Disclaimer: Xena and Gabrielle belong to Renaissance/Universal Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended. This story also contains scenes of sex between two consenting adults of the same gender. If this offends you etc. please don’t read any further.

Dedication: There are so many people who have encouraged and inspired me in my life. I couldn’t possibly name them all. This is for all of them but especially for Sham… and Brit and Nikkoli. Welcome to the world, Little One.

"Xena! There are too many of them!"

The Warrior Princess spun and decapitated the man who was about to plunge his weapon into her back.

"Gabrielle! Get back! Fall back to the river!"

The bard shook her head and ducked an arrow.

"No way! I’m not leaving you!"

Xena pushed her in the direction of the river and caught her eyes briefly.

"Go… please. I’ll be right behind you, I promise." The battle raged around them but the look in Xena’s eyes spoke volumes to her best friend. "I love you, Gabrielle. Now go!"

The bard slid her sais into the holders on her boots and picked up a sword, waving it in the air.

"FALL BACK!" she yelled as loudly as she could. "FALL BACK TO THE RIVER!"

The word passed quickly through the ranks of soldiers fighting around her and they made a hasty retreat. Gabrielle waited until all the men had begun to retreat and then headed away herself but, as she turned to look for her best friend, a cry rose to her lips.

"NO! XENA!"

Time stood still as she saw the tall, raven-haired warrior collapse on the ground, surrounded by the enemy, The Vikings. She saw the men move in on Xena, kicking and punching her prostrate form and took off toward them, her muscular legs carrying her to them with incredible speed. At about four feet from them, she launched herself into the air and landed on top of them, knocking four of them over. They went down in a tangle of limbs and for a split second, Gabrielle saw her best friend’s face… and the blood running from the numerous cuts on it. She felt her own blood boil and she screamed her anger as she extracted herself from the Viking warriors and slaughtered them, one by one. Her sword became an extension of her hand and it moved in a blur of speed as she hacked and slashed, cutting off heads, arms and other body parts that got in her way. All she could think of was getting to Xena, who was very clearly unconscious. Finally, she cleared a path to her friend and shook her gently, her heart pounding in fear.

"Xena, wake up! Please wake up! We have to get out of here and I can’t carry you!"

A pair of piercing blue eyes opened and Gabrielle helped the injured warrior to her feet.

"You came back for me?" Xena asked, confusion evident on her face.

"We can talk about it later. Xena, we have to go," the bard replied, frantically looking around her. "Hades, they’re coming! Xena, run!"

The two women took off and Gabrielle nodded as she saw Xena unhook her chakram. She ducked and the warrior hurled it as hard as she could, taking down most of their pursuers before it flew back to her. She caught it with a twist of her hand and hooked it back at her side.

"Gabrielle, this way," Xena cried and led her friend into some thick foliage. They threw themselves onto the ground and hid, keeping their heads low. Xena moved her hand and placed it gently on her friend’s back, rubbing lightly when she felt her trembling. The Viking warriors crashed through the bushes near to them but continued on, missing them by a hair’s breadth. Xena blew out the breath she had been holding and Gabrielle rested her forehead on her arms, her chest heaving as she tried to calm down.

"Gabrielle," said Xena softly but the bard didn’t look up. "Hey, are you alright?"

Finally the young woman looked at her friend and the tears running down her face shocked Xena. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

"No, I’m ok," the bard replied, wiping a shaking hand across her face and then pushing her short, blonde hair away from her eyes. "I killed them," she whispered.

"I know," Xena replied gently. She had seen the carnage around them as they fled the scene and her heart broke at the look on her soulmate’s face. "Let’s get to safety and then we can talk."

They rose quietly and quickly made their way to where the army was waiting for them. They strode into the makeshift camp and were greeted by the general.

"Thank the gods you’re alive," he said, grasping both their shoulders.

Xena’s eyes narrowed.

