Chapter Sixteen - Conclusion

As Xena re-entered the tavern, two very concerned girls greeted her. "Is Papa okay, Aunt Xena?" Adora asked anxiously.

Xena smiled at the two girls. "He's fine. He just had something weighing heavy on his shoulders. Say, how about taking that ride now?"

Eve and Adora looked at each other for a moment, then Eve stared at her mother with a frown. "Mom, you told me never to lie or keep something from you, but I think you're keeping something from us."

Xena pulled her daughter to her and hugged her fiercely. "Eve, there are some things I just can't tell you yet until I make sure that everything is all right. You and Dorie have to trust me on this one. Okay, sweetie?"

Eve nodded. "I do, Mom."

Xena placed a kiss on top of her head. "Thanks. Now, why don't you and Dorie get your horses ready?"

Adora turned around and stared out the window. "I better check on Papa."

Xena placed her hand on Adora's shoulder. "He's fine, Dorie."

Adora spun around, her hands on her hips. "Do you mind if I check myself?" she asked.

Eve found herself giggling. Xena gave her one of her looks, but it didn't stay as a smile crept into her eyes. She then turned back to Adora, her left eyebrow raised. "All right, Dorie. Go check on your father."

Adora hurried out the door and in the direction that she could sense her father and Gabrielle were in. She knew she could just telepath to him and ask him if he was all right, but she wanted to see him and touch him. As she came into the clearing, she saw her father and Gabrielle lying on the grass. Joxer was tangling her hair around his fingers. She saw they were saying something to each other but couldn't hear what they were saying because she was standing too far away. Her curiosity getting the best of her, she decided she had to know. So, Adora closed her eyes, concentrated a bit and started to read their minds.

"Gabrielle?" Joxer's voice was soft as he gazed into her sparkling green eyes. His fingers were gentle as he wove them through her thick, sweet-smelling strawberry blonde hair.

Gabrielle's eyebrows rose up curiously. "Yeah, Joxer?"

Joxer's face grew serious. "I want to ask you something..."

Gabrielle placed her finger over his lips before he could continue. "Joxer, I know what you want to ask me. Please, not now. I do love you, but..."

Adora had 'heard' enough. She flew into a rage as she ran over to the startled couple. "You love him? Then why won't you marry him? What, isn't he good enough for you? Well, let me tell you something, you witch!" she yelled.

Joxer rose to his feet, his dark eyes growing even darker as he stared down at his daughter. "Adora, apologize to Gabrielle right now, young lady!"

Adora stared in surprise at her father. "She hurts you and I have to apologize? She never even lets you ask! She says she loves you, but she won't marry you! I won't say I'm sorry! I'm tired of her hurting you!" Adora burst into tears.

Joxer looked at Gabrielle as she rose to her feet. "Let me talk to her, Joxer. I'm sure she didn't mean to call me a witch."

"Yes I did!" muttered Adora, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand.

Joxer knelt down in front of her and lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. He then reached out and stroked her hair in an effort to soothe her. "I'm going to go back to the tavern so Aunt Gabrielle can talk to you."

Adora reached out and held Joxer tightly. "Please don't go, Papa! I'll talk to her, but please don't go! I'm sorry, Papa. Please don't hate me," she whispered, burying her face against his chest.

Joxer held her closer to him. "Oh, honey... I don't hate you. I could never hate you! Dorie, I love you so much..." He drew back so that he could look into her eyes again. "I was just surprised by what you said." He paused to gather his thoughts as his face grew stern. "You were reading our minds, weren't you?" he asked.

"Yes Papa," Adora whispered, hanging her head.

Joxer rose to his feet and put his hands on her shoulders as he looked down at her. He sighed heavily. "I don't like it when you read our minds. It's an intrusion of our privacy and it can get you into all kinds of trouble - like it has right now. You understand?"

"I know, Papa."

Joxer removed his hands from her shoulders and nodded. "Okay. Now I'll be right over here. You go over and talk to Aunt Gabrielle."

