Disclaimers: The characters of Xena: Warrior Princess and all others associated with the television series of the same name are owned by Studios USA. This is a work of fan fiction and no copyright infringement is intended.
Subtext: I guess with my writing so far we'll just quit calling it subtext and call it maintext. Yes, they are in love with each other.
Sex: No sex
Violence: No violence
Language: Nope.
Other: 5.22.01 Just a little blast from the past. You know how every so often a missing episode shows up. Well think of this as a missing episode.
Mothers Pride
By T.Novan
tnovan@aol.com
Wrapping Melosa up in her blanket, I lift her from the cradle. She is asleep and could care less that she is making her first appearance to the tribe today. At five days old, all she cares about right now is sleeping, eating and being warm and dry.
I turn and offer her to Xena, who quickly shakes her head. I smile at my consort, knowing that she loves our daughter more than her own life, but she seems simply terrified at the concept of touching her.
Cradling her carefully, I can understand why, she is indeed small, but shes perfect. Already looking like a tiny version of Xena with her dark hair and blue eyes. Shes going to be as beautiful as her mother is when she grows up.
"Are you ready Gabrielle?" Xena is standing back and craning her neck, wanting a better look at Melosa. My warrior is so adorable right now in her humility around the baby. Its so hard to believe that the former Destroyer of Nations is now so humbled by the small life.
I move the blanket back so she can see the babys face. "Almost. Are you sure you dont want to hold her and carry her for the ceremony?"
"Im sure. You should do it." She puts her hands up, trying to assure me that she is sincere.
I cant help but laugh a bit. "Youre not going to break her Xena."
"I know, just give me time. Were getting to know each other here." She smiles at me. "Youre just better at this than I am right now. Its been a long time." Moving to the door, she pulls it open for us and waits patiently for me to join her.
The entire village is assembled tonight. This is Melosas first and official introduction to the tribe. Our closest and dearest friends will vow to look after and care for our daughter, should something ever happen to Xena and I. Tonight, our daughter officially becomes a part of the tribe and is recognized as the first born daughter of the Queen and her consort.
Xena takes my elbow, steadying me as we move down the steps and into the village. All of our sisters are gathered for their first look at the new Princess. I dont even have to look at Xena to see how tall and proud she is walking tonight; I can feel the excited energy radiating from her body even as she strolls quietly behind me.
She is also being fiercely protective. She spent three marks shining and polishing her sword, chakram and armor tonight. Theres not a person in the village who isnt aware of what would happen if something were to happen to Melosa. Xena would destroy everything in her path until she was satisfied that any one responsible for hurting our little girl had been dealt with.
But in reality, Xena knows she doesnt need to worry about that here. There is no place in the world that is safer for Melosa than this village. Every woman here will gladly fight and die to protect the life of their little Princess.
Ephiny smiles at me as we arrive in the center of the village where the ceremony site has been set up. She winks and steps forward to see the baby. I remember a time when people use to enjoy my company. I offer her the baby, which she gladly excepts. I can feel Xena bristle, but she doesnt say anything. She knows good and well Melosa is just as safe in Ephs arms as she is in my own. I still look back and smile knowingly at her. She just lifts a brow and shrugs one shoulder before looking away; trying to look bored and disinterested. What a phony.
"Hello little girl. Oooo arent you a beautiful one." My regent smiles at me. Of course, she has seen Melosa all ready, but it would be bad form for my Regent not to compliment my daughter in front of the entire tribe, besides Ephiny means it. "Congratulations my Queen." She gives a single, reverent nod of her head in my direction. "You have a beautiful daughter."
I reach back and take Xenas hand drawing her to my side, linking my hand through her arm before answering. "Thank you Regent Ephiny. My Consort and I have been greatly blessed."
I take Xena and we move to chairs set aside for us as Ephiny takes Melosa into the audience of our waiting sisters. I can feel the muscles in Xenas arm twitching as she watches everyone approach Melosa and Ephiny.
"Its all right." I reassure her, just to be on the safe side.
"I know." She replies, but the twitching doesnt stop.
Melosa is returned to me in very short order when she becomes irritable and it is very clear that she will only be satisfied with one thing. If she works on this as she gets older, it may serve to be a close second to Xenas own battle cry. Ill have to ask Cyrene if Xenas got started the same way, because right now Melosa is demanding her dinner.
Once she is settled against my breast she is more than content to enjoy her dinner, regardless of the party going on around us. Xena leans over and brings the blanket up over Melosa, effectively covering her head and my shoulder.
"Really Xena " I cant help but roll my eyes at her. If there is any place where I need not worry about modesty, it is here.
She places tender kisses on my cheek before lifting the blanket a bit to watch Melosa nurse. "Humor me."
"Always." I reach back and caress her cheek, while her chin rest on my shoulder. "Thank you."
She reaches down and strokes Melosas cheek, which increases the babys instinct to suckle. "Why are you thanking me? You did all the work."
"I certainly couldnt have done any of it without your love and support."
"Not to mention my willingness to get out of bed in the middle of the night and get the cure for the nausea and then the cravings and then "
"Yes, my love, we know how abused you were while I carried the baby." I tease. "Everyone in the village knows how difficult my pregnancy was on you." Now I laugh. Melosa does not appreciate my humor and releases me long enough to verbalize her displeasure with the situation. Her little fist thumps soundly against my chest, giving me fair warning that I should focus on the task at hand.
Just like Xena.
