Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle belong to Renaissance/Universal Pics. No copyright infringement was intended. This story is a work of alternative fiction (although not graphic) so if it offends you, if you're too young to read or if it's illegal where you are, please don�t read on.

Dedication: For Declan... for Melissa... and of course, for Sham.

Part I

Xena looked over at her best friend, lying motionless on a stone altar. Her piercing blue eyes filled with tears as she slowly walked to her. Her hands were shaking hard and no matter how hard she tried to stop them, they just continued to tremble. She knelt down and placed her hand on the young woman's stomach, her heart lurching as she felt the shallowness of her breathing and the clammy coldness of her skin.

"If I could do it all again, I'd take the southern route," the warrior said huskily. "If I hadn�t been so stubborn..." Her voice broke and she started to cry. "I love you, Gabrielle," she sobbed. "Please don�t leave me."

Part II

Gabrielle woke with a start and sat up, listening carefully for sounds of an intruder in camp. After a few moments, she shrugged and lay down, covering herself with her rough, homespun blanket to keep the chill away. It was then that she heard it. A soft whimper floated to her on the air and she sat up again, her hand automatically reaching for her fighting staff. However, something made her pause and listen carefully again. She realised that the sound was coming from the other side of the fire and she crawled out of her blankets as she heard the whimper again. From where she had been lying, she could barely make out the form of her best friend, but, as she crawled closer, she realised that the warrior was crying softly in her sleep. The young bard's heart ached at her friend's pain. She knew the Warrior Princess carried a heavy burden of guilt on her shoulders and often had nightmares about her past, but this was the first time Gabrielle had ever seen her crying in her sleep. Normally, she tossed and turned, striking out with her fists at some unseen enemy and, on a number of occasions, the bard had had to dodge a couple of errant blows as she tried to comfort her best friend. This was different though. It seemed as if Xena found herself to be helpless in her nightmare and could not fight her demon. Gabrielle moved quickly to her warrior's side and reached out to tentatively stroke her hair as she had done many times over the previous three years. She loved Xena's raven-black hair... how it was thick and silky and shone in the light of the sun and of their campfire at night... and this was the only opportunity she ever had to touch it. A soft moan brought her attention back to the warrior's face and she smiled as the older woman sighed softly and settled into a deeper sleep. Gabrielle didn't stop her gentle stroking though. She sat there for a long time watching her best friend sleep and wishing to herself, for the thousandth time, that she could be sleeping in her arms.

Part III

"Morning, Xena," Gabrielle smiled as she returned from the stream. The warrior looked up and winked at her.

"I think you mean good afternoon, Gabrielle," she replied and then chuckled to herself as she bit off the thread she had been using to fix the stitching on her gauntlets. The bard scowled playfully and went to pack her bag. Despite the fact that she had slept very little the previous night, she was happy. Xena had been in an excellent mood over the previous few days and seemed to be continuing in that trend this morning. The sun was warm on the bard's skin as she bent to slide her quill and current scroll into her travelling bag. She didn't see the piercing blue eyes watching her and she didn't hear the soft sigh as the warrior wished for the thousandth time that she had woken up with her beautiful bard in her arms.

"It's not late, Xena," Gabrielle pointed out. "It�s only a candlemark past dawn so don't give me that 'I think you mean good afternoon, Gabrielle' growl, thank you very much."

The warrior's eyes sparkled with mirth at the bard's rather accurate impression of her and patted the log beside her, indicating for her friend to sit down. The bard complied and Xena reached over to pour her a mug of tea from the pot sitting at the edge of the fire.

"How did you sleep, Gabrielle?" Xena asked casually as she handed the mug over.

"Very well, thank you," Gabrielle lied. She didn't look at her friend because she knew she was a terrible liar, especially to Xena. She always wondered to herself why she didn't tell Xena that she often soothed her at night. Somehow she just knew that the stoic warrior would be embarrassed and would probably erect those walls again... the ones that Gabrielle had fought so hard to tear down over the course of the strengthening of their friendship.

"Good."

They sat in comfortable silence until Xena glanced at her friend.

