Part Nine

It had been two weeks since the big celebration, but to Gabrielle it seemed like the Amazons were doing nothing but celebrating every day. "Oh Gods! Don't they have anything else to do?" she moaned in exasperation.

Joxer looked over at his wife. "Gabrielle, are you okay?"

"No! I'm not okay! How am I supposed to get this scroll done before the babies come with all that racket?" Gabrielle snapped, clapping her hands over her ears.

Joxer stood up and walked over to her and sat down by her chair, the one Jace had given to her so she would be comfortable now that she was only two weeks away from giving birth. "Are you working on a new scroll? It's been a long time since you wrote."

Gabrielle gazed at him with loving eyes. "Yeah. Well, it's been a long time since I've written anything, but this is something for our babies. It starts with how we finally noticed each..." Gabrielle giggled a little at Joxer's look. "Okay, okay, how I finally noticed you. Then it goes on to our marriage and honeymoon and up to the present."

Joxer smiled at her sweetly. "Are you going to tell them everything - even about the welcoming dance ceremony?"

"Of course I am, Joxer. They need to know the truth about their parents. And I want them to know what a wonderful dancer their father is."

Joxer leaned back and stared up at the ceiling of the hut, laughing a little. "Then when they get older, I can teach them to dance. Gabrielle, speaking of dancing... When your time comes, will there be dancing?"

Gabrielle thought for a moment. "Well, knowing this group of Amazons like I do, I suppose there will be, but not by the person who will deliver the babies. After all, Joxer, she doesn't dance," she said with a fond smile.

"So... Xena's going to deliver our babies?"

Gabrielle touched his face and ran her hand across it. "Does that bother you?"

Joxer grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cheek. "No, it doesn't. I really would've been surprised if you had asked the shamaness to deliver them, to tell the truth. Xena's a good choice."

Gabrielle was about to kiss him when she heard a loud drumming sound a short distance outside the hut. "Oh, for crying out loud! Now what?"

Joxer got up. "I'll go see."

Joxer walked outside and saw Rhea, Eris and Arose beating on drums. "Do you three mind? Gabrielle's trying to work on her new scroll."

Arose looked up and smiled. "Hey, little brother! Rhea and Eris are teaching me how to play the birth drum."

"Well, do it somewhere else, okay? And Arose?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop calling me little brother."

Arose giggled as she and the other girls got up and left. Joxer returned to the hut. "Rhea and Eris were teaching Arose how to play the birth drum, whatever that is."

"Cyane told me that it's the drum they play during the delivery," Gabrielle explained.

"Oh, Gods! You've got to be kidding!" Joxer groaned.

Gabrielle shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not."

"Hey... Someone would like to say hi. Gabrielle... Joxer, may we come in?"

Gabrielle smiled as Xena and Eve stood in the hut's threshold. "Xena! Eve! Oh, come in! Please come in!"

Eve bounced in and ran over to Gabrielle. "Hi, Aunt Gabby! I picked these for you." The young child held out her hands and gave Gabrielle a huge bunch of dandelions. "Mommy said you love flowers."

Gabrielle took them with a smile. "Oh Eve, they're so beautiful! Thank you very much! " She looked at Joxer. "Honey, would you put them in water?"

"Sure." Joxer took the 'flowers' from Gabrielle and smiled at Eve. "Hey Evie, want to help me?" He held his hand out to her.

"Uh huh!" Eve nodded, took Joxer's hand and they skipped out the door to find something to put the 'flowers' in.

Gabrielle looked at her friend after sharing a warm embrace. "So, did you have fun? I'm glad you're back."

"I told you I'd be back. I just needed a little time away from here and took Eve fishing. I promised that I'd be back in time for the babies to be born."

"I know, but I missed you."

Xena smiled a little. "Yeah. I missed you too. So... How's the daddy holding out?" she asked as she sat down in front of Gabrielle's chair.

"You know Xena, I'm really surprised. Joxer's been holding out just fine. He's even getting along better with the Amazons, would you believe it? Even with what happened with that disastrous dance ceremony. Amazing." Xena lowered her head to hide a smile. Gabrielle didn't notice it and chattered on happily. "He's been a big help. Oh, and his back rubs! Oh, I'd kill for one right now."

Xena rose to her feet and turned around to face Gabrielle's back. "Here. I'll give you one," she offered.

"Sorry Xena, but the only person rubbing my back is Joxer. He's got the magic touch!"

