Disclaimer: While the characters of Xena, Gabrielle, Dr. Janice Covington, Dr. Melinda Pappas, Callisto, and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. All other characters, the story itself, and the story line are the sole property of this author and may not be copywritten. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

Love/Sex/Warning Disclaimer: This story has graphic language, graphic depictions of sex scenes of adult, consenting women who love each other, and other horrifying things such as rape, violence, and other stuff that may trigger emotional waves for those of us who have been molested, sexually abused or raped in the past, you might not want to read this, or you might want to take precautions, or if this is not your cup of tea, or you are under the age of 18, I suggest you try something a little more subtle. This story may not be for you.

Author’s Note: This story takes place in the 1940’s, in various locations of the world. This story also takes place a few months after the incident at Macedonia and the recovery of the Xena Scrolls.

On a more personal note: I’d like to thank those that have encourage me to continue writing this story, although I didn’t think that it would be possible. First, I would like to give thanks to a very special Gabrielle that has become a new friend, and an inspiration, GabTBard/GabTheBard63 (if you get the chance, you must read some of her stories, they’re great!) Next, I’d like to thank my soul sister, Shane, another Gabrielle, for being envious of my one week in Puerto Rico, next year my sister. I’d also like to thank the one who is always by my side, no matter how stupid the idea may be, my lover, friend, roommate, partner, who is there for me through thick and thin, Meri, for putting up with my obsessions of Xena and Gabrielle (I love you, my papi). So, sit back, relax, enjoy this little tale, and let me know what y’all think. (and nothing nasty, please.) Thank you.

The Other Blonde

By Grace (a.k.a. maniaclez, a.k.a. maniaclez7, a.k.a. gmedina710)

1999

It would seem more than just the thought of her leaving that made her feel this empty. Was she to know just how much she needed this woman? How could she? She didn’t feel worthy of such a love as she did each time they touched, each time they passed in the hallway, each time they glanced at each other from any distance.

Finally, she mustered the courage to speak to this woman, whom she so admired, and desired secretively. “Dr. Janice Covington. I do declare. How have you been?”

“Howya doin’, Mel? Long time no see. You’re looking just as lovely as you did last time I saw you,” as she saw how radiant this southern creature looked with the afternoon sun upon her nicely tanned, yet smooth skin. This made Melinda blush oh so slightly. Janice had so longed for her since the time they parted after finding the scrolls. Whatever news Mel had for her didn’t matter. It was a great excuse for them to be together.

She grasped Janice’s wrist strangely tight, and tugged her to follow her to the street in front of the library where they would see each other often, but never really attempt to bump into each other.

“I've been meaning to talk to you for some time,” lowing her voice and crouching down just enough to barely whisper it in the archeologist’s ear, “Is there some place where we can talk in private?”

“Mel, what’s going on? This sounds urgent.”

“Well, actually it is. There’s something we must discuss, and it just can’t wait another moment.” Finally, she will have her moment with Dr. Janice Covington and not only tell her about what she’s discovered, but also to find out why Janice left so abruptly when they had gone back to Mel’s place after discovering the scrolls to then translate.

Fearful that she might be over playing it a bit, she gave Janice a smile and a wink, and tugged on her arm, pulling her to the curb in front of the university library where they found each other and hauled a cab. “I don’t care where we go, just get us there, and fast.”

Melinda Pappas’ voice was now showing her true urgency. Janice told the driver, “Take us to the Regent.” As she shut the door, she realized that another woman,, also tall and slender, hiding some of her blondes underneath a fedora was attempting to catch the next cab. Luckily, some other girl was hailing a cab and decided to fight for this one. Mel, looking behind them saw the intensity on the blonde woman’s face as the other cab took off in disgust of the bickering for it and decided not to wait for the police to break it up. For some reason, the face was familiar, but Janice couldn’t put a finger on it.

“Mel, what the hell is going on here? And who was that blonde?”

“Janice, I know as much as you do. I only know that we have to talk, and it must be today. There isn’t much time to fill you in on the details, but we might have to leave for Egypt in the morning. That is, if you have your passport on you, then we can leave as soon as you get some of your things together.” Melinda was exhausted, trying so hard to grasp her breath, her fist was closed, over her chest, just between her breasts, feeling her own heartbeat and quickened breath.