"Gabrielle, you look tired. Are you sure you're sleeping ok? Are you cold? I could share my blanket with you if you are."

Gabrielle smiled and took a deep breath but then she almost spluttered her tea halfway across the camp as she realised what her warrior had just said. Xena thumped her on the back as she coughed and then pulled her into her arms protectively, rubbing her back as the bard regained her breath.

"I'm ok," Gabrielle said throatily as she took another sip of her tea. "Must have gone down the wrong way. Xena, what did you say just then?"

The young woman wanted to be sure that what she had heard was really what Xena had said and not just what she really wanted to hear.

"I asked you if you were cold at night and if so, if you wanted to share blankets with me."

Gabrielle smiled again, her heart beating like ten Amazon drummers in her chest.

"Actually, I'm finding the nights quite cold. It'd be great if I could share with you... I mean... you know... if you're sure you don�t mind."

Xena fought, using every warrior skill she had, to keep a stupid grin off her face as she released her friend.

"I don�t mind," she replied happily, wondering if maybe her dream of waking up with the younger woman in her arms would finally come true for her. All at once, the mighty Warrior Princess felt mighty nervous.

Part IV

Xena noticed that her normally talkative bard was keeping very quiet today. Now and again she glanced down at her best friend and smiled. The smile was returned but Gabrielle never said anything. Eventually, Xena swung down from Argo to walk beside her, leading the gold mare by her reins.

"You ok, Gabrielle?" she asked tentatively. She received a raised eyebrow, a habit she knew her friend had picked up from her.

"I'm fine, Xena, thank you. Why?"

The warrior was reluctant to say it but she ploughed on anyway.

"It�s just that... well... no offence, Gabrielle, but you're being unusually quiet today. I was starting to get worried that something was wrong... you know... that I'd done something to..." She trailed off uncertainly and Gabrielle giggled at her best friend's insecurity. Xena was an exceptional warrior and a wonderful friend, but she was still a little new to the ways of the heart and she knew she loved her best friend like no other.

"Of course you haven�t done anything, Xena," she replied. "I'm just thinking about stuff, that's all. I'm also working on my new story." She paused and then chuckled as she gently touched the warrior's arm. "You're going to be sorry next week when I've finished this story and have to recite it to you a hundred times to make sure I have it right." Xena scowled but deep down inside she really didn't care about that. She loved listening to her friend tell a story. It wasn't even the story she told, it was the way she told it. It was the gentle, lilting quality to her silky voice. It was the way she gestured madly and her eyes shone when she was at an exciting part, but could be as still as a tree at a sad or romantic part. Yep, for Xena, it was definitely the storyteller rather than the story. "Oh come on, Warrior Princess. It�s not that bad," the bard was saying, a scowl of her own on her face. Xena felt like a slug. She hated when Gabrielle got that wounded look that meant she was hurt.

"I'm sorry. I... " Xena stammered. "I didn't mean to... " She took a deep breath and smiled. "Gabrielle, I'd love to listen to you recite your story a hundred times if it helps you in any way." (And that was the truth)

She sighed inwardly with relief when the smile returned to her younger friend's face.

"Thanks, Xena."

"Don�t mention it."

Part V

The day was relatively uneventful. Relative to the Warrior Princess and Bard of Poteidaia of course. They stopped a raid, fought some thugs on the road and Xena rescued a little girl from a well. Yep, relatively uneventful. They were both tired and sore when they stopped to camp. Unfortunately, the nearby stream was tiny and not suitable for swimming so they both knelt at the edge and leaned over to splash some water on their overheated skin.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"How long have you been travelling now?" Gabrielle asked as she removed her top. Xena's eyes grew wide at the sight of her friend's bare chest and had to clear her throat a few times before she was able to speak.

"Um... about thirteen years," she said, her voice sounding strained to her own ears.

"Oh," the bard replied with a shrug. The warrior looked away, concentrating on washing up rather than on her beautiful, young friend.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"Ever think about settling down?"

Xena actually thought about this for a moment.

"No, actually, I don�t really. I'm happy with my life at the moment so why change it?"