Xena's eyebrows furrowed as she laughed. "Okay, I get the message. I'll go get him."

Gabrielle smiled gratefully and reached out to grasp her friend's hand before she left the hut. "Thanks, Xena."

A few minutes later Joxer returned with the dandelions carefully arranged in a small pot. "Xena told me that you want one of my famous back rubs."

"Yeah, big boy. I do. Come here and make me happy," Gabrielle growled, her green eyes sparkling as she gazed up at her husband. Joxer sat down and began to rub her back. "Ahh, that feels so good! A little lower please, Joxer." As he slowly kneaded the tension from her back, Gabrielle began to close her eyes and relax. Suddenly, there was a loud bang and she almost shot off the chair. "Oh for...! I've had it! Joxer, I've got to get out of here for a while before I go crazy! This is more than I can stand!"

"You mean leave the village? What about the babies?" Joxer asked anxiously.

"No, not altogether. I just need some peace and quiet. I remember seeing a cave on the way here. It's not that far. Let's go there for while."

Joxer stared at her. "A cave? I'm not sure if that's a good idea in your condition."

"If I don't get out of here for a while, I'm liable to murder someone. Besides, I'm not due for another two weeks."

Joxer rubbed the back of his neck and nodded after a few moments of thought. "Okay, but it's against my better judgment, I've gotta tell you."

"It'll be okay, Joxer," Gabrielle reassured Joxer with a smile.

Joxer nodded as he helped Gabrielle from the chair and took a full water skin in case either one of them got thirsty while walking. As they walked from the hut, Jace met up with them. "Say, you two. Where are you going?" he asked cheerfully.

Gabrielle snapped at him, "We're going for a walk, Jace. Alone!"

Jace stared at Gabrielle for a moment before he lowered his head, his eyes dropping to the ground. "Okay. I get the message. I think Cyane wants to see me anyway," he mumbled.

Joxer watched his brother slowly walk away, head hanging. "Gabrielle, did you really have to snap at him? You know how touchy he is."

"Joxer, I'm sorry. I just want to get away from all of this and Jace just goes on and on and on..."

"Yeah, I know, but he means no harm," Joxer sighed. "So, just how far off is this cave anyway?"

"Not far. About half a mile."

"Can you walk that far?"

"Yeah. Come on!" Gabrielle took Joxer's hand in hers and tugged him forward.

It took some time, but eventually they arrived at the cave. Joxer looked around until he saw a large stone big enough for Gabrielle to sit on outside the cavern. "Here. You sit here while I go check to see if it's safe inside." Gabrielle slowly sat down and waited. Joxer returned shortly. "There's actually a chair carved out of stone in there! Come on, I'll show you."

"Joxer, some help here please," Gabrielle said as she held out her hand.

"Oops! Sorry, Gabrielle." Joxer took her hand to help her to her feet and they walked inside the cave.

On Mount Olympus, two Goddesses watched the images of Joxer and Gabrielle enter the cave via a clear pool of water. One who was usually full of life and laughter was furious at the image that she saw while gazing in the water. "Like, why are you gonna do this anyway? This is sooo totally grody!"

"I told you before, if Joxer is going to be a father of Amazons, then he must be tested under unusual circumstances. Now if you can't accept that, then leave!"

Aphrodite frowned as she stuck her tongue out at Artemis. "This is so totally not cool, Artemis, and you know it! Back off my boy Joxer or I'm going to...!"

"You're going to what, Aphrodite?" Artemis taunted.

"I don't know yet, but when I do know, you like better believe it's gonna be totally for sure not coming up roses for you!" Aphrodite snapped, stamping her foot on the marble floor.

Gabrielle sat down and began to work on her scroll again while Joxer slowly massaged her back. She sighed in contentment and leaned back to enjoy it. Suddenly, there was a loud noise and rocks began to fall all around the cavern's entrance.

"GABRIELLE!" Joxer threw himself before his wife to protect her from falling debris. Eventually, the rocks stopped falling and everything was still. "Gabrielle, are you okay?" Joxer gasped, coughing as the dust settled.

Gabrielle gasped and coughed for a long time before she finally caught her breath. "Joxer..." She panted a little and suddenly hissed between her teeth, clutching at her stomach.

"Gabrielle! What's wrong?" Joxer's voice rose to a sharp cry.

"Joxer..." Gabrielle winced. "Oh Gods!" She looked up at her husband with wide eyes. "I think my water broke."

