CopyRight: Universal/MCA and Renaissance Pictures own all Xena, Hope, Dahak, Cyrene, Solon, Janice, Melinda, (Could this list get any longer?) Gabrielle, and Argo not mine unfortunately. The story line as always is all mine as well as the characters, Starling, Emily Leukos, Cliona, Ashley, Hellenes, Sylvia so don't let the thought cross your mind to use them. You will receive hell from me if you mess with my story or characters. I'm protective then some about my characters and story line. Then I can't forget the song copyright. The songs by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinitra aren't mine either, they're…whomever's.

Subtext: Oh definitely, wouldn't be good otherwise, hehe. But not sex written between the soulmates…read another story if you want that.

Series Warning: If you haven't read any of my other stories ahead of this one. I can tell you, you'll be sort of screwed big time. This story is based around some of my older stories. Highly recommend you read them before this one.

Started: February 20, 2000 Sunday

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

redhope@redhope.net

Part 2

Section 2

~*Part 5*~

The archeologist slowly opened her eyes, she quickly noticed it was morning, no stars just the blinding light. She groaned and reached to her right, her hands grasping her hat. Brining it over, the hat covered over her face to block out the sun's early light. Her small hands went back to her stomach near her belt. She sighed.

The small woman then felt a larger hand on top of hers, she grinned under her hat.

"Janice we need tuh get up."

The archeologist sighed again. "Later."

The belle grinned to herself, she squeezed her soulmate's hand then brought her hand back to her own stomach. That's when she could hear the sound of the backdoor opening to the mansion. Light footfall coming down the steps and somebody walking through the grass.

"I can't believe it."

Mel opened her eyes, Janice removing her hat to gaze up. The pair looked up into amber eyes that glistened down to them.

"You both slept out here?"

The archeologist grinned. "Yeah, got a problem with that?"

The Amazon chuckled. "Nope. Nice sleep out here?"

The translator brought her hands off of her stomach and under her head. "Yes actually. Duh stars were grand tuh look at last night."

Starling nodded, her hands going to her hips. "That's good." The Amazon then turned her eyes more to Melinda. "Is it alright if I make myself a cup of coffee?"

The southerner smiled. "Naw, go right ahead. Duh coffee iz in duh third cabinet right of duh sink above."

Starling dropped her hands from her hips. "Thanks Mel." She then turned on her heals and headed back inside to the kitchen of the mansion.

The aristocrat looked to her partner. "Yo sleep well?"

Janice's hat was back over her face. She mumbled through it. "Yeah, but not long enough."

Mel chuckled. "Sorry 'bout dat."

The smaller woman removed her hat, it finds a new home on her stomach. She then looks to Mel. "Nothing to be sorry about Mel. I should be apologizing."

The belle shrugged her shoulders a little. "It's over wid Janice. Let's jus' move on together huh?"

The archeologist smiled deeply. "Yeah."

"Speaken of moven, we need tuh get up."

"Mel."

The translator grinned then began to shift, she got to one knee and looked to her soulmate. Janice put that old hat back over her face again in response. Mel shook her head and reach with her right hand. She lifted the hat up from Janice's face and smirked down at her.

The archeologist narrowed her eyes to Melinda but let a grin take over. But soon she saw Mel's head coming down closer to her own, she lost that grin. She found her lips being claimed by Mel's warm lips. Normally she would have protested in public, but right now it was sort of hard. Nor could she argue with one of Mel's kisses.

The translator slowly pulled her head back up, seeing emerald eyes gradually open. She smiled to the smaller woman, Janice smiling back.

"Mel, this isn't a good place."

Melinda grinned. "Oh?"

The archeologist's eyes widen. "Mel." Warning tone.

The tall woman began to lean back down to Janice.

"Okay okay, I'll get up Mel. Just not here is the best idea. You know?"

The translator chuckled and straightened back up, placing the archeologist's fedora on the ground for a moment. Janice then began to sit up. As soon as she sat up she grasped Mel's closes shoulder rather tightly.

"You okay Janice?" The belle's hands reached over to grasp the smaller woman's back to support her.

Janice closed her eyes for a few moments and took deep breaths. She slowly opened her eyes again, her vision swam. Then it slowly reduced and stopped. Moaning some, she dropped her head forward. "Jesus Christ, Mel remind me never to drink that much scotch." Her small right hand went up to rub her brow. She then leaned to her left against her soulmate. "Just punch me Mel, so I don't have to feel this."

"I will do no such thing Janice Covington." The southerner then began to shift to be behind Janice, her hands grasping the archeologist's sides. She began to lift her soulmate up. "Come on Janice."

The archeologist groaned and grabbed her hat with her right hand. She began to haul herself up with Mel's help. Once she was on her feet only did her vision swim all over again. This time she didn't have to grab for her partner, Mel already hanging on to her. Janice straightened her back out and took a deep breath. "I can do this. Just gotta make it to the mansion, simple enough."

Melinda chuckled at Janice's words. The pair began to very, very gradually walk to the steps to the kitchen. The archeologist had her left arm wrapped around her soulmate's waist, Mel keeping her right arm around Janice's back in support. Within a while they found themselves on the steps. Then the door was swung open by Mel, the pair walked through the door. The translator helped Janice to a chair at the table, the archeologist almost falling into the seat. Mel then went back to the door, closing it. She turned back around from the door.

Starling leaned against the sink and stared at the soulmates. "Interesting."

Janice glared up to the Amazon. "Funny Starling."

The Amazon grinned. "Scotch catch up to you finally huh?"

The archeologist kept her small glare. She then brought up her right hand with the hat, settling it onto the table.

Melinda looked from her other half to Starling. "You have any of dat coffee left?"

The Amazon nodded her head. "Yeah, real strong too."

The belle grinned. "Perfect." She then shifted off the door and went to Starling. Reaching to the cabinet over the sink, Mel pulled out a mug.

Starling had shifted to another part of the counter and reappeared with the small pot of coffee. She poured it into the mug Mel held.