"You're happy?" Gabrielle asked with a slight frown.

"Yes, for the first time in a long time, Gabrielle."

The bard was trying to find out what had caused Xena to cry in her sleep the previous night and here was her friend telling her that she was truly happy. Gabrielle was confused but decided to let it go for the moment. She relaced her top and smiled.

"Race ya back to camp," she chuckled and took off.

"Hey!" Xena yelled after her. "I haven�t... oh forget it!" Xena gathered her various pieces of weapons and armour into a bundle and ran after her partner, executing a number of one armed flips and somersaults. She landed right in front of the bard with her two feet firmly inside camp. Gabrielle shook her head and her finger.

"That's not fair. You know I can�t do those flippy things of yours!"

Xena raised an eyebrow.

"All's fair in love and races, Gabrielle," she smirked as she dropped her gear on her saddle blanket.

"You are the most exasperating woman on the face of the Known World!" the bard complained but she melted into a puddle when those piercing blue eyes she loved so much looked right into her emerald green.

"I'm sorry," the warrior said softly and then lowered her gaze to her boots, kicking nervously at a small stone. Gabrielle was puzzled and a bit worried. That was the second heartfelt apology she had received that day.

"Xena," she said just as softly as she reached out to take her best friend's hand. "You'd tell me if there was something wrong, wouldn�t you?"

"Of course I would," came the growly reply but then Xena's tone softened. "And you'd tell me, wouldn�t you, if something was wrong with you or... or..." She swallowed. "Or if you weren't happy?"

"Yes, I would. Don�t worry, Xena, I'm fine. We're both fine. Now let's finish setting up camp and get some dinner into us."

The Warrior Princess nodded and went to unpack their supplies. She was soon lost in thought.

Damn, what's wrong with me? I'm acting like an insecure kid. It�s that dream. I can't shake it. It's making me damn jumpy and nervous. What if something really did happen to Gabrielle? What would I do then? Xena stared into space and then shuddered as she realised what would happen. I'd die too. A soft touch on her shoulder startled her out of her thoughts.

Xena, I asked you if you wanted tea or wine," Gabrielle said softly, knowing that her friend had been deep in thought but when Xena looked at her, she could see the upset and worry in her eyes.

"Um... I'll have wine please," the warrior replied, hoping the night cap would help her sleep more easily. She knew this region well and the risk of them being attacked during the night was minimal... besides, Argo would alert her to any danger if she didn't sense it herself. Xena returned with their bedrolls and spread them out by the fire. Gabrielle felt a funny flutter of nerves in her stomach as she watched the warrior lay all of their blankets out on top, making a cosy sleeping place for them. She giggled nervously and received a raised eyebrow from her friend. The truth was that Xena's nerves had her on the verge of hysterical laughter herself.

"It looks nice and warm," Gabrielle said softly and Xena just nodded her agreement. After dinner, the warrior sat on the ground with her back against a rock and pulled her sharpening stone out of her bag. Gabrielle glanced up from her scroll as she heard the familiar sound of stone on metal and grinned at her friend. Xena lost her concentration, almost dropped the stone in her eagerness to smile back and very nearly cut her hand in the process.

"Owww!" she yelped and then clamped her mouth shut in embarrassment. Gabrielle was at her side the next heartbeat examining her hand.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "Is it bleeding? Let me see!"

Xena blushed and pulled her hand away.

"No, it�s not bleeding. The stone just slipped out of my hand that's all."

The bard nodded but instead of going back to her scroll, she sat very close to her friend and leaned against her with a small sigh.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"What do you think I'd be doing now if I hadn�t met you?" The sharpening stone stilled against the blade as Xena's mind raced. Was Gabrielle regretting the previous three years? Was she sorry that she had ever begun her travels with the Warrior Princess? Gabrielle went on, oblivious to her friend's doubt. "It�s just that, I can�t think of anywhere else I'd rather be than here with you. Imagine if we'd never met." Xena's heart slid back down into her chest and she took a few deep, calming breaths.