"She could be my mom if she ever wakes up," Adora said bitterly.

"Adora..." Joxer gazed at her sternly, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm sorry, Papa." Adora sighed then walked over to Gabrielle. "I'm sorry I called you a witch, Aunt Gabrielle."

"Thank you for apologizing, Dorie," Gabrielle said with a nod.

Adora looked up at Gabrielle and waited for her to speak, her brown eyes wide.

Gabrielle was suddenly lost for words. How could she tell Adora why she couldn't marry her father when she did love him, she wondered. She looked at Joxer for help but he just sighed and she knew she was on her own. "Adora, I do love your father," Gabrielle began slowly.

"Yeah, I know. Like a brother," Adora replied sadly.

Gabrielle shook her head. "No. Not like a brother."

Adora gazed up at Gabrielle, confused. "What then? You like him like a father?"

"Adora, I told you not to try reading her mind!" Joxer angrily exclaimed before Gabrielle could respond.

"I didn't, Papa, but she says she doesn't love you like a brother, and she sure doesn't seem to love you like two people should. So, what's left then?"

Gabrielle began to laugh softly as she walked over and took a surprised Adora into her arms. "I love your father more than life itself. That's why I can't marry him."

Adora shook her head, really confused now. "Huh? That doesn't make any sense!" She wriggled herself from Gabrielle's embrace and stared at the two adults.

Joxer knew what Gabrielle was trying to say and he nodded in understanding. He gazed into her eyes for a long time before he spoke again. "Gabrielle, you know that I love you and will wait until you are ready, but I will do my best to make you happy." Gabrielle nodded but said nothing, waiting for him to continue. He blushed a little and licked his bottom lip nervously. "Gabrielle, will you marry me?"

Gabrielle knew that it was time to put the last of her fears behind her as she returned Joxer's gaze. She slowly removed her hands from Joxer's then smiled at both of them. With tears in her eyes, she replied softly, "Yes, Joxer. I will marry you." Joxer shouted with joy and swept her up into his arms, whirling around as she laughed.

Still not understanding what had happened between the two of them, but too excited to care, Adora jumped up and down as she watched the two of them. "Yahoo! I'm getting a mommy!" Joxer was so busy whirling a laughing Gabrielle around the clearing that they didn't hear her continue speaking. "Now, we need to get going here. Let's see: we need guests and a best man and all that other stuff. They can get married in the tavern and I can invite Mom's parents, Papa's mother, Jett, Jace and Pierre! Aphrodite will marry them! I just know it! Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I've got to go get Eve. We have so much to do!"

Adora raced back to the tavern, yelling, "I'm getting a mommy! I'm getting a mommy!"

Eve ran outside, her blue eyes wide. "What?"

"Papa proposed and Aunt Gabrielle said yes! Oh Eve, we've got to get everything ready!" The two girls ran inside, chattering excitedly. Bright lights suddenly began flashing inside the tavern.

Xena, who had gone inside the stables to check on the horses, heard her mother shouting. She ran outside to see what was the matter, saw the lights in the windows and ran inside the tavern.

Joxer and Gabrielle laughed as he lowered her legs to the ground and she slipped her arms around his neck as he slid his arms around her waist. "I love you, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle answered him with a long, deep kiss. When they were able to catch their breath, the newly engaged couple put their arms around each other's waists and they walked back to the tavern. When they walked inside, they saw that the tavern was decorated with flowers and their friends and families were standing around.

"What on earth?" Gabrielle gasped.

Joxer looked surprised and then worried. He pushed his way through the crowd of people congratulating the couple. He looked at Adora, who was talking excitedly to Eve, Cyrene, and Xena. Cyrene threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. Joxer cleared his throat in an effort to get his daughter's attention. "Young lady!" he called out finally.

Adora rushed over to him. "Oh Papa, I've got everyone here!"

