Disclaimer: Xena, her daddy, and all other characters belong to Renaissance Pictures/ MCA Universal, none of this is real and no copyright infringement is intended. I make no profit from this.

Note: We'll just pretend that Xena's mom didn't hack her daddy to ribbons while we're reading this. I've had this plot bunny since I saw 'Ties That Bind' and it refuses to go away. Let me know what you think: XenaWarriorPrincess4@juno.com

Xena sat crouched around the corner, peering into her parents bedroom. She was seven years old, thin, with sky blue eyes and long raven hair that hung to her waist. She was a beautiful child, although she was usually dirty because she was quite a tomboy. One of her favorite pastimes was to pick fights with her older brother, Toris.

Xena was normally the victor, seeing as she resorted to the somewhat unethical methods of biting and scratching.

She peered around the corner, making sure that her father didn't see her looking in the room. He stood next to the bed, placing things into a bag. He was tall and strong, with Xena's same raven hair only his was beginning to gray. He had broad shoulders, green eyes, and a stern face that rarely ever smiled or showed emotion of any kind. His features were sharp and penetrating, almost cold.

His only daughter tried every way she could to win his affection, because she loved him very much. But that love was unearned, he hardly ever paid her any attention. There was always something more important to do. Xena had constantly been an extra nuisance in his life rather than a joy as most children were to their parents. Anytime she ever asked for a story or a hug she was briskly turned aside with a mention of 'Not now.' or 'Maybe later, sweetie.' Still, young Xena never gave up. It didn't seem to bother her two brothers like it did her, they could have cared less if their father gave a fig about them because they were always off fishing or hunting or playing with the other children in the village.

She watched as he placed most of his belongings into the bag, one after the other, his clothes, his good hunting knife, his flask....

What is he doing?, she wondered. He hadn't said anything about a trip,nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He and her mother had sat up late last night talking, but they did that sometimes. Xena usually discounted it as grown ups being weird and nothing more. Her mother had left early that morning to go to the market to get some food for the week and her brothers had left after breakfast to rally some of their friends into an army for a mock battle with the boys from the east end of the village. Xena was left alone to spy on her father.

He placed a few more items in his bag and picked it up. He stepped towards the door and paused, casting one last glance around the room.

Xena took a step back and flattened herself against the wall, afraid that he would see her watching him and be angry. He walked out of the room and turned left, away from Xena and went down the hall towards the front door. Xena moved out of her hiding place and followed him, just as he was about to go out of the front door she spoke.

"Father, where are you going?" she asked.

He turned around, startled because he didn't know she was there.

"What?" he asked in return.

"Where are you going?" she asked again, looking into his eyes with her curious stare.

He kneeled down and held her by the shoulders, not breaking the gaze.

"I'm going away for a while."

"Why?" she inquired, not satisfied with his answer.

"Because...because I have to." he replied, releasing her shoulders and standing up.

"Will you come back?"

He looked at her for a moment, thinking. "I'm not sure, Xena."

"Can I go with you, then?"

"No." was his firm answer.

"Father, do you promise me that you'll come back someday?"

He bent over and placed a kiss on the top of her head, "We'll see."

Little Xena was slightly taken aback because this was one of the few times in her short life that her father had kissed her, and what was taken for granted by other children her age was treasured by her.

"Father....I love you." He turned without replying and walked out the door. She stood in the doorway with tears welling up in her eyes, but she was too proud to let them flow down her cheeks. Xena knew that he would never come back.

She hardened her heart, not letting herself be weak with emotion.

From then on it became a habit whenever she thought of her father, not letting herself cry or have poignant feelings. She was afraid that they would make her weak, and she could not allow that. But she also couldn't help but feel the prick of pain and sadness that swept through her when she saw one of her friends with their father. Xena swore to herself that she would never let a man cause her such pain again, she would never let them close enough, she would always keep the upper hand. And she did.

It was one lesson in life that she learned early and it helped to make her wise beyond her years: Guard your heart, be careful who you allow to touch it, because they will make a lasting impression.

January, 2000