t heard anything.”

Gabrielle looked into the Warrior Princess’ icy blue eyes. “I’m sure she’s okay, Xena. She’s a strong fighter, and she knows how to take care of herself. She’ll be back soon.”

Xena gazed into Gabrielle’s green seas. “Whenever I’m at my worst, you always find some way, any way, to make everything all better. How do you do that?”

“The same way you always do it for me, too,” Gabrielle whispered, “because I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Xena replied, and kissed Gabrielle’s palm. “I just hope she’s back soon. I want to know how everything is.”

“She’ll be back. She’s only been gone for a week,” Gabrielle reassured her sweetly. “She and Julia are probably just thinking about their future together.”

Xena frowned. “I wonder why she never mentioned Julia to me?”

Gabrielle grinned. “She was probably just distracted with getting us together.”

Xena thought for a second. “True. I just hope she knows that she can come to me about anything, and I’ll do my best to help her. She may be all grown up, but she’ll always be my daughter.”

Gabrielle stroked Xena’s cheek lovingly. “She knows that, trust me. She’ll come to you.”

“I hope so,” Xena said with a yawn, and she smiled at Gabrielle. “But for now, I’m enjoying all the time I get to spend with you alone.”

Gabrielle smiled back. “As am I, Xena.”






Julia lay in bed, stroking her belly gently. Right now, a baby – made by Eve and I- is growing inside me. We’re going to be together, and have a child, and be a family. How did I get so lucky?

“Juls, it’s time for your noon meal! I’ve got rye, wheat, and- Phineas, what’s that?” Eve’s voice hollered up the stairs.

“Sourdough,” Julia heard Phineas grunt, “for the fifth time, it’s fricken sourdough!”

“Yeah, yeah, chill. Sourdough, Julia!” Eve hollered up the stairs.

Julia sat up. I’ve had rye all week. Time for something new. “I’ll take that sourdough, sweetheart.”

“Butter?” Eve called in question.

“Yes, please,” Julia replied. Out of nowhere, she felt a kick from within her belly. “Hmmm, hungry, are we? Don’t worry; your other mom is bringing some food soon.” It dawned on Julia that neither she nor Eve had thought of a name for their baby. “What are we going to name you, hmmm?”

“I was wondering the same thing,” Eve said from the doorway of Julia’s room.

Julia lifted her head to smile at her lover. “Got any ideas?”

“Nope,” Eve replied with a shake of her head. “I was thinking of asking my mom, you know, ‘cause she might have a friend or something to name the baby after.”

“Good idea,” Julia said with a sweet smile. She gestured to her belly. “It’s growing already.”

Eve approached her and stroked Julia’s stomach lovingly. “Yes, and with it, our baby, my love for you, and the beauty of your pregnancy.”

Julia blushed. “So you’re saying that over the next eight weeks, as I get fatter and fatter, you’re not going to be repulsed by me?”

Eve kissed the tip of her nose. “Never ever. I’ll always think you are gorgeous, no matter what.”

Julia grinned. “You better, or when our daughter is born, the only bed companion you’ll have is a flea.”

Eve’s face grew thoughtful. “I wonder what a flea kiss feels like?”

Julia’s face mock-frowned. “Keep wondering and you’ll find out.”

Eve winked. “I wonder how well a flea could- well,” she said, then made a gesture with her tongue and index finger.

Julia laughed aloud. “You dirty woman. Stop thinking about having sex with fleas!”

Eve grinned. “Well, how about how I think about it with you?”

Julia’s eyebrows raised. “Now, that’s much better.”

Eve grinned, and hopped down on the bed next to Julia before taking her in her arms and spooning her. “As delicious as thinking about it is-,”

“Say no more,” Julia replied, turning in her arms and kissing Eve passionately.

Three hours later, Julia rested in Eve’s strong arms as her lover gently fed her the sourdough bread. Julia bit off a small piece and chewed it slowly. “Mmmm, this is great.”

“What is? The bread, or…?” Eve asked lazily.

“The bread, yes, but not just the bread. There’s you. There’s me. There’s what we just did. And,” Julia lifted Eve’s hand and put it to her belly, where the baby was kicking from within, “there’s our baby, whom is part of both you and I.”

