Sex/Subtext ~ Two women in-love. There is subtext sex though.

Copyright ~ Universal and MCA owns Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Eve, Eponin, and Hope as we know. However I claim the story line, Ambrosios, and Rhesus. So don't touch them.

Time Frame ~ In the fifth season after episode "Motherhood."

Section Note: ~ I hope everybody likes this section. Hope is developing along and so are her relationships with everybody. Now, I've set Hope and Eve up. So everybody can debate whether these two would make a good couple. Sisters or lovers? And no, it's not incest. Hope and Eve are opposite ends of the scale on being related. ;-) But everybody decide and vote on it on the series page or email me about it. This may decide on whether this mini series becomes a regular series. So the next section and series' fate is up to everybody!

Started: September 6th 2000 on Wednesday

Mini Series One: Thick as Blood Story: Three

If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:

redhope@redhope.net

Section 1

~*Part 1*~

"Hold on? wait." Xena sighed and strolled over to the two women. "Just stop."

The two younger women chuckled together and dropped their fighting stances.

"Something wrong Xen?" The small warrior peered up to her partner.

"You know there is." The warrior narrowed her eyes at her lover then slowly grinned. "That's not how you want to do it and you know it."

Gabrielle bit her tongue however smirked. "Oh?"

The older woman corked an eyebrow. "Would you like me to teach your daughter?"

"Oh no." The small woman poked her soulmate's stomach with the hilt of her sai. "I teach her and you teach me."

The Warrior Princess laughed. "Fine." She shrugged and strolled out of the clearing. "Don't come to me when Hope gets knocked on her ass."

"She won't!" The young warrior called back.

"Mother like daughter!" Answered the warrior.

Gabrielle grumbled and looked back to Hope. "Anyway." She grinned. "Xena is right." She sighed. "Don't pull that move until you understand how to use your staff better. Got me?"

Slowly the younger woman nodded. "Alright." She dropped her head against the staff. "How long did it take you to learn the staff?"

The warrior-bard's eyes went unfocused. "Learned it in? a few months." Her eyes focused again as a small grin tweaked her lips. "Mastered it in a year or so."

Hope's eyebrows shot up. "It takes that long?"

Gabrielle quietly laughed. "For a fast learner, yes." She twirled her sais to bring the blades out. "Feel like one more round?"

The daughter sighed dramatically. "I think I can do it."

"Getting too old for your mother?" The small warrior stepped back and bent her knees.

Hope quietly laughed and raised her staff. "Come on old lady."

Gabrielle laughed and lunged forward to fight her daughter.

The warrior peered up to see her soulmate and Hope come into the camp. She smiled to her partner. "Was wondering when you would come back."

"Miss me?" Gabrielle grinned and strolled up to her lover. She leaned down and kissed her soundly.

Hope leaned against her staff with a sad smile watching the pair. She could see the strong love between them.

The young warrior straightened up with a smile.

"So what we doing for dinner?" Hope placed her free hand on her hip.

The soulmates chuckled together and glanced over to the young woman.

Gabrielle shook her head. "How about you catch it."

Hope's eyes widen.

A small grin creased the warrior's lips. She stood up. "Rabbit?" She gazed down at Gabrielle.

"Yeah." The Amazon Queen shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

"Same here." Gabrielle's daughter nodded.

"Alright." Xena faced her lover. "The fire is almost ready." She gazed over to the western sky to see the sun about to touch the horizon. "Be back."

"Thanks Xen."

The warrior flashed a smile and walked into the woods.

Gabrielle walked over to her horse and pulled off the saddlebag. She came back to the fire to settle it there. She sat down with crossed legs.

Hope quietly came up beside her and sat down. "Is it always like this?" She turned her head to her mother. "Xena catches and you cook?"

"Yup." The mother grinned. "Since day one." She turned to the saddlebags and started to pull out her cooking supplies. "Works well."

"Must if it's been for five years." Hope glanced to the fire that was building up. "So explain to me why you're not growing gray hairs and wrinkling?"

"A mother doesn't give a way all her secrets." The small warrior gave a grin but lost it. "It's a long story." She sighed. "But in a nutshell, Xena and I were frozen in ice tombs by Ares." She shrugged. "We finally broke through twenty-five years later... about a month ago." Her voice faded out but she quietly asked, "How were you reborn?"

Hope fiddled with her staff in a little bit of nervousness. "My remains were committed to Dahak's flames." She stared at her small fingers playing with the smooth wood on the staff. "Dahak's followers found my remains and took them to his old temple." She shrugged.

Gabrielle reached over and grasped the small hand. "Dahak?" She'd noticed how her daughter was referring to him.

The young woman huffed and lifted her eyes to Gabrielle. "I have to choose. You or Dahak." She smiled warmly. "I'm liking it with you better." She lowered her eyes. "No, he's not my father."

The small warrior squeezed her daughter's hand tightly. "And I will be counting my blessings for eternity that I have you." A few tears rolled down her cheeks.

Hope studied her mother for a moment as a smile crept along her lips. "Me too." She was holding Gabrielle's hand just as tightly. With her free hand she wiped away Gabrielle's tears.

The mother smiled confidently then released the small hand. She leaned a little to her left to retrieve a long stick. She poked at the fire.

"What happened at my birth?" Hope's voice barely heard.

The Amazon Queen continued to poke the fire with her stick. She didn't respond right away. "Too many things." She poked some more. "Even today it still makes my head spin." She sighed. "I had you in Britannia in about a weeks span." She pulled the stick out.

Hope slowly nodded. "How long does a baby normally take?"

"Nine months."

The young woman dropped her head while staring at her staff. "That long?"

"Yes." Gabrielle lifted her eyes towards her daughter. "But the fact you came sooner made me believe you were even more special." She smiled sadly. "And I was right."

Hope's right hand went through her hair. "I wouldn't say that," she mumbled under her breath.

"I would." The small warrior sighed. "Let me explain something to you Hope." She took a deep breath. "You have two sides."

"I know." Hope faintly nodded. "My Dahak side and my Gabrielle side." She turned her head to Gabrielle. "Right?"

"Sort of." The Amazon Queen looked to Hope. "You have a dark side and a light side." She glanced to the spot where Xena had entered into the woods. "Xena has the samething." Her eyes focused on Hope again. "When I met Xena she'd just began to take control of her darkness. Today she has a powerful control over her darkness but now and again it will come back." She paused. "She controls it a little better each day."

Gabrielle's daughter moved her head in understanding. "So you think this is the same with me?"

"Yes." The young warrior's expression held a warm smile. "Give yourself time and you'll learn to control it too. You've already taken the largest step. Just keep that in mind."

Hope slowly nodded. "I'll remember." She raised an eyebrow at her mother. "If? I have problems I can? talk to you?"

"Definitely." A smile that held love formed on Gabrielle's mouth. "I'm always here if you need me."

"Good." The young woman nodded briskly. "You're the only one I trust right now."

"I know? give it time." The mother breathed deeply. "But as I said, I thought you were special during your birth." She smiled to her daughter. "In the local port Xena and I went to there were villagers. They knew I was pregnant."