Joxer looked around. Adora was right - everyone was there. "I can see that." He shook his head.

Adora pulled on his tunic to get his attention. "We just need to wait for Aphrodite and then you, Mom and me can get married!" she exclaimed, her brown eyes shining with happiness.

"Okay. It sure didn't take you long to get everybody here." Joxer rubbed his hand over his eyes, not knowing what else to say at the moment.

"I brought them, but I said if they wanted to go back I'd send them back and nobody wanted to. Papa, they want to be here!" Adora exclaimed.

Joxer looked at everybody closely this time and frowned. All his friends seemed like they were in a trance. Gabrielle noticed the same thing as she approached her family. "Mom? Dad? Lila?" She waved her hand before their eyes and her own eyes grew wide when none of them blinked.

The three replied in one dead-sounding voice, "We are so happy for you, Gabrielle."

She turned back to Joxer, alarmed. "Joxer, something's wrong with them!"

Joxer looked at Xena, who was waving a bag of gold in front of Autolycus' face and the thief just stared straight ahead. "Oh yeah. I'd definitely say that there's something wrong here!" she agreed as she put the moneybag back inside his vest pocket.

Joxer pinched the bridge of his nose before he turned to Adora. "So, when you found them, you asked them if they wanted to come to the wedding?"

Adora appeared unsure of herself, looking to Eve for help. Eve came right to her side. "Yes, Uncle Joxer. She asked them."

Xena came over to her daughter. "But they didn't say yes of their own free will, did they?"

Eve turned in Adora's direction. "Dorie?"

Adora hung her head. "I meant no harm, Papa. Really! I just want you and Gabrielle to get married and I was afraid that if you wait too long, she'll change her mind."

Gabrielle bent down next to her. "Dorie, I won't change my mind to marry Joxer, but you have to allow everybody to make up their own minds as to whether they can come to the wedding or not."

Joxer knelt down before Adora and placed his hands on her shoulders, gazing into her eyes intently. "Dorie, I understand why you did what you did, but you can't do things like this just to get your way any more. It's not right and it's not fair to everyone you brought here. You know that, don't you?"

Adora saw that her father wasn't angry with her and nodded. "I know and I understand. I'm sorry."

Joxer smiled. "I know. Now sweetie, send them back. Okay?"

Adora nodded and lights began flashing inside the tavern again. Once the lights had cleared away, the only people left were herself, Eve, Cyrene, Joxer, Xena and Gabrielle. She smiled at Joxer. "Okay. What can I do to make it a wonderful wedding?"

Eve giggled. "I know one thing for sure! No powers allowed."

Joxer nodded in agreement. "No powers." He then turned to Cyrene. "Is Jett coming this weekend?"

"Yes. I received word that he would get a weekend pass this week because he wasn't allowed to leave last time due to the prison break," Cyrene told him.

Joxer beamed. "Good. That's only four days to wait. Gabrielle, can your parents and Lila get here in time?"

"I'm not sure, Joxer. It's planting season and Father may not come."

Cyrene shook her head as she walked from behind the counter. "Nonsense! It's your wedding and you're his daughter. He'll be here if I have to go to your parents' farm and drag him over by his hair!"

Both Xena and Eve laughed at that. "She will! Trust me," Xena said, watching her mother talking to herself with amusement. "By the way, congratulations, you two. It's about time." She walked over to the couple and gave them each a warm hug.

"Thanks, Xena."

Adora giggled as she watched Cyrene continue muttering under her breath while she began washing tables down with a wet rag. "Papa, it was a lot easier when I just snapped them here!"

Four days went by quickly as family and friends came from all around to the wedding. Some were surprised that Gabrielle had finally said yes, but others expected that sooner or later they would've gotten married. "It was just a matter of time," Jezda said to Autolycus as the guests gathered outside the tavern where a makeshift altar decorated with flowers had been set up in front of benches.