"The gods had nothing to do with it," she growled and took Gabrielle’s hand, leading her to a spare tent. Once they were alone, Xena’s shoulders slumped and her face twisted with pain. She almost collapsed but Gabrielle caught her and gently lowered her to the bed.

"Where does it hurt?" she asked, visually checking the warrior’s body.

"Everywhere. I think I broke a couple of ribs," came the breathless reply.

Gabrielle was instantly worried for her friend. Xena never admitted she was in pain and hearing the strained words coming from her lips frightened the bard.

"Let me take a look," she said and stood the warrior up to gently remove her armour. She unlaced Xena’s leathers and Gabrielle winced at the expulsion of a sharp breath that came from the taller woman as she slid them down her body. "Easy," she whispered.

"Yeah," Xena replied and slowly lowered herself to sit on the bed again.

Gabrielle knelt beside her and lifted her shift over her head. Her eyes moved over the warrior’s tanned, muscular body and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat when she saw the numerous cuts and bruises that marred it. Xena’s left eye was swollen almost completely shut and her nose was broken. Gabrielle reached up, touched the jagged cut on her forehead and shook her head gently.

"I think this is going to scar. Oh, Xena, your beautiful face."

She reached out again and cupped her best friend’s cheek but Xena didn’t meet her eyes.

"My face doesn’t matter. I’m alive… thanks to you…"

There was silence between them for a long moment and then Xena heard the muffled sob from her younger friend. She looked up to find Gabrielle’s emerald green eyes tightly shut and her hand covering her mouth. Her shoulders were shaking as she tried to hold back the emotion that threatened to take her down.

"Hey, c’mere," the warrior said softly and Gabrielle moved into her arms, burying her face in her chest and wrapping her arms around her. "Gabrielle, you did what you had to," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "You saved my life."

The bard pulled back a little but didn’t release her hold.

"I almost lost you, Xena. My life wouldn’t be worth living if you weren’t living it with me. I love you."

She buried her face again and breathed in the warrior’s scent, a mixture of sweat, leather and the herbal soap she used everyday.

"I love you too, Gabrielle, but I had to stay, you know that. I couldn’t let the Vikings slaughter those soldiers."

"I’m being selfish, I know," Gabrielle replied. "But we’ve been through too much together to lose each other now."

"You’re not selfish, Gabrielle. Gods, you’re the most unselfish person I’ve ever known. I want you to know that I feel the same way. You’re the best thing in my life and I promise you this. From now on, there’s only one thing that will be more important to me than the greater good and that’s you."

The bard looked up sharply.

"Xena, you can’t make that promise. I’m willing to die fighting with you."

Xena shook her head and smiled.

"You said once that you’d die without me. Well, believe me, I almost died when I thought I’d lost you to Hope in that lava pit and I never want to feel that way again. Gabrielle, I’ll always be here for you. We’re always going to be together."

They held each other for a long time and then Xena lifted her friend’s face to capture her eyes.

"Gabrielle, we need to get cleaned up. We’re both covered in blood. I’ll have one of the soldiers bring us some water."

The bard nodded and released her hold on the warrior. She stood up and ran a hand through her hair. She looked at her hands and realised that they were deeply stained with dried blood. Her legs were splattered too, along with her bare midriff. She sighed and shook her head.

"You stay here and get some rest. I’ll get the water," she said and Xena watched as she walked slowly out of the tent.

"Gabrielle!"

The bard turned slowly and waited for the young man to catch her up.

"Hello, Seraclies," she said with a weary smile.

"I saw you out on the battlefield. You were amazing. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Partly from the Amazons but mostly from Xena. Six years is a long time to be fighting, I guess."

She looked down at her bloodstained body and closed her eyes.

"The killing never gets any easier," she whispered, mostly to herself. "For the first three years I was with Xena, I never took a life. My first kill was the worst experience of my life."

"But Gabrielle, surely there are things that are worth killing for?" the young man asked in surprise.

