PROMISE
(Part of the "Scenes We'll Never See" Series)
© M. Guerriere 12/1/2004 aka Absinthe Angel 777
Legal disclaimer: Xena & Gabrielle are the property of Ren Pics and MCA/Universal. The following story serves as a writing exercise and no more.
I do not make any profit from it and it is to be used for amatueur fan fiction purposes only.
Warning: Discussions of Violence and female/female sex. If topics offensive or forbidden. Leave now. You have been warned.
Notes from the Author: This story may not be reproduced without my express written permission. Please contact me - I might say YES. Please direct comments and reviews relating to this work to absintheangel777@yahoo.com. Thank you, dear reader, in advance for taking the time to consider this piece. I truly appreciate it. - Angel
TIME FRAME: Shortly after "Motherhood"
EXT. OUTSIDE THE MEETING HOUSE OF THE ELIGIANS
GABRIELLE
(sits down on a log next to Eve)
Even the repentant need to rest sometimes.
EVE
I didn't want to disturb anyone.
GABRIELLE
You can't. Impossible.
However your Mother mumbled something
about checking on you before she passed out.
EVE
Passed out?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, you know how she's hates people.
Everyone grabbing at her, wanting her attention.
But whenever she's with large groups she falls asleep.
Go figure.
EVE
When they called me Champion of Rome everyone wanted my attention.
I loved and despised them for it.
GABRIELLE
That's Xena.
She's compassionate in her mind.
But in her heart most people are still disposable.
EVE
Except you.
GABRIELLE
And you.
EVE
I'm her daughter but you
(pause)
You did the impossible.
She needs you.
GABRIELLE
(looks down, looks away)
EVE
(cocks head)
The bard blinks.
What's the matter, Mom?
Your life isn't like the fairy tales you tell?
GABRIELLE
What's on your mind, Eve?
EVE
(bites lip)
Nothing.
GABRIELLE
Something.
EVE
I keep thinking about
(sigh)
I look at what I was.
And I look at myself now.
I'm not the same.
(frustrated tears)
How could anyone ever want me?
How could anyone ever love me again?
GABRIELLE
(puts arm around Eve's shoulder)
It's going to be rough, Eve.
This is just the beginning.
EVE
But I had Augustus.
I had Ares.
For better or worse I had them both.
I was wanted, loved, desired.
I had all the power and riches in Rome.
Look at me! Look at what I'm wearing.
Look at what I am now!
Nothing.
I can't use a sword.
GABRIELLE
Eve.
EVE
I can't even pick up a weapon.
It's all like poison in my hands.
It's what I do.
It's what I was.
It's who I was.
GABRIELLE
(shakes head)
You're in a transition.
EVE
Everything I had before is gone.
I don't know who I am or what I am.
I'm never going to be me again.
I'm never going to feel wanted again.
GABRIELLE
Being loved and desired as a woman isn't all about wealth.
You're beautiful.
It radiates from the inside and the outside.
EVE
(chokes and wipes tears)
You're biased.
No one's going to pay attention to me.
Not anymore.
GABRIELLE
The hell I am.
You're a pretty girl.
I know what I'm looking at.
EVE
But you're my mother.
Of course you're going to say that.
GABRIELLE
You know where you have some experience?
Here's where I have my experience.
I think I know a thing or two about love.
EVE
What would you know about being here?
Look at you.
Everything worked out for you.
You and Mother are the perfect couple.
Perfect love.
Everyone wants to be with you, both of you.
They respect you, admire you.
Where do I fit in?
What am I in this world?
A baby, a tagalong, a childish nothing.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, I know the feeling.
EVE
But you found yourself.
Came into your own.
GABRIELLE
It took a long time.
EVE
You had a lover there to support you.
GABRIELLE
(smoothes hair)
I tell a good fairy tale, don't I?
EVE
So tell me the truth.
Please tell me the truth.
GABRIELLE
I always tell you the truth.
The truth about what?
EVE
Spare me the fairy tales.
You know what I'm talking about.
About you, about Mother.
GABRIELLE
Sure you want to go there?
EVE
I need to know.
She's never going to be honest with me.
She puts honey on everything.
GABRIELLE
You're her little girl.
EVE
I'm as much a murderer as she is.
Some how, some way, in all that violence she found love.
I have to know that even for someone like me, it's there.
You found each other.
How?
GABRIELLE
An accident. A circumstance.
I wouldn't call having your village destroyed a great way to meet people.
EVE
No, I suppose not.
GABRIELLE
The truth.
(pause)
The truth.
She was terrifying.
The warlord of warlords.
I wanted out of that village.
I took my chances.
EVE
You aligned yourself with her.
GABRIELLE
(shouts)
I threw myself at her!
I was a stupid kid.
She could have killed me.
EVE
But she didn't.
GABRIELLE
I have a smart mouth.
EVE
(nods)
Smart is useful.
GABRIELLE
What would you have done?
EVE
Now it's you who won't want to go there.
GABRIELLE
ha.
EVE
Me? With a girl like that. There's no telling.
I might have killed her.
I might have…
(Long pause)
GABRIELLE
(chokes up)
The truth…
She…
EVE
(studies Gabrielle's expression)
I know.
GABRIELLE
(whispers)
I was so scared.
EVE
Why did you stay?
GABRIELLE
I wanted to run.
She'd get that look in her eye and…
EVE
Why did you stay?
GABRIELLE
(head in hands)
Stay. I needed to stay.
It's so important for both of us.
She would take me spiraling downward
into her darkness.
As strong as it is.
I knew I could beat it.
I knew I was stronger.
EVE
You didn't answer my question.
GABRIELLE
I liked it.
I like it.
I don't know why my body responds.
EVE
Not the girl in your fairy tales, are you?
GABRIELLE
The mind and the body are two different things, Eve.
The Way is the only thing I have to mentally hang onto.
With Xena I never know what's going to happen.
Every time I pray, I keep myself afloat.
EVE
On a sea of seething contempt and rage.
Xena's sea.
GABRIELLE
How delicious it would be to drown.
With her, so many times I've wanted to.
EVE
(deep breath)
So that's our appeal.
Mother and I.
The mystery.
The passion.
The fire.
GABRIELLE
Greek Fire.
EVE
But this irony might destroy me.
The darkness is eating me alive.
How can I project that fire as an advocate of peace?
GABRIELLE
Dressed in rags and without a dinar.
I believe you can.
EVE
And is there someone out there for me?
GABRIELLE
There is.
EVE
And now?
How about you?
How is she with you now?
GABRIELLE
Different.
(looks down)
She hit me once.
Never again.
EVE
And the rest of the time?
GABRIELLE
We worked it out.
We know what we're doing.
We learned when to stop.
That's our perfect love.
That's our promise of trust.
EVE
I promise if there's someone like you, I'll try to be kind.
GABRIELLE
Then you'll be a hero and you won't need fairy tales.
EVE
Will you help me?
Will you teach me?
GABRIELLE
I will help you teach yourself.
END OF SCENE
Return to the Academy