Chapter Text
This is a labor of love driven by the Xenite Army and the struggle for a Xena Revival with the original cast. It is also a tribute to the wonderful, sexy ladies that Lucy and Renee are. The first part over several chapters is “real world fantasy” setting up a pretend story of how Lucy and Renee sign on for the movies and have a life together. Then the next part of this will be the two movies posed in Xenaverse (with some real world fantasy scenes mixed in). This is going to take awhile but I wanted to get this out there for inspiration (I hope) both for Xenites and for this poor writer. Now – I don’t own anything, I don’t make anything, and I don’t know these people nor orgs. All credits are given to Xena and all those that own the rights such as NBC Universal and Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor who own themselves. I had to paint Rob bad as I could not stage two car crashes. We all know he is NOT bad. This is pure fantasy, pure fiction, not real and is in no way a reflection of them or their real lives.
This is un-betad. All mistakes are mine.
Setting Real World Fantasy circa mid-2016
Lucy Lawless peered out the french doors of her New Zealand home watching the evening sunset. The brilliant colors of the garden foliage paled as the sunlight dimmed but her attention was drawn to the sky whose blue was being replaced by an equally brilliant pallet of reds and yellows, oranges and pinks. There always seemed to be a balance; when the colors disappear from one place they show up in another; when something closes a door – another is opened.
She walked over to pick up the white wine she had poured herself after Rob had stormed out of the room. The auburn-haired beauty had given up alcohol in her early forties, but this was a night for reflection and just one glass would help clear her mind rather than muddy it. Lucy sat back down on the couch, untucking her baby blue silk shirt from her tailored white cotton pants. She was actually remarkably calm. This had been months in coming. For a year and a half before that, the Xenite fandom had been on a social media barrage partially fueled by the 20th Anniversary. In particular, no matter what, they wanted Renee and her to take back on the Gabrielle and Xena roles. The fans deserved it and the fans thought that Renee and her deserved it. Although at the time, Lucy had thought the ending of the show alright, over time she had realized just how empty and hurt it had left the fans. They wanted the happy ending for Xena. They also wanted the “subtext to become the main text” and to not have some backroom network big-wigs interfering with the show’s lesbian undertones. The entire campaign had started to overshadow every role or event she was trying to do. From Ash to environmental events, the Xena Revival questions would come up and it distracted from the event itself.
The campaign had started to impact Rob and their relationship. Her husband had become distant and had started holding back his dealings from her. She had therefore been careful what she told him. He had indeed been working on a deal with NBC Universal for a reboot series, with him recreating the Xenaverse but with an updated take. Problem was he was on the side that said Lucy was too old and would overshadow the new series so he did not even want her in a cameo. He was savvy though and the story never came out that way in the media, but somehow the fandom had picked up that he was not onboard with bringing Renee and her back.
The fandom never called for him being as critical as Lucy and Renee in a revitalization and that irritated him. Other than not swinging a sword or wearing leather, he felt he was just as much a critical part of Xena’s success as the actors and it irritated him that his credit seemed to be lessening. Over time, the fans had really hated the ending, the crowning glory episodes that he had personally directed were always being lambasted. He was having a decent revival success with Ash, but it would not last forever and it was still a rather nitchy show versus the broader audience of Xena type show. It was taking making Lucy a permanent cast member and cameos from Ted and others to keep the numbers up. To his irriation, once again, the cast was getting the limelight too. He had been trying to get Renee to cameo in it but so far it had not worked. Rob had hoped that might pop the ratings enough to get the next season ordered. His other film or show ideas were not panning out so the Xena reboot was his best shot in the future. He needed something fresh to show he was still in the game. So the more the call for the Revival made headway, the madder he got, at least at home.
Lucy took a sip of wine and looked down at her hand. Even in the dimming light, she could see the fine lines, the more prominent tendons, the age. She was in great shape and looks for her age, but she knew she was not twenty-five any more. She took a deep breath and smiled. The fans had understood. Those crazy people had listened to her. She simply could not do a full series so they had accepted the thought of something short, a movie or two, a short series. Heck, they had even started up the campaign proposing to Netflix that they do the Xena Revival and team with NBC Universal which seemed to only want to do the reboot series. Some crazy, wonderful Xena fan at Netflix had actually pushed for the deal and it was close to happening.
