A Brush With Destiny Part 2

Disclaimer: The main characters don't belong to me. They belong to RenPics and Universal. No copyright infringement was intended. This series is based on the love between Xena and Gabrielle. If this offends you, see ya some other time and place!

Sex : Yes, definitely so be warned.

Language: Mild/Medium.

Violence: Nope but there's a description of war that may not be to some people's liking so be warned about this.

Bard's Note : This is my first uber series and only my second time ever writing uber so please... Be kind!

"So what do you think?"

Gabrielle Whyte stepped into her lover, playing idly with the buttons on her lumberjack shirt. Xena's piercing blue eyes took in every detail of the cabin. It was small, but beautifully built, with a hardwood roof and fenced porch. A redwood porch swing creaked softly as it swung slightly in the cool mountain breeze. The windows were large and varnished a deep brown colour. Everything about the cabin was... perfect.

"I think it's beautiful," the ex-Marine replied softly as they climbed the steps to stand on the porch and look out over the incredible mountain vista. She smiled and kissed the writer. "But I KNOW that YOU are beautiful," she went on. Gabrielle chuckled and returned the kiss, smiling against the taller woman's lips.

"Flattery will get you everywhere," she whispered and moaned softly as her warrior's lips possessed hers with an insatiable passion. In the four weeks they'd known each other, they had spent more time together than apart. They were soulmates of the deepest degree and in their dreams, they often returned to the time when Xena was the Legendary Warrior Princess and Gabrielle was the Battling Bard of Poteidaia. They had been together in many lives and would continue together for eternity. In this life though, it was enough that they loved each other deeply. Now, Gabrielle was showing her warrior her cabin in the backwoods of Durham, North Carolina. They had both taken some time off work and had decided to drive down from New York.

"You know, I hate it when you do that," Gabrielle sighed as they parted lips. Xena quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I kiss you and you say 'I hate that'? Thanks a bunch, Bard," she growled.

The writer grinned and shook her head, tousling her short, blonde hair.

"That's not what I meant. What I meant was I hate it when I'm not prepared for it 'cos you take my breath away and make my knees go weak. I almost couldn't hold myself up that time."

Xena raised a seductive eyebrow at her and nibbled along her jaw line as she slid her hands up her lover's ribcage under her T-shirt and leather jacket.

"I would have caught you," she whispered as she sucked on a convenient earlobe.

"Ok, Xena, stop right there. I have to show you the inside before we christen the porch."

The ex-Marine chuckled and hugged her before letting her go and stepping back.

"Fair enough. Lead on, Bard."

Gabrielle took her lover's hand and led her inside. The interior was cool, even in the summer heat and what struck Xena first was the peacefulness. She suddenly knew why her soulmate did all of her writing in this cabin. It was, in a word, still. The décor was traditional and rustic, and Xena was surprised to find several swords, guns and bows hanging on the walls.

"Ever use these?" she asked as she admired the quality of a long rifle.

"Now and again," Gabrielle replied as she threw open the living room windows. "I prefer the bow for hunting though."

"You hunt?" Xena asked incredulously.

"I have many skills," the writer replied with a grin. "Yeah, I hunt rabbits mostly but I've shot a stag before. Unfortunately, he tried to use my body as practice for a ramming competition. I had to take him out before he took me out. There he is." She pointed and Xena walked slowly to the fireplace.

"Impressive," she replied with a proud smirk as she examined the head up on the wall.

"Thanks but I don't like killing things really. Now come on and I'll show you the rest of the house."

Xena followed Gabrielle into the kitchen and frowned as she took in the copper pots hanging above the breakfast bar. A large range took up one section of the wall, the rest covered with redwood cupboards. The sink was old, made of tin and very deep. The writer turned to say something to her lover but her smile dropped as she saw the look of the ex-Marine's face. She went to her and caressed her chin gently. Xena's eyes moved to hers and the faraway look in them made Gabrielle's heart ache.

"What is it, Xena?" she asked softly as she moved her hand to cup her cheek.

"Just old memories," came the low reply. "I spent some time hiding out with an Arab family during the Gulf War and they had pots like those hanging up in their home. The last time I saw those pots, they were splattered with the family's blood." Her voice trailed off to a whisper. "The army found out that I was hiding there. I got away but when I came back for them, they had all been executed and left hanging in the kitchen alongside the pots as an example. I had to leave them, Gabrielle. The platoon was waiting for me outside of town and I had to go. I left them there."

Several tears ran slowly down her cheeks and the younger woman pulled her gently into her arms. She was horrified by the story and wanted to comfort her soulmate.

"It must have been so terrible for you," she said softly. "It wasn't your fault, Xena. You had no choice."

"I shouldn�t have left them in the first place. I should have stayed and fought for them."

"You'd be dead too, Xena. I don't think they would have wanted that."

"Maybe..." the ex-Marine admitted and her breath hitched slightly as she tried to take a deep breath. She exhaled and leaned in closer to her love. "Thanks, Gabrielle."

"Never thank me for being here for you, Xena. It's the way things are. You and I will always be together. God, I love you so much."

"I love you too, Bard," Xena whispered and they kissed again, long and deeply. As the kiss ended, Gabrielle's breathing increased in pace.

"I think it's time to show you the bedroom," she whispered and offered her hand to her partner. Xena grinned and allowed herself to be led into the large airy bedroom, complete with a huge, canopied, redwood bed.