"And they knew with what huh?"

Gabrielle faintly nodded. "Fear set in and the villagers came after us. So Xena and I escaped to a castle in a woods. Within the next day I had you." She lowered her eyes with her mind focussing on the past. "The next day or so you grew rapidly to about a year old. Walking and starting to talk. The knights of this castle knew who you were too. They and Xena tried to kill you but I took you."

Hope began to play with the staff again.

"I ran from Xena with you." Gabrielle lifted the stick and began to poke again. "Finally I put you into a small basket and placed you into a stream. I could only hope you'd survive." She removed the stick from the fire. "Xena caught up to me not long after near a gorge." She lowered her head. "I lied to Xena telling her I threw you over."

"Xena believed you?"

Gabrielle slowly nodded. "She did." She peered over to her daughter. "She trusted me dearly then."

The daughter raised an eyebrow. "Of course she trusts you now?"

"Yes." The older woman smiled warmly. "We trust each other with our soul."

The young woman stared into the fire considering her mother's words. "I wonder if I'll have that."

The small warrior quietly laughed. "One thing at time." She turned her head to Hope. "You have a lot of other things to worry about."

A dramatic sigh came from Hope. "Don't remind me." She grinned. "Like social skills."

"That and other things." Gabrielle grinned for a second as her right hand rested on her daughter's knee. "You need to be carefully with your telekinesis." She paused while coming up with the right words. "People will fear it." Her eyes locked with Hope's. "They will fear it and desire it. Only show it to people you trust."

"I figured." Hope turned her head away. "So, what of the Amazons?"

Gabrielle lifted her eyes to see her soulmate come back in with a skinned rabbit. "We're headed there." She stood up with a pan. "Probably make it there tomorrow afternoon."

The daughter slowly nodded and watched her mother take the rabbit and begin to cook it. The darkness of the night, she noticed, began to set in.

"You'll love the Amazons." Xena evilly grinned to Hope then walked over to her mare.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hope corked an eyebrow. She glanced between Xena and her mother.

"Xena just doesn't like the Amazons." Gabrielle placed the pan over the fire to cook. "Just ignore her."

The warrior whirled around with her saddlebags. "You know I love the Amazons, Queen Gabrielle."

The small warrior rolled her eyes. "You love the Amazons like you love bows in your hair."

"They are bows in my hair," mumbled the warrior. She settled the saddlebag down by Gabrielle's. She sat down beside Hope and leaned towards her. "Watch out, your mother will con you into making you an Amazon," she whispered.

The Amazon Queen mocked glare at her partner. "I heard that."

"You're an Amazon?"

Xena shook her head at Hope. "Nope."

"One day," teased the Queen.

The Warrior Princess corked an eyebrow.

Gabrielle silently laughed and walked over to the other women. She sat down next to her soulmate. "Do we know how long we're staying with the Amazons?"

The older woman shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

The young warrior raised an eyebrow slowly. "Right," she said in sarcasm.

The tall warrior chuckled. "Well maybe a little."

"Uh huh."

"Amazons are that bad?" Hope asked.

"Depends." The mother glanced over. "Some people like leathers and feathers? and some?" Her eyes focused on her lover. "Don't."

"I never said I didn't like them."

"I didn't say that either." The warrior-bard smirked then gazed at the pan. "The Amazons are a blast."

Xena moaned deeply.

Gabrielle glanced away from her soulmate to her daughter. "You'll be fine, promise."

Hope sighed dramatically while glancing to the fire. "Hopefully it won't take to long."

"Nah." The small warrior grinned. "You'll pick up things quickly."

It was evening about quarter of a candlemark after dinner. Xena was sitting on a log sharpening her sword while Gabrielle and Hope were talking closer to the fire.

Hope chuckled a little. "I'm about as old as you."

The Amazon Queen slowly nodded. "Physically." She shrugged. "Mentally is different."

"Ssso, you're saying I have a lot to learn?" The daughter grinned a little.

"Uh huh." Gabrielle stretched her legs out before propping them up. She dropped her head down on her knees with her face towards Hope. "What you think of this side of life?"

"It's? greener." The small woman grinned while stretching her own legs out with her hands behind her back. "I just don't know what I'm going to do."

The small warrior shrugged. "You'll figure it out."

"Mmm." Hope nodded and looked away. She breathed deeply and said, "I think I'm going to go to sleep."

"Yeah." Gabrielle reached over to pat her daughter's thigh. "Tomorrow will be busy."

"Why?" The young woman had a worried look.

The short warrior quietly laughed. "You'll see."

"Oh great." Hope slowly stood up. "I can wait." She grinned.

Gabrielle had an amused look. "Goodnight Hope." Her loving smile took shape.

"Sleep well mother." The daughter smiled back with depth as she squeezed Gabrielle's shoulder. Afterwards she walked over to her bedroll in curled up to sleep hard.

Gabrielle on the other hand trailed her eyes over to her lover.

Xena's eyes focused on Gabrielle.

The small warrior's lips creased into a smile.

The warrior grinned a little, sheathed her sword, and stood up. She went to put her whetstone away.

The Amazon Queen lifted her head as Xena came over to her.

The Warrior Princess kneeled down at her lover's side. "How you doing?"

"Well." The small woman leaned over to kiss her partner tenderly. She slowly pulled back with a smile. "You?"

"Still a little? edgy." Her blue eyes flickered over to Hope then back to Gabrielle.

"I know." The warrior-bard caressed Xena's cheek. "She's doing well."

"Yeah," whispered the older woman. "She's completely different."

Gabrielle moved her head in agreement. "She is."

Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle and began to sit down taking her partner with her.

The young warrior snuggled into Xena's body and tangled her legs with the longer ones. "Mmm, it's been a while."

"Uh huh." The older woman leaned her head forward. "For a couple of things."

The short woman evilly grinned while whispering, "The hut."

"If I can wait that long."

Gabrielle patted her lover's knee. "You can because you're going to be to busy restraining me."

The older woman quietly laughed. "Who said anything about restraining?"

The small warrior grinned but slowly lost it. She sighed a little sadly. "How you handling it?" quietly asked she.

"Hope?"

Gabrielle nodded while grasping her friend's hands.

Xena sighed then lowered her chin onto her soulmate's shoulder. She didn't move or say anything while thinking. After several moments she lifted her head. "It's hard at certain points."

The warrior-bard nodded a little while squeezing her lover's hands. "Thank you for giving her a second chance." She felt a tight squeeze around her body.

"She deserves it and so does your relationship with her."

A sad smile creased the short warrior's lips. "Yeah." She dropped her head back into her lover's shoulder.

Xena's eyes drifted over to Hope. She stared at the young face with the innocent look. It undoubtable reminded she of her soulmate almost three years ago. "She sleeps like you," whispered the warrior.

