Violence/Love: No violence, and a lot of love.

Comments Welcome: I'd love to know what you think.

Lariel_a@Hotmail.com

"Yes, I'll look after her, of course I will. No, don't worry...stop fussing! Yes, we'll be fine...go! Will you go!

Here, now give her...hand her over...ahh,

Hello beautiful!

Ohhh, aren't you getting heavy? There goes your momma, isn't she beautiful too? Bye bye mommy - Xena, just go! We'll be fine!! Missing you already, sweetheart!

Hello gorgeous.....it's just me and you now. Me and you - yes, yes it is! Are you warm enough? There you go, that's better........you like my blanket, hey? Is it tickly against your skin? It is, isn't it? I've never noticed before....see Eve, what you make me do? See life through new eyes.....

Gods, what do you do with a baby all day?

Aren't you tired yet? Babies are supposed to sleep a lot. No, you seem wide awake. What shall we do today, sweetie? Your momma won't be back until this afternoon....what'll we do till then?

Ahhh - your grip is so strong - much stronger than I thought it would be! Look at those tiny fingers, so perfect....yes, you're perfect aren't you? Yes you are! Yes you are....I love it when you smile like that! You've got Xena's eyes....gods, I could drown in those eyes. I could drown in your eyes, my little one...so blue, so trusting. Do you trust me, my little one?

Do you?

I won't hurt you - I could never hurt you. You're my little one too. I could love you - love you like you were mine.

I do love you. You're so much like your momma, too. We both love her, don't we? Yes we do!

Oh, don't you want my finger now? Sure? Nope, don't want it anymore. So soft, such sweet round cheeks...ahh, you like that, don't you? So smooth. So pure. What's it like, to be so pure?

You have so much ahead of you....me and your momma, we'll take care of you. I'll take care of you and your momma, sweetheart. I'll always be here for both of you. As long as you both need me.

Yes, I will...yes I will! 'Cause I'm gonna need the two of you for ever!

What are you doing, sweetie? No good nuzzling those, there's no milk for you there.... ....not from me, anyway. Hungry? You shouldn't be - Xena only just fed you. Don't tell me you've inherited my appetite! Ahh, you have, haven't you? A family trait!

Wish you could've met your brother....and maybe your sister too. Yeah. My little one. But you're my little one now, aren't you? My hope - both our hopes. Oh, don't cry, Eve - why are you crying? Am I holding you too tight? There....there, that's better isn't it? Shhh....don't cry, my little love... I didn't mean to...shhhh.....

Don't cry. I don't want to ever make you cry.

I made your momma cry, too many times.....don't want to hurt you too. I won't ever hurt you, my little baby....you can count on me. Always. I'll do it right this time.

I'm your family now. Me and Xena. We'll love you and take care of you always. You've got so much ahead of you - so much life, so much love and it's all there waiting for you. All you have to do is just reach out your hand....all of life is yours, my little Evie. All you could ever want, and it's fantastic. It is. I'll teach you how to read, and write - hey, maybe I'll even write you some stories, huh? Haven't done that for a long time now. And your momma, she'll teach you so much, like she taught me. You are so lucky...you have the best momma....

Xena, how long have you been standing there?

*smiles* Xena!"