Remember Everything by Cheeya.

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Xena put her arm around her best friend and squeezed her.

"What’s this for?" asked Gabrielle, a puzzled look on her face.

"Just for being you," the warrior replied.

"Are you ok? You don’t seem yourself."

Xena smiled.

"No you’re wrong. I’m more myself than ever."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gabrielle ducked as an axe flew by dangerously close to her.

"Whoa!" she cried and then leapt to her feet as another thug ran at her.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust as he swung his sword at her head and lifted her sais to intercept the blow. Her muscular shoulders took his weight and she pushed him back hard. He grunted and then dropped from her spinning heel kick.

"Xena!" she yelled and the warrior came hurtling out of the nearby bushes. The remaining men skidding to a halt, bumping into each other as the warrior unhooked her chakram.

"It’s Xena! Let’s get out of here!"

They turned and ran away as fast as they could, almost tripping over each other in their haste. Gabrielle grinned and strolled to her friend, sliding her sais back into the holders on her boots.

"Thanks."

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you start a brawl," Xena teased, shaking her head and perching her hands on her hips.

"Ha ha," the bard replied flatly. "Did you see it?"

"Yep, just over the hill. Ready?"

"Just about. Just let me get my scroll bag."

She picked up her bag and followed the Warrior Princess up the steep hill. A few minutes later, Xena pointed at a nearby wisp of smoke.

"There it is."

"You’re getting really good at this shortcut thing," the bard replied.

Xena smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"I should know this area. I spent most of my childhood in these woods."

Gabrielle put her hand on the taller woman’s shoulder.

"How are you feeling Xena?"

"I’m alive Gabrielle. I’m grateful for that."

"Me too. You know, being home for a while might help. Xena, I know you haven’t been sleeping well lately."

The warrior sighed and folded her arms across her breastplate.

"It’s these damn nightmares I’m having Gabrielle. I can’t shake them."

"It’s to be expected Xena. You went through Hades. I just wish I had been there. I might have been able to do something."

Xena shook her head.

"No Gabrielle. You’re not taking the blame for this. That rockslide was just bad luck. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"No Xena. That child was in the wrong place at the wrong time and you had to pay for it."

The warrior cringed as she thought about the pain of the rocks crashing down on her, leaving her body broken and battered.

"Run!" Xena yelled but the child was frozen with fear.

The warrior leapt off the outcropping and ran as fast as she could. She scooped the child up and threw her out of the path of the falling boulders. The last thing she saw was the heavy rocks crashing down on her and she covered her head with her arms.

It had taken Gabrielle and the other villagers three days to dig her out and when they eventually found her, she hadn’t been able to move. Her left arm was broken, her right dislocated and her legs were gashed open. She wasn’t sure how she’d survived but some god must have been smiling down on her. She was so happy when she saw Gabrielle’s worried face peering down at her and she had managed a weak grin before passing out completely in the bard’s arms.

Xena was startled out of her thoughts by an arm snaking around her slender waist.

"It’s over now," Gabrielle said gently.

"Let’s get going," Xena replied, ruffling the bard’s short blonde hair.

The friends mounted their horses, headed down the hill and arrived in Xena’s hometown of Amphipolis fifteen minutes later. They entered the Amphipolis Inn and the warrior grinned as her mother appeared out from the kitchen. She froze with shock as she saw Xena and Gabrielle standing in the doorway.

"Xena!"

Her hand moved to her mouth and tears started to roll down her face as she saw the bruising on her daughter’s face and body. Xena slowly walked to her and hugged her, holding her for longer than she usually did.

"It’s ok Mom. I’m ok."

"Oh my Little One. What happened to you?"

Gabrielle stood beside her and smiled.

"Xena decided to pick a fight with a mountain. The mountain lost."

"It put up a good fight though," the warrior replied with a quirky smile.

She pulled out a chair and lowered herself slowly into it. Her ribs protested a bit but she was pleased that the pain had subsided a lot. Gabrielle stroked her hair tenderly and Xena smiled up at her.

"Don’t fuss Gabrielle. I’m ok," she said but she was secretly pleased with the bard’s attention.

They ate a meal and related their journey to Cyrene, leaving out the most gruesome details as usual. Then they said goodnight and went to bed early. The innkeeper had only one room free but they didn’t mind sharing. After a quick bath, Xena climbed wearily under the blankets and patted the space beside her. Gabrielle slid in and lay on her back quietly.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes Xena?"

"I never… thanked you… for what you did for me."

