Hecuba was putting the finishing touches on the lamb when BOTH her daughters entered the house, a rare and joyous occasion of late. With Gabrielle as Queen of the Amazons and Lila's new "calling" as dressmaker, Hecuba is starting to feel the effects of a empty nest. Gabrielle's surprise visit couldn't come at a better time. "Oh, Gabrielle! My baby! I can't believe this! I missed you so much!" Hecuba said as she squeezed Gabrielle.

Gabrielle smiled as she felt the welcome and loving arms of her mother. Hecuba's hugs were like being in the Elysian Fields.. "Hi, Mom. I missed you, too. I wish you wouldn't call me 'my baby.' It's embarrassing"

"I'm your mother, Gabrielle. I do what I want. Gosh, dearie. Don't you ever eat on the road? You and Xena must be starving. Sit, sit!" Hecuba turned and grabbed two plates and started stacking on the food for Xena and Gabby.

Gab plopped down in her old place at the dinner table and dropped her eyes to the wood. "Mom, you don't need to..." Gabrielle started.

"No, no! It's no problem. I got plenty for everyone. Your father is in the barn. She can put...Ergo-Eggo...her horse there. And she can sleep..."

"Mom, Xena is not here. She's at the Inn." Lila interrupted and crossed her arms. Hecuba stopped dead in her tracks and nearly dropped her plates.

"What?" Hecuba exclaimed as she looked at Gabrielle. Hecuba sat down and took Gabrielle's hand. "Ok. What happened?"

"We just had...some bad words, that's all." Gabrielle's eyes fill up as she sobs "Oh, gods! Who am I kidding? We had a nasty fight. More like four or five nasty fights. I couldn't believe it. We were getting along great, then, Boom! It was terrible!"

"C'mon Gabrielle. You must have bickered and fought before."

"No, Mom. We didn't. Not even once."

"That's why is was so nasty. All...couples...must get all that stuff off their chest. It was about us, wasn't it?"

Gabrielle looks up in amazement to her mother. "How did you know that?"

"Fights are usually about money or family members. Believe me, you don't stay married this long without some nasty scraps."

Gabrielle sniffed and grumbled "Then, after all this, she storms off and gets drunk. I had a headache and I snapped at her. She got up and rode off. But, she didn't have to do such a juvinile stunt. I was so worried. I had to drag her off on Argo in front of everyone. I didn't know if I sould have felt sorry for Xena or myself. I make a peace offering of fresh eggs and she just has tea and grumbles at me some more. We bickered and she decided to stay at the Inn while I'm here visiting you. I hate this! Men are right, Women do drive you insane."

Hecuba pats Gabrielle's hand "Gabrielle, Let me tell you what happened to me when I was your age. I just married your father and just a few days later, his mother shows up. She just couldn't wait to see how I was treating her little precious one. She was on me day and night, but I didn't complain. I did EVERYTHING to please that woman. She ran me to death but finally, she left. That night, I was so upset, that I ruined dinner. Herodotus was sore from digging the well and very hungry. He made a harmless comment on my cooking and that was the last straw. I tore his head off and threw it down that well."

Gabrielle nodded as she chewed her lamb and listened to her mother's tale. "Herodotus and I really got into it that night. Finally, he just got up and went to the barn and slept there for 2 nights. Nothing but the silent treatment for two nights. I hated every second of it and cried my eyes out all day and night. But I didn't want to be the first to apologize. No, that would mean that I was wrong. Herodotus did the same. Why should he apologize? He didn't start this."

Gabrielle knew were this was going. Sooner or later, Gabrielle would have to cave-in and talk to her dad again. Gabrielle's heart ached as she missed her Warrior. "I was cleaning the vegetables when suddenly, I felt a pair of hands around my waist and the most gentle kisses on the back of my neck and I just melted."

"Does Daddy know this guy? Won't he be upset?" Lila injected and Gabrielle laughed.