"NO! No, there is nothing worth killing for!" she snapped angrily but suddenly, she stopped and looked down. "No, I’m wrong. For me there is only one thing I’d kill for without hesitation and that’s Xena."

"You really love her, don’t you?" he said softly.

"Yeah, I do. She’s my best friend and my family. Listen, I have to get some water and get cleaned up. I’ll see you later."

"Uh, ok. I’ll see you later."

The bard had turned and walked a few steps when he suddenly called to her.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes?"

"Will you do me the honour of sharing a meal with me tonight?"

Gabrielle smiled and nodded to him.

"I’d love to."

A huge grin lit the young soldier’s face and he ran off to tell his friends that the Battling Bard of Potedaea had said yes.

Gabrielle returned to her tent a short time later with a large bucket of water to find Xena asleep. She placed the bucket carefully beside the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress, stroking the warrior’s dark hair away from her face. Sleepy blue eyes opened to regard her carefully and Xena smiled as best she could with a broken nose.

"Sorry, I dozed off on you," she said.

"Don’t apologise. You need rest. Let me get you cleaned up and then you can turn in early, ok?"

"Yeah, ok. Gabrielle, listen. I think Seraclies is going to…" She trailed off at the bard’s smile. "Ok, so he already did. What did you say?"

"I agreed to have dinner with him. Gods, Xena, what am I doing? We’re in the middle of a war here."

"You’re being a woman, Gabrielle, something that neither of us has been able to do very often lately. Enjoy it."

The bard smiled and then proceeded to tend to Xena’s wounds, cleaning them out and stitching the worst of them before bandaging them up. She wrapped a long bandage around the warrior’s ribs and winced as Xena gritted her teeth in pain.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry," she whispered but Xena just nodded.

"It’s ok. It’s not your fault. Now, get cleaned up and have some fun. You deserve it."

She dozed lightly as Gabrielle removed her clothes and washed herself from hair to toes. She scrubbed her hands hard to get the blood off them and then used the remaining water to wash the stains from her leather top and skirt. Once she was dry and redressed, she kissed the sleeping warrior on the forehead and went outside to find Seraclies waiting for her. He had cleaned up well himself and she smiled as he offered her a flower.

"It’s not much. I found it nearby," he said apologetically.

"It’s beautiful. Thank you," she replied softly.

They spent a nice evening together and it was very late when they finally reached her tent.

"I had a good time," he said, taking her hand and holding it gently.

"Me too," she agreed with a smile. "Well, I guess we’d better get some sleep. We have another long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Yeah, we do. Well, goodnight, Gabrielle."

"Goodnight, Seraclies."

She turned to enter the tent, but she felt a hand on her shoulder. The hand turned her and Seraclies kissed her gently on the lips. At first she was surprised but then she allowed herself to respond, kissing him back and running her hand through his hair as his tongue slipped between her parted lips. They kissed passionately and then broke apart breathlessly.

"Goodnight," Gabrielle whispered and then ducked into her tent. "Whoa!" she said once she was inside and she heard a soft chuckle.

"You ok?" came a soft voice from the darkness.

"Yeah, I had a really good time."

"Nice guy, huh?"

"He’s great."

"Good kisser?"

"XENA!…" Silence. "Yes, actually."

Xena laughed and got up to sit beside her friend on her bed.

"Want me to make myself scarce for a while?" she asked seriously.

"No, thanks. Not tonight. Maybe… uh… never mind."

"All you have to do is ask. Now, I’m going to get some sleep. We have to be up early."

As the sun rose over the nearby mountain, Xena and Gabrielle strode across the camp. Soldiers were busy making breakfast, sharpening their weapons and talking about tactics for the upcoming battle and Xena found herself lost in memories of her time as a warlord. There had been a time when she would have joined in this conversation or organised sparring sessions with her men but now, she had no interest in it at all. She turned to say something to her friend and saw the smile on her face.

"What’s…? Oh… um… I’ll just go check on the… uh… yeah."

