Spoilers: A Solstice Carol, Eve, Motherhood, Who's Gurkhan?, The Abyss
Pairings: Joxer/Meg, some Joxer/Gabrielle
Summary: Xena and Gabrielle help Joxer's family through their first Solstice without him. This is my first attempt at a holiday fanfic, and hopefully I've captured the spirit of the season. It's also my first time writing Virgil and one other familiar character, and I hope I did them well. This is also one of the longest stories I've ever written. I just kept adding new scenes as I went along.
Special Disclaimer: The names Theon and Kara are the actual names of the two kids we see in Looking Death in the Eye, according to the commercial script I bought at the last convention. The other names are my own doing.
Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Meg, Virgil, Eve, and Lila don't belong to me, they belong to Rob Tapert and company. A famous piece of Christmas literature borrowed for use in this story belongs to an anonymous author from possibly the nineteenth century. This is a G-rated fanfic: no violence, no language, no sex, and only a whiff of subtext. This story takes place between The Abyss and The Rheingold. Happy holidays, everyone!

"Ugh, Xena, how long were we down there in Africa?" asked Gabrielle as they returned to dry land in Greece.

Xena looked at the snow-covered countryside. "Judging by the land, I'd say about three months."

Gabrielle groaned. "I guess we lost all track of time down there. Now that we don't have much family left to go back to, we're more free to waste time travelling the world."

Xena chuckled. "Come on, Gabrielle, it's not that bad."

"It is when you don't have a strong stomach," countered Gabrielle.

"I promise, next time we'll travel by land, okay?" said Xena gently.

Gabrielle gave her a small smile. "All right."

As they headed into town, Gabrielle noticed festive lights, wreaths, and candles. "Xena, look, it's Solstice already!"

Xena smiled. Suddenly Gabrielle sounded years- give or take 25 years- younger. "I guess we were gone a little longer than I thought."

Gabrielle smiled wickedly. "Let's do some shopping. I've got to get started before it's too late." Then her face fell. "Gods, all I have to get presents for this year is Lila and Sarah and Eve and you. Everyone else is gone."

Xena put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. "Don't forget about Meg and Virgil. Joxer's family can use some cheering up right now."

Gabrielle nodded, getting choked up. "They must be going through hell right now. We should drop by on Solstice Day."

Xena smiled. "Why don't we stay there for a few days? I'm sure they'll appreciate it."

"What about Meg, though?" asked Gabrielle hesitatingly. "She wasn't exactly in a good mood the last time we saw her."

Xena sighed. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, let's shop."

A few days later, Xena and Gabrielle arrived in Athens. Meg had decided to stay there since her restaurant had burned down in Xena's battle with the gods. After staying with friends for a few months, she had gotten her own home with some of the money she'd earned from the restaurant. It still wasn't quite big for four growing children, plus Virgil, but it would do. At least Virgil worked and lived in Rome most of the time, but he was working close to home now to support Meg for the holidays. His next youngest brother, Briax, was also old enough to work outside the house, and helped out on the family income.

Xena and Gabrielle made it there five days before Solstice, after asking around for Meg's house. They found out that the house was not that far from Joxer's boyhood home, which made sense. Meg would still want to have some reminder of Joxer present.

Gabrielle decided she should be the one to knock. She felt just as uncomfortable facing Meg as Xena was, though for a different reason. Chances were, though, that Meg would be more hostile towards Xena. Gabrielle took a deep breath before rapping on the door.

They were relieved when Virgil ansered the door. His face lit up. "Xena, Gabrielle! It's good to see you again."

"You too, Virgil," said Gabrielle, hugging him. She pulled back a few seconds later. "Everything going okay?"

Virgil sighed and looked down. "Mom's handling it better than I thought. She misses dad a lot right now."

"I know she would," said Xena, coming forward now. "We came to see if we can stay for a few days, give you some support."

Virgil smiled. "I'll ask mom. That'd be great."

"Ask mom what?" Meg said, coming in the room.

Virgil turned around. "Mom, Xena and Gabrielle are here."

"Eve isn't with them, is she?" asked Meg.

"No she's not," said Xena.

Meg was quiet for a second. "Okay, come in."

Xena and Gabrielle came in then, while Virgil held the door open. "Sorry we couldn't bring any food, but we don't have anyone to cook a fast meal," Xena said, trying to bring a little humor. "We did bring gifts."

Meg did smile then. "Thank you." She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry for being so cold. I just didn't want to face Eve."