Hope's mother turned her head to the left to stare at the sleeping form of Hope. She saw the soft expression and innocence written in. She noticed how Hope tucked her hands under her head with her body curled up close for warmth. The lips slightly parted as her face twitched here and there from dreams. It caused a powerful smile to take control of Gabrielle. A few tears rolled down her cheeks. "She's another person."

The warrior smiled sadly as she realized that herself. She leaned forward to kiss her lover's cheek. "Give me time." Her eyes went to Hope again. "Maybe it won't hurt quite as much later."

Gabrielle smiled and tilted her head back. "Thank you Xena," she whispered. She pulled down her soulmate's head and kissed her with love.

~*Part 2*~

Gabrielle dropped the reins to her horse. She raised her hands over her head.

Xena did the same.

Hope had a confused expression but did it none the less. She heard nothing and saw nothing but then three women reappeared from the trees. She noticed them to wear leathers, have masks on, and feathers. She now grinned at knowing they were Amazons.

The three women dropped their arms together.

One Amazon stepped forward to push her mask back. "Welcome Queen Gabrielle." Her hair was black and gray that reached below her shoulders.

The warrior-bard turned her head in question. "Eponin?"

The weapons master grinned slowly. "Still at your services my Queen." She bowed her head.

Gabrielle smiled warmly and took a step forward to hug her friend tightly. "It's so good to see you."

Eponin hugged back just as strongly. "Glad you could make it back my Queen."

The Queen laughed and took a step back.

Eponin smiled but then glanced over to Hope noticing her. Her eyes widen.

The small warrior held her hand out to Hope. "This is Hope."

The weapons master's right hand instantly moved to her sword. "By the gods." She began to extract it. She could remember who Hope was from the past.

The warrior-bard stepped forward with her hands up. "It's alright Ep."

The other two Amazons glanced between their Queen and the weapons master trying to figure out what was going on.

Xena took a step forward. "Ep, Hope is with us."

The weapons master stood still with her sword half unsheathed. Slowly her hand let go and there was a scrape of the blade going into the sheath again.

"Thank you." Gabrielle smiled and lowered her hands. "Hope?" She turned towards her daughter. "This is Eponin." She held her right hand to the Amazon. "She was one of the first to teach me the staff." She grinned.

Hope quietly laughed and glanced over to Eponin. "Nice to meet you."

The weapons master faintly nodded with cold eyes. She remembered. She then glanced to her two Amazon friends. "This is Rhesus." She held her hand to the right at the Amazon. "And this is Ambrosios."

Gabrielle nodded at both the Amazons with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you both."

The two Amazons shyly smiled.

Eponin glanced over to Xena then to Gabrielle. Her eyes focused on Xena. "So, mind telling me where the fountain of youth is? I could use it myself."

The warrior slowly grinned. "We forget."

The weapons master huffed. "Right." She turned around. "Follow me my Queen."

Gabrielle sighed. "Ep," she growled.

Eponin quietly laughed. "Follow me Gabrielle."

"Thank you." The warrior-bard followed behind her friend after collecting her horse's reins.

The Amazon, Rhesus, slowed her pace to walk along side Hope. She glanced at the short long-haired blond shyly then away. "Nice to meet you Hope." Rhesus was younger then Hope.

The short woman smiled warmly at Rhesus as she walked with her staff. "Rhesus." She bowed her head slightly. She could tell she had to start the conversation that Rhesus wanted to have. "So? how long have you been an Amazon?"

Rhesus brightened up. "All my life." She chuckled a little. She was a little taller then Hope with short brown hair. "Are you and Queen Gabrielle sisters?" she asked quietly.

Hope had an amused expression. "No, Gabrielle is my mother."

The Amazon's eyes widen. "You're kidding."

Hope shook her head while glancing ahead.

"That's amazing," ushered Rhesus.

The older woman lost her amusement as a sigh came. She turned her head to the Amazon again. "Amazons are only women?"

Rhesus quickly nodded. "Yes, have been forever."

Hope slowly nodded. "Mmm, I consider myself an independent woman." She turned her head to the Amazon with an evil grin. "But I'd ask my father first if I could become an Amazon."

The Amazon's narrowed her eyes with a raised eyebrow.

Hope started to laugh at the other woman. "It was a joke." She settled down.

"Right," Rhesus shook her head as a small smile formed.

Eponin turned her head away from Hope's direction while shaking it. "I can't believe it," she whispered.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes a little. "Well start believing it Ep."

The weapons master sighed deeply. "I'll need some convincing." Her eyes flickered up to Xena then back down to Gabrielle. "I know what she did to you." Her eyes lifted to the warrior again. "The both of you."

"She's changed."

Eponin narrowed her eyes before whispering, "History repeats itself."

The Queen's left hand shot out to grasp Eponin's arm tightly. She leaned into the Amazon as she continued to walk. "Listen to me Eponin." Her eyes narrowed while she spoke in a whisper. "She's my daughter and she deserves a second chance." She paused. "She's not the same person."

The weapons master narrowed her eyes now. "I pray that she isn't Gabrielle for your sake." She took a shaky breath. "But until I know that for myself? I'll be on my guard." She shook her head. "I don't need losing you or Xena." She had a hurt look crossed her face. "We've lost to many good Amazons? friends. First it was Solari, then Eph, Amarice after that, and we thought we lost both of you." She pulled her arm free. "So let me decide for myself. I care about what happens to you both."

The small warrior sighed very sadly. "Alright, I see your point." She gazed ahead through the forest.

"Thank you." The weapons master saw the village coming into view.

The group soon came into the village.

Xena began scanning around the village.

Eponin grinned and peered up the tall woman. "She's right over there." She pointed to the right then signaled to the other two Amazons to take Xena and Gabrielle's horses away.

The soulmates handed their reins over to the two Amazons.

Hope came up beside her mother and looked to the right to see what was so interesting.

Slowly a loving smile creased the warrior's lips as she recognized the one person out of the Amazons. She locked blue eyes with blue. She quickly power walked in that direction.

"Mother."

Xena met her daughter halfway and pulled her into a strong hug. She kissed the side of Eve's temple and whispered, "I missed you."

Eve quietly laughed while hugging her mother tightly. "It's good to see you mother." She pulled back from the hug with a warm smile. "I was starting to worry about you and Gabrielle."

Gabrielle brought her right hand to Hope's back. "Come on." She led her daughter up to Xena's side.

"We ran into some? trouble." The warrior folded her arms. "We would have been here sooner."

Eve nodded slowly. "That's what I figured." She glanced to her right to see? well two Gabrielles. Her jaw dropped.

"You were right," Gabrielle whispered while leaning towards her soulmate.

"Uh huh." Xena grinned. "Aren't I always?"

The young warrior chuckled and glanced back to Eve. "How are you dear?" She moved in for a strong hug.

Eve released the older woman and watched her step back to her original spot. "Nnnot bad." Xena's daughter shook her head. "Excuse me, but why are there two of you?" She chuckled at her own words.

Hope grinned while leaning against her staff. "That's the interesting part."

Eve blinked at Hope.

Gabrielle turned her head to her daughter. "This is Hope, Eve." She glanced back to her soulmate's daughter.