She walked away, exchanging smiles with Seraclies as he passed her on the way to speak with Gabrielle.

"’Morning," he said, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Hi. Did you sleep well?"

"Nope. Couldn’t stop thinking about you."

"That’s so sweet. Listen, Seraclies. Xena and I are going to scout the area so I’ll see you at dinner, ok?"

"Great. I’ll save you a seat," he said with a cheeky grin and she chuckled, shaking her head and tousling her short, blonde hair. "Look, be careful out there," he added.

"I’m always careful," she replied and walked to where Xena was standing, waiting for her. The warrior leaned toward her conspiratorially.

"So?"

"What?"

"What did he say?"

Gabrielle chuckled and hugged the warrior around the waist.

"You know what, Xena?"

"What?" her friend replied, arching her trademark eyebrow.

"Being in love is a good feeling. I haven’t felt it since Perdicus but it’s nice."

Xena took a step back, her face a mask of shock.

"Did you say being in love?"

"Yep. Be happy for me?"

The Warrior Princess pulled her friend into her arms and hugged her tightly.

"I couldn’t be happier for you," she replied. "Now, let’s go see what’s going on with the Vikings."

The scouting trip was relatively uneventful and they returned with only one new wound and that was to Gabrielle’s pride. A boar had charged her from a bush and caused her to fall down a steep hill. She had lots of scratches and a rather nasty bruise on her cheek. Xena had been worried but eventually, the two women had laughed at the absurdity of the whole situation. They returned to the camp and relayed all the information they gathered before going to dinner. Seraclies had saved Gabrielle a seat as promised and sat with his arm around her, much to the annoyance and jealously of his friends. Gabrielle looked at Xena and rolled her eyes, sending the tall warrior into laughter. The bard leaned over and drew her friend close to her.

"Xena, remember what you said about making yourself scarce? Well, I was wondering if…"

Xena nodded quickly.

"I’m gone after dinner. I’ll grab my bedroll and find a nice star to sleep under."

"Thank you," Gabrielle replied sincerely. "You want me to rewrap your ribs?"

"No, I’ve got it, thanks. You have more important things to worry about."

She winked and then returned to her meal, washing it down with some port. The conversation and laughter was raucous at the meal and Gabrielle and Seraclies were able to slip away unnoticed. The bard led him to her tent and sat him on her bed, standing between his knees.

"Seraclies," she said softly. "I haven’t done this in a long time, not since my husband was killed."

"I understand," he replied, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it softly. "Just relax. I won’t hurt you."

"I know," said Gabrielle and allowed him to pull her down onto the bed.

They made love slowly and tenderly and as they lay together in the aftermath of their pleasure, Seraclies kissed his lover on the forehead and whispered soft words to her.

"I love you, Gabrielle."

Next morning, Xena returned to the tent. She pulled back the door flap and looked in, smiling as she found Gabrielle cradled in Seraclies’ arms. She let the flap drop and went to get some breakfast. She was joined by her best friend a few minutes later.

"How are you feeling?" Xena asked with a tiny smile.

"I feel tired… but very good."

"C’mon, Gabrielle. I want details!"

"You’re not getting details," the bard replied and Xena frowned in disappointment.

"Aww please, Gabrielle," she pressed.

The blonde bard rolled her eyes and a quirky grin rose to her face.

"It was amazing, Xena. He was gentle and loving. Gods, it was amazing."

Xena reached over and squeezed her friend’s shoulder.

"I’m glad. You deserve to be happy."

"You know, I am happy. I never thought I’d find another man who was as kind as Perdicus and I’ll always love him but Seraclies is… he’s… perfect."

The friends smiled at each other but they were suddenly interrupted when a soldier ran toward them.

"Xena! They’re coming!"

The Warrior Princess was on her feet in an instant.

"Gabrielle, you know the plan. Get moving."

"I’m there," the bard replied and ran toward her men. "Form ranks! This is it! We’re going to win this!"