"This is definitely the best room in the house," Xena grinned as she lowered her lover onto the soft mattress.

"I've never had anyone to share it with before," the writer replied softly. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too. I love you, Gabrielle."

"In that case... NOW will you tell me your surname?"

"No, but I'll let you into a little secret. Xena's not my real name either. It�s just what I'm called. It's a throwback from the Marines. They called me that after the legendary Greek Warrior Princess. Little did they know, huh?"

Gabrielle laughed and nodded.

"So what's your real name then?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in question.

"If I told ya that, I'd have to kill ya," the dark woman growled.

"Don�t worry. I'll get it out of you eventually," the writer replied with a smirk. She pushed her lover's lumberjack shirt off and slid her hands under her top, pulling her bra up and cupping her breasts. Xena's lips descended again, stirring a passion in her lover like none she had ever felt before. She moaned as the writer thrust her tongue deeply into her mouth and rolled and squeezed her hardened nipples between her thumbs and forefingers. Their eyes locked and a billion words of love passed between them.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"Make love to me..."

"Oh, I intend to, My Bard."

Clothes were discarded with a lustful urgency and soon Gabrielle was screaming her lover's name as her pleasure stormed through her body in powerful waves. Xena rolled them over and kissed her soulmate's sweat soaked forehead as she snuggled into her. She stroked her naked back and held her close.

"I love you," she whispered. "I always will."

Gabrielle's eyes closed in quiet awe.

"I've never felt this way before, Xena," she replied. "Not even with Patrick. I believe you and I are meant to be together."

"We are and nothing will ever change that, My Love."

The writer chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Xena demanded.

"You�re a big, soft, romantic at heart, aren't you?"

The ex-Marine blushed slightly.

"Only around you, Bard," she growled and then settled down with her lover safely in her arms.

***********************************************************************************

"Awww shit!"

"What? What is it?"

"My stalker again."

"Your what?"

Gabrielle laughed outright at the look on her soulmate's face.

"There's a guy that hangs around here trying to get a glimpse of me. There he is... Don't look!"

The ex-Marine perched her hands on her slender hips.

"How am I gonna see what he looks like if I can't look at him?" she reasoned with a raised eyebrow.

The writer frowned and nodded her agreement.

"Alright, but if he glances over, look away, ok? I really don't want him coming near me. He creeps me out even though he's harmless." Xena turned to stare at the man, taking in every detail about him. Then, he suddenly turned but Xena just kept on staring. She narrowed her eyes but almost laughed as Gabrielle grabbed her arm. "I said look away, not stare a hole through him!" she hissed. Xena smiled as the man hurried off.

"I think he got the message," she said. "He probably thinks I'm your bodyguard."

The writer grinned and hugged her lover close.

"You ARE my bodyguard. I've seen you fight, Warrior Princess."

"And I've seen you, Battling Bard, so don�t get all helpless on me."

"I promise I won't if you won't."

"Deal."

The soulmates walked hand-in-hand back to the cabin. The phone was ringing when they reached it and Gabrielle ran to get it.

""Hello? Oh, hi! Yeah. No. Oh god. You're kidding me! SHIT! Well, yes but... That's no one's bus... Morgan? Please don't... No! It's... Dammit!" Gabrielle spun holding out the phone indignantly. "She hung up! I can't believe it! She hung up on me!"

Xena took the phone gently out of her hand and set it back in its cradle.

"What did she say?" she asked softly.

"We've been spotted. It's all over the newspapers, Xena. Apparently, today's headline in one of the dailies was 'Gabrielle Whyte... not so alone in the woods.' There were two photos of us together... one was of us kissing on the porch when we got here yesterday."

"This isn't so good, Gabrielle," Xena replied, her forehead furrowing into a frown.

"It'll blow over, Xena. Stuff like this always does."

The ex-Marine looked down.

"I'm talking about your reputation. Gabrielle, there's something I didn't tell you. I have a record. I only got out of prison a year ago after being in for ten years."

Gabrielle swallowed deeply.

"What were you in for?" she asked.

"Murder," Xena replied and closed her eyes as she saw the shock and horror rise in her lover's eyes. "It was self-defence. I killed my CO after he raped Charlie and then tried to rape me. I was court-martialled and given a prison sentence and a dishonourable discharge."

The young writer dropped into a chair, her face suddenly very pale. She thought for a long moment and then looked back at her lover. She slowly stood and walked to her, taking her hand and bringing it to her lips to gently kiss it.

"It's ok," she whispered. "Xena, I love you. Nothing is going to change that. I just wish you'd told me sooner."

"So you could have avoided getting involved with me in the first place?" Xena asked, her tone bitter-sweet.

"No, so I could have prepared a statement for the press and told Morgan so she wouldn't have been angry enough to hang up on me like that," Gabrielle replied with a smile. Xena couldn't help but grin as she captured her lover's lips for a searing kiss.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"The only thing is... I'm gonna have to go back to New York to face this," the writer said on a long sigh.

"I'm coming with you. We'll face this together," the ex-Marine replied and hugged her bard close. "Hey, who do you think took the pictures?"

"Can't say for sure but I have a feeling that we won't be able to find Stalker Guy for a while."

"Hmmm... I'm just glad we decided not to christen the porch." Xena frowned and followed a helplessly laughing Gabrielle to their bedroom to pack.

TBC in part 3.