She picked up the stapled pile of paper again. Delivered not two hours ago by private messenger, with the approval of her agent, the contract offer. She turned on the lamp next to the couch, given the room had grown dark, and started to look at it again. Netflix wanted the rights to make two Xena revival movies and besides giving NBC Universal a lump sum and part of profits, they would build up sets and props and costumes that got turned over to the series. Netflix would not only advertise their movies, they would positively link the upcoming NBC Universal series.
Rob had gone insane this morning when NBC Universal had finally informed him they were going through with the Revival deal with Netflix assuming everything could be closed. They had decided to test the waters with the movies rather than buy off on the series immediately. He had refused weeks ago and thought the deal would fall through without him and Sam as executive producers, but it hadn’t. Netflix was used to producing high end, high quality TV/straight to network movies already and was already scouting securing locations, writers, costume design – all from the previous staffs when possible – therefore the transfer would work well. They had been all over New Zealand for the last week his sources told him.
He had come home angry and then seen the contract in her hands. He had never tried to hold back her career before. He had approved and supported her decisions, no matter what body part she exposed or character she chose to play. They were millionaires due to their combined talents, but it could also be gone just as fast. Well, this one time, he wanted to be the one in front.
“I don’t want you to sign it,” Rob said angrily. Lucy calmly looked up from her reading. She had been warned by her agent that he had been told.
Rob took a breath and thought for a moment, then he asked, “Where are the kids?”.
“Julius has football practice and won’t be home until 9:30. Judah is in his room doing his homework,” Lucy replied.
“You knew didn’t you? You knew it was closer than I thought. Here you talk about wanting to ensure that the feel of show stayed intact and how you don’t want to get bruised up again and you are reading a contract for a Xena movie where someone thinks me and Sam aren’t required and that could kill my new series,” he said menacingly. He came forward to stand in front of the couch, both hands on his hips, red-faced.
“What has happened to you Rob?” Lucy replied. “They wanted you but you said “No” so they have worked it another way. If I don’t see the quality, the feel, then I will do something about it, but in the meantime it is important to the fans and to Renee and me to do this while we still can.”
“Maybe they think they can make it without me, but I know they won’t make it without you and I’m telling you to say no,” he said in a quieter but still menacing tone.
Lucy gritted her teeth and placed the contract down on the table.
Now starting to raise her voice, Lucy stood up to the full state of her 5’ 11” height and replied, “Telling me?.. What has happened to you Rob. You don’t “tell” me something like this. Not ever. Doing this is not a slight to you just as I did not take issue as you worked a Xena Reboot and did not want me involved. So I’m asking again Rob. What is the real issue?”
“I need to lead this new hit. I need to show I can make it without the cast being the draw. It is clear even with Ash right now that the draw is Bruce and Ted and YOU…” he ranted. “I’m tired of you being so much in demand you can chose and I’m out there pitching projects at age 60.”
Lucy raged right back, “Boy this seems to be all about you Rob. You are pitching so hard that your gone from here more than I am. All that time over in Australia doing what I don’t know considering Ash was being filmed here. All that time in New York at NBC Universal trying to make a deal. You have lost touch with me and the boys. If I like the deal, I’m signing if I want to. They are filming here so compared to the other shows I’ve been doing recently other than Ash, it will be great to be close and I can take the boys with me. You do what you want, but you need to walk out of here and think before you say anything else.”
“I’ll be in the guest room,” he bellowed back before marching down the hall and slamming the door.
So here she was, calmly sipping her wine and flipping through the contract. A decision that could take up the next year plus a bit more. It would let her once again and for the last time play Xena and fix the sadness that came from that ending. It would pay her more than she had ever received. Donations to charity, environmentally friendly filming pledge, maximum use of local labor, proper animal care, all the bells and whistles to entice one of the two stars that they had to have. They had also negotiated it to two movies. Netflix wanted three, Lucy wanted one. She had thought about two when the writers told her about the quality screentime and lines the supporting revival cast like Ted and Bruce and Hudson could get in two movies versus “single scene cameos only” if she only did one.
