Gabrielle winced at the term. "And I told you I'm not
sleepy. Listen, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I can
take care of myself. I don't need you telling me what to do.
I'm not a child." She watched as the god looked off into
the fire. At that moment, Gabrielle wished she could kick herself.
"Apollo, I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

"Yes you did. And you're right." The god kept
poking at the fire. "I've missed every birthday, every
important moment of your life and then I think I can step right in
and take over the reins. You been an adult for a number of years
now, and no matter how much I want to, I can't turn back the
hands of time and be there for you, to protect you." Apollo
looked up at Gabrielle with tears in his eyes. "I see how
wonderful you turned out, and realize I had nothing to do with it.
And once you've learned your powers, there will be no reason
for you to contact me. You don't need your father."

Gabrielle gently rose off the pallet and walked over to the log,
sitting next to the god. "You're right. I don't need
my father." She took Apollo's hands into her own.
"But I need my dad. We can't change the past, we can only
build toward the future. And I want you to be a part of
mine."

Apollo beamed with happiness and relief. "I want that too.
So what do we do now?"

"We don't do anything. You need to get back to Olympus
and get the sun going. And I need to get back to sleep. We'll
talk later. Maybe we could even discuss you visiting us more often,
perhaps dropping in without notice." Gabrielle stood up and
began walking to her pallet.

"Gabrielle?"

The Bard turned around. "Yes?"

"Do you really think of me as your dad?"

She nodded. "Yes, I do."

Apollo stood and went over to Gabrielle. "Thank you."
He pulled her into a hug. "Thank you. I've been waiting
for those words for a long time." He pulled back and looked
down at his daughter. "Now get some sleep." In an orb of
light, he disappeared.

Gabrielle snuggled under the covers and placed Xena's arm
over her.

"Nice job."

"I knew you weren't asleep. So how much did you
hear?"

"Since 'Nice nap?' You know he loves you."

"I know. It's going to take some give and take, but I
think we are going to be just fine."

"That's good. But…"

Gabrielle fought off another yawn. "But what
Xena?"

"Dropping in unannounced? Isn't that going a little too
far?" Xena didn't receive an answer. The Bard had fallen
asleep.

*****

THE END

Written & ©Copyrighted by: Paully Adams

September 21, 2001