"Xena, there’s no need…"

"Yes, there is," Xena said, cutting her off. "Gabrielle, I really thought I wasn’t going to make it you know but something told me to hold on. I knew you were coming for me. I could feel you."

"I could feel you too Xena. I knew you were alive… deep in my heart… I knew it. We’re destined to be together."

"I know. I was ready to give up once and you came into my life. I thank the gods for that everyday."

"So do I," the bard whispered. "Goodnight my Friend."

"I love you Gabrielle."

They fell asleep side by side.

"Hades!" Xena swore and dropped her sword as a wave of pain lanced through her. She crouched and held her ribs. Gabrielle was beside her in an instant, holding her upright until the pain subsided.

"Hey, don’t push yourself so hard. I know you heal quickly but you need more time."

The warrior willed strength into her legs and stood up shakily.

"I feel so damn helpless," she said in a small voice.

"I know Xena but give it time. You’ll be back to doing high kicks very soon. I know it!"

She helped Xena to walk to the chair she had placed nearby and handed her their waterskin. The tall warrior took a long drink and then smiled.

"High kicks huh? How about I try to actually keep a hold on my sword first," she replied with a smile.

"Ok, whatever works for you," said the bard with a shrug. "Xena? Xena!"

The warrior’s head snapped around to look at her. Her piercing blue eyes were wide and Gabrielle saw fear in them.

"What is it Xena?"

"I… I thought… nothing… it’s nothing."

Xena got up and went back into the tavern, leaving a surprised bard standing looking at her.

When Xena was back in her room, she sagged against the wall.

What the Hades is happening to me? I thought I saw… no Xena, you’re crazy. She couldn’t be here. That world ceased to exist when you left.

The warrior ran a shaking hand across her face and lay down on the bed. Within minutes she was asleep.

"You’d better look again. I’m not her. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t trust anyone."

"Gabrielle!"

Xena cried out and sprang forward in the bed, her eyes wide and frightened.

"Hey, it’s ok. I’m here." The bard gathered Xena into her arms and felt her shaking violently. "You were just dreaming."

Xena willed her heart to slow down and tried to breathe steadily.

"You killed him," she said in a choked voice. "In my dream you killed him."

Gabrielle stroked her hair.

"Killed who Xena? Who did I kill?"

"Lyceus. He tried to save you and you killed him."

The bard shook her head.

"It was just a dream Xena. I didn’t kill Lyceus… you did!"

Xena looked up at the bard but her eyes were cold and emotionless.

"What?"

"You killed him Xena. You might as well have pierced his heart with your own sword. You should have died back then, not him. You deserve to die Xena!"

"Xena wake up!"

The warrior jerked awake and sat forward.

"You were having another nightmare. It’s ok."

Xena drew in a shaky breath and lay back down. The bard ran a hand through her short blonde hair and shook her head.

"They’re getting worse. Xena, we have to do something."

"I don’t know what to do anymore Gabrielle," the warrior replied, a single tear running over her sculptured cheek.

"Hey, we’ll get through this together. Try not to worry Xena. Try to get some sleep. You’re exhausted."

She lay down next to her friend and Xena moved closer to her. She needed to feel Gabrielle near to her and the bard sensed this. She opened her arms and Xena laid her head on her shoulder. The bard wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly, stroking her hair until she fell back asleep.

The next morning Xena got up at dawn and rode out to her brother’s tomb. She knelt down on the ground and ran her hand over the carved stone sarcophagus.

"Lyceus, I’m sorry. I had the chance to let you live and I gave it up. When I saw Gabrielle kill Myzentius, I knew I couldn’t let that happen to her. I love her so much and I couldn’t let her lose her soul. I hope you understand. I saw the way you looked at her in that other world. She does that to me too. One look from her and I feel my heart soar. She is full of love and kindness, just like you. She’s the best thing in my life but I wish you were here too."

Tears ran down Gabrielle’s face as she stood at the door, listening to her best friend speak. She stepped inside the tomb and Xena turned to look at her with the saddest eyes the bard had ever seen.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough. Xena, why didn’t you tell me?"

The warrior stood.

"It was at the Temple of the Fates three years ago. I killed that boy the first time round. I felt such shame that I asked the Fates for his life back. I told them that I wished I’d never followed the sword in the first place. They told me that they could change everything but that the first time I spilled blood in anger, it would change back."

Gabrielle moved closer to her and they sat on the ground together.

"Tell me what happened Xena."

