"Hey, what is going on?" Gabrielle
stood by her friend, with Xena right behind her. Sophia glanced at
her friend and did a double take. She then looked back at the
arguing couple. *Impossible. Oh Tartarus.* Sophia did a quick
physical assessment of Gabrielle in her head, and realized that she
may have stumbled onto the truth. "Um, looks like Hecuba and
Artemis are having a discussion."

Gabrielle looked over at her mother and patron
goddess. "Looks more like an argument to me." She glanced
back at her soul-mate. "I guess I better break this up before
it gets ugly." Xena nodded and the two made their way over to
the rivals.

"What is going on here?" Gabrielle
asked, looking first at her mother then at Artemis. Artemis ignored
the question. "Gabrielle?" She reached over and caressed
the young Queen's cheek. "How are you doing?"

"I was doing great this morning."
She glanced over at Xena, "In fact, I've never been
happier." She returned her gaze to the goddess. "That is
until I saw the two of you arguing over here. Now, what is going
on? What are you two arguing about?"

Hecuba spoke up. "We were arguing about,
or should I say over you. Artemis tried to stop me from seeing
you."

The bard and the warrior both stared at the
goddess. Xena had dealt with the gods for many years of her life,
and she thought that she had seen it all, but Artemis arrogance on
this matter took the cake. "Is that true Artemis?"

"Yes, and I would do it again." The
goddess looked over at her Chosen One. As she looked into her eyes,
regret filled her own. "I couldn't protect you from the
pain that they caused. But I'll be damned if I let them hurt
you again. Gabrielle, she rejected you. You don't need
her."

"Artemis, I appreciated what you are
trying to do,but understand this. I'm the one who decides what
role, if any, my mother will play in my life; not you nor anyone
else can decide that."

Artemis nodded, even though she would like
nothing more than escorting Hecuba off her lands, she knew
Gabrielle had to make the decision.

Knowing that she made her point, Gabrielle
escorted her mother towards her hut.

Artemis, Xena and Sophia watched as the Queen
and her mom entered the hut. "She is a feisty one, isn't
she Xena? You are going to have your hands full with that
one."