Eve's expression dropped. She peered up to her mother. "The same Hope that?" She trailed off. She'd heard a few fragments of the story.

The Warrior Princess nodded a little.

"Well?" Eve faced Hope again. Slowly she raised her right arm. "People change. I should know." She smiled warmly while holding her hand out.

Hope grasped the woman's hand briskly and shook. "Thank you." She smiled warmly. "You're the first to say that."

Eve grinned a little while releasing the small warm hand. "We're in the same boat." She winked. "Let me know if you ever want to trade stories."

The soulmates glimpsed up to each other. Then they raised eyebrows at each other in wonderment.

"So?" Eve put her hands on her hips. "What's going on?" She glanced between her mother and Gabrielle.

Gabrielle shrugged.

Xena rocked on her the heels of her boots. "Don't know." She grinned. "Family get together."

Hope glanced to the lovers. "So you're saying? Eve and I are sisters?"

The small warrior grinned at her daughter. "That's up to you two." She patted Hope's arm then looked up to Xena. "Horses then hut?"

"Yup." Xena looked to Eve. "Show Hope around the town."

"Sure." Eve looked to Hope. "Want a tour?"

Gabrielle's daughter quietly laughed. "Lead the way." She walked up to Eve's side.

"See you two later." Xena grinned and strolled off with her soulmate.

Gabrielle grinned and waved. "Bye." She started to walk but called off, "Stay out of trouble too."

"I think we're mature enough for that," yelled Eve.

"That's not true." The small warrior turned around with a huge grin. "Because Xena and I do it all the time." She spun around to catch up with her lover.

Hope quietly laughed and shook her head. "Mothers," she whispered.

"Really." Eve sighed and turned her attention to the other woman. "So? what's your story?" She started to walk.

The smaller woman breathed deeply. "Only if you tell me yours."

The dark haired female mocked glare. "I hate telling stories."

Hope shrugged. "Only fair."

"Fine, you begin." Eve placed her hands behind her back.

The short woman took a deep breath while trying to figure everything right.

Eve smiled as the door swung open. "Hi."

Gabrielle slowly raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the hut's doorway. "What's up?"

The younger woman faintly shrugged. "I showed Hope around."

"And?"

The tall woman noticed Gabrielle wore no boots, her body shining with a thin layer of sweat and her right top strap a little askew. Eve slowly began to grin. "And well? I couldn't get her out of the scroll hut."

The warrior-bard did a double take. "The scroll hut?"

"She pulled out one scroll and I lost her." Eve shrugged. "I figured you'd understand that." She evilly grinned now.

The warrior-bard laughed. "I could."

"Sounds like somebody else I know."

The Amazon Queen dropped her head back to see her lover grinning down at her. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah well, it's like taking you into a weapons shop." She lifted her head with a small smile. "I'll go get her." She smiled warmly. "Thanks Eve for showing her around."

"No problem." Eve shifted her weight to her left foot with her hands going to her hips. "Are we having a party tonight?" She corked an eyebrow. "We are in Amazon land."

The Queen chuckle then folded her arms. "Of course."

"Mmm, no sleep tonight." Eve slowly nodded.

"I know." Gabrielle patted Eve's shoulder with a grin and turned to walk into the hut.

Xena watched her soulmate bypass her before she turned her attention to Eve again. "Feel like a walk?"

The daughter smiled warmly. "Would love one." Her hands left her hips. "Mother daughter bonding time."

"Uh huh." The warrior turned with a grin.

Eve followed in and closed the door behind.

"Eve?"

The young woman turned her head to the left to Gabrielle. "Mmm?"

Gabrielle's right foot hit the wood floor with a boom after she'd tied her boots on. "What section of the scrolls was Hope in?"

"Hmmm." Eve furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't know." She looked to the floor thinking. "She went to the? left side? third row from the top."

The Amazon Queen's eyes widen. "Oh no."

Xena glanced over to her partner while she tied her boots. "What's wrong with that section?"

The small warrior turned her head to her lover. "That's the? special Amazon tales," she emphasized.

"Special tales?" Eve glimpsed between her mother and the smaller woman.

"It's nothing." The Warrior Princess shook her head then straightened up. "Ready for that walk?" She raised an eyebrow at Eve.

The daughter folded her arms at the distraction. "Sure." She tapped her boot.

The warrior came up beside Eve and directed her towards the door. She turned her head back to her soulmate and mouthed, get Hope out of there.

Gabrielle quickly nodded. "See you soon."

Xena winked. "See you for dinner." She met Eve out of the door.

"What are the special tales?" Eve started walking along side her mother.

The Warrior Princess looked anywhere except at her daughter. "I'll tell you when you're old enough."

The warrior-bard heard it and started to chuckle as she left the hut and closed the door behind.

Gabrielle leaned against the doorway as a tender smile eased across her lips. Her head dropped against the doorframe. Her warm eyes stayed locked on the small woman inside of the hut just disappeared into her reading. A content sighed left her.

Hope's head whipped up at hearing the sigh, which caused her heart to skip a beat. She sighed in relief.

"Sorry." The small warrior chuckled. "What you reading?"

"Just this story." The younger woman was sitting in a wood chair with the scroll in her lap. Her staff was leaning against a scroll case. "It's really interesting."

"What's it about?" The Queen lifted her head then crossed her arms against her chest.

"I think basically about the Amazons dealing with the Centaurs." She lifted her head again from the scroll. "Where's Xena?"

"She and Eve went for a walk." The mother shrugged. "So it's just you and me." A smile formed.

Hope quietly laughed then sighed as her eyes drifted to the scroll again. "So uh?" She glanced up to her mother. "Are we having mother daughter bonding time too?"

The young warrior shrugged. "We can or we can't." She shrugged again. "Up to you."

Hope looked back to the scroll and slowly began to roll it up. "So, where to?" She stood up after finishing rolling the scroll up.

"First." Gabrielle came into the scroll hut. "Let me give you something to read." She walked past her daughter to the opposite scroll case.

The younger woman had slipped her scroll away and retrieved her staff. She strolled over to Gabrielle's side.

The warrior-bard's right hand was up scanning the scrolls. She knelt down and grinned. Reaching forward, she extracted a scroll and turned to stand. "Read that sometime." She handed it over.

Hope carefully took it. "Is it good?" She peered up from the scroll.

"That's up to you to decide." The small woman strolled out of the scroll hut.

Gabrielle's daughter smiled and walked out behind.

Silently the pair walked through the village of Amazons.

Hope continually caught odd glares in her direction, she felt uncomfortable. "They know," she whispered.

The small warrior glanced around noticing the looks as well. "Doesn't matter," she ushered back. "They knew."

The younger woman furrowed her eyebrows at her mother.

The Queen quietly laughed. "They knew? as in they think of the past you." She shrugged. "They don't know you."

Hope faintly nodded while glancing ahead once more.

"Ah, let's go in here." The small warrior strolled into the hut.

As soon as the daughter came in she was ransacked by the smell of leather. "Must be the leather hut."