Shifting her to the other side, I gently rock with her and watch at she settles against me once again and begins to fall asleep.
Together we watch her; still amazed that she is here.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Xena whispers in my ear.
I continue to watch our baby for a moment, then look up into the big blue eyes of my warrior that remind me of the ocean and the sky. Deep and powerful yet light and never ending. I lose myself there every time.
"Almost as much as I love you, I would imagine." She hums a little and kisses my ear. I tilt my head and make her stop. "Behave!" I growl. I do not need that stress in my life right now and the brat knows it. When I look at her again the smile on her face is wicked and playful. She knows what affect she has on me. "Youre evil."
"Thats what everyone seems to think." She stands and looks out over the party. "So do you think its time for me to go fight for Melosas place in the tribe?"
"Go on. I know its killing you. You just cant wait to go show off." Shes speaking of the ceremonial fight, which she will have in Melosas honor to ensure our daughters place in the tribe. Its only for show, but shell enjoy it and somewhere in this sea of young amazons is no doubt one who cant think of a better way to spend the night than to let Xena beat them senseless. Itll be all the better if theres a minor accident along the way and she draws blood and leaves a mark. They love it when she does that and they have been known to spend time comparing Xena scars during parties.
I hear a sucking noise and glance down to see Melosa has given me up for her fist. I wipe her mouth with the edge of the blanket and cuddle her close even as the first sound of metal clashing can be heard.
"Your Mother is picking a fight for you." I tell her as I settle her against my shoulder, placing a little kiss to her forehead. "Shed fight the world for you if she had too."
Melosa yawns, as babies will do, completely unimpressed with everything. I feel the smile on my face; Im helpless to stop it. This little miracle that I hold so close to me amazes me every time I look at her. "Thank you Artemis." A day hasnt gone by that I havent thanked her since I got pregnant.
My hand steadies Melosas head, so small it nearly fits on the palm of my hand. She seems so fragile, but I can tell that shes going to be a tough little thing. There is no doubt this baby is part of Xena. You can feel it when you hold her. There is something magical about her just as there is about my consort.
I kiss her head once again and turn my eyes to the center of the village where Xena is currently taunting about five of our warriors. She has a huge grin on her face as she turns, keeping them all in view. She enjoys this type of thing far too much. The truly scary part is the way they stand in line to let her do this. I was never that fond of letting her knock me senseless when we trained.
Until of course she started kissing it and making it better. Then it was a whole different story. I used to torment her until she final got tired of it and retaliated. She said I reminded her of a lion cub, slapping at the older lions until one of them would knock it head over tail.
Letting my lips linger on Melosas head and I chuckle a bit at the thought. "Your Mother used to think I was annoying." The baby mews softly, snuggling close to me and deeper into her blanket. I think its time to put her to bed. Rising from my seat I turn and head back to our hut. I hear the multiple groans as Xena leaves the sparring match. I can hear her footfalls as she runs to catch up to me.
"Everything all right?" She skids in the dirt beside me halting her run but continuing to walk with us.
"Everything is fine. Its just somebodys bedtime."
Xena nods, sheathing her sword and moving ahead of me to open the door and go in ahead to light a lamp so I would be able to see. As I move to the cradle and put the slumbering baby down, Xena busies herself making a fire to take the chill out of the air.
Making sure Melosa was taken care of, I move to Xena and rub her shoulders while she stacks the wood in the fireplace. "Youre all sweaty."
"Your Amazons made me work up a sweat." She paused for a moment and sniffed the air. "Yeah, I dont think Ill be going to bed without a bath first."
"I guarantee it warrior." I unhooked the sheath from her back, handing her the sword to be set aside. "Because if you try, Ill be forced to sleep on the couch."
"Hmm," she finished lighting the fire then turned to look at me. "Cant have that now. My feet will get cold if I dont have your legs to put them on."
"I knew you only loved me for my body heat."
"Thats my story and Im sticking to it." She stood, giving me a little kiss on the nose. "If I go fix a nice hot bath, would you like to join me there?"
"I think I could be persuaded." I fingered her armor, giving her the same look I used to use on her when I was just beginning to flirt with her so many seasons ago.
"Umm, werent you the one telling me to behave just a few marks ago?" She captured my hand, giving it a kiss.
I sigh. She is right. Im in no shape and we both know it. Maybe in a couple of weeks but not now. However, I can still enjoy a nice relaxing bath.
Melosa is settled down for the night, tucked in safe and sound in her cradle next to our bed. Xena is already in bed, warming it up by kicking her feet under the covers while I get ready.
"Brrrr its cold tonight." She grumbles, still trying to warm the bed. "Maybe we should take the baby and sleep in the main room next to the fire."
I slide into bed and curl up with her. "No, well be okay in a bit and Melosa is sleeping so soundly I dont want to disturb her."
She wraps her arms around me, bringing the blankets up over my shoulders. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." I snuggle in close. "Xena?"
"Hmm?" I feel her lips graze the top of my head.
"If you had it to do all over again, would you change anything?"
"Do you really need me to answer that Gabrielle? You know that you and Melosa are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wouldnt change a thing that might take you away."
I sigh. I didnt need the answer, but it sure was nice to hear. "Love you Xe."
"Love you too."
She pulls me close and we relax for a few marks of sleep before our little girl wakes up wanting a middle of the night snack. I realize as I listen to Xenas deep, even breaths and the sound of her heart beating, that my life is absolutely wonderful and I am truly blessed.
To read more about Raising Melosa
The Raising Melosa Series Page