"What? Your what broke?"

"The babies... I think they're coming..." Gabrielle gasped.

"Now? They're coming now? But you said that they're not due for another two weeks!" Joxer's eyes became saucers and his face turned marble white.

Sweat began pouring down Gabrielle's face. "I know what I said but they say otherwise! Joxer, they're coming! Oh Gods! Not now! Not now!" She squeezed her eyes shut as pain shot through her body.

Joxer bent down next to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle, calm down! It's gonna be okay!"

Gabrielle grabbed him by his tunic collar. "IT WON'T BE OKAY! The babies are coming and we're trapped in this cave and nobody knows we're here!"

Joxer gulped loudly and ran his tongue over dry lips. "I'll take care of you," he whispered.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and laughed sharply. "How? Have you ever delivered a baby before?"

Joxer slowly helped her lie down and tried to make her as comfortable as possible on a stone and dirt-covered floor. "No, but I'm the only one here."

"Oh, that's just great! A dork's going to deliver my babies!" Gabrielle realized what she said and felt horrible. "Oh Joxer, I didn't mean to call you a dork!"

"I know you didn't." Joxer took a deep breath to try and steady himself. "Gabrielle, do you have any idea how far apart the contractions are?"

"I don't know. They've just started." Gabrielle's eyes glistened with tears. "Joxer, I'm scared."

"I know you are. I'm right here," Joxer said in as soothing a tone as he could manage, even though he was absolutely terrified inside. He wiped her face with the back of his hand and looked down into her eyes. He winced when Gabrielle suddenly grabbed his hand and squeezed down hard as a painful contraction shot through her body, making her cry out loud.

"This is way too much! I'm going to help Studmuffin!"

"No, Aphrodite! Do not interfere! He needs to be tested."

The Love Goddess blinked in astonishment. "Tested? Tested? Hasn't poor Studmuffin been tested enough? For crying out loud, he like totally rescued the Wonder Bard from the Amazon Underworld and that cute sister of his too! Plus he's put up with all the kooky rituals at Camp Estrogen these past few months without one word of complaint and that's still not enough for you to be happy!" Aphrodite shook her head in disgust and wrinkled her pretty nose. "Bogus!"

Artemis replied coldly, "You know that those babies will be fine. If he can't get through this, he doesn't deserve to be a father of an Amazon."

"You're like way totally heartless, Artemis!" Aphrodite yelled. "That armor of yours isn't just worn on the outside, is it?"

Artemis sighed and gazed into the pool of water. "Look, if there's trouble, you may go and help but you must not interfere otherwise."

Gabrielle let out a scream as Joxer held her. "Joxer, please make the pain stop! Get Xena!" she begged, tears running down her face.

"Gabrielle, we're trapped in here. I wish I could take away your pain." Joxer reached over and removed the top from the water skin. He held it so that Gabrielle could take a drink. She gazed up at Joxer with wide eyes as she parted her lips so that the cool liquid could slide down her parched throat. "Just try to relax, Gabrielle." Not knowing what else to do, he tried humming softly in an effort to calm her down.

Gabrielle swallowed the water and nodded. She closed her eyes and listened to Joxer's voice. She breathed heavily as she attempted to relax before the next contraction came.

Artemis looked at Aphrodite calmly. "He's doing okay so far."

"Yeah, for now, but what's gonna happen if the little rugrats decide to come before help does? Didn't think of that, did ya, Miss Metal Britches?" the Love Goddess sneered.

"They won't - at least I hope not." Artemis gazed steadily at the image of the two trapped inside the cave. "They've already been in there for several hours. Someone's bound to figure out that they're missing sooner or later and a search party will begin looking for them."

"For Daddy's sake! Babies come when they darn well please, Artemis! I'm off to get the Warrior Chick!" Aphrodite put her fingers together to snap herself away when Artemis reached over and stopped her. "LET GO OF ME!"

"No, wait! Give this time."

"Like why should I?"

"Because I said so."

Aphrodite laughed and threw her head back defiantly. "Phft! Like I'm going to do what you say? Well, ex-squeeze'em moi! That's not gonna happen in this lifetime! I'm like so outta here!" She snapped her fingers and left Mount Olympus in a shower of pink and gold sparkles. Artemis said nothing as her sister vanished into the ether.

Aphrodite suddenly appeared in front of Xena, who stood up in surprise. "Yo! Miss Bard's doing the birth thing in a totally icky cave! My boy Joxer's with her, but he needs backup like pronto!"