“Melinda Pappas. What in the world is going on? Take a deep breath and relax until we get to the hotel.” With this, Janice reached down for Mel’s hands. They were trembling to the point where archeologist couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She kept her eyes on Mel, hoping to calm her shuddering from getting out of control, suspicious of what was going on, she kept looking behind them, then reassuring Mel that they weren’t being followed. “It isn’t safe to talk right now. It’ll have to wait till later, while we’re on our way to the airport.” Still looking back behind the cab, “we must get back to my house. I may have uncovered something big. I just need for you to help me with it.” Now Dr. Covington’s curiosity was peeked to the point where the expression on her face allowed Melinda to notice her exquisite features without being noticed.

As they got off the elevator to Janice’s floor, both looking in either direction, she motioned for Mel to follow her. As she got to her room, she slid the key that she picked up from the front desk in the door lock and opened the door. It was evident that somebody had been searching through her room. Everything was turned upside down, inside out, slashed, torn, and shredded, with the exception of some of Janice’s clothing. “What in blazes in going on here?!? Mel, what have you gotten into now? What did you discover that has someone tearing at everything in my room?”

“Janice, all I can say is that it’s big, I mean, really big. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there were someone willing to kill for this. But, we can’t talk about it now. I don’t trust anyone, anywhere for anything. It’s best we wait. I'll explain some of it in the cab. Just get what you need. We can always go shopping for new clothes when we get back.” The calmness and security of Melinda's voice was somewhat reassuring to her, but couldn’t make imagine just how big this discovery was, since the time she discovered the scrolls. What could be more important than discovering the scrolls? Dr. Janice Covington was at a loss for words, for once, and could hardly believe the turn of events from just a couple of hours ago after a greeting from Melinda Pappas. What exactly was going on? – she wondered.

After gathering her things at the hotel, they went downstairs to the lobby, and walked outside to hail a cab. As they were leaving, Janice looked back to see the blonde had followed them. But, as they pulled away, the blonde was stepping out, not noticing the pair of archeologists were just leaving until her own cab had pulled out as well. Janice noticed the blonde stomp her foot in protest of just missing them again. “Mel, you had better fill me in on what’s going on. And who is that blonde?” she said with such protest of this person who was not only following them, but upset that she missed the girls, again.

“I don’t know, Janice. But, ever since my latest discovery, she’s appeared out of now where and I could swear I've seen her before, I just can’t remember from where,” her face showing a suspicious expression. With a look of concern for their safety, Mel tells her, “It’s better we don’t talk just yet, I really don’t trust anybody at this point.” She looked back to see the rage in the face of the blonde and cringed to the site. Janice saw her shiver and took Mel’s hands and held them tightly in her own. Mel looked right into her eyes at this and smile while her face turned a rosy blush. Thinking to herself, - she could always make me feel safe when she’s around.

The trip to the airport wasn’t too long, and within fifteen minutes of their arrival, were boarding the plane. Even in those fifteen minutes, Melinda was able to tell most of what Janice needed to know at that time.

Everything was going well throughout the trip back to Mel’s house in the south. All was well until they arrived at the front door to see that it was jimmied open. Cautiously, they walked in. Janice had her trusty gun handy, just for precaution. As they walked in, they could smell smoke, smoke from a cigar. It seemed to be coming from the living room. In the reclining chair, sat a figure of a women, with a fedora, her head tilted down, cigar in her left hand. “Well, it’s about time you two showed up. What took you so long?” She tilted her head up. It was the blonde.

“How did you get in? You’re very lucky you didn’t break my door, or, or,…” the words escaped Mel as the blonde rose to her feet, standing just as tall as she. – who are you? I, too, know you from somewhere – she thought to herself.

Janice, on the other hand, pointed the gun to the abdomen of this blonde intruder. “And where do you think you’re going? Mel, go call the cops.”

