Part 4

The two travelers reveled in being in the blossoming, open country. The stress of the day before had been loved and rested away to extinction. The warriors rode upon mother and daughter steeds side by side talking about nothing in particular. With a brilliant sun over head and a gentle cooling breeze at their backs, it was more than a good day for being on the road. Candace had not done much traveling in the time she had been here, but she knew she could get used to this. Conversation had waned to a comfortable silence when the blue eyed warrior spoke up.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself, Warrior. What's up."

"Sing for me."

"Kiss me and I'll think about it."

"Oh, I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Kissing on horseback is dangerous business."

"I have a feeling that there are much more...um.. hazardous things you have done on the back of a horse."

*You got that right.*

*Thought so.*

"Reeeally?"

"I have a hunch."

"What kind of woman do you think I am?"

"You do not want me making lists right now."

Xena blushed hard and a grin jumped on to her face. "No. I suppose not." There was a slight pause as micscheivious wheels churned in her head. "Then again....."

"Watch it you. We have a way to go yet today. Kiss me."

"Oh yeah." Xena guided Argo next to Bard and leaned in to offer the price of a song.

Payment was gladly accepted an Candace pulled her new traveling guitar out from behind her roll. One of the woodworkers had put many hours into studying her original piece and had invented this wonderful instrument. It had a full rich sound despite it's size.

*Hang on to your seat there Xena.*

*What are you playing?*

*Remember that scroll we found? The one Xe wrote about you?*

*Are you sure this is a good idea?*

*It's a great song in your memory. I honor that.*

*Well stated. Make sure she understands that.*

*You worry too much.*

"Ready?"

"I think so."

"Before I sing, promise me you'll listen with your heart and not your head?"

The tall warrior looked at her for long moments, eyebrows drawn in. "O.K. I promise."

Candace took a deep breath and began to pick the notes. When she sang she had the love of the warrior and the bard in her heart and mind.

Xena groped to find the room where these words were hidden in her mind. They sounded so familiar, but she couldn't place them.

The words reminded her of times past when she had struggled with life and then she remembered. Her head spun quickly to face the still playing singer. She wanted to be angry at the intrusion on her private feelings for her bard but she had promised. So instead of feeling the anger she listened.

The song struck the heart that had been listening and a tear welled up in her eye. As she continued to listen, it fell, making a path she didn't think she could go down. *I will never forget you my bard, or what you did for me. But in respect for that I must go on. You saved me. I need to remain that way. I love you. Forever.* She finished listening, glad to be going home.

Candace looked up from her guitar to see the tears on her lovers cheeks.

"Xe?"

She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. "Uh. Yeah."

"I didn't mean to upset you. I just... I....well the words were so full of love I had to sing them. You loved, no, you love her so much. I respect that. I'll admit though, it's a little scary for me."

"Don't be afraid. She's why I can love you the way I do."

"I know. I really know." She tied her guitar back up and reached out a hand. It was accepted.

Xena took Candace's hand in her own and brought it to her lips. *How, by the Gods, did I get so lucky. Two women perfect for just me. I did something right somewhere along the line.*

Her thoughts were interrupted by sounds ahead of them on the road. *Somethings never change.*

The two riders stopped where they were, and waited for the inevitable. There was no cover to be found except a lone shade tree. They didn't really need cover, they just looked for it. The group of dirty bandits surrounded the two Amazons and made several disparaging remarks as to their birth origins and professions. Neither of which was remotely correct. Candace shook her head. These guys were beyond pathetic.

"Uh. Xe? You wanna do it? I mean I can, but I like to watch." She waggled her eyebrows and smiled.

Xena smirked and let out laugh. "If I let you watch. Will I get some later?"

The men listened to the women as if they were hearing the language for the first time. Were they serious? These were big manly men, with large pointy swords and rotten teeth. How dare these females talk so calmly. They should be screaming and running and begging for mercy. This was an outrage!

"Oh. You would anyway, but it'll be so......incredibly hot." Just the thought of watching her warrior in action made her warm and quite moist. "So, can I?"

"Wul, yah! HOT is good! Watch me baby!" Xena did a flying leap over the front of Argo to land in front of the men who had chosen this particular day to be more stupid than usual. She gave a feral grin and swung her blade around expertly. The first attack came from behind. The warrior threw her sword over her shoulder and blocked the strike with ease. Simultaneously, she sent a stunning front kick to the groin of the man in front of her. She spun to the man behind her and threw a crushing roundhouse to his temple. She smiled and winked at her intended and at the same time grabbed the two men on either side of her by their collars She gave them a look of indifference and slammed them into each other.They crumpled and joined their unfortunate friends on the dusty ground. The final man standing found his one remaining cell of intelligent gray matter and ran off in the opposite direction of the crazy woman in the leather mini-skirt.

Candace leapt from her saddle and did a running leap into her lover's arms. With both arms linked behind Xena's neck and her lower appendages wrapped tightly around the strong woman's waist, she kissed her wildly. Xena caught her deftly and returned the kiss with abandon. Running and grasping her fingers through a golden mane, she looked quickly for anything to lean against. *The tree. The only tree.* She took deliberate steps to reach the foliage without losing the passion or the contact. Candace felt something rough touch her back but didn't really care what it could be. She was hot for her warrior and she would not be denied. Xena pushed against her little fireball balancing her on a knee, making sure she wasn't going to fall to the ground. Her hands went up under Candace's Amazon skirt. It wasn't much really. Two pieces of leather, one in front one in back, tied around her waist. Under it she wore the linen underwear the blonde had invented. She called them boxers. Wide enough at the leg to put her hands through she did just that. Her hand was met by moisture that caused a deep moan to escape her throat. She pulled away from the kiss. She wanted answers. She pulled her hand out and showed the glistening liquid that covered her finger to Candace.

"Is this for me?"

"Mmmm. Yeah, and there's more where that came from." She captured the digit in her mouth and licked it clean while Xena watched wide eyed.