Xena nodded, her blue eyes wide. "Okay. I'll get help."

"We don't have time for that! She needs you like now! Hold onto your breastplate!" Aphrodite put her hand on Xena's shoulder and snapped her fingers. Xena blinked as they reappeared in front of the cavern's blocked entrance.

"Why didn't you just take us inside the cave?" Xena asked, gazing at the rocks covering the cave's opening worriedly.

Aphrodite frowned. "I did, but something went kablooey. Hold on a sec!" She snapped her fingers again and the two disappeared then reappeared back in the same spot that they were standing in before. "This is so not my fault! Something's way wrong here!"

"I told you not to interfere, Aphrodite!" Artemis said as she appeared from the ether. "You're not getting inside until I say you can."

"Artemis, make with the rock removal service already! Miss Bard needs the Warrior Babe's help in there!" Aphrodite demanded, stamping her foot on the ground as she placed her hands on her shapely hips.

"No. Gabrielle has help. Joxer must be tested."

Xena raised her sword menacingly at the Goddess. "I'll test you! Let me in there, you bitch!" she snarled.

Artemis raised her hand in Xena's direction to throw a fireball at her and then slowly lowered it. "I will overlook that remark this time, mortal." She paused before continuing with a soft, "Gabrielle is in good hands."

"She's in Joxer's hands! I'm sorry, Artemis, but as much as Joxer has grown up, this is something that he can't handle!"

The Goddess' left eyebrow rose as she gazed at Xena contemptuously. "Oh really, Xena? Joxer can't handle it? Why don't you see how he's handling things for yourself?" Artemis waved her hand and the three saw an image of Joxer trying to keep Gabrielle comfortable as he watched over her for signs of another contraction. Aphrodite and Xena watched anxiously as they listened to the couple's conversation.

"I'm here, Gabrielle!" Joxer had moved around so that he was facing Gabrielle.

"Joxer, I can feel the baby move! It's coming, I just know it! Please don't faint on me! I need you!" Gabrielle gasped.

Joxer looked up at her contorted face with wide eyes. "I won't, Gabrielle!"

"JOXERRRRRR!!!! IT'S COMING!!!!! OH GODS!!!!!"

"Come on, Gabrielle! You can do it! Push! I can see it! Come on, push!"

Gabrielle pushed down with all her might. "I can't, Joxer! I can't! So tired..." she panted.

Joxer's jaw clenched together stubbornly. "Yes you can, Gabrielle! I can see its head. Come on, honey, you can do it!"

The sweat poured down Gabrielle's face when she pushed again when another contraction hit. "I am trying! You change places with me and try squeezing a watermelon through an opening the size of a peanut!" she snarled.

"Come on! Just a little more... Good! Here come the shoulders!" Joxer shouted, reaching down as the head appeared.

Gabrielle's head arched back as she screamed at the top of her lungs and pushed again. "One more time!" Joxer shouted, looking up at Gabrielle anxiously as she panted to catch her breath. Gabrielle yelled and pushed one last time. Joxer watched as a baby covered in blood slipped out. He quickly took the baby away but didn't see any sign of breathing.

"Joxer, is everything okay? I don't hear the baby. Joxer? Joxer!" Gabrielle began panicking.

Joxer didn't answer her. He quickly took his finger and carefully inserted it inside the newborn's mouth. He frowned as he removed something sticky from it. The baby then let out a choking cough and began to cry, softly at first, but the cries quickly grew in volume. Joxer let loose a huge sigh of relief, as did Gabrielle. Suddenly remembering what his father had done when a colt was born to one of his warhorses and the mare had needed help, Joxer's hands shook a little as he ripped his sash into strips and tied the strips around two sections of the umbilical cord. He then took out his small dagger and carefully cut in-between the area where he had tied the two strips of cloth. He then pulled his tunic over his head.

"Gabrielle, it's a boy! A beautiful, beautiful boy," Joxer whispered. He looked up at Gabrielle with joyful tears streaming down his face as he brought their son over for her to see after bundling the baby up carefully in his tunic.

"Oh Joxer..." Gabrielle smiled wearily in response as Joxer pulled her head onto his lap and put the baby on top of her stomach. He leaned down and kissed Gabrielle then the baby gently on the forehead as she put her arms around their son and silently counted his fingers and toes.

