General Disclaimer: The characters in this fan-fiction are the property of MCA Universal, Renaissance Pictures and USA Studios. All rights are reserved to the legal owners, and no infringement is intended by this story presented solely for entertainment.

Specific Disclaimer: This story contains no violence but is recommended for PG-13 because of the implied sub-text.

Introduction: The story takes place after the final season and/or final journey of Xena and Gabrielle to Japan. The last battle leaves them exhausted and the time for them to choose their future destiny has arrived. This story is a translation of the legend and not from Gabrielle's scrolls.

Part I

The battle in Japan was long and gruesome. Gabrielle had done well fighting along side of Xena in the protection of the Japanese innocents. The people who died will not have died in vain, carrying on the liberty won in this two-day battle. Gabrielle prepared quickly a campsite for she and Xena to settle and get some sleep. They faced a long journey back to Greece. She had tracked and killed a rabbit to fix for a warm supper. Xena sat quiet with her mind in the far distance not even making compliment of Gabrielle's success in finding the prey for the much needed nourishment.

Xena walked slowly to remove her sword from the scabbard and place it along side of her Chakram, both next to her bedroll. She returned without a word to accept the bowl of the well-cooked rabbit. The night air was warm and calm but both Xena and Gabrielle felt a sense of thickness as they sat side by side enjoying only a few bites of their meal.

"Are you alright Xena?"

Slow to reply, Xena sat her bowl down and strolled toward her bedroll. The exhaustion in her deep blue eyes was apparent and she tossed off her armor as if angry at the breastplate itself. "We're both tired. My heart isn't in the battle anymore, Gabrielle. The adrenaline, the challenge and the warrior spirit just isn't there anymore." Gabrielle accepted the warrior princess would be thinking that way after the gruesome fight of two days. Before she could express her thought that rest would do them both good, Xena continued speaking with a mellow tone.

"I can't do this anymore. You've changed so much before my eyes and I am really proud of you Gabrielle. It is time I choose a greater good for myself. I am going to choose a new destiny. It's time you did too."

"What are you saying Xena? You just need some rest. You'll be your old self in the morning."

Xena was quick to lie down on her bedroll without further words. Only lying quiet a moment on her back, she quickly turned to her side and closed her eyes.

Gabrielle sat down her bowl of the well-spiced rabbit. Securing the fire for the night, she next joined Xena on the bedroll beside her beloved mate. Reaching slowly and gently across, she stroked Xena's arm before turning on her back and seeking to fall into a peaceful slumber. Gabrielle's last thought was Xena would leap at the dawn and be ready to journey, seeking another battle along the way, as always.

Xena did leap at the dawn and quickly packed up the camp supplies. She had saddled both horses and kneeled to lift Gabrielle into her arms. "Wakey! Wakey! We must travel fast and far. We aren't going to stop and if trouble is in our path, we must look the other way. C'mon now, I'm ready to go."

Pleased by Xena's grasp, Gabrielle slowly opened one eye at a time and took a moment to gaze into the dark and deep blue eyes of the warrior princess. Xena turned loose too quickly letting Gabrielle fall the short distance back onto her bedroll with a thump.

"Hey! You're a bit pushy this morning."

As soon as Gabrielle had stood on her feet, Xena grabbed up the last blanket in a roll and hastily tied it on Gabrielle's horse. Xena mounted up and without response gave a nudge to her horse and began to ride away. Gabrielle leaped quickly onto her horse, riding at a brisk pace just to keep up.

"Xena! Xena, wait!"

Gabrielle yelled ahead as Xena was putting too much distance between them and riding much to furious to be understood this early in the morning. Slowing after hearing Gabrielle's plea from behind her, Xena turned and spoke in the stoic confident tone.

"I'm going home, Gabrielle. I'm going home."

Part II

Gabrielle was able to catch up and continued to follow, riding along side of Xena without further question of her direction. They stopped only once with daylight fading fast, filling the water pouches and riding at a fast trot all afternoon . Feeling exhausted once again, the sun began to slowly settle.

"We'll make one more camp, Gabrielle. Let's hope it is the last for a long time."

Gabrielle gave a concerned look at Xena's remark but was too tired to probe the warrior princess again. She knew wherever it was Xena was so anxious to arrive was where she was headed. Some bread and cheese would be the food of choice on this night as both quickly gathered the bedrolls. Lying along side of one another beneath the bright sky filled with stars, Gabrielle held tightly Xena's hand. She sensed something was on her mind that was driving her now. It wasn't thirst for a battle or a desire to seek others in need of protection for the greater good. Whatever it was, Gabrielle felt she needed to give Xena her hand and help her relax and keep a clear mind. Gazing up at the stars, an unusual moment for a warrior, Xena glared with content.