“Yes, very true,” Eve agreed, and patted Julia’s belly lovingly. “I look forward to meeting this little girl of ours. She seems to be constantly assaulting you from the inside.” A thought dawned on Eve. “Oh, shit. I’ve been here a week, and I haven’t sent word to my mother or Gabrielle.”

“Mmm, sweetie, you should write to them. I bet that they’re awaiting word from you,” Julia suggested.

“I’d need a messenger.”

“I know a few.”

Eve stretched her arms. “I’ll write it tonight after you’ve gone to bed.”

Julia put on her best sad-puppy face. “But who’s gonna hold me while I sleep?”

Eve mock-glowered at her lover. “Demanding, aren’t we?”

Julia gazed at her with the same sad expression. “Please?”

Eve had to give in. “Oh, fine. You know I can’t resist you when you beg.”

Julia grinned evilly. “I know. It makes me feel somewhat more in control.”

Eve quirked her eyebrow. “You? The controlling type?”
Julia winked at Eve. “Why not?”

“Because you always said I was the stubborn one.”

“Well, the stubborn one has been beaten,” Julia replied, and she stroked Eve’s bare shoulder before biting off another piece of sourdough bread from the morsel in her lover’s hand.

Eve smiled. “If you don’t mind, simply so that I can hold you tonight, I’m going to go write to my mother and Gabrielle now.”

“Oh, all right,” Julia teased. “Leave me cold, hungry, and pregnant.”

“Only for a few minutes,” Eve promised her lover, and leaned in for a quick kiss.

Julia returned the kiss eagerly, then waved Eve off. “All right. Go write to my in-laws.”

Eve stood, redressed herself, and strode out of the room.






10 days later

Xena heard the knocking on the door around midmorning. Rising out of bed, she untangled herself from Gabrielle’s arms and went to the door. She opened it to find a teenage boy with a long mane of curly brown hair.

“Hello, I carry a message for Xena, Warrior Princess,” the boy announced with enthusiasm.

Eve! Xena thought frantically. She went to the table behind her and went through her bag of dinars before tossing one to the boy.

“Thank you, ma’am. Here’s your message,” he said with a smile, and handed her a scroll tied with a blue ribbon. He departed with a wave, and Xena shut the door.

Fumbling with the tightness of the knot, Xena yanked off the blue ribbon and read the scroll.

Mother,

I reached Delphi in less than a day, and when I went to the academy, they directed me to Julia’s home. I went to her, talked to her, and she forgave me, and we’re together again.
Mother, something unbelievable has happened. I don’t want to give you a heart-attack upon opening this letter, so I’d prefer to tell you face-to-face. Unfortunately, I will be unable to travel for the next seven weeks, perhaps longer. It would really mean a lot to me- to Julia as well- if you could come and see us. It is very important, Mom, and I’ll be awaiting your reply as to whether or not you can come here.
Please give Gabrielle my love; if it weren’t for her, nothing that is going on right now could have ever happened.

With love,
Eve

Xena read the letter five or six times, desperately trying to find the meaning behind “something unbelievable”. She didn’t even her Gabrielle enter the room behind her.

“Got mail?” Gabrielle asked tiredly.

Xena turned and fixed her lover with a worried gaze. “Yes, a letter from Eve. Everything worked out with Julia, yet ‘something unbelievable’ has occurred, and she couldn’t tell me in the letter. She wants us to go and see her.”

Gabrielle regarded Xena with a questioning glance. “Mind if I read the letter?” Xena handed her the scroll, and she read it silently. “She sounds happy. It was only two weeks that we didn’t hear from her. What are you so worried about?”

“Notice the part that says she’d prefer to tell me face-to-face. That doesn’t seem like a good sign.”

“Well, it’s not necessarily a bad sign,” Gabrielle coaxed her lover. “When can we go there?”

Xena was surprised. “You just woke up and already you want to take a trip?”

Gabrielle grinned. “When haven’t I woken up and traveled with you? It’s been thirty, almost thirty-one, years that we’ve been friends. I followed you into the underworld to steal Hades’ helmet; I followed you into the spiritual realm to defeat Alti; I even followed you in death. What’s stopping me from taking a trip to see your daughter and her girlfriend?”