"I understand," said Xena.

As Virgil came to her side, Meg put a hand on his broad shoulder. "Thanks for helping my boy get away from those cannibals. I wouldn't have been able to make it through the holidays if I lost him too."

Gabrielle smiled. "I wish I had been more of a help. Virgil helped me too, when I was recovering from a stabbing. He helped us fight the cannibals too."

Meg raised an eyebrow at Virgil. "You didn't mention any of that. You're really different from your father, you don't brag about what you do."

"You didn't hear what he did in Mogador," Gabrielle said with a wicked look.

Meg looked at Virgil. "What did you do there?"

Virgil flushed red. "Well, um... hey, why don't we, um, go have dinner first? You guys must be starving."

Xena and Gabrielle got to officially meet Joxer's family soon after. They hadn't had a chance before they left for Rome, and Meg's grief was too fresh when they attended Joxer's funeral. He had five children: Virgil, 15-year-old Briax, 12-year-old Deanna, and 8-year-old fraternal twins Theon and Kara.

Gabrielle helped meg get the house set for guests. Meg didn't mind having Xena and Gabrielle stay for a few days, but they'd have to sleep on the floor. Xena thanked her for the hospitality.

"I'm glad Meg's being so generous, letting us stay in this crowded house," Gabrielle told Xena the first night.

Xena smiled sadly. "I think Meg just feels really lonely right now. She needs friends." She sighed. "I can't blame her. I'm feeling lonely this year, without mother or Toris. I don't know if he's even still alive. I haven't seen him since our encounter with Cortese."

Gabrielle stared at an object across the room. "I don't have anyone except Lila and Sarah. Mother and father are gone. I bet Lila would love for me to be there right now. I don't feel comfortable here."

"And why is that?" asked Xena.

Gabrielle sat up straighter. "Xena, do you think Meg hates me?"

"Why would you think that?" Xena asked.

"Because Joxer loved me so much," said Gabrielle. "I'm sure he and Meg were meant to be together, but maybe she felt like she was second best."

Xena sighed. "Gabrielle, you really should talk with Meg. It'll help you feel so much better." She smiled at her. "Also, if you really want to visit your family for Solstice, why don't you go to them? I can handle things here."

Gabrielle looked torn. "Do you really think I should go? I mean, Meg does need the company, and-"

Xena put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. "Gabrielle, it's all right. At least you have a family to go home to. Go to Lila. Meg will understand."

Gabrielle sighed. "All right." She got up and rolled up her bedcloth. "I guess I'll see you next week, then."

"You're leaving tonight?" Xena asked, surprised. "Aren't you going to talk to Meg before you go? You may not get another chance."

Gabrielle sighed. "I think it's better that I leave tonight. I'll get another chance to talk to Meg, I'm sure."

Xena looked at her. "Gabrielle, you can never predict how many chances you'll have to talk to someone about something important. Just stay and talk with her."

Gabrielle just smiled. "Happy Solstice, Xena." She then walked out of the room.

Gabrielle expected to leave without anyone noticing, but then she saw Virgil at the kitchen table, looking over a scroll. "Virgil? What are you still doing up?"

Virgil jumped slightly, but recovered. "I could ask you the same thing."

Gabrielle sighed. "I'm leaving."

"Leaving? Why?" asked Virgil. "I thought you were staying for the holidays."

"Yes, but I should be with my sister right now," said Gabrielle. "She's been alone for eight years now, and she should have her whole family with her on Solstice."

Virgil nodded as understanding came over him. "That's great. Have a nice time."

Gabrielle bent over him. "What's this you're writing?"

Virgil shrugged. "It's a poem I'm writing for Solstice. I wanted to read it to my brothers and sisters on Solstice Eve."

Gabrielle looked it over. "What's this blank line here?"

"I need someone to put in the poem," Virgil explained. "I can't think of any person kids would love to hear about."

Gabrielle put the scroll down. "You know, years ago- well, you know what I mean- Xena and I met this man named Senticles."

"The toymaker?" asked Virgil, surprised.

"You've heard of him?" asked Gabrielle, surprised.

Virgil nodded. "Yeah. He made great toys for years. He died about ten years ago, but he's got people who still run the place. Theon and Kara love his stuff," he said with a grin.