"Oh my." She was toast.

Several minutes of passion later, the warrior and her singer straightened out their respective leathers and prepared to move out.

"Don't think, my warrior, that you can get away with a quickie and have no repercussions." She felt scrapes along her back from the tree. She would have to have Xena look at them later. She smiled at the memory they had so recently made.

"That wasn't enough?" It wasn't for Xena either. She couldn't get enough of the little warrior. A small smile formed on her lips. She and gone from crying to battle to lust in just a few short minutes. This woman had her very wrapped.

"Not by a long shot. Where I come from that is akin to 'taking the edge off'. It felt wonderful, but I need you, too. So PREPARE!"

"Yes, your Majesty. Preparation is under way." Of course preparation had started with the kiss she had received first thing this morning. But that was another story.

The lovers mounted up and headed toward Amphipolis. So much for making good time this day.

The sun was beginning to lengthen the shadows when the travelers decided it was time to find a spot for the night. The clearing was a small secluded spot away from sight of the road. Candace dismounted and took the saddle from Bard. She laid it to the side then patted her steed and let her graze. Her first priority was to collect firewood and set up camp. She gathered small amounts of wood near where she stood and carried it to where she started to dig the fire pit.

Amazed, Xena stood next to Argo for a long time watching this woman do exactly as Gabrielle had done for years. With the exception of the horse, it was eerily familiar. She felt a shiver go up her spine and shook her head. *This is not Gabrielle. This is not Gabrielle. This is Candace. Keep it straight.* When Candace laid out the blankets it was as if she were seeing things in slow motion.

Something strange was nagging at the edge of her mind. *Wouldn't THAT be great to call her Gabrielle in the middle of well...I need to get a grip on this.* Xena walked up behind Candace and grabbed her around the waist. Kissing the top of her head she pulled her close.

"Xena, you alright?"

*How do They always know?* "I'm fine. I'm going to go see if I can find us a decent meal. Fish or rabbit?"

"Fish I think. Rabbits are Thumper in my book."

"Thumper?" What's a thumper?"

"Thumper is a bunny in a children's story."

"Is that the same story as Bambi?"

"You heard."

"How could I not. I couldn't figure out why half the little girls weren't eating venison. I asked Senar and well...." The dark haired woman snickered under her breath. The story really was funny.

"Yeah, I heard all about it from Darail. She swore I would never, ever, EVER, did I say ever?, cook again. Let's put it this way, I can't even look at the cooking hut. I tried to go over one day and Solari smacked me in the back of my head. Anyway, rabbit is good, but I feel like fish."

Xena pulled the small blonde closer and pushed her into her suggestively. "You sure didn't feel like fish earlier." A hot mouth found it's way to a soft neck.

Candace unconsciously tilted her head to allow better access. "Mmm. I am not even going to ask what I felt like, but I do know I feel hungry right now, so run run run. Feed me."

"Alright," She laid a quick kiss on Candace's shoulder, "I'll be back in a few."

Candace turned in her arms. "Hey, I love you."

Xena looked down into a color she couldn't describe. *Hum. What color of green is that?*

"Xe? You in there?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Oh, yeah. I'm in there. Uh here. I'm just trying to figure out what color your eyes are."

"News flash for Xena. They're green."

"Big red truck, Candace." *News flash? I get one figured out, well, sort of, and she brings up a new one. I'll never get this.*

Candace let out a good-natured laugh and smacked her lover playfully on the arm. "You don't even know what that means."

"I know enough to know that it is equivalent to 'duh'."

"Ah. We are reverting to the higher languages now. I see. Back to my eyes. My father always said he thought they should be brown."

"I'd have to agree with him. I think I would have liked your father."

"Yeah, well, I can't say that he would have liked you. My folks weren't too hip on my.....choices for companionship. They kicked me out and disowned me. Let's not go there, O.K.? I'm still hungry and I still love you!"

"Right. Food. I love you, too. You do know that, right?"

Candace frowned at her partner. "Why would you say that? I would never have said yes if I thought you didn't."

"Don't know. Just checking I guess." Xena kissed willing lips and struck a pose. "I'm off!"

"Bye hero. Hurry back." *She has a sense of humor, that one.* *Too bad she doesn't let others see it very often.*

Xena ran away from camp toward the stream about a league away. It felt good to stretch her legs and clear her mind. The thing was, however, her mind wasn't clearing. She desperately needed to address the events that took place just minutes before. She did everything Gabrielle had done right down to how she started the fire. Everything. In the same order, with the same moves. *I have got to talk to her about this. Right. That'll make her feel secure. Oh, honey by the way, you act and look and set up camp just like my dead wife. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Did I mention that you say all the same things she used to say? What is going on here? I'm going crazy that's what's going on.*

After she had brushed down the horses, Candace heated water over the fire that she had so handily built.

*Gab thanks for giving me a hand here.*

*My pleasure, but I think it freaked out the warrior.*

*Really? I didn't notice.*

*Poor thing. She has got to be a wreck.*

*Could work to our advantage.*

*Could make her lose her mind first.*

*Think she'll say anything?*

*She's back.*

"Trout alright." Xena thought she was being sly, trying to sneak in a scare the singer.

Candace didn't even flinch. "You don't need to yell. I'm right here." *She just doesn't get it does she?* *She's ignoring it.*

"Damn. I will never win, huh?" She shook her head, dejected.

"Not likely. Tea?" Candace held her cup out. She smiled at a very frustrated and confused Xena.

"Thanks. Here, you get to cook."

"I figured as much."

The warriors sat on a fallen tree polishing and sharpening their swords while the fish cooked. Xena tried not to watch as Candace cooked or did anything else for that matter. It was all too comfortable and identical. That was it. It was identical. Well, except for the sword. She was deep in thought when Candace spoke her name.

"Xena? Are you going to be gone all night or just a good portion of it?" Candace was now concerned. It was like Xena to brood on occasion but to be completely oblivious was not her style.