Xena was touched, but a nagging voice in her head refused to be silent. “What if it’s a trap?”

Gabrielle shook her head. “See how her handwriting is so even? She’s calm. If she had been taken hostage, she definitely wouldn’t be calm.”

Xena nodded. “Good point. We’ll hit the road later at noon.”






FLASHBACK

As I jumped off my horse, I heard her running towards me. In my twenty years, I had never been so happy to hear her footsteps.

“Livia! Livia!”

I turned and grinned. “Hey Juls.” I opened my arms as she jumped on me, knocking us both to the ground.

She covered my face with her kisses. “Gods, Livia! I missed you so much! That was the longest summer of my life!”

I nodded. “The feeling is entirely mutual. I missed you more than I’ve ever missed anything.” I kissed her lips gently. “Next summer, it’s just you and I; no separating.”

“I agree completely!” She exclaimed and kissed me again. “How was Rome?”

I shrugged. “Same as always. I went and watched the gladiators kill stuff. It was cool. Plus, my guardians were nice as always.”

Julia looked curious. “Mind if I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Did you ever know your parents, or…? How long have you lived with your guardians?”

I tried to think. “I don’t remember my parents, if I ever met them. I was only a few months old when my guardian mother and father took me in. I don’t even know where I came from, though I know I’m adopted, ‘cause I don’t look anything like my foster parents.”

Julia pressed her soft lips to mine. “Well, I don’t know where you’re from, whose child you are, or anything like that, but I know where you belong.”

I grinned. “With you?”

She nodded. “With me.”

I realized that we were still on the ground, and Professor Egeus was watching us with a look of desire. I recoiled in disgust. “Juls, we need to get up.”

“Why?”

“Because I think Old Egeus is about to jump us.”

“Oh. Ewww,” she said, disgusted. She rolled off of me and stood. I flipped onto my feet in turn. She quirked her eyebrow at me. “How in Tartarus do you do that?”

I shrugged. “It comes naturally to me, I guess.” My stomach groaned. “I think we better get the food hall before I collapse from hunger.”

She nodded. “Let’s go.”

END FLASHBACK

1 day later

Eve turned away from the sleeping form of Julia as she heard a knocking at the door. Pulling on some clothes (what a night!), she glanced at her naked lover, and covered her over with a blanket so as to secure her physical privacy somewhat. She walked to the door, taking care to close the bedroom door behind her. She pulled open the door.

“Hey sweetheart. What took you so long?” Her mother asked with a grin.

“Mom!” Eve cried out in happiness. She threw herself on her mother, who patted her head and hugged her lovingly.

“Hey, now, don’t forget about me!” Gabrielle perked up from behind Xena.

“Gabrielle!” Eve exclaimed, and she released her mom to hug Gabrielle and kiss her cheek. “Your advice was perfect! She forgave me right away!”

Gabrielle smiled. “I’m glad, Eve.”

Xena cleared her throat. “May we come in? I’m curious as to what this news is that was too shocking to tell me via mail.”

Eve nodded. “Yeah, sure!” She beckoned them into Julia’s house. They entered, and Eve closed the door behind them.

Xena sat on a wooden chair, admiring its finely carved shape. “What’s going on, Eve?”

Eve breathed in slowly. Either she’ll be very happy, or she won’t believe us. “Mom, after that first night I got here, Eli came to us with a message.”

Gabrielle sat up straight in her chair. “Eli? What did he have to say?”

Eve looked straight into Gabrielle’s green eyes. “He told us that Julia’s pregnant, and I’m the father.”

“WHAT?!” Xena blurted out. “That’s not even possible! There is something evil at work here! Eve, did anything strange happen to Julia, such as vaginal penetration by fire?”

“No! Mom!” Eve protested. “Listen! This isn’t like that! Dahok didn’t get Julia pregnant! I did!”

Before Xena could retort, Gabrielle held up her hand. “Xena, please. Let’s listen to Eve’s story.”

