Disclaimer: The characters belong to Renaissance/Universal Pics. No copyright infringement was intended. This story contains scenes of love and a little tiny bit of bondage between two consenting adults of the same gender. If you don�t like this, you know the drill.

Bard's Note: Another useless story from Cheeya. (grins) No great plot or anything. It's just a bit of laugh!

Xena looked up and grinned at her friend as she ran her sharpening stone along the length of her blade.

"Doing ok?" she asked as she saw the bard wrap her blanket more firmly around herself.

"I'm cold," Gabrielle replied with a little shake of her head and Xena was instantly worried. The weather had been almost balmy over the previous few days and it definitely wasn�t cold tonight.

"Gabrielle, are you feeling ok? Do you have any chills or a fever?" The warrior moved to crouch beside her, gently feeling her forehead and face.

"No, I really do feel fine, Xena. I'm just a little chilly." Gabrielle grinned at her best friend. "A little bit of shared body heat would sort that right out though."

Xena nodded slowly.

"I'm sure it would," she replied as she stood up. She winked and then grinned again. "I'll be right back."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes as the warrior walked away. Xena had been driving her crazy over the previous few days. She was going out of her way to touch her or give her little kisses, but wouldn�t let what they both wanted, happen between them. Every time Gabrielle tried to kiss her, or touch her after a kiss, Xena would pull away and smile that REALLY annoying 'not yet' smile of hers. And yes, it was driving Gabrielle crazy. Despite the fact that she knew that the Warrior Princess loved her, she needed to feel the closeness of their bodies intertwined as one once again. She thought back to that night almost a week previously. They had been in a tavern�

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

"Xena, I know you're hurt. Why can�t you just let me take a look?"

The Warrior Princess shook her head and scowled as she sat down on the bed in the tiny tavern room.

"Gabrielle, godsdammit, don�t fuss! It's just a scratch. That guy barely got a blade on me," she almost yelled. Gabrielle lowered her eyes, trying to hide her hurt but when Xena reached out to her, the bard couldn�t stop the tears that crept from her emerald green eyes. "Gabrielle, I'm sorry," the warrior said softly. "I really didn't mean to hurt you. It's just� my pride is wounded more than anything else because that guy SHOULDN'T have got a blade on me. I shouldn�t take it out on you. Please don�t cry. I can�t� stand it� when you cry."

Xena felt like a slug for being so bad tempered. They were both still too emotionally raw after Illusia to deal with an argument and Xena felt so tired that all she wanted to do was curl up in bed with her best friend, easing both of their pain with a single embrace. As she saw Gabrielle wipe her face she suddenly made a decision. She would hold Gabrielle until they both felt better.

"It's ok, Xena. I guess I'm just� tired," the bard said with a shrug and a watery smile.

"Let's get some sleep, Gabrielle," Xena replied as she dropped her armour, boots and leathers on the floor near the bed. Her weapons went on the floor right by her hand� just in case. She smiled as she saw her friend slip out of her clothes and boots and into her short shift. Gabrielle stretched and the shift rose higher, giving Xena a wonderful view of some shapely thighs. *Gods, she's gorgeous* She moistened her lips unconsciously and then climbed into the bed settling back with a soft sigh as she laced her fingers behind her head.

Gabrielle grinned inwardly. *Was that my imagination or was my Warrior Princess looking at my legs just then?* The bard slipped into the bed and Xena laughed as Gabrielle climbed over her to be on the inside.

"You could have just asked," she chuckled as the bard settled herself.

"Sorry," Gabrielle grinned. Her grin widened as Xena slid her arm under her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Gabrielle, I really am sorry for jumping at you just then," she whispered.

"It's ok," the bard replied with a tender smile. "I should realise that your pride is often wounded more than your body. I'll try not to push so much."

"Thanks," Xena replied, flashing perfect white teeth. "But I want you to know that� I really appreciate having someone who� you know� does push. For a long time, Gabrielle, I had no one at all."

Gabrielle turned slightly and rested her head on the warrior's chest. She ran her hand lightly over Xena's stomach and then gripped her gently around the ribcage, snuggling deeper into her.

"You'll always have me," she whispered. "We're soulmates. We're meant to be together. I love you, Xena."

She smiled as Xena's hand rhythmically stroked her hair and then she felt a lingering kiss on the crown of her head.

"I love you too, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle's breath caught. She had never heard Xena say those words with as much conviction or tenderness as in that moment. She looked up into piercing blue eyes and what she saw there, she knew was mirrored in her own eyes. Love.

"Xena," she whispered and the warrior saw the need burning in her eyes. She captured her lips quickly and immediately felt Gabrielle's arms wrap around her and pull her closer as the kiss deepened. Xena parted her lips to accept the bard's demanding tongue and the kiss became fiery, leaving them both breathless and light headed. Shifts ended up in a small pile on the floor and their hands and tongues danced over each other's bodies. Gabrielle felt herself nearing the edge and she looked Xena in the eyes trying to show her all the love she had for her. The warrior stilled her fingers inside her lover as Gabrielle thrust her hips down hard on her hand. Her orgasm was powerful and she had to use every bit of strength she had not to scream.