The warrior nodded and sniffed back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"They changed the past Gabrielle. They made it so I never rallied against Cortese and Lyceus never died. I was a normal village woman, running the inn with my brother. My mother had died when Cortese attacked but Lyceus and I fled to the hills until it was safe to come back. One day, I was shopping for supplies when I saw you… I mean the Gabrielle from that world. She was one of Myzentius’ slaves. I had never saved her in Potedaea. It broke my heart when I saw you like that and I wanted to help you so I rescued you and brought you back to the inn but we were all captured by Myzentius and Krykus. We managed to escape but Lyceus went after the warlords. We were in a fight and you picked up a sword and killed Myzentius and all I could do was watch as you lost your soul the way I had. I’ll never forget the look on your face as you saw his blood on your hands. You were elated and I knew I couldn’t let it happen so I took a sword and killed a soldier. Then I was suddenly back at the Temple of the Fates and your shout warned me about the boy. I didn’t kill him."

Gabrielle nodded slowly.

"You told me you were more yourself than ever. You finally accepted who you are at that moment didn’t you?"

"I guess I did. Gabrielle I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this sooner. I didn’t want to hurt you, You were an innocent back then and I just couldn’t bring myself to explain it."

"I understand Xena. Is this what you’re dreaming about?"

Xena looked at the bard and then lowered her head.

"Mostly, but the dreams are distorted. Sometimes I kill Myzentius, other times you kill Lyceus. I just can’t make sense if it."

"What can we do?"

The warrior was silent for a second and then a plan formulated in her mind.

"Maybe we should go see the Fates. They might be able to shed a little light on what’s going on."

"Ok Xena. Let’s go soon though. I can’t stand seeing you so upset."

Xena nodded and smiled.

"Thanks but I’ll be ok as soon as I figure out what the hell is going on."

Xena and Gabrielle left Amphipolis two days later and headed back to the temple that they had saved three years previously. After a long week of travel, they finally arrived. Xena stood outside for a few seconds, almost afraid to go in but Gabrielle took her hand.

"It’s ok. Come on."

She led her into the temple and they lit some well-burned candles. The Warrior Princess took a deep breath and spoke.

"I call upon the Fates to appear before me. I need to speak to you… please."

A low humming started and a cool breeze passed through the temple and suddenly, the three Fates were standing before her. They spoke simultaneously.

"Xena. We know why you’ve come but we have no answers."

The warrior shook her head.

"Please… I need to know what’s happening to me."

"Warrior Princess, we cannot tell you your future but we can prepare you for what is to come. The world you left behind did not cease to exist when you left it."

Xena frowned.

"I don’t understand."

"You will…" they chanted and then disappeared.

Gabrielle moved to stand beside Xena and rubbed her back lightly.

"Do you have any idea what they’re talking about?" she asked, looking up at the tall warrior.

"No, but I know now that these dreams aren’t just dreams. I guess we’ll just have to wait for whatever is coming."

Gabrielle nodded and smiled.

"Let’s head back to Amphipolis."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the friends rode down into the valley where Xena’s hometown was situated, they saw the thick black smoke drifting across the sky.

"By the gods!" Gabrielle cried and they spurred their horses into a gallop. When they reached Amphipolis, Xena vaulted off Argo and ran toward the charred ruin that was once her mother’s tavern. She skidded to a halt and spun looking around her frantically.

"MOTHER!" she yelled as she searched through the homeless and wounded people milling around her.

"Help us Xena…please!"

The warrior ran to her horse and retrieved her healer’s bag. She looked around for Gabrielle and saw her tending to some injured women.

"Gabrielle! Catch!"

The bard looked up and nodded and Xena threw her bag to her.

"I have to find my mother!"

The warrior pushed her way through the throngs of people around her and called again and again for her mother. She finally stopped an old man.

"Have you seen Cyrene?"

He shook his head sadly and looked down.

"The last time I saw her warrior, she was being taken away by the soldiers who did this to us."

Xena’s stomach clenched with fear and she grabbed him by the front of his worn shirt.

"Who were they?" she demanded lifting him off his feet.

"I, I don’t know," he replied in terror, grabbing at her forearms.

The warrior suddenly felt a presence beside her.

"Xena, let him go!"

Gabrielle separated the warrior from the old man and Xena stepped back, panting heavily.

"I’m sorry… I’m sorry," she stammered and the old man backed away from her, fear evident in his eyes.

"What’s going on?" the bard demanded.

"They took her Gabrielle. They took my mother."

Gabrielle’s face dropped.

"Oh gods. Let’s go after her. Right now!"

