Author's note:
See the LJ of Xebbie:
http://zebeckras.livejournal.com/377385.html

Gabrielle pulled at her chiton, blousing it properly. "Does this look okay?"

"It looks fine." Joxer adjusted his toga.

"I feel half-naked. Why do I have to get dressed up to meet your family anyway? I already know Jett and Jace."

"But you don't know Pop. He's very traditional. Well, in some things." Joxer led her across the agora and down a side street, the noise and bustle of Athens crowding them on all sides. "Anyway, if you dress up it shows respect for him. Pop likes respect."

"There's respect and then there's fear."

"I'm not afraid of my father."

"You've hardly said a word for three days. I told you we should have brought Xena."

Joxer shook his head. "No. Pop wouldn't like Xena at all. She wouldn't have respect and stuff." He pulled Gabrielle to a stop in front of a large courtyard, two armored guards standing on each side of the gate. An elegant house sat at one end, far back from the road. "Okay, this is it. We're here."

The guards let them pass without question. People gathered in the courtyard in small groups, sipping wine, talking under the shade of the olive trees. They all wore togas. Jace held court to an appreciative audience by a fountain, his snow-white toga flowing with his expansive gestures like the wings of an egret. In another group Gabrielle saw Jett, elegantly draped in a red-bordered linen cloak over his expensive toga, give her a slow wink. "Wow, even Jett," she said. "I guess you all do respect your father."

"All of Athens respects Pop," Joxer said proudly. "You see all these people here, gathered to celebrate his birthday? And they're all dressed respectfully, just like you and I are. Everybody--"

A man shoved Gabrielle aside. He was huge and heavily bearded, a red strip of cloth tied around his unruly hair. His toga was solid black, and festooned with bronze pins and clasps that jingled as he walked. He had a tattoo on his bare arm that read BORN TO RAISE HADES in inaccurate Greek. He stopped and took a deep swig from the wineskin he was carrying, looked around, scratched himself thoughtfully, then walked into the house. "Ah--" said Gabrielle.

Joxer rolled his eyes. "That's my uncle Snake. Never mind him."

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COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2006 by Dharma Bum and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.