"Oh� gods� Xena," she got out through gritted teeth as she shuddered hard against her. "Ooooooooooh"

"I've got you, Love," the warrior replied softly and held her bard tightly as she trembled, gently stroking the soft skin of her naked back.

"Xena, I love you," said Gabrielle wearily, as she rested her head on Xena's chest.

"Forever," the Warrior Princess replied with a contented smile.

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

So now, Gabrielle was damned frustrated. Xena seemed to have built up a new wall between them� a wall she seemed to breach one minute by kissing her bard and rebuild the next if Gabrielle tried to take the affection further. The bard sighed. *Guess I'm just gonna have to keep trying to seduce her.*

"What do you think, Argo?" Xena asked as she wrapped her arms around her horse's neck. "Do you think she's sufficiently frustrated yet?" Argo nodded her head in agreement and the warrior chuckled softly. "Yeah, me too. Tonight's the night, Girl. I'm gonna make her scream tonight. There's no one out here to hear us."

Xena kissed Argo on the nose and then walked back to where Gabrielle was lying on her bedroll, her blanket tucked around her.

"Gabrielle? You awake?" Xena called softly, suddenly afraid that the bard had fallen asleep on her.

"Mmmm," came the sleepy reply and Xena grinned.

"Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to�" she trailed off as Gabrielle opened her blanket and beckoned for her to sleep beside her. "So now you're a mind reader," Xena went on as she removed her armour and leathers. She lay down next to her lover and covered them both with two blankets but, to Xena's surprise, Gabrielle rolled onto her side with her back to her. "Gabrielle?"

"Hmmm?"

"Wanna come a bit closer?"

The bard smirked inwardly and rolled over to lie on her back, not quite touching her lover. She felt Xena shimmy closer so that they were thigh-to-thigh and then smiled when the warrior's hand moved over her taut stomach muscles.

"Gabrielle?"

"Hmmm?"

"Wanna snuggle?"

Gabrielle just shrugged noncommittally and Xena sighed.

"Ok, I guess I deserve this."

The bard collapsed into helpless laughter.

"You've been doing this to me all week. Now you know how I feel!"

Xena turned onto her side and began to trail tiny kisses along her jawline.

"I'm sorry, Love. I just wanted to get you to the stage where you wanted me so much that it would be wonderful for you."

There was silence between them for a moment and then Gabrielle smiled.

"Xena, Honey, there's something I have to tell you."

"Oh?"

"I feel that way every time I look at you. I've been going crazy over the past week. I've wanted you so much. I actually thought that you were pushing me away out of fear or regret about us sleeping together in the first place."

Xena's face dropped.

"Oh Gabrielle, I'm sorry. I was just teasing. I've wanted you so much all week too. I've been such an idiot. Will you let me make it up to you?"

The bard rolled onto her side and pulled open the laces of her top, exposing her breasts to the warrior's view.

"Oh, I fully intend to make you suffer, My Little Tease," she replied with a sexy smile. With that, she caught Xena's hands and tied them together over her head.

"Um� Gabrielle, I don�t know if�" Xena began as she glanced around her.

"Be quiet. You only speak when I ask you a question. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Xena replied with a smile.

"Yes, what?" the bard said gruffly.

"Yes, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle smiled then.

"Mmmm. Very good, Warrior."

As soon as Gabrielle began removing her clothes, Xena knew she had made a major miscalculation. She had wanted to make Gabrielle scream, but now she found herself tied and helpless, waiting for her lover to make her move�� and found she was loving every minute of it. She trusted her bard with her life and heart. Once Xena's clothes were in a pile on the ground, Gabrielle nibbled lightly on her collar bone, tasting here, licking or sucking there, learning Xena's body with the patience of an artist while driving her medium almost mad with desire at the same time. The warrior writhed slowly under the bard's tender onslaught, feeling her passion flowing like sweet nectar down her thighs, but she moaned with disappointment as Gabrielle moved away from her.

"Gabrielle? What?" she asked but the bard shook her head.

"I'm not done with you yet," she whispered as she slid her quill out of her bag. She tapped it thoughtfully against her cheek and then knelt down beside her prostrate lover.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do," Xena replied in surprise.

"You haven�t said it to me since out first night together." Xena tried to sit up but the bard placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's ok. Just lie still."

"Gabrielle, I love you. I love you so much that everything I do in my worthless life, I do for you. You're my best friend, my lover and my family and I'm never going to leave you."

The laces fell away from Xena's wrists and she gathered her younger lover into her arms.

"I love you too, Xena," Gabrielle replied tenderly as she laid her head on the warrior's chest. She smiled as Xena's hands roamed over her body. "Guess it�s time to make me scream, huh?" she teased.

"You were eavesdropping on me and Argo?" Xena asked incredulously.

"No, I was gathering information," Gabrielle replied in a smug tone and Xena laughed helplessly.

"You tease!" she chuckled.

"Paybacks are a bitch!" the bard replied and then screamed as Xena swooped down on her, tickling her mercilessly. Their eyes locked, lips met and they spent the rest of the night making up for a week's lost time.

The End

No teasing Warrior Princesses or vengeful bards were harmed during the writing of this story. However, Gabrielle's lace from her top went missing, putting her in a very awkward situation until she could get another one. Xena is refusing to admit that she stole it to tie up another smelly warlord.