"Heh. I guess so," Autolycus answered with a smirk as he watched Joxer, dressed in a new white long sleeve silk shirt, a royal blue vest and black breeches and boots nervously take his place at the right side of the altar, Jett standing next to him as his best man.

Jezda was about to say something else when the scent of roses filled the air. Rose petals then rained all over the guests and Aphrodite suddenly appeared in front of the altar with a high-pitched giggle from a burst of pink and gold sparkles. "Studmuffin! Looking muy hot!" she grinned, taking in Joxer's appearance with a nod of approval. She followed it up with a loud wolf-whistle.

Joxer blushed and smiled weakly. "Thanks, Aphrodite."

"No problemo, Studmuffin! Let's get this show on the road, huh? You've sure waited long enough to get the girl!" With those words, the wedding began. Everyone turned around and watched as Eve and Adora walked down the aisle, tossing daisy petals. They both smiled and winked at each other as they took their seats.

Jace then stood up and sang a beautiful love ballad. Before he returned to his seat, he motioned to the musicians from his troupe and they began playing a soft tune. Everyone turned around to see Gabrielle as she came down the aisle, escorted by Herodotus.

Joxer felt his breath come in a sharp gasp. She was so beautiful, dressed in a gown created by the Love Goddess herself and around her neck she wore the necklace that he had given her so long ago. He swallowed and blinked hard as he watched her approach with a smile on her face.

Gabrielle's eyes sparkled with barely held-back tears as she saw Joxer standing in front of Aphrodite, looking very handsome in his brand-new outfit. She stopped at the end of the aisle to face her father. Herodotus smiled and kissed his oldest daughter gently on the cheek. "I love you, Gabrielle."

"I love you too, Dad," Gabrielle whispered in his ear. She returned the kiss.

Herodotus laughed softly and raised his head as Joxer approached the two of them. "Welcome to the family, Joxer."

"Thank you, sir," Joxer replied in a husky voice as Gabrielle placed her hand in his. Herodotus turned around and took his seat next to Hecuba and Lila as the couple approached the Goddess standing before the altar.

Aphrodite placed her hands on shapely hips and stared at the two of them for a minute. "It's about time you got a clue about my boy Joxer, Blondie!" she exclaimed finally before rewarding them both with a gorgeous smile. Gabrielle blushed hotly and shrugged her shoulders as everyone laughed. "Well, you're here now, so let's get rolling!" With those words, she snapped her fingers and produced a scroll - a very big scroll. She opened it and launched into a very complex ceremonial speech that had everyone's eyes start to glaze over after a while with the exception of the bride and groom, who were hanging onto every word she said.

"And verily, it has come to pass that..." Aphrodite suddenly stopped in mid-speech.

"What's the matter?" Gabrielle asked, alarmed. Joxer's dark eyes widened in distress as the Goddess stamped her foot in frustration.

"I'm going about this all wrong! This is like so boring! Who wrote this crappy ceremony anyway? It totally bites the big one!" the Goddess grumbled.

"Uh, Aphrodite? You did," Hercules spoke up from his seat. Iolaus, who was translating for White Dove, began snickering. Pierre hid a smile behind his hand.

Aphrodite's face fell. "Oh yeah." Her face brightened as she suddenly threw the scroll into the air and zapped it. It burst into flames and then disappeared without a trace. "Burn, baby, burn!" she squealed.

"Aunt Xena, why did she do that?" Adora turned around, her eyes filling with tears. "Does this mean I'm not going to get a mommy?"

"No, Dorie. She's got something else up her sleeve," Xena reassured her.

"But she doesn't have any sleeves!" Adora exclaimed.

"Don't worry, sweetie. Everything is going to be fine," Xena smiled. She turned in the Goddess' direction and her eyes narrowed. "Isn't it?"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Yeah! Don't have a cow. I'm thinking here!" She pursed her lips out in a pretty little pout.

"She's actually capable of thought?" Autolycus murmured to Jezda, who glared at him.