"Gabrielle wait. We have to make sure these people are ok first. Organise to move them to the large barn outside of town… you know the one where I fought Draco?"

The younger woman nodded and ran off to organise the villagers. Xena stood looking at the charred remains of the town she had once called home and felt anger rise in her like a tidal wave.

"Whoever did this is going to be sorry they were ever born," she growled and then followed her friend.

Three hours later, Xena and Gabrielle were back on the road, following the tracks of the soldiers who had destroyed Amphipolis.

"Looks like about sixty horses," Xena said, studying the road as they slowed their horses to a walk. "They’re headed north but they’re no more than a day ahead of us."

Gabrielle nodded.

"Do you want to camp tonight?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

"I’m not stopping until I find my mother," the warrior replied and urged Argo into a gallop. Gabrielle smiled grimly. "Me neither," she muttered and took off after her friend.

The sun was setting as they crept up to the warlord’s camp. Xena jerked her head, indicating some nearby bushes and Gabrielle nodded. They moved silently through the heavy underbrush and then crawled forward on their stomachs to watch the guards. Xena leaned close to her friend and whispered in her ear.

"They should be changing shift soon. We can use that time to move into the camp. Gabrielle, be careful ok?"

The bard nodded and then flicked her blonde hair out of her eyes. She fixed her gaze on Xena and cupped her face with her hand.

"We’ll get her back," she whispered and the Warrior Princess nodded grimly.

What seemed like an eternity later to Xena, the guards began to move away from the perimeter of the camp. She signalled to Gabrielle and they crept into the camp, moving from tent to tent under the cover of darkness. They found Cyrene bound and gagged in a tent near to the centre of the camp and Xena crawled under the fabric, her dagger between her teeth. Cyrene’s eyes lit up when she saw her but the warrior held a finger to her lips, telling her mother to be quiet. She cut the ropes binding the older woman’s hands and feet and took the gag away from her mouth.

"Are you ok?" she whispered and Cyrene nodded.

Xena helped her up and turned to leave but a voice she knew as well as her own froze her in place.

"Don’t bother whispering Xena. I was waiting for you to arrive."

Gabrielle stumbled into the tent, losing her balance and falling to her knees. Xena looked at her in puzzlement and then saw something that shocked her to the core. Gabrielle entered the tent again. She was the same woman but looked very different. Her hair was longer and she was dressed in leathers and armour but what Xena saw first was the cold hardness of her emerald green eyes.

"Surprise!" she said and kicked the bard Gabrielle hard in the ribs. She rolled onto her side, holding her stomach and coughing. Xena took a step toward her friend but she stopped when she saw the dagger aimed at the younger woman’s back.

"I’ll bet you never expected to see me again did you?" asked the warlord Gabrielle, a wicked grin stealing across her face. She tapped the blade of the dagger against her jaw. "My, my, aren’t we just the scary warrior?" she spat. "Big change to the sweet, innocent tavern owner I remember."

Xena raised an eyebrow and shot her ‘the look’.

"How did you get here?" she growled.

"I did a favour for the God of War in my world. I gave him a son in exchange for his sending me here."

She looked down at the bard Gabrielle who was struggling to her feet.

"You left me for her?" she asked incredulously. "Not that I would blame you. She is very beautiful!" She threw back her head and laughed and Xena took a step toward her, her fist raised.

"Ah ah ah! Don’t move or I’ll kill your friend here," the warlord said, her voice hard and cold. She pointed the dagger at Cyrene. "I knew that taking her would lure you to me."

Xena folded her arms across her breastplate and shook her head.

"What do you want?"

The warlord started pacing back and forward.

"I want you Xena. I want to make you pay for what you did to me. You ruined my life!"

"I saved you!" Xena retorted angrily.

"You freed me Xena but you didn’t save me. You started me down a path that I couldn’t refuse. You let me taste bloodlust. You stood there and did nothing while I killed Myzentius and lost my soul to hate."

The warrior’s face was stricken and she shook her head slowly as the warlord Gabrielle continued.

"But you know what was worse than all that? You let me fall in love with you and then you just left me."

Cyrene’s eyes widened and she looked at her daughter.

"Oh yes Cyrene," the warlord Gabrielle went on. "Your daughter did that to me."

"NO!"

Everyone’s head snapped around to see the bard Gabrielle standing with her fists clenched. She was shaking with fury and her eyes were blazing.

"She did not do this to you. Face it you coward! You have no one to blame but yourself! You chose to follow that road just like I did but the difference between you and me is that I chose to step off it again. You didn’t!"