The men lifted their swords and cheered and Gabrielle grinned. The plan was in motion and even though she was terrified, she trusted Xena implicitly. She watched as the warrior strode to her men and barked her orders to them. They obeyed them without question and Xena nodded, a glint of anticipation in her eyes. Soon, the men were in position and Xena rode out with Gabrielle to meet the oncoming Viking warriors. The Warrior Princess took in every detail of the warriors. They were dressed thick tunics, boots and bearskins and each one was wearing a large, ornate horned helmet.

"Alright, Gabrielle. Fall back and give the signal when you see me riding back toward you."

"Xena, be careful."

The warrior pinned her friend with a look and grinned.

"I’m always careful," she replied and kicked her horse, taking off toward the oncoming Viking men. "Yahh!"

Xena leapt off her horse onto the nearest warrior, taking him down and punching him out. She drew her sword and fought hard, cutting them down as they came at her. She felt a sting of pain and looked at her arm. There was a deep cut on it and she felt her anger rise. She leapt into the air and flipped, planting a booted foot in the face of a young man. Then she flipped backward and somersaulted back onto her horse.

"Alalalalalalalalalalalala! Cheeeeeeeeeyyyya!"

Once mounted, she unhooked her chakram and let it fly. It sliced through several throats before returning to her outstretched hand.

"Come and get me, Boys!" she yelled and kicked the horse, urging it into a gallop and heading back toward the waiting soldiers. The Vikings charged after her, hurling spears and knives at her back but she kept low and deflected any weapons that threatened to hit her with her chakram.

Gabrielle lifted her arm as she saw Xena speeding toward her.

"Get ready!" she yelled and when the warrior was about thirty feet from her she dropped her arm. "CHARGE!"

The first wave of soldiers charged and engaged the Viking warriors. The battle raged on and Xena and Gabrielle fought hard. The bard held her own against every warrior that attacked her but her eyes suddenly grew wide as she saw the second wave of Viking men join the fighting. She tried to find Xena and saw the warrior flying through the air into a group of fighters.

"Xena!"

The warrior looked around and nodded at the bard and Gabrielle knew what she was to do.

"Fall back!" she yelled and her men immediately retreated, followed closely by the entire Viking army. They reached the end of the valley and Gabrielle picked up a torch and waved it high in the air. All of a sudden, there was a deafening roar and two battalions of soldiers appeared from behind the trees on both sides of the Viking army. They ran down the hill and engaged the enemy, catching them in a pincer type movement and crushing them quickly. Soon, the battle was over and the surviving Viking warriors were captured.

"I’m sorry, Xena."

The tall warrior nodded her thanks and watched as the soldier walked away.

"Hey!"

"Gabrielle… uh… hi," the warrior replied as her friend approached.

"We did it. We beat them," said the bard enthusiastically.

"Yeah, we did."

Gabrielle looked around and then met her friend’s eyes.

"Have you seen Seraclies?"

Xena looked down and then took Gabrielle’s hand, leading her to a rock and sitting her down on it. She took a seat beside her and stroked her cheek.

"Xena, what is it? What’s wrong?"

"Gabrielle, I’m so sorry. Seraclies is dead."

There was a stunned silence for a long moment and then Gabrielle shook her head.

"No, he can’t be dead. He promised that he’d meet me here after the battle. He probably just got tied up with…"

The young bard trailed off at the look on her soulmate’s face. Her hand moved to her mouth and her breath caught but she stood up suddenly.

"No, he’s not dead. I’m going to find him!" she said angrily.

Xena caught her arm and pulled her back.

"Gabrielle…" she began but the bard pulled away from her.

"Let me go, Xena," she warned in a low voice as the warrior took her arm again.

"Gabrielle, listen to me. They brought his body in. It was too late to do anything to save him. He was already dead."

"NO! I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!" the bard screamed and went to pull away again but Xena pulled her into her arms and held her tightly. Gabrielle tried to free herself, resorting to beating her fists against the warrior’s brass breastplate but Xena held on and eventually, the younger woman collapsed into sobs, burying her face in her tall friend’s chest.