"Hey, Slick! I heard that!" Aphrodite shot the handsome thief a decidedly unloving gaze in his direction and he gulped audibly.

Autolycus held his hands up in the air in a gesture of surrender. "Just kidding!" He gave her his most charming smile.

"Uh huh. Whatever!" The Goddess rolled her eyes again and gazed at the anxiously waiting couple for a moment before she smiled sweetly. "Oooohhh! I know... I'm just so good!" she exclaimed with a giggle. Her face became serious as she re-started the wedding. Laughter echoed in the air and happy tears were shed as she blessed the couple's new life together with a very personal ceremony.

Aphrodite's blue eyes twinkled as she finished with a, "So, by the power vested in well - me - I now pronounce you husband and wife! Rock each other's world!" She clapped her hands together and laughed merrily.

The couple didn't have to be told twice. With a soft exclamation, Joxer gathered Gabrielle in his arms and the two kissed for a long, long time to applause and laughter.

"You think that they're going to come up for air anytime soon?" Jace asked Pierre, delicately wiping his tears away with a silk handkerchief.

"They'll have to eventually," Pierre replied with a grin, leaning over to kiss Jace.

Pierre was right. Eventually, Gabrielle and Joxer did turn around to face their guests, to teasing, applause, and laughter, making them both blush. Adora ran up to them and Joxer picked her up. She gave him a huge hug then reached over and hugged Gabrielle. "I'm so happy! I've finally got a mom!"

Gabrielle laughed. "I'm happy too, Dorie.

Eve then ran over to them. "Uncle Joxer, Aunt Gabrielle! Where are you going for your honeymoon?"

"Well Eve," answered Gabrielle. "Joxer and I decided to stay right here and have our honeymoon."

"Great, because tomorrow Dorie and I have a surprise for you!"

Joxer smiled at them, eyebrows raised up in curiosity. "What kind of a surprise?"

"Papa! It wouldn't be a surprise if we told you. But don't worry, I won't use any of my powers." Adora then turned her head towards Cyrene. "Hey, is the cake ready? I'm star... Uh, Papa's starving!"

Cyrene laughed. "Yes, everything's ready. Come on, everyone. Dinner is being served in the dining area."

Everyone got behind Joxer and Gabrielle as they led the group into the dining area. Once inside, Joxer and Gabrielle sat at the head table while the others found places to sit at tables around them. Cyrene had hired special help for the wedding, and the guests were served with fine food and wine. After the meal, Jace got the musicians from his troupe to begin playing so everyone could dance. In between the dancing, the guests talked, ate and congratulated the couple. Adora and Eve were both trying very hard to stay awake, but they both were falling asleep. Jezda gently bumped Xena on the shoulder. She turned away from Autolycus, who she was talking to, and looked at her. "What's the matter?" she asked.

"I think the girls have finally lost their battle with Morpheus. Will you help me put them to bed?" Jezda asked.

Xena smiled, nodded and rose from her seat. She picked up her sleeping daughter while Jezda took Adora in her arms. "Mom, we're putting these two to bed."

Cyrene looked up and nodded. "All right, Xena."

The two carried the girls into their bedroom and gently tucked them into their beds. "Good night, Eve," Xena said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead.

Eve opened her eyes slightly and smiled at her. "Night, Mom."

Jezda leaned down and kissed Adora goodnight. "Grandma?" Adora's voice was sleepy as she opened her eyes to gaze up at her grandmother.

"Yes, Dorie?"

"Papa looked so handsome, didn't he?"

Jezda smiled. "Yes dear. He looked very handsome. Now, go to sleep."

"I will after Papa and Mom come and say goodnight."

Jezda nodded. "I'll go and get them."

"And me too!" said Eve.

Xena stroked her hair. "I'm sure they'll want to say good night to you too."

Jezda left the bedroom and went back into the dining area. She walked over to her son and his new bride, who were dancing to a slow song. She gently tapped Joxer on the shoulder and smiled at the two of them when they stopped dancing. "Your daughter wants to say good night."

