This is set just after "Amphipolis Under Siege". It might contain some spoilers for that episode.
Gabrielle held Eve and cooed sweet little sounds to her, rocked her back and forth, loved her.
"She's so wonderful, Xena."
"So are you. Eve is so lucky to have someone like you in her life, Gabrielle."
"I can't wait to hear her first words. See her first steps. I feel so blessed, almost like she's my daughter, too. Almost makes up for?"
Gabrielle trembled, and looked away. Xena looked down. Soon Eve began to give out her "I'm hungry" cry.
"Dinnertime for my daughter."
"I'll get your armor off."
Xena took Eve while Gabrielle undid the clasp holding her armor. Then Gabrielle took Eve back while Xena finished removing her armor. Xena pulled down her leather garment, leaving her breasts ready for Eve.
Gabrielle usually enjoyed watching Eve breastfeed, but this time she looked away.
"I'm sorry," said Xena.
"You haven't done anything to be sorry for," said Gabrielle. "I'm just wondering what it must be like to be always right all the time, like you are."
"I'm not always right."
"You were right about Eve. She's the most wonderful little girl I've ever seen. Everything I thought my own daughter would be."
"Gabrielle?"
"I'm just wondering how you know these things. How did you know all that stuff about?my daughter?"
"Gabrielle, are you really sure you want to have this conversation?"
"We've been 'not having this conversation' for too long, now. We get up in the morning and we don't talk about it. We get Eve ready to travel, and we don't talk about it. I have to watch Athena standing over a little faux baby with a sword, ready to strike a killing blow, and still we don't talk about it."
"Gabrielle, please?"
"Xena, I don't blame you. You were right. My daughter had to die. I'm just wondering how you always know the right thing to do."
"I don't, Gabrielle. If I knew that, I would never have tried to do it right in front of you."
Gabrielle looked at Xena in surprise.
"You mean, you would've?"
"Gabrielle, you had been through so much. I should never have forced you to choose between me and your own daughter. If only I had thought, if only I had waited until you were asleep, it would've saved so much pain and heartache between the two of us. And I know you would've forgiven me, eventually."
Gabrielle looked down at Eve, suckling contentedly.
"Of course I would've," said Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle, I blamed you for so many things that were not your fault. I'm sorry. And believe me, I don't know everything. I have no idea how in the world this little baby?ouch?my nipple is under siege?I have no idea how little Eve is going to bring about the Twilight of the Gods."
"Well, even Hercules didn't know that, Xena."
"No, he didn't. He just knew that he had to protect this little one at all costs. Even if it meant killing a member of his own family. He did what needed to be done. Same as you, with?your daughter."
"It's OK to say her name, Xena."
"I haven't heard you mentioning her by name either, Gabrielle."
"Hope. Her name is Hope. Her name?was Hope."
Gabrielle trembled again. She struggled to control herself. She tried to think of something else to say.
"I think," said Gabrielle, "it's just a trick of the fates. The gods will kill themselves trying to get to this little baby. It's a self-fulfilling prophesy."
"Maybe you're right. I wish I knew. It would make it easier to make plans. I wish there was someone I could leave her with. It isn't right, carrying her all over the country, exposing her to danger."
"Maybe so, but who could you leave her with? Who could protect her but you, Xena? The gods are after her! Even the Amazons can't be trusted any more."
"I wonder what life will be like without the gods."
"I don't know. I know I'll miss some of them. Aphrodite, for instance."
"Of course you'll miss her. She has the hots for you."
"Xena!"
Gabrielle smiled and playfully nudged Xena with her shoulder.
"Oh, don't try to deny it. Come on! Hot tubs? Chocolate Aphrodisiac? Cute little pink pajamas?"
"Oh, that was just?" said Gabrielle, and started to giggle uncontrollably.
Xena looked at Gabrielle in surprise. All the sour moods that Gabrielle had managed to coax Xena out of, and now Xena had returned the favor.
Eve finished her meal. Xena gave her back to Gabrielle, and covered up her breasts.
"Gabrielle, I'll talk with you about Hope any time you like, but what's the point? We both made mistakes, and we have to live with them. We can't go back and change what we did. The important thing is, we stayed together. Whatever else Hope might've done, she never succeeded in splitting us up. No one could do that."
Gabrielle smiled, looking at Eve yawning. She looked up from Eve and into Xena's azure eyes.
"I love you so much, Xena. And I love this beautiful little kid. No one will ever harm her, I swear. She's going to grow up to be strong and beautiful and courageous, just like her mother."
"Which mother?"
Gabrielle laughed.
"Xena, quit kidding around."
"Gabrielle, if I have anything to say about it, you're her mother, too. Look how comfortable she is with you. Look how much she loves you."
Gabrielle looked at Eve, asleep in her arms.
"She's incredible," said Gabrielle. "She does make up for Hope. She more than makes up for her."
Gabrielle tried to give her back, but Xena stood up.
"Why don't you keep her awhile longer," said Xena. "Bring her back in whenever you're ready. I'm going to go to bed."
"No, take her with you, Xena. It's getting cold out here. I'll be in soon."
Xena took the baby and headed back inside. She put Eve in her crib and looked down at her sweet face.
"Little Eve," said Xena, "there are only two types of people in the world. Those who fall in love with Gabrielle immediately, and those who take a little time. I took a little time. You look like you're one of the smarter ones. Good for you. Don't worry Eve; Gabrielle's not going anywhere."
Gabrielle stayed outside and watched the sun set. She stood up and headed indoors, and practically ran right into Xena's mom.
"Cyrene!" she said. "If you want to see Eve, she's inside."
"No. It's you I want to see." Cyrene threw her arms around Gabrielle in a big hug.
"Thank you," said Cyrene.
"What? What for?"
"Just everything. For taking good care of my daughter. For bringing her home safely. For believing in her and loving her and helping her when her own mother couldn't. For everything. Just everything."
"Cyrene, I really didn't do that much."
Cyrene let go and looked deeply into Gabrielle's beautiful green eyes.
"Call me Mom," she said.