"Sshhh, it’s ok. Everything’s going to be ok," Xena crooned, rocking her gently.

"This isn’t happening," Gabrielle whispered and tightened her hold on her friend.

"He died bravely, Gabrielle."

"Oh gods, Xena, not again. Please not again. I can’t do this again."

"You’re not alone. I’m here for you. I always will be. I love you, Gabrielle."

They stood in silence, holding onto each other for a long time and then Gabrielle moved away, wiping her hand over her tear streaked face.

"I’m going for a walk, Xena. I need to be alone."

Before the warrior could protest, she turned and ran into the nearby trees.

"I’m sorry, Gabrielle, I can’t let you be alone," Xena whispered and then went after her, afraid of what she might do. She followed unobtrusively and watched from high in a tree as Gabrielle knelt down on one knee and lowered her head.

"Seraclies, I know you can hear me. We had such a short time together but I love you so much. It’s been amazing over the past few weeks. You were my friend and then you were my lover and I had hoped that someday you would have been my husband."

Tears ran down Xena’s face as she heard these words and she slowly climbed down the tree and approached her best friend, the woman who meant more to her than anything.

"Gabrielle," she said softly. "I’m sorry. I had to come…"

"Xena?"

"Yes?"

"Every time I get close to someone, I seem to cause them pain or death. Am I destined to never to find love?"

Xena shook her head and knelt down beside her friend.

"That’s not true, Gabrielle. You bring joy and happiness to everyone you meet. I should know. We’ve been together for six years now and I’ve loved every minute of it. As for being destined to find love… we make our own destinies, Gabrielle. You know that better than anyone. And I know one thing for certain. You have my love forever."

Gabrielle gazed into her friend’s eyes and then moved close to her, leaning her head against her shoulder. Xena pulled her closer still and held her as she sobbed out her grief.

"Let’s get some sleep, Gabrielle. We can talk more in the morning." They stood up and walked back to the camp. Xena wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders and Gabrielle held the warrior around the waist.

Xena woke early as usual the next morning. She felt a strange weight against her and looked down to find Gabrielle asleep with her head resting on her shoulder and her arm draped over the warrior’s leather clad stomach. Xena had removed her armour and held her friend as she drifted off, her tears still glistening on her beautiful face. The warrior’s heart broke as the bard stirred and her face twisted with pain. She woke suddenly and looked up at her soulmate.

"For a minute there, I could have pretended that it didn’t happen," she said in a shaky voice.

"I know but, Gabrielle, hiding from your feelings will only hurt you more. I should know. I did it for years."

"Xena, my heart is broken. I love him so much."

"Hey, it’s ok. Everything’s going to be ok."

"No, it’s not. Nothing will be the same again. When Callisto killed Perdicus, I had no control over it. Xena, I could have stopped this but I wasn't there. I wasn't there when he needed me."

"You couldn’t have known what was going to happen. You're not a seer, Gabrielle."

"No, I'm not, but I could have stopped this. I should have had him fighting with me."

"It's not your fault, Gabrielle. Please don’t do this to yourself. I can’t stand to see you like this."

"No, Xena. From now on, there's no holding back. I won’t be asking myself whether killing is the right thing or not, I'm just going to react and gods help anyone who gets in my way."

Xena suddenly grabbed her arms and shook her hard.

"Do you hear what you're saying?" she cried angrily. "You're saying exactly the same thing that I said sixteen years ago! What's next? A group of men? An entire army? Gabrielle, by the gods, will you listen to me. You got me off that path and now you're stepping onto it yourself! I won't let you do it!"

The bard pulled back the covers and jumped out of the bed.

"Who are you to tell me what to do, Xena? You who've killed so many! You're nothing but a hypocrite!"

She pulled on her boots and slid her sais into them. Xena stood up as well as her injured ribs allowed and reached out to the bard.