“I assure you, Dr. Covington, I'm not here just for the hell of it. I'm here because Dr. Pappas here has something that I want. And what I want, I get. Even if it does mean waiting here an eternity to get it back.” She had a very determined look about her, although she grinned a wicked little grin at the girls. As she took off her fedora, flinging it behind her to rest on the mantle over the fireplace, she came within inches of the gun. Over looking Janice she said, “why, if it isn’t the spittin’ image of that irritating, little blonde, Gabrielle. How in the world could she have such an identical decedent of her.”

With this, Janice backed away half a foot and practically turned as pale as a ghost. “Whatever do you mean by that?” were Melinda's words as she looked up and down at Dr. Covington. “And how would you know? Who are you, and what do you want from me? What could I possibly have that you would follow us all this way for?” Wait a minute – she thought – I bet I know exactly what she wants, but don’t thinking I'm giving it up as easy as you say. “Did you think by just showing up that I would give it to you without a fight?”

“Actually, my warrior look-a-like, yes. By the gods, I can’t believe how both of you look so much like them. My, my, my.” The blonde just not yet ready to reveal her true identity. She moved over towards Melinda, reaching for her glasses to see behind the frames, then reaching behind her head to let that luscious, raven hair down. Then, she backed away to get a full picture of her. “I can’t tell you what it’s like to see the striking resemblance’s in both of you.”

Janice, still with the gun in hand, “who are you, and what the hell is it that you want? And what do mean by ‘the striking resemblance’s in both of us’?” Puzzled by this woman, she wondered more and more about where she might have seen this woman before today.

“Well, if you must know, how about some drinks first. We’ll sit down and have ourselves a quaint little chat. Just the three of us. Almost like old times.” Looking over at Janice, “and I can’t believe you still have the gabby traits.” Looking away as if annoyed, “still the talkative one, I see.” The girls where just intrigued by this figure of a woman who hadn’t even told them her name.

“My name is Callisto.” Both girls shuttered at this revelation. Remembering that name from one of the Xena scrolls turned Melinda's stomach. Janice, still holding the gun out in plain view, couldn’t believe her ears.

“You mean to tell me that you are that Callisto? The one that killed Perdicus, Gabrielle’s first husband? But, I thought Xena killed you when she thought Gabrielle was dead? Are you still a goddess?” Janice was filled with questions, and didn’t get the answers fast enough.

“Well, yes, sort of, and no. Actually, I'm now just a demigoddess. I've been subjected to live this life for eternity and I want the location of my sword before I rip you both to shreds. And don’t think I wouldn’t think twice about it,” she said as she stared Mel down to the core of her eyes.

They couldn’t believe their ears, nor their eyes from remembering the depictions of what Gabrielle wrote about this demigoddess. Mel was more so surprised because she didn’t even mention to Janice that it was indeed a sword that her father had discovered long ago and kept in one of the panels of a wall in the house.

“Oh, and one more thing. I understand that you also know where Xena’s chakram is? Well, I want that too.” Melinda took a step back, almost tripping over the arm of the recliner behind her. The shock on her face was more than Janice could imagine. Is this true? – she wondered – that Mel could know where Xena’s chakram is and not even tell me about it?

“What makes you think I have it, or that I know where it is, or that I would ever divulge that information to you?” as she tried so desperately to remain as calm as possible, and hide the uneasiness on her face.

Callisto got up and strutted over to Dr. Pappas, slowly raised her hand, taking the back of her neck under that raven hair and pulled her close. She kissed the stunned Mel, wrapped her arm around the archeologists waist to press their bodies close, to where she was panting. The hand that was around Mel’s neck was now in front, slowly starting to squeeze harder. Mel was beginning to panic as she felt some of the life being squeezed out of her as she was running out of air. Janice’s first instincts were to shoot this bitch in the leg, then beat her to bloody pulp. Instead, she walked up behind her, placed the gun at the base of her skull, and cocked the gun.

“If you want to live another second, you will take your hands off her and step away,” her inexplicable anger was gnawing at her. She felt herself flush and her heart sink at the mere thought of losing Melinda Pappas to some blonde broad who came out of nowhere. She could do all but contain herself. What am I doing? – she thought to herself.