"I don�t know, Gabrielle," she replied softly. "You'd probably be a great bard, lecturing at the Academy or producing plays in Athens but even if you weren't a bard, I know you'd be a great woman. As for imagining if we'd never met... I can't. My life would be meaningless without you in it."

There was silence between them for a long moment and then Xena felt a small, cool hand touch her cheek.

"Xena, I... thank you," came the heartfelt reply and the warrior grinned down at her petite friend.

"I meant it. You're my best friend and I love you."

"I love you too, Xena," Gabrielle replied in an emotional whisper.

Part VI

A couple of candlemarks later, Gabrielle yawned and stretched like a cat. Xena smiled and moistened her lips as she watched the play of taut muscles under the tanned skin of her friend's stomach.

"Well, I think I'll go to sleep," Gabrielle said as she walked to their pile of blankets.

"Me too," Xena replied and she slid out of her leathers and boots, leaving herself clad only in her shift and underwear. Gabrielle kicked her boots off and sat them neatly with the rest of the equipment. She laughed as Xena flung her boots across the camp to land perfectly on the pile.

"Good shot, Warrior Princess," she chuckled and the warrior smiled that enigmatic smile.

"I have many skills," she purred and Gabrielle rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"C'mon, Miss Many Skills, get your butt into bed before I kick it half way across Greece."

The warrior slipped under the blankets and lay on her back with her fingers laced under her head. Gabrielle looked nervously down at her prostrate friend and then steeled herself for what she knew was coming... the feelings she'd have to control once she was close to her warrior. She slid into the warm bed beside her friend and sighed softly with pleasure. Xena was like a heat source. She radiated warmth and it drew Gabrielle to her like a moth to a flame. The bard sidled right up close to her and snuggled against her side, placing her hand on her cloth covered stomach. Xena shuddered a little at the contact and drew her friend even closer, relishing the feeling of her soft skin under her hands. She turned slightly onto her side and the bard rested her head on her strong shoulder and draped her arm over her ribcage. Xena thought that this was the most comfortable position for them both but she gasped as Gabrielle's leg slid over her knee and her thigh rested right on the warrior's.

"Goodnight, Xena. I love you," the bard whispered sleepily.

"Goodnight, My Beautiful Bard," the warrior whispered as she heard her friend's breathing deepen into sleep. "I love you too, more than you'll ever know."

Hovering right on the edge of a dream state, a young bard smiled.

Part VII

Gabrielle woke the next morning to find herself still cradled in her warrior's arms. Xena was still asleep, her arms wrapped protectively around her friend, and the bard realised that, for the first time in weeks, the warrior hadn�t had any nightmares. Her heart soared as a long-time dream of hers was realised. She very gently brushed a kiss against her friend's chest and snuggled closer, her mind and heart ablaze with happiness.

Xena was like a giddy child over breakfast. She couldn�t sit still and spent most of the time tossing grapes in the air and catching them in her mouth. ( In truth, she was showing off a bit too.) Gabrielle watched with interest. The law of average stated that Xena would have to miss a catch at some stage, but soon all the grapes were gone and the warrior hadn�t dropped a single one. Gabrielle felt herself loving her friend even more. The bard couldn�t remember falling in love with the Warrior Princess. It had just happened but she did remember the day she realised for the first time that she really did love her. It had been at an inn on the road to Carthage. The weather had been wet and Xena had insisted that Gabrielle ride to keep her feet dry. They had reached the tavern late and found that they had no rooms available. The bard had wearily fished two dinars out of her pouch and given them to the innkeeper for the use of a stall in the stable. Xena had been very apologetic but Gabrielle had just smiled and told her not to worry about it. The only problem was that a cold wind had blown through the stall and Gabrielle couldn�t sleep, her teeth were chattering too much. She had wrapped her blanket tightly around herself but it made no difference. It was just too cold to sleep... that was until a warm body suddenly moved close. Xena had laid a blanket out on the straw and stretched out on it. Without a word, she had untangled the bard from her blanket and drawn her close before covering them with both their blankets. It had been at that moment, wrapped in her best friend's warm, strong arms that Gabrielle had realised for the first time that she was deeply in love with the warrior. She just hadn't wanted that night to ever end. Unfortunately, it had, but it had begun a steady build up of feelings in both women.