The warlord’s face hardened.

"You’re defending her to the last. Tell me Gabrielle. Did you fall in love with her too? Hmm?"

The bard looked at Xena and saw her expression soften into an almost questioning look.

"Yes, I did. A long time ago," Gabrielle admitted.

She looked away, unable to meet Xena’s gaze and stared at her twin.

"But it didn’t turn me into a monster. It gave me hope and a better life than I could ever have wished for."

She looked at Xena then and saw a single tear creep down her sculptured cheek. The Warrior Princess smiled briefly at her and then turned to the warlord Gabrielle.

"Let my family go. I’ll stay here."

She held up a hand as she saw her friend begin to protest.

"It’s alright Gabrielle."

The warlord thought carefully for a few seconds and then nodded.

"Ok Xena. I’ll let them go but only because I have no wish to kill them."

She nodded at one of her guards.

"Take them to the edge of camp and let them go."

The guard took Cyrene by the arm and then pulled the bard Gabrielle toward the door of the tent. Gabrielle shook out of his grasp and ran back to Xena. She wiped the tear away from her cheek and shook her head.

"I’m sorry," she whispered.

"Don’t be. I love you too," the warrior replied with a tender smile and kissed the bard briefly before she was hauled away again. The soldier dragged them to the edge of the camp and then pushed them away from him. Gabrielle led Cyrene back to Argo and wrapped a blanket around her.

"Are you ok Cyrene?" she asked as she saw the older woman tremble.

"I will be. Gabrielle what’s going to happen to Xena?"

The bard smiled.

"Xena can take care of herself. If I know her, she already has a plan."

Cyrene smiled, despite her fear.

"You really love her don’t you" she said.

"Yeah, I do. I just wish I’d told her sooner. Now stay here while I see what’s going on."

Xena watched her family being dragged out of the tent and then turned to the warlord.

"Gabrielle, what do you want from me?"

The blonde woman sat on the edge of the bed and absently ran her hand through her hair.

"Do you remember what you said to me back then Xena? I said that I reminded you of a friend and you said that I was your friend. How could you lie to me like that?"

The warrior shook her head slowly and softened her tone.

"I meant it Gabrielle. I left that world for you. My heart broke when I saw you kill Myzentius and I knew that I had to stop that world from being…from turning you into the woman you had become. I came back here because I realised that I was meant to save you from those slavers in Potedaea. Gabrielle and I were meant to be together. I can’t live without her… without you."

"No, you’re lying. You’re trying to trick me!"

"No I’m not. Gabrielle, listen to me. No matter what you’ve done, not matter what you’ve been through, I know that you have a good soul. We’re the same you know. We’ve both done evil things in our pasts but you can change, just like I did. Let me help you."

She took a few tentative steps toward the warlord.

"I can’t… I can’t change Xena," she whispered.

"Yes you can. I want to help you," the warrior softly replied. "Please… let me help you."

She sat down on the bed beside the woman who looked so much like her love and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tender embrace. She resisted for a second and then sagged into the warrior’s body, allowing herself to be comforted.

"I love you Xena," she said as the tears coursed down her cheeks.

"I’m sorry Gabrielle. I really am."

"I know."

The warlord suddenly broke the embrace and stood up.

"I’m sorry too," she whispered and pulled out her sword, plunging it into her own chest.

"NO!" Xena screamed and caught her as she fell. The Warrior Princess lowered herself to the ground, cradling Gabrielle’s head in her lap. "Oh gods," she whispered.

The warlord looked up at her with a misty green gaze and smiled briefly. A trickle of blood ran from the edge of her mouth. She coughed painfully and then nodded.

"It has to be this way. Look after her Xena. She loves you."

Gabrielle’s eyes closed and she was gone. Xena kissed her gently on the forehead.

"You are my friend," she whispered and closed her eyes as tears spilled over. After a long time, the warrior got up and laid a blanket over the warlord’s body. She walked out of the tent and made her way slowly back to where she knew Gabrielle and her mother would be waiting for her. The bard saw her approach and ran to meet her.

"Are you ok?" she asked, hugging the warrior tightly.

"Yeah," Xena replied.

"What happened to her?"

"She’s dead. She couldn’t live with herself. She took her own life."

Gabrielle shook her head.

"I’m sorry Xena."

The three women camped overnight and Gabrielle slept soundly, her head resting on Xena’s chest. The warrior lay thinking for a long time but eventually fell into a sound dreamless sleep, her love keeping the demons at bay.

The End