Callisto could do all but contain herself as she started to laugh, so she pulled away slightly from Melinda's mouth and turned to this butch of a little girl. “I'm a demigoddess, my dear little one. What makes you think that by shooting me would make me just go away?”

As soon as she said that, Janice pulled back and whacked her at the base of her head. Callisto fell to the floor with an almost heavy thud and slight tremble to objects on the mantle over the fireplace. “There. That ought to calm her for a bit.” Janice took off her hat and flung it across the room to the hook by a mantle where it hung. She had asked Mel to get some rope while she watched over this “demigoddess,” just in case she should wake up and would have to knock her unconscious again.

As Melinda came back with the rope, Janice started to tie Callisto’s hands behind her, then propped her on a chair and proceeded to bind her to it. “I don’t understand it. I don’t think you should have hit her like that. I mean, with her being a…”

“…a demigoddess. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Mel, she was going to hurt you more if I didn’t interfere. What was I supposed to do? Let her?!” Concern and anger ran across her face. She could no longer hide her feelings for the taller woman.

Melinda, hearing the sobriety and anger of passion in the archeologist’s voice, could only smile, - is this true? Could it be that she does feel as much for me as I do for her? – Her thoughts rambled on in secret ecstasy over that acknowledgement made with such conviction. Her heart fluttered at this joyous surprise. “No, I suppose not. So, what are we going to do with her now? And what do I do about what I've discovered?”

“Don’t worry about it for now. Did you bring the smelling salt too?”

“Yes. Here it is.” She handed her the smelling salt, knowing that Janice wanted to find out what this woman was up to, if she was indeed a demigoddess, or if this was just someone after Melinda's discovery. In any case, Janice was not about to take any chances.

Before she opened the bottle, she turned to this tall figured, beautiful woman whom she knew she cared about but not as much as she was feeling at that moment of rage against this demigoddess. She stood up, raising her hand to reach up and caress Melinda's face and neck. Seeing that there was some markings of Callisto’s hand print on it, “I'm sorry I didn’t get to you in time or quicker to stop this before she hurt you.” A tear welled up in her eyes – am I really falling for her all over again? What is wrong with me? Okay, think Janice, she’s straight, you’re not her type. You’re not her type. – was all she could think of repeating to herself not knowing if Mel felt the same way or not. She never did mention that she cared for the company of other woman. All her company ever really consisted of were men. Ugh, she was furious at herself for letting her friend see her like this.

Melinda saw the tear fall as Janice turned away from her sight and pulled her back to her. She embraced her friend, then, most unexpectedly, she kissed Janice, on her lips. She pulled back just a little to look into her friend’s eyes only to see them shut. Just as Janice opened her eyes again, she kissed her full on the mouth, as Janice opened her mouth with full invitation. Both could feel their blood beginning to boil as they pressed each other’s body as close as physically possible, until they heard this other voice.

“Ahem. Will this mushy stuff ever end? Can you stop that for just one millenium???? And would you just untie me already?”

“Why? So you can hurt her again. I don’t think so.” She said in a soft tone. With gun in hand, she pointed it to this woman’s temple and cocked it again. “I want you to understand something very clearly. You lay another hand on her and I will make sure you stay dead, demigoddess or not.”

“That has always been your way. Just like Gabrielle. Always protecting your warrior princess.” She laughed, considering the circumstances, “okay, maybe just a princess. It seems to me the warrior has rubbed off on Gabrielle’s little descendant.” She said it with a slight, high pitched laugh attached.

With that, Janice’s rage got the better of her for that moment as she charged at Callisto. The demigoddess, hands already loose from their restraints, grabbed Covington by her shirt and belt and flung her clear across the room where her body hit the back wall. As she fell to the floor, her head hit the corner of an end table knocking her unconscious.

Melinda was caught with her back against the door frame. Shocked at the turn of events, she couldn’t find a way to make her body move. Callisto leaned one hand against the door frame by the tall woman’s head and leaned her body closer to Xena’s descendant. “You, y.., you can’t do this.” Her face showing signs of fear. The blonde’s brown eyes seductively captivating those of the blue eyed beauty. The fear giving Callisto a sense of power.