Eve began again. “I got here in half a day’s time, and Julia forgave me right away. We spent the night together,” she blushed at Gabrielle’s smirk, “and um, the next day, I was holding her and something kicked from within her belly. We were freaking out, and Eli came to us and told us that this was the work of the God of Love, and we are to have a daughter, a miracle child, just like I was.”

Gabrielle perked up. “How fast is she growing? When Dahok raped me, I was pregnant for a week.”

Eve smiled. “Further proof it isn’t Dahok! Eli told us that it would take nine weeks for our baby to grow, and during those nine weeks, she needs to eat beef, bread, and green peppers!”

“Green peppers?!” Xena yelled. “This is not normal! There is a demon growing inside her!”

Gabrielle tried to soothe her lover. “Xena, I didn’t eat green peppers when I was pregnant with Hope. I ate bloody food, drank blood, but no green peppers. I think her baby is innocent.”

Xena shook her head in anger. “That isn’t possible!”

Eve stood up. “Mom, you’re talking about my daughter here! Lay off!”

Gabrielle stood between the two of them. “Xena,” she said quietly, “the ultimate test is to see how fast the baby grows once she’s born. If she grows quickly and looks exactly like an infant version of Julia, then she’s a demon. If she has any of Eve’s traits and takes normal time to grow, she is an innocent child.”

Xena scowled. “I don’t like this.”

Eve heard Julia in their bedroom. “Goddamn it, you woke her up! She needs rest!” She went into Julia’s kitchen, then returned with what looked like a plate of salt-preserved beef. “You two wait here! I need to bring her this.” She turned the corner and opened the door, entered, and closed the door behind her.

“What’s all the noise out there?” Julia asked sleepily.

“My mom’s here with Gabrielle. I told her you’re pregnant, and she’s insisting that it’s Dahok’s baby.”

“Dahok?”

Eve sighed. “Dahok is, or rather was, a god of destruction. He impregnated Gabrielle with fire, and she bore his evil daughter, Hope, who was the murderer of my half-brother, Solan.”

Julia felt sorry for her lover immediately. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry!”

Eve shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess. I never knew him, although Gabrielle told me that just before I was born, she and my mother traveled into the underworld and saw him there. It was Solan that told my mother to name me ‘Eve’.”

Julia nodded. “So that’s how you got your name.”

Eve nodded back. “Yeah, that’s how. Gabrielle is out there right now telling my mom that our baby isn’t evil.”

Julia looked at the door curiously. “I was so excited to meet your mom, but now I’m dreading her.”

Eve took her lover’s hand in hers. “Juls, nothing is going to take our baby from us. I won’t let anyone hurt you or our baby.”

Julia squeezed Eve’s hand. “And I won’t let anything happen to you. I may not be strong, and I’m not the best fighter, but I’m not letting you be taken from me again.”

Eve kissed Julia’s fingers. “You don’t have to worry about that. As I said when we were nineteen, the legions of Tartarus couldn’t keep me from getting to you.” She showed Julia the plate of dried beef. “Now eat up so our baby can grow strong.”

Julia forked some beef into her mouth. “Mmm. Salty.” A thought struck her. “Eve, you said Gabrielle supports our baby. Why do you think that is?”

Eve smiled. “Gabrielle believes in giving everyone a chance. When her daughter was born, she knew that there was a good chance that Hope would be as evil as the demon god that had created her, but she still protested Hope’s innocence. Also, she believes very much in Eli’s teachings of forgiveness.”

Julia smiled, and ran a hand through her shoulder-length blonde hair. “I look forward to meeting her.”

Eve kissed her lover sweetly. “My mom will come around eventually. I think she’s just anxious from the thought of having to face someone like Hope again.”

Julia bit off another piece of beef. “So, when are you going to ask her what to name our baby?”

Eve chuckled. “At this point, I might as well ask Gabrielle.”

Julia subconsciously stroked her belly. “I wonder what she’ll look like? Will she have your eyes? Will she have my hair? I’m looking forward to watching her grow up.”

“Me too, Juls,” Eve replied, kissing her lover’s forehead. “I just hope she isn’t anything like I was when she’s a teen.”

Julia frowned at Eve. “What do you mean?”

Eve gave Julia a look. “Remember all the trouble I used to get in? All the pranks I pulled?”

