CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)
Gabrielle
Xena
Eve
Ares
Joxer
Aphrodite

Summary: After making it back to her own time, Gabrielle thinks her life can return where it left off, but Aphrodite has other plans.

Back in the saddle again,
Out where a friend is a friend,
Where the longhorn cattle feed on the lowly jimson weed;
I'm back in the saddle again.

Riding the range once more,
Toting my old forty four.
Where you sleep out every night, where the only law is right;
I'm back in the saddle again.

Whoopee-ti-yi-yo, Rocking to and fro,
Back in the saddle again.
Whoopee-ti-yi-yay, I go my way,
Back in the saddle again.

-Gene Autry
"Back in the Saddle Again"

I was happy to be back.

I never knew how much I missed my own time until I was forced to leave it.

I waved my hand in front of my face, flinging away the thoughts that kept creeping into my mind. That future was in the past now- if that made any sense. It was time to make a new future. Eve was safe from the gods' wrath and would never be harmed by them again. Xena and I were going to raise her on our own- give her the life she should have. Tomorrow was fresh, with no mistakes in it. I planned on keeping it that way.

I dipped my toe in the hot spring. Ever since I was entombed in ice, I hadn't been able to retain heat. It's like my entire body melded with the frozen block. I removed my robe and slid into the bubbling waters, relishing the warmth that radiated through my body.

I lost track of time, but I eventually became warm enough to feel like my old self again. As I approached our camp, I heard Xena singing a lullaby to Eve. As I glimpsed them through the trees, I could see how Xena's voice enraptured the little girl; dry tear streaks were all that remained of a tirade long forgotten. I smiled and felt enraptured myself- not just because of Xena's beautiful, sultry voice, but because of the connection the two shared.

I bit my lip as I remembered that Ares seemingly wanted to be part of that connection. I didn't know how I felt about our involvement with him lately. On the one hand, it seemed like he changed, that mortality was instilling compassion in him. But on the other, he was always the type to pull the wool over your eyes- make people think he changed when in truth he hadn't. He had won Eve over- that much was certain. And that alone was enough to make Xena wary of his presence and motives.

Yesterday was the last straw in the Warrior Princess' eyes. Ares had arranged to visit Hephaestus, and for the first time since the former God of War joined our band of traveling warriors, Xena looked relaxed and relieved. Her features hardened, however, as Ares materialized- thanks to Hephaestus's power- back at the camp that night.

"Back so soon?" she noted with derision. Ares ignored her. He sat on the blanket Eve was sitting on and placed a wrapped gift in front of her. She cooed as he helped her unwrap the cloth around it. Eve's eyes widened as she looked at the treasure before her: a smaller version of a very familiar circular metal object her mother carried. She immediately wrapped her tiny fist around it and brought it to her mouth.

With her usual lightening-fast reflexes, Xena snatched the present out of the child's hands. Surprised and afraid that she had done something wrong, Eve broke into mournful screams and tears.

Xena held the gift in her hand and pointed it toward the bearer. "What in Tarturus do you think you're doing?"

Ares noticed Eve's crying and picked up the frightened child. He rubbed her back lightly and returned Xena's angry gaze.

"I'm giving her a gift," he seethed. "Hephaestus and I made it today. I didn't realize I had to get your permission to do that."

Eve's cries diminished to whimpers. Xena looked in horror at her daughter comfortably wrapped in the arms of the former God of War. She barely noticed as Ares took the small chakram from her hand and gave it back to Eve.

"Xena, it's a teething ring, not a weapon," he explained to her harshly. "It's made out of a new metal Hephaestus has been working. It won't even rust." Eve opened her mouth, closed her gums around the cold metal, and cooed at the relief she felt. Ares smiled in triumph. "See? It's not sharp, it won't hurt her or anyone else, it will only help her and make her feel better when she's feeling cranky." Frustrated over the doubt he saw in Xena's eyes, he blurted, "You might have thought of something like this, you know. After all, she is your daughter. Aren't mothers supposed to have some kind of connection with their daughters about these things? I mean, the way this girl is putting her mouth around everything these days, you'd think she was you in your young warlord days."

Xena's eyes slit. Her lower lip quivered in anger.

"Alright, that's it, Ares," she whispered, trying to control the growing fury within her. She snatched Eve out of his arms. The move's abruptness startled Eve, and the tears returned. "Get out of here before I show you what being mortal is really all about."

Ares returned her furious gaze with the same intensity. "I've put up with you and this whole mortal business long enough, Xena. I don't have to do this, you know."

"Then don't," she quickly answered. "Turn around, start walking, and don't ever come back. Go back to your old ways, to the real you, and leave me and my daughter alone."

Ares' right eyebrow rose and his mouth gaped as he tried to assess Xena's feelings. Her demeanor remained steadfast, but her watery eyes betrayed her conflicting emotions.

"Fine," he stated. "The next time you see me, I'll be the God of War again."

"There won't be a next time," Xena answered, her voice slightly quivering over her daughter's howls.

He turned away from her brusquely. For a moment, I thought I saw him flinch in pain, but he stormed off into the woods and disappeared before I could confirm it. I heard Xena exude a sigh of relief as she held Eve closer to her, trying to comfort her and stop her screams.

