Cradle of Hope

• Gabrielle wakes up and asks Xena, "Did you sleep okay?" "Like a rock. You?" "ON a rock." (Pointed out to me by Mj. Thanks!)
• Together with Pandora, they seek shelter in a cave. There, Pandora confesses, "This box is the most important thing in my life." As she says this, Xena glances at Gabrielle.

One thing that makes this story subtextual is the presence of the baby which Xena and Gabrielle carry around throughout the episode, protecting. It is a constant reminder of a family structure between the three of them, an idea which is reinforced when King Gregor asks Xena if there is anything he can do for her, and she says, referring to the baby, "Name hime Gabriel."