Julia giggled. “I thought that was adorable.”

Eve smirked. “Oh, did you?”

Julia nodded. “Yes, I did,” she began, “especially when you protect me. Remember the time Santis Gregarius tried to jump me?”

Eve growled as she remembered. “That bastard. I was soooo mad.”

FLASHBACK

“Grab me some grapes, will you?” Julia called to me from the other end of the buffet table.

I nodded. “Yeah, if you share your bread, I will.”

She winked at me. “Butter, too?” She asked in a sexy voice.

I put on my best poker face. “If you’d like to share, yes.”

She ran her tongue across her lips in a way that nearly made my mouth water. “Come get some butter, if you want it then.”

“You fucking lesbians. Keep it in the closet,” an obnoxious voice said from behind me.

I recognized the voice right away. “Why, Santis? Does it make your dick feel even smaller?” I turned and faced my foe. He must still be mad about Julia rejecting his advances, I thought to myself.

“Fuck you, queer,” Santis snarled angrily. “Your kind should be killed from the first sign of impurity.”

Julia was at my side in an instant. “Santis, let it go! So I don’t love you. Big deal!”

Santis glared at Julia. “You will be mine, Julia of Phoenicia. Mark my words: I am never letting you go.”

Julia looked him squarely in the eye, and there was pity in her soft brown eyes. “That’s not love, Santis. That’s obsession.”

“Call it what you will! I know how I feel!” Santis growled. He stalked off towards the dormitories.

I noticed Julia was shivering. Putting my hands on her shoulders, I turned her towards me. “What’s wrong, Juls?”

Her eyes were full of fear. “His obsession of me is frightening.”

I took her into my arms and held her, aware that several of our fellow students were watching. “Don’t worry. I’m going to protect you no matter what. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Livia.” She whispered against my neck.

~~

“LIVIA!”

Julia’s scream woke me from where I sat sleeping in Professor Egeus’ class. “Um, ‘scuse me,” I mumbled, and started towards the door.

“Livia! Where do you think you’re going?” Professor Egeus protested.

“To save the day,” I announced, and ran through the door.

I ran down the hallway, and upon reaching the end, I saw Julia’s crisis. Pinning her to the floor was a half-naked Santis, who was forcefully trying to kiss her.

“Come on, Julia! You know we are destiny! Let me prove it to you!” Santis grunted against Julia’s resistance.

“Get off me, you bastard!” Julia cried, trying to break free.

Rage consumed me. I rushed over and kicked Santis in the ribs. He rolled off Julia, grunting in pain. With strength I didn’t know I had, I lifted him up by his neck and pushed him against the wall. “You sick bastard,” I growled, “what the fuck did you think you were doing? You just tried to rape the woman I love. What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I- I-,” Santis choked. His hands went to his throat as he gasped for air.

I eased my hold on his throat a little bit so as to allow him to talk. “Know this. If you ever even look at her again, you won’t be able to sleep safely from thereon after. I will hunt you down, and your last moments will be full of pain. Understand?” I snarled.

“Y-yes,” he choked out. “Pl-please let g-g-go.”

“I will, but first, apologize,” I ordered him menacingly. “Apologize to Julia for what you did to her, and apologize to me for what you could have done to MY girl.”

“I’m sorry,” Santis wheezed.

I released my hold on his neck, and he slid the ground. He looked up at me in fear, with a hint of anger in his eyes. “Get the fuck out of here,” I barked. He scurried away. I felt Julia’s arms on my shoulders, and turned to stare deeply into her eyes. “What happened?”

Julia looked jaded. “I got out of Philosophy 101 early, and I thought I’d join you in War History. He was waiting in the hallway. He jumped on me, and that’s when I called for you. You saw the rest.”

“Are you all right?”

The love in her eyes in that moment blew me away. “I was scared until you got here. Now, I’m truly beginning to see how lucky I am that I have you.” She reached up behind my neck, pulled my head down, and kissed me fiercely.

END FLASHBACK

Eve grinned at the memory of Julia’s fierce kiss. “Despite the anger, it *was* worth it for that kiss. Plus, he never looked at you again.”