"Huh?"

"If I hear you say "Huh?" one more time tonight...."

"Gods, I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I said, "I'm being attacked by circus midgets and you will need to gather grasshoppers to use as weapons"."

"What?" Xena had heard her that time and it still didn't make sense.

"Just checking this time. I said dinner is ready." She handed Xena her plate and utensils.

The confused woman took the plate and ate in silence. She didn't know how to feel right now. The depth of her memories had been breached. A whole world of emotion was swirling around her and she couldn't grasp even one of them. She wanted to talk about it but had no idea where to start or what to say. If she had something to say it would probably come out wrong. So she kept her mouth shut.

Candace watched emotions and frustration play in passionate blue eyes. Her warrior was having a battle in her mind. That much was clear. What she was battling was another story. Only one way to find out. Candace spoke softly to her lover, "Xena?"

Xena's tormented eyes met hers. "Sweetheart, what's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

"Uh huh." She scooted closer to her and took her plate. Setting them both to the side she turned back to face Xena. "You seem to have forgotten who you're talking to here."

"I have, have I?"

"Yep. Now talk to me."

"I sooo don't want you to take this wrong."

"That doesn't sound good. Is there some woman in town that I am going to have to throw down with over your affection?" She smiled hoping the humor would take the edge off of Xena's mood.

It worked. Xena smiled and touched her cheek. "No. There is no one in my heart but you. Well, that's not totally the truth either, is it?" She removed her hand and dropped her head again. It was almost like it was too heavy to hold up.

"No, I suppose not. Is that what's bothering you? Look here." Xena lifted her head and faced more love than she thought she deserved. "The traveling has got to be hard for you. All those memories coming up from deep inside. It's alright. I really do understand."

"Strange as it sounds, it's more than that. It's......it's.....I....it's. Shit! O.K. Just say it. You do everything exactly like her. Everything. The wood, the fire, the cooking. It's like she's here but it's you. It's confusing me."

"It's painful too, huh?" The blonde tilted her head and peered at Xena with compassion.

"Yeah." She whispered and dropped her head. It was painful and she had been ignoring it. *Maybe this trip was a bad idea.* Tears threatened to come and she took a deep breath. She calmed her sorrow. Resting her elbows on her knees, she clasped her hands in front of her.

"Xena, I know I am alot like her. The first thing the Amazons told me was that I looked just like her. I dressed like her. Walk, talk, act...pick something, I was Gabrielle. It took a while for them to see past that. Don't get me wrong, I take it as a great compliment. Especially from you. Maybe we're related; like cousins or something." She didn't want to dicourage Xena from taking the right path, but she wanted the guilt to abate. She was Gabrielle. Simple as that. Their thoughts were separate but they were the same person.

*By the Gods, I'm schizophrenic.* *And so am I.hahahaha. I kill myself.* *This is not the time for humor.* *Right. NO humor. Got it. Hahahaha.* Candace sighed.

"I just didn't expect this. I watched you put the camp together and I was watching her. Where did you learn to set up camp like that?"

"I am an Amazon, Xena, it's what we do. I just did it." True enough. "Xena, c'mere." The warrior scooted closer to Candace. The blonde straddled the log and put her arms around her lovers neck. She put her forehead on Xena's. "I am sorry to be the cause of so much pain for you. I don't know what to do here. Maybe I should go back to.."

"NO! No, you're not leaving me." She sat up and held Candace by the shoulders. Panic set in quickly.

"Woah, Xe. I never said anything about leaving you. I thought it might be easier if you made this trip alone."

"I meant leaving me out here and going home. I don't want to be away from you. Not now. O.K.?"

She released her shoulders and sat back facing her again.

"O.K. But stay here with me." She tapped Xena's head with her finger. "Deal?"

"Stop being her and I will."

"I can't stop being her anymore than I can stop being me. I am who I am." *Too much?* *Just right I think.*

The dark woman went over in her mind what Candace had said. She was who she was. There was no getting around that. Why had she not seen it before? She hadn't been looking or else she had ignored it. No it wasn't that. The similar appearance had been the first attraction. Her heart had been the other. She had Gabrielle's heart. *Let it go.*

"You're right. Does it bother you that I was attracted to you because you look like her?" Why not ask all the questions while it was up for discussion.

"I hadn't ever thought about it." She paused for a minute acting like she was thinking. "I have to say no. I never would have gotten you if I didn't. I'm pretty sure it worked to my advantage. Do you love me because of her?" *Tit for tat there warrior.*

Xena gazed into honest eyes. She really wanted to know. "Yes and No. I love you, but there is a part of you that is so much her I can't ignore it. I'll admit that it may be a part of it. There were things about you that I loved in her. Now that sounds odd. Your hearts are the same, and I think you love the same."

"And how is that?"

"With everything that you have. There is no question in my mind or heart, how you feel about me. There is no half-way in anything you do. She was the same. Kind. You are kind. So was she."

"Kind. You should check with Kayla on that. I think she might have reason to disagree."

"You forget it's me she hates. I stole you away from her."

"Nah. I belonged to you all along."

"Is that right?" Xena switched her position so that she was sitting close to her intended. She scooted so that she was between soft thighs.

"Oh yeah. You couldn't tell the first time we saw each other?" Candace slowly trailed one finger along a very strong thigh.

"I had a vague inkling. I couldn't be sure from the lips in my way."

"In your way? What did you think about that, anyway?" She stopped her hand and looked to see how Xena would answer.

"Wow! You can not imagine! I ran to Eph in a panic." She grinned and blushed slightly.

"Panic? It was not my intention to cause a panic."

"Well, then what were your intentions?" She used the same sultry voice as when she had first asked the question.

The response this time was completely different.