"Gabrielle, please," she said but the young woman turned cold angry eyes on her.

"Stay away from me!"

She stormed out of the tent and ran to where her horse was hitched to a tree. She mounted quickly and rode away from the camp… and the friendship of her life. Xena lay down on her bed and the tears came. It was all over. The person that meant everything to her had walked out of her life without even a backward glance.

The Warrior Princess chose a quiet table in the deep shadows of the tavern bar. She knocked back a mug of port and then poured another from the large jug beside her. She was exhausted from many days of travel but she was emotionally drained too. Her blue eyes were dull and lifeless and her face was thin and gaunt, yet her instincts were sharp and lethal. She let her mind wander and it came, as she knew it would, to her best friend. She lowered her eyes and stared into her mug as the memories made her smile and cry simultaneously. Her heart was aching. Sometimes it was so bad that she wanted to rip it out of her chest but she went on. Four years, gods, four years without Gabrielle. Almost as long without her than she was with her but yet she remembered every detail of the young woman's face… her smile, her frown, the way her eyes lit up when a new story came to her. Xena choked back a sob and stood up. She secured a room for the night and wearily climbed the stairs to face another night of crying herself to sleep and then terrible nightmares.

Gabrielle dismounted and hitched her horse outside a small tavern. She was a regular here, having told stories in this bar many times over the previous four years and she knew she would be welcomed. The gods knew, she needed it. She was so exhausted that she decided to forgo dinner and go straight to bed. She secured a room for the night and climbed the stairs slowly, barely having the strength the put one boot in front of the other. The bard locked her door behind her and flopped down on the bed, lacing her fingers behind her head and sighing deeply. She let her mind wander and it came, as she knew it would, to the Warrior Princess, the best friend she had ever had. She cursed herself for the millionth time for throwing that away and began to cry. She turned over, buried her face in her pillow and sobbed.

Next morning, Gabrielle came downstairs for breakfast. She sat quietly at a table in the shadows and chewed on some bread and cheese, which she washed down with a mug of cider. She got up and walked to the bar to get another drink. The innkeeper greeted her and she smiled pleasantly as he made idle conversation.

Xena came downstairs to get some breakfast. She walked to the bar but was distracted by one of the serving women. She smiled at her and kept walking but unfortunately didn’t notice the person walking toward her. She bumped into them and took a step back.

"Gods, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there."

Gabrielle turned away from the bar and carried her full mug back toward her table. She was so intent on trying not to spill it that she didn’t see the person coming toward her. She bumped into them and looked up.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there."

Both women froze when they realised who the other was.

"Xena?"

"Gabrielle?"

There was a stunned silence between them after that but the warrior was unsure if the bard still meant what she had said back at the camp four years previously.

"I didn’t know you were staying here," she said softly. "I can leave. I’ll just get my things."

She turned to walk away but Gabrielle took a step forward and reached out to her.

"Xena, wait!"

The warrior slowly turned back to her friend and, just as slowly, took the hand that was stretched out toward her, entwining their fingers. She felt Gabrielle squeeze back in response and suddenly, the bard was in her arms, holding her fiercely around the waist as tears ran down both of their cheeks.

"I missed you," Gabrielle whispered as she nuzzled the soft skin of the warrior’s throat.

"I missed you too," came the hoarse reply. "More than you’ll ever know."

"Xena, I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it but time passed and I didn’t know how to come back to you."

"You were hurting, Gabrielle. I shouldn’t have got mad at you."

"You were right, Xena. You were trying to stop me from making a huge mistake. I didn’t step onto that path in the end because of what you said to me."

"Let’s go upstairs and talk in private, Gabrielle," Xena said as she realised that people were staring. She led her friend by the hand up to her room. They sat down on the bed and gazed at each other, neither woman knowing what to say but finally, Gabrielle reached up to touch her friend’s forehead.

"It didn’t scar," she said softly.