Artemis waved her hand and the rocks disappeared from the cave's entrance. Xena pushed the Goddess aside as she ran in, seeing that Joxer had Gabrielle gathered in his arms and that Gabrielle was gently cradling the newborn in her arms. Gabrielle looked up at Xena with tears in her eyes and smiled tiredly. "Hey, Xena. I'd like you to meet our son, Darien. Isn't he beautiful?"

Xena gazed down at the crying baby, who had Joxer's dark hair and pale skin, with a gentle smile. "Yes, Gabrielle. He's very beautiful," she replied huskily. She reached out and carefully touched the baby's soft downy cheek with her index finger. She looked up at Joxer and smiled, reaching out to clasp his upper arm. "You did a great job, Joxer," she said warmly.

Joxer's dark eyes sparkled with tears as he accepted Xena's praise and returned the arm clasp gratefully. "Thanks Xena," he said huskily.

"Gotta agree with the Warrior Babe. That's definitely a little Studmuffin-In-Training you've got there!" Aphrodite exclaimed with a throaty giggle as she gazed down at the crying baby, missing Gabrielle and Xena exchanging smiles. She looked around the cave and wrinkled her nose at the mess on the cavern floor. "There's like so gotta be a neater way for mortals to have kiddies though! Yuck! That's totally gross!"

"Aphrodite, I don't think that's going to change anytime soon," Xena said with a chuckle.

"Maybe not, but jeez!"

Gabrielle hissed between her teeth as a contraction suddenly shot through her body. "Oh no, here we go again!" she whimpered, putting her head against Joxer's chest.

"Let's get her back to the village," Artemis said crisply. "That second baby's bound to come at any time now."

Xena nodded in agreement. "All right," she said.

"I'll see you there! Somebody's gotta let 'em know that there's incoming bundles of joy!" Aphrodite exclaimed. She snapped her fingers and disappeared in a shower of pink sparkles.

Gabrielle cried out, wincing as another contraction hit. "No! I want our other baby born here too!" she shouted as Artemis raised her hand to transport everyone else back to the village.

Xena held up her hand to stop the Goddess and stared at Gabrielle incredulously. "Here? In this cave? That's crazy!"

"Yes, here. Just like our son." She looked up at Joxer with pleading eyes. "Is that okay with you, Joxer?"

Joxer carefully took Darien in his arms and gazed down at his wife. "Gabrielle, please. Let's go back to the village."

Gabrielle shook her head stubbornly. "But I think the only reason why he was born here was because he was a boy!"

Joxer took Gabrielle's hand in his after he returned Darien to her. "I want our other baby to be born around our friends and loved ones. Don't you?" he asked softly, gently brushing a wet lock of hair away from her eyes.

Gabrielle smiled as she gazed up into Joxer's face. "Okay. I love you, Joxer." Joxer smiled down at her and gently brushed her face with his hand. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this," Gabrielle said as she held her new son.

Artemis nodded and with a wave of her hand, they disappeared from the cave in a flash of light. A moment later, Xena, Gabrielle, and Joxer found that they were back in the Amazon village inside Joxer and Gabrielle's hut. Artemis rose to her feet and nodded once as they heard a loud commotion outside the doorway.

"Hurry up!" Jace called out as he burst into the hut with Arose, who was carrying Eve in her arms, Ricky, and Cyane at his heels. Several Amazons gathered outside the hut, crowding themselves around the doorway, vainly trying to get a peek at the activity inside.

Aphrodite appeared inside the hut a moment later and put her hands on her hips, surveying the scene. She rolled her eyes at the women crowded around the doorway. "Hey, hey, hey! Like give Blondie some air already! Sheesh!" the Goddess made a shooing motion and some of the women moved away from the hut's opening. "That's better!" In the background, drums started beating and several women left the doorway to go to the village center, chanting as they did so.

"Gabrielle, Darien needs to be cleaned up," Xena said softly, reaching out for the crying newborn still wrapped up in Joxer's tunic. Gabrielle nodded and Xena gently took the baby into her arms and then turned to Arose. "Do you mind?"

Arose shook her head, took Darien into her arms and smiled down at her new nephew. "Hi!" she whispered. She looked up just in time to see Jace dip a clean cloth into some water placed in a bowl and turn towards them, smiling even as tears filled his eyes. "Thanks," she said gratefully as Jace gave her the cloth and she began cleaning the newborn up. Eve sat in Ricky's lap, watching Arose clean the baby and gently wrap him up in a soft blanket.

