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This scene takes place shortly after God Fearing Child but before Eternal  Bonds.

A Short Fireside Chat
by Maribel Sosa

She leaned against a tree a short distance away from the flickering fire.  Gabrielle held Eve in her arms & had a big grin on her face, smiling down at  the child. She put Eve across her lap, cradling the infant’s head upon her  knees. She gently removed the blanket and tickled Eve’s middle. The child  seemed to laugh as Gabrielle continued making faces and speaking nonsense syllables.

“Hey! How about a story, little one?” She continued to play with  Eve, making up an elaborate story about furry woodland creatures, as Xena  approached their camp.

Xena’s hair was damp and stuck to her head. She was dressed in her night  clothes, with her leathers in one hand and a frying pan in the other. She paused on the outer edge of the fire to watch her child in her best friend’s arms. A smile danced across her lips and she had to suppress a laugh as Gabrielle continued her story using silly voices for various characters. 

“She’s in her element,” muttered Xena to herself. She should have one of her own.” She sobered at her thoughtless remark and a guilty expression crossed her face as she put her things down. She stood up and stepped closer to the firelight’s glow. She quietly said, “Forgive me, Gabrielle.”

"Forgive what?, she said as she stopped telling the story and twisted about, looking behind her. You didn’t lose my frying pan? Did you?” Gabrielle chuckled and teased. “By the Gods, Xena. I just don’t know what I’m going to do with you. You’d think a mighty warrior princess could wash a pan before she took her bath without losing it.” 

Xena broke in, “No, forgive me for Hope.” 

Gabrielle turned back around. Talk of Hope made her remember all that came after. She especially remembered Solan’s death and her part in it. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked out into the distance. 

“We forgave each other in Illusia and you forgave me again after I left the Temple of Mnmosyne. If anyone needs forgiveness it’s me.” 

“No,” said Xena , as she crouched down behind her, putting a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for not truly remembering what a Mother feels for her newborn child. I thought I remembered but I wasn’t a real Mother to Solan, I couldn’t afford to be and I couldn’t afford to really love him then. But with Eve’s birth, I realized the impossible situation I put you in when I said she had to be destroyed. And I just wanted you to know that.” 

As she spoke she moved around to face Gabrielle so her last words were said as she looked into her eyes. They had avoided the topic of Hope and she was glad that at least she’d said those few words. She knew other discussions would come later. They would talk again of Solan, Hope and Callisto, too. 

As Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak she was cut off by one of Eve’s lusty cries. 

“I think she’s hungry and wants her dinner now.” said Gabrielle as she smiled at Xena, wiping her eyes. 

She leaned over and handed Eve back to her mother as she stood up and walked to the fire. She knew Xena had forgiven her as she’d forgiven Xena but had each one forgiven herself? The loss of a child was something one never forgot or got over. Time would only help dull the pain. She’d loved Hope and Xena had loved Solan but neither had been given the change to truly love their firstborn. She had wanted to discuss Hope and Solan all during Xena’s pregnancy but did not. There had been no strain or rift but the circumstances of Eve’s conception and unspoken words had put an awkward twist in their friendship. They would learn to forgive themselves in time, especially now that they could honestly discuss their past. 

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