Gabrielle chuckled and walked over to a table lined with pairs of leathers, one right after another. She strolled down the table with her left hand scraping over the leathers. "Want any?" She stopped for the reply.

Hope shook her head as she stood staring at the leathers. "I don't think that's my thing. I like what I have." She realized what she might be saying and quickly looked to her mother. "I mean, I could change out of these and-"

"Its okay." The warrior-bard turned around with a grin. "I have no problem with you looking like me? or like I did." She smiled with love. "Be yourself."

"Whatever that is," mumbled Hope while walking over to a table.

Gabrielle quickly came up and grasped her daughter's arm.

Hope looked up instantly to see intense eyes freezing her into place.

"Give it time." The short warrior paused for effect. "You're basically starting a new life." She smiled with hinted sadness. "You'll figure things out, okay?"

"Yeah," whispered the younger woman. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Gabrielle released the small arm. Without warning she found her daughter giving her a one armed hug. The small woman returned the hug. She gave a tight squeeze and released.

Hope smiled then strolled over to a chair to place the scroll down and lean the staff against the wall.

The small warrior walked to opposite side of the hut to look at more leathers. She lifted her head towards her daughter from looking at a table. "How? how long can you? are you?" She stopped because she didn't like asking this.

The younger woman looked up with curious eyes. "How long what?" Her hands rested on the leathers.

Gabrielle sighed while looking away. "How long will you live for?"

Hope lowered her eyes to the leathers on the table. "I'm not sure." She peered back up to lock eyes. "Considering how fast I grew, the gods only know." She sighed for a second. "I think from here out I age normally." She shrugged. "But I could be wrong too."

The Queen nodded in accepting that. She started to walk to the opposite side of the hut where there were a number of weapons lining the wall. She gazed up and down the swords.

Hope peered over to stare at her mother's back. She then sighed while her eyes drifted to the Amazon leathers on the table. "So, Eve is Xena's daughter."

"Yesss." Gabrielle turned around on her heels with a smile. "She's had a rough past."

"So she told me." Hope didn't look up. "We traded stories." She shrugged while glimpsing over to her mother. "Was nice to share."

The small warrior chuckled a little. "Eve is understanding? stubborn but understanding."

The younger woman snickered. "Sounds like somebody else I know," she ushered under her breath.

The warrior-bard folded her arms against her chest as she corked an eyebrow. She was giving her daughter an inquisitive look.

Hope bit back a grin as she glanced to her mother then away again. She shrugged as she started to walk along the table of leathers. "Not that I'm calling names."

"Right." Gabrielle stance was putting her weight on her left side. "But they say birds of a feather flock together."

"Mother like daughter." Hope shot a grin and looked away as she came to the end of the table. Her eyebrows furrowed together as she lifted a few leathers. She caught sight of something interesting. "Mother, come here."

The small warrior dropped her arms. "I don't need more leathers sweetie."

"Oh no." Hope lifted the leathers out of the way to stack them on others. "These ain't leathers." She reached down to lifted a red velvet top and move it out of the way to reveal the skirt.

The Queen felt the soft red velvet. "Mmm, that's odd."

"Odd but really nice." Gabrielle's daughter chuckled while lifting up the top and turned to the warrior-bard. She held the top against the Queen's chest. "Oooh, that would look real good on you."

The older woman shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Come on mother." Hope tilted her head gazing at the red velvet top against her mother's chest. "Try it on at least."

The young warrior sighed dramatically. "Alright, give me the skirt too."

The long blond haired female handed over the top then gave the skirt. She noticed the black belt with jewels on the skirt. "Oh gods, it'll look real good on you." She chuckled while her mother rolled her eyes.

"Be back." Gabrielle trundled off with the outfit to a small room around a corner in the hut.

Hope went back to scanning the leathers. "So you're the Amazon Queen right?" she called off.

The small warrior was slipping out of her top. "Yup."

The younger woman walked over to the swords to study them with little interest. "Who's in charge when you're not around?"

"A regent that I leave in charge." Gabrielle pulled on the new red velvet skirt. "Why you so interested?" A small grin creased her lips as she lifted the red velvet top.

That grin was reflected to Hope's expression. "I just don't understand how the Amazons work? that's all."

"Oh." Gabrielle walked around the wall with the new outfit on. She turned to her daughter.

Slowly Gabrielle's daughter turned while scanning up and down her mother's body. And as she did this a warm smile etched its way. Her head started bobbing. "Lookin' real good mother."

The Amazon Queen laughed and shook her head. "Red?"

"Oh yeah." Hope nodded while studying some more. "Red is the color of the year." She grinned. She took a step back. "It's also you." A smile came now. "I'm serious, you should wear those instead of the leathers."

The warrior sighed dramatically. "Maybe."

"Hold on." Hope held up a hand. "We need to change your arm bracelets." She spun around to scan the hut for an area of jewelry. She spotted one with a brightening expression. She walked over to a shelf and found numerous types of bracelets. She selected just a gold band. Coming back over she took off the arm bracelets Gabrielle had on then slipped on the golden one on her mother's right arm. She stepped back again.

"Your verdict?" The small warrior fisted her hands up at her sides with her stance holding a sway to her hips.

"Mmm, let's change your necklace too." Hope chuckled.

The warrior-bard shook her head with a grin. "What's your recommendation?"

Gabrielle's daughter looked back to the shelves that held jewelry. "I saw one over there." She scanned the shelves with her eyes and found it. Raising her right hand and the narrowing of her eyes, she lifted the necklace mentally.

The necklace floated through the air towards the women.

Hope walked over to her mother again as the necklace came near. She reached up and snatched it out of the air as she turned her head back to Gabrielle.

The Queen unwidened her eyes. "I keep forgetting your telekinesis."

"Mmm not telekinesis." Hope reached around to unhook the necklace her mother wore now. "Its called lazyness." She reached back around with the new necklace.

The short warrior laughed. "That's one way to put it."

"Uh huh." The younger woman took three steps back finished with the transition of necklaces. "I have pity for Xena already mother."

Gabrielle laughed. "That bad huh?"

"No, that sexy." Hope snickered when she shook her head. "You look perfect." She smiled warmly.

The young warrior glanced around for a mirror and found one. She walked over to it and studied herself. "So, you like these?"

"On you, yes." The daughter stood beside her mother as she stared into the mirror. "You look older too."

"Great." Gabrielle groaned. "How old?" she asked quietly.

"Mmm." Hope tilted her head in thought. "Thirty."

"Not bad." The Queen put her hands on her hips.

The younger woman nodded with a grin. "Not bad at all for fifty-three."

"Sssh." The warrior-bard grinned towards the mirror. "Nobody is suppose to know I'm that old."

"Well you are." The daughter evilly grinned. "Twenty-eight plus the twenty-five years in the ice tomb."

"Don't rub it in," growled the mother. She smiled as she went silent. Now she took in the entire image of her standing beside Hope.

