Gabrielle took a couple of steps towards her
mother. In her heart she knew that something was wrong, but she
couldn't figure it out. "Mom, if it is
serious…"

"It can wait." Hecuba gave her
daughter a small smile. "Besides, you need to rest, you look
tired. We'll talk tomorrow." She headed toward her
hut.

Gabrielle turned back to the Warrior Princess.
"I'm worried about her, Xena. I've haven't seen
her that frightened in years. I use to think that Father was the
cause of it, but now I'm not so sure."

"Do you want me to go with you
tomorrow?"

"No, we need to work this out between the
two of us."

"Just remember; I'm here for
you."

Gabrielle grinned at her intended.
"Always."

"Wake up!"

Sophia opened her eyes and focused on the
person standing above her. "I'm in no mood to see you
Father."

Ares reached down, grabbed her by the arms and
pulled her out of her bedroll. "Too bad because we are going
to talk."

She shoved him away from herself. "Let me
guess, you want another go at it? Fine by me, I'm itching for a
fight. Let's see, I think I won the first round. Yep, I did; I
kicked your arse all over Athena's temple. Round two was a tie,
but I'll give it to you. Round three was a toss-up. Round four,
winner takes all."

"I didn't come here to fight you
Sophia. Damn it, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? Why nothing,
dear father, just showing off the family traits."

Ares lowered his voice. "You can't
change the past Sophia. What's done is done."

"And the people I love are still
suffering because of it. How do you think they are going to feel
when they found out the truth?"

"Why don't you ask them yourself?
After you left, Hera confessed to everyone on Mount Olympus to her
actions, or should I say her lack of actions. It took most of us to
keep Artemis and Apollo from ripping Hera to pieces."

Confusion clouded Sophia's eyes. "Why
would she do that?"

"Because, unfortunately, my dear mother
has changed. There was a time that you would have been fried for
entering her temple as you did. There was a time that she would
have enjoyed hearing that Apollo's child had survived because
it meant she could finish the job herself." Sophia could hear
the joy in his voice as he spoke. But that joy quickly turned into
disgust, "But now, she's been redeemed."