The translator then went over to her partner at the table. She handed Janice the mug of coffee and then bent down to one knee. "Want something tuh eat now or later?"

Janice took a sip of the coffee, then looked back to Mel. "Later would be better. Want to see if this coffee will stay down first."

Mel smiled a little. "Okay." She then began to stand back up but leaned in to place a kiss to the archeologist's forehead.

Janice smiled back in return. She then leaned back in her seat and sipped on her dark coffee. It definitely invigorated her compared too earlier. Looking to the Amazon, Janice finally took note as to what Starling wore. That was pretty much a loose white blouse tucked in with a pair of cotton trousers, basic brown shoes on. Her sea swept eyes then shifted to her tall soulmate.

Melinda was by the sink, beginning to pull out plates, pans, and was pulling food from the fridge. Starling helping her a long. Definitely time for breakfast.

The small woman kept working on her coffee as she watched her soulmate and friend start on breakfast. Once she finished with her coffee she stood up, her vision didn't react to this movement. Her body was a bit shaky though from the lack of food. Her headache certainly still there and would make her grumpy as time moved on. But if she had a full stomach she might just live.

Janice moved to the sink, placing the mug down in it. Blue eyes looked to her, Janice looking to her soulmate. "How long you think it'll be?"

Mel grinned. "You've got twenty minutes."

The archeologist grinned. "Great, enough time for a shower."

The aristocrat shook her head. "Make it fast."

Janice nodded and made her way back to the table, getting her hat. She then left the kitchen, heading upstairs.

Melinda Pappas opened the door to her and Janice's room. She came into to see on the made bed are one of Janice's button up shirts. It's a dark forest green cotton button up. Mel came up beside the end of the bed and stared down at the shirt. She then looked back up, she felt her body go prickly.

Two warm arms snaked around her waist, she stiffened up real fast.

"Sorry Mel." Janice began to pull her arms back but Mel stopped her.

"Ain't you Janice. Jus'…. I felt you but couldn't see you."

Janice nodded, her arms tightening around Mel's waist. She then placed the side of her face against Mel's back. "Hope?"

"Yeah."

Silence.

"Mel?"

"Mmm?"

"I'm here."

The translator smiled to herself. She turned around in her soulmate's embrace. "Thanks love." A pause. "I'll always need you."

Janice smiled up at her partner. "Same here."

Melinda smiled and brought her hands up to Janice's bare waist. Janice had on her clean pants, boots, and a bra. Her hair was down and wet, making her almost look younger then she is. Mel had to grin at that inwardly. She leaned down and kissed her soulmate deeply, Janice quickly responding.

Once they pulled away Janice looked up and grinned.

"What's duh grin 'bout?"

The archeologist shrugged her shoulders. "I was just wondering what it would be like to kiss you leaning down."

Melinda arched an eyebrow. So she decided to go along with that. She bent down to one knee in front of Janice. The archeologist laughed and then smiled to the southerner. Her small right hand went to Mel's right cheek as she leaned in. Another kissed happened between the soulmates again.

When it was over, Janice leaned her forehead against Mel's. She grinned. "Don't like you down there."

"No?"

Janice nodded.

Mel grinned and began to stand again, her tall lean body rising up to tower over Janice.

The archeologist was more then happy with it. Janice shifted to the bed and sat down, grabbing her shirt. She put it on and began to button it up. "I was thinking about something Mel, I thought was kinda interesting."

The belle walked over to their dresser, her back to Janice. "What's dat?"

Janice was looking down while she buttoned her shirt up. "About you and I." Mel turned around, arching an eyebrow at Janice as the archeologist looked up to Mel. "Us." The southerner grinned, Janice mirroring back the same grin. "I've noticed how you're not the perfect southern belle. Faint at the sign of blood." The belle crossed her arms against her chest. Janice coughed and looked back down as she really slowly buttoned her shirt. "You do have a southern side but then you have this… Xena side. But them together and you get Mel."

Melinda nodded. She then walked across the distance to Janice and handed the archeologist the belt. "So you're sayen I'm Xena wid uh southern twist?"

The archeologist stood up as Mel took a step back. She began to put the belt on as she replied. "Yeah."

"Then dat means you're Gabrielle wid an archeologist twist?"

Janice stopped her movement from putting the belt into the belt loops. She looked up to Mel. "Yeah I guess so Mel." Small hands went back to work on putting the belt on. Janice then unbuttoned, unzip her pants and began to tuck her shirt in. "Except its sort of taking Xena and hiding her strength to make it an inner strength."

"And taken Gabrielle's inner strength tuh duh foreground."

The archeologist buckled her belt and looked back up to Mel. "Exactly." She began to pull a little of her shirt out of the pants to lay nicely out. Looking back up, Janice furrowed her brows. "Did… did we just discuss something I couldn't admit to a while back ago?"

"Yup."

The archeologist's face dropped into quick frustration. "Damn me."

"Nope."

Janice grinned up at her soulmate. "I can't believe I did that."

Mel grinned now. "Come on love. I reckon Starling iz going tuh be real short tempered wid us if we don't get down yonder."

The archeologist nodded. "Right."

They left the room.

~*Part 6*~

Gabrielle shifted to sit down on the ground, her back going against a rock, it felt cool on her back. She looked straight ahead to the fire. Her friend was across on the other side, sharpening her sword. The pair just had dinner and were relaxing. The day had been long and grueling for the bard. Ever since they left the town during the day. Her thoughts on nothing but the past few days.

"The Light ... I need something."

The bard sighed at her own words. She shifted a little against the rock. She does need something. That something wasn't to far away but yet it is in another world.

"You seem so happy. It's like what you're doing has so much meaning for you. Am I right?"

Najara smiled to the bard. "I don't think about it much, but now that I think about it, yes, I'm very happy."

Gabrielle nodded then responded, not quite sure. "I just ... I don't know if I'm on the right path in my life." "You fight for Good. What other path is there?" Najara began to listen to the bard, then she responded to what would make sense to everybody but her. "Perhaps you need to commit totally to your life with Xena. You two do a lot of Good."