Lila ducked as a piece of fruit flew by her head. "Yes! It was your father and he was so gentle. It was the most sweetest thing he did. Well, we made up that day. And night. And the next day..."

Gabrielle put up her hand "OK, Mom! I get the idea.. You don't need you to write that scroll."

"Yuck!" Lila added

"Oh, funny. Well, I got one good thing out of that terrible day. That's when the gods blessed me with you" Hecuba smiled and stroked Gabrielle's face. "First you, then Lila. The gods blessed me with two of the best daughters."

Gabrielle gently grabbed Hecuba's hand and kissed the fingers.

Lila hugged her mother "Thanks, Mom."

"Gabrielle, I think your father needs help in the barn."

"I'll go see what I can do." A knock filled the kitchen. A familiar knock to Gabrielle for some reason.

Lila opened the door as Gab finished her snack. "Oh, look. It's Xena. And she's got a dress on." Lila said with sarcasm in her voice.

A dress? She must be desperate. Gabrielle didn't even turn around. "Tell Xena I'm still mad and I she'll need to do more than put on a dress to flatter me."

Xena heart soared as she saw Gabrielle again. Xena hated being sneaky with her lover, but she needed her family and a fun-loving friend to pick up her spirits. Xena felt so guilty for her irresponsible actions. "I hope this works" Xena prays to herself. "Hey, there. I don't know whatcha talkin' about. Name's Meg. I was walkin' through Podunk..Pod.."

"Potiedaia?" Lila asked in amazement

"Yeah! Thanks, doll! I thought 'Hey! My buddy, Gabs, lives here.' So I grabbed some wine..."

Gabrielle shot up from her chair "Meg, good to see you. Mom, Lila. This is Meg. She's the, um, 'entertainer' I told you about."

Hecuba shakes Meg/Xena's hand. "Nice to meet you, Meg. You staying for dinner?"

"Mom, will you excuse us a minute? We'd need to catch up" Gabrielle squeezes Meg's arm as she pulls Meg/Xena out of the room to the outside.

"Ow! Yeah, catching up. Boy, you got stronger"

"Meg, what are you doing here? This is NOT a good time. I don't have the patience for your crap right now."

Xena head spins as Gabrielle's eyes lock on her, making her quiver. "Focus, Xena. Zug-zug later" Xena thought "C'mon, Gabby. I can't make a friendly gesture?"

"OK, Meg. What's the scam?"

"Scam? Well, you caught me. I'm the head of a intimate cow-theft ring."

"Intricate" Gabrielle corrected.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

Gabrielle grabbed the wine bottles and shook one of them. "Meg, this one is half full."

Xena did her best eye-rolling Meg impression "Well, I got thirsty! It's alot a work walkin.' I can't ride a horse here. Saddles make my ass itch" Xena/Meg accented her point by scratching her bottom.

Gab fought the urge to giggle.

Then, Meg uncorks the bottle and polishes off the rest. Then casually tosses the bottle aside. "There! Problem solved. *Burp!*" Xena/Meg looks around "Oh, Zeus. I fergot 'bout Xena. I hope she ain't pissed at me for popping up like this."

"Xena and I had...a disagreement. Don't ask. Look, Meg. I going to help Dad in the barn. Go inside, and have some dinner." Gabrielle suddenly grabs Xena/Meg's nose. "But, you keep those sticky fingers to yourself! I see all and hear all. You behave yourself!"

"Ow! OK! Glad I got here. Looks like you need a little cheering up. A specialty of mine. Looks like I get to do another good deed. But I gotta charge ya for the rough stuff."

Gab and Meg enter as Hecuba and Lila are sitting at the table for tea. "Gabrielle, tell your father that dinner is ready."

"Yes, Mom. Meg is staying for dinner."

"Yeah, And I have this great one about the satyr and the blacksmith's twin daughters..."

"NO...you don't, Meg. Remember what I said."

"Kidding!" Meg, Lila and Hecuba laugh as Gabrielle closes the door outside and walks to the barn to face her father...........

Part 4