Oh, how I have waited to see what fear looked like on your face, and see it in your eyes. “Oh, but I can do this.” She moved her left to feel Melinda's thigh. Working her way up she lifted the skirt up around her waist. Melinda tried pushing her away, only to be pushed harder against the door frame. Callisto moved in, holding the woman’s head by her hair, kissing her with an unbelievable feeling of rage and passion, a dark and thirsty desire needing to be quenched. She would stop fighting this only to pray that Janice would regain consciousness and save her from this torment.

The demigoddess, kneading Melinda's cheeks, reached for the waist band of her panties, bringing them down below the cheeks, exposing her. Callisto’s leg was between hers, slowly grinding her pelvic bone into her center. She was so frightened, she could feel her juices flowing down between her legs. As Callisto realized this, she took both of Melinda's hands, raising them above her head, holding them tight in her right hand. Her left hand was free to explore this wetness. She moved her hand down below the panty line that still covered her center. Parting her way through dark curls, her fingers skillfully parted her way into the woman’s sex. Feeling the slickness, she easily found the nub. Melinda was moaning more in her excited state. Callisto began rubbing the clit with her thumb while her other finger easily slid inside. The demigoddess could feel her anxiousness as Melinda's muscles tightened around her fingers.

Just as Dr. Pappas was reaching her climax, she heard her Janice scream. Then, she felt a strong breeze whiz by her, and the force of her attacker moving away from her. Janice had regained consciousness. In getting up, she saw what Callisto was doing to her lover, *lover? Where did that come from? * “Noooooo!!!” she could hear herself scream. She rushed to push the other blonde away from her, knocking her into a table in the hallway by the stairs. The table broke, and Janice grabbed one the legs as she got up on her knees and started whacking at Callisto’s head. Once again, the demigoddess was unconscious as well.

Janice spun around to see Melinda in such a state of shock, her clothes torn, her tears streaming down her face. “Mel, I am so, so very sorry. Please tell me I wasn’t out too long.” She took off her jacket and placed it around Mel’s chest, covering her up a bit from seeing her shivering. I hope it’s just that she cold and not reacting to what just happened. Of course, this was just her wishful thinking.

This brought on a rage in her eyes that Mel had never seen before. She reached out to her held on to her as if her life depended on it. “please, Janice. Hold me. Hold me and don’t let go.”

She brought the tall woman closer to her. Feeling her friend’s body shift as if she were going to fall, she wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist and firmly supporting her back, she brought her down to the floor. “It’s gonna be okay, Mel. Just, just sit down right here, for now. Everything will be fine now. Don’t worry. I won’t let her touch you ever again.”

ššššššš

Melinda Pappas had gone through having someone take advantage of her before. Marcus, a boy about seventeen lived in her neighborhood, while on his way home had spotted her. His house was closer than hers, and in between there was a dense enough forest where they would not be seen. He thought he’d take the opportunity to sweet talk the girl, fourteen at the time, into maybe just a kiss. He was a tad bit taller than her, already showing signs of a well formed, muscular body.

“Hey, Mel. Wait up.” He saw this would be the most opportune time to make his move.

The young Mel stopped short then turned around, “hey, Marcus. What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing really. I just thought you’d be interested in something I found last week in the woods, right here in our own backyards.” His voice was enthusiastic and sharp.

Sounding slightly inquisitive of just what he might have to tell her, “oh, really? Well, prey do tell what is so exciting and new that I was totally unaware of something that would be discovered in our own backyards.”

“Well, you’ll have to follow me in to find out. It was much too heavy for even my dad to pick up. Come on. I'll show you the way.” He extended his has to her guiding her to a danger she was unsuspecting of. This imminent danger would come all too swiftly.

As they were too far in for anyone to hear her screams, she decided not to for fear of her own life if this boy would do something more terrible than she already knew was coming. She could the lust in his eyes. The hunger of wanting something so bad that he would take with or without permission. Without any further words, he took her in a way she never wanted to be taken, at least not by him.