"We do. Najara, does the violence ever bother you? I assume you've killed before?"

The woman sighed to the bard then responded. "Yes, as little as possible, but sometimes it's unavoidable."

The small Amazon Queen shook her head. "I don't think I could ever get used to that."

"Gabrielle, you need to make a full commitment to the Light. It will give you faith that what you're doing is right."

Her voice spoke low and unsure. "The Light ... I need something."

Gabrielle shuts her eyes. She then propped her legs up and rested her arms on her legs. She looked to Xena. The warrior was warped in her own world, but then she really never is. Gabrielle's eyes averted to the fire. That fire made her memory flash.

She looked to Xena. "I could have saved him. How do I get over that?" Her eyes went back to the funeral pyre.

"I can't answer that question. Maybe because there's nothing I can say to take away that feeling you have. You want to know that what you did was for all the right reasons. But, with that pain in your gut and the weight on your shoulders the best you can come up with was that it was a good day fighting. I have seen so many changes in you, things that I could never have expected. But, as hard as the changes have been you've got to know that it's all been for a reason. All this is for a reason, otherwise, what's the point? I was asking that same question before I met you."

The small woman took a deep breath. How did she get over that one? She never really has. Time and time again that good day would flash back to her in her dreams. Keep reminding her of the fact she didn't try hard enough. Phlanagus died because she hadn't given her everything. At least that's how she's always seen it.

Gabrielle sighed. She sat up then and padded across to Xena.

The warrior looked up as she came over. "How are you?"

It has gotten down just to that. Where they didn't even know how the other was doing. As least they still cared to ask each other. Step one.

"Okay." Gabrielle sat down beside the warrior on the log.

The warrior stopped her sharpening for the bard. "Good."

Silence. Not a comfortable silence like it could be, an agonizing silence that wrenched at their hearts and souls.

"So where do you think we'll head to tomorrow?"

Xena went back to sharpening her sword but slower. "Back west I figured."

Gabrielle nodded her head. She doesn't have say in that sort of thing. Even if she does, she didn't want it. She'd just travel behind Xena as her shadow. Anything to show she was still trying. She felt like she had no right to say anything anymore.

"Okay, I think I'm going to go to bed."

Xena nodded her head. "Sleep well huh?"

Gabrielle slightly smiled. "Yeah, you too. Night Xena." The bard stood up and made her way to the bedrolls. She crawled into hers.

"Goodnight Gabrielle."

Sleeping well? The bard wanted to laugh at that. The last time she slept well was before everything. She couldn't even recall when that was, to long. She couldn't remember when and how everything got started. All she knew was she'd be laying in this bed for a candlemark plus waiting for sleep to save her from this world.

Xena though, she went back to sharpening her sword. Her mind wandered back in the day.

"Did you tell her about the vision?"

Najara smirked. "No, that would hurt her and I don't ever want to do that. That's your job."

Xena gritted her teeth, the whetstone running down the blade of the sword a little hardier then it needed to. The warrior took a deep breath. That's when it hit her all over again.

Jagged snow capped mountains appear, then it flashes to Roman shields lifting to reveal a Roman holding a hammer passing it to another. A nail was hit into the bard's palm, she cried out. Xena looked to her right at the bard. She watched as Gabrielle talked to her. Xena smiled and responded. A nail finds its way into Xena's feet. Then next to follow is the crosses she and Gabrielle are on, put up. Their bodies rocking with the quick halt of the cross.

The warrior's sharpening stone stopped streaking across the sword. She stared into the fire.

"Ah, now I understand. You don't plan to return from your mission against Marat. You want a place to leave Gabrielle."

Xena took a deep breath. "She'll die if she stays with me. You said it would take something drastic to change her destiny. Maybe this is it."

Najara nodded. "Once she realizes you've left her, you know she'll follow you."

The warrior looked away then back to Najara, hating to admit this part. "I see such joy in her eyes when she talks to you about your Mission. She's been looking for meaning. I think you can give it to her. It hasn't always been good for her being with me. I seem to hurt her."

"I know she forgives you. I promise I'll do everything I can to justify your trust."

"You better."

The warrior closed her eyes.

"She's been looking for meaning. I think you can give it to her. It hasn't always been good for her being with me. I seem to hurt her."

"I seem to hurt her."

"I know she forgives you. I promise I'll do everything I can to justify your trust."

"I know she forgives you."

Xena's eyes opened again, they were hard. It was as if ice filled her eyes, making them dull. She stood up from the log and walked over to the saddlebags. She opened the top and dropped the whetstone inside. After straightening back up she sheathed her sword. But she didn't move after that, instead she reached into a very small pouch hidden in the front of her leathers. There she removed two rings and necklace with it. She stared down at them. Her mind flashed.

She swung the door open roughly. If she'd found Gabrielle here in the hut she would have screamed at her and maybe even… She shook her head of the thought. Xena slammed the door behind herself and took a deep breath. Reaching up with her right hand she wiped away some of the remains from her crying.

Then looking to her right she spotted small items on the wood table. Slowly as if in a dream she walked over to the table. Her eyes fixed on the items that sparkled and twinkled up to her. Xena stood still and stared at what was on the table. She felt hollow, just a shell.

Reaching down Xena picked up two rings with a necklace and held them in the palm of her hand. That's when they seemed to stop twinkling and sparkling, going to a dullness. A huge lump entered the warrior's throat. Her heartrate picking up right along between a mix of anger and depression.

Xena took a deep breath and slipped the three pieces of jewelry into a hidden pouch in the front of her leathers. How long they would remain there, Xena had no idea. Maybe forever. Hidden in darkness.

She then lifted her left hand and reached for the gold and silver ring on her hand. She took it off and her eyes became fixed on it. She then looked to the inscription.

My soulmate forever.

The warrior's anger came to life, her upper lip twitching. She closed her eyes and placed the ring down on the table. Afterwards she reached behind her neck, unhooking the necklace and placing it down with the ring. She turned her back on the ring and necklace and made her way to her stuff. Collecting everything of hers and leaving everything of Gabrielle's. She left the hut.