Hope was silent as well. She memorized the mirroring of her and Gabrielle. She memorized how they looked exactly alike physically other then tiny differences. She also noticed the worn look on her mother's face. "Been a hard journey," she whispered so silently.

Gabrielle nodded faintly. She whispered back, "But it's been worth it." A smile relaxed onto her expression. "Been worth it," she repeated.

Hope grasped her mother's shoulders. "Was worth waiting out those twenty-five years." She squeezed and released her the woman's shoulders. She strolled over to get her staff and the scroll. "You should really wear it."

"Alright, you convinced me." The warrior spun around. "Happy?"

The daughter chuckled with a smile. "Yup." She leaned against her staff. "You?"

"Very." The Queen winked in suggestion and walked into the back room to grab her leathers. She sauntered out of the hut into the late western light. "Let's? go by my hut so I can get rid of these." She indicated her leathers. "And then walk out of the village for a few minutes."

The younger woman moved her head in agreement.

The pair made their way back to Gabrielle's hut.

Gabrielle went inside briefly then quickly came back out beside her daughter. "I almost forgot." She closed the hut door. "You're staying with Eve." She turned her head to Hope. "Is that alright?"

Hope nodded. "Sounds good." She grinned. "I think I can put up with Eve."

The older woman laughed while strolling along. "I know that. I just hope Eve can put up with you." She received a slap to her arm.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Hope mocked glared at her mother. "I'm easy to get along with."

The small warrior grinned. "I agree." She shrugged. "I was just saying it's hard to get along with Eve." Her grin went devilish. "It's in the genes."

The younger woman's eyes widened, as she understood. "Oh you're bad mom."

A snicker escaped Gabrielle. "Just don't tell Eve 'cause it'll get to Xena."

Hope laughed while nodding a little. "I'll try not too."

The two women left the village and went into the woods. Gabrielle was silent with a smile, so was Hope. But slowly the warrior-bard's smile dropped and Hope knew something serious was going to be said.

"Let's sit." Gabrielle held a hand out to a log.

The women straddled the log facing each other. Hope still held her staff and scroll in hand.

The mother looked away then back again. Her hands came to rest on the log. "I wanted to talk to you about the Destroyer."

Hope dropped her head.

"Please Hope."

"I can't do it." Hope started to stand up.

Gabrielle's hand shot out to grasp her daughter's hand. "Please Hope." She squeezed. "You need to? we need to." Her voice was low with a plea. "I want to help."

The younger woman broke the eye contact. She stared into the forest past Gabrielle. "What about it?"

"Everything," whispered the small warrior. "Hope please? please."

Hope closed her eyes and slowly sat back down.

The Amazon Queen watched her daughter lower the staff and scroll down. And this was the first time she noticed Hope still held her old necklace. It made a sad smile ease across. Bending forward she picked up her old necklace from the ground. She straightened up while facing her daughter again. "You loved him."

"I did." Hope faintly nodded while watching her mother straightened out the necklace. "But now?"

"Now?" the small warrior prompted. She peered up with question.

"I do but I also? hate him in a way." The small woman shrugged to Gabrielle. "He was my pride? my joy." She rested her hands on her legs. "But I only hate my son because? it's hard to explain."

"Try me." Gabrielle bent forward then raised the necklace.

Hope felt the warm hands go around her neck and hook the necklace on as she spoke. "Because he wasn't what I wanted completely. He was a pawn in Dahak's games and not a real child."

The warrior-bard lowered her hands to adjust the necklace's charm on her daughter's neck. "And it makes you hate Dahak more huh?"

"Yes."

"I know the feeling." The older woman peered up with a small grin as she sat back.

Gabrielle's daughter chuckled a little. "Guess you do." She shook her head. "What really angers me is if I could have a real child or not. Whether Dahak still controls that of me."

"Knew that feeling."

Hope slowly started to smile as she realized the meaning of the statement.

"And what of Xena and I?" The mother had a concerned look. "When we fought you both and-"

"I'm glad you did it." Hope cut off her mother with a serious expression. "It was the right thing." She worked a smile out. "I was Dahak's then." She lost the smile as her eyes dropped. "Look mother." Her eyes lifted to her mirror image. "If? well you said Xena will revert to her dark side." She shook her head. "If I do the samething and there's no stopping me." She ran her right hand through her bangs. "Then kill me."

"Never." Gabrielle reached out to grasp her daughter's hands. "Not now or ever." She had a desperate look. "I've got you back, I'm not letting go."

"But I may return to Dahak again." Hope started to shake her head with emotions bubbling up causing small tears. "Don't risk people's lives for me."

Gabrielle locked eyes as she went into conviction. Her voice came out hard and slow. "I will risk whatever to get you back." She squeezed her daughter's hands again. "I am not losing you again."

Hope stared into her mother's eyes that held so much love and protection in them. She was holding just as tightly to Gabrielle's whitening hands. Her eyes slowly closed as tears came down.

The mother quickly scouted down the log to pull her child into a strong hug.

Hope dug her head into her mother's neck while crying harder.

Gabrielle quickly joined. She only swayed their bodies as they cried. "I'm never letting you go Hope," she whispered.

Hope's arms tightened around her mother. After several minutes she pulled back with red eyes. "Gods." She wiped away at her eyes. "I don't think I've cried this much."

The small warrior quietly laughed as her eyes slowly began to stop stinging. "It's a good thing." She sniffed a little and smiled warmly. "How you feel?"

The younger woman nodded a little. "A little better." She chuckled. "Thank you mom."

"Anything for you sweetie." Gabrielle still had her loving smile. She glanced to her left to see the sun just streaming through the trees. "We better head back."

"Eve told me we're having a party." Hope raised an eyebrow.

"Uh huh." The Queen turned her head back. "But party is a nice word for it."

Hope wrinkled her nose. "A bash?"

"Try two bashes in one." Gabrielle chuckled and stood up.

The daughter laughed while standing up herself.

"Let's go find your hut mate." The Queen moved over the log to start walking back towards the village. "And mine."

Hope quietly laughed and followed along side with her staff and scroll. She felt the new weight of the necklace around her neck.

Eve lifted her head as she saw Gabrielle and Hope enter into the hut. "Hey," she said with a smile.

Gabrielle put her hands to her hips. "Hope can stay with you?"

Eve's eyes widen as she peered over to Hope then back to the mother. "Of course." Her smile eased back across her lips. "Would love it." Her eyes flickered over to Hope. "We can trade more stories about our mothers."

Hope snickered quietly and dropped her head against her staff. "Sounds like a plan."

The Amazon Queen grumbled. "Great." She turned to the door again. "Be at the party."

"We will." The dark tall woman grinned at Gabrielle. "Count on it."

The young warrior chuckled. "Good." She opened the door.

"Oh by the way." Eve straightened up. "Nice outfit Gabrielle."

"Thanks." Gabrielle stepped out the doorway. "I'm worried about what your mother will think."

"Oh?" Xena's daughter started to shake her head as an evil grin came across her lips. "I'd be more worried about what she'll do to you if I were you."

Hope snickered. "Agreed," she mumbled.