When it was all over, he got up off of her, made himself presentable, then walked away, leaving Melinda on the ground amongst the fallen leaves by some big tree. The young girl got dressed, cleaned herself off, then sat there and cried for about a half an hour before she found the strength to get up off the ground and head for home.

ššššššš

Callisto started to regain consciousness and decided it would be a good if she made a hasty departure before the irritating blonde could realize she was up on her feet again. So, in a flash, she was gone. And all that remained were the remnants of their short battle.

“Janice. Look! She’s getting away.” Glad that Callisto left them, but worried when she’d return to torment them some more, she clenched onto Covington’s shirt and pulled her in close. “Oh, Janice. I am so sorry. It’s all my fault. I should have known better. I'm sorry I didn’t come to your rescue right away, like the way you usually do for me. I'm sorry.”

“Hush, now. And don’t you be sorry for something that clearly wasn’t your fault!! I'm here now. I'm not about to let you out of my sight, Mel. Don’t you worry.” She wrapped her arms around her tall friend, and held her tight. She could feel Melinda snuggling up into her embrace, and lay her head atop Janice’s breast, also wrapping her long arms around the small waist of her friend.

Melinda needed to go to her room to change her clothes. Janice, without another word, followed directly behind her. ‘I should have never let Janice leave the way she did. I'm sure she was upset with me.’ She thought to herself as they went up the stairs, walked down the hall, then entered her room.

Janice moved over to the window on the far side of the bed that lay in the middle of the room. Looking outside, in the back yard, she looked for any signs of anything out of place from the last time she was there. Nothing was moved since her last visit. She turned slightly to see Melinda as she bent over in her direction, putting on a solid black skirt. She had just put on another bra, and her breasts were showing their softness as she straightened herself again, Janice slightly blushed. She could feel her face flush as her heart began to race with desire to bury her head on Mel’s chest once again. She felt the cravings turn her stomach seeing this magnificent body, but held back as the memory washed over her like a tidal wave of what had just happened downstairs. The taller woman then found a white-collard, short-sleeve blouse, and the black blazer that was the other piece of her suit.

“How long was I out for?” she whispered, not wanting to hear her friend’s answer.

A short period of silence told her she might have been out longer than Mel wanted to admit to. In a more quiet, yet forceful tone, “how long was I out for, Mel? Please tell me.”

“Janice, is was a short time. Oh, I don’t know exactly how long. She didn’t really do much at all.”

“Mel, she held your hands up in the air with one hand while she was fucking you with the other and kissing you all over. And you think that wasn’t much at all?? I'm sorry I didn’t get up quicker. It’s my fault for trying to charge her instead of trying to talk her down.”

“Now, now, you stop that. You couldn’t help it. After all, she is a demigoddess. And what were we supposed to do anyway? Besides, she didn’t get what she came for. And if I can help it, you and I will be the only ones to find these fascinating and long overdue artifacts that we, as descendants, deserve to have in our families. …ours.” She said in almost a whisper with such hope in one day being with Janice. It was a bit much for her to conceive as she still thought of herself as someone who Janice might not have in mind to be a lover with, especially after what just transpired.

“Okay, no more nonsense. Tell me exactly what the hell is going on here. Start by telling me why you even chose to tell me and high tail my butt down here with you just so you can tell me what you don’t want anybody else to know.” Janice walked over to her friend who was almost finished buttoning her blouse. Mel stopped in mid stream, putting her hands to her sides, and gave a little sigh.

“Janice Covington. Let me be the first to whisper in your ear and tell you exactly what I've discovered.” She leaned forward, her blouse allowing to reveal some of her breast, in plain view, she placed her hands on Janice’s shoulders, leaned in closer, and whispered in her ear, “I'd have to show you, only ‘cause you don’t know who just might be listening.” As she moved in ever so close, her lips finding Janice’s ear, “I've located Gabrielle’s staff and Xena’s sword.” Slowly pulling away, she saw Janice’s bottom jaw drop almost to the floor. They stared for an instant, then Mel gently placed her hand through her friend’s hair, behind her head, pulling her close, she brought her lips close and brushed them ever so softly against Janice’s. “But, we must hurry and get ready for this trip. I have a feeling it’s going to be quite exciting and somewhat eventful. I don’t believe that Callisto is going to leave us alone for long. And we should prepare ourselves for the worst. Don’t you think so?”