The scene reflashed to Xena. She closed her eyes then opened them quickly. Her large hands dropped the items back in their home. She then turned back to where her friend slept, she made her way over there to rest. To torture herself.

~*Part 7*~

The doorbell rung. Janice stood up from her seat in the kitchen. "I'll go see who it is."

Melinda and Starling both nodded. They went back to eating their breakfast as the archeologist left to go to the lobby.

Janice opened the door and then smiled. "Hey Emily. What you doing here?"

Emily Leukos smiled. "Need to talk tuh Starling for a quick second."

Janice nodded. "Sure, she's in the kitchen."

"Um…. Alone if you don't mind Janice."

The archeologist locked eyes with the doctor then nodded. "Alright, go into the den and I'll tell her."

Emily nodded and stepped through the doorway. "Thanks Janice. Didn't mean to intrude. Sort of important."

Janice nodded. "It's alright, I understand." The archeologist then went back to the kitchen as Emily went to the den.

Both women looked up as the small woman came back in.

"Emily is here to talk to you alone Starling."

The Amazon furrowed her brows. "Okay, thanks Janice." She began to stand up from the table.

"She's in the den waiting."

Starling nodded her head. She left the kitchen and went to the den.

Melinda looked to her soulmate. "What's dat 'bout?"

Janice sat back down and shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. Emily just said she needed to talk to Starling alone."

The belle nodded her head. "Probably has something tuh do wid Florida."

The archeologist arched an eyebrow. "I don't know Mel. We know about it. Why couldn't they just talk about it in front of us?"

The aristocrat ate some of her eggs that had extra salt on it. "Maybe 'cause we ain't Amazons."

"Still Mel, just weird."

The translator grinned. "You're jus' paranoid."

Janice grinned as she swallowed down a bit of toast. "I need to be in South Carolina."

Melinda looked back up from her food with an arched eyebrow. "Why? What's wrong wid South Carolina?"

The archeologist was about to reply, but Starling and Emily both came in. Starling went back to her seat where her food waited. "Sorry about that."

Melinda smiled while Janice nodded her head.

"Sorry again about the intrusion Janice and Mel."

Melinda nodded her head. "Nothing wrong wid it Emily. How are yo tuhday?"

The doctor smiled as she stood next the table. "Not bad. You Mel?"

"Ain't so bad myself."

Emily Leukos nodded. "Good tuh hear. I need tuh run. You'll have to excuse me."

Everybody but Starling nodded their heads.

"Bye Emily."

"Bye Janice."

"Have uh good day Emily. Bye."

"You to Mel. Goodbye." The doctor then looked down to Starling.

Starling nodded about something the soulmates didn't catch. "See you soon Emily. Bye."

"Bye Starling." And Emily Leukos was gone. Soon the door opening and closing was followed by her car starting up. Everybody in the kitchen was a bit silent.

Starling took a deep breath. "Sorry about that again." She looked up to Janice and Mel whom sat beside each other. "Emily had to tell me that the rumors down in Miami are getting worse. So we need to head down tomorrow, late morning."

Janice arched an eyebrow. "That early huh?"

Starling nodded.

Mel then cut in. "You reckon you will be back here afterwards?"

The Amazon reached forward and lifted her half-empty glass of orange juice. "Possible. Have to see how much time is left after the Miami crisis."

The translator nodded her head, as did the archeologist.

"Actually, I need to talk to you both before I go with Emily."

Both the soulmates looked up at the same time from their almost empty plates to look to the Amazon Queen. Something dropped in both of their stomachs for some reason.

"Alright, how about right after we finish here?"

Starling looked to Janice and nodded, responding also. "The sooner the better."

Janice nodded. Everybody went back to eating in silence. Janice and Mel were on edge over this one. So neither could really eat, they picked at their food. Once they felt like they'd had enough they began to clear the table.

"How 'bout if we sit in duh den? More comfortable."

Starling and Janice nodded in agreement to Mel's idea. So they all walked through the kitchen through the dining hall then into the lobby.

Starling stopped walking. "You two go ahead. I need to go get something from upstairs. I'll be right back."

Janice nodded and the two soulmates walked into the den. They both sat on the large sofa, Janice in the middle and Mel to her left.

Janice looked to Mel. "What you think this is about?"

"I don't know, but I ain't fancying it."

"Neither am I."

Starling came back in and sat down in the old leather chair. She looked across to the pair.

The two soulmates in a flash took note to what was contained in Starling's lap. Two sets of leathers. Janice recognized them both in a heartbeat. Not to mention her heart skipped a beat.

"I'm not sure how to quite put this to the both of you."

Mel grinned a little. "Try being blunt, it works well for duh both of us."

Starling nodded, but she was serious. So the translator went back to being serious.

"Well bluntly, you're both Amazons."

Silence.

A little more silence.

"Why does that not surprise me? Jesus Christ." Janice shook her head. "Can I just keep going with this? Am I the Queen too or something? I know Gabrielle was then I must be too huh?"

"Actually you are Janice."

Silence again.

Some more silence.

The archeologist looked to her soulmate. "Bluntly eh?"

The aristocrat looked down to Janice. "Well… maybe not quite dat blunt huh?"

"Well at least you're only an Amazon. I'm an Amazon and the Queen. However the hell that happened."

"I'll explain everything to the both of you."

Both women looked back to Starling. Janice nodded first then Mel did. Neither of them could quite process it yet.

Starling took a deep breath. "I don't know where to quite start."

"Duh beginning always works nicely?"

The Amazon smiled a little to Mel then nodded. "Quite. Well do either of you know how your mothers passed away?"

Janice brought up an eyebrow and crossed her arms against her chest. Defenses came to life. "Don't know, nor care. She ran out on me and my father a long time ago."

Starling nodded her head. She looked to Mel. "Do you know about your mother, Katharine?"