Joxer returned the smile. "Okay, Mother. Thank you." He slipped his arm around Gabrielle's waist. "Our daughter wants to say good night."

Gabrielle's own smile widened as they began walking towards the girls' bedroom. "I like the sound of that. Our daughter..."

When they entered the bedroom, Eve said in a sleepy voice, "Goodnight, Aunt Gabrielle. Goodnight, Uncle Joxer."

"Good night Eve," they replied. Eve then turned over on her side and was fast asleep in seconds. Joxer and Gabrielle then walked over to Adora's bed and they saw that she was still awake. Joxer sat down on the edge of her bed. "Hey, I heard you wanted to say goodnight to us."

"I do, Papa. Goodnight Papa, Mom. I love you."

"Goodnight, Dorie. Your mother and I love you too."

Joxer bent down and gave her a kiss and then Gabrielle did too. "Goodnight, Dorie."

"'Night." Dorie smiled and closed her eyes, and soon they could hear the soft sound of her sleeping. Together, they walked from the room quietly and returned to their guests.

After a while longer, the party was over and everyone retired for the night. Joxer looked up after he took his boots off and smiled at his wife, who had just finished taking off her sandals. "You know, I didn't think you could be more beautiful than you already are, but I was wrong." He reached forward and took her into his arms, eyes sparkling. "Come here, my Amazon Princess," he growled into her ear.

Gabrielle giggled as she landed in his arms. "I'll have you know I'm a queen!" She slid her hands over his shoulders and gripped his arms lightly.

Joxer stared at her for a long time before he answered in a husky voice, "You are my queen, my princess, my Goddess and my whole world... along with Adora."

Gabrielle smiled and swallowed hard. Gently, she worked the buttons of his vest open and slid it off his shoulders, the cloth making a whisper of sound as it fell to the floor. "Speaking of Adora, I wonder what she and Eve have planned for tomorrow?"

Joxer began to adorn Gabrielle's neck with kisses as he started working on the small pearl buttons on the back of her dress. "I don't know, but whatever it is... Gods, you smell so good!"

"Joxer" Gabrielle gasped, arching her neck up. "What do you think they're going to do?"

Joxer turned his attentions to her collarbone. "I'd rather not talk about it. Tonight, I want only you."

Gabrielle turned around before he could finish unbuttoning her dress and kissed him long and hard in response, her hands sliding underneath his shirt.

The next morning, the couple was awakened by a loud knock. "Papa? Mom? Are you awake?"

Joxer shot up into a sitting position, searched around for his shirt and put it on as Gabrielle quickly slipped her robe over herself. "Yes, Dorie!"

"Can Eve and I come in?" Adora's voice was muffled behind the door.

"May Eve and I come in," corrected Gabrielle.

Outside the door, Adora looked at Eve and sighed. "May Eve and I come in?"

"Come on in, sweetie," replied Joxer.

They watched as Xena opened the door and the two girls came in with a tray of food. Xena winked at the couple and shut the door silently. "Surprise!" they both said, their eyes gleaming. "We made you breakfast in bed!"

"Yes," said Eve, all excited. "We even cooked it. Grandma just kept an eye on us."

The girls sat the tray on the bed next to Joxer and Gabrielle. Adora lifted the top off the dishes with a flourish. "Look, Papa and Mom! We made all your favorites." They saw that there was lots of fresh fruit, bacon, eggs and bread with fresh homemade black currant preserves, butter, honey - and something that looked like flat cakes with raisins in them. Gabrielle and Joxer looked at this last item curiously and Adora giggled. "You put honey and butter on them!"

The couple each took a flat cake, placed them on their dishes and put butter and honey on them. They both took a bite of their flat cake and Gabrielle's face lit up like a Roman candle at the taste. The two ate until they had just about finished everything brought to them. "Girls, that was the most wonderful breakfast I've ever had! Thank you!" said Gabrielle. Joxer nodded in agreement.