In utter shock at what just happened, Janice was speechless. ‘It seems Mel does have feelings for me…in that way, too.’ She thought this, almost out loud, but let it go for the time being. They needed to get on the next flight out to Cairo.

While on the plane, both women looked around as if looking for Callisto to appear at any time. “I'm not sure I can handle this, Janice. It seems pretty odd that a demigoddess would want these artifacts. And being the demigoddess she claims to be, why hasn’t she gone to look for them herself?”

“You know, I'm not sure. But, one way or another, we’re definitely going to find out.”

ššššššš

“Hey, they’ll be here in a couple of days. You had just better be sure that everything is in order, just the way I told you it should be. Humph! It’s hard to get good help these days.” She wasn’t sure if she was being a bit harsh with the servants. Not to worry, she thought, she’d have a talk with them later and apologize. She could never be mad for too long, not even at her tall, stoic warrior princess.

As her lover came into the kitchen, she paused to lean against the doorway, folding her arms, “So, when are they arriving?” as she smirked a loving smile at her bard.

“Well, they should be on the plane as we speak. They’ll be picked up by Justin and brought here, hopefully without too much of a struggle.”

“Gabrielle, aren’t you being a bit much with this?”

“Xena, please.” With a heavy sigh, she turned around to look at her warrior princess. “I think it’s very important that our descendants know the danger that they are going to have to face. Especially now since we’ve heard of Callisto becoming a demigoddess. And what are we going to do if she catches up with Melinda and Janice?”

“Gabrielle. Please, calm down. When they get here, we’re just going to have to try to explain to them what’s been going on and do it as discreetly as possible.” She then walked over to her lover, wrapping her long arms around her waist, as Gabrielle lifted her arms around her lover’s neck, pulling each other closer, they let each other’s lips touch, most gentle, most loving, most comforting.

“Hmmm. That feels so good. You always amaze me,” looking into her eyes she couldn’t help but see her warrior princess blush just a tinge.

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Mel looked at her companion, wondering what she might be dreaming about. Janice wasn’t one to sleep without tossing and turning all over the place. At one point, as one of the flight attendants was passing down the aisle, Janice turned towards Melinda Pappas and grabbed hold of one of her breasts. The flight attendant stopped in her path, and all Mel could say was that she was sleeping and thinking she was her friend’s teddy bear, then giggled quietly at the thought. “My, how precious you look when you’re sleeping. I, …I could almost kiss those sweet lips of yours, Janice.”

“Hmmm? What’s going on? Where are we?” Covington started rubbing her eyes, a bit weary from the flight. They still had quite a bit to travel after they reach the airport in Egypt. Seeing the blue in her friend’s eyes made Janice sit upright and take further notice of how Melinda was looking at her. “Mel, what is it?” looking down to see if she might have drooled all over the place. “How bad was I snoring? Was I drooling that bad? Mel? Mel?! Tell me!”

Laughing a bit, “You do know how to toss and turn, if that’ll give any idea on how ya slept.” The flight attendant heard, and in her passing gave Janice a smile and winked at Melinda.

“Hey, what was that for? You’re not telling me everything. Melinda Pappas, tell me what happened while I was sleeping!” She gave her companion a smirk as her eyes became slits of anger welling up.

“Not now. We can talk about that later.”

“No, Mel. Now!”

“Well, okay, if you insist.”

“I do!”

As Dr. Pappas explained to the archeologist what she did while she was sleeping, she could see the rush of red run up Janice’s face. It was the cutest thing I ever did see, she thought to herself unaware of how wide her smile became. She raised her hand towards Janice’s face, cupping under her chin to raise the blonde’s face towards her own and kissed her tenderly. It seems like almost an eternity had passed as they were interrupted by the flight attendant. “I'm sorry ladies…hmm…but, you must fasten your seats beats. We’re about to land in the next twenty minutes.”

“Cairo, here we come!”

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(continued in Part 2)