Julia ate another forkful of beef. “You know, he still lives around here.”

Eve frowned. “Oh, does he?”

Julia nodded. “Yes. Around the time you disappeared, he came around and told me that since you were dead, it was time for he and I to unite.”

Eve quirked her eyebrow. “And what did you tell him?”

Julia smiled at her lover. “I told him that I doubted you were dead, and that even if you were, my feelings wouldn’t die with you; every feeling in my heart remained yours.”

Eve blushed. “What’d he say to that?”

Julia shrugged. “He was mad at first, and he didn’t go away for about a day, but then Phineas frightened him off with his sabre and threats of castration.”

Eve laughed aloud. “Good ol’ Phineas. That’s another thing I’ll have to thank him for.”

Julia looked curious. “’Another’? What’s the other stuff?”

Eve put her hand under Julia’s chin, holding it lovingly. “For taking care of you; for telling you I’m alive; for telling you I reformed; most of all, for instilling hope in ‘us’.”

Julia beamed. “You are too perfect, sweetie.”

“So are you.”






9 days later

Xena tossed and turned in bed, disturbed by the images in her mind. She saw flashes of her dead son, of Hope cackling evilly, and worst of all, of Gabrielle throwing herself over the edge of the well and into the flames in self-sacrifice. She awoke sweating and breathing hard.

“You okay, sweetie?” Gabrielle asked sleepily from beside her.

Xena sighed. “Nightmares again.”

Gabrielle reached over and stroked Xena’s sweating brow. “Same ones?”

Xena nodded. “I keep telling myself that this isn’t like that; that Eve’s daughter won’t be like Hope, but I’m haunted by what defeating Hope nearly cost.”

Gabrielle crawled next to Xena and pressed her body against her lover’s. “It’s all right. You’re not going to lose me. You didn’t last time, remember? You only thought that you had for a little while.”

Xena nodded. “And meanwhile, you were living through the personal hell of not being able to go home because Hope would kill you or your family.”

Gabrielle shrugged. “She was always her father’s child, never mine.”

Xena backed up for a second to eye her lover. “And that doesn’t bother you?”

Gabrielle shrugged again. “It was a mistake that she was conceived, and a mistake that I didn’t allow you to kill her upon birth. She did evil things, thinking that her dear mother would always forgive her. She was wrong.”

Xena kissed Gabrielle’s forehead. “So you understand my concern with Eve and Julia’s child.”

Gabrielle lightly pressed her lips to Xena’s collarbone. “Yes, but I don’t think that necessarily means that their daughter will be evil as Hope was.”

Xena sighed. “What gives you so much faith?”

Gabrielle smiled, and the motion of her lips tickled Xena’s neck. “Well, firstly, there’s Eli. He’s an angel, therefore it seems improbable that Dahok could use his entity for evil. I find it hard to believe that he’d ever be on a mission for anyone other than the God of Love. Second, she would have had the baby by now. Third, I want a grandchild, damn it.”

Xena was surprised. “Oh, do you?”

Gabrielle nodded against Xena’s neck. “Yes. I don’t see any way that you and I could have children of our own, and since this opportunity has been offered to us by the God of Love, I was wondering if you’d be willing to share your granddaughter.”

Xena was touched. “Gabrielle, you’re practically my wife. My family is your family. Of course she’ll be your granddaughter as well.”

Gabrielle giggled. “I gotta admit though, I feel odd that I’m this young and already I’m gonna have a grandchild.”

Xena smiled. “So do I. Well, kind of. It feels like we weren’t frozen those twenty-five years, but we were. We aged neither physically, nor mentally, yet we were frozen while Eve grew.”

“Yes, and she grew beautifully, found a partner, and now her partner is pregnant with our granddaughter, while we’re looking young enough to be her sisters,” Gabrielle finished. “A little freaky, isn’t it?”

“Very,” Xena admitted. “It’s a little intimidating, to tell you the truth.”

Gabrielle leaned back to regard her lover curiously. “You admitted being intimidated.”

Xena quirked her eyebrow in classic-Xena fashion. “What about it?”

Gabrielle grinned. “I feel honored that you’d admit to me that you’re intimidated. You’re not exactly the sharing type with that sort of information.”