"This I won't miss all together. There will be time for it in our future, Gabrielle. Now there needs to be time for who we are. Don't you feel that?"

Gabrielle turned to her side lying her arm across Xena's waist. Giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, Gabrielle replied "I've always wanted more time with you Xena."

"What was that you once said Gabrielle about fate? We can't rely on it?"

"I did say that, Xena. That was about that vision you were tormented by for so long. I guess it was a good thing I never believed. Dying along side of you left me no doubt of my place."

"Well, it left me with no doubt that time and fate aren't always the best to keep my destiny. You've written the legend. Now I'm going to protect it."

Gabrielle was unclear what Xena meant in her words. Yet, the night was so comforting and just lying beside her warrior princess stirred her inside too much to think of fates and destiny.

Once again, Xena was up before the sun had risen above the hilltop. She had a good catch and had the cleaned the fish which now were waiting to be cooked. Xena clanged the pots and pans in the pack as Gabrielle awoke from the stir.

"Yawn……I'll cook those Xena."

"Oh, I was hoping you would. And Gabrielle, I added a new frying pan to our supplies. I think you should do the honors with this one, don't you."

"The honors?"

"The honor of using our frying pan. This one will be forever yours and mine. This one, I won't use as a weapon or whack any bad guys just for the sport of battle."

Giving a large grin to Xena's remark, Gabrielle cooked the fish, keeping the moisture tasty as she and Xena ate until they both were filled. Leaping up from her seat on a rather large log, Xena again saddled up both horses. She rushed Gabrielle to break camp and they began the days ride briskly once again.

Part III

"Whoa! Whoa!" shouted Gabrielle as she brought her horse to a halt. Taking a jump down, Gabrielle awaited Xena to turn back. Finally, after getting far ahead, Xena realized Gabrielle had stopped by a stream and sat resting. She turned Argo back to the direction behind her and rode directly up to Gabrielle.

"Why are you stopping?"

"Xena, this pace is too hard on the horses. I don't know where you are headed in such a fury but we need to pace ourselves."

Xena leaped off Argo and stood with her hands on her hips looking down at Gabrielle who was waving her hand through the cool stream. Moments passed before Xena sat down beside Gabrielle. Tightening her gauntlet, Xena took a sigh.

"Okay Gabrielle. I'm going back to my grandmother's farm. Since Ares couldn't find use for the place, I ..uh, well I thought you and I might spend some time there. I've more memories than I told you and it's the one place I think I can settle a day, two, even three."

Gabrielle grinned at the warrior princess and gave a quick laugh at the idea of Xena settling down.

"Oh you think that's funny, do you?" Xena reached to the water splashing it up on Gabrielle's face. The water left droplets running down her cheek as she exchanged a splash with both hands back at Xena. Not to be outdone, the warrior princess smacked the water hard with her super mortal strength, drenching the bard who leaped up from her seat laughing.

"Okay! Okay! Xena, enough. You win."

Returning one hand to her hip, throwing her hair back off her face, Xena explained, "I don't know if I can do the nesting thing as you once called it. I know an amazon camp is not for me but I think it's time you and I put down roots. A center point, where we can fight for a greater good if there is need. I just don't want to live on the road anymore Gabrielle."

Gabrielle shook the water droplets off her hair and turned to Xena with a perplexed look and question in her eyes. "Xena! You couldn't stay in place with Eve or I as Queen of the amazon camp. You really think you'd last over a week on that farm?"

Xena mounted back onto Argo, giving a tug of the reins to turn her head, Xena said, "Gabrielle, I have had twenty-five years of sleep to watch all the things I knew change. I lost another year not knowing my name, my destiny or what drove my heart to that of a warrior. I have sought redemption in Rome, Greece and made restitution to the Valkyrie. With Eve on her own path, you and I have earned some time. Time to have a roof over our heads, a soft bed at night and warm cooked food at our desire. I know it won't come easy. I know my heart will roam to the battle. But I also know my heart wants to hold you tight, watch the sunset and awaken to the sunrise where the only rush of the day is to milk a cow."

Gabrielle felt hope in Xena's words that her mate truly wanted some time to reflect. The past years had been hard and as much as Gabrielle was feeling good of the skills she'd learned in battle, there was no doubt it would be wonderful to take a break. A time to write something onto her scrolls not of a day with blood shed, a good day fighting but a good day being productive without a weapon in hand.

Xena reached over to Gabrielle's horse and took the reins in hand, reaching them toward Gabrielle."Come on now. If we ride like the wind we can make the place by nightfall. You don't think I got that new frying pan for a wild rabbit, do you?