The southerner thought for a moment. "I ain't quite sure. Daddy told me uh little 'bout her death. Said she passed away from some disease while she wuz in Greece."

Starling nodded her head again. "Well I can tell you both, they died with a lot of honor."

The archeologist's eyes narrowed. "How the hell can you say that? My mother left her family. What would you know about her?"

The Amazon sighed, she looked down at the leathers in her lap then back up to Janice. "She was Elizabeth's, my mom, closes friend."

"What's this have to do with us Starling?"

Starling nodded her bobbed her head up and down a few times and looked back to Janice and Mel. "Well back during World War one the German army found out about Dahak. They're the followers of the one-god."

Janice nodded her head. "Mel and I both know from Hope. She told us about it. The Deliverer is Hitler?"

The Amazon nodded her head. "He is. At the time during World War one the Nazis quietly formed and found out about Hope and Dahak. So a large group of them decided to invade Greece to retrieve Hope's remains. The German Amazons that found out quickly reported it to the Amazons in the Amazon territory in Greece." Starling took a deep breath. "Janice your mother, Mary, at the time was the Queen while Cliona was the princess, still is actually. She was quite young at the age of five. My mother, Elizabeth, was already in the Amazon territory as one of the three protectors. Then Mel" Starling looked to the southerner. "Your mother, Katharine, was an Amazon, she was well known. One of the sweetest and had a large amount of power with her money and connections. She was a great help to the Nation."

The amazon then looked back to both of the women on the sofa. "So both of your mothers elected themselves to go to the Greece to stop these Nazi Dahak followers. At the time along with Elizabeth in the territory so was Hellenes and Sylvia's mothers. Sort of ironic I have to say." Starling took another deep breath and shifted in her seat. "All five of them met in Thessaloniki and from there they went after the Nazis to stop them. As you can guess they didn't succeed. Everybody was killed but my mother, she barely escaped from the Nazis."

Janice shifted in her seat. Mel looked to her soulmate. Her large hand then reached down to grasp Janice's.

"At the time of Mary's death Janice, she told my mother that she wanted you to have the right of caste for Queen." Starling then looked to Melinda Pappas. "Katharine told my mother that you were to have her right of caste as an Amazon." The Amazon sighed then took a deep breath. "The only problem that was left was who was to be Queen? We couldn't let you be Queen Janice, since you were much to young. Not to mention your father was searching for the Xena Scrolls. Then Cliona was much to young herself. So what ended up happening my mother became the regent. She stayed as the regent till I grew of the age of twenty-one, that's when she told me everything. And she handed me the right of caste and I became regent." The Amazon stopped. She let it soak in with the soulmates.

Janice nodded her head, she looked up from her lap to Starling. "Now what's suppose to happen?"

"You're to become the Queen and take the right of caste."

"What happens if I don't accept?"

"Then I become Queen. Then more then likely the Amazon Nation will shun you since you turned your back on us."

The archeologist nodded her head. She looked up to Mel. "What you think Mel?"

The translator looked down to her partner. "Quite interesting."

"Tell me about it." Janice then looked back to Starling. "So that's how the Amazons knew so much about my father? He had the Amazon Queen right there beside him and he didn't even know it. I bet he's kicking himself right now." She grinned to herself and shook her head. Then looked back to Starling. "So why didn't you tell Mel or I about our right of castes sooner?"

"We had to wait for the right moment. We couldn't tell you personally Janice because your quest for the Xena Scrolls. I decided to wait and see what would happen. Mel on the other hand we wanted to let her know. But we found out about her father's death figured it wouldn't be a good time. Of course that's when you left for Greece Mel, to help Janice. Well you both know the rest."

"Starling, is there some sort of legend behind me?"

The regent Amazon looked away from Janice after hearing her question. She then looked back to Janice. "Yes there is actually. About the both of you."

The archeologist sighed. "What is it?"

"There's a tale or legend that is passed on. We don't know if it's quite true or not but I'm starting to think it is anymore. But the story is, somewhere in Gabrielle's line of decedents she will be reborn. In Xena's line she will also be reborn. Maybe not exact but relatively the same. Supposedly it is said that Gabrielle's decedent that comes along will be her brought back. During her reign she was the chosen of Artemis, saved the Amazon Nation. So it's believed this decedent will be able to bring back the Amazon Nation. Back during Gabrielle's rein she established the nation so it could live on through time. Till she comes back and brings its rise again. The key element to it is Xena's decedent had to be born at the same time as Gabrielle's. Otherwise it wouldn't be Gabrielle without her soulmate. So the legend goes."

Both soulmates looked up to each other and locked eyes.

"So you're sayen I'm Xena wid uh southern twist?"

"Yeah."

"Then dat means you're Gabrielle wid an archeologist twist?"

"Yeah I guess so Mel."

Both soulmates' hearts skipped a beat. The same past conversation seemed to repeat in their minds.

Janice turned to look at Starling. "Will you excuse us for a moment?"

"Sure."

The southerner and archeologist both got up from the sofa, went out the front door, closing the door behind.

They got down the steps and Janice looked up to her soulmate. "That's total ludicrous Mel."

Melinda arched an eyebrow at Janice. "You said it yourself back up in duh bedroom this morning Janice."

"I don't care Mel. What Starling is saying is such… crap… its bullshit Mel." Janice's hands went to her hips. She stomped off then whirled around to look at Mel. "Its flat out stupid Mel."

"Iz it really Janice?"

"Mel you're not believing what she's talking about?"

"Truly Janice, I don't know what tuh reckon. I agree wid you but then I see what Starling iz saying."

"So you're saying I'm suppose to bring back the Amazon Nation?"

"Maybe Janice."

The archeologist sighed and stomped over to the steps sitting down on them. She brought her elbows up to her knees, her chin falling into the palms of her hands.

The belle sighed and walked over to Janice. "Janice be reasonable seriously."

Janice sighed, then responded in a clam voice. "Okay Mel, I'll try. What perspective you want me to look through?"

The translator smiled she bent down to one knee to be eye-level with her soulmate. "We both know we're the decedents of Xena and Gabrielle, whether we like it or not. We look just like them and are them inside. Right?"