She had called Renee several times and they had talked in the last month. Prior to that they had only spent three events together in the last year. Lucy had come running when Renee’s domestic partner Jed had been killed in a car crash. Renee had taken it well, but was too calm in Lucy’s mind. She saw her again two months later and Renee was drawn and still grieving but they had done a few photos and interviews for a 20th Anniversary Xena spread. Lucy made a point of calling Renee much more overall, noting that Renee’s Mom was around a lot more often. They had an opportunity a couple of months ago to see each other as Renee had come with the kids and her Mom and Step-Dad, Eddie, for a one week vacation at the home she still owned in New Zealand. She still seemed weak and quiet although if anyone made her smile, it was Lucy, and Lucy did it all she could that week. When talking about the possible Netflix movies, Renee had seemed less positive it would become a reality but had expressed that if it did happen, she wanted everyone to get a good part. That had moved Lucy into making the two movie decision.
Lucy knew one more thing that she had not let on to Rob. She knew what he was doing down in Australia, at least partially. In his zeal to find that “unknown” to control and play in the Xena reboot, he had found an Australian actress who fit the mold. Lucy knew well Rob’s charm, although a bit faded, was definitely still very much intact to the masses. Sure enough, his zeal and this selfish phase he was in had also led to him having an affair with the 20 year old unknown. She had all the proof from the private investigator and all she needed to safely make the decisions she thought best for her family.
She needed to call Renee but would have to wait a few hours for it to be a reasonable time in the states.
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A few hours later in the state of California, Renee O’Connor blinked open weary eyes as the morning sun started filtering into her bedroom. She ached. Her legs ached, her arms arched, her head ached, everything ached. Maybe a little less than yesterday though and she had gotten a few hours of sleep last night on slightly less pain medications. She slowly pushed herself up and started a slow, careful routine of arm and back stretches before she even left the bed. Soon as her feet hit the floor, another wave of discomfort washed through her joints. She continued the slow, methodical stretching and warmup exercises. These were her physical prayers to the beginning of each day, each day that passed was a victory and a blessing. Her spirit rose just a bit each day also, especially when her son and daughter woke up.
She finished and proceeded into the bathroom, much less stiff. After her shower, she was brushing her teeth while looking into the mirror. She had shortened her blonde hair to shoulder length and been taking some special vitamins to try and keep it from thinning, which was a normal reaction to the medical treatments she was on. She saw the slightly thinning hair, the wrinkles around the eyes, and her lowered weight continued to make her appear a bit gaunt without makeup. Too many ribs were showing and her shoulders poked out in a sharp, bony way. Fortunately she was on the upswing and was slowly putting on weight.
She sighed as she started to put on her day cream. She had come through a lot and was rather proud no matter what she looked like. Jed’s death happened two weeks before she was diagnosed with bone tumors. That had been the cause of aches in her limbs for a few months prior to that. She had called upon her Mom, Sandra, soon as the diagnosis had come, to help with the kids while she underwent treatment. Working with her doctors, she had elected to try a targeted therapy for bone cancer. One that did not start with radiation or chemo, but a series of injections near the tumors and then repeated injections every month. Sure enough, the tumors slowly grew smaller. She had the anticipated side effects of body aches, headaches, and nausea. In her case the aches and nausea were very prominent resulting in the need for pain killers, which she was trying to reduce now, and weight loss since nothing would stay down initially.
She had wanted to keep the illness out of the public. It would have been even harder for the kids. She knew the outpouring of prayers would have been huge, but it would have made life crazy and she was still receiving an outpouring of emotion because of Jed’s sudden death. Her hardest decision was to keep it from many of her closest friends, using the excuse of being in mourning. She needed to fight this on her own as much as possible. She kept it from Lucy and that hurt most of all. It was a hard decision, but Lucy was filming Ash and heading up the 20th Anniversary Xena and doing her environmental work. There was also some strain with Rob now and Renee did not want to increase that. Lucy had dropped everything and come when Jed died. Renee also just didn’t want any more sad emotions with her. Lucy was the one person outside her kids that made her happiest and she wanted to retain that.
Renee went into the closet and pulled out a white cotton shirt and jeans to wear. Just as she was finishing dressing, the intercom came alive. Her Mom came for a few days at the beginning of each month when the injections would weaken Renee. She would be leaving today, taking the kids back with her to Texas to be with the grandparents for two weeks, and was fixing Renee her favorite Texas bacon waffles for breakfast.
