Chakram Reborn: Christmas Surprises (S2E11)

Chapter 1: Decorating and a Doozy of A Request

At the cabin, Xena smiles as Gabrielle puts a Christmas globe on the kitchen island, "How's that!" Gabrielle asks as she smiles at Xena."

"Looks great!" Xena says as she finishes putting the Christmas lights on the tree. "How's the tree looking!"

"Almost perfect!" Gabrielle says walking to it.

"Well, we have to put ornaments on it." Xena says.

"Yeah, we do." Gabrielle says. "Did your sister ever get around to contacting you?"

"Yeah, she wants to have a Christmas at the camp and wants us to help decorate it," Xena says.

"We can do that! You know I love to decorate for Christmas!" Gabrielle says smiling.

Suddenly there is a knock at the door and Xena goes to answer it and sees Joxer standing there. "Hey there Joxer! What's up." Xena asks.

"Can I talk to you two for a little bit?" Joxer says.

"Sure, come on in," Xena says as Joxer walks in and sees the cabin being decorated for Christmas.

"Wow! Setting things up already, huh!" Joxer says with excitement.

"Yeah!" Gabrielle says. "So what do you want to talk to us about?"

Joxer paces around and then says, "Maxie brought up something I haven't heard in a while. A very long while."

"What is it?" Xena says.

"She, she brought up that she thinks we should try for a baby!" Joxer says with a scared look on his face.

"Say what!" Gabrielle says shocked.

"A baby?!?" Xena says, also shocked. "Why would she say that!"

"I have no clue!" Joxer says. "The last time I heard the word baby was when I was with Meg! And that was a very, very long time ago!"

"What did you say!?!" Gabrielle asks.

"I just froze!" Jokers says as he paces around. "What should I do?"

Xena and Gabrielle look at him and Xena asks, "Well are you ready to have a baby?!?"

"I don't know!" Joxer says as he stops pacing around. "I do! But, I have to think about this!"

Joxer sits on the sofa in total disbelief and Xena says, "Well, you have to weigh the positives and negatives on whether you want to start a family."

Joxer puts his hands over his face, looks at Xena and Gabrielle and then says, "Why don't you two talk to her, find out what got this in her head."

"Listen Joxer, we're no phycologists here." Gabrielle says.

"Yeah, therapy isn't our speciality. Fighting for the greater good is." Xena says.

"Ok, let's think this out." Gabrielle says. "Why don't you think you're ready?"

"I don't know! Maybe just the thought of it freaks me out!" Joxer says.

"Why would it freak you out?" Xena asks. "Is it the money situation?"

"Miss Kira pays me an awesome salary. I am the ranch guru around here." Joxer says. "And Maxie does well with her veterinary courses and is training really hard to become a vet."

"Then what's the problem?" Gabrielle says. "Just think, a little Joxer running around the house."

Joxer smiles as Xena says smiling, "Or a little Maxie!"

Joxer gets a huge smile on his face then frowns and says, "I'd have to marry her and get Senator Byron's permission! He is so busy with state stuff right now!"

"There are tons of couples who raise their kids that aren't married!" Gabrielle says. "Look at us when we tried to raise Eve!"

"Yeah, but that was before Ares froze us on ice in that cave for 25 years, remember!" Xena says.

"I remember that!" Joxer says. "But remember this, Maxie comes from a high political family! And her mother and her still aren't talking to each other, and I think her mother should want to know about this! I have to get those two talking again!"

"And don't forget about Alex!" Gabrielle says.

"No! She is not getting involved in any of this!" Joxer says adamantly. "I put my foot down where she's concerned! Maxie will tear her apart and then she'll go back to prison! I don't want that to happen! Please!! Pretty please!! Talk to her! Figure out why she all the sudden wants to have a baby!"

"Ok, one thing at a time here, Joxer!" Xena says as her and Gabrielle walk around. Gabrielle looks down at Joxer, who is starting to tear up."

"Ok, we will talk with Maxie." Gabrielle says.

"We will?" Xena says looking at Gabrielle with a strange look on her face.

"We will just slightly bring up the baby thing first, right Xena!" Gabrielle says.

Xena grabs Gabrielle a few feet away and asks, "What are you doing!?!"

"We have to help him Xena." Gabrielle says. "The poor guy is about to have a breakdown! Look at him!"

Xena looks over at Joxer, who is wiping away tears from his eyes. She gets a look of sadness on her face and says, "I can't stand to see the goofball cry. Ok, we'll do this. But you owe me one."

"Don't worry about that Xena! Don't you worry about that!" Gabrielle says with a smile on her face. "Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah." Xena says with her right eyebrow raised.

They walk over to Joxer and Xena says, "Joxer, we'll help you."

Joxer jumps off the sofa and hugs them saying, "Thank You! Thank you so much!!"

"Yeah, no problem." Xena says as they share a group hug and Xena and Gabrielle sort of somewhat smirks at him.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Jim is on a Skype call with Beth who is at a hospital in Phoenix. "So, you're good with this." Jim says.

"Dad, of course I am." Beth says smiling. "Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy."

Jim takes a huge sigh of relief and says, "Thank you."

"For what!" Beth asks.

"For what I'm about to do! I mean, I talked to Sydney about this and she was elated about it." Jim says. "I just wanted to get your ok about this."

"Dad! I think it's wonderful! Now, did you talk to Xena about this?" Beth asks.

"I haven't yet, I want it to be a surprise." Jim says.

"Now you know she hates surprises." Beth says.

"I know, I know." Jim says. "But I think she'll be excited."

"Okay, okay." Beth says. "She is like a mother to her."

"Now you're going to be here when it happens, right." Jim asks.

"Yes dad, I'll be there, don't worry." Beth says.

Jim looks down at a small ring box then back at her and says with a smile, "Good. I want all my girls here when it happens."

"Just so you know, mom will be looking down with a smile." Beth says.

"I know she will be. Deep down, I know she'd want me to move on." Jim says.