Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Renaissance/Universal Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended. This story also contains graphic scenes of love between two consenting females. If this offends you, if you're too young to read it or if it's illegal where you are, please don't read any further.

Spoilers: None really. Mentions one of the eps of season three but doesn't give anything away! I'll say no more because it'll ruin the ending. Lol!

Dedication: For everyone who knows me, especially my brother, Philip, who's doing his exams in a few week's time. Oh, I remember the days (nostalgic sigh).

Bard's Note: This story is sentimental and mushy... but that describes me too so what the Hades! If you like this or would like to read something less sentimental, check out my other fic and poetry at www.geocities.com/cheeya_2000

Comments/Constructive Criticism to [email protected]

"Gabrielle? Wh... what are you doing?"

"Touching you," the bard replied, a sexy smirk rolling across her face.

The Warrior Princess caught her lover's roaming hand and held it tightly.

"Not here, Gabrielle," she said, her voice shaking a little. "It's too dangerous."

"Xena, there's no one around here for miles," Gabrielle replied, nibbling on the warrior's earlobe.

"We don't know that," Xena stated, fighting for control over her trembling body. She could already feel the wetness of her arousal. Her younger lover had a way of driving her insane with desire in a very short period of time. The bard pulled the straps of the warrior's leathers slowly down off her shoulders and freed her breasts. She flicked her tongue against a dark, rigid nipple and smiled as she heard Xena's sharp intake of breath before sucking it into her mouth.

"Gods, Gabrielle," the warrior moaned softly. She really wanted to stop this... in a minute. The bard paused in her languid sucking and looked up at her soulmate.

"Tell me you want me to stop and I will," she purred, her voice husky with her own desire. She licked at the nipple again and Xena whimpered softly.

"Gabrielle?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"Don't stop..."

The young woman grinned, knowing that she had Xena in her trap. She pushed her lover back onto her bedroll and lavished attention on her breasts, setting every nerve in her body aflame.

"How do you want me to take you?" she asked. "Do you want me to take you with my fingers or do you want my mouth on you? Tell me, Xena."

The warrior gazed at her through heavy lidded eyes and smiled.

"With your mouth," she whispered.

"Get on your hands and knees, Xena." The warrior complied immediately and Gabrielle knelt behind her. She slowly slid the warrior breeches off and then lifted her skirt, running her hands down her thighs. "Kneel up," she whispered. The bard pressed her body against her lover's back and pulled her leathers further down before massaging her breasts. She kissed her way across Xena's back, lifting her hair to run her tongue across her neck and feeling her shiver. Then she reached around her and ran her fingers just once over her clit. She closed her eyes and moaned softly as she felt the warm wetness of the warrior's arousal. Xena shuddered and cried out, jerking her hips forward. Gabrielle smiled.

"Xena, lie down. I want to taste you."

The warrior slowly lay back on her bedroll and watched as Gabrielle undressed herself and ran her hands over her own breasts, closing her eyes and tipping her head back a little as she played with her nipples.

"Yesssss, Gabrielle," Xena husked, her passion jumping three notches as she placed her hands over the bard's.

"Ah ah!" the bard teased with a shake of her head. "Keep your hands to yourself... for now." She reached down and took Xena's hands, placing them over her head and carefully watching the play of her muscles under her tanned skin. "So beautiful," she whispered as she leaned forward. She ran her tongue very slowly down the warrior's flat stomach, circling around her navel and then dipping into it.

"Gabrielle," Xena whispered.

"Hmmm?" the bard replied, nibbling on her lover's hipbone.

"You'd better take me or I'm gonna throw you down and take you right now," the warrior growled.

"Oooohh, patience, My Love, patience. We're in no hurry."

"Speak for yourself," Xena muttered and Gabrielle grinned widely. She parted the warrior's thighs and got on her hands and knees over her. Her long blonde hair gently tickled Xena's neck as she lowered herself slowly so their breasts met and nipples lightly played with each other. Gabrielle kissed Xena passionately, her tongue moving in languid strokes against the warrior's before moving to her neck and then her chest. She kissed her way down to perfect breasts and nibbled on rock hard nipples. Xena moans became more frequent and louder as Gabrielle licked and kissed her way south over taut stomach muscles. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of Xena's arousal and loving it. The warrior leaned up on her elbows to watch her lover but she fell back with a cry as the bard parted her folds and took a long, slow lick. Gabrielle buried her face in her lover's womanhood, kissing her quickly and intimately, driving her higher and higher with every stroke of her tongue. She wrapped her arms around the warrior's hips and stroked harder and faster. Xena didn't think things could get any better but when two fingers slid into and thrust quickly inside her, she nearly passed out from the pleasure. She grabbed two handfuls of blonde hair, trapped her bottom lip between her teeth and began to cry out with every stroke of the bard's fingers. Xena thought that if she didn't reach her orgasm soon she would explode... and explode she did. Her release came violently and her hips bucked against her lover's mouth as her scream of ecstasy echoed around the forest. She crashed back onto the bedroll but Gabrielle was relentless and the warrior's back arched as she almost instantly reached her second climax. When the feelings finally abated, Gabrielle looked up at her with soulful, emerald green eyes, still gently lapping at her intimate flesh, relishing the taste of her lover's juices.