Candace stood up and sat on Xena's lap facing her. "Now that I think about it, my intentions were to get your attention. I'd say it worked." She leaned in and kissed Xena tenderly. The warrior's hands ran smoothly along the strong back of the woman on her lap. Their kiss was one of connection. There was no intent except to feel the emotions they shared. Smoothly they move against each other. The gentle nature of their connection soon began to escalate to the passion they shared as well.

"Xena, if you ever want to get MY attention, kiss me like that. It gives me goosebumps!

"Good, huh? I'm glad you approve. Care for another?"

"Yes, but maybe we should lay down for the next one. Otherwise, my legs may not carry me there."

"Your legs don't have to." The tall woman stood to her feet taking the smaller woman with her.

"I just love your strength, ya know. It makes me feel very safe, not to mention quite amorous." Her green eyes of a shade indescribable, shone with the emotion she felt in her heart. She was in love with the Mighty Warrior Princess. Not surprising. She was magnificent. The unreal thing was that Xena loved her back. Maybe not with the same ardor, but it was true and sweet. She would take it.

Xena kissed the woman who was now in her arms. Candace was right. There would have been no way her legs would have supported her weight. Long legs carried them to the bedroll and gently knelt with the precious cargo. Their lips never parted and passion certainly did not wane. They were soon naked, locked in a lover's embrace. Pleasing each other with intimate tastes and touches shared in unison. Fingers entered and explored wet areas of molten flesh.. Tongues dance suggestively against fiery nerve endings. Gasping and moanings of pleasure were the sounds that filled the cool night air. Xena cried out in the power of her climax. She was followed closely by her lover. The moments of heated passions were followed by nourishing admonishments of the love they shared. The lovers fed the each other with the affection they needed to endure. Wrapped in a cocoon of peace and each other, they slept.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Xena woke shortly before the sun. She gazed at the angel in her arms as she stroked her wheat gold hair. She whispered knowing that Candace was still sound asleep, "What have you done to me, little one? I'm not supposed to love again. But then what good would the love that She had for me do if I don't. What will my mother think of you, I wonder. No doubt she will love you as I do, but what will she think? Humm."

"Hum what, Xe?" A stretch and a yawn came from a very sleep girl. She curled into the warmth that was Xena. *She's like a natural heat source.*

"Hum. Nothing, little one. I need to check the bushes though, before an unfortunate accident occurs."

Candace grinned evily and 'accidently' and very gently elbowed Xena in her extended stomach.

"Aah. 'Scuse me!" Xena bolted from the covers in a flash of speed.

"Sorry, honey." *Not.* *How do you live with yourself?* *I manage and so do you.* *Barely.*

*Haha.* *It was mildly amusing.* *Yeah. Now it's our turn.*

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Cyrene poured more ale for the customer seated next to the window. She looked out and had to do a double take. It was her daughter no doubt, but who was the woman with her? "Gabrielle?"

"Huh?" The man glanced up at the innkeeper.

"Nothing. I'm sorry." She patted the patron on the shoulder. "Enjoy." Once more she glanced out the window. The woman with her daughter looked like the bard. But it couldn't be. Could it?

It had been known to happen before.

The older woman turned quickly winding her way around the dining tables. She dashed out the door.

Xena saw her mother watching their approach through the window. The look on her face was the same one that had been on her face when she had first seen the little blonde. Seated on the horse next to her, Candace was obviously nervous. Xena reached a hand to her and squeezed reassurance. The singer looked to her lover for support. She found in those eyes all the love and support she would need.

Cyrene was waiting patiently in the door way watching in wonder as the two women approached. It became clear the closer they got, that the woman in the saddle next to her daughter was not Gabrielle. Her dress was the first real sign, besides the fact that she was riding. She was carrying a sword and dressed as a warrior. She was wearing all the Amazon feathers and leather, but her leggings were odd. They were blue and of what looked to be a heavy material. They looked extremely comfortable. She determined that she herself wanted pair if they were to be had. No she wasn't Gabrielle. *But, by the Gods, she is a close twin.*

"Mother." Xena nodded at her and dismounted. She pulled the older woman into a tight hug. "How are you?"

"I am well, daughter." She waited as long as she could, which was all of three seconds, before she asked, "Well, are you going to introduce us?"

Candace was not even all the way to the ground when the question came. Her back was to the woman and she was glad she couldn't see the panic in green eyes. If a heart could pound out of a chest, her's was threatening to do so right this minute. *Here we go.* Her true fear, was of having to live up to Gabrielle's reputation. If Cyrene didn't think she was good enough for Xena would she say so? All of these thoughts and many more coursed through her mind in just the few seconds it took for her feet to reach the ground. Taking a deep and cleansing breath, she turned to face her future mother-in-law.

"Mother, I would like you to meet Candace. Candace, my mother, Cyrene."

"It's my pleasure, Cyrene." She smiled brightly at the kind looking woman before her and offered her hand.

Cyrene frowned at her. "Candace, we don't shake hands around here." She kept the serious look on her face.

Candace looked to Xena for help. The tall warrior looked surprised and not a little confused. She started to speak to her mother when the older woman reached for the blonde and took her into a smothering embrace. "We hug!"

The breath she had taken earlier was knocked clean out of her. Her arms flailed around as if they had never been trained to behave. Before she could gather her thoughts enough to return the hug, she found herself in a new position at arms length. Cyrene held her by the shoulders and took a long glowing look at her. Feeling much like a rag-doll, she was kissed soundly on the forehead and embraced her again. Finally, Cyrene released the hug and held her again at arms length. She took Candace's face in her hands and smiled at her sweetly. "Beautiful." Candace dipped her head and blushed soundly. She peeked up at her lover who was beaming. Xena sent her a shrug and a wink.

"Thank you." Her voice was low and the shyness in her tone was tangible.

"No need to thank me for stating the obvious. Come on." She threw her arm around the blonde and started walking toward the inn.

Xena followed behind, leading the horses and shaking her head. The smile on her face looked to be there for a while. *Well, that answers that question.*

"I'll take care of the horses, honey, you go with Mother and make yourself at home." She started to turn toward the barn when her mother stopped all three of them in their tracks.