The archeologist sighed. "Yeah I agree."

Melinda's right hand went to the smaller woman's left knee. "Then if you look at it dat way Janice. We're suppose tuh bring back duh Amazon Nation."

Janice huffed, her hands falling from under her chin and crossing in her lap. "Mel, I'm not Gabrielle nor are you Xena."

"No we ain't, you're right. But we're jus' like them. You can't tell me yo didn't feel dat connection wid them?"

Janice nodded. "Yeah I felt a real strong connection with them when they were here. Then those flash backs in Hope's temple and the dreams."

The translator grinned a little. "Not tuh mention my blackflips."

Janice brought up an eyebrow. "Show off."

The aristocrat chuckled. "Well Doctor Covington, I saw you usen dat staff pretty well."

The archeologist looked away, her right hand going through her hair. "Yeah well, felt like second nature."

"I know."

Janice nodded, her gaze going past her soulmate then back Mel. "So you think you can go grab that chakram and throw it?"

Melinda laughed. "No, not unless you want me tuh chop off our heads."

Janice grinned now. "Oh come on Mel. I'm sure you could throw it then get it to split in half. Then you could-" She was quickly cut off.

"Janice." Deep voice on that one from Mel.

The small woman grinned devilishly. "Gotcha." Janice sighed. Her eyes staring at the ground as she talked lowly. "Bring back the Amazon Nation in the forties. It's insane."

"Mmm I agree. But it'll be interesting love."

The archeologist looked back to Mel. "Yeah?" Janice shook her head. "I just wanted to be an archeologist, not be a hero bringing back a tribe of women."

The southerner nodded her head. "Yes it'z been quite awhile since we've played translator and archeologist huh?"

Janice now nodded. "It has. Maybe we're not going to follow in our father's footsteps."

The translator smiled. "Naw we will. In both of our parents footsteps."

Mel's soulmate nodded her head. "Yeah."

Silence came.

Melinda began to search her partner's face. Search her eyes. "Itz important tuh you."

Janice's eyes refocused to her soulmate. She locked eyes with Mel, then responded in a whisper. "Yeah, I don't know why either."

"'Cause they're apart of who we are."

"You're right Mel." Janice let her head bob up and down for a moment. She then looked back to Mel with a smile. "Let's go."

Melinda Pappas smiled back and stood up. Janice Covington then stood up. The soulmates went back into the house and to Starling in the den.

The Amazon regent looked up to the pair as they entered. She smiled.

Melinda stepped up beside her partner.

Janice looked up to Mel then back to Starling. "It's about time the Amazons had their Queen."

The regent stood up from her seat, leathers in arms with a smile.

The translator grinned and crossed her arms. "And I reckon duh Amazon Nation needs some funds from their southern aristocrat Amazon."

Starling turned around to drop those leathers on her seat. She turned back around and in a flash she pulled Janice in for a hug. Afterwards she pulled the belle in for a massively huge hug. Pulling back, the regent kept her smile. "God, this is great. I was so worried neither of you would accept."

The archeologist reached back behind her neck and replied in a teasing tone. "Yeah well, Mel kinda convinced me."

The aristocrat put her hands on her hips, she looked to her partner. "Lord Janice, we convinced each other."

Janice grinned. "Right… right." She dropped her hand back to her side.

Starling grinned and turned back to the seat. She picked up to the leathers. Turning back around, she handed the top set to Janice then the other to Melinda.

Janice found hers to be two pieces. She looked back up to the regent. "Gabrielle's?"

The Amazon nodded her head. "They are."

The translator chuckled at the leathers she had. "I can't believe Xena wore these things practically every day."

Starling chuckled. "She did."

Janice looked to the regent. "So how did the Amazons manage to keep a hold of their leathers? They're in good condition after all this time."

The Amazon grinned and crossed her arms against her chest. "With a lot of care shall we say."

Melinda looked up from Xena's leathers to Starling. "I thought they both were buried wid their outfits?"

Starling shook her head. "No, actually Gabrielle had on a different outfit. While Xena was buried with her warlord uniform."

The archeologist lifted an eyebrow up. "Really?"

The regent nodded her head. "Definitely. As a matter of fact, that carving made on Gabrielle and Xena's tomb is not accurate. I should say wasn't accurate since its gone now."

"How wuzn't it accurate Starling?"

The Amazon looked to Melinda. "At the time of Gabrielle's death she had short hair. The reason why she put the carving when she had long hair was because that's when she became Queen."

Janice nodded her head. "So why didn't you say anything about this when Xena and Gabrielle reappeared out of thin air back in territory?"

Starling grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "Didn't really matter."

The archeologist huffed and shook her head.

Melinda then cut in. "Starling, I reckon Xena had armor right?"

The Amazon regent brightened up. "She did actually. Follow me."

The three females left the den and headed up the stairs, reaching the top they took a left. They walked passed two doors and Starling opened the third door, entering in.

Janice and Melinda came in, leathers still in their arms. They closed the door behind and stood while watching Starling going through her bags.

The regent pulled out different items from her bags, placing them on the bed in two stacks. Both the soulmate's eyes widen at the articles, recognizing them quickly. Whether they recognized them from scrolls or their own soul past, they couldn't figure out.

After pulling everything out, Starling looked to the pair. "These are all the items from Xena and Gabrielle. They were passed down Xena's line and Gabrielle's line. I've had them, cared for them, since my mother gave them to me to hand over to you both."

Both the soulmates looked up to each other. They slowly looked back to the foot of the bed with all the articles. They stepped up to the bed together.

There on the bed were the two piles. One contained brass armor, arm bands, gauntlets, and a set of worn boots. Melinda Pappas' back quickly stiffened up. Her eyes glossed over, her mind raced.

Xena walked into the dark cave, ducking down from the low mouth of the cave. In her right hand was a torch. The wire and gold in her armor reflecting off the firelight. She walked deeper and deeper in the cavern. After a few hundred footsteps in, the warlord grinned. She spotted five huge chests.