The older woman sighed dramatically. "Kids," she mumbled and closed the door behind.

Eve and Hope chuckled together.

"You'd think we were in our teens or something." Hope shook her head while straightening up.

Eve nodded in agreement. She walked around the bed. "Well?" She held her left hand out to the huge bed. "Don't mind sharing?" Her hand dropped.

Gabrielle's daughter studied the large bed. "Do I have a choice?" She peered up to the darker woman.

The tall woman quietly laughed. "Nope."

"Alright then." Hope tossed her scroll and staff to the left side of the bed. "My side."

"Glad we got that settled." Eve sighed with a grin and walked over to the door.

The smaller woman came up behind with little space between bodies. "To the party?"

"To the bash." Xena's daughter chuckled as her hand curled around the handle. "Be prepared."

Hope leaned her head forward close to Eve's. "That bad?"

"Very." The tall woman's eyes drifted shut for a second as she took in a large breath. She shook her head, opened the door, and stepped out.

The short woman followed behind and closed the door.

The bash wasn't going quite like a bash, that was noticeable to Gabrielle and Xena.

The Amazon Queen sighed and walked across the dark open ground. She came up beside her soulmate. "What is it?" She shook her head. "Why is it so dead?"

Xena peered down at her partner. "Hope." She lifted her mug to drink.

"I know," whispered the younger woman. Her eyes flickered around the village of Amazons seeming them all quiet and hardly celebrating. She hated this. She also noticed Hope was back away in a corner, sitting, and her head hung low as if she knew the lack of partying was her fault. "Damn it," mumbled the small warrior. She started to walk towards her daughter.

"Wait." The warrior grasped her lover's hand. She nodded to the right.

The warrior-bard looked in that direction to see Eve reappear out of the shadows with two mugs. She watched Eve walk right up to Hope, kneel down to hand over a mug, then sit down next to her. Gabrielle smiled warmly and dropped her head against Xena's shoulder. "Thank the gods for Eve."

"Mmm." Xena nodded in agreement. "Reminds me of?"

"What?" The Amazon Queen peered up in question. She thought about what her partner might have said. "Eve just did something you would have done for me?"

The warrior said nothing and drank her port. She still held Gabrielle's hand, which she squeezed. She lowered her mug. "Wait till she asks for a dance," she mumbled.

"Xena," warned the small warrior.

The tall woman quietly laughed and gazed down at her lover. "You told them to select their relationship."

Gabrielle leaned forward a little to study the two daughters. "Well? they look sisterly right now."

"Oh definitely." Xena glanced over and pointed a finger towards the young women. "Sisters always sit that close to each other." Her hand lowered.

"Hey, Lila and I did alright?" The small woman grinned up.

The Warrior Princess chuckled. "Alright? alright." She turned her head to her lover with furrowed eyebrows. "Are they in the same hut?"

"Uh huh." The small warrior peeked up with a concerned look. "Bad idea?"

Xena shook her head. "Let them get to know each other." She winked and strolled off.

Gabrielle's mouth dropped. "Are you suggesting something?"

The warrior turned around while walking backwards. "Don't assume anything."

"Well I am."

The older woman chuckled while still walking backwards. "Well assuming makes an ass of you and me."

The warrior-bard's mouth dropped all over again. "That's it." She ran after Xena.

The tall woman evilly laughed and turned to run with her head buzz. She tried holding her mug up right to not spill it.

Eve shook her head while peering back to Hope. "Mothers," she mumbled.

"Uh huh." Hope chuckled and smiled to the other woman. "Thank you."

"For what?" The taller woman furrowed her brow.

"Other then the head buzz." The blond indicated the mug. "For sitting with me."

The dark woman chuckled with a smile. "No problem." She reached over to squeeze Hope's knee. She pulled her hand away to hold her mug again. "It's hard to, at first, once you've turned away from quote evil unquote."

Hope moved her head in agreement. "Definitely with people that had you on their hit list," she whispered.

Eve nodded a little. "That too." She sighed while lowering her eyes. "Just have to take one step at a time." She glanced up to Hope. "Get's a little easier each day."

The small woman nodded then chuckled a little. "Have you been hanging around my mother?"

The dark haired woman laughed while raising her mug a little. "Must have been all those baby stories Gabrielle told me." She drank a little of her port.

"Must of." Hope took a sip of her wine.

"Hey you two." Gabrielle jumped up to the daughters. "You're joining the group."

Both Hope and Eve corked eyebrows in question.

The Amazon Queen sighed. "All of the Amazons are getting together to do a few games. You two are joining in."

"Trying to quit myself." Eve shook her head.

Gabrielle put her hands on her hips.

The warrior reappeared from the black of night. "If I am, then you two are," she said with seriousness.

Hope and Eve instantly stood up at the hard voice.

"So, where we doing the games?" Hope glanced between her mother and Xena.

Gabrielle quietly laughed. "Follow me." She turned with her soulmate to stroll off.

Hope and Eve placed their mugs down and followed along. They came into a large open area in the village where there were all the Amazons getting together in a huge circle.

"Over here." Eponin waved where there was a huge open space in the large ring circle.

The small warrior led the way to the open fragment in the circle of Amazons. "Okay." She turned to her family. "Stand in front of each other and face the way everybody else is."

Hope nodded and walked up to stand behind an Amazon.

Eve came up behind and stood behind Hope.

The Amazon Queen stood behind Xena's daughter.

Then the Warrior Princess stood behind her soulmate and in front of Eponin.

"Okay my Queen, this is your call." The weapons master called off.

"Right," whispered the Queen. She glanced around at the huge ring of Amazons. "Everybody, squish tight as possible."

The ring of Amazons began to shift and so that their bodies all touch front and back.

Gabrielle nodded in approval. "Alright, now then grasp the person's hips in front of you." She demonstrated as she grasped Eve's hips and she found her lover's hands on her hips tightly.

Hope smiled a little when she felt strong warm hands grasp her sides.

"Okay, now this is a good team thing Amazons." The Queen evilly grinned. "Let's see if we can do it while being tipsy."

All the Amazons laughed together but settled back down to listen.

"So, what the object is, is to sit back into the person's lap behind you." The Amazon Queen's lips creased into a grin. "The trick is, we have to do it all at the sametime or it won't work." She took a deep breath. "Okay, so on the count of three we all sit simultaneously." She paused for a second. "One? two? three."

Everybody in the ring all begin to sit back into the person's lap behind them. When they all thought it would work one person lost their balance at the last second and went tumbling to the ground. It was a domino effect as one Amazon after another went rolling over.

"Oh no." Hope saw the ring falling apart and felt the person in front of her start to take her down. She let go of the person but still felt herself toppling down.

Eve tried to stand up as she moved her feet and held tight to Hope. She stumbled to the right out of the ring but kept herself and Hope up.

The small woman laughed and straightened up. She turned around with a smile. "Thanks Eve."

"No problem." The dark woman winked. She then glanced to her right at hearing familiar laughter. "Look at them."

Turing her head to the right, Hope chuckled at the sight of the soulmates.