Xena shrugged, and the gesture caused her throat to rub against Gabrielle’s forehead. “Yeah, well, I love you, you love me, it’s no big deal.”

Gabrielle reached her hand up to touch Xena’s cheek. “Ha! I knew it! You’re blushing!”

Oh, damn. She caught me! Xena inwardly swore. “Yes, I am. Now shush it.”

Gabrielle giggled. “I guess being a future-Grandma has made you all soft.”

Xena growled. “Keep talkin’, bard, and you’ll be begging for mercy.”

Gabrielle yawned. “Well, as much as I love teasing you, we really should get to sleep. Big day tomorrow.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Xena asked, puzzled.

“Because tomorrow, *someone* is confronting her daughter and admitting that she’s happy that she’ll have a granddaughter soon.”

“Gabri-elllle,” Xena groaned. “Why do I have to do that?”

Gabrielle poked Xena hard in the ribs. “Because you’ve been avoiding her since you found out that Julia is pregnant. Come to think of it, have you even said a word to Julia?”

Xena thought hard. “Well-,”

Gabrielle nestled herself closer to Xena’s body. “Grunting doesn’t count.”

“Okay, okay. No, I haven’t said a word to her.”

“Then put that on the list, too,” Gabrielle suggested.

“Oh, fine,” Xena grumbled. “Goodnight, Gabrielle.”

“Goodnight, Xena.”






“Julia.”

Julia spun around, almost losing her balance. She clutched at her pregnant belly carefully. Xena regarded her with a kind smile. “Er. Eve’s mom.”

Xena’s smile widened. “Call me Xena.”

Julia nodded. “Okay.”

“Anyways, Julia, I just wanted to apologize for the way I’ve treated you for the past week.”

“Oh,” Julia said for lack of better words. She remembered the icy treatment her mother-in-law had been showing her since she had arrived. “Oh. Um. It’s all good. I can understand that you are concerned for the welfare of, well, the known world.”

“Yes, but I’ve moved past that. I don’t doubt that your baby is innocent,” Xena tried. Geez…this apology thing is hard.

Julia tried not to seem shocked. “You don’t?”

Xena shrugged nervously. “I’m happy that you forgave my daughter, and that now you two are giving me a granddaughter.”

“Oh, um, well, thank you,” Julia stammered. “Excuse me if I seem nosy, but what changed your mind?”

Xena smiled. “Gabrielle and I talked last night, and she convinced me that the past would not repeat itself. I just hope that you and I can be friends, since you’re my daughter-in-law now.”

Julia beamed at Xena. “I’d like that.” Just then, Eve entered the room.

“Juls, I have your green-,” Eve began, and then she saw Xena. “What’s going on?”

Julia went to Eve and stroked her forearm. “Your mother was just telling me that she was sorry, and that she’d like us to be friends.”

Eve glanced at Xena. “Oh?”

Xena nodded. “Yes, I’d like us to be friends. After all, she is my daughter-in-law, and she *is* carrying my granddaughter.”

Eve’s mouth dropped open. “Huh?”

Julia took the bowl of green peppers from Eve’s hands before it could drop to the floor. “I’ll let you two talk.” She started towards the door.

Eve reached after her. “But-,”

Julia turned and winked at her lover. “No buts. I can feed myself this time, though
you’ll owe me the next time.”

Eve’s arms dropped as she watched Julia stride out the door and join Gabrielle at her outdoor table. They seemed to launch into conversation almost immediately.

“Eve,” Xena began, “look, I’m really sorry about doubting the innocence of your child. You have to understand that it was very devastating to me when Solan died-,”

Eve backed away from her mother. “Who are you and what have you done with my mom?!”

Xena held up her hands. “Calm down! I know I’ve been avoiding you all week, and I’m sorry! I just didn’t want to lose you, or Gabrielle, or anyone the way I lost Solan!”

Eve crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not faking, are you?”

Xena gazed at her daughter. “Was that rhetorical?”

Eve nodded. “Yes. Heh. I guess Gabrielle got inside your head?”

Xena laughed aloud. “How did you know?”

