Gabrielle didn't say a word as she eyed
her father. Apollo stared right back, but he couldn't stand the
silence. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"It is in the bloodline."

"Well, two can play at this game."
He crossed his arms. "And I'm a god, and that means I can
do this much longer than you can, so you might as well give
in."

After a few more moments of silence, Gabrielle
shook her head. "Fine."

Apollo was taken aback. "What did you
say?"

"Fine. I'll give you a chance."
The tension left the air as the quizzical look grew on Apollo's
face. "It took me a while, but I finally realized from where
you were coming from. Someone had to remind me just how far we will
go in order to protect our children. But before you think
everything is okay between us, let me tell you that there are a few
ground rules."

This time Apollo nodded. "Anything; you
name it."

"We are going to go nice and slow in this
relationship. So rule number one, you can't pop in whenever you
feel like it."

"Is that your rule or
Xena's?"

"Both."

"Fine. I'll only stop by on holidays,
anniversaries, important occasions and birthdays. I mean, if that
is okay with you?" Apollo smiled to himself as he counted the
number of Amazonian holidays and festivals in his head.

"Two," Gabrielle sighed before
continuing, "you are going to have to help me learn my powers
and their capabilities."

Apollo smiled. "That's
fine."

"And three, no more family secrets. If
either you or my mother has something to tell me, you better tell
me now. I don't think I can go through this again."

"Well I guess I better tell you this.
This is a long kept secret." He winked at his daughter.
"I'm the real hunter in the family, not Artemis."

A white ball of light emerged. "Who is
the real hunter of the family?"

"I knew she was around here somewhere
listening." He whispered to Gabrielle, "I may be
stubborn, but she is the nosy one."

"I heard that."

Gabrielle looked at her aunt and her father.
*Xena has to teach me that god-awareness thing she does. I've
got a feeling I'm going to need it.* "These rules go for
you too, Artemis."

"And when have I ever just popped into
your life?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes to the ceiling and
then turned back to the Sun god. "So, do you think you can
live by this arrangement?"