"Time for a change."

Xena looked to her left at the wall of the cave, she found a niche in the rocks. She rammed the torch into the niche and it stayed. Turning to the center chest, Xena opened it. The lid came up with a whining protest. The warlord ignored it and looked down into the chest. There inside of the heavy chest was a set of leathers in the center. Around it lay matching brass breast armor, bracers, and boots. Xena reached in and pulled them out. Her spare leathers and armor.

"Perfect."

Janice Covington looked to her right. A necklace made of feathers, each made of different metals. Then two leather gauntlets and worn boots as well shoulder bracers. Her eyes shut to this.

Gabrielle reached to her right, she buckled the left shoulder bracer. She then lifted her hair up in the back, cool metal fell onto her chest. Waiting for a moment, she felt it tied behind her neck. The bard brought up her hands to look at them then felt down her waist. The leather feeling different, quite different. It seemed to affect her mind, her attitude. She'd become Queen soon.

"You both can't forget these."

Both soulmates looked to each other. They knew what they'd been through. As they turned around from hearing Starling's voice, they saw what she held. Two masks. The regent handed the one in her right hand to Janice.

Janice Covington took the mask in stared at the front of it.

A young woman's hair waved in the breeze as she stood on a stage, four other women on the stage with her. Gabrielle gazed at the front of the mask, she smiled a little. She then turned it around and lifted the mask over her head. All the Amazons before her cheered. The bard stood tall and proud for a few heartbeats, letting everybody cheer. She then began to slowly lower it down to her head, her eyes closing.

Melinda Pappas gradually lifted the Amazon mask from Starling's hand in her right hand. Her eyes caught in the center of the mask.

The Warrior Princess smiled warmly to the Amazon Queen. She then bent down to one knee, unsheathed her sword, and placed it before her body. Xena lowered her head then spoke. Gabrielle responded. Xena looked up and then stood back up to her full height, her sword being resheathed. The warrior lowered her head, and Gabrielle proceeded to fit the mask over Xena's head. It fit to perfection, the mask going over her face, the feathers falling to her back.

"And that's what's been passed down through their generation." Starling smiled after saying that. She looked to the two soulmates, they are both in a daze.

Janice shook her head and looked to Mel. "I swear Mel, if we want to find out the history about Xena and Gabrielle, we should just touch everything."

The translator laughed. "It ain't gonna work then."

The archeologist snickered. "You're probably right."

The pair looked back to Starling. The regent had an arched eyebrow in question.

Janice and Melinda both started to laugh. Starling hadn't caught anything they said.

The belle took a deep breath. "I apologize Starling. Janice and I are laughing at each other, not yo."

The archeologist coughed and piped in. "Yeah what Mel said."

The regent crossed her arms against her chest. "Right." Starling uncrossed her arms. "Well there's one last thing we're missing." She turned back around to one of her bags. She pulled out a small bag and pulled out two small necklaces. Turned to the soulmates she held up the necklaces. On the necklaces is a charm of the Amazon bird. "Can't forget these."

Melinda grinned and lowered her head. Starling stepped forward, she hooked the necklace around Melinda's neck. The bird lay just above the necklace Mel wore to represent Janice.

The regent turned to Janice, the archeologist lowering her head as well. Starling smiled and hooked the last necklace around Janice's neck.

Both soulmates lifted the golden birds. They quickly noticed something different about these two birds, something small though. The translator's bird had small sapphires for eyes while Janice's had small emeralds for eyes. They both looked back up to Starling.

"Why do these have gems in the eyes?"

The regent grinned to Janice and answered. "Because you're both the chosen."

~*Part 8*~

Oh gods, how the last few days were heart wrenching. Soul wrenching.

Xena looked from ahead to her left but still a little ahead, to her friend. The bard walked along with no intent of anything other then to travel distances. The warrior sighed and looked back ahead. She listened to her own boots scuff along on the dirt road. She then tightened her grip back on the reins in her hands. Smiling, she looked to her mare and patted Argo at the neck. The horse nickered and threw her head back for a moment. Xena smiled and looked back to the road. By then, she noticed Gabrielle looking back to her.

The bard took a deep breath, she slowed up her pace to come beside the warrior. "You think Joxer will be fine?"

Xena nodded her head. "He'll be fine, it'll take him awhile though."

The Amazon Queen nodded at that. She brought her right hand up to run through her short hair. "Yeah. Some times I wonder Xena."

"Mmm?"

"It just isn't something you truly get over."

The warrior nodded her head in agreement. "No, I still have yet to get over my first kill."

Gabrielle turned her eyes away from Xena and back to the road. "I know." A low whisper.

Xena looked to Gabrielle for a second. Gabrielle looked to her. They locked eyes for a few minutes.

The bard then broke the contact, looking back to the road. "Anyway, when you think we'll stop for the day?"

Xena looked away from Gabrielle and turned her eyes to the road as well. "We'll keep traveling for another candlemark or so."

The bard nodded her head. "Okay." She looked to Xena and smiled.

The warrior caught the smile from the corner of her eyes, in turn she smiled. But anymore, Xena hated to lock eyes with her friend. She could see the immense sorrow in them. The warrior hated to remember as to why Gabrielle has that sorrow in them.

Gabrielle looked down a little to her feet. She then began to slow her walk up, falling behind Xena. She need to be alone. And she knew Xena knew that also. Hence her mind began to muse to the past few days all over again.

"When I think about some of the wounds I have caused, mortal wounds that'll never be healed, I feel so ashamed."

The bard sighed. "I'm sure that's hard, but, Najara, you've turned you life around, take strength from that."

Najara smiled. "The jinn say the same thing."

Gabrielle smiled back. "Listen to them."

"They also talk about that hospice we were going to start, remember?"

The small Queen nodded. "Yeah, I remember. A place whose only purpose is to ease suffering. It was a good idea."

"It still is." Such confidence Najara has.