She turned slowly and stared hard at her daughter. Candace crossed her arms and gave her lover the 'look.'

"Whaaaat?"

"Honey? You called her honey." It wasn't as if she didn't think there was anything between the two women, she had hoped, but some kind of formal announcement would have been nice.

"Well, we..I..uuumm. Candace?" The helpless look on her face was

"Uh uh, warrior. You are on your own here." She didn't know what the fuss was, she was sticking with Cyrene on this one.

"Thanks for the support, babe. Mom, I need to tell you ..."

"Oh no you don't! You wait."

"I..."

"Nope." Cyrene held a silencing hand up to her daughter.

"But we.."

"No. You wait until everyone is here. Dinner tonight, you can tell us whatever you need to. Until then I am taking this precious girl up to your room for a hot bath. You meet me in the kitchen when you are finished with the horses. Go on. Scoot. Come now, Candace." She turned them back around and pulled the small warrior along with her.

Candace shot her very stunned lover an amused look back over the older woman's shoulder. As Ephiny would have told her, she was soon to catch flies if she didn't pull her chin up off her chest. Xena shook her head and led the steeds to the barn.

Cyrene led Candace to the inn and up the stairs. They made a left turn and walked to the door at the end of the hall. Cyrene opened the door and ushered her daughter-in-law to be in.

Candace practically skipped to the other side of the room and threw herself on soft coverings. "A bed! Yea! A bed! A soft, comfortable bed. I'm in heaven!" Staring at the ceiling, she spread her arms wide in possesive enthusiasm. "Thank you, Cyrene. It's perfect."

"You are welcome, little one. I have a feeling that a bath will put you over the edge of sanity. Perhaps we should wait," she teased.

"NO!" She sat up quickly.Blue eyes looked at her with the same raised eyebrows with which she was already familiar. "Uh....I mean, I won't go crazy if I have a bath. I think I WILL if I don't."

Cyrene couldn't help but smile. So much like her. It was eerie. Thoughts began to nag at the edges of her mind. They wanted to coalesce and become a realization. She observed and noted all of the golden blonde's movements and little quirks. She wondered if her daughter took notice of these very small habits that Candace had. They were completely the Bard.

"Candace? May I ask you a very strange question?"

Smooth tanned skin crinkled at the brow as the Amazon frowned. She tilted her head at Cyrene's question and the older woman about jumped out of her skin. "It's you isn't it?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"It's me who?" *How could she get it this fast?* *A mother knows her children. She accepted me as such.* *Wow. It's another 'mom' thing.*

"You know very well "who". Don't play games with me." It was the 'Mom' voice that no self respecting child could ignore, no matter the age.

"Yes ma'am. If you're asking if I am Gabrielle...."

"I am."

"....you'd be half right."

"Care to tell me what that means?" She crossed her arms and looked expectantly at her guest.

"It's a very long story."

"I have time." The stubborn streak, that she and her daughter share, was not going to let this go.

"I thought Xena was meeting you in the kitchen." She wanted to try and avoid this for fear of Xena being informed before she figured it out herself.

"She is. Hang on." She walk to the hallway and called down the stairs. "Jurna?" A voice answered her. "When Xena comes in could you please ask, no tell her, that her mother would very much like it if she split the wood in the back." There was a muffled reply that sounded none too happy. "You tell her I said so. She won't give you any trouble. Tell her, if she does I redden her backside." This statment was met with laughter and a concession. "Thank you." Closing the door behind her, Cyrene turned back to her guest. "Now, you were going to tell me a story. Get out of those clothes while I draw you a bath and you can tell me all about it."

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Xena laughed to herself on and off all the way to the barn. Her mother never ceased to surprise her. Her reaction to Candace was nothing short of amazing. *I figured she would be a little standoffish. Knowing how she felt about Gabrielle, one would think that anyone who tried to take her place would be up against it. I was wrong. Thank the Gods!*

Her thoughts were taken with the woman she had brought home with her. So much had happened to change her heart over the past few moons and she attributed all of those changes to the blonde. She had chipped away at the wall until she had carved a hole to crawl through. When she had gotten in she demolished anything that was left of it from the inside out. Her defenses were gone. And she had asked for her hand. *What was I thinking? I know I don't just go falling in love, but is this good? And what about Gabrielle? NONONO! I will not do this. I have got to reconcile this whole thing, but for the Gods sake, the more I'm around her lately the more she seems to become her. Is this all in my head? Am I wanting her to be Gab so badly that I am remembering wrong? She touches me and....Gods...it's the same. She knows my body. She knows my heart. I need to talk to Mother.* She leaned her head against the post next to Argo's stall. Deep in thought, she didn't hear her brother approach.

He knew she was unaware of his presence, but he knew better than to surprise her. He'd most likely end up with something broken or removed from his body and that would not do. He stood at the door and cleared his throat. Blue eyes the same color as his own turned to meet his gaze. Those eyes were far removed from reality at the moment.

"Hey, Sis. You in there?"

Xena stared for a moment while the sentence registered. She came back from her mind travels and acknowledged her brother. "Toris! It's good to see you!"

They met half way and embraced as family should.

"It's good to see you as well. Jurna told me you rode in just a bit ago. He said you were traveling with someone." He paused to see if his headstrong sister would offer any information. She did not. "Well?" His voice took on a tone of curiosity and he raised his eyebrows.

"Well what?" She knew, she just didn't feel like discussing it and her mother would have a fit if she did.

"Where is she?" Jurna had informed him that this mysterious woman resembled his sisters late wife, but he wasn't jumping in with both feet just yet. With his sister it was better to test the water first.

"Her name is Candace and she was confiscated by Mother."

"Sounds like her. So, care to tell me anything interesting?"

"No."

"C'mon, Xe. Is she.....are you...I mean, well?"

