Who is the father of Xena's child? Gabrielle thought as she lay in bed trying to sleep. Her mind had been whirling with questions ever since Xena had told her and their friends that she was expecting. How could she not know? The whole thing just doesn't make any sense.

Xena glanced at the other woman from beneath her slightly raised eyelashes. She could tell that Gabrielle was trying to figure out the same thing she was trying to figure out. Ever since she found out from the Spa's healer that she was pregnant she was trying to figure out how. She was watching Gabrielle's face and saw that bright mind brewing with thoughts.

"Gabrielle, I really don't know?"

"You don't know what?"

Xena rolled her eyes, "You're trying to figure out how I became pregnant. Well to be blunt, I have not had sex with a man in a very long time. I am really as mystified as you are."

"Are you sure it wasn't Aries, he?"

"I am positive. This is not an evil being growing inside me. It's a good soul; I can't see Aries creating a soul he couldn't control and I will not be raising this child to be a warrior. I don't how I became pregnant but I am glad, what do you think?" Xena could not mask the fear from her face.

Gabrielle saw it she gently caressed her cheek and said, "I think it's a miracle. I just think it's strange?"

"Can you?could you?"

"What?"

"Will you be able to deal with all this?"

"Sure."

"When I had Solan I had really bad mood swings?."

"And that would be different how?"

"Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle chuckled and hugged her love. Xena smiled and hugged her back. Then she pulled back and asked, "So you're not mad at me any longer?"

"No, I was never mad at you."

"Love, you seemed very upset?"

"No, I was confused?"

"You thought I fooled around with one of the guys we had encountered?"

"Well I did?."

Xena shook her head cupped both of Gabrielle's cheeks, "No Gabrielle, I don't think I could ever do that. I love you so much that I would never be able to break your trust by doing something like that."

"I know that." Gabrielle tenderly kissed her upset love then she said softly. "I didn't think it would be willingly but I was worried about Aries, he is so?"

"No! Never!" Xena kissed Gabrielle passionately. She held her tight against her feeling the blonde's heart beating fast against her own. Then she pulled back once again cupping the soft tear stained cheeks in her hands and looking deeply into the red rimmed tear filled eyes. "No one could ever seduce me away from you. Not in anyway with any method. Aries tried every method possible and has never succeeded. I swear to you this child is not a product of Aries in anyway. Please believe me. Please."

Tears were now falling from Xena's eyes too. Gabrielle gently wiped her tears as she felt the warrior's strong fingers gently wiping her own.

"I believe you. I just worry?"

"About?"

"That, I'm not enough?I mean you have been with so many?.and well?I am?"

"You are incredible? I love you so much. You are my light. I love only you. I have never felt toward anyone in my whole life the devotion I feel toward you. This is our child, It doesn't matter to me where it originated. It's ours."

Gabrielle nodded and kissed Xena on the nose making the brunette smile slightly as she said, "I love the baby already."
Xena nodded and softly said, "Thank you so much?."

"I don't think I could love anyone as much as I love you but the baby is now in second place."

"Hmm, well I love you and your more important then anyone in my life but the baby is a part of me so I admit to being a bit torn."

"Don't be. Well, what do you want to do? Are we going to take the next few months off?"

"Of course not."

"But?"

"Don't be silly, Love I led a whole army through out my last pregnancy and no one but Borias and that bitch who was pretending to be my servant knew it. I think I will be able to handle life as it comes at us."

"What are we going to do about protecting the baby?"

"Oh, I have a few ideas. Don't worry we will be ok. You're sure your ok with all this?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Xena!"

"Sweetheart, I saw your expression when I first told you."

"Well look at my face now."
"You are beautiful," said Xena with bright smile.

"So are you?"

Xena kissed her love deeply pulling very close till there was no space between them.

*** *** *** ***


Xena and Gabrielle were riding their horses side by side. Xena noticed that Gabrielle kept checking her to make sure she was ok to the point that Xena was annoyed.

"I'm not going to break."

"Did I say you were?"

"The way your checking on me it looks like you think I am fragile flower. You know I'm anything but that?"

"Its called concern?"

"I'm not that far along yet that you?"

"I know I still worry?"

"Don't?"

"Can't help it?"

"Gabrielle?"

"Sorry?I?."

Xena stopped her horse and waited for Gabrielle to come back to her. When she was by her side she took the tiny hand into her own and said, "I know that you worry cause you love me. I understand it and I appreciate it. I just don't want you to get so distracted by this that you get hurt or make yourself sick."

"I just want to be there for you."

"You always are."

"But??

"Love, you already give me 110 percent every day of our lives I don't expect any more. I know it's impossible. You should too."

"I just don't want to disappoint you."

"You never will. I trust you in fact you always exceed expectations. I think you're an exceptional woman."

There were tears falling from her eyes and she turned away wiping them. Then she replied softly, "You're only saying that cause you love me."

Gentle fingers wiped the tears that were still falling. Then Xena lifted Gabrielle's chin she met the beloved eyes, "No, that's not true. I do love you deeply but I am very objective about you. You're a very special person and I admire you greatly."

"I admire you too?uh, thanks."

"Ok, can we go to the next village? I'm hungry."

"Oh boy," said Gabrielle quietly as she watched the warrior take off at gallop waving for Gabrielle to join her.

**** **** ****

Gabrielle watched in amusement as Xena devoured an entire pig at the inn they were staying at. It was usually her job to hold up the gluttony belt in the family. She now saw that being pregnant very much changed her partner's usual spartan appetite.

Xena was licking her fingers at as she put the last bone of the pork chop she was had eaten on a large plate the tavern owner supplied.

Sheepish blue eyes looked into very amused green ones.

"Well, I did tell you I was hungry didn't I?"

"Did I say a word?"

"No?um, I will be like this for a while. I use to have to send out one of my warriors to hunt game just for me when I was pregnant with Solan, sorry?"

"Why, I think it's cute."

"Cute?"

"Yep, you look really cute when you eat?"

"Like a pig?"

"No, with gusto."
"Yeah sure?."

"You do."

"Only cause you love me."

"Well?"

Xena snorted, "I knew it your humoring me?"

"No, I am being very honest. I think you're adorable."

"Gabrielle!" Then Xena looked around seeing she attracted unwanted attention she leaned across the table and whispered. "I am may be many things but I am not adorable."

"I think you are."

"You think every animal in the forest is adorable even the dangerous ones."

"My point exactly."

"Your saying that you think every deadly animal is adorable?"

"No, I think the beautiful, cute and cuddly creatures are, just like you."

"Creatures?"

"You made the comparison first."

Xena finally laughed and shook her head. "Would you like me to roar tonight?"
"Only if you're excited."

"Then I probably will."

"Hmm, probably?"

"Definitely."

"Well if I don't bring out the animal in you?" Gabrielle said with an adorable pout.

Xena knew she was playing but that made her suddenly serious, she took her soul mate's hand and said, "Gabrielle you bring out every instinct both excited and protective. I love you so much your are the light of my life."

Gabrielle cleared her throat and replied, "You are the most exciting, enticing person on the planet. I love you more then I can express."

Xena smiled got up and held her hand out then led Gabrielle up stairs to their room. She wanted to prove that action was far more convincing then any words.