Chapter One
Xena awoke with a start. She grabbed her Chakram and hurled it into the air. She heard a man fall to the ground. She flipped herself into the air, and landed on her feet. Her best friend and side kick Gabrielle awoke to the battle cry. She jumped into action beside her friend. With one swing of her sword, Xena crippled one man, and Gabrielle hit the final man over the head with one of her sais.
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"Bandits." Gabrielle said.
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"Never fails." Xena said. "We wake up every morning to someone trying to cut our heads off." "Tell me about it." Gabrielle said. She saddled her horse Amber, and Xena saddled her trusty horse Argo. Xena helped herself up onto the horse, and got herself situated. Being nine months pregnant and sitting on a horse wasn't easy. Gabrielle and Xena rode out leaving the bandits.
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It was a cool morning, and the air was crisp. Xena was hungry again, so they stopped in an inn, and had lunch. "Gabrielle, I don't know what I'm gonna do." Xena said.
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"About what?" Gabrielle asked.
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"When this baby is born, there are going to be gods going after it and criminals. After all, it will signal the twilight of the gods." Xena said.
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"Xena, everything will be okay, because it'll have you for a mother." Gabrielle said. Xena smiled affectionatly at her friend. "Thanks Gabrielle." she said.
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"No problem." Gabrielle replied. They left the inn, and set off for Amphipolis. "My mother told me when we were in Melodia to come to Amphipolis when it was time." Xena said.
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"Yeah. She'll get to see at least one of her grand children grow up." Gabrielle said.
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"Yeah. She never got to see Solan." Xena said. Two hours later, Xena and Gabrielle arrived at Amphipolis. They rode up to Cyrene's inn. She was sweeping off the porch.
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"Xena!" she exclaimed.
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"Mom!" Xena said. She hugged her mother. "Hello Gabrielle." Cyrene said.
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"Hi." she said. "Why don't you both come in. It's getting late, and you need your rest Xena." Cyrene said.
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"Mom..." Xena started to say.
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"Not another word. We'll catch up in the morning. Right now you need your sleep." Cyrene said. Xena frowned but went up to her old room. Gabrielle sat downstairs for a while, and then went up to a guest room. Xena fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She had many dreams, but only one she remembered.
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She was walking through a dark tunnel. She was in the underworld. She saw a familiar face and called out to him.
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"Solan." she said.
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"Mom!" he exclaimed. He ran to her and hugged her.
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"Hello sweetheart." Xena said to him.
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"I miss you mom." he said. "When are you coming home?" he asked.
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"I'll be there soon. Someday." Xena said choking back the tears.
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"Can I ask a question?" Solan asked.
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"Sure." Xena said.
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"Can I name the baby?" he asked.
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"Of course." she said.
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"If it's a girl, name her Eve." he said.
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"That sounds wonderful. What if it's a boy?" Xena asked. Then everything seemed to blur, and Xena woke up. She was sweating, and in pain. She realized she was in labor. She sat up slowly, breathing heavily.
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"Mom! Gabrielle!" she exclaimed. Cyrene came into the room, and a few second later, Gabrielle entered.
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"Xena? What's wrong?" Gabrielle asked.
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"I'm in labor!" Xena exclaimed.
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"Oh gods." Gabrielle said. "Now?" "Yes." Xena said.
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"Okay. Lay back. I'll get a healer." Cyrene said. Xena nodded, and groaned in pain.
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"It's okay Xena." Gabrielle said.
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"Damn! It hurs so bad!" Xena said.
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"Shh. I know." Gabrielle said. Just then, a cloud of smoke formed, and Ares popped into view.
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"What are you doing here?" Xena asked.
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"I came to see the birth of my child." he said.
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"Please leave." Xena said.
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"I don't think I can do that." Ares said.
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"Do as she says." Gabrielle said.
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"Gabrielle, there's no way to change the God of War's mind." Xena said. Gabrielle scowled at Ares, and he gave that famous grin. A few minutes later, Cyrene appeared with a healer.
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"How far along are you?" she asked.
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"Nine months." Xena said.
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"Okay. You're ready. Now, bear down and push." she said. Xena pushed hard, and screamed in pain. She could feel herself opening up wider as the baby slid out. A few minutes later, the healer handed Xena her baby.
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"It's a little girl!" Xena exclaimed. Gabrielle smiled. Cyrene was grinning happily, and Ares was shocked. He just stood there. The healer wrapped the baby girl up in a blanket, and handed her to Xena.
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A few minutes later, Xena lay comfortably back in bed, and held her daughter. Gabrielle and Cyrene sat by her side looking at the baby. They had already held her.
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"Can I hold her?" Ares asked. Xena had almost forgotten he was there. Her smile turned into a frown.
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"Why?" she asked.
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"It's my daughter. I want to hold her." he said.
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"Okay. Don't even think of..." Xena said.
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"I just want to hold my daughter." Ares said. He walked over to the bed.
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"Okay." Xena said. She gently lifted the baby up into Ares' arms. He looked over the little girl.
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"Well you got your wish. And you were right." Ares said.
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"About what?" Xena asked. "She's not evil. She's pure good." he said rocking the child. Gabrielle was surprised at how gentle Ares was with a baby. Especially the baby that was going to bring on the death of his family. Only two gods were to survive. That was Ares and Aphrodite.
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"Are you going to name her?" Ares asked.
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"Her name is Eve." Xena said.
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"You already named her?" Gabrielle asked.
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"Solan did." Xena said.
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"Solan?" Cyrene asked. "Yeah. He came to me in a dream. He said that if it was a girl to name her Eve. I asked him that if it was a boy what to name it, and then I woke up. I think he was trying to tell me I was having a daughter." Xena said.
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"I think he was." Cyrene said. "I'll be back to visit her often." Ares said.
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"I know you will." Xena said dryly.
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