"Toris, I am not permitted to speak about any 'situation' until tonight. If you want to find out anything, make sure your scrawny ass is at dinner. Speaking of 'Where is she?', how is Amira?"

Her brother beamed when she mentioned his bride of six moons. He had fallen so hard for her it had been precious to watch. A hardened soldier, softened and brought to his knees asking for the hand of his beloved. If she had stopped for two seconds she would have recognized her own life reflected in her brothers.

"She is home today. She gets tired easily as of late."

"What's wrong,Tor. Is she sick. Is she O.K.?" Xena was really concerned. Gods forbid he lost her. *Just like I did.*

"Calm down. She's fine, Xena. She's, we're.....uhm..she should tell you this."

The tall warrior grabbed her brother by the lapels of his vest and pulled him up to his tip toes. "WHAT? Tell me before I toss you in muck pile."

"She's expecting." He was beaming again and blue eyes sparkled with the news. He smiled despite the position she held him in.

"I'm gonna be an aunt." She said the words softly as she released her hold on Toris. She grabbed him again only this time it was in a fierce embrace. "Hot Damn! I'm gonna be an aunt. Aunt Xena. Kinda has a nice ring to it, don'tcha think?" She liberated him one more time and gave him a knowing elbow nudge. "And you! You, my man, you have the goods."

He had the good sense to blush brightly. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"C'mon this calls for a drink." She grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him along with her to the inn.

They were laughing and carrying on as they burst through the door. The siblings sauntered to the bar and asked Jurna for ale.

"Sorry guys, can't" The tender/cook/all around help cringed at the look she recieved.

"What do you mean you CAN'T?"

"Look, Xena, I'm sorry. Your mother wants you to start on the wood in the back."

"Oh she does, does she?"

"She said she would very much like it. She also said she would 'redden your backside' if you gave me any trouble."

Toris let out a gaffaw at the visual he was getting of the tall ex-warlord laying across her mothers lap getting a tanning. His breath was suddenly gone as he was gifted with an elbow in his side.

"OW! Hey!"

"It's not funny." Xena gave him her best steely glare and he tried not to giggle.

"Right."

"Just for that, you get to help. C'mon, Dad." He nabbed his ear and dragged him along.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Cyrene sat dombfounded as Candace came to the end of her story. It was interesting to say the least. A woman from the future sitting in her tub looking every bit the Amazon warrior. Well, naked a Amazon, but there really was no mistaking it.

"So my daughter hasn't figured this out yet. That figures. She loves you though, that much is obvious."

"How can you tell?" They hadn't had any time to interact so how did Cyrene know?

"You're here aren't you? She never would have brought you here if she didn't."

"Doesn't she ever bring anyone home? I mean friends and such?" It seemed a strange concept to her that Xena never shared her home with her friends.

"No, dear. After Gabrielle passed, she made this her haven. She swore she would never again share the comfort of her home with anyone. She was safe from the world and from her memories here. When she said she was going to visit the Amazons, it was a complete shock. For three seasons she never went further away than to town for shopping and to the hills for hunting. Traveling was not a pleasure to her any longer. Too much pain and too many memories. How was she on the way here?"

"Aloof. I am technically, Gabrielle, so I act like her. It freaked her out."

"Beg pardon, dear. Freaked her out?"

"Made her feel really, really, uneasy, only more. I think she thought she was going crazy."

"Do you love her? I mean I know you're supposed to fall for her, but do YOU, or....I don't know what I'm trying to say here."

"Yes, I love her. The me that's me, loves her very much."

"Good. How does SHE, Gabrielle, feel about it?"

"We're the same person, this is so hard to explain, she is thrilled to be with her. Their hearts are made for each other. If Xena could just get this. She is so busy trying to ignore the Her in me that it's driving her nuts."

"Well, that's her father in her."

Candace laughed. "I am not sure I buy that, but if you say so."

"It's true. Xena is a very intelligent woman, but when it comes to love and such, she hasn't a clue."

"This isn't really love we're talking about. She doesn't want to see the Gabrielle that is in me. Can you imagine being her place? Someone comes along out of nowhere, looks and acts just like your deceased wife, and wants you. And then you fall for her, but you don't know if it's her or the deceased wife in her you have fallen for. The thing is, the longer I'm here the more her I become. Talk about a totally wiggin situation."

Cyrene gave her an empty stare. "Wiggin?"

"A situation to make one 'freak out'."

"So, you think she feels like she's in a situation where she may feel like losing her mind." Deciphering Candace's slang was becoming second nature to her.

"Exactly. Gabrielle seems to think it will get through somehow."

"I pray that it does. What happens if she doesn't?"

"Supposedly, I stay and Gabrielle leaves. That would be bad because then I would no longer be the person I am now. It's a very scary prospect. I don't trust the Gods though. I may end up back where I came from. Alone." The thought sent terror straight through her. "Cyrene, she has GOT to get this."

"Whatever happens, don't lose hope. Just because she refuses to see now doesn't mean she won't. She's fighting it because she wants to avoid the pain of the memories. If she gets past that fear, she'll see what's in front of her face."

"I hope you're right. I really do."

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

"Thank you for splitting the wood, dear."

"I was threatened with a reddened backside if I didn't so.." Cyrene shot her daughter a threatening look. "Uh.....you're welcome. Pass the bread, Tor."

"Please?"

Xena rolled her blue eyes and sighed. "Puuuuleeeeas."

"It's so nice to see that you two haven't grown up at all. It would be such a shame to have a peaceful dinner once in a while."

Her shoulders shaking, Candace smirked and held back an outright laugh. Her lover nudged her under the table with her knee and sent her a threatening look. "What?"

"You know what."

"Xena, do you want this or would you like me to butter it for you first. I can cut your meat for you too, if you need."

"Tor, ya know what. I....."

"Excuse me, but this is dinner. You can all play we're 'bratty siblings' later. Xena? I am guessing that Toris shared the happy news with you."

"Yes! Oh, Amira I am so happy for you!"