"You're welcome, but we aren't done yet," replied Eve. "We've got another surprise." Eve looked at Adora. "You ready, Dorie?"

"Yep! Ready to go. Papa, you and Mom are going to love this!"

Joxer and Gabrielle waited as the two girls did a dance Jace taught them and when they were done, they sang a new version of Joxer's song that they both worked on together.

They both clapped when the girls were finished. Adora and Eve took a bow and then quietly left their bedroom. Gabrielle removed the tray from the bed and got up. "Joxer, that was nice, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," he replied as he pulled up his pants. "The girls did a great job. I wonder how long they've been working on it?"

"I'd say for at least a week."

"Nah, not a week. I'd say three days."

"Why do you say that, Joxer?"

"Because Jace has only been here for three days."

Gabrielle smiled at that. "Good point."

Joxer finished putting his left boot on and turned around to face his wife. "Ah, Gabrielle, I'm going to talk to Adora."

"About what, Joxer?" Gabrielle gazed at Joxer. "You can't tell her..."

Joxer nodded. "I know I can't, but I still want to ask her to do something for me."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

Joxer reached down and pulled his other boot on. "Nah. I can handle it."

"Yeah. Sure. I understand."

Joxer stopped at the sound of Gabrielle's voice and turned around to see that she was looking down at her hands uncomfortably. He immediately walked over to her and put his arms around her. "Oh Gabrielle, I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking. I would love you to come with me."

Gabrielle looked up at him. "Are you sure? I don't want to interfere with a private father and daughter moment."

Joxer smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. Let's go talk to our daughter."

The couple walked outside and eventually found Adora inside the stables putting her saddle on Blue. "Hi Papa. Hi Mom. Aunt Xena and Uncle Jett are taking us on a morning ride. Do you want to come?"

"Adora, we need to talk to you before you go riding," Joxer said.

Adora's eyes grew wide. "What about, Papa? Am I in trouble?" she asked anxiously.

Gabrielle smiled. "No, sweetie your Papa and I just want to talk to you."

Adora sighed with relief. "Okay."

Joxer bent down and place his hands on her arms gently. "Adora, we know that sometimes you can't help using your powers, but I want you to promise us one thing."

"What's that, Papa?"

"Never use your powers to kill or hurt anyone."

Adora looked at him strangely. "Not even if someone hurts or kills you?"

Joxer shook his head. "Not even for that reason. Do you promise me?"

Adora stared into her father's dark eyes, trying to read his mind, but all she was getting were his thoughts about Gabrielle. "I don't understand why you're asking this of me, Papa, but I'll try my best not to, I promise."

Joxer gave her a hug. "Okay, sweetie. Now, why don't you go catch up with the others?"

Adora mounted Blue and caught up with the others. Eve rode alongside her. "What took you so long?"

"Papa wanted to talk to me."

Eve frowned. "About what?"

"He asked me to promise not to kill or hurt anyone with my powers."

"Did you?"

"I said I would do my best. Eve, how can he expect me to make such a promise?"

Eve studied Adora's eyes before she spoke." I guess when we become parents, we'll understand better."

"Yeah, I guess we will."

In the land of Gaul, on top of the highest mountain:

Two figures stood in front of a large mirror inside a great hall, watching Eve and Adora laughing as they rode on their horses. "All the pieces are in place, My Lord," the first figure said.

"Yes. The prophecy has come to pass with the marriage between the Amazon Queen and her consort. Mount Olympus will fall." The second figure held his hand out. There was a flash of light and a battle-axe appeared in it. "Let the others know that the time has come to prepare for battle."

The first figure bowed. "Yes, My Lord." He bowed once more and left the hall.

The second figure continued watching the two girls in the mirror. There was a flash of even white teeth underneath the hood of his cloak. "Soon. Very soon," he promised.

Please take a moment to write to Susan at sasondo42@yahoo.com and let her know how you liked the story!