Sitting next to me, Joxer was the first to speak.

"He'll be back."

Xena turned to Joxer with fear in her eyes.

I scoffed, "How do you know that?"

"Believe me," he answered, looking at me squarely. "I know."

It was hard to believe that all that happened yesterday. It seemed ages since then. Then again, last week for me was 25 years in the future, so I don't think I can be the best judge of time.

I blinked as I brought myself back to the present. I wanted to forget all about Ares and the past few days in which we endured his presence.

My eyes strayed to movement on the other side of the camp as I entered it. Joxer was poking the fire, getting it scorching hot to cook dinner. He was young Joxer again, not the tired, worn-down old barkeep I'd met in the future, carrying 25 years of pain in his eyes. I remembered the torrent of emotions that swept over me when I first saw him after my icy slumber. Joy to see him again and know he was still alive. Sadness to see how upset he had been all those years. Anger at the way things had turned out and at myself for being the cause of his pain. Then to see the pain again in his eyes as he died, shrugging it off like the hero he was- because he didn't want to disappoint me.

But none of that was of any consequence now. Joxer was going to be with us, and he would be our friend forever. The future was as blank as the fresh scrolls I buy at market. And as a bard, it was my job to start writing on them.

I felt so elated, so ecstatic to be back where I belonged, so excited to be given another chance at 25 years I thought I missed- that I barely noticed my stomach heave, and my partially digested lunch appear at my feet.

Eve's attention turned from her mother. She giggled, "Uh-oh." Both Xena and Joxer looked at me with surprise. I stared at my feet, barely believing what happened myself.

"I take it your bath in the springs didn't go well," Xena suggested wryly. She seemed like she was back to her old self now that Ares was gone.

I grabbed some leaves, wiped up the mess and sighed. These were my new suede boots too!

As usual, Joxer stated the overly obvious. "Looks like those are ruined."

"Thanks for your insight," I snapped. My wonderful mood dissipated drastically. I rose and stomped over to him, about to give him another piece of my mind, when the world started spinning on me. A dark veil clouded my vision, thickening with each passing second. I rubbed my eyes as if that would help, but it only made matters worse.

Far in the distance, I heard Joxer say, "Gabby?"

I couldn't feel my feet against the ground. I felt that I was floating, defying gravity, until my legs gave out from under me. My body was perfectly numb.

And then the whole world went completely dark.

I awoke in my pelt, feeling a little dazed. Xena was huddled over me, feeling my forehead for signs of fever.

I propped myself up, just enough to notice Eve in the playpen Xena had made, and Joxer tending dinner, looking more concerned with what was going on with me than with the meal.

"Don't sit up," Xena warned. "You need to rest a while longer. You were lucky that Joxer was close enough to catch you before you hit your head on that rock. I'd been using it earlier to sharpen my sword."

I smiled, still somewhat dazed. "Just in case Ares returns?"

A frown was her only response. "Here- drink this," she said as she handed me a large canteen of water. "All of it."

"Do you think she's really sick?" Joxer asked, the fear in his voice escaping no one.

"No. She's dehydrated from the springs." She cocked an eyebrow. "You were in there for an awfully long time, Gabrielle."

"Well, ever since," I began, not knowing how to phrase my thought. Xena finished it for me.

"It's tough getting warm again, I know. It took me awhile too. It's just taking you a little longer, what with everything your body has been through in such a short amount of time." Her eyes drifted to the scars left from my battle with the gods. "Don't worry, your body temperature will be back to normal soon." She winked. "Just don't overdo it."

I nodded as best as I could. The smell emitting from the fire was making my empty stomach grumble. "What's Joxer cooking?" I asked with wonder. "Is that rabbit I smell?" My mouth began to water. I licked my lips.

Joxer smiled at my eagerness to partake in his cuisine.

"I don't think you should eat anything, Gabrielle. because it just may come back up again," Xena stated. "Drink the water and go to sleep. We'll see how you're doing in the morning."

I frowned, finished the large canteen of water in sulking sips, and huddled under my pelt to escape them both. The smell of the roasted rabbit and the sound of them eating made my stomach grumble even louder. Occasionally I peaked out from underneath the covers. Each time I saw Joxer staring at me. Each time Xena smacked his arm.

"Leave her alone and let her sleep."

But sleep would not visit me. The water before bed saw to that. I silently cursed Xena each time I made my way to the bushes.

After the third time, Joxer followed me.

"Joxer," I hissed, "what are you doing? Can't I go to the bushes in peace?"

"Well, um," he hemmed, "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He cleared his throat as I crossed my arms in front of me. "So, uh, are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine. Now go back to sleep."

He was about to do as he was told when he turned. "Is there anything you need, or anything I can get you?"

"No!" I said rather loudly, causing Xena and Eve to stir. I cringed, but neither awoke. "Look, just go back to bed."

He did and I followed soon after. My eyes were sharp enough in the dark to detect the sad, chocolate brown orbs upon me. I ignored them as I learned to do long ago and finally fell to sleep.

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