Eve shrugged. “She’s Gabrielle. She’s got skills with emotions and those sorts of things. She’s the one who told me to give you time.”

Xena grinned. “Oh, did she?”

Eve nodded. “Yeah, she said she’d talk to you. I have to admit, I didn’t really think she could convince you.”

Xena’s grin widened. “As you said, she’s Gabrielle.”






“So, what’s this about being an Amazon Queen?” Julia asked curiously.

Gabrielle smiled. “Back in my first year of traveling with Xena, we went through Amazon territory. At the time, war was being set up between the Centaurs and the Amazons by a cruel man. His archers shot a woman named Terreis, and I rushed over to cover her. She gave me her right of caste just before she died. After that, I won some leadership when Xena fought as my champion against Melosa, the current Amazon Queen. After that, I was high in rank. I didn’t take it seriously, however, until Xena died. I was so depressed, and I accepted leadership. After that, Xena was resurrected, and I left leadership in the hands of one of my Amazon friends.”

Julia listened, very much interested. “Who was that?”

Gabrielle smiled. “Her name was Ephiny. She was a great woman. Although she disliked me when we first met, we grew to be great friends. She was married to a Centaur prince, and gave birth to his son after he died. She supported me when I was depressed because of Xena’s death, and trusted me when I needed her help for the resurrection. Also, after Hope killed Solan, she gave me comfort while Xena and I were angry at each other.”

“Sounds like a great person to be friends with,” Julia said in awe.

Gabrielle nodded. “Indeed she was. It was a great tragedy when Brutus killed her. At least she went down fighting.”

Julia mused. “That’s always good.”

“Mind if we join?” Xena’s voice surprised them both. She and Eve had quietly entered behind them.

Julia grinned at Eve. “Going to help me eat?”

Eve blushed. “If you let me.”

Xena sat in a chair next to Gabrielle. “Have a nice chat?”

Gabrielle nodded. “Indeed we did.”

“Apparently, you’ve been having a lot of ‘nice chats’,” Xena remarked, her icy blue eyes twinkling.

Gabrielle tried to look innocent. “Who? What?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, bard,” Xena growled.

Across the table, Eve was helping Julia with the green peppers.

“Ahh! They’re so hot!” Julia exclaimed as her mouth burned.

“Here,” Eve handed her a glass of water, “drink this.”

Julia gulped down the water. “Those things are like fire. Why did it have to be green peppers?!”

Eve shrugged. “Don’t ask me! I guess you just needed them.”

Julia bit off another piece of the green pepper in her hand. “Fiery as hell!”

Eve winked. “Just like you.”

Julia smirked. “Someone is trying to get some.”

Eve returned Julia’s smirk with one of her own. “Aren’t we all?”

Julia grinned. “Did you have a nice talk with your mom?”

“Yeah. Did you?”

Julia laughed. “At first, I was terrified she was going to sic herself on me, but then we talked, and now I know she’s supportive.”

Suddenly, the four women heard a scream.

“Julia! Eve!” A male voice yelled. “Arm yourselves!”

Julia recognized the voice at once. “That’s Phineas!” She exclaimed.

Xena and Eve jumped up in unison. “Juls, you stay here,” Eve told her lover.

“Gabrielle, can you stay and protect her?” Xena asked.

“Definitely,” Gabrielle affirmed, and drew her tridents from her boots.

They ran inside, Eve behind Xena, and found their weapons. Just then, the door to Julia’s house burst open, and a medium-sized man stepped in.

“Where’s Julia?” The man sneered.

Eve felt a sense of familiarity. She squinted at the man, and then it hit her who he was. “Santis. What are you doing here?”

Santis Gregarius snarled. “Don’t speak to me that way, dyke. Where is Julia? Tell me now, or your life will be forfeit.”

Xena stepped forward. “You can’t have Julia, and I strongly doubt that you alone will be able to take her from here.”

Santis smirked. “I’m not alone.” He whistled. On cue, soldiers entered the house behind him, each one wielding double sabres. “Men, kill these women.”

Xena looked at Eve, and Eve stared back at her. “Let’s get this party started,” Eve whispered to her mother.

“Agreed,” Xena replied.

The men rushed them.

To be continued…

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