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Xena was right...Cally, the old Cally, was in no position to preach morality

to her. And therein lies the rub. I don't think it would be an easy thing

to just forgive and forget that easily. As this child grows, she will

display (IMO) some of the characteristics, etc, of the person she used to

be. I don't think we change that much from one incarnation to another

(sounds like cross pollination). Can't you just see this new Cally as a

teenager...whoooo boy. X and G are in for some trouble, me thinks.

X: <eyeing the constable at the door warily> What's it this time?

Con: We caught her setting fire again

G: <shaking her head> Cal....um...sweety, sweety, sweety...we talked about

this, remember? It's not nice to torch other people's property.

X: (mumbling) not to mention the raping and pillaging aspect of things

C: Oh bother. No one got hurt....badly. Besides <said in sing song voice>

It's not as if they didn't deserve my wrath.

X: Oh, fer crying out loud...Ok, constable...thanks, we'll handle it from

here.

Con: <sigh> Well, we *are* thinking of implementing the strike three

clause on her if this keeps up

G: Whazzat?

Con: Well, it means that if she has one more violent incident, we get to

throw her in jail and toss away the key

X: <mouth agape with deja vu> How could this happen?

G: <giving her mate a dirty look> You musta done something this time, too!

X: Hey, don't you go blaming this on me! No way!

G: <boy, does this sound familiar> Yeah, I'm sorry, dear. I'm just...well,

we can't just let them do that to Cal...to our daughter. I mean, we've been

given a chance to make things right...get over our past...the death of our

children...the...death of...the only man....<sniff>

X: Daughter! Upstairs. You are grounded! Until further notice!

C: Oh fiddle dee dee...you two are so...ancient. You can't stop me from

being who I am by trying to make me into something you want.

X: Er...yeah. We're workin on it, babe.

G: Maybe we should send her to stay with Joxer.

X: Oh, as if! He and Auto have their hands full raising their own

kids...this would kill their relationship...<I know it's given ours a few

dings>

G: <sniffle> What'll we do?

X: Well...remember that chair thing? We might have to employ that...

G: But what about...<blushing>

X: Er...we'll find another special way to make you scream, dearest, I

promise

G: <batting eyes and flexing her still incredibly toned yet older and more

settled body> Back to Cally...er...our daughter. Geez, ya know I can't

even remember what we named her?

X: Funny. Me neither. Eveil? Revangela?

G: I guess we werent the best parents, Xe.

X: Ya, but it's been so hard...she reminds me so much of Solon...and

Callisto...and that cute demon she used...er...

G: Huh?

X: Nothing...<smiling woodenly> Now, about Cally...maybe we could let Herk

have a go with her.

G: Well, do you think the circus could make a spot for her? Herk might not

like sharing the limelight...

X: Yeah....

G: Well, we have to do something...she's just 15 now...if this keeps up,

we'll be old and decrepit...unable to lead our currently active lifestyle...

X: Or get another chair...might even lose our imagination...<gulp>

G: Oh, the horrors! I know! We'll just hide all the flints, the torches,

the...

C: <screaming from upstairs> Warrior and Bard, fly away from home, your

house is on fire and your daughter is gone!

X: <running/stomping around trying madly to put the upstairs fires out>

C'mon baby, spite her fire!

G: <grabbing a bucket> Splash! smolder...fizzle...

Phew...light your fire, yes...hey, I'd forgotten just how good you look wet,

babycakes...<wink>

X: Heh...<smiling largely> It has been a while, huh? <flexing her still

leather clad buff but wrinkled body>

A cackle is heard and they watch with a mixture of sadness and relief as

their daughter makes her way out of town and out of their lives...

Or not.

X: you do know what this means?

G: <snapping the buckles on Xe's armour> Yeah, I do. <We have to postpone

our hot tub...grumble>

X: No more Mrs. Nice Mom. <there's always an inn, babe>

G: Where did I put my saddle bag?

X: We'd better buy a horse...and some weapons...

G: ...and my quills...

X: And a few bedrolls...<smooch>

Er...make that one large bedroll. It's like old times, huh?

G: Waggle, waggle...

X: Why...Gabrielle...l didn't know you had independantly articulating

eyebrows?

G: I'm a good learner and you, my love, are a good teacher...

X: yeah, I am, huh? Not a particularly good mother...

G: Oh pishaw! Yes you are. You did your best...not your fault she has

pyromaniac tendancies...despite her mostly angelic and loving ways...and the

love of two doting parents who loved her the best they could...

X: Yeah, 'loving ways'...I meant to tell you...we got another call from the

neighbours...Cally's been teaching the boys how to play Post Office again...