"What's the news?"

"Sorry, Candace, I didn't get chance to tell you. My shaver for a brother and his much-too-good-for- him wife, are expecting."

"Very, cool! How far along are you?"

"It's been a little over three moons. Praise Artemis, the hard part is over. I had morning sickness so bad I thought at times I was going to just up and die. Now, I have these odd cravings. I have been eating pickles like mad and sweets at the same time. Fish about turns my stomach, but nutbread, ooooh. Do we have any?"

"Nutbread is a personal favorite of mine, as well." Candace smiled at Amira acknowledging their common weakness.

"Figures." The dark warrior mumbled under her breath, but the comment was not lost on the singer.

Candace leaned over to her lover and quietly asked, "Would you care to explain exactly what that means?" Obviously Xena didn't want her comment to be heard or shared so she kept it low.

"Not really." She bowed her head to her plate and found a sudden interest in her food.

"You know I'll be asking later, " This time it was a gentle whisper in her ear. She felt Xena shiver next to her, "and you also know that I have ways to find out what I want to know." Placing a soft hand very high on her thigh, she gave a gentle squeeze to remind Xena just who she was dealing with.

Xena peaked out from under her bangs to see if any of rest of the table was paying them any attention. They were too busy talking about the upcoming birth to care what the two women were discussing. "Uh huh."

"Uh huh, what?" A light stroke of her fingers along the inside the tortured thigh accompanied the next seductive squeeze very near the edge of her breeches.

"Uuhuhhhh." Her breath got away from her.

"Xena! You alright?" Her mother thought she was choking.

"Uhhhuumm. Ahem. Just clearing my throat. Hhhhuuum."

"Alright. You're sure you're fine?"

Candace grinned at her frustrated partner. "Yes, Xena are you sure you don't need help?"

Xena raised her eyebrow as far up as it would go. She turned to her tormentor. "Thank you for your concern, sweetheart, but I am fine." She leaned in to whisper in her ear. "For now."

Candace tried not to blush and kept her face a straight as she could. She smiled and gave a slight nod to the rest of the table. "Well, if you need help, all you have to do is ask."

"I will. If I need help that is."

Candace raised her own eyebrow and gave her and incredulous look. "Ohho reeeeally?"

"Um hum."

"Excuse me ladies, but are we talking about?"

"Nothing mother. Dinner is wonderful. I just love duck."

"Yes dear, we will change the subject. So tell me Daughter, how did you find this treasure?" Cyrene nodded at Candace.

"Treasure? What treasure." Her face was straight and deadpan.

"Warrior, if you don't want to sleep in the barn tonight....." Her Amazon was getting ready to show.

"Teasing, Candace. Teasing." She had never seen Candace really angry and she didn't want to see it manifest before her family.

"Haha, Xe. Very funny. Not."

"GIRLS! Can we get to the point here?"

"Sorry, Mom. How did I find her? In a word, I didn't. She found me."

"How's that, Candace?" All eyes turned to the blonde.

"Uh. I....uum...kissed her without permission or warning for that matter." The blonde blushed all the way to her toes. *What must these people think of me?* *It's O.K. Mom loves us. That's all that counts.*

"And that's all there is to it?" Mothers need all the details and these were not enough.

"Well, no. I had to woo her for a while and then make her jealous." She smiled knowing her lover's reaction.

"Candace, you did no such thing!"

"Really? Humm. Then what was that thing with Kayla?"

"There is more to it than you're telling."

"Well, by all means share it with us." If the Warrior Princess thought she could tell a good story, let her try.

"Yes, Xena. Share it with us." Toris liked Candace.She kept his sister honest and interested.

"I'll remember this, Tor."

"Oooooh I'm shakin'"

"EXCUSE ME!" Silence came to the table as the maternal leader of the family exercised her authority. "That's better. Xena, please tell us how you ended up here with Candace. And DON'T tell me on a horse, or I'll send you to the barn myself."

Xena laughed and began the story. "Well, the night I got to the village, they were having gathering for something, who knows with Amazons. Anyway,this blonde powerhouse becomes a warrior, gets up and sings and then kisses me, all in the same half a candle mark span. That's how it started......"

The rest of the story was filled with amusing stories and many additions and corrections from her love. They wove the story into a colorful tapestry, describing in detail fascinating sides of the same events. Then they came to the proposal. Xena told as much of the story as she knew and it was left up to Candace to tell the part that has taken place in closed chambers. Xena sat dumbfounded as she heard the story for the first time. She had no idea what Candace had done for her, for them. The new Amazon knew the law better than she should, that much was obvious, but it wasn't registering just yet. The story went as far as the kiss of acceptance and the trip home. It was several candle marks and two wineskins before all of the story had been told.

"So, Xe?"

"Yeah, Tor."

"Bottom line. You're going to marry her?"

Xena looked over at the woman next to her. She took a small hand in her own and kissed it. Staring deep into green eye, she answered softly, "Yeah, Toris. I'm gonna marry her. Right?"

"Most definitely." They kissed sweetly, sealing their love before family.

Cyrene smiled and nodded her head. This was a good thing.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

"So, Warrior, care to tell me about that comment?" Candace reached her small arms around Xena's waist and looked up into her eyes.

Xena looked to the soft features of her future wife and stroked the golden hair that fell down her back. "Candace, I really, truly love you." She bent for a kiss that was returned sweetly.

Candace pulled away and took Xena's hand, leading her to the bed in their room. "Sit." The warrior did as she was instructed. The blonde walked to the corner of the room and got the chair that was there. Hauling it back over, she set it directly in front of her blue eyed girlfriend. She sat in the chair and looking at her intently she instructed Xena, "Talk."

"Geez, Cand, we've been through this before." She really wanted to avoid this whole thing.