Gabrielle smiled. "Wait till you hear how we met him." She sat down across from him. "There was this king who forbade everyone in his kingdom to celebrate Solstice, and sentenced them to jail if they broke the law. His wife left him on Solstice, but he told everyone she died. Senticles worked for him. He didn't like his work, but it was all he could do since he couldn't make toys anymore. It was against the law. He was told to close down an orphanage, on Solstice Eve."

"That is cruel," said Virgil.

"It was," said Gabrielle. "Xena and I decided to teach the king a lesson, to make him realize how much harm he's doing to his people. Xena dressed as Clotho, pretending to be the ghost of Solstice Past. I played his wife, and this cute little donkey named Tobias helped me look like a hovering ghost. I almost spoiled the whole thing when I said I was dead. Luckily, the king passed out. Xena then posed as Lachesis, and took him in disguise to the orphanage."

"What about Senticles?" asked Virgil.

"Senticles took me to his shop, where I found all these toys," said Gabrielle. "We then decided to sneak them and ourselves into the orphanage by going down the chimney."

"The chimney?" asked Virgil, laughing.

Gabrielle smirked. "He liked it more than I did." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, some palace guards came to close the place, and Xena stopped them. Then she, I, and Senticles used the toys to beat them up."

Virgil laughed. "I would have loved to see that."

Gabrielle smiled. "It was a lot of fun. You should have seen the stunts we pulled. Anyway, the king was reunited with his wife, who turned out to be the orphanage owner. When the king realized it was wrong to be so cruel, she went back to him. And Senticles became the town toymaker."

Virgil smiled. "You do tell great stories."

Gabrielle looked down. "I'm not as good as I used to be. I still try to give the moral of the the story, but I don't tell it as well. I write it better than I tell it. I think I'm just rusty."

"You told this story well," Virgil countered.

Gabrielle smiled. "At least I've got a couple of fans." She then got up. "I should head out now. Have a great Solstice."

"Wait, why are you going tonight?" asked Virgil. "Come on, leave in the daytime."

Gabrielle sighed. "I don't know, I don't think your mother would want me around any more than she would Xena."

"Why's that?" asked Virgil.

Gabrielle sighed. "Virgil, your father loved me a great deal. I didn't realize until he died that I loved him too. I... I just think that maybe Meg resents me. I don't know how he treated her, but... I don't want to make things worse."

Virgil grabbed her hand. "Why don't you stay and talk to her tomorrow? I'm sure you can work it out. It'll help."

"That's exactly what Xena said," Gabrielle countered. She stood still for a few moments, then caved. "All right. But I'm still leaving for home tomorrow."

Virgil smiled. "Good night, then."

"Good night," said Gabrielle, then she returned to Xena's side.

"I'm glad to see you changed your mind," Xena told her, almost asleep.

Gabrielle smiled. "You were right, it is important."

The next morning, Gabrielle got up before breakfast and found Meg in the kitchen. "Meg, can I talk to you?"

"Sure," Meg said without turning around. "Better make it quick, though. Everyone'll be coming to eat soon."

Gabrielle sat down at the table. "Meg, while Xena and I were gone, did Joxer... I mean, were you... jealous? I mean, of me?"

Meg turned around. "Jealous? Well, a little. He went out looking for you and Xena so often. I didn't join him until Virgil was born. He'd be out looking for you two for months at a time. The girls said I should find someone else, but I loved him. I know he loved me too."

Gabrielle did detect some hurt in her voice. "You knew he loved me, too."

Meg sighed. "Yeah, I know. I didn't know that for years, but he never said it. I could see it in his eyes, though, and his voice. Whever he talked about you to me or the kids, he'd always sound so dreamy. He talked about you so differently from Xena. Xena was his hero, his idol. You were his soulmate."

"No, Meg, you were his soulmate," said Gabrielle. "I treated him like crap for years, and he always just took it. You loved him from the first time you met him. When you were insulted, he stood by you. You were made for each other."

Meg's face softened. "That makes me feel a lot better." She sighed. "I was jealous of you, I admit it, but I'm glad you talked with me. It really helped."

"You can thank Virgil and Xena for that," said Gabrielle. "I was about to leave last night to see my sister."

"Are you staying, then?" asked Meg.

Gabrielle smiled and shook her head. "No. I really should be with her. She's been alone for eight years, and should have her remaining family with her. I'll be back one day."

Meg then came and embraced Gabrielle. "Have a safe trip."

"Thank you," said Gabrielle, then she headed out the door.

Xena turned from her hiding spot by the door with a smile, then left the room.

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