Disclaimer: Xena and Gabrielle belong to Renaissance/Universal Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended.

Sex: Yes and graphic. This story contains scenes of a sexual nature between two consenting females. If you're too young or if this offends you, please don't read on.

Language: None.

Bard's Note: This is a short story and it�s Gabrielle's telling of her and Xena's first time together.

I admit it. I was scared as I stood looking over the edge of that cliff. It brought back a distant memory of another cliff where I heard my best friend scream for vengeance as she prepared to throw me to my death. My own voice also echoed in my mind, telling my friend that I hated her... She seemed to sense my fear and I smiled as I felt a warm, gentle hand rest on my shoulder, the thumb tickling me gently as it stroked my skin.

"That was an eternity ago," she told me, her voice soft and tinged with regret but I just nodded and placed my hand over hers.

"Yeah, an eternity ago."

Her arms encircled me and I couldn't help but lean back into her chest. Her breastplate pressed into my back but I took comfort from its solidity and from her warmth. Her breath tickled my ear as she whispered.

"So many things have changed, Gabrielle. We've been through so much together."

I nodded, unwilling to break the magic of the moment... being there with my dearest friend in the entire world and feeling safe and loved in her arms. I smiled as her lips brushed against my temple and her hand came up to stroke my hair. "Do you ever wish that things were different?"

I only needed a heartbeat to think about her question.

"No, nothing could ever make me want to change our life together, Xena." I turned in her arms to look up into her beautiful, blue eyes. "We were meant to be together." I shrugged. "You're stuck with me."

She chuckled, her voice sounding like a low rumble inside her body, and she pulled me close, resting her cheek against my short, blonde hair and stroking my back in a loving gesture. I felt soft lips touch the crown of my head and my breath was stolen with the intensity of feeling I experienced. She must have felt my shudder because she pulled back a little and looked at me worriedly.

"Are you ok?" she asked softly, pressing her hand to my forehead and then my cheek. I smiled up at her again and blushed.

"I'm a lot more than ok," I whispered, allowing her to see my love for her in my eyes, along with the desire that was making me breathe a little faster. She stroked my cheek gently and I closed my eyes to soak up the sensation.

"Gabrielle?" came a whisper and I opened my eyes to find her only inches from me, her dark head lowering to meet my lips. After what seemed like an eternity, we kissed, slowly at first but as we needed more, the kiss increased, involving lips, tongues, teeth and breath. I loved the taste of my warrior and I moaned my approval, eliciting a similar response from her as our hands moved to the most natural places on the other's body. My hand found itself entwined in her raven tresses while her larger hand found my extremely sensitised breast. I knew she felt my nipple straining against the fabric of my top because she began to massage it slowly and then pinch it between her fingers. I moaned again and tipped my head back. She didn't waste any time in swooping down to nip and kiss at the column of my throat and she sucked lightly on my pulse point. Both sets of breathing were ragged at this stage. I had never felt such need in my young life. She made me feel alive and my body sang with passion. I knew I loved her but I felt myself fall deeper with every passing moment. She paused and whispered my name as if seeking permission to continue.

"Xena," I moaned, granting that permission willingly without a singe reservation. I wanted her to take me. I needed to feel her inside me, touching me, holding me... making love to me. "Please."

She lowered me gently to the ground and I felt her hands begin a gentle exploration of my body. She removed my top and lowered her mouth to my breasts to suck gently and then bite lightly. I couldn't help it. I arched my back and she chuckled and sucked harder. As her long fingers slipped under my skirt and into my breeches to stroke lightly, my eyes flew open and I lifted my hips off the ground.

"Oh gods!" I cried and then, my breeches and skirt were discarded. Her piercing blue eyes devoured my naked body as my trembling fingers fumbled with the buckles of her armour. I finally managed to remove the heavy breastplate and moments later she was naked too. I stroked her skin lightly. It was burning hot and she pulled me to her, re-igniting our passion with the meeting of our soft skin. Her fingers returned to between my legs and I moved my hips slowly, forcing a slow but deep rhythm as they pushed into me. She smiled.

"That's it, Gabrielle," she encouraged and I moaned softly, trying to tell her how much I loved what she was doing to me and how good she made me feel. Her sex began to rub against my thigh as her thumb moved to stroke my clit. I squeezed my eyes shut as a streak of incredible sensation moved through me. Her lips closed over my nipple and she sucked urgently, as if she couldn't get enough of me. As she thrust her fingers hard and rubbed my clit faster, I realised that she was nearing the edge too and I wanted nothing more than for us to climax together. The pleasure built in the pit of my stomach and radiated outwards.

"Gabrielle, I can�t hold it much longer," she got out through gritted teeth and I nodded, pulling her hard against me. Her fingers plunged mercilessly inside me and, as I felt myself reach the edge, I dug my nails into her back, reached down and shoved two fingers into her dripping sex. That was it. We began to shudder and our lips locked in a searing kiss as we swallowed each other's screams of ecstasy. The power that passed between us was almost tangible and it left us fused together, trembling and spent but at home in each other's arms. For as long as I live, I'll never forget the expression of love and satisfaction that was on her face as she spoke to me.

"I love you, Gabrielle," she whispered. "I always have and I always will."

"I love you too, Xena," I whispered in reply. "For eternity."

I remember every moment of it as though it was yesterday, even though it was in fact thirty-five years ago. Time has no meaning for Xena and I. We've lived through amazing times and slept through others. We've crossed time in some ways and caused the rebirth of the Legendary Warrior Princess and Battling Bard of Poteidaia, but the thing we're most proud of in our lives, is the strength of our love. Even after thirty-five years, that quirk of her eyebrow and the tone of her voice makes me grow wet. I love her and she loves me... and on that cliff so long ago... it all began...

The End