"If we don't get through this for you, it will come back to bite us later. I'm not afraid of anything you have to say. So, tell me. What's with the nutbread?" *As if you don't know.* *Gabrielle, she has to get through the guilt to get to the truth.* *I know. I just hate to see her go through this.* *You love her, right?* *You know I do.* *So do I. We can get her through this.* *Yeah.*

"O.K. Truth. Nutbread was Gabrielle's favorite. I mean her very favorite. When you said it was a favorite of yours it just figured. The more time I spend with you the more I see her in you. That is not at all fair to you. I want you to realize that I love you. The you that is you. I am not trying to make you into her. Some people do that I've heard. I am making an effort not to try and make you into someone you're not. But, Gods!"

"Xe, I know how you feel about me. I have no insecurity where that is concerned. I mean gosh, you waited three years and I am sure you had many opportunities, but you picked me. I should say we picked each other. Do you understand that? I chose you as well and that this relationship is a mutual thing. You seem to think you did all the falling, but Xe, if I didn't want you in my life, do you think I'd be here?" Xena shook her head no in response. "I'm not just doing you a favor or letting you do one for me. Your hot, that's for sure, but it's become a whole lot more than just physical attraction. I am secure with us. I didn't come into this relationship expecting to change you. I came into it expecting to accept and be accepted. If you can learn to accept the traits that I have that are reminiscent of Gabrielle, the happier you will be. Face it, you were interested in me partly because of her. I ain't gonna fight it, you shouldn't either."

"It all sounds so easy when you say it, but this goes way beyond just a few things here and there. Even your voice is the same. The inflections. The tone. If I close my eyes sometimes and just listen, I could swear you were her. And your touch, my Gods, you have a talent for knowing how, where and when. It's like you knew my body before you ever touched me. I'm not complaining, I just don't understand."

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, you're not supposed to understand and just let it be the way it is? You're trying to find answers to questions that don't have answers. It's like, 'If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one around to hear it, does it make sound?'"

"Hey, that's a good question."

"Yeah, but you're not going to sit and think on it too long, because it's a question you can't answer. See? Xe, I'm a tree falling in the woods. Someone might have the answers, but not you. Stop thinking and just be. Let me be. Perhaps, if you let it go and just accept it, the answers you seek will come."

Xena sat and thought long and hard. These concepts argued with her very logical mind. Everything in her world had to make sense. That's just the way she was and it was not likely to change save for the help of a small blonde singer.

"Um, Candace?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Do you really have ways of making me talk?"

Candace smiled at the train of thought her lover had taken. "You have no idea." She stood from her seat and placing small hands on broad shoulders, pushed her prey back to the mattress.

"You know, I don't...*kiss*... do well...*kiss*.... under.. *nibble*..... aahhhaa...torture. I break.

"Uh huh." She crawled up a tall frame and stradled firm abs.

"I run off at the mou....mmmmm. Never mind."

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Cyrene was in the kitchen preparing the various meals and breads for the days business. Her daughter walked through the door with a very contented look on her face. She was happy, her mother could tell, but there was something just under the surface that was interfering with the peace she was trying so hard to accept.

"Good morning, Xena. I take it you slept well," Glancing up and raising an eyebrow, she just couldn't help herself, "when you finally slept."

The tall warrior couldn't help but blush. The night had been long and wonderful. She hadn't felt this loved in a very long while. The passion they had shared was so tender and sweet that it brought a smile to a normally stoic countenance. "Yeah, Mom. I slept well. Sorry about the noise."

"I am just teasing you sweetheart. It is nice to know you are well loved. You are you know?"

"Yes, I do. Mom, can I talk to you?" Xena walked to the stove and put water on to boil.

"Of course."

"How do I deal with all of this?" She had questions to ask and advice to take, she just didn't know how to put it.

"That's a broad question. Can we narrow it a bit?"

"There are so many things that I feel, I don't know where begin."

"Is this about Candace?" Blue eyes looked up from the bread she was kneading. She knew what it was about, but Xena needed to find the point on her own.

"Partly. It's mostly about me and partly about Gabrielle."

"What has she to do with this?"

"Have you noticed certain.......similarities between Candace and Gabrielle?"

"I have noticed that she is very much like her. That is why you are attracted to her."

"Mother, this is more than an attraction."

Her mother smiled. "Yes, dear, it is. And I HAVE noticed some of her habits, likes and dislikes. It's very interesting don't you think?"

"Interesting is putting it mildly. The more I am around her the more I see. Then there was the nutbread thing last night. I can't seem to escape it."

"Why on earth would you want to escape it? You were given gift. Why not accept it as such?"

"Do you have any idea how much this freaks me out?"

Cyrene smirked at her daughters choice of words. "Well, I can see that she is influencing your speech patterns. Tell me, if she is the way she is and it bothers you so, would you leave her?"

"No! Why would you even say that?" Xena stood and went to the stove to make her morning tea. It was something to do with her hands

"If it isn't going to make a difference in how you feel, then I say get used to it."

"But she reminds me of someone else. How fair is that to her? You want tea?"

"Yes dear, thank you. I think Candace is a very smart woman. She is not concerned over the fairness of her resemblance to a certain Amazon Queen. She just accepts it. She knows who she is and who she loves and that is enough."

"But she never had to live with or love her. It's just weird. I'm sure in time I'll get used to it, but right now, I'm having a hard time.

"It didn't sound like you were having a hard time with it last night. Seems to me that you can overlook it when you want to." The innkeeper stopped and gave her daughter an exasperated look.

"That's different."

"I see. As long as your just using her for sex you can ignore it, but the minute it' real life you're dealing with it gets in the way."

"That is not what I meant! AND I do not use her! What I mean is that.....well.....I..those attributes um...'enhance' that area of our relationship."

"So why don't you let them enhance the rest of it?"

Xena sat down hard on the chair next to the prep table. She had never considered the idea her mother suggested. "Mother, you always know the answers, don't you?"

"It comes with age, dear. Some day you'll be as wise as I. Now get off your lazy butt and give me a hand."

"Yes ma'am"