"Najara, I think what you're doing is wonderful, giving up fighting, working through Peace, and starting a hospice will be good for you. But, it's not for me. My place is with Xena."

Najara's eyes widen as a protest comes to mind. "I know, and it always will be, until her continuing violence makes her do something that even you can't excuse."

The bard let's her eyes narrow a little, but just a little for she couldn't even be sure in this statement. "It's not going to happen."

"It has to, and then you will have to chose, not between me and Xena, but between Xena and your own soul."

Gabrielle sighed, she looked up to Xena. She stared at the back of Xena.

"I know, and it always will be, until her continuing violence makes her do something that even you can't excuse."

"It's not going to happen."

"It has to, and then you will have to chose, not between me and Xena, but between Xena and your own soul."

The bard shook her head. She closed her eyes tightly to stop the words.

"Between Xena and your own soul."

"Xena and your own soul."

"Chose."

"Its' not going to happen."

"It has to, and then you will have to chose, not between me and Xena, but between Xena and your own soul."

"That even you can't excuse."

"Can't excuse."

"You can't excuse."

Gabrielle's eyes flew open. Her heart was raising, she took deep breaths. She'd almost had screamed right there. Her arms crossed against her body. Her eyes drifting to Xena and the mare in front of her.

"You betrayed her, therefore you are her enemy. She'll kill you now as soon as look at you."

The bard gritted her teeth. That can't happen. "You're wrong, you don't know her."

Ming T'ien laughed. "I know her. Tell me, why did you do it if you love her so?"

Her eyes dropped for a second. "I felt that she was betraying herself if she went back to the way of murder."

Ming T'ien took a step closer. "Murder is in her blood Gabrielle, her soul. It is more natural to her than love."

The bard's hand went through her short hair for a moment, her hand falling back down.

"Murder is in her blood Gabrielle, her soul. It is more natural to her than love."

"More natural to her than love."

"Than love."

Gabrielle gritted her teeth. She knew better then that, she'd seen different. Or hadn't she?

"Insurance? Against what? Against me?"

"Gabrielle ..."

"... Against my being a demon?"

The bard wanted to laugh at that. Bitterly laugh. Wasn't she a demon? In more then one way?

"My being a demon?"

"A demon?"

She still feels like that demon from so long ago in India. Maybe it still was retained in her. Or maybe she's just driving herself crazy with the idea. Sometimes she wished she could just forget everything that's happened. Gabrielle sighed, no she really couldn't do that.

"If I didn't have the painful memories, then I wouldn't know what the good ones were like, right? I just couldn't let it go, Xena, no matter what the pain. I'm sorry."

Oh how the bard dwelled on the past. Can she dwell as well as Xena can?

"You're awfully quiet, Xena. But, then you never were one to raise words."

The warrior snorted. "Nothing's changed."

She swayed back and forth on the horse. "Including me, is that it? You're wrong."

The warrior narrowed her eyes, her hands tightly gripping Argo's reins. "New outfit. New religion. Same old wacko underneath."

Najara took a deep breath. "You claim to have changed, why can't I? After all, we've both had the same inspiration, Gabrielle. But, unlike you, I changed my whole life for her, you just changed sides."

Xena glared up at Najara, her words coming out with an edge. "You hurt Gabrielle and I will change you in ways that are anything but peaceful."

Najara smirked. "You forget, hurting Gabrielle is your job, or have those visions gone away? You know, the vision of your death and hers. I want to share a life of Peace with her, you want to share a violent death. You tell me who's the villain here, me or you?"

Xena's hand was roughly holding the reins to Argo. She tightened her hold even more. She tried to stop Najara's words, but couldn't.

"You tell me who's the villain here, me or you?"

"Me or you?"

"You?"

"You want to share a violent death."

The warrior took a deep breath, her stride becoming larger.

"Would you try to understand? You went to prison after you were changed. You know what a waste that is."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. Najara hasn't changed."

Gabrielle's defensives came to like. "And how do you know that?"

Xena looked to the bard with hooded eyes. "Because I know her. She's the same zealot she always was, only now she's even more dangerous."

"How's that?"

Xena's voice was low, but serious. "Because she's won you over.

Xena was thanking whomever that those past few days were done with. To much had happen. To much of her had been exposed to the world around. Now she was back in her shell.

The man smiled. "No, that one will be taken care of in due time ... but thank you for Gabrielle."

Xena narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Khrafstar laughed. "Look inside yourself, you brought her here. And why did you come? To defeat Caesar. Your hatred brought you here. Dahak appreciates rage."

"You brought her here."

"Your hatred brought you here."

"Your hatred brought her here."

"How many more times are you going to follow me into battle?

"How many more times am I going to hurt you?"

"Am I going to hurt you?"

"Hurting Gabrielle is your job."

"You tell me who's the villain here, me or you?"

"You want to share a violent death."

"It hasn't always been good for her being with me. I seem to hurt her."

"I seem to hurt her."

"No, that would hurt her and I don't ever want to do that. That's your job."

"No one should ever hurt you ... no one should ever hurt you ... goodbye, Gabrielle".

"I've killed Gabrielle."

"Everything's changed ... everything."

Defined as; one torturing themselves.

Xena closed her eyes tightly. She stopped walking. Her heart was racing. Voices and words echoed again and again and again and… She didn't hear the bard come up beside her.

Gabrielle slowly placed her right hand on Xena's closes shoulder. "Xena?"

The warrior took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She looked to Gabrielle. "Yeah?"

"You okay?"

Xena smiled a little. "Yeah, come on. Let's make camp, I'm not in the mood to travel anymore. Bit tired."

The bard nodded her head, she dropped her hand. "Yeah sure."

The warrior nodded her head. She walked off the road and into the woods.

The wind picked up a little then. Gabrielle watched Xena keep moving as she listened to the wind. It seemed to whisper the words; Everything's changed… everything.

She took a deep breath as she tried to ignore the wind. Gabrielle had never felt her own heart beat so fast as those few minutes ago when Xena stopped walking. Nor had she ever felt such darkness inside.

It had almost killed her.