Gabrielle took her horses' reins, mounted up and she and Xena continued riding at a fast pace the rest of the day.

Part IV

Just over the hill the farm stood quiet, still in need of much repair. The cows roamed in the fields, the chickens were pecking the ground for seed and the goats were chewing grass along the hillside in the backyard. The gate of the corral leaned as the pigs and horses looked well cared for at least. Xena paused Argo to take a long glance. Once again her memories swelled in her mind as the feeling of peace and safety consumed her.

"There it is Xena," Gabrielle said to break the silence.

Xena suggested they approach with caution. It seemed someone had been taking care of the old place and it couldn't have been Ares since Xena had entombed him just before going to Japan. Walking slowly and quietly beside the horses, Xena and Gabrielle approached the front porch. A gleam of light brighter than a raging fire halted them in their footsteps. Suddenly it was the Angel Callisto standing soft and gentle before them.

Xena still untrusting snapped, "what are you doing here?"

Softly Callisto replied, "Xena, you have earned redemption. You lost much and many years. Eli's god has granted me one wish along with my pleasure of what you did for my soul, Eve. And Gabrielle you've been loyal and your goodness is evidence you did not deserve to suffer such loss in your life either. You both had right to your first born. They had right to a mother. Behold ! "

With that Solan and Hope walked onto the porch hand and hand. They were still small children of the same age as when Xena and Gabrielle last laid eyes on them alive. Hope now eight years old and Solan near twelve.

Xena wenches at first sight of Hope but it was Solan who spoke up and reassured Xena there was no more evil, no more influence from Dahok and no more reason that Gabrielle shouldn't have her daughter. Solan informed with the death of Hades, he found Hope in Tartarus. They had become friends when Solan escorted her to the Elysian Fields. It was there where Callisto had found them united as brother and sister just by fate.

Recovering from the shock of the sight of their children, Xena and Gabrielle did not take any notice when Angel Callisto vanished. Solan leaped in play with a ball made of animal skin while Hope joined in laughter and with him. Tears rolled one after the other down Gabrielle's face at the vision of what her heart most wanted. Her child and Xena's being mere mortal children, no separation of one evil and the other good. At play with the youthful minds free to not question such things as their death and another chance at life. All the innocence exposed to both she and Xena who now could be parents together. The real torment that had between between she and Xena was always these children. Now they had another time and another chance.

As if this was the destiny Xena also dreamed, she sat comfortably in the old creaky rocking chair on the porch. Solan ran up to his mother with a loving smile only a youthful son could offer. "What's for dinner?"

Xena began removing her armor and looked to Gabrielle, "yes Gabrielle, what is for dinner?"

Part V

After days passed, Xena and Gabrielle had let reality set in that they had their first born children back with them. Gabrielle couldn't help but notice that Xena kept a stare when she would watch Hope stir around the farm or especially when she was playing in the fields with Solan. Xena and Solan had taken several evening walks alone and enjoyed fishing in the nearby lake. Xena had even entertained them all at sunset two nights before singing a most lovely greek song for the children.

Gabrielle and Hope had a chance to have a serious heart to heart talk. Hope gave understanding that her mother had to kill evil and that it was not her daughter she had wished to harm. Both knew and accepted it was Dahok that had been the cause. Dahok's evil being removed from the world set Hope's heart free to open up and finally allow her to feel caring and love. There seemed a great need within Hope that her mother be gentle and kind to her giving her guidance and example. The young girl was wise beyond her years and eager to absorb all the love and laughter that now surrounded her. Too little had she ever experienced and so much her mother had to offer her.

Xena and Solan had done well fixing up the old farm house, stopping completely the old leaky roof. Solan had took great pride in the fact his mother had shown him another use for her sword as he had become quite the builder and man around the place. He cleared all the old tumbling brush surrounding the farm house and turned the ground just right for Gabrielle and Hope to plant themselves a lovely garden of flowers. He most loved his mother sharing with him her tracking skills and he enjoyed days and days of hunting for food. His first elk brought a wide smile to the young man's face as Xena gleamed with happiness for her son.

Hope didn't understand the slow care her mother gave to the flowers in the garden. Gabrielle sat with Hope on long sunny afternoons explaining things take time to grow. The care and nurturing given them while they are young will determine how well the colorful blooms come forward in their own time. As more time passed, Hope finally asked her mother if Xena still distrusted her. She had taken notice all along of the stare and watchful eye of her mother's companion and kept wishing her own feeling of self concious would go away. Gabrielle had shown confidence that Xena would come around with time and she too wished Xena would express as much love toward Hope as she felt for Solan. The distance between them was the only concern that loomed over them during these wonderful summer days.