"So. A boy," Cyane said, her beautiful face impassive. Everyone in the hut turned around to stare at the Amazon Queen, most of them wearing angry frowns on their faces with the exception of Joxer, whose face fell into an expression of utter misery at her words.

Aphrodite growled under her breath, "Why you repressed little...!" Sparkles began shooting from the Love Goddess' fingertips and she put her hands back to fire a zap at the Amazon Queen, but stopped when she saw Artemis raise her eyebrow and shake her head slightly. "Oh, all right!" Aphrodite mumbled, reluctantly backing down.

Gabrielle hissed as a contraction shot through her body. "And what is wrong with a boy?" she snarled, gripping down on Joxer's hand so tightly that it was all he could do not to let out a yelp.

Cyane stared back calmly. "Nothing, of course."

"Good." Gabrielle's eyes glittered feverishly as she panted to catch her breath from the last contraction. Her glance shifted up in Joxer's direction and he gazed back, his dark brown eyes sparkling with worry and concern. "It's okay... AHHH!" she yelled and clamped down on Joxer's hand tightly again as the contraction waved through her body. Joxer's face turned even paler from her painful grasp, but he didn't make a sound.

"You're doing fine, Gabrielle," Xena said, watching carefully for any sign of the baby's head appearing. "Relax!"

Gabrielle nodded once, taking deep breaths through her mouth. Joxer wiped her forehead with a damp cloth and gently caressed her cheek with his free hand. "Xena's right... Just relax. I love you so much," he murmured with a gentle smile. Gabrielle returned the smile shakily and whimpered when another smaller but no less painful contraction hit.

In the background, the sound of Amazons chanting and the birth drums' beat grew louder with each passing minute. Gabrielle suddenly let out a screech borne of pure frustration. "OH GODS! Baby coming or not, if that pounding doesn't stop now, I swear I'm going out there and shove those blasted drums up someone's nose!" the bard exclaimed. She buried her head against Joxer's chest, trying to block out the noise.

"But Queen Gabrielle, it's tradition!" Eris, who was watching from the doorway, protested. "It's to honor the child's birth and our Goddess!" she pointed at Artemis, who was watching Gabrielle, Xena, and Joxer intently.

"I DON'T CARE! STOP MAKING THAT RACKET!" Gabrielle made a motion to try and get up and Joxer held her arms down. Gabrielle struggled in his grip and cried out when another contraction shot through her.

"Gabrielle, calm down! It's not good for the baby!" Xena shouted hoarsely. She turned in Eris' direction. "Do as she says!" she snapped.

"But... But..."

A soft and deathly calm voice interrupted the girl's protests. "Do it."

Eris turned in Artemis' direction, wide-eyed. She saw the expression on the Goddess' face and nodded once, gulping loudly. She then turned around and ran from the hut, heading towards the village center.

"Be right back!" Aphrodite giggled and disappeared in a flash of pink light before Artemis could stop her.

Aphrodite reappeared in the village center, but did not make herself visible to the Amazons that were gathered in a circle, chanting as two musicians played the drums. "Ha! This'll fix you, you lousy bunch of fashion victims! Even that skank Discord dresses better than you Ð and that's not saying much!" she giggled as she pointed her hands at the musicians and two pink lightning bolts shot from her fingertips.

"Hey! What the?!" one of the musicians exclaimed as bright pink light surrounded them. When the light cleared away, the group saw that the drums had been transformed into huge wooden barrels filled with wildflowers. Eris ran up to them at that moment, panting loudly to catch her breath. The blonde's blue eyes widened with shock and her jaw dropped open.

Aphrodite made herself visible to the Amazons then and laughed throatily. "Let's hear it for flower power! Ciao, chickies!" Still giggling, she waved at the group then snapped her fingers and disappeared into the ether, raining pink rose-petals over the stunned Amazons.

Rhea was the first one to find her voice. "Why did she do that?" she gasped, shaking the petals off her head.

Eris took in a huge gulp of air and exhaled heavily. "Queen Gabrielle said to stop," she breathed.

"But Artemis...!" one of the Amazons exclaimed from somewhere in the middle of the circle. "She'll be furious that we are not honoring her!"

"She said to stop it too," Eris informed the group. Jaws dropped at her words.

"But why?" someone else asked incredulously.

Eris shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever Queen Gabrielle wants, she gets, I guess."

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