Gabrielle buried her head into her lover's neck while still laughing. She lay on her side on the ground and her warrior's arms around her waist. "Oh gods," she moaned.

"Looks like your Amazons aren't quite coordinated, love."

The small warrior chuckled and lifted her head. "I think you're right." She leaned in to kiss her soulmate warmly.

Hope chuckled and shook her head. She looked away with a sigh. "We almost had that game."

The tall woman nodded in agreement. "Almost." Eve grinned and saw the warriors standing up together. "What's next on the list?"

The Amazon Queen ran her hand through her hair. "Ladders."

Rhesus asked, "What we do again?"

Gabrielle sighed while shaking her head. She looked back to the young Amazon. "Okay listen up everybody." She looked down to her left at the end. "It starts from that direction till we get to the end." She was sitting on the ground with her legs stretched out and boots pressing into Xena's boot. Her hands were propped back behind herself. "Now see how everybody is sitting the same way?"

The Amazons nodded together. "Like a ladder," called an Amazon.

"Exactly." The young warrior nodded and gazed around at her Amazons. "Now the persons at the beginning on the go will jump up, run down the ladder made up of our legs." She grinned a little. "Now you're not suppose to trip over anybody's legs. Once those two sit down the next two go and run down the leg ladder till they get back to their spots on the ground. Then the next two go." She shrugged. "It keeps going till we get to the last two Amazons. And whichever side gets done first wins."

Now, Xena and Gabrielle sat across from each other in competition to each other. They couldn't help but compete against each other in this. However, Hope and Eve sat beside each other deciding to be on the same team.

"Alright." The Amazon Queen took a deep breath and glimpsed down at the beginning of the ladder. "On your mark." She leaned her head back. "Get set." She grinned. "Go!"

The two Amazons at the start jumped up from the ground and went stepping through all the legs of the Amazons towards the end. The two Amazons were screaming trying not to step on anybody.

The Amazons on the each side of the ladder cheered on the Amazon for their team.

Hope watched with a huge smile.

The warrior glanced across to her soulmate. "Get ready love."

The younger narrowed her eyes at her partner. "I'll beat your butt old woman."

Xena just rolled her eyes.

Gabrielle laughed and glanced back down to see that their turn would come soon to run the ladder. She saw that the person next to her went and she cheered that Amazon on. "Wahoo!" She laughed while glancing back to Xena. "Ready partner?"

"Bring it on." The Warrior Princess laughed as she looked down to see the person on her team was making it to the end.

The Queen saw her teammate was at the end and running to the start of the ladder to make it back to her spot. "Come on Amrosios! You go girl!" She hooted. "You got it girl, you're almost here." Her eyes flickered to Xena then back to Amrbosios coming closer. Her body tensed in anticipation.

Ambrosios sat down with a huff.

Gabrielle sprung up and started running between the legs.

Xena jumped up soon as her person sat down on her side. She went racing down between the legs. "You gotta move faster then that Gabrielle!"

The small warrior screamed as she went faster. "Oh gods!" She yelled again. "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods," she repeated frantically.

Eve laughed and peered down her side to Hope. "It's your turn next."

The small woman nodded. "I know, I'm gonna goof."

"Just focus." The weapons master grinned to Hope.

Gabrielle's daughter smiled to Eponin a little. "Focus, I'll try with this head buzz."

"We're all buzzing." The weapons master laughed as she looked down to see the Queen coming to the end just after Xena.

Gabrielle went sprint down beside the human ladder. She came to the beginning to start doing there to make it back to her seat. "Xena slow down!"

The Warrior Princess laughed evilly as she made it to her spot. "Come on pokey!"

The small warrior growled and leaped down to the ground. "Go Hope!"

"Ah!" Hope bounced up and went running down between the legs to try and catch up to Rhesus. "Wait up Rhesus!"

Eve laughed at the small woman's words. "Go Hope! Catch her!"

"Oh Hades!" yelled Hope. She picked up her speed to stumble through the legs of Amazons. She started to catch up to Rhesus. She came to the end and ran around the ladder to race down along side. She came to the start of the ladder and went through the legs there.

"Come on Hope!" Eve cheered on with a hoot.

The small woman glanced down the ladder as she neared Eve. She locked eyes with Eve and lost focus. "Aaah!" She stumbled forward then stumbled again as she tripped. She went crashing down on the Amazons and on her mother. She left her face planted into somebody's lap as her laughter took control. Gabrielle dropped her head back laughing. "Oh gods," she whispered between her laughter. She looked to the next person to run after Hope. "Go, go."

The Amazon sprung up and went down the ladder.

Hope moaned as she laid in five Amazon's laps. "That was smart." She lifted her head.

"It was." Eve peered down into green eyes with an evil grin.

The small woman's eyes widen as she realized her head was resting in Eve's lap. "Hi." She chuckled. "I better move."

The dark woman laughed as she saw Hope got up to go and sit in her spot again. She sat down comfortable next to Eve.

The tall woman slowly turned her head to her friend. She noticed Hope was turning red. "Was it really that embarrassing?" she whispered.

Gabrielle's daughter closed her eyes for a moment. "Uh." She opened her eyes and gazed at Eve with a grin. "In a way? hard to explain."

"Oh." Eve nodded and wanted to add more but couldn't for it was her turn to run the ladder.

Hope swayed to the right. "Wooooo, where's our hut again?"

The short warrior came up beside her daughter. "Your hut is that way." She pointed with half closed eyes.

The younger woman laughed. "That's right." She chuckled and glanced over to her mother. "Thank you mom."

"Uh huh. Get to bed sweetie." Gabrielle leaned over to place a kiss to her child's cheek.

"If I can make it."

Eve came up behind Hope and placed her hands to the small woman's shoulders. "I'll help her." She started directing Hope towards their hut. "Night mothers."

Xena grinned with a wave. "Night dear." She came up behind her lover.

"Goodnight Xena." Hope gave a half wave.

The warrior laughed deeply. "Sleep well Hope."

"You too," called back Gabrielle's daughter before she withdrew into the shadows of the night.

The small warrior sighed deeply. "That was awesome." She spun around and almost fell over. She chuckled and grinned up to her lover. "Those? games helped huh?"

"Yup." The older woman smiled with love. "It was a good idea. The Amazons seem to loosen up."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle leaned into her partner. "Oh gods, I'm tired."

"Come on then." The warrior bent a little and reached to lift her soulmate up. "Let's get some sleep." She started walking towards their hut.

The soulmates made it the door of their hut.

Gabrielle reached down to the handle to swing the door open. She grinned and dropped her head back against her lover's shoulder.

Xena was about to move but stopped as a yell exploded in the village.

"Goodnight Amazons!" rung loudly Eve and Hope's voices through the village followed by loud giggles.

The warriors closed their eyes together just not believing it. "Kids," they both grumbled together then laughed.

The Warrior Princess carried her partner into the hut. Stepping into the dark hut she kicked back at the door while saying, "By the way, sexy outfit."

Continued in Part 2.