By Mandie

Disclaimer: The story is purely fictional. I borrowed Xena, Gabrielle, and all the other characters from Xena: Warrior Princess. I don't own them, Renaissance Pictures does.

Since the relationships on the show are so convoluted, I thought I’d add to the confusion. There's really no story here, just rambling. I've tried to tie all the characters into the chain, but as always, there are possibilities of broken links.

Feedback, good or bad would be much appreciated. Please send it to [email protected]

Xena looked at the god facing her, "I'm sorry, I wish I could love you, but I can't"

Ares glanced at the twig that he was holding and tossed it into the bushes. "So this is it? After all that I have done for you, this is good bye?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know what else I could do or say, except I'm sorry."

Ares looked to the other side of the river and saw Gabrielle sitting by the edge of the river listlessly tossing pebbles after pebbles into the running stream. "Is her, isn't it? Is all because of her!"

Xena too was watching Gabrielle. Finally, she nodded.

"Does she love you?"

"I don't know." Xena admitted sadly, "I know she loves me, but I don't think she loves me the way I love her."

"So why?"

"Because I can't help myself." She looked at Ares, willing him to understand, "she is all that I can think about."

"Just as you are all that I could think about."

Xena gave him one last look and walked away, back to the other side, back to Gabrielle.

Meg sat watching Joxer as he watches Gabrielle. "I'm so tired of this. Why am I not enough for you? Why is it always Gabrielle, Gabrielle, Gabrielle?" Finally she pulled Joxer to face her and demanded in anger.

"Meg, you are very special to me." Joxer began.

"But obviously not special enough!" Meg interrupted.

"You make me feel important. Gabrielle has never done that before."

"But you are still obsessed with her, aren't you?"

"Yes, I don't know. I wish I can love you the way you love me, but..."

"But you can't, so what else is there left to say?" Meg said tiredly, got up and walked away.

Joxer wanted to call her back, but since he couldn't give her what she truly wants, there was no point. He sighed and turned his attention back to Gabrielle.

Amarice saw Meg flounced off in anger and followed to catch up with her. "Hey, what's the matter? Had a fight with Joxer?"

"Why are men so stupid?" Meg turned to Amarice and asked. "Why are they always after something that is unattainable? Why can't they simply appreciate the good things in life? A person who cares, a person who truly loves them?"

"I guess it's because men like to chase. It's this game of theirs. Once they caught you, then there's no longer any challenge." Amarice shrugged.

"I'm tired of this Amarice, I can't make this work any more." Meg started to cry.

Amarice looked at Meg, a carbon copy of Xena, and yet so unlike the Warrior Princess. While she admires Xena for the warrior that she is, she admires Meg for the woman that she is. While she appreciates Xena's courage and skills, she appreciates Meg for her sense of humor and unselfishness. She had thought she was in love with Xena, but it only took two minutes with Meg for her to realize what love really is. Unfortunately Meg is in love with Joxer. For the ten thousand times, Amarice wished she never came here, life might have been less interesting, but at least she would not have to suffer this heartache.

Gathering all her courage, she began softly, "Meg, maybe there is someone else out there for you. Maybe you just need to look further. Meg..."

Meg wiped away her tears, "thank you Amarice, but as frustrating as I am, I still love him. I can never leave him. And I know in his own way, he loves me too. It's just that he loves her more even though she doesn't care about him at all."

Amarice felt her heart sank, and bit back the words that she was about to say. Instead she just stood next to Meg and together the two watched Joxer as he watched Gabrielle.

Xena had crossed the river and finally made her way over to Gabrielle. Gabrielle looked up at her and smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "What does he want?"

"The same old thing, how much he loves me, how he wanted us to be together." Xena sat down besides her.

Gabrielle nodded silently. She started to toss the pebbles into the river again. Xena watched for a while and finally stopped her. "Gabrielle, it doesn't matter. I've told him no. Don't let him bother you. I would never leave you for him."

Gabrielle shook her head; "it's really none of my business."

"How could you say that? I just told you, I'm not leaving you."

"And I appreciate that, but I'm not stopping you Xena. If you ever feel the need to leave, please do so. Our friendship will always be the most important thing to me, but it does not tie you down to me."

"Our friendship?" Xena looked at her, unable to conceal her disappointment.

Gabrielle pretended that she didn't notice and smiled, "yes, you will always be my best friend. Even if our lives drift off into different directions, you will always be my friend, and I will always be there for you."

"Okay Gabrielle, I think I know what you are saying."

"Xena, I..."

"Please don't apologize, I don't think I can take that right now." Xena stood up and started to walk away.

Gabrielle wanted to call her back but didn't. She can't offer Xena any false hope. She put her hand over face and took a deep breath, gaining control over her tears. She will not cry. She had promised herself that she would not cry over him again. She glanced back and saw Xena, Joxer, Amarice and Meg all sitting in a circle, surrounded by sadness. She glanced over to the other side of the river and watched as Ares was still sitting there by himself watching their side of the river. She knew whom he was watching. She could feel the tears returning. The tears started to run down her cheeks even as she kept saying to herself over and over again, "I would not cry, I would not cry over him."

The End