"And when have the gods ever listened to what we
wanted?" She smiled at the god. "Besides, she wanted the
relationship to go slow, not come to a stand still. You've
haven't seen her since Solstice."

He turned to face Xena. "Don't you think I know that?
Xena, I don't know where I fit in. I want to make up for all
the time I wasn't there, but I can't. She is a grown woman.
She has lived all this time without me. She doesn't need
me."

Xena placed a light blanket over the snoozing bard. "I
can't give you any advice Apollo, except that you need to talk
to her. Tell her how you feel. Gabrielle is a great listener. In
fact, you can stay here until she wakes up. I know that she'll
appreciate you staying."

The Sun God looked over at his daughter and knew that Xena was
right. He had avoided talking about the past for fear it would
drive a wedge between him and Gabrielle. But if their relationship
was going to go anywhere, he had to face his fears. "Fine.
I'll be here when she wakes up. Then we'll talk."

*****

Gabrielle stretched and yawned, and slowly woke up. She could
feel Xena's arm lying cross her, and before she opened her
eyes, the Bard interlocked her fingers with the Warrior's.
Finally Gabrielle opened her eyes. Sitting on a log, tending to the
fire, was Apollo.

The Sun God smiled as he poked at the embers. "Nice
nap?"

Gabrielle rubbed her eyes. "How long have I been
out?"

"Twelve candlemarks so far."

Gabrielle began to sit up. "So far?"

Seeing that Gabrielle couldn't take the hint, Apollo walked
over and sat by her.

"Yes, so far. You need to rest. You pushed yourself too
hard yesterday."

"I feel fine," she said as she tried to fight off
another yawn. She smiled sheepishly as the god. "Have you
really been here all this time?"

"Yes."

"You didn't have…"

"I wanted to be here. Now get some sleep."

"I'm telling you I'm fine."

"Not another word or else I'll be force to wake your
friend." He pointed to the still sleeping Xena, "and then
you will have to deal with her."

Gabrielle looked her soulmate and then at her father.
"Fine. I'm going back to sleep." She laid back down
and closed her eyes.

Apollo returned to the fire and began poking at it again. *Not
bad. She actually listened to me without much of a fuss.* He
glanced over to the pallets and saw Gabrielle staring into the
fire. "I thought I told you to get some sleep, young
lady?"