"No, you did a great job of sewing it up," Xena replied with a tender smile. She stroked the bard’s short blonde hair away from her eyes and then drew her closer to kiss her on the forehead. "I’ve done nothing but think about you during the past four years, Gabrielle. Not only about you but also about us and about how much you mean to me. I need to speak my heart. I love you, Gabrielle."

"Oh, Xena. I was so angry with you when I rode away from camp but it was months later when I realised it wasn't you I was angry with, it was myself. I saw the look on your face when I told you I loved Seraclies and I realised that it was the same look as when I told you I was going to marry Perdicus. You never said anything. You let me follow my heart while yours was breaking, didn’t you?"

Xena looked down and sighed but the bard hooked a finger under her chin and raised the warrior’s face so she could gaze into the piercing blue eyes she loved so much.

"Xena, loving me hasn’t been easy, has it?"

"No," the warrior admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But being here with you now, whether you return my love or not, makes it all worthwhile."

Gabrielle pulled her close and ran her fingers through the warrior’s long, dark hair before gently pulling her head down. Xena rested her head on her friend’s shoulder and the bard kissed her on the forehead.

"I want you to know something," she whispered. "I do return your love, Xena. I think I’ve always loved you. I’ve just been too blind to see it. I’m twenty-eight years old and I’ve just realised that I could have spent ten of them making love to you."

Xena raised her head and smiled.

"Gabrielle, we have a lifetime together. Let’s not waste it."

"No," the bard whispered and Xena leaned in to kiss her. They moaned simultaneously and Xena felt Gabrielle’s tongue run slowly over her upper lip seeking silent permission to enter. The warrior parted her lips and the bard’s tongue slid slowly in, probing gently. Xena felt a fire erupt within her and she pulled Gabrielle closer, deepening the kiss and thrusting her tongue to meet her lover’s. The kiss became impassioned and they were no longer able to take things slowly. A lustful urgency took over as ten years of desire asserted itself.

"Get this off!" Gabrielle cried as she tugged on the warrior’s leathers. Xena released the catches on her armour and dropped it on the floor with a loud clang. They resumed their kissing and Gabrielle fingers quickly opened the laces on her leathers, pulling them from her body. She lifted the warrior’s shift off over her head and latched onto her breasts, sucking and licking her nipples. Xena tipped her head back and moaned as the bard nails ran down her throat and the moist warmth of Gabrielle’s mouth on her breasts drove her wild with desire. She pushed the bard away and pulled her clothes off. She removed their boots and then they sank back onto the bed. Their lovemaking was fiery and passionate and they cried out loudly as their releases ripped through them, leaving them exhausted and trembling. Xena buried her face in her lover’s sweet smelling hair and sobbed her heart out and Gabrielle held her tightly, stroking her back and cradling her head.

"It’s ok, Love," she whispered. "I have you. Gods, I finally have you."

Her own tears came and she thanked whoever it was who brought them back together.

Hours later, Gabrielle awoke. She opened her emerald green eyes and smiled as she watched her lover sleep. She was cradled in Xena’s arms with her head resting on her shoulder and she closed her eyes briefly, relishing the contact of their skin. She tightened her grip on the warrior’s rib cage and then felt her stir.

"Gabrielle," Xena whispered and then smiled in her sleep.

"Gods, I love you," the bard whispered, even though she knew Xena wouldn’t hear her.

"I love you too," came the husky reply and Gabrielle looked up into piercing blue eyes full of love and gentleness. "Don’t ever leave me again, Gabrielle… please, I can’t be without you."

"I’ll never leave you, Xena. I promise."

The Warrior Princess smiled and pressed her lover’s head back down onto her shoulder.

"I’m going to hold you like this forever," she said and felt the chuckle move through her soulmate’s body.

"We’re going to get pretty hungry," Gabrielle teased.

"I’m already hungry… for you."

"Oh yeah? Well, let me satisfy you," the bard replied and kissed her lover deeply. It was nearly dawn before they finally lay spent and contented in each other’s arms.

The End