"Xena, thanks for last night," Gabrielle mumbled, almost into her mug.

"You're welcome, Gabrielle. Hey, it reminded me a bit of that night we had to stay in the stables of that inn near Carthage."

The bard looked up in surprise.

"I was just thinking about that night," she replied. "I was so cold until you held me. Don�t you feel the cold?"

"Not so much," Xena replied as she pushed her thick, black hair back from her eyes. "I don�t feel it as much as you do."

Gabrielle sighed and looked into her mug as she felt a longing in her heart to be back in her warrior's arms. Suddenly, Xena was sitting beside her, taking her hand.

"Are you ok, Gabrielle? You looked so sad and pale there for a minute."

"I just have some things on my mind. I'll be fine," the bard replied honestly. She knew she couldn�t lie to her friend.

"You know I'm here if you want to talk," Xena offered.

"I know, Xena, thank you, but its something I have to face alone. I don�t think even you with your many skills could help me." She managed a smile.

No, that's wrong, she thought. Xena, if you want to help me, tell me you love me and make love to me all night tonight.

"Ok, Gabrielle," the warrior replied with a worried frown and went back to her perch by the fire. Suddenly she stood again to pace back and forward. "This is ridiculous. I'm skirting the issue here like a child."

What issue?" Gabrielle asked quietly.

All of a sudden, in the light of day and with a very beautiful bard looking at her, Xena's plan to just come out and say it didn't seem all that great. She decided just to tell the truth. Xena went to her friend and knelt down, taking her hand gently.

"This issue is the fact that I love you, Gabrielle. I'm deeply in love with you and I want us to sleep together like that every night.

There was a stunned silence for a moment. Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears and Xena felt like running away as fast as her legs would carry her... but she didn't. She gazed into those tear-filled emerald green eyes and saw her answer there. Not a word was spoken but, very slowly, Gabrielle slid her arms around her love's neck and drew her closer. She entwined her fingers in her raven-black hair and their lips met slowly and passionately. Each felt the other's trembling and pounding heart but the kiss continued, lips parting to accept silky, warm tongues. When the kiss finally ended, Gabrielle buried her face in her love's neck.

"Gods, I love you," she whispered. "It�s always been you, Xena."

The warrior cradled her tightly, resting her cheek on top of her silky, blonde hair.

"Stay with me, Gabrielle. Be my partner in life... please... I can't live without you.," Xena replied, her voice trembling with emotion. The bard's eyes grew wide and the tears flowed again.

"You want me to..." She could barely even speak.

"Marry me," Xena whispered, her eyes full of love and devotion to her beautiful bard.

All Gabrielle could do was nod. Her voice had been completely stolen by her emotion. The Warrior Princess stood up, pulling her up into her arms and swinging her around.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!" she cried and Gabrielle collapsed into helpless laughter.

"I love you too," she replied and, as she was placed gently on the ground, she tilted her head up to meet beautiful, soft lips.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?" (The reply was muffled because the bard was finding out that nuzzling was going to be her favourite Warrior Princess skill.)

"You were crying in your sleep the other night and I..."

Xena looked up and smiled.

"It�s ok," she replied. "I was crying because I was dreaming about that time you d... um... I almost lost you in Thessily. The dream has been haunting me all week. It's what urged me to finally tell you how I feel about you. I love you so much, Gabrielle. I don�t ever want us to be apart."

Xena searched Gabrielle's emerald green eyes for a hint of doubt. She found none.

"We'll never be apart," the bard replied softly as she gently kissed her love. "I love you too much to ever let that happen."

They gazed at each other for a long moment but then Xena stiffened. She reached for her sword and Gabrielle picked up her fighting staff but they were shocked when a man stumbled into camp. He collapsed onto the ground and Xena ran to him, cradling him gently. He pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to her before dying in her arms.

"Xena, where is he from?" Gabrielle asked.

"The Kingdom of Chin," the warrior replied, in a husky voice. She read the parchment and then looked away into the trees as her mind filled with memories. She knew what she had to do...

The End