"I love you, Xena," she whispered as she finally slid back up the warrior's exhausted, sweat slicked body to gather her into her arms. "I always have and I always will."

"Xena, are you ok?"

The warrior's head snapped up to look at her best friend who was kneeling on the opposite side of the fire, stirring a pot of stew.

"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine," Xena replied, blushing hotly. "Why?"

Gabrielle grinned over at her and got to her feet, moving to sit beside her on the log Xena had dragged into their camp.

"You made a strange sound and you look a little hot. I hope you're not coming down with something. It's the time of year for the coughing sickness you know." The bard felt Xena's forehead and then her face, gently cupping her cheek. "We wouldn't want you getting sick now would we?"

"No, I'm fine, really, Gabrielle. I was just thinking." Yeah right, fantasising more like.

"Well, if you're sure," the bard replied with a smile. I wonder what she was thinking about that made her blush like that. She never blushes.

"I'm sure," Xena replied, mirroring her best friend's smile. She went back to sharpening her sword but every now and then she stole a glance at the bard, who had moved back to the fire. Eventually, she stopped all movement and was staring at the bard when Gabrielle suddenly looked at her, catching her off guard. Her gentle face clouded in confusion and she tilted her head in question. The warrior lowered her eyes immediately and ran her whetstone over her sword again.

"Xena, something's wrong. I know you," Gabrielle said softly as she knelt down in front of her. She was beginning to get worried for her friend.

"Nothing's wrong," Xena snapped but regretted it immediately when she saw the hurt look on the younger woman's face. She lowered her eyes again and sighed. "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that."

The bard sat beside her again and gently cupped her cheek, turning her head so she could look into her piercing blue eyes.

"Xena, that in itself says that something wrong. Please tell me. Maybe I can help you."

"You can't help me, Gabrielle," Xena replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why? Xena, sometimes it helps to tell someone what you're feeling. You're always there for me. I want to help you."

The warrior leaned her elbows on her thighs and lowered her head, her long, dark hair spilling over her chest.

"Gabrielle, I'm in love... and for the first time in my life, I don't know what to do."

She glanced up then and almost laughed at the look of shock on the younger woman's face.

"In love? Xena..." Gabrielle's thoughts froze as her heart broke in her chest and she couldn't say anything. She wanted to but her emotion stole her voice as she realised that Xena had fallen in love with someone else. Finally, she shook her head and placed her hand on the soft skin of her best friend's thigh. "Xena, you have to follow your heart. Go back there and tell him you love him. I think he loves you too. Ulysses is a kind and wonderful man."

"Uly..." Xena's face dropped as understanding hit her like a speeding chariot. Gabrielle thought she was talking about the King of Ithaca, whose throne they had helped restore. "No, Gabrielle. No, it's not Ulysses. It was never really Ulysses."

"It's not? Well then, who...? No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask."

The warrior smiled and reached up to stroke her cheek.

"You have every right to ask," she whispered, locking eyes with her. "What happens in this moment is going to affect you too."

"I don't understand," Gabrielle replied. "Xena are you telling me that you're leaving me?" Tears rose to her eyes and spilled over to creep slowly down her cheeks but the warrior wiped them away with gentle fingers.

"No, Gabrielle," she replied, her voice husky with emotion. "I'm never leaving you. I..." She paused, the words on the tip of her tongue but not forthcoming so instead, she leaned forward and brushed her lips gently against the bard's. She smiled and then kissed her again. "I love you," she finally whispered and immediately heard a choked sob from the younger woman.

"It's me you're in love with?" the bard asked in a low voice.

"Gabrielle, it's always been you... always... from the first moment I laid eyes on you. You are my saviour, my redemption and my life, all in one goddess beautiful body."

"And you are mine. I love you, Xena," the bard whispered in reply. She brushed a single tear from her soulmate's face and leaned into her, sliding her arms around her neck as their lips met, slowly and passionately. Xena's hand came up to gently cradle her head and the kiss deepened, their tongues meeting with desire born of three years of endless love. Xena suddenly broke the kiss and scooped the bard into her arms, carrying her to and depositing her gently on her bedroll. They made love to each other slowly and tenderly and as Gabrielle lay cradled in her lover's strong arms, the Warrior Princess kissed her temple and whispered one heartfelt word.

"Forever."

"We're nearly there, Gabrielle," Xena said as she pointed toward some Centaur totems. The bard took her hand and raised it to her mouth, kissing it gently.

"I'll bet you can't wait to see him," she said softly.

The warrior grinned and pulled her lover close for a tender hug.

"It's been too long. Seeing Solan again and finalising this treaty will definitely be the high point of this year. Apart from what happened last night, of course."

Gabrielle smiled up at Xena and held her tightly.

"Solan loves you, Xena, whether he knows you're his mother or not. That will never change. You have all the time in the world to tell him. We have all the time in the world too, you know."

"Yeah, we do," Xena replied and then released her partner.

"Come on, I have a feeling that a certain young warrior is stalking us. Let's beat him to the totems."

Gabrielle looked around and grinned.

"He definitely takes after his mother. I have a feeling our stay here is going to be fun."

"Yeah," Xena said with a bright smile and led her partner toward Kaleipus' village.

The End