“Renee honey,” her Mom’s voice chimed out over the speaker, “waffles are ready. I’ve let the kids start.”
Renee pushed the intercom button, “Thanks Mom, I’m coming,” she replied.
She smiled a sad smile. It was going to be a good day but there was something very important missing from her life. Something she would never ask for. Renee looked down at her hand. She took off the golden band she wore each night for the last half year and put it in a small jewelry box she kept beside her bed and walked out to the kitchen.
After breakfast, Renee sat on the covered back patio, some herbal tea in her hand, and enjoyed watching the birds eat at their feeders with her daughter. Iris was laughing as she looked back at the kitchen window and could see the cat watching with keen interest but unable to come out and attack.
“You better go back in and finish packing honey,” Renee said to her daughter. Iris leaned over and gave her mother a hug and went in. Renee continued to listen to the chirping of the morning in the cool start of the day.
Sandra watched her daughter through the back screen door carefully. She was slowly getting better physically. Renee had accepted Jed’s loss with grace but there just seemed to be something holding her back from really getting back into gear. Sandra could not pick out what it was. She opened the screen door and came out to stand behind her daughter.
“You sure you going to be alright by yourself?” Renee’s mom asked her putting a hand on her shoulder. Renee reached up and covered her Mom’s hand with hers.
“Yes Mom, I’m fine. Getting better and better. I need some time to think anyway and I’m expecting something from my agent any day now.” Renee responded.
“Oh, what?” Sandra asked.
“Pretty sure it might be something on a Xena Revival.” Renee replied.
Sandra was slightly taken aback. She had heard the rumors for years, but Renee had always said nothing was happening. “Really? After all this time? You sure?” came Sandra’s rapid fire question set.
“No, but probable. Don’t tell the kids or Dad yet please. I will need to see it and think. I just don’t know about it any more. The thought both scares me and elates me.” Renee was rambling on with a swirl of emotions.
Sandra patted Renee’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss her head, “We will support you no matter what. But if you want my opinion, I want you to get back to doing what you love, with those you love.” Sandra squeezed Renee’s shoulder and walked back into the house.
Two hours later, her Mom and the kids had left. Renee had just completed dishes and some meditation when the phone rang.
“Ms O’Connor, I have a courier with a package of paper from your agent for priority delivery. Would you like me to let him through?”. Stan the gate guard was quite thorough and protective of all the houses within this gated community.
“Yes Stan, let him in. I was expecting it. Thank you.” Renee responded hanging up the phone.
She prepared herself a glass of ice water with lemon while trying to remain calm as the package was delivered. She signed, thanked the man, and sat down on her couch to read the contents.
An hour later, she was stunned. It was all here. Reasonable tight shoot considering two movies. Mention of “substantive parts for other supporting players”. Several months of retraining on simulated combat, staff, swords, horseback riding at locations of her choice paid by Netflix. The most salary plus residuals by far she had ever been offered. Good considering her expenses given the treatments and extra travel she had been covering for her parents along with much fewer events she had been taking in. Jed’s life insurance had gone into college funds and trusts for the kids. He was a good father, very good, even to their son Miles who was not his “biologically”.
She blinked twice, the devil is in the details and her agent had flagged the page. “… signee must be medically clearable and insurable for the production…”. She put the paperwork down beside her on the couch and relaxed her head back looking up at the ceiling. She was on the upswing, but would it be enough to be cleared and up to par? Renee raised up her hand, flexing the much-too-skinny fingers. She was going to have to try harder to bulk back up and get some muscle tone, never mind getting back to the kickboxing and action sports she liked. If Lucy was onboard, she thought she wanted to try. As Gabrielle, she was even more onboard with the fans to put the happy ending on the Xena legend, just as she wanted to put the happy ending on her own life. She desperately wanted to have that year working with Lucy again.
Then the “other-side-of-the-coin” came into view. If she signed without telling Netflix about her illness, the medical check would find it and the contract would be null and void. If she told them and did not pass the medical and insurance company requirements, it was all over. If she told them and passed all the requirements, but landed up physically failing during filming, then everyone’s time and effort would have been wasted and so many people anticipating a paycheck left unpaid. Then also, if she told them it was bound to come out to Lucy and others that she had been sick. In the end, the last thing she wanted was to be pitied or coddled. She closed her eyes in silent prayer that her answers would come.
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